Elizabeth straightened when Lady Helen’s eyes fixed on her nephew. “Fitzwilliam, you are standing too close to Miss Elizabeth. You are behaving most improperly, sir.”
Darcy bowed. “Yes, Aunt Helen.”
Richard escorted his mother into the dining room. The lady’s brows rose nearly to her hairline when Darcy took Elizabeth’s hand and placed her arm within the crook of his own, and escorted the woman he loved into the dining room.
Georgiana slipped her hand through Elizabeth’s other arm and leaned close to whisper, “Lizzy, I am afraid.”
Elizabeth looked into the girl’s anxious eyes.
“What do you fear, my dear?”
“I have never before occupied the same room as a dead person.”
“You have nothing to fear, Georgiana. Lady Catherine shall suffer no more pain, nor will she struggle for breath, when the time comes. She shall be at peace. There is nothing for you to dread. During the wake, your brother shall remain beside you, and you need not approach the body too closely if it distresses you.”
The young girl searched Elizabeth’s face.
“Will she become a ghost, Lizzy?”
“No, my dear. You need not fear such things. I have attended several wakes over the years, and I have never experienced anything untoward. There is nothing to fear.”
“Will you remain with me during the wake?”
Darcy overheard the conversation and answered before Elizabeth could speak.
“You shall have me upon one side and Elizabeth upon the other, so you need fear nothing, sweetling.”
This appeared to comfort her, but then she said, “Fitzwilliam, you and Lizzy shall not be able to marry this week as you hoped. Annie believes Aunt Catherine will not survive the night.”
Elizabeth lifted her eyes to meet his.
He pressed her hand and whispered, “It is true, darling. We shall not marry tomorrow, even should she survive, for my uncle would consider it a grave mark of disrespect. He sanctioned Richard’s marriage because it offers protection to our orphaned cousin, but I have no such justification. He would regard my marriage as an act of selfish indulgence on my part.”
She lowered her eyes and worked to keep her disappointment in check. They were to have married on the morrow, but now they must wait for months, and perhaps his aunt and the Earl would turn him against her, and the marriage would never transpire.
At dinner, no further opportunity arose to discuss the matter, for the Countess of Matlock presided over the conversation. The lady directed Fitzwilliam to the seat on her right and Elizabeth to the one on her left, then subjected Elizabeth to close questioning.
“Miss Elizabeth, how is it that you and your sisters are residing at Rosings Park?”
“Lady Catherine invited me to stay with Annie, for she was brought low by the loss of Mrs. Jenkinson.”
“Indeed? Do you reside in the neighborhood, ma’am?”
“No, my lady. My sister married the rector of Hunsford parish. Mrs. Fitzwilliam befriended me and asked that I remain with her during her companion’s final days.”
“I see. Have you known my nephew long? The two of you appear remarkably close.”
Elizabeth lifted her eyes toward Mr. Darcy, but he remained silent.
“Not long. Lady Catherine introduced us to her nephews.”
“Ah, I see. And where does your family reside, Miss Bennet?”
“My father’s estate lies in Hertfordshire, and my sister is married to my father’s heir.”
“So, the estate was entailed away from the female line?”
“Yes, my lady.”
