Darcy's Passions (40 page)

“Elizabeth, we should rejoin the others,” he warned.

“Must we, Fitzwilliam? There are so many demands on our time; I could stay in here with you forever and never be wanting. Please may we remain for a few more minutes?”They sat quietly in each other's presence, each contented with being with the other.

Quitting the room at last, they held a new resolve to meet the requirements of a recently engaged couple. Darcy's arm slid around her waist as they entered the main hallway. “Did you, Elizabeth, realize how beautiful you looked standing at the top of those stairs the Sunday morning we went to services together? You took my breath away.”As he said so, he pulled her toward him.

“That was an uncharacteristic act of impropriety. What made
you agree with Mr. Bingley?” Elizabeth loved to tease him about his earliest attempts at winning her.

“In reality, my emotions were still so disheveled from seeing you in the library the day before, I could think of nothing else but to put
distance
between us.”

“So, your way of putting distance between us was to greet me on the staircase and lead me to a private coach? That is an interesting approach, do you not think?”

“In retrospect, the plan was not foolproof.” His smile was enormous.

“I do so love you, Fitzwilliam.” She looked him straight in the eye.“We have only a week before the wedding; we waited this long to be together; we have a lifetime to love one another. Let us join the others for now.” He tapped her chin with his index finger. In more of a question than a statement, she added, “I saw you make the same gesture with Georgiana.”

“I did so since she was a babe; it is an endearment between us two.”

“I like it; you have my permission to do so as often as you like.” She took his hand as they entered the drawing room, promises of love and life exchanged with a simple caress.

 

The dinner at Longbourn went better than either Darcy or Elizabeth expected. Mrs. Bennet, nearly in as much awe of Georgiana Darcy as she was of her brother, refrained from her usual familiarity although she did ask Miss Darcy several questions on the number of rooms at Pemberley and how many servants there were, but Darcy and Elizabeth deflected the majority of those questions. Georgiana consented to a duet with Mary Bennet, earning Mary's loyalty for the favor of the attention. Miss Darcy also shared the pianoforte with Elizabeth. Georgiana played the harder sections, but Darcy enjoyed the blessing of hearing Elizabeth sing. Mr. Bennet took the time to discuss several books with Georgiana before retiring to his study for the evening. Kitty cornered Miss Darcy to discuss fashion and balls.They seemed to
enjoy each other's company although Elizabeth noted how often Georgiana blushed.

“Lizzy,” Kitty came to sit with her sister, “Miss Darcy says you want me to come to stay at Pemberley. Is that true?” The girl was bubbling with anticipation.

Elizabeth took her younger sister's hand into hers. “Kitty, it would give me great pleasure for you to come to Pemberley. I would like some time to settle in with my new husband, but I was thinking some time after the first of the year. In fact, I want to ask Fitzwilliam about helping find someone to advance your studies. Jane and I decided you should spend most of your time with us if that would suit you.”

“Lizzy, I can think of nothing better.Will there be balls?”

“Kitty, first you will need some lessons before presentations at balls, but I am sure some parties can be arranged.”

“Thank you, Lizzy,” Kitty hugged her. “I cannot wait to tell Maria Lucas tomorrow.”

 

As expected, Lydia Wickham came to Longbourn for the wedding rather than to send her congratulations.Thankfully, Mr.Wickham's duties, as well as his recent debts in the area, kept him from joining his wife. Lydia flaunted her tales of military balls to Kitty, but Kitty had her own news of being invited to Pemberley, causing Lydia to sulk for a good portion of the evening. Darcy and Elizabeth kept her from giving Georgiana too much notice. Truthfully, Miss Darcy's reserve reminded Lydia too much of her brother to interest Mrs.Wickham's frivolous nature.

 

As the party drew near its close, Lydia cornered Darcy in the drawing room. “Mr. Darcy, you are a devious man.” Used to being the center of attention, she tried to flirt with him.

“I am afraid, Mrs. Wickham, I do not understand your implication.” He ignored her advances with his usual haughty manner.

“When you were in London, you should have told me you favored Lizzy. I made such a fool of myself talking about you and
her. Lordy, I said she hated you—remember?”

“I recall your words, Mrs.Wickham.”

“It is odd—once my dear Wickham was a favorite of Lizzy's—now I am married to Mr.Wickham, and you will marry our Lizzy.”

“I will marry Elizabeth,” is all the response he gave to her references to George Wickham.

“Oh, by the way, Mr. Darcy, my husband sends you his congratulations.” She slipped into his hand a letter addressed to Darcy, written in the distinctive script of George Wickham. He tried not to show the anxiety he felt at seeing it.

“Thank you, Mrs. Wickham.” Darcy slipped the message into his pocket to read later. Shortly, he excused himself on the pretense of borrowing a book from Mr. Bennet. Securing the book and stepping into the hallway, Darcy finally read the note in private.

Darcy's contempt at the audacity of such a note being sent shook his being. He literally shuddered with anger and disdain. Elizabeth, having missed his presence, came to find him. “What is it, Fitzwilliam?” she rushed to his side.

“A letter of
congratulations
from Mr.Wickham.” His was a cold laugh.

“Please, Fitzwilliam, do not let this man ruin our time. We all have evil in us, but we all have goodness too. If you let Mr. Wickham cloud these last days of courtship, you allow the evil in, and he wins. I love you so much I would give up my life for you. Let that goodness in instead. Give me the letter; Mr. Wickham's well wishes will make good kindling for my bedroom fire.”

He slid the envelope into her hand. “Elizabeth, how I earned your love I do not know, but I am blessed as no man is.” He pulled her close to him to escape the darkness he just felt.

She held him there briefly before saying, “Come, Love, Georgiana may need us.” She interlaced her arm through his.“Only five more days,” she whispered.

 

If Darcy realized Elizabeth's anger at her sister he may not have left her that evening, but he, Mr. Bingley, and Georgiana returned to Netherfield in due time. Once everyone was to bed, Elizabeth found Jane and Lydia in Lydia's old bedroom. Jane made her “good nights” when Elizabeth entered. “I will see you in the morning, Lizzy,” Jane said as she exited the room.

“Good night, Jane,” Elizabeth kissed her briefly on the cheek in parting.

Coming to sit across from her youngest sister, Elizabeth first forced Lydia to give her undivided attention, and then Elizabeth spoke in a stern tone, “Lydia, I plan to say this to you only once.You are my sister, and I love you, but Mr.Wickham will
never
be my brother nor will he be Mr. Darcy's brother. Mr. Wickham will
never
be welcomed at Pemberley. If he would be foolish enough to try to come there, it would not be
Mr. Darcy's
wrath he should fear. It would be the wrath of
Mrs. Darcy.
I would have him shot as a trespasser.”

“Lizzy, that is foolish; you know nothing about shooting a gun.”

“I am sure, Lydia, Mr. Darcy would be happy to teach me how to handle a gun if he knew my purpose was to rid our estate of your husband.”

“Lizzy, that is not fair to my husband. How can you think so harshly of my dear Wickham?”

“If you only knew your
dear Wickham.
”

“Lizzy, I know you think me to be foolish, but I do know Mr. Wickham's faults, but what can I do, I am his wife.”

Elizabeth pitied Lydia, but she would not let that cloud her resolve. “Then
be
his wife and not an instrument for plans of destruction. Lydia, you must grow up—you must as a wife be concerned with something more than balls and officers.”

“Lizzy, that is all I have. Jane is beautiful; you are smart; Mary is talented; Kitty is creative.What do I have besides my childish innocence—that is all the charm I have to offer?”

“Do not sell yourself as such, Lydia.You are a Bennet . . .”

“I am not valued as are you and Jane. I am sorry, Lizzy, but I have no head for reading or what makes women accomplished.”

“Lydia, Mr. Darcy did all he will do for you and Mr.Wickham. He paid Mr.Wickham's debts, purchased for him a commission in Newcastle, and gave an additional two thousand pounds to Mama's dowry for you.You
must
understand; Mr. Darcy will not bail out Mr. Wickham again just because you are my sister. I do not want you to suffer and end up in a place such as in which Mr. Darcy found you in London.”

“Lizzy, I cannot manage on what we have to live on!”

“Lydia, Jane and I will help when we can. I may be able to save something from my pin money, but I will
not
ask Mr. Darcy to help Mr.Wickham again.”

“I understand, Lizzy.” The girl was nearly in tears.

“You need to make your husband understand as well.Tell him what I said.”

“I will, Lizzy.”

“I do not want to hurt you, Lydia, but I will not have Fitzwilliam abused by Mr. Wickham again. You know me, Lydia. Tell Mr.Wickham this is my final word on the matter!”

“Yes, Lizzy, I will tell him.”

“Good night, Lydia.” Frustrated with her youngest sister, Elizabeth left the room and stormed to her own room. The fire consumed the congratulatory letter; it burned out quicker than did Elizabeth's anger.

“I say, Bingley, is that not your barouche headed toward Netherfield?” Darcy and his friend took a final tour of Bingley's estate; down to four days before best friends married sisters in Meryton, they both tried to kill the hours before their wedding day by completing the land survey.

“Yes, Jane wanted to make one last walk through of Netherfield and note the renovations for each room before my sisters arrive tomorrow. Caroline and Louisa prefer Jane to choose from their ornate designs.” Bingley rose up in his saddle to get a better view of his intended. “Your Elizabeth is coming to spend the afternoon with Georgiana.”

Darcy too sat forward in the saddle. It seemed to be a lifetime ago he first saw Elizabeth Bennet walking along the roads surrounding Netherfield; her presence sent a surge through him then, as it did now.“Do you think you have seen enough of Netherfield's lands for the day?” he asked nonchalantly.

“I believe I have,” Bingley winked at his friend. “We should return to the house. Maybe we should enter through the servants' entrance, freshen up, and then surprise the Miss Bennets.What say you, Darcy?”

“Bingley,” Darcy smiled,“your suggestion is most welcomed.” They spun their horses around and headed toward the rear of the house.

 

By the time Darcy came upon the open doorway of the drawing room, Elizabeth and Georgiana spent a pleasant three quarters
hour together. They spoke of family, of music, and of Darcy. An outside observer might think they were sisters forever; a natural respect existed between the two. Their laughter drifted from the room, and Darcy found himself reluctant to enter the space and interfere with their kinship.

“Georgiana, may I ask you something?” Elizabeth looked up sheepishly.

“Anything, Elizabeth.”

“Something has bothered me for some time. When I first met your cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam he already knew so much about me. When I asked his source, he said you told him; yet, we never met.”