Chapter 3.22 #2
Elizabeth retired to her room for a short while, to change her gown.
Shivers of distress made her quiver, as she wondered about Darcy’s sudden departure.
Despite his attempt to appear at ease, his preoccupation had not diminished during the ride back home.
He had already visited the Matlocks regarding Emily’s situation, why would he go again, at such an improper hour, with no previous warning.
Something of great importance must have induced him to rush.
She moved to the dining room, with Georgiana and Emily, who was now chatting about her progress at the pianoforte.
Georgiana praised the girl’s hard work but she was not oblivious to Elizabeth’s lack of attention. They had no time to discuss the visit to Madame Claudette, and Georgiana was equally curious and impatient, waiting for her brother as eagerly as Elizabeth.
Eventually, the master returned, and he joined the ladies directly. He greeted them with an attempt at a smile, then asked for dinner to be served.
“I will go and tell them,” Emily offered before they had time to ring. The girl was trying to make herself useful, and for the first time, she seemed excited to dine with the master.
When the three were alone, Elizabeth expressed her curiosity.
“What news do you have?”
“Nothing more than you already know, my dear. I spoke with my uncle and aunt about Lord Walford. I also wrote to my cousin Richard. He is accustomed to balls and parties more than I am and has extensive knowledge about the members of the ton.”
“Lord Walford?” Georgiana asked thoughtfully.
“Yes. We shall explain to you more after dinner.”
“But Fitzwilliam, why are you so concerned about Lord Walford? Are you worried they might insist on taking Emily to him?” Elizabeth asked with no little distress.
“Take Emily? Where? Who is Lord Walford?” Georgiana repeated.
Before Darcy had time to reply, another voice, weak and trembling, whispered from the doorway.
“Are you sending me away?”
They turned and faced Emily, who had stopped in the middle of the room, her hands hanging limply by her sides, her eyes swimming with tears.
“Did I upset you?” the girl repeated with such grief that none of the Darcys could find the composure to reply. Elizabeth rose to move towards her, but Darcy was the first who finally spoke.
“We are not sending you away; not now, not ever.”
The girl remained still, tears now falling freely down her cheeks.
“Emily, please come to me,” Darcy requested.
The girl hesitated then finally stepped to the head of the table where the master was sitting.
Darcy stretched his hand out to her, and the girl reluctantly put her hands in his. She looked so small, so frightened, so lost near him, that both Elizabeth and Georgiana were overwhelmed by sorrow.
“I am sorry if I upset you,” she repeated.
“Emily, please look at me,” Darcy insisted. “Will you trust my word if I promise you something?”
She withdrew one hand to wipe her tears. “I will. Sarah says you are the best master in the whole world.”
“Thank you. I am not sure how good I am, but I always keep my word. Now hear me well. I know you heard us talking about you. There is a subject we cannot share with a child of your age. Do you understand that?”
The girl nodded with her head down.
“However, here is my promise to you. Since Mrs. Darcy invited you to live with us, you have become part of our family. We will never send you away, not even when you are grown up! Our home will always be yours too, for as long as you wish. I know Mrs. Darcy has told you this before, and now I am repeating it to you. Do you trust my word?” he repeated.
The girl finally looked at him, then wiped her tears again. Her fear was still palpable, so Darcy continued.
“You must not worry that you are doing something wrong, that you will upset us. Even if you do, like any other child does, even if I am upset with you at times, nothing would ever make us send you away.”
“I do not want to upset you or Mrs. Darcy or Miss Darcy…”
“I know that… Emily, will you promise me that you will keep in mind what I told you?”
“I will …”
“Very well, then. Shall we seal our understanding with a gentleman’s handshake?” he asked in complete earnest, and the girl stared in disbelief.
Yet, he was not joking. He stretched out his hand to the girl solemnly, and Emily grasped it.
“Good. Now please take your seat and let us eat,” Darcy concluded. The girl nodded again, then silently climbed into the chair near Georgiana, opposite Elizabeth.
During dinner, Emily ate little and kept glancing at them, still uneasy, the worry still apparent on her face.
Afterwards, they moved to the music room, and Georgiana performed for half an hour, but Emily only sat on a chair, silent and restrained, careful not to bother them.
When she was taken up to bed by Sarah, she bowed properly to the Darcys, and only embraced Elizabeth and Georgiana when they insisted.
“Oh dear Lord,” Georgiana exclaimed when they were alone. “I am so sorry that she heard me! How I was so careless? Poor child! I am heartbroken. Brother, I beg you, tell me what is happening.”
“Dearest, do not blame yourself. Let us calm all ourselves. I will settle everything to Emily’s benefit, that I can promise.”
For another half an hour, they shared the details of their encounter at Madame Claudette’s to a horrified and grieved Georgiana.
“As I already informed you, I also spoke with our aunt and uncle about the situation. Emily is now under our protection, and her wellbeing is my only concern under the present circumstances. Tomorrow I shall write to Uncle Darcy—the judge. There are also some details I need to clarify with him.”
“I have not been introduced to him yet, have I?” Elizabeth asked.
“No. His health is unsteady, and he rarely receives visitors. Georgiana and I have not seen him in two years. I did write to him about our marriage though, as I keep up a regular correspondence with him. I expect he will not welcome my impromptu visit, but I trust he will assist me nevertheless.”
“Brother, but why would they want to move Emily from our house to live with a stranger? It is very suspicious!”
“Most likely, it was an easy way to gain immediate funds, instead of agreeing to work for a steady, regular income.”
“But why would a man fond of parties and an easy life, want to shelter a poor girl, unconnected to his family?”
Again, Darcy avoided their gazes.
“I wonder the same, and for now, I cannot speculate more on the subject. But I am confident that Buxton and Patty will accept my proposal, and we will be done with it.”
“And if not? What if they insist on taking Emily?”
Darcy threw his sister a meaningful glare that showed little doubt about his determination.
“Emily will not be taken from this house.
Her mother is welcome here at any time. I am also willing to change certain points in the settlement, but I shall not allow her to be exposed to more turmoil in her young life.
This is what I wish to discuss with Uncle Darcy.
Now let us go to bed, we are all exhausted.
∞∞∞
In the privacy of their apartment, their emotions did not need to be guarded any longer. They shared the torment in a long, tender embrace, of comfort, trust and hope.
Eventually, Sarah and Stevens were requested and each prepared for the night in their own room. There was a heavy silence, broken only by the wind outside and the fire burning to warm the coldness in their rooms and in their hearts.
Darcy had just finished shaving and washing, when he was stunned to see Elizabeth in the doorframe. She was wearing her nightgown, and her hair was tied simply with a ribbon, falling down her back.
“Stevens, I believe you will not be needed any more tonight,” she said. Her intervention surprised the valet. Nobody had ever given him orders except his master.
“Very well, ma’am,” the valet replied briefly, then left. The master had no eyes or interest in anyone or anything except his wife.
Once alone, Darcy moved towards her, but Elizabeth stepped away from him. She blew out all the candles except two, then returned to him, stopping just inches away.
She gazed at him wordlessly, and he lifted her in his arms, placing her on the bed. Their eyes never left each other’s as he slowly removed their clothes, allowing their bodies to connect with each other fully.
She opened her body to him, and he plunged deeply into her soft, moist warmth, as they satiated their need for each other. Their union was slow, gentle, tender and deep, with no haste and no hurry, lasting long into the night.
The exhaustion of their bodies freed their hearts and their minds and dissipated most of their worries. Their fulfilment was complete in every sense, and it gave them strength and trust to face the challenges of the next day.