Chapter 12
Elizabeth was slowly shaking her head when her husband found her reading a letter in their bed chamber. As he sat beside her on the bed, she burst out in laughter and covered her eyes. The contents of the letter and the picture in her mind it inspired were both too bizarre.
“Clearly your missive is both perplexing and humorous, my love. Can you tell me about it?” he asked.
“I hardly know where to start. It is a letter from my mother. I can just imagine the conversation that inspired her to write. My aunt Phillips will have read the London newspaper and come rushing into her drawing room with the news. Those two women are incredible gossips and feed off each other. ‘Sister, sister, you will never believe it! Look at this!’” Elizabeth mocked the last in a high-pitched voice, then bent over in laughter.
Her husband joined the mirth. “She will have waved the paper at my mother, who would have thrust her nose in the air and proclaimed that she does not care for the scandal sheets—until she read Lord Matlock’s announcement of our wedding. ”
“I myself am quite proud of that announcement. Wait.” He went over to the escritoire and pulled out a newspaper.
“Here it is. ‘The Earl and Countess of Matlock are delighted to announce the marriage of their nephew Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley, Derbyshire and London to Miss Elizabeth Bennet formerly of Longbourn, Hertfordshire.’”
“My mother then will have changed her tune. She would have shouted something like ‘Lizzy’s husband is related to nobility! He must be rich!’” Once done with the mimicking, she huffed.
“This is where I become frustrated. Since she never thought I would marry, she cannot believe I have done so well for myself—you know, finding a wealthy husband, not to mention the man is related to the nobility!
She cares not if you are a good or kind person—her one and only qualification for a potential husband is affluence.
“She has demanded we host Lydia and Kitty at our home in London. Since I am now rich, she has instructed me to purchase all the gowns and fripperies they will need to win husbands—and everything must come from London’s finest dressmakers.
She expects us to introduce them to the wealthiest men we know from the most prominent families in the ton.
If they are members of the peerage, all the better.
Nowhere does she request or even suggest we help them—she just issues her commands and takes for granted we shall do whatever she wants.
” Elizabeth shook her head again as she turned to look at her husband.
“What will you tell her?”
“There is no reason not to tell her the truth. We have no plans to be in town until after Easter next year, for the height of the Season. As anxious as she is to have her two youngest daughters marry wealthy men, Frances Bennet has never been known for her patience. She wants those girls married, and as soon as possible. If they cannot meet eligible men in London, the local men will have to do. Until they are wed, she will not feel her only mission in life has been accomplished. I would bet money my sisters will both be betrothed or married by the time I first step foot in Darcy House.”
Her husband’s brow furrowed. “Let us hope they are still unmarried when we arrive in town. If their behaviour is as inappropriate as you describe, we should host them and hire a governess to teach them how a gentleman’s daughter behaves.
Besides, they are too young to think of such things regardless of what your mother says. ”
The tips of her fingers glided across his forehead to smooth the lines. “I love that you always try to make everyone’s life better. Your intentions are admirable, my dear, but I know my mother all too well. If you wish to hold onto your money, you will not bet against me.”
“The only thing I wish to hold against you is me.” Fitzwilliam took the letter from Elizabeth’s hands and dropped it on the floor. She was soon seated on his lap and all thoughts of Mrs. Bennet were quickly forgotten.
* * *
Darcy had hired back many of Pemberley’s landscapers and groundskeepers and tasked them with restoring the gardens and orchards.
He spent time with his steward every day to plan the next phase of rebuilding the manor house and they discussed next year’s crops.
He believed his efforts would be worthwhile, and he had expectations of pride in the finished product.
Darcy and his steward surveyed the front of the manor house and discussed the progress of the construction.
The men walked towards the cottage and spoke of other matters.
“Bethel, if some of the previous tenants do not return, we may need to hire local men for the planting, care and harvesting next fall. This spring we planted only a portion of the acreage, but I would like to cultivate all the land that was once used for crops. In the past, we let some areas lie fallow for a year, but for the first year, all the land should be ready for cultivating in the spring.”
“Yes, sir, that sounds about right. It will not take long for our rotations and plantings to be back to where they once were.”
“Thank you, that is my goal. Excuse me, I see Mrs. Darcy in the garden and I wish to speak to her.”
* * *
“May I walk with you, my love?”
“Of course—I thought you were meeting with Bethel.” She placed her hand inside his elbow.
“I was, but we finished our business and I wished to join you on your walk.”
“I am delighted to have your company.”
“Come this way; I have something I wish to show you.” He led her to an area farthest from the manor house. “The gardeners are clearing a plot of land where some hedges were.”
His wife tilted her head. “Were they damaged by the fire?”
“No, but I want to have an area ready to grow something new.”
“A new type of rose?”
“No, a field of lavender.” Darcy reached towards Elizabeth and embraced her. “It is my favourite scent in the world, and I wish to have plenty on hand for anytime you need it.”
“Thank you, love,” she said as she caressed his face. “When the weather turns cold, I shall dry the plants and make sachets for all my drawers. Whatever I wear will be scented.”
“I could not ask for anything better.”
* * *
One afternoon, when Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam were reading in the library, she put down her book and cleared her throat to get his attention. He lowered his book to his lap.
“When there is a guest room ready in the manor house, would you allow me to invite Jane to stay with us?” She smiled at the idea.
“She is the kindest and loveliest of my sisters, and I know you will come to love her as I do. In the letter I received today, she said she is very lonely and, though she is still in half mourning, my mother does not cease urging her to marry again ‘before her beauty fades.’ My sister has suffered so much loss, so I hope she can find peace and quiet in Derbyshire and not be forced to make any decisions about her future until she is ready.”
“You need not ask for my permission—Pemberley is your home as well as mine.” He paused in thought. “There is an unoccupied estate I—we own not five miles from here where she can live if she wishes. Later, when our family wing is rebuilt at Pemberley, she can have her own suite of rooms.”
Elizabeth was reminded again of how kind and generous her husband was.
“Thank you, dearest. That sounds like just what Jane needs—close enough if she needs us and far enough away that she can be alone when she so desires. How I wish she would accompany my aunt and uncle when they travel north next month.”
“In the meantime, I shall ask Bethel to ride over to the other property and arrange for any repairs. We have so many unused carriages, we can certainly provide one for her use. I know how delighted you would be to have Jane close by, so I hope she will accept our offer. Stockton Hall is not too large for one person. When the time comes for her to move in, Mrs. Reynolds can hire the necessary household servants and have everything prepared. I shall obtain a few footmen to ensure her safety.”
“Thank you, my sweet husband, from the bottom of my heart. How can I show you how much I appreciate your generosity?”
Her husband placed a lingering kiss in her hair. “Come with me and we can discuss it.” She smiled as she followed him up the stairs and into their chambers.
* * *
It took longer than he expected for her to learn of his marriage, but Darcy eventually received the letter he was dreading from Lady Catherine.
Rosings Park, Kent, 8 August 1812
Darcy,
How dare you ignore your obligations to Anne and marry a person so far beneath the Fitzwilliam family’s station in society!
You and Anne were formed for each other in your cradles and would have already been wed for years if your father had not foolishly betrothed you to Markham’s promiscuous daughter.
I assure you that woman will be censured, slighted, and despised by the ton and her name will never be spoken by anyone of worth.
And how could my sister’s son marry someone who bears the sign of the devil?
I am most displeased and will have my satisfaction!
You have not heard the last from me on this matter.
If that country upstart has fallen with child to trap you into this fraudulent marriage, it is a matter easily dealt with.
He stopped reading and threw her vitriolic words into the fire since he had no reason to respond.
His aunt would by no means be satisfied unless she had total control of the lives of others.
I shall never allow her to hurt the woman I love.
If he and Elizabeth never encountered his aunt again, he would live a fortunate life.
* * *
September 1812