Imperative: Volume 1, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (8 page)

“Oh no, I can carry it in my reticule.”  She opened her bag.  “What is the postage?”

“Seventeen pence, Miss.” 

“Well, there goes my ribbon money.”  Elizabeth smiled and handing over the payment, took the letter in return.  Mr. Collins leaned over her shoulder. 

“Forgive me for not paying; a reverend’s earnings are so low. . .”

“What a shame to know that you cannot afford postage, what will your future bride think?”  Elizabeth moved away from him when his eyes widened. 

Jane shook her head.  “Who is it from, Lizzy?”

“That is a man’s handwriting.”  Collins accused and looked at Elizabeth disapprovingly.  “A gentleman writes to you?” 

“Perhaps it is our uncle inviting you for a visit.”  Jane said with a smile.

“Oh, well, family.”  He sniffed.  “That is fine.”

“What business is it of his?”  Elizabeth said under her breath.  “I wish that Papa would let us talk about the engagement.  Mama is going to burst!”

“He said it is not official outside of Longbourn until he sees the settlement.”  Jane whispered back.

“I have never heard of such a thing, have you?  Especially with us marrying so quickly, should we not make the announcement sooner than a week before the ceremony?  It should be in the papers today if not tomorrow.  What will Papa say when people see it?  I cannot imagine what he said to Lydia and Kitty to keep them quiet, he must have bribed them to silence!”  They startled when Mr. Collins tried to insinuate himself between them.

“Open it Lizzy!”  Kitty cried.  “What does it say?”

“It is just Uncle Gardiner, what does it matter?”  Lydia sniffed and joined Kitty at Elizabeth’s side, trying to peek at the letter.

“I will not open it in the road; it can wait until we return home.”  Elizabeth held the letter to her chest until her sisters gave up their circling, then at last took a good look at the direction.  Drawing in a sharp breath, she noted that it was written in a hand she had observed while staying at Netherfield and turned it over to find the impression of a coat of arms in the wax seal. 

“Who is it from?”  Jane whispered.

“Mr. Darcy.  He said that he would write to me.”  Raising her voice, she shooed everyone on.  “Go on, we do not wish to be gone all day.”  The group began walking again.  Elizabeth continued to clutch the letter; unable to put it away, and at last breaking the seal, immediately blushed.

“Lizzy?”

“Shh.”  She glanced at Mr. Collins and moving behind Jane, started reading.

18 November 1811

Darcy House

London

Dearest Elizabeth,

She closed her eyes.  “Dearest?  Am I truly dear to you? How blind have I been?”

This morning I visited my solicitor and together we worked out the terms of your settlement.  I hope that you are pleased with the result.  I did my best to assure your care and comfort as befits the Mistress of Pemberley and although your lack of dowry might prove unworkable with another suitor, I have the resources available to provide for you and our children, should they come one day.  I hope that you share my anticipation to hear our home filled with the sound of children’s voices.

Unable to help herself, she laughed.  “How do you manage to be both insulting and endearing in such a short space, sir?  I see my first task is to teach you to tame your tongue, or in this case, your pen.”

I have sent notices to all of the papers of our engagement, and have written to my aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.  My cousin, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, I happened to find ensconced in my library upon my arrival, rather comfortably might I add, and I was able to inform him of our plans in person.  He expressed great surprise at the speed of our agreement, and also that he anticipates meeting the woman who at last won my favour.

Elizabeth read the paragraph again.  “So your cousin is in shock, he gave you a tongue-lashing, and he is suspicious of me.”  She nodded and sighed.  “I suppose that is to be expected.  And as I recall, he was the friendly relative.”

I will write to his parents, Lord and Lady Matlock, with our news as well, and he will follow it with a note of his own.
 

“A note to calm the outrage, no doubt.”  She drew a breath and closed her eyes for a moment.  “An Earl.  I cannot quite fathom your family, Mr. Darcy.”

I was also fortunate to find my uncle, Judge Harding Darcy, in Town, as is his son, Samuel, who has only recently begun to earn his living in law.  My uncle lives on Pemberley in the dower’s home, which is located a little over a mile from Pemberley House.  I told him of our news, and while taken aback, he has pledged support.  My aunt, Susan Darcy, is presently staying at Pemberley House with my sister.

Elizabeth studied the letter.  She could tell that he had paused in his writing there.  The nib of the pen stayed pressed to that spot for a long time before moving forward.

My sister has recently experienced a very traumatic event.  I pray that she improves, but my aunt reports that she is nearly mute and is forever in tears.  I am at my wits’ end to know what to do.  I wish to be with her, but my family tells me that she needs a woman by her side, not an overbearing, hovering brother.  The only positive result of my leaving her is meeting you.  For that I am truly grateful.  I am sorry to bring this burden to your shoulders, dear Elizabeth, but I pray that your liveliness might nudge her enough to at least smile once again.  I know how your presence has affected me.

“Again I am called dear, you trust me.”  She whispered.  “You told me that you admire me, and here you say that you need me.  How did this happen?  Why did you not show yourself to me sooner?  Your admiration was growing as I fought to hold onto my foolish pride, perhaps you were as well, in your way.”   Feeling tears pricking at her eyes, she blinked and looked up, feeling Jane’s hand at her elbow, guiding her around a rut in the road as she walked blindly on, clutching her letter. 

“Lizzy?”

Shaking her head, she looked back down and whispered again, “You wish for your sister to be like me?  Whatever happened to the girl?  It has to be beyond an accident, I would think, to change her so dramatically.  Why will you not tell me?  Why would you think this would turn me against you?  Surely this is the great secret you will not tell me until we wed.”

I anticipate receiving the draft of the settlement tomorrow, and hopefully the final version by Wednesday.  I am promised to have the special license in hand by Friday, and I hope to leave that morning.  If it comes later in the day it would be foolish to travel, so in that case I will plan to depart at first light on Saturday.  Unless I hear otherwise, I will come to Longbourn that evening so that I may speak to your father.  And most importantly, speak to you.

Again Elizabeth detected that he had paused significantly in his writing.  “You are a very deliberate man.”  She observed and thought she would have to read the letter again carefully, since undoubtedly each word was chosen with great care. 

I hope you continue to wish that I had stayed.  I find myself wishing that you had come with me.

Until Saturday,

Fitzwilliam

“Fitzwilliam.”  Elizabeth whispered.  “
Not
Mr. Darcy.”

“Lizzy?”  Jane leaned close.  “I could not catch what you were saying, is everything well?” 

“I think so.”  She looked up to her and blinking out of her fog, became businesslike.  “Yes, of course, the settlement is nearly prepared and he expects to return on Saturday at the latest.”

“That is not so long.”  Jane smiled and poked her, pointing to where their cousin had joined their sisters.  “Mr. Collins was trying to read your letter as you walked, but he kept tripping!  He finally gave up.”

“Serves the snoop right!”  Elizabeth laughed and folding up the now precious note, placed it safely in her reticule. 

“Was it a love letter, Lizzy?”  Jane asked softly.   “Make sure that Mama does not see it if it was, you know that Lydia will say something to her about you getting a letter.”

“I know.  I suspect Mr. Collins will as well since he disapproves so much.”  She looked at him curiously then back at Jane.  “No, it was not a love letter; I have a feeling that Mr. Darcy would not quite know how to write one.  But . . . well, being no expert on those sorts of things it is hard to say.  I think it gave me an inkling into the complexity of the man who has chosen to marry me.”  She looked out to the horizon.  “He chose
me
.”

Jane broke into her reverie.  “Lizzy?  What are you talking about?” 

Elizabeth startled and laughing, she squeezed Jane’s arm.  “I do think that while he was trying to state some simple information on the surface, he was trying to tell me much more.  I think that Mr. . . .” A blush crept over her face as she realized all he was trying to convey.  “
Fitzwilliam
.”  Jane’s eyes widened with Elizabeth’s awed whisper.  “Fitzwilliam knew that the letter may be read and perhaps restrained himself from saying more.”

“Oh Lizzy!”  Jane hugged her.  “He loves you!”

“No, no.”  Elizabeth looked down at her feet.  “I dare not hope for that.  Friendship, perhaps . . .”

“Why not love?”  Jane tilted her head and smiled.  “I hope for love one day, and I certainly hope it for you.”  They hugged again and looked ahead to where Lydia and Kitty had entered the busy main street of Meryton and immediately spotted their quarry. 

“Mr. Denny, I presume.”    Elizabeth sighed as they joined their sisters and Mr. Collins.  Along with the favoured soldier stood a man dressed in civilian clothes.  Denny introduced his friend, while Lydia introduced her sisters and cousin.

“Mr. Wickham you are very handsome but you would be more so in a red coat like your friend’s.”  Lydia examined him critically and he lifted his brow.  Denny laughed.

“Lydia.”  Elizabeth spoke sternly.

“I can only bow to a woman’s keen eye.” Wickham smiled at Elizabeth, taking her in from head to toe appreciatively, and then turned to Lydia with a wide grin.  “It is fortunate then that I am to join the militia this very day.”

“Oh!”  Lydia clapped.  “How lovely!”

“Indeed.  It was a stroke of luck that I ran into Denny in London.” 

Denny laughed.  “Ran into is the word!” 

“Ah, my inattention is to my benefit,” he looked to Elizabeth, “if I am to have the company of such lovely neighbours for the winter.”

Lydia looked between him and Elizabeth and very nearly spilled the news of the engagement when Kitty stepped on her foot.  She saw where Kitty was looking pointedly at the dressmaker’s shop and sidled up to Wickham.  “Perhaps you could come with us to our aunt’s house today to know your neighbours better?”

Wickham examined the young girl speculatively, “I would enjoy that, but we have not been introduced.” 

“I will certainly be glad to meet with Mrs. Philips today.”   Mr. Collins said importantly and took Elizabeth’s hand to place on his arm.  “Of course, I am very nearly family.”

Elizabeth broke away from Collins’ grip.  “Sir, you are no relation at all to my aunt.” 

“I do not think that is the relationship he meant.”  Wickham murmured and nudged Denny.

“Hopefully she will find a taller suitor.”  Denny said under his breath.

“I would not mind towering over her.”

“Good morning!”  Bingley appeared on horseback and prevented any additional conversation.  “Miss Bennet!  I was just on my way to Longbourn to assure myself of your recovery.  You seem to be glowing with good health!”  He jumped down.  “Ladies.”  He bowed and noticed the men.  “Gentlemen, ah Mr. Denny, it is good to see you again, may I know your companion?”

“Wickham, George Wickham.” They bowed and Jane introduced Mr. Collins.  Bingley looked expectantly between them.

“Mr. Bingley is leasing Netherfield, an estate about two miles from Meryton.”  Denny nodded to Bingley as he indicated his friend.  “Wickham is just joining the militia as a lieutenant.”

Bingley beamed.  “Well, I wish you the best of luck in your new endeavour, sir.” 

“I certainly hope to blend in with my new comrades.”  Wickham smiled and started when he heard his name called.  “Ah, it seems that they are ready for me, excuse me as I sign on.”  He bowed and ducked into the low doorway of the tavern, which was serving as the colonel’s temporary office.

“Good, good.”  Bingley turned away from Wickham and rubbed his hands together.  “Miss Elizabeth, I received a note from Darcy this morning.  He is determined that he will return Friday evening and begged me to secure us a dinner invitation at Longbourn Saturday.”  He was relieved to see her blush.

“I am sure that an invitation for dinner will be issued the moment I mention it to Mama.”  She smiled.

“Darcy?”  Collins started.

“Yes.”  Bingley looked curiously at the man and returned to Elizabeth who had done the same.  “He says that his business is progressing nicely and he asked that I look in on you as well.” He caught her eye and winked.  “I am to protect you from any superfluous suitors who might come along.” 

“He said that?”  Elizabeth looked down.

Bingley’s voice softened and he tilted his head to see under her bonnet.  “Indeed, he did.  So being his very good friend, I had to oblige.  Who shall I bat away?”  He smiled to see her eyes sparkle and meet his again.

Mr. Collins raised his voice.  “Pardon me Cousin Elizabeth, but am I to understand that you believe Mr. Darcy would be interested in courting you?  Is this the Mr. Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire?” 

“Yes.”  Elizabeth studied him. “Do you know of Mr. Darcy?”

“I have heard his name many, many times!  He is the nephew of my esteemed patroness Lady Catherine de Bourgh!”  Elizabeth immediately thought of Darcy’s letter.  She had not made the connection as she read, and startled when Mr. Collins patted her arm sympathetically.  “I do not mean to be discouraging Cousin, but I must tell you that such a courtship is impossible.  Mr. Darcy is quite one of the richest young men in the country, and as his aunt is fond of saying; he is destined to marry very well.  Indeed, she would allow nothing less.  I would not be surprised if she does not have a young lady in mind!  Her own daughter, perhaps!  What a union that would be, uniting two great estates!  You will have to set your sights for a humbler life, assuredly any attention Mr. Darcy has paid you was simply good manners.”  Elizabeth coloured but it was no blush of pleasure this time.