Imperative: Volume 1, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (121 page)

Bingley laughed and finally settled down into a chair.   “Can I say that for once, I miss my sister’s company?  No, that is not fair to Mrs. Darcy.  She has enough on her hands.”  He laid his head back in the chair.  “Mrs. Bingley . . .”  Hurst kicked him and raised his brows.  “I know, I know, one wedding at a time!”

ONCE MORE, WICKHAM fingered the coins laid out before him.  “Well.  This should last me a month if I am careful.”  He looked at the new clothes he had bought and around the small room he was renting one post stop up from Lambton.  “Fare to London is thirty-seven shillings . . .” He took the coins and put them aside.  “And then . . . if I can get to Mrs. Younge’s my money is sure to still be under the floorboards . . . then I would be in fine shape.”  He looked out of the window and bit his lip.  “And then what will I do?”  He wanted a look at Georgiana; to see if his suspicions were true, but there was no way he would risk stepping onto Pemberley again. 

“I could watch the church on Sunday, maybe sneak in after they enter?  No.  Don’t be a fool.”  Scooping up the coins, he poured them from one hand to another.   “You will need money regardless, and that means London.”  Nodding his head, he put his coins back into the little pouch.  “Very well, London it is.”  He wadded his new things into a bag and looking around the room, pocketed some lace doilies to sell and opened the door.  “But I’ll be back.” 

“NO, NO.  You are not climbing into a carriage today.  The extent of your travelling will be downstairs to the pitifully empty library where you will sit before the fire with a glass of port in one hand and a book in the other.  If Mr. Hurst and Mr. Bingley come to entertain you, all the better.”  Elizabeth stopped her speech and with hands on hips she looked at him sternly.  “Do you hear me?”

“I hear you because your voice is raised, but I am not in the least impressed.  I am fine . . .”

“
HA
!”

Darcy cleared his throat.  “I am fine, and I will not have you face your father alone.”

“And I will not leave you to have to endure my family alone.”  She said stubbornly and hearing his sigh she explained, “Will, I have a feeling that my every moment will be occupied there, and you will be left dealing with one or the other of them when you are most definitely not at your best.”

“Did it occur to you that it might be a good thing for me not to be at my best with them?  After all, are you not going there to knock sense into a houseful of people living in denial?”  He took her hand and smiled.  “If I am my usual charming self, I can probably offend them all in a few moments, and we can return here to sit in the library together.  That is the way I want to spend my time there.  The two of us, alone in the library . . . pressing you up against a wall . . . finishing what we started the night of the ball . . .” Leaning in, he kissed her lingeringly.

She resisted the urge to give in and pushed him determinedly, but carefully, away.  “You could not hold me against the wall . . .”

“Holding you in my lap, then.  There are any number of ways to achieve this goal.”  His eyes twinkled and exasperated, she groaned.  “Trust me dear, I am certain that I am needed.”

“Of course you are needed!  Of course I want you there!”  Darcy drew her into his arms and she rested her head over his heart.  “But I cannot do this if half of my thoughts are of protecting you.”

“I do not need protection from five women, an idiot clergyman, and a . . . patriarch.”  Looking at her nose to nose, he kissed her again.  “I will come with you.”

“No.”

“I will order that the carriage remain here, then.”

An amused smile appeared and her chin lifted.  “And I will walk.  I know the way between here and there.”

“As I well know and it pains me considerably that you would consider walking when I am not there to see your cheeks so red and your eyes so bright.”

“And no convenient wall to hold me against.”  She added, but he shook his head and waved his hand to the window.

“Who needs a wall when there are plenty of trees?  Would you not like me to take you up against a tree, love?  Would you not like to receive my most eager attention and make your cheeks blush further?  Shall we practice?”  He lifted her skirt suggestively and Elizabeth snatched it from his hand.  “Elizabeth.”  He spoke seriously at last.  “It is my place to go with you.  I am your husband.”

“But you are so very tired.”  Caressing his face, she kissed him gently. 

“I am fine.”  Darcy looked down at her hand and smiling, caressed her fingers.  “Ahhh there it is.” 

“What is that?”  She looked down at her hand.  “Is something amiss?”

“No.  Everything is just right.”  He held her hands in his.  “What is this?”  He tapped her ring.

“You know full well . . .”

“And what does it mean?”

“That I am no longer Elizabeth Bennet.”  She sighed. 

“And?”

“You are always with me.” 

“I will not be able to rest, thinking of you facing so much that worries you.  Give me another dose of that evil liquid and we will go.”  His brows rose and he looked at her pointedly.  “No more arguments.” 

Resting back into his arms, she finally relaxed.  “Thank you.” 

“All you had to do is say yes in the first place, you know.”  Darcy kissed her head, feeling her shoulders shake with a laugh.  “Why must you make everything so difficult?”

“Why must you be such a stubborn fool?”

“Because I love you.”  He smiled when her embrace tightened.  “Very well, love.  Let us go.”

“MR. BENNET, MRS. BENNET, I hope that you are well, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy urged me to come on ahead.”  Bingley beamed around at them, ending his gaze with Jane.

“Would you please sit, sir?”  She offered and he immediately settled next to her. 

“Why did they not accompany you?”  Mr. Bennet demanded.

“Oh.”  He laughed.  “You can understand that it is a rather gruelling journey, and Mrs. Darcy wished to be prepared in the event that they wished to depart before I did.”  His smile found Jane again.  “You see Darcy has refused to take laudanum and the medication that Mrs. Darcy has found for him is fine but not nearly as strong.  Since he refuses to remain behind, she insists that they stop in Meryton to see the apothecary and lay in a supply of the concoction and whatever else she thinks she needs to care for him.  I have a feeling that she will be pushing aside my kitchen staff before long to brew up her medicines.” 

“So she is nursing him.”  Mr. Bennet said unhappily.  “And he refuses the aid that she offers?  Then he deserves to suffer and she should turn her attention elsewhere!” 

Bingley’s brow furrowed.  “I would not say that, sir.  Darcy is merely cautious.  His remark to me was that with his last dose, he felt entirely
too
good, and it disconcerted him.  But Mrs. Darcy is caring for him beautifully.  All he needs now is a seat that is not in motion, but of course, he feels that it would be disrespectful not to call upon your family.”  Mr. Bennet took in the news and rolled his eyes. 

“Why would he need to be relieved of pain?”  Mrs. Bennet asked worriedly.  “Is he ill?”

“Darcy is . . .”  He looked at the women’s expectant faces and hesitated, “He is quite sore from the journey and Mrs. Darcy insists on tending to him.  He tried to assure her that he is fine, but she would have none of it.”  Bingley turned to Jane.  “I well remember how she cared for you when you were ill, a more dedicated nurse you could not have had.”

“I am certainly grateful for her compassion, as I imagine Mr. Darcy is.”  She smiled and Bingley’s smile widened.

“As he gained a wife from the visit, I would say that he is!”  Jane blushed and he laughed.  “I daresay I must study his technique.” 

“Mr. Bingley, we have discussed this.”  She was still blushing, but her smile widened, much to his delight.

Mr. Collins spoke up.  “I find it difficult to believe that mere exhaustion from travel could plague Mr. Darcy so grievously.  Why, his coach is every bit as fine as Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s and she tells me that she hardly feels a bump in the road it is so well sprung.  What is wrong with Mr. Darcy?  I should inform his aunt if there is anything troubling.”

Bingley quickly responded, “I am sure that if Mr. Darcy wanted his aunt informed he would do so himself.” 

“Then what has happened to him?  He would not contact his aunt over travel exhaustion, but you seem to be hiding something, Mr. Bingley.  Why would he need Lizzy’s attentions, and what could call for the use of laudanum?”  Mrs. Bennet demanded and a worried look towards her husband exposed where her thoughts were tending.

Bingley licked his lips and looked pleadingly at Jane.  She nodded and turned to her mother, “Lizzy and Mr. Darcy were in a carriage accident a fortnight ago, Mama.  He suffered some terrible bruises, and I imagine that the long journey did him no favours.”

“An accident!”  Mrs. Bennet gasped.  “Why was I not told!”

“Lizzy was not sure if his injuries would prevent them from travelling, but Mr. Darcy was determined that they come to witness Mary’s wedding.  He wanted to please Lizzy so much that he is disregarding his personal discomfort.”  She smiled at Mary as Mr. Bennet rolled his eyes again.

“Oh!”  Mary sat up straighter.  “Did you hear that Mr. Collins?  Despite their injuries they came to see our wedding!”

“Well, I can only be delighted!”  Mr. Collins preened.  “For a personage of such magnitude to condescend to witness our service is excellent indeed!  Of course we will soon be brothers.  I have heard much of Pemberley, my dear Mary.  We will undoubtedly be frequent guests.  In fact, perhaps we might honeymoon with them.  I look forward to comparing his estate to that of his aunt’s.”  He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.  “Yes, as brothers we will surely be visiting frequently and I will share with him my thoughts on the efficient administration of an estate.  Of course, he will have to send his coach for us.”

Bingley’s eyes were widening as the little man continued his musings.  “I am afraid that Darcy will be taking his family to his estate in Scotland for an extended holiday upon their return from London, Mr. Collins.”

“Oh.” 

“So you will have to conduct your honeymoon at Hunsford.”  Mr. Bennet noted acidly.  “With your esteemed patroness.  You can share your ideas for estate administration with her.” 

“Of course.”  Mr. Collins squirmed uncomfortably.  “I should not have spoken so quickly, I do have my duties there, unless you would like us to remain . . .”

“No, I think that Mary should see the wonders of Rosings, you have spoken of it so eloquently.”

“But should I not be learning from you, sir?  After all, it will not be long before . . .”

“Oh look, Mama, I think that is Mr. Darcy’s carriage.”  Jane looked to the window.  Mrs. Bennet’s focus moved and she was quickly on her feet and calling down the hallway. 

“Quickly!  Kitty, Lydia, look your best, perhaps we can convince Lizzy to take you to London with her and Mr. Darcy!  You are out; they can surely put you in the way of Mr. Darcy’s friends . . .” 

“I sincerely doubt that the Darcys will be participating in the Season . . . I should warn you all . . . Mrs. Darcy, and definitely Mr. Darcy, do not look their best . . .”  Bingley spoke, but only Jane appeared to hear him above the din of Mrs. Bennet’s voice.  “Well, I tried.”  He said quietly.  “I talked too much as usual and ran out of time.” 

“I am sure that they look just fine.”  Jane smiled and stood along with him.  Through the window, they saw Darcy slowly descend from the coach and then turn to hold out his hand for Elizabeth.  “There you see . . .”  Her voice faltered with the sight of his clearly pained steps.  In silence the family watched them disappear from view and turned towards the door. 

“La, Lizzy!  What happened to you?  Oh!  You are not pregnant!”  They heard Lydia’s voice cry and could well imagine her finger pointing at Elizabeth’s flat belly.  “Oh, Mr. Darcy!  Kitty!  Come look at Mr. Darcy!” 

“What happened to your face!  Did you and Lizzy have a fight?”  Kitty exclaimed.

“It is lovely to see you, both.”   They heard Elizabeth’s tired voice and Darcy’s indistinct rumble of acknowledgement.  Mr. Bennet smiled and sat up in his chair.  Darcy’s heavy boots across the wood provided a regular thump below the high voices of the chattering girls.  The couple arrived at the door.  “Well, here we are!”  Elizabeth said cheerfully, belying the expression on her face.

“Oh Lizzy!”  Jane ran and threw her arms around her.  “I have missed you, so!  Oh, and Mr. Darcy!”  She looked at him and shocked by his wounds, dropped her eyes.  “I am so glad that you are well.” 

“As am I, Miss Bennet.”  He said softly, and bowing to the room, he grasped Elizabeth’s hand. 

“Mrs. Darcy!”  Mrs. Bennet stared at her and then Darcy, down to her daughter’s waist and back up to their faces.  Exactly five seconds passed and her gaping mouth transformed into her simpering smile.  “Oh, what a beautiful gown!  Was this made in London?  If only you had been in Town when Mary and Jane visited, you could have taken them to your modiste.”  She took a hold of the skirt and felt the fabric.  “Silk!” 

“Only the very best for my wife, madam.”  Darcy murmured.

“Well I should say so!  I hope that you heard that Mr. Bingley!  A woman appreciates the finer things!”

“My sisters are fond of making that very point, Mrs. Bennet.”  He laughed and met Darcy’s eye.   

“Mary, you look beautiful.”  Elizabeth hugged her and said softly, “I brought you a few wedding gifts.  I know that you do not like frilly things, but I thought that a girl only marries once, and you should enjoy them.”

“Really, Lizzy?  Just for me?”  Mary blushed and bit her lip.  “When may I see them?”

“Let me talk with the family for a little bit.  I asked Mrs. Hill to put them on your bed.”  She squeezed her hand and spoke quickly and with great concern.  “Are you happy?  Please do not feel pushed to go through with this.”

“I am happy, Lizzy.  Nobody believes me, but I am.”  She smiled a little.

“I am so glad to hear that.”  Elizabeth hugged her again.  “And I have things to talk to you about, before your wedding.”