Foundation of Love: The Gypsy Blessing 2 (36 page)

Elizabeth examined his features thoroughly and saw true remorse and sorrow. “I accept.”

Dan nodded slightly. He stared into her eyes for a few moments longer and then switched his gaze to William. “Darcy, I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused you.”

William ground his teeth for a few seconds. “If Elizabeth can accept your apology, I guess I can, too.” William removed his hand from Elizabeth only long enough to shake Dan’s hand.

“Thank you both.” Dan started to walk away, but stopped suddenly and half-turned back to them. “Jane told me you two are engaged. Congratulations.” Dan left the room.

“I wasn’t expecting that,” William said softly.

“I was, but not quite this soon,” Elizabeth replied.

Larry returned. “The manager is going to let us use a room to do the interviews.” Larry hesitated. He met Elizabeth’s gaze. “Unless you’d rather I call an ambulance?”

“Ambulance?” Elizabeth’s raised brows showed her surprise.

William leaned in toward her. “The cuts from the knife... You’ve got dried blood on your neck and chest.”

“Oh!” She looked at herself as best she could. “At least it didn’t get on the dress.”

“Only you, Lizzy.” Larry chuckled. “I guess that’s a negative for an ambulance?”

“Right. I’m okay.”

“There are a few people in the hallway... the Lucases, Georgiana, the Gardiners, Richard, and Anne... I went out there earlier to let them know you’re all okay, but I don’t want them to get too upset when they see you.” Larry sighed. “You should also be warned that the photographers that were outside the building are now inside. My men are keeping this area clear, but I can’t kick them out of the hotel. It seems most of them have paid for rooms here, and the manager of The Netherfield refuses to tell them they can’t hang around the lobby. Unless you tell me different, the lobby is not a crime scene.” He raised his eyebrows. When both William and Elizabeth shook their heads, he continued. “My guess is he wants the publicity the hotel gets out of this. We’re going to have to walk past them.” Larry pointed to some folded blankets. “After the police photographer takes some pictures of your injuries, maybe you’d like to wrap a blanket around your shoulders to cover up before you leave the arboretum.”

Elizabeth blushed thoroughly. “I never thought close-up pictures of my chest would be part of a police investigation.” She gasped. “And they’ll have to show the pictures around at court, won’t they?”

Larry frowned. “I’m afraid so, Lizzy.”

She glanced up at William, who was obviously even less happy about the idea than she was. He stated firmly, “Dan is
not
going to be involved with this case.”

He needs to be in control of
something
about this,
Elizabeth thought.

“I’m sure the District Attorney will take this one himself,” Larry confirmed. “With Dan’s personal history...” He glanced at Elizabeth. “He won’t have anything to do with this case.”

“I never should have let you talk me into wearing this, Jane,” Elizabeth muttered to her sister under her breath.

“It was either a push-up bra or a corset with that gown, Lizzy,” Jane replied a little too loudly.

It was evident that Larry had
tried
not to laugh, but since he failed miserably, he walked away.

Chapter
25

~One month later

“I’m so happy for you, Lizzy!” Charlotte moved away from Brian Fitzwilliam, her partner in the wedding party and new love interest, and hugged the bride. “I hate to say that I told you so... but I
did
tell you Will had the hots for you!”

“It’s true.” Elizabeth looked up at her husband and smiled. “She told me the first day we met, after we all went out to the dance club, but I didn’t believe her.”

“I understand why you didn’t think so, Elizabeth.” William caressed her cheek with his fingertips. “But Charlotte was absolutely right.”

Charlotte beamed.

“Why are you going to England on your honeymoon?” Tom asked.

“To see Pemberley,” Elizabeth answered. At Tom’s confused expression, Elizabeth elaborated, “Will’s estate in England, not the house being built here, though I wouldn’t mind camping out in the tree house until it’s built.”

“It’s a little cold for that, now. Maybe next spring.” William laughed softly. “It’ll be chilly in Northern England, too, but at least Pemberley has fireplaces.”

“I can’t believe you’re
finally
taking a vacation, Will,” Anne said from behind Elizabeth. Elizabeth turned and saw the remainder of the wedding party gathering around to say goodbye to them before they headed off to the airport.

“I’ve gone with Mrs. Reynolds, but Will hasn’t been to Pemberley in years,” Georgiana said, glancing up shyly at Tom. He smiled down at her.

Anne elbowed Elizabeth and wiggled her eyebrows at Tom and Georgiana.

Elizabeth mouthed silently, “We’ll see.”

“I want Elizabeth to see Pemberley,” William replied, obviously pretending he hadn’t noticed Anne’s matchmaking at work. “With Richie, Charles, and Brian all here on the job, Lambton is in good hands. Since the building department is still trying to straighten out their mess, and I no longer have an architect, there’s nothing else in the works until we get back. Besides, lately I’ve learned a thing or two about what’s most important to me.” As he looked down at his wife, there was no doubt
who
was most important to William.

“In January, Will’s going to re-hire Gardiner & Associates, and it will be back to work for both of us,” Elizabeth added.

“I thought Tom was covering the store during January, Lizzy.” Charlotte turned to Tom. “Don’t you return to school at the end of the month?”

“Yes,” Tom answered, “but Lizzy is going to work full-time for Uncle Ed for a few weeks, until winter break is over.”

William said, “Unless they give you a difficult time—”

“They won’t,” Elizabeth interrupted. “Every senior member of the staff is a partner in the business. They all know that if even the slightest rumor is heard, you’ll fire Gardiner and Associates for good.”

“Don’t worry, Will. They know they’ll never find another Lambton Village.” Richard turned to Jane. “I have to ask—how did you manage to make Lizzy’s wedding dress so quickly?”

Jane laughed. “The same way Lizzy has been playing with the design for Pemberley Deux for years. I’ve been designing our wedding dresses most of our adult lives.”

Charles added, “Once Jane’s boss realized the future Mrs. Darcy would be wearing the gown and that Elizabeth promised she’d mention her shop in the magazine article, she allowed Jane to commandeer as many seamstresses as she needed to get it done on time.” He kissed Jane’s hand. “After you design and sew Anne’s dress and make one for yourself, you might have so much of a following that you’ll need a shop of your own.”

Jane blushed.

“At least Mom won’t have to rush to plan Jane and Charles’s reception the way she did Lizzy’s.” Lydia rolled her eyes. “I thought she’d have a nervous breakdown this past month.”

“Well, we didn’t really
want
anything this fancy...” Elizabeth looked around her at the ballroom at Netherfield Hotel.

“I know, but Mom can’t do anything the easy way,” Lydia answered.

“Wait... what magazine article?” asked Larry, who had escorted Lydia to the wedding.

“After all the press following the incident at the ball, I’m getting used to seeing my picture in print,” Elizabeth quipped in a snooty tone of voice.

Richard chuckled and clarified, “It’s more like a photo than an article—of Lizzy and Will, taken by Anne, of course—with a short caption introducing the woman who
caught
one of the nation’s most eligible bachelors!”

“Two years running...” Elizabeth smiled and held up two fingers.

William rolled his eyes.

“I just loved the picture of the two of you arriving at the ball.” Charlotte sighed. “The way you were looking at each other was so
romantic!”

Anne grinned widely. “The only photos I have of Will smiling are when he’s looking at Lizzy.” Then she stage-whispered, “I wish I had my camera right now.”

Everyone looked at the bride and groom, who couldn’t seem to take their eyes off each other. Without breaking their shared gaze, William said, “We should really say goodbye to your parents and Mrs. Reynolds now, too, or the plane will leave without us.”

Richard laughed. “I doubt your pilot will leave without his only passengers. But we can take a hint. If you two don’t mind being unsociable and would rather be alone than to spend more time in
our
company, you’d better get going.”

William looked around nervously at the faces of their friends and family. “No offense...”

“Just go!” Georgiana said, giggling. She pulled her brother into a hug. “We’ll see you in three weeks.”

~%~

~Derbyshire County, England

“I’m glad you’re driving. I don’t think I could get used to driving on the
wrong
side of the road.”

“Actually, it’s a very old tradition. Since most people are right-handed, everyone used to ride their horses on the left—so they could keep their sword arm toward oncoming traffic in case they met an enemy on the road.”

The corners of Elizabeth’s mouth turned up. “That’s interesting.”

“I knew you’d think so, too. I picked up a lot of trivia when we’d come here during the summer. It rains often in England, and Pemberley has a fantastic library. I read—a
lot
.” He paused. “You’ll get used to driving on the left, but I didn’t want to let you try it when you’re so tired.”

“I’m not tired, Will. Those seats on your plane are very comfortable, and I slept well. How about you?”

“It’s
our
plane.” He hesitated a few moments and frowned. “I was looking forward to taking you to Pemberley right away, but now, after spending our wedding night on an airplane,
I realize it wasn’t a very bright idea,” he grumbled.

Elizabeth bit her lip in an attempt to refrain from laughing. “Just remember that it was your suggestion, not mine.”

“Yeah, I know.” William huffed out a breath. “
But
I’m glad you’re not tired, because even though it’s still night back in the States, it’s morning here. I’d like to show you around the house after we grab something to eat.”

“Actually, husband, that might have to wait for
later
today. I think we need a nap first.”

“I thought you weren’t tired.”

“I’m not.” She smiled impishly.

He glanced over at her, displaying a dazzling set of dimples. The expression in his eyes gave her goose bumps. “Good.”

William seemed lost in thought for a while, and then he pulled over to the side of the road, scowling.

“Why’d we stop?”

William gestured to a gated entrance across the road. “That’s the gate to Pemberley.” He hesitated. “The last time I was here was about three months before my parents died, during the last spring break before graduation. My parents invited Richie and Charles... and, of course, Georgiana came with us, too.” He sighed. “Wickham was with us.”

Elizabeth squeezed his hand. “We can spend tonight at the inn we passed if you don’t want to go up to the house today.”

“Thanks.” He brought her hand up to his lips. “It would be...
wrong
, somehow. I just need a minute.” William stared off at nothing in particular. “Even though we’ve lived mostly in the States for the past three generations, Pemberley is my—no, really, it’s
our
ancestral home. You’ve always been a Darcy, whether you knew it or not, Elizabeth. It’s part of us, especially after receiving the pictures and the trunk.” William smiled at his wife. “This is the place Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth called home.”

Elizabeth looked across the street. “Is it the same gate as it was back then?”

“The guard house to the left of the road is the same as it was in 1811 when they married, though from what I understand, it was rarely used. The gate was installed in the mid-1900’s to keep out the tourists when the family is in residence. Every generation has tried to
restore
instead of upgrade.” He chuckled at her worried expression. “Don’t worry; we have indoor plumbing and electricity. We even have internet and Wi-Fi. But most of what you’ll see is pretty much the same as it was in the early 19th century—when they lived here.”

Elizabeth raised both eyebrows. “What did you mean by tourists?”

“Many of the great houses of England were taken over by the government as historical sites if the owners couldn’t afford the upkeep or the taxes; or, like Chatsworth, the private owners open them to tour buses. The present Duke and Duchess of Devonshire have made quite a successful business of it. Pemberley is part of history. Whenever we’re away, it’s open to tours. I’ve closed the house to tourists while we’re going to be here.”

“Great house... guided tours?” Her eyebrows rose further. “Just how big
is
Pemberley?”

William smiled mischievously. “You’ll see in a few minutes.”

He pulled up to the gate, rolled down the window, and pressed the intercom button. After some discussion with the person on the other end, the gates opened, and William drove the car through. After driving a few minutes, William pulled the car over to the side again. “I’d like you to approach the house the
right
way. It’s warm for this time of year, but it’s still chilly. Would you mind?”

“If you want to walk, that’s fine.”

William just shook his head. “You’ll see.”

A few minutes later, Elizabeth gasped at the sight of an open, horse-drawn carriage coming into view. Two men sat atop, one holding the reins. Both were in some sort of costume that reminded Elizabeth of a livery uniform from her favorite Regency period movies. The carriage had a Darcy crest painted on the door.

William winked at her and exited the car. He rushed around to her side and helped her out. “
That
is the right way to see Pemberley for the first time.” He gestured toward the carriage.

Elizabeth couldn’t take her eyes off it. “Is it a recreation?”

“Nope, it’s almost two hundred years old. Carpenters have kept it in good shape through the years, haven’t they?”

“You have a carpenter come out to the house to restore things?”

“There’s a lot to keep up around the estate. There’s always one on staff.”

“Full time?”

“Yes. He lives here, along with the groundskeeper, stable manager, housekeeper, and cook. They each live with their families in what used to be tenants’ homes, and the rest of the staff lives off the estate. The cook usually works part-time to provide lunch for the staff, but she’ll be working full-time while we’re here.”

“You have a
cook
?”

William nodded. “
We
have a cook.”

Elizabeth paled.

William furrowed his brow. “Elizabeth?”

She shook her head. “I thought the magazine was exaggerating.”

“About what?”

“About how rich you are.”

“
We
are. Actually, they
were
off the mark. They under-estimated by half.” He hesitated.

Elizabeth paled further.

“Didn’t you read the pre-nup?”

She shook her head. “I didn’t read one word. All I knew was that, as part of your inheritance, if I didn’t sign a prenuptial agreement saying that Pemberley remained yours if we broke up, we couldn’t get married. Since I have no intention of breaking up, I just signed everywhere I was told to sign.”

William blinked a few times in confusion before swallowing the tightness in his throat. “So you really don’t know...” his voice trailed off. “Elizabeth, some of the papers you signed... you should know that the minute you said, ‘I do,’ Pemberley Deux became
yours—
along with enough cash to run the place and pay taxes for many years, if necessary. I’ve always thought of the mansion as yours, and now it is—legally.” He shook his head. “If you didn’t read the pre-nup, what were you thanking me for?”

After a few seconds, she recovered enough to whisper, “The tree house.”