Chapter 63
Chapter Sixty-Three
Once Darcy had secured the legal means to marry Elizabeth and had gained his family’s agreement to travel to Hertfordshire for the wedding, he searched for other ways to occupy himself for the few remaining days.
He could not be in his betrothed’s company all the time, as she had wedding clothes to purchase and he knew not what other arrangements with her aunt and his own.
Georgiana was blessed with more of her time these days than he was, as his sister eagerly helped with the wedding tasks.
He did all he could to direct preparations for his bride’s comfort at both Darcy House and Pemberley, including selecting three rooms in his townhouse for her to choose from for a painting studio.
He planned a brief wedding trip after discussing possible destinations with Elizabeth.
Then he remembered the diamonds in his safe and had them appraised.
When he had questioned her, Richard learned that Mrs. Jeune had sold off a few diamonds to pay her expenses in her first years in England, more to purchase a house, and then most of her single-carat diamonds to convert to the investment that would support her for life.
The remaining diamonds Darcy and his cousin had retrieved from Bath were the larger gems, so even though they were far fewer in number than what Mrs. Jeune had already sold, they were also more valuable.
While the smaller diamonds, of which Darcy had three from the red silk reticule, had grown somewhat in value since their purchase, the two-carat diamonds had doubled their worth in the same period.
Darcy had never considered diamond investments before hearing Mr. Gardiner’s story, so he was surprised when he learned his little bag of diamonds was worth more than all of Mrs. Jeune’s seized assets.
Knowing the fortune he had been walking around with in Bath and to Yorkshire and back made Darcy uncomfortable. He wondered again why his cousin had not secured them himself. Darcy was a man used to wealth, but he did not carry nearly four years’ income as he walked down the streets of London.
As quickly as he could upon returning to Darcy House, he separated out the fifteen percent of diamonds he would need to deliver to Mr. Holman.
The man or his heirs, when Darcy found them, would get nearly six thousand pounds on their one-thousand pound investment of nineteen years before.
Darcy began inquiries into Mr. Holman, hoping he could deliver the precious gems across town rather than being forced to carry them all the way to Cardiff.
For now, they would all be locked at the back of his safe.
When Darcy went to dine at Gracechurch Street that evening, he was eager to broach the topic of the diamonds with Elizabeth, but the opportunity did not arise until after she had played the instrument and graced the small company with her enchanting voice.
Finally, the lovers were permitted the privacy of sitting in the corner in full view of her relations.
“Were you able to find accommodations in the Cotswolds for next week, Fitzwilliam?”
Darcy traced the soft skin of Elizabeth’s forearm with his fingertips as he took in the creaminess of her cheeks that were tinged with pink after her exertions at the pianoforte and her obvious excitement about their upcoming wedding trip.
“I have, my love. We will stay in Malmesbury, as we had hoped.”
“Thank you for indulging my fancy, Fitzwilliam. Although my grandfather holds no lands in the region, he did say the area was of importance to the family many years ago.”
Darcy loved watching her face light up at each new discovery. He always had.
“Curiosity was one of your first qualities that drew me to you. I will always do anything in my power to indulge it.”
Elizabeth blushed and watched his fingers glide along her skin. Soon, he saw evidence of her increasing pulse in her wrist, and he risked her uncle’s ire by lifting the smooth spot to his lips. He continued to hold her gaze as he lowered her hand to hold it on his knee.
“Shall I surprise you with the inn I have reserved, or do you wish to know now?”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened. She clearly anticipated he had fulfilled another wish. Though she had not spoken of it for years, he knew she was intrigued by old buildings and knew of this one. “The Old Bell Hotel?”
“Indeed. We will stay at the oldest hotel in England, and if the weather permits us to step outdoors in February, we will explore the abbey.”
Her grin nearly made Fitzwilliam forget the other topic he had on his mind.
“I thought perhaps we could stop in Malmesbury again, if you like it, on our way to Pemberley…or more accurately, on our way to Wales before we go to Pemberley.”
“Wales? Is another medieval building awaiting our inspection there?”
Darcy chuckled. “While I am sure we could locate several, that would not be the primary purpose of the journey.” He sighed. The jewels still weighed heavily on him.
“Is something amiss?” Her fine brows furled in concern.
“No, nothing. With all that has happened of late, I have not updated you on the Gambol of the Red Silk Reticule.”
Elizabeth’s face cleared, as he had hoped it would by using that ridiculous name.
“Is your investigation not complete? Will you and the colonel travel to Wales next…or, no, you said I may go with you?”
“You absolutely must go with me. I hope you will be my traveling companion for every future adventure.”
She smiled and squeezed his hand, and he proceeded to tell her all he had learned about the value of the diamonds and of the requirement that he locate Mr. Holman to give him his share.
“I wanted to ask your opinion…”
“Yes?”
“First, do you feel these diamonds should have been the property of your father, rather than me?”
“Oh! I had not considered…”
“He and your mother are the ones who went on the dangerous mission, after all.”
“True, but he never intended them for himself. You said only three gentlemen had wished to purchase the gems for investments, so I have to assume my parents did not desire them. I have learned they had the funds available if they had chosen to invest. No, your father—or rather, you—and Mr. Holman are the rightful owners of the remaining diamonds. Besides, my grandfather learned this week that three paintings my father’s solicitor sent to him months after my father’s death were the very pieces purchased in Antwerp.
Those were the only remembrances they purchased for themselves on that journey. ”
Aside from the documents hidden in a frame, Darcy had not heard about the paintings after Etches took possession.
“Grandfather said if we like them, we may take them to Pemberley.”
“It will be interesting to see the pieces your parents chose…Elizabeth, I am sorry, but I need to speak of the diamonds again. Does it bother you to think of them?”
“A little, but mostly I am happy to understand all I can about my parents. Is there more you wish to tell me?”
“It is only…my share of the diamonds is quite large, and I have two questions for you.”
Elizabeth looked at him expectantly but did not seem bothered by the discussion, so he continued.
“It is late to have any pieces completed before our nuptials, but we could order some jewelry from a few of the diamonds in time for the ball introducing you to society. A wedding band, a necklace, earrings, perhaps a bracelet. Would you like that?”
Elizabeth looked down at their joined hands long enough that he grew concerned.
He lifted her chin with a finger. “You need not ever see the diamonds if they disturb you. It was only an idea.”
She nodded. “I…you showed me your grandmother’s ring, and I would like nothing more than to wear it when I become Mrs. Darcy. I am unsure how I feel about the diamonds, but for now, they do not bring me joy except that they led you to finding my grandfather.”
“Understood. That brings me to the second question, or proposal. Given what you have said, I think you will approve.”
Elizabeth was still chuckling halfway through her wedding breakfast. She had been solemn during the wedding ceremony.
How could she not be with Fitzwilliam’s earnest eyes before her?
But aside from that time when she could think of nothing but their love and their vows to each other before God, the farcical nature of their arrival in Hertfordshire had kept laughter close to the surface for most of the past four-and-twenty hours.
Since she and the Gardiners had reached Longbourn late the previous morning, Aunt Bennet had barely spoken when Elizabeth was in the room.
Her aunt had greeted her with a deep curtsy as soon as Elizabeth stepped from the carriage, she had barely whispered to the servants during dinner, and each time they had encountered each other since then, her aunt curtseyed and backed out of the room.
The behavior would have bothered Elizabeth from anyone else, but from Aunt Bennet, she found it to be humorous.
“Still entertained by Mrs. Bennet’s obsequiousness, my dear?”
Elizabeth smiled up at her husband. “I know it makes me petty, and I will speak to her sometime, but for now…” She laughed again.
Fitzwilliam smiled at her and lifted her hand to his lips. “Today, you should laugh as much as you choose. We can make amends with your aunt another day.”
“It did not help when my aunt heard about the number of carriages you and your family brought to Netherfield Park.” She chuckled again.
Fitzwilliam rolled his eyes. “My sister and I arrived in my carriage that you and I will use to travel to Malmesbury in about an hour. My Matlock relations and your grandfather each have a carriage.”
“And the servants’ carriages!”
“You will have to come to terms with what it means to travel in style, Lady Elizabeth. Matthew and Dinah shared a carriage with my aunt’s servants for this short journey, and your grandfather traveled with his valet. It could have been far worse.”
The newly married couple smiled at each other and ignored those circulating around them until they heard a voice beside them.
“Lizzy, might I have a moment of your time?”
“Of course, Uncle Bennet.”
“Darcy, you need not go. I only wished to tell Lizzy…well. Lizzy, I see you are wearing your charm bracelet today. It quite surprised me, given its simplicity.”
“It means a great deal to me, Uncle.”
He nodded, clearly holding back tears.
“I think you know the significance of each charm I added through the years, but I wished to speak to you of the one that started the tradition.”
“My diamond. You said it signified how precious I was to you when I was an infant left to your care. I have never doubted your love for me, Uncle, and I thank you for taking me in.”
“Of course. But you likely know now that it is only cut glass, as I could not afford a real diamond. It was always only a symbol of how valuable you are in my eyes, though, as no diamond could replace you. Now, though, you should know I chose the diamond for your first charm as a symbol of your parents’ important work and of their love for you, as well. ”
Elizabeth laid her hand on her uncle’s arm.
“I have already told you all the stories I remember of Susannah and Oliver, and I will write if I think of more, but I thought to tell you that since you have real diamonds now, you may wish to replace your cut glass charm. Perhaps you will not wear the bracelet in London society, but if it had a real diamond, I think it would not be out of place in some situations. I would not be at all offended if you choose to change it out.”
“Thank you, Uncle. I will consider it.”
“You know, Elizabeth,” Fitzwilliam said, “I believe one of the diamonds from the red silk reticule would fit your bracelet perfectly, should you choose to wear it. It may be that your parents held it in their hands briefly.”
Elizabeth nodded thoughtfully. She did not wish for extravagant diamond jewelry or even anything like the hair comb Mr. Wickham had tried to give her, but a single small diamond in her charm bracelet could be just right.
After her uncle walked away, she was arm-in-arm with her husband looking out over the assembled guests at Netherfield Park.
“Elizabeth, I spoke to Matthew and Dinah again. They will return to Gracechurch Street today and will move to Darcy House on the morrow. They both said they will be ready to go to Pemberley when we leave London for Wales. Unless you wish to have Dinah with you in Wales.”
Elizabeth smiled mischievously. “I say we decide after our time in the Cotswolds. If you prove a competent enough ladies’ maid, I will be content to do without Dinah in Wales.”
Fitzwilliam blushed, and Elizabeth stood on her toes to whisper in his ear. “I am ready to say our farewells if you would like to depart now.”