Darcy's Temptation (3 page)

“She was under our aunt's scrutiny so long Anne sometimes must be coaxed into vibrancy.” Edward's face showed his love for the adolescent-like woman.

“I would never, I fear, think of Anne as vibrant.” Darcy's words held regret he had for never helping Anne escape Lady Catherine's control. “However, Edward, I am sure with your love she will be just that.”

“Thank you, Darcy.”

“For what?”

“For understanding I truly love Anne.” Edward's words sounded as if he had not been able to convince others of his regard for his cousin.

“We always were more than cousins, Edward. I sincerely pray for your happiness.” Edward gave Darcy a grateful nod and returned to the table to join Anne.

“Mr. and Mrs. Darcy.” Clayton Ashford stood to take his leave. “I am afraid I must depart. I thank you for sharing your evening and your home with me.”

“We were pleased you could be here,” Elizabeth offered. “You must come again soon. Would you be free tomorrow evening for dinner?”

“I would, Mrs. Darcy. I thank you for the invitation. May I also ask your permission to announce your good tidings of an heir for Pemberley at this week's services? I know the community will rejoice with the news and offer their prayers.”

“I have no objections, Mr.Ashford. Do you, Fitzwilliam?”

“You are welcome to be our town crier, Mr.Ashford.”

“Mr. Ashford, I will walk out with you.” Elizabeth stood. “I think I must inform key staff members at Pemberley before they hear our news from a tradesman in Lambton.”

 

“Mr. Ashford, may I have the coach brought around to return you to town?” Elizabeth and Mr. Ashford stood in the main entryway.

“No, thank you, Mrs. Darcy. I prefer to walk. I bid you farewell until tomorrow evening.”With that said, he pulled on his coat and departed down the lane toward Lambton.

Elizabeth worked her way to the study. She stopped before entering the room to ask one of the maids to have Mrs. Reynolds and Hannah come to her.

 

“Enter,” Elizabeth called at the light knock on the study door.

“Mrs. Darcy, did you wish to see us?” Mrs. Reynolds felt some agitation at being summoned to the study.

Elizabeth came from behind her husband's desk to greet them. “Yes, Mrs. Reynolds, please will the two of you come to join me?” Elizabeth gestured to the chairs.

Both ladies took the seats she offered, but the unusual situation bothered them.“Mrs. Darcy, have we done something wrong?”

“Oh, Mrs. Reynolds, is that what you thought? I apologize for giving you the wrong impression. On the contrary—because Mr. Darcy and I value your service to me and to the estate, we felt it appropriate to tell you something before the news spreads through the community via Mr. Ashford.” Both women took on the look all women have when their suspicions are about to be confirmed. “Mr. Darcy and I hope to welcome our first child in late July.”

“Oh, Mrs. Darcy,” Hannah squealed.“I am so happy to hear this. I suspected as much by the way you picked at your food lately.This is great news.”

As tears welled in her eyes, Mrs. Reynolds could barely contain herself. “Mrs. Darcy, you are to let me take on things; you are not to let Pemberley be a concern.The Master must be beside himself with happiness.”

“He does seem quite content with the prospect, Mrs. Reynolds. I wanted you two to be aware. Hannah, I will obviously depend on you in a personal manner. I will need additional clothing and some personal care in choices of food. Mrs. Reynolds, we must prepare a nursery.Yet, all these little things were never my concern in bringing you here.You are a part of the Pemberley family, and you have an interest in what happens within our lives. Mrs. Reynolds, you may tell other staff members as you see fit.”

“This will be great news; the staff and the tenants waited for a long time. It has been over seventeen years since Pemberley knew such happiness. Master Fitzwilliam will have an heir for
the estate. Pemberley will survive.” Mrs. Reynolds's eyes misted again with tears. She and Hannah stood to take their leave. “Bless you, Mrs. Darcy. Everything will finally be happiness at Pemberley.”

Elizabeth felt a bit overwhelmed with Mrs. Reynolds's reaction. She knew how important giving Darcy an heir must be, but she never suspected her time would bring forth such emotions. Recently, she came to understand the great responsibility her husband assumed when he took over Pemberley after his father's death. Elizabeth also now possessed a better idea of how many people depended on Darcy and the estate for their subsistence, yet sometimes she still could not conceive how she fit into the picture. Carrying Darcy's child gave Elizabeth a new acceptance of what all he and this estate meant to hundreds of people at Pemberley, but also to those in Lambton and at Kensington Place. She married into responsibility. Immersed deep in these thoughts, Elizabeth seated herself behind Darcy's desk to pen a letter to her parents.

Elizabeth also wrote to Charlotte.

She closed both letters with wax and pressed the Darcy seal in each before writing the directions on the outside. Elizabeth moved from behind the desk to stand by the glass doors leading to the gardens; she stood there for several minutes before Darcy found her. He watched her before approaching; if she ever realized how many times per day he took pleasure in just looking at her, Elizabeth might become uncomfortable around him. Darcy could give himself no greater satisfaction than to memorize her form.“There you are, my Love,” he said as he came up behind her and encircled her waist with his arms.

Elizabeth leaned back to feel the warmth of his body. He heard her emit a light moan as he kissed the side of her neck.“I was just enjoying the view.”

“Pemberley in the spring and early summer must resemble Heaven because I know of no place more beautiful. I cannot wait for you to see it; you will love it as I do.”

“I already love it, Fitzwilliam.” She turned to face him directly.“I was just thinking about how much a part of my life you and Pemberley have become. I wrote my parents about our unexpected gift and asked for Kitty to stay with us; as I did so, I felt guilty for not being homesick for Longbourn. How is it I lived at Longbourn for over twenty years and at Pemberley
for less than two months, but it is Pemberley of which I think when someone says
home
?”

“I do not know how to explain it because I feel as such, too. When my mother died, so did life at Pemberley. Now, with you here, it lives again. It is no longer just a fine
house
—it is my
home
.We, obviously, belong together—our
fatum
.”

“I do so love you, Fitzwilliam.” Her arms snaked around his neck, and Elizabeth leaned in to rest her head on his chest. For some time, Darcy held her there, stroking her hair and feeling how she melded into him. Finally, she agreed they must rejoin their guests. “Fitzwilliam, before we go, may I ask you a couple of things?”

“Of course, Elizabeth.”

“First, I would like to employ tutors for Kitty while she is with us. She is not as shallow as is Lydia, and Jane and I wish to help her become less provocative.”

“I have no problem with the idea. I realize making a good match may depend on such training for your sister. It is our duty to help her find an appropriate mate.”

Elizabeth smiled at him.“Thank you, my Love. Secondly, I have been thinking about your teaching me about Pemberley. Should not Georgiana also be made aware of how to run the estate?”

“I am not sure what you mean, Elizabeth.”

“I realize with the jointure Pemberley is mine until my death if something happens to you, but I would want it to also belong to Georgiana—at least, as long as she wants to be here. I would feel uncomfortable if I made decisions for her family's estate without her input. Plus, do you not think it would be to her advantage if she knew about estate business, in general? When she chooses to marry, no man would be able to fool her into believing his worth is more than it actually is. Some men would object to her knowing their business, but a man who
respects our sister for herself rather than her thirty thousand pounds would not.”

“I see. So you believe I should approach my sister on this idea?” Deep in thought, Darcy finally released her and took a few steps toward the window.

“I wish you would, Sir, if you believe it has any merit.” As Darcy always saw Georgiana as needing protection, Elizabeth seemed tentative about how he would react to such a proposal for his sister.

“Let me think about how it might be handled. Georgiana's natural instinct is not as adventurous as is yours, my Love; she may not see such knowledge as being part of her realm.”

“Georgiana simply wants your respect for her worth. I believe she would welcome an opportunity to learn about Pemberley.”

“Mr. Harrison said a few days ago I was blessed to have two progressive-thinking women in my household,” Darcy added as he turned back to embrace his wife once more.

“Did he now?” Elizabeth teased, knowing she was serious with him too long. “What did he mean by
progressive
, do you suppose?” She went up on her tiptoes to brush Darcy's lips with hers.

Darcy's passion quickly rose just being near his wife. “I hope my sister is not
progressive
in the same way as you right now, my Love.”

“Oh, do you believe, Sir, there is more than one meaning for the word?”

“Certainly.” His hands began to caress Elizabeth's back as he kissed her neck. “
Progressive
may mean ‘improving,' which seems appropriate for my sister. She improves each day under your influence, Elizabeth.”

“And what of me, Sir? How may you consider me to be
progressive
?” Her challenge offered him a warning of choosing
the right words. “Do you see your wife as too
forward-moving
and too
liberal
?”

“Not at all, Madam.” Darcy found an interest in the curls that draped down from her hair.“Your
progressive
nature means you are
dynamic
and
spirited
.You consume my mind.”

Elizabeth laughed with a cackle, which began deep within her. “Fitzwilliam, I admit you handled that quite well. I always took delight in your ability to twist the English language to prove your point.”

A full smile overspread Darcy's face. “Truthfully, my Love, our verbal swordplay was one of the first things that attracted me to you. I used to say things to provoke a response just to hear you address me directly.”

“Fitzwilliam Darcy, you did not!” She seemed shocked by this disclosure.