Chapter 33
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Shortly after the Darcys returned to Pemberley from Warrington, they were joined by Jane and Bingley.
Since her sister’s marriage, Elizabeth had seen little of her, and she longed for a time of girlish laughter and conversation.
Likewise, Darcy was eager to spend time with his friend in gentlemanly pursuits and discussions.
Jane and Bingley also brought Georgiana and her companion with them.
She had been residing with Lord and Lady Matlock to give the Darcys and their son time to settle into their own domestic circle.
Several days after their arrival, the Bingleys departed on a day trip, the purpose of which was held secret.
Darcy left on a matter of business in a nearby town while Georgiana and Mrs Younge were devoted to some studies.
Elizabeth and Mrs Reynolds met shortly after Darcy’s departure, and by the middle of the morning, the household had its orders, and Elizabeth was left to her own devices.
She immediately went to her chambers, seeking a small trunk that had been retrieved from Warrington.
Elizabeth found Henry’s journals, which she had learnt about from his old school friends.
Although a poor scribe, Henry was a prolific writer, and his journals numbered seventeen in all.
She supposed he must have begun them at an early age, and she found that the first began with his entry into school when he was only eight years old.
She did not intend to read them thoroughly; instead, she thought they might be a nice surprise for her son when he was older and wished to know something of his father. However, as she perused them, she found herself drawn to the man—the boy rather—she had not known.
Henry had been as disorganised in boyhood as he was as a man, with loose pages stuffed into the journals every which way. Some had markings on them that looked like ancient Greek, and Elizabeth thought it might be some schoolwork forever lost from his language master.
She giggled reading stories of the various escapades on which he and Francis had embarked, such as the time at age twelve when they decided to each sit for half of their examinations.
Henry excelled in mathematics, science, navigation, and geography, while Francis chose to take the examinations in history, literature, and classical languages.
Elizabeth was fascinated by an account of a woman who was hired by several of the boys of the upper form, including Henry and Francis, to rid them of the odious burden of virginity in one grand night of fornication when they were sixteen.
She found herself morbidly curious, poring over the disappointingly scanty details and questioning what desperate straits would lead a woman to undertake such a thing.
She wondered for a moment whether she were jealous or distressed by such things but then realised it would be absurd to feel so.
The liaison of a deceased schoolboy that occurred more than a decade prior to their meeting could have no bearing on her whatsoever.
In any case, it was possible Darcy had done something similar.
She briefly entertained the idea of asking him but decided against it. Certain things are better left unknown.
Moving into the university years, Henry became more like the man she had known. He was no scholar, but he did enjoy the social aspects of university life to the fullest extent.
Elizabeth was still reading when she heard a quiet knock on the door. Looking up, she was surprised to see her husband leaning on the door frame.
“Fitzwilliam!” She quickly replaced the journals in the box and went to greet him. “I lost track of time, and there was no word of your return!”
He smiled, looking very handsome albeit with an odd lump under his coat. “I concluded my business a bit more rapidly than expected though with much success.”
Elizabeth’s attention was drawn to the lump that was writhing and squirming. “I am glad to hear it.” She rose up on her toes to kiss him and then returned her notice to his coat. “What is that?”
“What?” he teased in an innocent tone.
“Either there is a misshapen portion of your abdomen moving around or you have something under your coat.”
“You caught me.” Reaching under his coat, he pulled out a small puppy—a precious little creature with a white coat and tan spots.
Elizabeth was immediately enchanted by the little pup, which was small enough to be nearly encased in Darcy’s large hands.
“Oh!” She reached for it, and the puppy went to her eagerly, wriggling and frantically attempting to nip and lick her fingers.
“Welcome home, my little sweet! Oh, she is dear! Wherever did you find her?”
“Mr Russell has a cousin near Quorn in Staffordshire who breeds these excellent little foxhounds. Astonishingly quick little creatures and intelligent too. The man had business in Derby and brought her along so I could see her.”
“Why did he wish to part with her?” Elizabeth laughed as the dog took hold of her sleeve with its teeth, fighting the lace at Elizabeth’s wrists with great vigour and a comical, babyish growl.
“She did not seem a promising hunter,” Darcy explained. “Mr Meynell is exceedingly particular in which dogs he keeps for his own pack, and Annie did not suit him.”
Elizabeth sank into a seated position on the floor, and Darcy joined her. Annie pawed at her skirts, rolling and tumbling in her lap, and Elizabeth laughed at the pup’s antics.
“Will you hunt with her?”
“I am not in need of another hunting dog, but with her sweet disposition and playful manner, Annie was thought ideal for a pet.”
“I have never kept a dog as a pet; however, I have always wished for it!” Elizabeth exclaimed happily. She lifted the dog to her face, giggling again as it licked her nose.
“Alas, my love, this gift is not for you. I thought she would be a good companion for Henry.”
“For Henry!” Elizabeth ceased laughing immediately, her heart growing soft at the thought of Darcy seeking a playmate for her son.
“So much has changed in the little lad’s life,” Darcy explained.
“Leaving the Gardiner’s home, our marriage, coming to Pemberley.
How well he has borne it all! I only wished to do something for him, to make this a happy time.
” He paused a moment, then added hesitantly, “Something a father might do for his son.”
Elizabeth’s throat tightened and tears blurred her eyes. She reached for her husband, laying a hand on his shoulder. “How perfect,” she said softly.
In her lap, the puppy, exhausted by her exertions, curled into a little ball and dozed. “Henry will be delighted. He always points at the dogs in the park or in the fields.” She kissed her husband. “You are a wonderful husband and an excellent father.”
“I have done very little for that praise,” he murmured, his face close to hers. “Though I am proud to claim any right to either.”
“Being thoughtful and loving is the best part of it,” she whispered in reply. “And in that, you have proven expert.”
Darcy captured her lips in a brief kiss. “Have you any notion how much I adore you?”
She pulled back just enough to look at his face. Her heart pounded with feeling, and she felt as if she might either laugh or cry with the painful sweetness of her regard for him. Regard! This cannot be mere regard. I am falling…I love him!
“What I do have is a notion of my good fortune to be married to you.” Her voice was soft but, she hoped, filled with meaning. “How could I have refused you! It frightens me to think I might have missed such felicity.”
“Let us not think of that. I can no longer imagine my life without you.” He kissed her again gently. “Come, let us go find our son.”
They went to the nursery to find that Henry had been late for his nap and was still asleep.
They returned to the sitting room, put a sleepy Annie into her crate, and waited for what seemed an eternity.
Jane and Bingley came back just as Nurse Jenny entered the room to announce that Henry was awake and ready for a visit.
Bingley looked over at the crate with curiosity. “What is that, Darcy?”
“A little gift for my son,” Darcy told him as Elizabeth lifted the little pup. As the two couples entered the nursery, Annie rapidly became alert, her ears pricked and her eyes bright with anticipation. Before entering the room, Elizabeth hid the dog in her shawl.
Henry was excited by the appearance of his parents and his aunt and uncle. Darcy knelt beside him at a small table where a snack had been laid.
“Henry, I have something special for you. Close your eyes and stretch out your arms just so,” Darcy arranged the boy in a suitable position and took the puppy from its hiding place in Elizabeth’s shawl.
The boy was obedient, tightly screwing his eyes shut and not moving his arms from where Darcy had placed them.
Elizabeth bit her lips to keep from giggling like a child as Darcy carefully placed Annie in Henry’s arms, leaving one hand beneath the puppy to ensure Henry did not accidentally drop it in surprise.
“There you go, my boy. Open your eyes now.”
Tentatively, Henry opened one eye; then both eyes flew wide as a shriek of delight escaped his lips.
He almost crushed the dog to his chest, screaming and laughing as the puppy was overcome with happiness and began to wriggle and play, mouthing the hem of Henry’s garment and running about the nursery madly.
Georgiana was drawn to the sounds of commotion and gaiety from down the hall. She entered in time to witness the puppy with her funny puppy growl attack Darcy’s boot as everyone laughed.
What followed was a happy thirty minutes. Henry was thrilled with his new pet. Bingley was enthralled almost as much, promising Jane that he would ride to Staffordshire and obtain such an animal for their household.