The Disappearance of Georgiana Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Mystery (16 page)

“The necklace is so dainty, but so striking,” Elizabeth added. “When I saw these, I thought them the perfect match.”

Kitty removed the earrings from the box. They were small diamonds. As Elizabeth had said, they would highlight the diamond resting at the swell of her bosom. She rolled them across her palm. “You shall express my gratitude to Mr. Darcy?”

Elizabeth embraced her, and Kitty felt the tears prick her eyes. “I shall be pleased to have you so close to Pemberley.” Her sister caressed her cheek, and Kitty fought another round of tears. “We must to the church,” Elizabeth announced. “Come everyone. Our carriages await. Kitty, Papa shall be up to escort you to the services in a few minutes.”

Each sister embraced her as they rushed to join the gentlemen waiting below. Soon, only her mother remained. “It hurts a woman to send her child off to the home of another.” Mrs. Bennet placed a loose curl behind Kitty's ear. “You are the last of my children—the last to leave Longbourn.”

“Mama, you have spent the last decade on a campaign to find us all proper husbands. You should be pleased with your success. Few mothers can claim such worthy gentlemen as family.”

Her mother preened with the praise.
Just like Lydia
, Kitty thought. Until this moment, she had not considered how very similar her youngest sister's personality was to their mother's. Although she silently cringed with each of her mother's exclamations of delight,
for years, Kitty had tried to fit into the family by imitating Lydia's actions.
A person cannot have it both ways
, she reminded herself.

“I would not call it a campaign,” Mrs. Bennet said, “but I did my best by each of you.”

“That you did, my dear,” Mr. Bennet declared from the open doorway. “It is time, Mrs. Bennet. Mrs. Darcy awaits you in her coach. Everyone else has departed for the church.”

“Of course, Mr. Bennet.” With one last caress of Kitty's cheek, she disappeared. Loud sniffs of happiness echoed through the hall.

Her father paused before opening his arms to her, and immediately, Kitty hurried to fill them. “Oh, my precious girl,” he whispered. “You have blossomed into quite the young woman.”

Kitty fought the sobs gathering in her chest. “Thank you, Papa.”

He cleared his throat. “We cannot tarry. Mr. Winkler must be pacing the floor in anticipation.”

Kitty took a deep, satisfying breath. “I am ready,” she whispered.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the presence of these witnesses…” From the church's raised dais, Mr. Joseph's voice rang clear. “To join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honourable estate…”

Thorne's eyes remained locked on Kitty's countenance. She was the most breathtakingly beautiful sight he had ever beheld. He tried to wipe the silly grin from his lips, but it was impossible to hide his elation. Joseph's voice continued in the background, but all he knew was that Catherine Bennet would be his forever.

“I require and charge you both, that if either of you know any impediment, why you may not be lawfully joined together in Matrimony, you do now confess it. For be ye well assured, that so many as
are coupled together otherwise than God's Word doth allow are not joined together by God; neither is their Matrimony lawful.”

Thorne wondered what had become of Mr. Joseph's prior words. He could not recall the man's resonant voice beyond “Dearly beloved.” From the moment she had entered the church, he had thought of nothing but the woman beside him. For over two years, he had watched her. When he had first laid eyes upon Catherine Bennet, she had, literally, taken his breath away. He had stumbled through a sermon that he could normally have recited backwards. And when he had first held her hand, it was like a punch to his stomach. She had captured his heart with one innocent beat of her eyelashes. He was lost to all but her. But a man must move slowly when a girl is not yet a young woman, and so he had waited. However, when she had returned to Pemberley last Christmas, Thorne had been convinced that it was time to claim her as his own.

Evidently, he had pronounced his vows at the correct time, for he heard Mr. Joseph say, “O Eternal God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, Giver of all spiritual grace, the Author of everlasting life; send this Man this Woman, whom we bless in thy Name; that, as Isaac and Rebecca lived faithfully together, so these persons may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

“Mrs. Darcy,” Darcy said softly as he stepped behind her. “May I speak to you privately for a moment?”

“Of course, Mr. Darcy.” Elizabeth excused herself from the neighbors who had paid their respects during the wedding breakfast.

Darcy led her to a recessed alcove in the large drawing room. “I apologize for drawing you away from our guests.” He kept his voice low to assure privacy. “But I needed to speak to you. Mr. Joseph has received an urgent message from his wife's father. Parnell has learned of Lord McClinton's possible interest in the Kilmarnock and Troon Railway. He wants Joseph to leave for the Ayrshire coast immediately to secure the rights. Could you see your way clear to my leaving this afternoon rather than tomorrow morning?”

“Oh, Fitzwilliam,” she said as she sank against him. “I know it is foolish, but I had hoped there would be another way.”

Darcy held her close, lightly stroking her back. “If it were a lesser opportunity, I would not consider it. Yet, we both understand that change is coming to the English countryside. We can either embrace it or be knocked over by it. It is likely to take two decades for the full impact of these decisions to be known. By then, Bennet will be coming into his inheritance. This is a slow, long-term investment that will prove profitable for our children and likely for their children.”

“Then I cannot practice selfishness,” she murmured as she released her hold on his waist. “You shall not tarry. Go to Scotland, and finish your business quickly. Then come back to me and to our son.”

“I will have someone pack my bags. Meet me in our rooms in thirty minutes,” he whispered in her ear.

“Lizzy.” Jane caught her hand. “Mr. Bingley has ordered our carriages for one of the clock. We shall return to Cheshire this afternoon.”

“Shall everyone desert me in one afternoon?” she grumbled. “Must you?”

Jane glanced to where Lydia spoke to two of Darcy's neighbors. “We had originally planned to leave on the morrow, but this way we may depart for the North tomorrow.”

Elizabeth followed her sister's gaze. “And you would remove Lydia from Pemberley.”

“Mr. Bingley thinks it best. We shall take Lydia and Mama to Cheshire and then deposit them in Carlisle on our way north.”

“Although I cannot approve of your retreat, I offer Mr. Bingley my gratitude for resolving a stinging situation.”

“Papa says he shall remain at Pemberley in Mr. Darcy's absence. If we take Mama and Lydia with us, then Mary and Mr. Grange may use Papa's coach to return to Hertfordshire. It is for the best.”

Elizabeth frowned deeply. “Just like foul-tasting medicine. For the best; but no one wishes to swallow it.”

The heavy drapes left the bedroom in shadow. “Fitzwilliam,” she whispered as she slipped into the darkened chamber. Then his lips grazed her shoulder from behind. “Fitz…Fitzwilliam.” She inhaled quickly and held her breath.

A smile tugged at his lips. “Yes, my love.” Irresistible yearning consumed his senses.

“I thought you meant to kiss me farewell in private.” She leaned heavily against him.

“Then you thought in error. If I must leave Pemberley, I will carry the scent of you on my skin.”

“You say the most delicious things, Mr. Darcy.” She turned in his embrace to offer her mouth.

Darcy feasted on her, implanting the memory of his wife on his fingertips, his mouth, his body. He allowed his eyes to revel in her dimly seen perfection. Darcy's hand drifted slowly up the curve of
her body to cup her chin. “Permit me to demonstrate how much I love you.” He trailed his lips down her neck. Like some ethereal concoction, the taste of her drove him insane. When Elizabeth shivered, he scooped her into his arms and carried her to their bed.

“Our guests,” she murmured as he spread wet kisses along her collarbone.

“Will think me the most fortunate of men to have gained your affections.”

Forty minutes later, they returned to the drawing room to bid farewell to their company. Darcy refused to release her hand. He needed her touch on his arm—her heat filling him from each of her fingers. He noted Matthew Joseph's possessive posture with his wife. “Still waters,” he murmured to Elizabeth when she observed Mary Joseph's flushed face.