Imperative: Volume 2, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (117 page)

“It is not your business.”  She said in a low voice. 

“But it is
mine
now.  By disregarding my request and harassing Georgiana, you have made it so.”  Everyone turned and saw Elizabeth standing at the doorway.  “I told you not to continue with your pursuit, Lady Catherine.  Now I have just caught sight of my sister running down the hallway and outside.  That she did not break her neck on the newly waxed floors is miracle enough.  I want to know why she is in tears and why Mrs. Annesley is following behind her.”  She crossed her arms over her chest.  “I am waiting.” 

“It is not to be discussed in public.”

Waving her hand over the room, Elizabeth spoke with sarcasm dripping from her words, “Well, by all means, let us protect
your
privacy!  After all, you did so well caring for Georgiana’s!”  Stepping away from the door she waited for Lady Catherine to rise to her feet and join her.  As she passed out to the hallway, Elizabeth said with barely contained fury, “I do not need this today, Lady Catherine.  I truly do not.”

“I am aware of that.”  She said evenly.

“I do not believe that you are.”  Elizabeth glared and looked back at the silent women.  “I assume that the rest of you can get along for five minutes?”  Spinning on her heel, she led the way into the nearby music room and shut the door.  “Well?” 

Lady Catherine glared at her and then walked away.  “Impertinence!”

“It is
my
home; I can be anything I want.  Now what is the story of this cursed ring? Obviously it is not what Fitzwilliam was told by his father.”

“The good luck charm?”  She shook her head.  “No.” Without her walking stick Lady Catherine found she had nothing to do with her hands, so she approached a table and picked up a stone carving, and stared into the blank eyes of a bearded man.  “It was given to me by a young man who I wished to marry.”  Elizabeth started and dropped her folded arms.  “He was unsuitable.”  Putting down the bust, she walked away to the window.  “He was handsome and intelligent, but not remotely good enough for an earl’s daughter.  My father forbade me seeing him, and of course, that only promoted my taste for him.  He would have been better off letting it die a slow death.  Instead, in my obstinacy, I considered elopement.  Of course before it was too late, I came to my senses and remembering my position, told him to go.  The ring was to be my wedding band and he left it with me.  He said that he could not sell it nor give it to another.” 

Elizabeth could see the grim set of the woman’s mouth in the window’s reflection.  “What became of him?” 

“He eventually married and had a houseful of children.  I understand that he was very happy.”  There was absolutely no emotion in her voice.  “I married the man my parents chose for me and I have Anne and Rosings.”  She continued staring out at the scenery.  “I obviously could not wear the ring, but when my sister was to come out and start searching for a husband, I gave it to her.  I explained to my parents that I bought it for her.  I told Anne to look at it before she agreed to marriage and decide if she would want to wear that man’s ring on her finger for all of her life.  She was to return it to me when she married and received her own ring.” 

“Obviously she refused.  This was your falling out over George Darcy?”

“Hmmm.”  Lady Catherine sniffed.  “She had a man of the proper status that in time she came to love.  She thought that the ring brought her luck.  She always was a bit of a dreamer.  She began wearing it again when she became pregnant with Georgiana and I suppose that is where her claim of it being a protective charm came about.”  She turned away from the window and faced Elizabeth.  “And that is the true story of the ring.  She was correct to keep it, for me it was a symbol of . . .”  She searched Elizabeth’s face for signs of sympathy and was curious at what she observed.  “What are you thinking?”

“You are a complicated woman, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.” 

The old woman startled and then nearly laughed.  “Perhaps.” 

“I think that the ring is where it belongs now, don’t you?  On the hand of a woman who received it with love and felicity?”

“So . . . it
is
on Mrs. Thompson’s hand.”

“I believe so.” 

“How did Georgiana come to lose it?”  Lady Catherine demanded.

“Does it really matter now?  I keep her secrets, and now I will keep yours.  Agreed?”  Elizabeth raised her brow expectantly. 

There was a pregnant pause and she nodded.  “Agreed.”

“Fine.”  Elizabeth went to the door.  “And if you say one more word about Georgiana attending the ball tonight, I will be most unhappy.”

“Oh . . . I was just playing devil’s advocate to Grace.”  She said gruffly.  “She thinks that Georgiana will bewitch the Manning boy away from Cathy.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and opening the door strode off in search of Georgiana.  Her voice floated back down the hallway behind her.  “First I have drunken men jumping in the lake and now I have little girls pulling each other’s hair.  All I want is to dance with my husband, is that too much to ask?” 

“GEORGIANA!” 

Running across the courtyard, she gasped when she met the solid wall of Samuel’s chest.  “Oh!  I am sorry!” 

“What is wrong?”  Seeing her distress, he held her shoulders loosely and tried to see her eyes.  “Please tell me, let me help you.” 

She sobbed and looked up at him.  “You do not think me terrible, do you, Samuel?” 

He started and held her gaze.  “No, why would I think that?  What could you possibly have done that . . .”  

“You know everything of me, how can you even ask?”  She closed her eyes when he enfolded her into his embrace. 

“Yes, I know everything of you.”  He sighed.  “But you certainly have not repeated your mistakes of the past.  Please tell me what has happened?”  When she did not respond, Samuel asked gently.   “Have the layers of protection been breached?  Do your relatives know the truth now?  What has been said of you?”

“Nothing that I have not thought of myself a thousand times.”  Georgiana whispered when he hugged her and drew a shaking breath.  “No, they do not know the truth, but with all of them here, I feel like I am forever waiting for the blade to drop on a guillotine.  Do you know what is most difficult?”  She felt his head shake.  “When you are being rebuked for one thing and all you can hear is condemnation for another.  I will never be free of this will I?”

“No.”  Samuel said quietly.  “No, there is a living, breathing reminder of it in a house only a mile away.  But you will learn to live with it, and not to jump at the suggestion of it, especially when the topic of the conversation has nothing to do with your . . . experience.”  He heard her sniff and stared out at the lake.  “It is not fair.”

“What is not?” She whispered.

“That every time you take a step forward, there is always someone or something that pulls you back.  I apologize, Georgiana.”

“You have done nothing wrong.”  She looked up at him.  “You have always supported me.”

“Not always.”  He shook his head.  “In fact recently . . .” He closed his eyes.  “Recently I compared myself to you.   Your brother took me to task and I immediately felt humiliated.”

“What did you do?” 

Samuel shrugged.  “I said that my decision to become a member of the merchant class was akin to you . . .” He sighed.  “Please forgive me, I was feeling very sorry for myself, and very confused.”

“I know that feeling well.”  She rested her head back on his chest.  “So you think that you are not good enough to be a Darcy now?”

“Your brother was justifiably angry with me and set me straight.”

“Me, too.  I hurt him so terribly.  And it amazes me that he is so confident now that all will be well.  Elizabeth . . . She gave her confidence to him and he lends it . . . demands it of me.”  She looked up at him with a small smile when he laughed and nodded.  “You too?”

“Your brother has had more confidence in me then I have ever had in myself.”  Samuel’s eyes reflected his emotion.  “Why is it that you do not appreciate a person’s support until you disappoint them and see their hurt?  You take it for granted.”  He let go and holding her shoulders, rubbed them and smiled.  “So, you will listen to his confidence, and your wonderful sister’s, and ignore whatever set you off with the rest of them.  They do not know, and they will never know unless you give them reason to question why you are upset.”

“Today was the day that Fitzwilliam brought me home.” 

“I did not know that.  A year already.”  Samuel marvelled.  “And just look at you now.  My goodness, you are a sight!  What have you done with yourself?”

“What do you mean?”  Looking down she examined her gown and looked back up to him worriedly.  “Is something amiss?”

“No, not at all. You are lovelier by the day.”

“Oh.”  She bit her lip and studied her hands. 

“You are.  Will you promise me at least two dances?”  When her face fell, he frowned.  “You are not coming to the ball?”

“No.  Fitzwilliam forbids it.  Mrs. Annesley and I have determined many things to keep us occupied and then we will retire long before supper is served at midnight . . .”

Samuel’s brow creased.   “I was planning to appoint myself your guardian for the evening.” 

“I think that Mrs. Annesley would have performed that role.”  She blushed. 

“I am certain that she would, very admirably.”  Samuel noticed the woman standing in the courtyard near the fountain and watching them, and then spotted Elizabeth appearing and stopping beside the companion, crossing her arms and looking at his hands and up to his face.  Samuel smiled and dropped his hands from his cousin’s shoulders and clasped them behind his back.  “Perhaps . . . I could come upstairs and dance with you in the room above the ballroom?  We would be able to hear the music?” 

“Oh!”  Georgiana pressed her hands to her face.  “Really?”

“Certainly.” 

“Thank you!”  She looked down at her feet.  “But you would want to dance with all of the ladies, why would you want to dance with me?”

Laughing, he saw Elizabeth’s smile and tilted head.  “A ball is a wonderful thing, but it is also a marketplace.  I am in no position to be married, nor do I seek a wife.  I will enjoy meeting and dancing with many ladies tonight, I am sure.  But . . . I think that on this anniversary, you need to celebrate a little, too.”  He saw Elizabeth nod approvingly and looked down to Georgiana.  “Does that sound reasonable?”

“Yes.”  She smiled up at him.  “It sounds lovely.” 

“Good, then.”  He offered her his handkerchief. 

She dabbed at her face and asked quietly, “How is Hope?” 

“Father told me this morning that she has developed a hearty laugh and tips over with glee when something strikes her as amusing.”  Georgiana smiled, but said nothing.  “Can you visit her?”

“No.  I . . . No.  It is enough to hear a small story of her, and know how much happiness she brings to Aunt and Uncle.” 

“I truly understand.”  Samuel took back his handkerchief when she held it out.  “No more tears?  I think that your sister would appreciate it.”  Georgiana followed his nod and saw her.  “Elizabeth.”

“Yes, Master Samuel?”  She walked out to join them.  “Thank you for your intervention.  I wonder where my sister might have run if she had not met you.”  She raised her brows when Georgiana blushed.  “You are not a walker; it would not have been too far.”

“But I
do
ride.” 

“Ah, yes, the Darcy need to be free on horseback.” 

“Well
there
is an idea.”  Samuel gestured to his mount.  “I was just here to retrieve a list that William and Bingley put together of items to be included in the sales contract for the estate.  I was going to ride into Lambton and drop it off at the office, then return to the dower house to prepare for the ball.  Mr. Mayfield is attending and he said that he was taking the afternoon off.  Would you like to ride in with me, Georgiana?  I will only be in the office for a matter of minutes.  As you are not attending, you do not need the hours of preparation that the others do.”  He laughed when Elizabeth cleared her throat.  “Not that you need hours of preparation to become beautiful, Elizabeth.”

“You resembled your cousin with his notoriously ill-chosen speech for a moment.”  She laughed. 

“But I recovered quickly.”

“Well done.” 

“May I go, Elizabeth?  I would enjoy the escape.  All they talk about is the ball and I really have had my fill of it.”  Georgiana looked at her hopefully. 

“I will take good care of her.  You need not come along, Mrs. Annesley, unless you care for a ride?”

“I do not, but . . .” She looked at Elizabeth.

“I think it is fine.  And I will give you another purpose.  Could you purchase some new embroidery patterns for baby gowns?”  Seeing Georgiana’s and Mrs. Annesley’s expressions, she knew that they had their suspicions.  Shrugging, she smiled.  “I must have a project once the guests have gone.” 

“I think that it is an excellent one, Sister.”  Georgiana hugged her.  “Thank you for letting me go.” 

“I wish that I could join you.”  Elizabeth laughed and watched Samuel grin and offer his arm to his cousin.

“Wouldn’t that make William insane; to come home and hear you are off riding?  He would be after you like a shot!”  Chuckling, he turned and then leaned down to Georgiana.  “Maybe if we come across the hunting party, I will just hint at it.”

“That is cruel!”  Georgiana cried. 

“Just a hint . . .”

Elizabeth and Mrs. Annesley watched him catch up his horse’s reins and the three of them walked off towards the stables to find Georgiana a pony.  “She needs boots and a bonnet.  And gloves.”  The companion observed.

“It will strike her before she mounts, I think.”  Elizabeth smiled.  “He has forgotten the papers he came to retrieve.”

“Do you think that might be a match one day?” 

“Oh my, what a notion!  Samuel is more of a brother to her than Mr. Darcy is, as he is more like her father.” Elizabeth patted Mrs. Annesley’s arm and started walking back into the house.  “I am satisfied to see her happy today.”