Imperative: Volume 1, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (139 page)

“Yes, well . . . you saw how long that idea lasted in my hands.”  He chuckled.  “Not even five minutes.”

“Thank you for that.” 

“Do you remember what else we spoke about?”

“Our plans for Georgiana?”  Elizabeth whispered and he nodded.  “I remember how relieved we were to actually conceive of a plan.”  She closed her eyes when the hand caressing up and down her back stopped moving.  “We also spoke of how wonderful it would be to conceive our baby today.” 

“Yes.”  Darcy said softly. 

“How do you feel about bringing Georgiana’s baby into our lives now, Will?”

“I do not know.  It is one of those questions that you think is answered and you move on, but I find that my opinion seems to change with the wind and that is very unusual for me.  I am usually very unshakable.  And I fear what is to come over the course of these next months.  I have loved every moment that we have spent here all alone in our home.  Even the misery at the theatre last night had its purpose.  But now that we have accomplished that goal of restoring what Aunt Catherine took away from us, I have no choice but to finally face the inevitable moment when Georgiana gives birth.  I am only now fully realizing that it does not end with her safe delivery, in some ways it is only just beginning.”  His head shook and he looked to her.  “I want
our
baby to be the one that you love first.  Is that wrong?”   

“No.” 

He waited and not hearing anything further, he whispered, “Lizzy?”

“I will always love our baby first, Will.  I love him now.  I have loved him ever since our wedding day when he was conceived in our hearts, if not with our bodies.” 

“Oh, love.”  He hugged her to him and felt the tears that fell on his chest.  “I feel like such a fool.”

“We are all fools in love . . .” She whispered and laughed softly.  Darcy kissed her.  “You are scared.”

“I am terrified.”  He admitted.

“So am I.  And I do not know how to think or feel.”  Elizabeth looked up and kissed him, and tenderly touched his face.  “But I think that we have enough love to give our babies and . . . any others that might come along.”

Darcy laughed softly.  “Please, Lizzy.  One extra is enough.”

“Very well, that is a bargain, then.”  She laughed and then looked at him seriously.  “But you, my dear Mr. Darcy, will always, always be my Valentine.  Nobody will take your place as first in my heart.”  She saw his eyes widen and then relief appeared.  “Is that what you needed to hear?”

“How did you know?” 

“I just did.”  Their eyes met and held, and then a sparkle appeared as she traced her finger suggestively down his chest.  “Now, I propose that we stay here all day and practice conceiving our baby.”

Smiling widely, he laughed.  “An excellent idea!  Who knows, we just might succeed!” 

Chapter 42

“T
hese should do us very nicely, sir.”  The coachman looked over Darcy’s carefully written directions to Sommerwald.  “I was dreading going through Henry’s things trying to find his notes.  I have no doubt that he had it but
where
was in serious doubt.”  He smiled and looked at his employer.  “Not too many tolls.”

“Enough of them.”  Darcy nodded thoughtfully.  “I will give you the money for them before we leave . . .” Assessing his man carefully, he tilted his head.  “Could you use new livery?” 

He looked over his faded green coat with a smile.  “No sir, I wear my old coat when I’m just mucking around the stable.” 

“Very well.”  Darcy looked over to the house.  Seeing yet another carriage arriving he shook his head with a sigh.  With the home situated on a corner, he could easily see the portico from the stables in the mews, and a constant stream of carriages, either servants dropping off cards or ladies waiting within hoping to be granted an interview were there to, in his mind, bother Elizabeth.  Pulling out his watch, he quickly checked the time.  “Two more hours.”  He groaned.  “I suppose I could practice my fencing some more.”  He rubbed at the dull ache in his chest.  “No, I cannot.”

“Two more hours of callers, sir?”  The coachman chuckled.  “Lowry hasn’t had to work this hard answering the door in some time!”

Darcy’s mouth twitched upwards.  “You are taking too much enjoyment out of this, Harris.” 

“Aye, I am.  Dinner will be a pleasure tonight, hearing the tales from the maids.”  He watched Darcy’s hand run over the seal painted on the door and lifted his chin.  “I expect your new carriage will be built before long?” 

“Not for another month.  It is a shame; we could have used it for the journey to Scotland.” 

“I am glad it was not this one, I am very fond of this beauty.”  He rubbed the finish with a rag and looked at it proudly.  “There was a bloke hanging around a might too close for my liking and I chased him off.” 

His brow creasing, Darcy looked at him quizzically.  “Where was this?”

“In Gracechurch Street, the night that you went to the theatre?  I saw him leaning on the side, comfortable as you please!  He was going to stay the night, by the looks of him.”

“What did he look like?”

“Tall, almost your height, but not quite, dark hair cut short, you know brushed over his face as the gentlemen do?”  Nodding, he shook his finger . . . “Like Napoleon!”

“Pardon?”  Darcy started.  “Napoleon?”

“Just to pick a face we both know . . .”  Seeing Darcy’s concern he said reassuringly, “I think that he was looking to see what he could grab from inside, and didn’t know me and Ben was in there keeping warm.  No harm, done, sir.” 

“No, just a vagrant, I suppose.” 

“What of your new curricle?  My heart broke to see the other ruined.  It could fly like the wind!  But I’m sure you’ll have a faster one than ever!”

“Well, we will see.  I have decided to give the order to Macalister’s shop in Lambton.  He seems very eager to try his hand and was relentless in presenting his ideas to Mr. Barnes.” 

“Macalister’s a good man, sir.  He will do right by you.  This will be his first great order.”  Harris looked at him admiringly.  “This could be the making of him, sir.”

 Darcy immediately looked back to his carriage and touched the varnish.  “I wrote to him that I want it by August.  I have plans to scare Mrs. Darcy with it this summer.” 

“And I am sure that she will love every moment of it.”  A voice boomed and Richard walked his mount up to them.  “What are you doing out here?  Or could you not stand the sound of tittering women in your parlour any longer?”  He gestured to the line of carriages at the front door.

“Elizabeth insisted that she face them alone.”  He said unhappily.  “Four hours for calls?  It is ridiculous!”

“And she must return them.  I fear that you will not see much of your dear wife until you leave for Pemberley.”  He laughed at his cousin’s thunderous frown.  “Darcy!  This is what ladies do!  They have to occupy their time somehow, after all you are supposed to be at the club, drinking and pontificating with your peers!” 

“Hang my peers.  This is what I hate about London, the games you have to play.  Just leave us be!”  Darcy growled as Richard dismounted. 

“This is why you came to Town in the first place so do not complain as it all goes to plan.  I bet that Mother will volunteer to come along with Cathy.  That will take care of
her
plans.  Now, pour me a drink and I will entertain you.”  He slapped his shoulder and the two men walked through the garden to the house.

Darcy shot him a look as they moved along.  “Should you not be training boys for a man’s job?  Why are you here?”

“I have never felt more welcome.”  Richard said dryly.   “Well Cousin, you see, a major of mine happened to attend the theatre a few nights ago and it seems that a certain elderly lady was making herself heard . . .” Darcy muttered something unintelligible.  “But it also seems that a certain tall man had things to say as well, but he kept his voice low . . . Just like now. . .  It took me a while to puzzle it out until I realized who the performers were . . .”

They went indoors, giving their coats over to a maid before walking to Darcy’s study.  They paused at the door as a pair of women came down the stairs, looking around at the decor as they whispered and walked.  One of them stopped dead and stared when she spotted Darcy.  He nodded and quickly moved inside of his study.  Chuckling, Richard followed casually and closed the door after him.  “Ahhh, one of your old dance partners!”

“Why did Lizzy have to ask
her
in?”

“Well obviously she was not on the unwelcome visitor list that you undoubtedly furnished Lowry.  Perhaps you should go revise it for the remainder of the morning?”  He saw Darcy glance at him and snorted.  “Ha!  You
did
give him one!  Well, my guess is that one of the other ladies she was entertaining heard
this
one’s name and after mentioning the history, your dear possessive wife wanted a look at her.”  Richard’s grin grew.  “You asked her to dance; surely you saw something bearable in her.”

Darcy went to a sideboard and poured out some wine. “Your mother recommended her.”

“You mean that she actually managed to point out a girl who was not my sister?”  Richard took his glass and settled by the fire.  “Shocking!”

“I had already danced with Cathy.”  Darcy smiled a little and sat down across from his cousin.  “Out with it.  Why are you here in the middle of the morning?  My encounter with our aunt would not pull you from your duties.  I can see you coming for dinner, but . . .”

“The family has arrived, and I am here to extend a dinner invitation to you and Elizabeth.”

“Just what she will want after a day of entertaining.”  Darcy said softly as he studied his cousin’s face. 

“Everyone came, including Bertie.  I just cannot bring myself to see him yet and spotting you standing in the mews was like a godsend, or at least a fine delaying tactic.”  Darcy smiled and Richard sighed. “Father presented Aunt’s proposal of a match between him and Anne, and he . . . I do not know what he decided.  He just listened and said nothing.  Father expected any number of reactions, but silence was not one of them.”

“Do you think that he will ultimately refuse?”

“If he recognizes that he is in no condition to be a husband to any woman, including Anne, he would.” 

“Even if it meant saving Matlock?”

Nodding slowly, Richard stared up at the landscape of Pemberley.  “I know what you are thinking, he is likely on death’s door and if Anne does not care, what difference does it make, but it does matter to him.  I do not know, Darcy.  It is a mess.”  He sighed.  “In any case, Father did not push, but Mother insisted that he come to Town and see Anne.  I think that it is dangerous for him to be here.  This is the place that made him the way he is, all he needs to do is open the front door and he will be lost to the vipers.”

“But he has no access to money, now.”

“And do you truly think that there are no convenient money lenders available willing to offer him funds at one hundred percent interest or better?”  Richard snorted.  “All he has to do is get a sniff of opium and he’s off to the races again.”  He laid his head back against the chair and stared up at the ceiling.  “Perhaps I should resign my commission.”

“Why?”

Richard looked to Darcy.  “I cannot shake the feeling that his days are numbered.  But in the meantime, he needs a minder, if nothing else to prevent him from making things worse.  I have no faith in that man Father hired to be as strong outside of a quiet estate in the middle of nothing.”

“I would wait on that, Richard.  You have not seen him yet.  Besides, he may recover and where would you be?”

“I checked into it.  I could request to be recalled.”

“But you would not be training men for the Horse Guards.  That position would be assigned to another.”

“No, I would be . . . at war, most likely.”  He sighed. 

“I would not let that happen.”  Darcy said softly. 

Richard smiled.  “Ahh, that protective nature rears its head.  I am a capable adult.  I am not your responsibility, not any more than Samuel is, and I know that you have contributed greatly to his future.  At least he is a Darcy.  Leave me with the Fitzwilliams.” 

“But I see you as a brother, too.”  Richard’s head tilted and Darcy smiled.  “You and I have always been friends; well, friendly . . . When Father died and assigned us both the duty to Georgiana I was admittedly both offended and grateful.  But as you were gone most of that time, I did not really have to bother with you, so it did not matter.”  His cousin laughed and Darcy shrugged.  “But these past months, when Georgiana disappeared and . . . being able to share this all with you, and count on your advice, good and bad, has . . .” Darcy looked down and stopped talking.

After a pause, Richard managed to find his voice, although the jovial tone had a slight crack in it.  “So you are more grateful than offended with me now.” 

“Precisely.”  Their eyes met and both men polished off their wine.  “More?”

“Good Lord, yes!”  The sound of the knocker dropping broke the mood and Richard leapt up to peer out of the window.  “Ahh another old flame!” 

Darcy groaned and came to the window.  “Bingley!  He was supposed to leave for Hertfordshire days ago.”

“You have a host of friends, Darcy.”  Richard laughed and went to the study door to let him in.  “What brings you here?”

“Well hullo to you, as well.  My carriage suddenly needed repair and I thought I would spend the final hours of waiting with Darcy.”  He rubbed his hands together with a grin.  “I see that your aunt’s pronouncements did not go unheeded!  Louisa predicted that the ladies would be here in force.  What do you say we pour some drinks and hover outside of Elizabeth’s parlour and listen in?”

“I like that idea!”  Richard laughed. 

“I think that I was better off alone.  I will send her a note of encouragement and warn her of our dinner plans.”  Darcy sighed and smiling a little at their continued amusement, poured out the wine and distributed the glasses.  “What shall we drink to?”

Richard looked to Darcy and smiling, raised his glass. “The brotherhood!”