Imperative: Volume 1, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (78 page)

“Why is that?”

“I have no estate yet, I do not even rent a townhouse.  I have no debt to pay off and no family to support.”

“Caroline . . .”

“She has her own money and she will marry someone.”  He shrugged.

“What of Miss Bennet’s settlement and pin money?”

“I have enough from Father’s savings to set her up comfortably and take care of the children, I think.”  Looking down at his boots, he shook his head.  “Listen to me.”

“Darcy has rubbed off on you, planning like this?”

“I have heard him speak of it enough times.  ‘Prepare, Bingley!  Times are changing; your father’s dream of purchasing an estate may not be the path for you!’  Bingley imitated Darcy’s deep voice and furrowed his brow as he waved his hand in the air.

Hurst chuckled.  “Not bad, now add a frown . . . there you go!   If only you were taller . . .”  Bingley stood on his toes and his brother snorted.  “He is correct you know; I would listen to his advice.  Keep that lease of Netherfield . . .”

“Only if I return to Jane Bennet.”  He sighed and went back to the window.  “Well . . . perhaps that is what I will do.”

“WHERE IS SHE?”  Darcy spoke quietly.  “Aunt’s patience is at an end, I think.”

“As is yours.”  Elizabeth looked to him and his head inclined. 

“Come here, my dear.  Come give your old uncle a kiss.”  Lord Matlock commanded when he caught sight of Georgiana peeking into the drawing room.  The men stood and waited for her to enter.  The earl held out his hand expectantly.  “Do not be shy, come along now!”

“Yes, sir.”  She looked for Darcy and seeing his nod, she entered and gave her uncle a peck on the cheek. 

“That was not so bad, was it?”  He laughed and took hold of her hands.  “Let me look at you.  How long has it been since we last saw you?  Grace?”  He turned his head to his wife.  “July?”

“May.”  Lady Matlock studied the uncomfortable girl.  “Stand straight, Georgiana.  I will speak to your maid; she is not cinching your stays properly.  If she was, you would not be able to drop your shoulders in such a way.”

“Yes, Aunt.”  Georgiana glanced at Elizabeth who was staring at the woman in disbelief, and lifting her shoulders fully displayed her bosom.  Lady Matlock’s eyes widened. 

Lord Matlock’s did as well and he looked significantly at Richard, who closed his eyes tiredly and sank back down into his chair.  “You have blossomed into quite a young woman in the months since we last met, my dear!” 

“Barton Fitzwilliam.”  Lady Matlock glared at him.  She looked back to Georgiana, whose face had become beet red. “You have certainly grown, Niece.  But it is only to be expected at your age.  It is no excuse for becoming plump, though.  Look at your face, how it has filled out!  I thought that you had a companion, does she not look out for what you eat?”

“I believe that this examination should be conducted away from the gentlemen?”  Elizabeth looked at the countess pointedly. 

“Georgiana’s companion was dismissed, Aunt.”  Darcy said softly and looked away to stare out of the window.  Elizabeth took his hand in hers, and drew him back down to the sofa. 

“Thoroughly disappointing woman.”  Richard said quickly. 

“Come and sit with us, Georgiana.”  Elizabeth urged her frozen sister and moved closer to Darcy to make room.  Georgiana stole a glance at Darcy and quietly sat beside Elizabeth. “I see nothing at all unusual about Georgiana’s features.  I doubt that you would recognize me if you saw a drawing from those awkward years.  I certainly do not miss them.”     

Lady Matlock ignored Elizabeth and fixed on Darcy.  “Why was the companion dismissed?  When did this happen?  You should have consulted me in the first place.  I could give you the names of any number of suitable women who could take charge of her.  I never liked that woman you hired. . . Younge, was that not her name?  Far too attractive to be serving in a gentleman’s house, I thought.  An older woman, a
much
older woman would be more appropriate.”  Her glare settled on her husband, who cleared his throat.

“Memory of an elephant.”  He murmured into his glass of port.

“I thought that was a camel, Father.”  Richard smirked and received a glower before turning to his mother.  “Fortunately Darcy, being as straight as an arrow, never noticed Mrs. Younge’s attributes.”  Richard kicked himself from joking about the subject when he noticed Elizabeth’s eyes widen.  Darcy’s face grew stonier and Richard moved on as his brother laughed.  “Yes, well, we decided that she was not quite the right fit for Georgiana after the summer in Ramsgate.  Mrs. Darcy, Mrs. Harding Darcy, was kind enough to keep her company in Darcy’s absence.”

“That was kind of her, but not her place.  You should not take advantage like that.  She is a married woman, not a servant.  I hope to see some of her during our visit.”  Lady Matlock returned to her close examination of Georgiana.  “So you have been without a companion since summer?  When will you rectify this, Darcy?  Your wife has enough to learn without looking after your sister as well.”

He felt Elizabeth stiffen.  “We will find someone after we return from our holiday, Aunt.  Since our wedding was in November, we thought that a delayed honeymoon this spring and summer would be ideal.  I cannot wait to be away with my wife.” 

Gladney dabbed a handkerchief to his nose and sniffed.  “Honeymoon?  Where?”

“To my parents’ small estate in Scotland.”  Darcy smiled as he watched a delicate blush travel up Elizabeth’s throat to her cheeks and gave her a little nudge.  “I have not spent any time there since Father died, and Elizabeth is very keen to see it after hearing my descriptions.” 

She smiled and he clasped her hand tightly.  With his support, her confidence returned and she addressed her new family.  “Endless descriptions, dear.  Why, they almost rival your talks on Pemberley!”  She turned away to face Lady Matlock. “Neither one of us is interested in spending the warm months in Town, so we thought what better time to make a trip to see a beloved home?  I certainly will enjoy it.  And Georgiana has never been there, correct?”

“No.”  She whispered. 

“Well.”  Lady Matlock’s face displayed her displeasure; this went against all of her plans.  “I think it is absolutely the wrong thing to do.  You need a full Season.”

“To what purpose?”  Elizabeth asked. 

Cathy rolled her eyes.  “Oh surely you do not mean that?  You are not so country as that?  Well maybe you are, look at what you were wearing when we arrived.”  Elizabeth looked at Darcy and he shook his head, and held up his hand.  Cathy continued on, addressing Darcy.  “What were you thinking, Cousin?”

“My wife was dressed by the same modiste employed by you and your mother.”

“That is not what I was asking.  I wanted to know why you . . .” Seeing her mother’s widened eyes, she stopped. 

Darcy, however, did not let it go, his tolerance was gone.  “I knew what you were asking and I chose to ignore the rudeness you displayed before my wife rather than air it before everyone.  But, if you must know why I did not marry a woman of our circle or, to put it bluntly,
you
. . .”  Cathy blushed while Richard and Gladney snorted.  “I was thinking that I am going to be very happy for the rest of my days with a beautiful lady from the country who does not give a whit about precious pretensions.”  He lifted his brow and looked from his uncle to his aunt. 

“Pretensions!  Good God, Darcy!  Who do you think you are talking to?”  Gladney at last took his seat and opened his snuff box. 

“What are you doing, Cousin?  Snuff is not white.”  Darcy said coldly.  Gladney snapped the case shut.  “I have learned a great deal since meeting Elizabeth.  And I am better for it.”

“Thank you, Fitzwilliam.”  Elizabeth bit her lip and seeing the eyes of the room now upon her, cleared her throat and turned to Lady Matlock.  “I asked about the purpose of the Season because I have never experienced one and now that I am married, it seems that the primary purpose for my participation is unnecessary.  My husband has, in his opinion, experienced too many of them, and again, he has no interest in more.  Georgiana is not out, so why not take advantage of these few remaining years where we do not need to be present for her sake, and enjoy the countryside?”

“Because
everyone
is going to want to have a look at you.”  Cathy looked pointedly at Elizabeth’s waist. 

“My concern is not in satisfying the curiosity of people unrelated to my immediate family.”  She said tersely.  “And by that I mean the residents of
this
home.  If there is something joyful to announce, they may read it in the papers, just like everyone else.”

“Well that was clear as day.  Ah the joy of seeing the family all gathered together!”  Richard smiled and leaned down to Cathy’s ear and whispered, “Some friendly advice, Sister, I suggest that you stop pushing.  Mrs. Darcy is not the woman your jealous heart supposes.”

“I am not jealous.”  She snapped.

“You are no debutante, either.”  Richard met her scathing look and shrugged.  “I am merely pointing out the obvious.”

“You are playing with fire, Son.”  Lord Matlock said in a low voice. 

“Is this to be a theme of our visit, dear Brother?  What shall I comment upon?  Have you met any maids lately?”

“As a matter of fact . . .”

“Richard.”  Darcy growled.  The siblings sized each other up and called a truce for the moment.

A gong sounded downstairs and the butler appeared in the doorway.  “Mrs. Darcy, dinner is ready.” 

“Thank you, Evans.”  Elizabeth stood along with Darcy.  “Shall we?”

“Indeed.”  He offered her his arm.

“You should take my arm, Darcy.”  Lady Matlock ordered.  “And you, Mrs. Darcy, take my husband’s.  Georgiana, take Gladney’s arm, and Cathy you are with Richard.”  She was not in the least affected by their stares.  “I can see your wife not knowing the proper order, but you should at least know better, Darcy.”

“This is not a dinner party, Aunt.  There is no need to promenade.  No egos need to be stroked here.” 

“It never hurts to practice, that is how proper manners are ingrained.  You were without the direction of your mother and any other female influence since your father . . .”

“Aunt.”  Darcy firmly clasped his hand over Elizabeth’s, “Dinner is waiting.”  He saw Richard taking charge of Georgiana and strode from the room with his wife, leading the way down the stairs. 

“Is this incorrect?”  Elizabeth whispered as they walked. 

“At Matlock, yes.  But this is not Matlock, is it?”  He met her eye.  “I know what is right and proper for a formal occasion, this is the farthest thing from it.  This is the last gasp of a struggle for control over something they never possessed.  Hopefully after one uncomfortable evening, that truth will sink home.”  Darcy leaned to her.  “Thank you for deflecting the discussion of Georgiana’s appearance, I pray that will be the end of it.”

“Thank you for . . . quieting your cousins.  I wonder at your uncle not saying anything.”

“I do as well.”  He said softly. 

 Elizabeth looked down.  “I . . . I thought that I would not be affected by anything they might say, but as the visit has progressed, I find that I am not as confident as I hoped to be.”

“You, love, are magnificent.”  He smiled and entwined their fingers.   “They simply have to appreciate that fact.”  Upon arriving at the dining room Darcy stood behind Elizabeth’s chair and held it for her.

“You have servants to do that, Darcy.”  Lady Matlock spoke up.

“I am well aware of what I have, Aunt, and I am grateful for it.”  Darcy murmured and pushed the chair into place.  The footmen immediately copied their master and the other ladies were seated.  Bending, he kissed Elizabeth softly before everyone. 

“Thank you, Fitzwilliam.”  She blushed as he walked down to his end of the table. 

“Cock of the walk.”  Richard muttered when he passed. 

“And damned proud of it.”  Darcy murmured in return, and took his seat with the rest of the men.  He settled into his chair and smiled down to Elizabeth, then seeing everyone looking at him expectantly, led them in saying grace. 

“We are eating quite early, Mrs. Darcy.”  Lady Matlock noted as she placed her napkin on her lap.  “I realize that being unfamiliar with living in Town, you have always kept to country hours, but you are now the Mistress of Pemberley and Darcy House and you must conduct your affairs accordingly.  You must distinguish yourself from those lesser than yourselves.”

“I see.  More pretensions.”  Elizabeth looked to her hands and then met the formidable woman’s eye.  “I would think that eating later in the dark days of winter would be a great inconvenience and expense.  Is not daylight preferable for the preparation and serving of the meal?”

“That is the point, Mrs. Darcy.”  Cathy rolled her eyes.  “We can afford it.”

“Pemberley does not, and never will, keep Town hours.”  Darcy said with an air of finality in his voice.  His gaze bore into his aunt and cousin and this time, it seemed to sink in.  “Now, let us enjoy this delicious repast.”  He looked to Elizabeth and his gaze softened.  “Dearest, why do you not regale our family with the story of when I decided that you and no other belonged as the mistress of this home?”

Elizabeth’s brow creased for a moment and then her hand went to her mouth.  “You mean when I arrived at Netherfield after walking alone three miles from Longbourn?” 

His eyes warmed when he heard the gasps of the women.  “As I recall, Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst commented on how wild you appeared, and something about your petticoat being . . . six inches deep in mud?”  Seeing the attention of the table was hers, he smiled fully.  “Yes, yes, that is the story.”  Elizabeth’s warm laughter bubbled down to him, and her eyes sparkled.  Darcy nodded and picked up his glass of wine to toast her.  “Go on, love.  Tell our dear family just why you are sitting in that chair.” 

21 DECEMBER 1811

 “What do you think you’re doing?”  A gruff voice demanded and snatched the quill away from Wickham’s fingers.

“Who is that for?”

“I just wanted to wish my mother Happy Christmas, she will worry that I have not turned up yet.”  He shrugged and inwardly breathed a sigh of relief that the guard had not come a moment later to see who he intended to write.  “Anything wrong with that?”