Chapter 18 #3
This sort of officiousness rankled Elizabeth, and it was too soon after Anna’s birth to plan for another child.
She was saved from a terse remark when her husband spoke before she could respond to her mother.
“Pemberley already has an heir. As there is no entail on our estate, we may choose any of our children to inherit.”
Mama’s eyebrows almost touched as she appeared to be confused by what she had just heard.
“I wish my sister Georgiana was here. She is visiting a friend in Staffordshire for a few weeks. Did you not wish to have your trunks brought up to your chambers?”
“Mama has brought me my father’s books.”
“Heaven knows they have never benefitted me!”
“How kind of you to bring them all this way. Elizabeth speaks of her father’s library often.”
Was it possible for Elizabeth to love this man more? She could not be prouder of him—he countered every nasty remark by her mother with a compliment. Perhaps her husband should have been a diplomat!
* * *
When Elizabeth prepared for dinner, she applied her face cream. How would her mother respond when she saw her later? The moment she entered the drawing room, her mother walked towards her and asked, “What happened to your birthmark?”
“I covered it with some face cream Lady Matlock gave me.”
“Bless my soul, you are quite pretty. I never thought to cover it up. It matters not now—somehow you have managed to marry a rich man. My goodness, your necklace must have cost a small fortune!” Mr. and Mrs. Darcy exchanged glances before her husband held his arm out to his new mother and they made their way to the dining room.
Behind them, Elizabeth shook her head. Mama could think of little but riches.
Once they were seated, Mama told them all about her family in Meryton. “Lydia and Kitty could wait no longer for you to introduce them to wealthy men in London and are now both married.”
“You wrote me about a wealthy, unmarried man letting Netherfield. What happened to him?”
“Oh yes, Mr. Wentworth. He was wealthy and unmarried but he was old enough to be my grandfather. He is a widower who brought his children and their families with him. Which meant that your sisters had to lower their expectations and take a closer look at local men. Of course, Liddy, like me, could not resist a man in uniform. She married a militia officer who is the second son of a wealthy merchant—their income will be more than sufficient to satisfy your sister’s needs.
Sadly, he is leaving the militia and they are moving to Suffolk next month to be closer to his family.
How I shall miss them—I so admired my son in his uniform.
“After dear Henry died, your Uncle Philips took on a new law associate. He is an attractive young man, and he and Kitty were often thrown together. You know, him working and her living in the same building, well, one thing led to another. Your uncle plans to retire next year, and Kitty’s husband will take over the practice.
“I would have come here sooner, but first Mary gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. Shortly after their weddings, Lydia and Kitty both fell with child at almost the same time. They needed me to be with them through their confinements.”
“You must be quite busy visiting all your grandchildren.”
“Yes, Fitzwilliam, my days are full.”
“We are delighted to have you here. You are welcome to stay at Pemberley as long as you like.”
“You are very kind, but I can only stay for two weeks. I must return to Meryton to help Lydia pack.” Elizabeth was relieved since the open invitation was not precisely what she would have preferred to have offered, but Fitzwilliam clearly wanted to mend the ill feelings of the past.
“Allow me to provide you with one of our carriages to travel back to Meryton. I shall make the arrangements for you to stay at the best inns along the way.”
Mama pulled her lace handkerchief from her sleeve and fanned her face, her expression one of excitement. “Lizzy, you have truly married the best of men!”
“Yes Mama, I know.” Her mother looked at her and her husband and appeared delighted. After all, beyond a doubt Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam married for love.
“Wait until my sister Phillips and Lady Lucas hear about the way you live. Charlotte and that evil little man can have Longbourn—you have Pemberley and Jane has Willow Hall!”
* * *