Chapter 2.12
“I am sorry, I was distracted,” the colonel said, ringing for a servant to clean the broken shards.
“It seems we are all distracted,” Lady Matlock answered.
“Elizabeth, I apologise if I sounded insensitive regarding the disturbing situation you went through. I do sympathise with that poor girl’s suffering, and I admire your personal involvement in helping her.
It is yet another proof of your excellent character. ”
“I thank you, Lady Ellen. Your kindness is much appreciated. Now I am afraid we must leave. As always, it was a pleasure seeing you all.”
The farewell was rather hasty and slightly awkward. Despite Elizabeth’s warm politeness, Darcy’s harsh scolding of his aunt did not go unnoticed, particularly as it had rarely happened before.
Inside the carriage, there was a heavy silence. Elizabeth and Darcy kept glancing at each other but no one spoke a single word. Georgiana preferred to look outside.
At home, they asked for a report on Maud and were informed her state was the same. She was sleeping soundly—just as Dr. Harris recommended.
Content, they retired to their apartments to change for dinner, and still no word was spoken. Darcy dismissed both Molly and Miles, and when the couple were finally alone, he took Elizabeth’s hands and sat next to her on the edge of the bed. She moved closer, and his arms embraced her.
“You were very harsh to Lady Ellen. But I cannot blame you; the last days have affected us all,” she said compassionately.
“I regret that I upset my aunt, but I could not bear her detached amusement after all of the trouble you have suffered. And yet, I have to admit that my reaction would have been the same as hers a few months ago. I never would have given more than a brief thought to any story involving those outside my close family. Even worse, whenever someone from my staff had a problem, I instructed either Mrs Hamilton or Mrs Reynolds to handle it, but I never gave it further attention. I never asked how the problem ended. I only presumed that, if nobody complained, it was solved correctly. Since my infancy, I was taught to provide help, but I was not a helpful man. I was taught to apply generosity, but I was never generous. Every day spent with you proves to me your worthiness and shows me how much I still have to improve myself.”
“Please allow me to disagree. You are truly the best man I have ever known, and I shall not become tired of repeating it. You were only accustomed to doing things differently. It does not mean you showed less generosity or kindness.”
Darcy gently kissed her lips with more tenderness than passion. Elizabeth put her hands around his neck and pressed herself against him, but only a moment later he pulled away.
“We should go to dinner now; Georgiana is certainly expecting us.”
She was reluctant to separate but responded with a smile.
“You are right. I will ring for Molly and will be ready in a few minutes.”
While the maid helped her change, Elizabeth’s thoughts distracted her again.
She suddenly recollected Lady Matlock’s mentioning the coincidence of the two Mauds, Darcy censuring his aunt, and the colonel dropping his glass of brandy in the middle of a conversation that should not have affected him at all.
It was obviously an extraordinary situation for everyone.
So deep was she in her thoughts, that she did not hear Darcy enter, so she startled when she felt his fingers caressing her nape then sighed when his lips pressed against her neck. She turned to search for a real kiss, but he gently touched her face and took her hands, helping her out of the room.
On their way to the dining room, Elizabeth held his arm tightly while his hand covered hers. He kissed her temple and the top of her head several times, and a shiver ran down her spine. His gestures seemed to be more of concern than of the passion she had learnt to expect from him.
Dinner passed calmly with little conversation.
Afterward, Elizabeth briefly visited Maud; she found her still asleep with another maid by her side.
Her fever had apparently lowered, and her features were less marked by suffering although she was still pale and looked very thin.
Elizabeth stood by the bed a few minutes, heavyhearted, praying for the girl’s health and wondering whether any woman could recover from such a tragedy.
When she lifted her eyes, she saw her husband waiting for her in the hall. As always, he had felt her sadness and come to offer her comfort and safety. She stepped toward him, and he opened his arms for her—where she belonged.
The Darcys’ evening ended with Georgiana playing for them about half an hour.
Her playing was as flawless as ever, yet less joyful, less sparkling.
Elizabeth admired once again her young sister’s discretion, understanding, and compassion, and her obvious efforts to bear her grief without burdening the others.
Darcy’s expression was haughty and distant, and it appeared to darken with each passing moment. He barely spoke with either of them and paced the room from the window to the fireplace until his sister ended her performance and everyone retired for the night.
Elizabeth’s worry increased when, exhausted from tiredness and concerns, she finally nestled in her bed, waiting for him to join her. Instead, he sat on the bed, then rose again and sat once more.
“William, what is it? You frighten me.”
He hastily kissed her hand. “Forgive me, my love, it is just that…there is a maddening thought that keeps tormenting me. I was wondering…I am afraid that…but no, that cannot be.”
“What is troubling you? Please let me know. Perhaps I can help you find the answer.”
“Not now—we will speak more tomorrow. After some rest, I will be able to think more rationally.”
“Yes, I believe you are right. Come—I have missed you so much.”
He finally lay by her side beneath the blanket, and pulled her against him.
Elizabeth tried to calm herself and forced herself not to inquire further, wrapping her arms around his waist. Her head rested on his chest, and she gently moved against him; her right hand slowly caressed his arm, then his torso.
He kissed her temples then her eyes, and his hand captured and stopped hers.
“My dearest, we should sleep now. You are very tired, and your pallor worries me. You need as much rest as possible.”
“I do need rest…but I need you too. Your arms spoil me with so much warmth and tenderness…” Her voice became lower until it turned into a whisper.
“I will be here…watching you. And I will never let you out of my arms,” he whispered back, his lips barely touching her ear.
Several minutes later, Elizabeth fell deeply asleep while Darcy continued to caress her hair absentmindedly, his head spinning with questions he dared not ask.
He impatiently counted the hours until dawn. He had decided to pay a visit first thing in the morning—even before Elizabeth woke up—and to clarify a coincidence in which he did not believe.
∞∞∞
Being quite unusual compared to other occasions, the Darcys’ visit left Lady Matlock dissatisfied—even irritated. One cause was her nephew’s impertinent comment, but there were other reasons she could sense but not understand.
Lady Ellen Fitzwilliam, Countess of Matlock, paced her large and elegant apartment in a state of restlessness she had rarely experienced. Always self-confident, calm, and decided, and accustomed to having her wishes fulfilled, that sort of emotion troubled her.
There was still time before dinner, so she decided to search for her younger son and inquire about his own strange behaviour. She could not recall his dropping a glass since he was four years old or being so silent and solemn at a family gathering.
To her surprise, she met him fully dressed to leave the house.
“Robert, are you going out? I was not aware that you had any engagements tonight. We are almost ready for dinner.”
“Yes…no…I do not have an engagement. In fact, I do have, but it was entirely unexpected. I shall return rather soon, I suspect.”
“Son, why are you so inarticulate? I have not seen you like this in many years. It pains me to admit that we all behaved strangely today.”
“I am not…I must solve an urgent problem, but it will not last long. I will return soon…”
Lady Matlock moved closer, watching her son with interest. He was never nervous about his plans, nor did he ever struggle to explain his decisions about spending evenings—or nights—outside the house. His rambling excuses increased the lady’s puzzlement.
“As you wish; I am in no position to question your plans. However, you should be careful, Robert. You were not yourself today. I hope you are not unwell.”
“No—I am very well, thank you. It has been a rather disturbing day. As you witnessed yourself, not even Darcy and Elizabeth were their usual selves.”
Lady Matlock took another step toward the colonel. Her eyebrow rose in contemplation, and she gazed at him as she spoke in a low voice.
“Elizabeth and Darcy had the excuse of being personally involved in a tormenting situation, which is not the case with either of us. Is it not so?”
The colonel averted his eyes, and Lady Matlock’s gaze grew more severe.
“Robert, I did not miss your dropping the glass precisely when Elizabeth mentioned that maid. And I am not easy to deceive. There is something that troubles you greatly, and I suspect it is the reason for your suddenly urgent engagement. Am I wrong?”
“Mother, I am not comfortable debating this subject with you. And please excuse me; I am in a hurry.”
“Robert!” Lady Matlock grabbed her son’s arm tightly. “If I only had some suspicions before, now I am beyond doubt. I am asking you to tell me the truth. I want to know in what way you are connected with that poor girl.”
“In no way, ma’am. I have never seen her, and I am pained to see your ladyship’s readiness to accuse me.”