A Spy at Pemberley (2 page)

The nursery door was open so Nanny could hear if they stirred. Although there were no candles burning, the light from the fire was more than sufficient to make her way to the children. Her son was spreadeagled like a starfish and she pulled the comforter back over him. His sister was scrunched up into a corner of her crib, her thumb tucked firmly in her mouth and her bottom in the air. She too needed recovering.

How she loved these babies – if she was honest they came first with her now; Fitzwilliam was no longer the centre of the universe. She loved him as much as ever, but what a mother felt for her children was stronger than that between a man and a woman. She supposed this was nature's way of making sure the babies survived.

Her eyes prickled as she thought of the anguish Jane and Charles had gone through so often since their daughter Charlotte had been born last summer. Thank God the infant was thriving at the present, but she was still not as robust as her two even though they had been far smaller when they were born.

She bid Nanny goodnight and hurried back to her apartment. She was greeted by her husband. His smile still made her toes curl in their slippers.

'Good evening, my darling, might I be permitted to say you look enchanting tonight. Is that in my honour or for our guest?'

She stepped into his open arms and his kiss was hard, demanding; she wished they didn't have to go downstairs but could tumble into bed immediately. This thought made her speak of something that had been bothering her.

'Fitzwilliam, I'm concerned that I'm not yet with child. Initially I was glad not to be increasing so soon, but now I would like another infant and there's no sign of one.'

'I'm sure there's nothing to worry about. To tell you the truth, I'm relieved that we've had a few months respite. You had a difficult pregnancy and there's always the danger you could have twins again and we might not be so lucky next time.'

'I know, and I thank God every day that we have two such healthy children. I would like a large family, but if the good Lord chooses to only give us Amanda and Fabian then I shall be satisfied with that.'

'As shall I, my love. We had better go down or the colonel will think we have deserted him.'

She knew better than to ask him why his cousin had arrived so precipitously. Being married to a man of his position it was only to be expected that he would be asked to take an interest in politics.

His cousin was not attached to a particular regiment and appeared to spend his time gallivanting about the country and the Peninsular involved in secret missions of some sort. No doubt he was what was known as an
intelligence officer
– a polite word for
a spy
. Hardly a gentlemanly occupation, but someone had to do it.

After a pleasant evening spent with two Fitzwilliams Lizzy retired and left the men to their conversation. They would have plenty to talk about; she climbed into bed in the expectation her husband wouldn't join her until long after she was asleep.

Less than a quarter of an hour after she settled he slid in beside her. His naked thigh touched hers and his intentions were obvious. As he deftly removed her nightgown he whispered in her ear.

'My darling, if we are to produce another offspring then we must be more diligent in our efforts.'

'I think that an excellent notion, my love. Are we not told at every turn that the more effort we put into something the greater the reward?'

His hands began to work their usual magic and soon she was incapable of speech. It was a considerable time before she was allowed to sleep.

Chapter Two

Darcy thought it might be beneficial for him to spend the day with his beloved Lizzy before he broached the subject of removing to London in April. Although she had no option in the matter, he wished to use his considerable powers of persuasion to convince her she should like to come and leave the children behind.

He rolled out of bed at his usual time of seven o'clock making sure he didn't disturb her slumber. His cousin would be departing early and he wished to speak to him again before he left. As expected Hugo was attacking a full plate of breakfast before he left Pemberley.

'Good morning, Darcy, I didn't expect you to join me so early.'

'I've come up with what I think might be a suitable reason for wishing to spend part of the Season in Town.' He piled his plate and joined his cousin at the table before continuing. 'I think we should tell Lizzy, and anyone else who might be interested, that you've decided to become leg-shackled. Therefore, you enlisted our assistance to find you a suitable wife.'

His cousin choked on his coffee and was incapable of speech for several minutes whilst he spluttered into his napkin. 'Good God! Have you run mad? The last thing I require is a wife.'

Darcy laughed at his friend's horror. 'Come now, you are five and thirty – high time that you set up your nursery. After your recent inheritance you have a substantial income and a handsome estate. What could be more natural than your wishing to get married?' He waved his fork in the air. 'You don't have to make any hopeful young debutante an offer – just appear to be looking.'

'For a nasty moment I thought you were in earnest. If the whole thing is to be a pretence then that's a different matter altogether. Just make sure the Sinclair and Hall families are included on the list.'

'I've already suggested to Lizzy that we have a house party in the summer. If she believes she is to invite suitable young ladies, as well as friends and family, this will make the whole thing more credible. I hate to deceive her, but it's better this way. If she was to know the truth she might reveal something and put her life in danger.'

'I agree, my friend. The Season has hardly begun – no one of any importance will be in London until April. You must hold a ball or some such nonsense. I'll leave it to your wife to decide which is the best option.' He tossed his napkin aside and stood up. 'Forgive me, but I must get on my way. I have to report at Horse Guards as soon as possible and even travelling post it will take me two days.'

Darcy nodded and his cousin marched out. Lizzy had taken to having her breakfast in the nursery with the children so he would seek her out up there. He enjoyed playing with the twins but was looking forward to the time when they could communicate with words rather than screeches.

Whilst he finished his meal he rehearsed what he would say to Lizzy to convince her that Hugo was genuinely in search of a wife. Although his cousin wasn't exactly a misogynist, he wasn't famous for his success with the fairer sex. As far as he knew the colonel didn't even keep a ladybird tucked away somewhere.

However, he was a handsome man, in his prime and had good teeth and a full head of dark hair. The fact that he was wealthy, and his pedigree was second to none, would be of more interest to the matrons seeking husbands for their daughters. Darcy smiled to himself. He rather thought the fact that his cousin was personable would be what attracted the young ladies.

He slammed his palm down on the table making the cutlery and plates jump into the air. Tarnation! He was thinking as if the search was genuine and not a fabrication to aid the government mission. He frowned. He sincerely hoped that no hearts would be broken by this duplicity.

His appetite had deserted him. He was a straightforward man and disliked dissembling of any kind. Now he was obliged to not only lie to his dearest Lizzy, but also to risk the happiness of an innocent girl. He pushed himself upright, hating what he had to do. It would be better to hurt two people than have thousands of British soldiers put at risk by the traitors sending information to France.

The nursery was empty. He scowled and a flustered nursemaid curtsied and explained. 'Madam has gone with Nanny and the twins for a walk.'

Darcy glanced out of the window. It was hardly the weather for perambulating around the garden but his wife believed fresh air was essential for their offspring whatever one might think to the contrary. He nodded to the girl and strode off in search of them.

*

'Madam, the master is coming this way.' Nanny said nervously.

Lizzy turned and saw that Fitzwilliam looked far from pleased. Why had he come out here to find her? Was there something of importance he had to tell her?

She handed Fabian to the nursemaid who had accompanied them to the parterre. 'Continue with the walk, I must see what Mr Darcy requires of me.'

When he saw she was heading his way he stopped and his expression changed. His eyes lit up and his smile warmed her, sending heatwaves to a most intimate place.

'Sweetheart, I'm glad you returned. I've something quite extraordinary to discuss with you and I think it best done inside.'

He offered his arm and she placed her hand on it. If she was honest she was quite glad to return as the March wind in their part of Derbyshire was decidedly cold. Her children were well wrapped up and would come to no harm in the bracing weather.

'Do you think we would scandalise Peterson and Reynolds if we were to run the remaining distance?' His grin made him look almost boyish.

'It's not their place to have opinions on such matters. If we are inclined to run and behave like children then surely in our own home we can do it?'

He needed no further urging and snatched her hand into his, held it hard, and then took off like a rabbit from a fox. By the time they reached the terrace she was breathless, her bonnet was askew and her hair tumbling from its pins.

He, as always, looked immaculate. Instead of being shocked at her appearance, he put a hand on either side of her waist and lifted her from her feet. 'You look enchanting, my darling, I almost wish we could continue this conversation in our bedchamber.'

She threw her arms around his neck and pulled his head down so she could kiss him. His lips were cold, but still sent heatwaves racing around her body.

She pressed her scarlet cheeks into his shoulder. 'If we hadn't scandalised the staff by running, we will certainly have done so by embracing so publicly.'

Gently he detached her hand and smoothed away two strands of hair that had escaped from beneath the rim of her bonnet. 'I love you, Elizabeth Darcy, and I don't care who knows it.'

Hand in hand they entered the house and made themselves comfortable in front of the substantial fire in the drawing room. Refreshments were brought without being asked for. Whilst she busied herself pouring out the coffee and cutting them both a generous slice of cake he watched her through half-closed eyes. She didn't trust him one jot. He was quite capable of snatching her up and carrying her to bed whatever she might say about the matter.

'Don't look at me like a wolf about to seize a lamb, my love. Take your coffee and cake and behave yourself.'

He lounged back against the chair stretching his long legs out towards the flames. 'Cousin Hugo wishes to get married and has asked for our help to find him a suitable bride.'

Her cake slid from the plate and she stared at him open-mouthed. 'Good heavens! If you told me he was about to sprout wings and fly I couldn't be more surprised. I thought him wed to his job – a lifelong bachelor. Whatever has made him change his mind?'

She scooped the cake back onto the plate and took a large bite. It was far too good to be wasted just because it had spent a brief moment on the floor.

'I am as shocked as you are, my love. I think the fact that he's just passed his name day, and is now nearer to two score years, might have been the impetus for this decision. I suppose he's thinking that his active service days will soon be over and then he will need someone to run his house in his retirement.'

She snorted inelegantly. 'A housekeeper would be adequate for that. He's never shown the slightest interest in our children – although he's always been kind to your sister.' She munched on the delicious cake as she thought about this extraordinary development. 'I suppose if he's serious in his intention we are the best people to assist him in this endeavour. Unfortunately, as I've not spent any time at all in Town, I've no idea where to look for suitable candidates.'

'I've already decided how best we can help him. We shall go to Grosvenor Square next month and accept as many invitations as we can. I'll go to the clubs and listen to the gossip and you can pay morning calls and make discreet enquiries about the eligible girls this Season.'

'That sounds like an excellent notion, my love. I believe we could accomplish that in a week or two and then be able to return here with a list of names to invite to the house party. Of course, some of the most likely debutantes will already be spoken for by the time summer comes – but I'm sure we can find a dozen from which the colonel can make his choice.'

'In which case there's no need to take the children with us. They will be perfectly well here in our absence.'

She was about to protest that she had no intention of leaving her babies for even so short a time when she realised his unwelcome idea made sense. 'As long as you promise we shall be there for no more than three weeks, and that we travel as speedily in both directions as we may, then I agree your suggestion has merit. I shall find it very difficult being parted from the children, but transporting them so great a distance doesn't make sense when we are only remaining for a week or so.'

'Do you think we should hold a rout or some such thing?'

'Absolutely not. It's only necessary to make our list – we won't be there long enough to arrange a social event of any significance. I'm not averse to inviting a dozen or so to dine with us as that doesn't require a lot of planning, or sending out invitations weeks in advance.

'I hope you have an inkling as to what sort of girl he might be looking for as I certainly don't. You must speak to him in more depth before we begin our search, for there's no point inviting anyone who doesn't fit his criteria.'

'I should have asked him whilst he was here but it didn't occur to me to do so. One would imagine he would like a robust young lady, who prefers to be outside rather than indoors eating sweetmeats and reading periodicals.'

'I'm sure you're right, my dear. She must have a lively wit, be from a good family and not be an antidote or at her last prayers. The girl I think would suit him best wouldn't be straight from the schoolroom, but perhaps in her second or third season. As long as she is young enough to provide him with children I don't think even someone in her mid-twenties could be considered too old. Your cousin is a serious man and would not deal well with someone fifteen years his junior, with her head stuffed full of romance and other such nonsense.'

'Then let us hope we can find someone speedily, because I'd rather have my teeth pulled than spend time mingling with the
ton
.'

Although Fitzwilliam had changed in the time they'd been together he was still a gentleman who preferred to be with close friends or family. He was thought of as proud and arrogant – but she knew him to be neither of those things. He found it difficult to engage in trivial conversation, became uncomfortable and silent, and this was often misinterpreted as him being toplofty.

'I shall set things in motion, my love. We should be ready to travel by the end of the month. Before we leave we must spend time with Kitty and Georgiana. I could not possibly leave Derbyshire without knowing that my sisters are well.'

*

Darcy nodded. 'I'll leave things in your capable hands, Lizzy. I'll send two teams ahead of us so we can change horses when we stop for the night. If the weather remains clement we should complete the journey in less than three days if we take things at speed.'

'We shall still be obliged to use post horses when we stop for refreshments. I assume that the horses must set off several days before us so they can have time to rest. Surely even your extensive stables cannot do without so many horses? You will have to send four grooms, two with each team, and they will need to be mounted as well.'

'We can use the gig, or ride if we need to visit anywhere in the neighbourhood.' He stood up. 'I'm going next door to speak to Bingley. Are you coming with me?'

'No, Jane has gone to visit Kitty today. Are you sure that Charles hasn't gone with her?'

'I'll take the chance. I'll not be above an hour – shall we spend time with the children after they've had their afternoon nap?'

Her delighted smile told him he'd said the right thing. She rang the bell to summon the housekeeper and he left the premises through the side door. The Grand Hall was rarely used nowadays and neither was the main staircase.

Pemberley was too large and although he'd spent most of his adult life living here he wished they could move somewhere more manageable. Even Bingley and Jane were more comfortable living in the East Wing which had been converted for them.

He could reach their home by walking along the terrace and through the orangery. His friend must have seen him and was waiting for him by the door. Bingley's usual cheerful smile was absent. He looked distressed.