CHAPTER 24
As Darcy readPeregrine Pickle, using gestures and changing the pitch, pace, and tone of his voice to match the characters and events, Elizabeth’s mind wandered to what the future might hold. Would he gather his family in front of a warm fire to read adventure stories to their children, laughing and teasing as the tales progressed? With his performance today, there was no reason to expect otherwise, and she was grateful for it.
By the time the play came to an end, she was weary. From the looks of the others, they were as well. Retreating to the far wall where Darcy moved his chair, she sat next to him.
“Would that I could lean against you and rest for a while.” She tipped slightly in his direction, stopping herself before her arm touched his. “Instead, would you tell me about Miss Darcy? Is she like you in looks and personality traits? What are her interests? Does she have many friends? When she is in London, does she live with you or with your aunt and uncle?”
“I will.” He leaned his head back against the wall. “Georgiana has received a lady’s education and is a gifted musician. Her specialty is the pianoforte. Once she discovered the instrumentwas our mother’s favorite, Georgie devoted hours and hours each day practicing. She truly is a marvel.”
“How wonderful to hear. What of her character? Is she a great reader? You mentioned that you both already enjoyedSense & Sensibility, is there another author she prefers that might enlighten me to the sort of person she is?”
He stared at the far wall where his cousin still conversed with Jane. “My sister is close to your height, has light blonde hair, and warm brown eyes that easily draws a person to her. She is quite timid, being uncomfortable in society, which is why she is in no hurry to come out, much to the chagrin of Lady Matlock. Until this past summer she had a sparkling wit she routinely used against Richard and me. After certain events that took place in Ramsgate, where I set up a house for her, she is withdrawn. As you are aware, George Wickham was frequently at Pemberley, so Georgiana viewed him as a close and trusted friend. In July, while she was at the seaside, she learned that her trust was misplaced, causing disappointment of the acutest kind. I do not know if she will recover.”
“Oh, dear. Poor girl. My heart aches for you both since I can see how you carry her pain in your pocket. I hope it will comfort you to know that Jane was in that very exact situation when she was fifteen. A longtime friend of our uncle had an older son who was our playmate each time we went to London. Over the course of one summer to the next, the lad shot up in height, and my sister gained the form of a classic beauty. The young man and his father noticed. Like Mr. Wickham was to Miss Darcy, our old friend turned his attention to Jane. He wrote her bad poetry and sent her flowers. However, one day, his attention came to a halt without any explanation. It was only later we discovered that a girl with a hefty dowry stole his heart away from Jane. My sister was crushed, vowing never to love again until she met a man of sterling character. The next year, Jane’s broken heart healed towhere she finally was restored to the girl she was before with the exception of one thing. Jane learned discernment. For this, I am grateful.”
“I see. Then you are suggesting that I need to wait for Georgiana to recover patiently.”
“I would not be at all surprised if it happened. A young girl’s heart is fragile. Even though this is so, we are not the weak creatures many men consider us to be. After all, which of the two sexes carry and bear children? Imagine if it was left up to the male sex? I suppose that humankind would have ended after Adam delivered his first son, do you not agree?”
He chuckled under his breath. “What I cannot believe is that I am discussing procreation with a lady.”
She started to laugh, then paused. Something was not adding up. Recalling Lydia’s comments about the similarity between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham, Elizabeth wondered what the actual situation was within the family. For Mr. Wickham had light blond hair and warm brown eyes as did Miss Darcy. Were they distant family members? Were they not-so-distant-family? Although her curiosity was piqued, she did not yet feel it was her place to ask. She would wait for Mr. Darcy to reveal any pertinent details.
Despite Darcy trusting Elizabeth,he was not yet ready to speak of the disastrous, almost elopement between Wickham and Georgiana. He would do nothing to cloud the judgment of his future wife against his sister.
“Pardon me, sir.” Cook, surprisingly light on her feet, approached. “Your coachman is outside where the kitchen door used to be. He wants you to know your equipment and cattlemade it safely through this last hard wind and hail. He wonders whether you will be needing to transport anyone to Meryton. An officer from the militia rode from the encampment, saying that there are no additional trees on the road. He also said the regiment is a man short. They are out looking for him.” She added, “Nightfall will be soon, sir.”
“Thank you for the information.” Darcy suspected that Elizabeth’s younger sisters might be ready to go home. But he did not want Elizabeth to leave. They had much more to say to each other. Yet, he understood her desire to tend to her family. Already, she was urging her mother to return to Longbourn.
“La’ yes, Mama,” Lydia said. “As lovely as my gown was at the ball, I am verily weary of wearing it. Do let us go to Longbourn so we can sleep in our own beds instead of the floor. As it is, I do not want to be seen by anyone, even kind Mr. Darcy.”
She considered him kind?It was not the sort of compliment he typically received, but he would accept it since it was uttered honestly.
Parker had provided him with a change of clothing, but the ladies had not his advantages. He was unsurprised when the matron bent her opinion to Miss Lydia’s will.
Mrs. Bennet perked up. “Yes, Lydia. What could I have been thinking? Mr. Darcy should always see you at your best. The same holds true for Jane and Mr. Bingley, although we have seen little of him since our distress began. Mary is walking with confidence, for whatever reason, and Kitty is almost as lovely as you are, dear girl. Why, I would not be surprised if I do not have at least four of my daughters engaged before spring.” She began gathering her chicks together, interrupting Miss Bennet and Richard’s discussion, completely oblivious to the growing attachment between the two. Even Darcy, who was usually blind as a bat when it came to romance, could not miss how closely they were seated together.
Seeing the tenseness of Elizabeth’s spine, Darcy momentarily wondered at the cause. Then, he knew. Mrs. Bennet mentioned the possibility of only four daughters being wed. She did not consider her second daughter worthy of attracting a potential husband. Her mother said nothing of Elizabeth’s many attractions despite the fact that Darcy and Elizabeth spent hours in private conversation. Was her mother blind? She must have been to imagine that Darcy would somehow be interested in Miss Lydia.
He barely kept from shuddering.
His overtures to Elizabeth should have been obvious. Yet, no one said anything. Why, he could not help but wonder. Why would a mother deliberately ignore a lovely child like her second daughter? Was it because her coloring was similar to the husband she despised? Was it because she could not intimidate Elizabeth?
Whatever the cause, it increased Darcy’s irritation tenfold.
“Come, Miss Elizabeth. Allow me to escort you to my carriage.” He extended his arm after she gathered her wrap. “Miss Elizabeth?”
When she turned toward him, he saw the transformation from hurt to resolved. “I suppose we must, sir.”
He arched his brow.
“My father needs to be reminded that he has a family and that whatever damage is at Longbourn will need to be repaired. Besides, he is surely tired of Mr. Collins’s company after several hours of the two of them being together—as would I be if the truth were told.”
He chuckled under his breath. “You are impertinent indeed, Elizabeth Bennet. Whatever am I to do with you?”
Her eyes twinkled in the candlelight. “You are an intelligent man, Fitzwilliam. I am certain that you have already considered several possibilities.”
Warmth surged through him, filling him with joy. They would be happy together.
