“You can join us in our sitting room.” Georgiana cut her off. “I will ask my brother if he minds, and our servants can arrange it.” She scurried out of the room before Elizabeth could reply. Staring at the closed door with her mouth open in shock, she muttered to herself, “She does not seem like such a shy, reticent young lady to me.”
But Hannah overheard and stifled a giggle. Elizabeth only shook her head.
Soon, their plans were set for the day, orchestrated by Georgiana. Elizabeth found she could not care. The thought of getting out into the fresh air buoyed her spirits all morning.
Georgiana went with Darcy for a ride and Elizabeth spent the morning with her son. With the help of Hannah and Mrs Hobbs, Master Gregory Alexander was also carefully bathed, in a basin of warm water. The fire was built up to keep him warm throughout the process. The infant seemed pleased during the bath and cried whilst he was dried and redressed.
By that time, Elizabeth was ready to nurse him in preparation for their time apart. He would remain, under the protective care of one of the maids.
“Hannah, you will rest yourself, will you not?”
The young servant was quite taken with her charges. The lady always expressed such care for everyone around her. “I shall sithere quietly with some needlework. That will be rest enough, ma’am.”
~ / ~
By the time the evening meal came around, Elizabeth felt like a new woman. Taking in the fresh air, with the sun on her face was a balm to her soul. The bath had been pure ecstasy.
Hannah helped her dress and put up her hair. Nerves were fluttering around in Elizabeth’s stomach.I cannot recall the last time I spent an evening meal in company. Even if it is just Georgiana and her brother.
A memory came to her suddenly. It was one of the last evenings she and Gregory had together before he sailed.
“I hate leaving you here alone. I truly wish you had agreed to return to your family whilst I am at sea.”
“My place, as your wife, is here. It would not do to run back to Longbourn because things become uncomfortable. Besides, things were far from comfortable there anyway.”
“Lizzy, I do not know how long we shall be away. Aside from the cook who comes in the morning and one live-in maid, you will be all alone. I should have hired a footman.”
“Nonsense. I shall have the other officer’s wives. We will band together and be a happy party. There is much for me to learn if I am to be a respectable officer’s wife.”
“You will remember the protective movements and actions I showed you. Promise me you will take care.”
And he clasped her to him in a tight embrace. She wrapped her arms around his neck and embraced him just as tightly.
Soon, the embrace softened, and she felt his lips on her hair, her temples, sliding down her cheek to her lips. His hands moved from her back to her hips and ran lightly up her arms. One nudged her jaw so he could deepen their kiss. The other kept roaming her back, down, and even lower to cup her buttocks and press her urgently to his desire. He lifted her and carried her to their sleeping chamber, kicking the door shut behind them.
But things did not go quite as planned after he sailed away. Elizabeth was the new wife of the group. Gently bred, she did not have the life experiences of the other naval wives. They were all also busy with their own concerns and children.
One or two of the women did take pity on her and invited her around for tea or a meal from time to time. But for the most part, Elizabeth led a lonely existence until word came of her husband’s death.
Coming out of her reverie, Elizabeth rushed to pick up her son.It is you and I now, my little one. We will face the world together. I will never be alone again.
She kissed his cheek and laid him down. With a final thanks to Hannah for watching over him whilst she dined with the Darcys, Elizabeth straightened her back and held her head high.It is just one meal. What can possibly go wrong?
Chapter 6
She knocked on the Darcys’ sitting room door. A rustle of skirt on the other side preceded the door opening to Georgiana’s smiling face.
“Lizzy! I am so happy you are joining us this evening.” She grabbed one of Elizabeth’s hands and dragged her inside the room.
Seeing Darcy standing before a chair, Elizabeth curtseyed. “Mr Darcy, thank you for the invitation to join you this evening.”
He bowed, his expression austere but welcoming. “Mrs Carrington, it is a pleasure to have you. May I get you a drink? We have a ratafia, which my sister says is quite tasty.”
“Yes, I thank you.” Elizabeth followed Georgiana over to the chairs and they both took a seat. “Georgiana mentioned you both had a fine ride this morning.”
“Indeed.” Darcy handed a small glass to his sister and one to Elizabeth. “The countryside in the surrounding area is very pretty. The horses are perhaps not as spirited as Pemberley’s horses, but that is not a bad thing, especially considering our ignorance of the terrain. Taking chances whilst riding can be dangerous.”
“I shall take your word for it, sir. I rarely ride and while they are a most majestic animal, I find their size too intimidating.”Elizabeth’s smile held a hint of her old impertinence. “I suppose that is why I married a naval man and not one from the cavalry.”
