Imperative: Volume 2, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (14 page)

“Why?” 

“Because I knew that you are comforted by the sound of a rushing stream, and I knew that you wanted to walk and spend some time with your thoughts of Longbourn.” 

“You know me so well.”  She bent her head and kissed his hand.

Darcy smiled, “I think that will be the work of a lifetime, I just love to listen to you.”

“So it is my incessant talking that saved me?”  She looked back at him and saw his eyes twinkling.  “Would I have died without you?”

“No.”  Letting go, he sat down beside her.  “When this rain stops I will show you where you would have landed.”

“But what of that tree that was coming towards me?”

“I watched it become caught up in a sharp bend.  I believe that if it had struck, you would have been swept before it and onto the bank.  You could have climbed out on your own.”  She looked at him doubtfully.  “You would have been a mess, but I think that you would have survived.”

“Then why were you weeping?”  She caressed his face and he turned his head to kiss her palm.  “I know; a foolish question.”

“Very.”  Darcy drew her into his arms and they kissed.  “I have made a decision.”

“Oh?”  Elizabeth rested her head over his heart and hugged him.  “You speak with such authority!  Is it momentous or merely awesome?”

“I would categorize it as visionary.”  Elizabeth giggled and put her hand to her mouth.  Darcy hugged her tighter and smiled, resting his cheek upon her hair.  “I am tired of dwelling upon things that I cannot change.”

“This is visionary?  How many times have I . . .?”

“Hush.”  Darcy kissed her and stared menacingly.  “I am a stubborn man, Elizabeth.”

“Who had any doubt of that?”  She raised her brows.  “So, stubborn man who claims to listen to me, what have you concluded?”

“I have concluded that we have done our best to protect Georgiana and bring her here.  I have put it to her the questions of remaining hidden while we wait for the birth, where she wants the baby to live, and what she wishes to do when she is recovered.”

“You
spoke
to her?”  Elizabeth nearly clapped.

“And told her that I love her.” 

“Good for you!”

Nodding, he said determinedly, “And . . . I asked if she would mind us finally, selfishly having our honeymoon.”  Elizabeth stared.  “I am just not going to dwell on this any further.  What happened, why, who . . . There is not one thing I can do to change the situation, I have finally told Wickham where he can put his damned demands, I have set my fallen sister up in the best situation I can manage . . .  If I do not look forward, I will drown.”

“And why did it take me nearly doing the same for you to finally reach this point?”

“I am not in control of when an epiphany strikes, love.  Besides, I told you that I was stubborn.” 

“So am I, and I . . .” Darcy planted his lips firmly upon hers.  “Do you really think that a kiss . . .” He did it again and she sighed.  He tucked her head under his chin.  “You know that this declaration does not change the burdens we still carry and are yet to come.”

“Of course I do, but letting go of the ones that are dead and gone makes the weight so much easier to manage, don’t you think?” 

“Oh you have no argument from me there!”  She looked up to him and laughing, caressed his smiling cheek.  “What am I going to do with you?”

“Ah, now that is a subject I would like to address most thoroughly.” 

“I can imagine.”  She met his eyes and they held hands.  “You saw what could have been lost.”

“Yes, and I saw what I was losing without even realizing it.”  He kissed her gently.  “I will not make that mistake again.”

PARKER WALKED PAST the rooms belonging to Georgiana and continued down the hallway, making the turn into the guest wing.  He nodded at Amy as she came past carrying an empty coal bucket and stopped at the first door.  Inside he placed an extra nightshirt of Darcy’s, as well as drawers, stockings, and a fresh shirt.  He looked over the room with a sharp eye, and stopped at the bed to fluff a pillow and pull out a crease in the comforter.  Stepping into the dressing room, he looked over the supplies borrowed from his master and set out a fresh towel next to the pitcher of water on the washstand.  Satisfied at last, he turned to find Judy standing in the doorway. 

“I think that everything is set for Mr. Kelly.  He will be swimming in the shirt tomorrow, but if he keeps his coat buttoned . . .” His brow creased seeing the distress in Judy’s eyes.  “Mrs. Darcy is well, is she not?”

“Yes.  I left her with Mr. Darcy, they were . . . well you know.”  Parker smiled and she took out a cloth to wipe off a table.  “I have the room set up for Miss Kelly.  I think that Miss Darcy’s dress should fit her, they are both taller than Mrs. Darcy.”  Looking for something to do, she knelt by the fireplace, rearranging the coals that Amy had lay ready to be lit.  “Miss Darcy has decided to remain in her rooms, Jennifer is keeping her company.”

“I am glad for that decision.  After all of the trouble of the past months, to even consider revealing her presence is a poor decision, even if it is under the false name.”  He picked up a coal that had escaped and placed it back on the pile.  “I will have to speak to Mrs. Shaw again.  I heard her complaining to Mrs. Duncan about Mr. Darcy protecting Miss Cargill.  As far as she is concerned a ruined girl should be paraded before the village and locked up in the stocks.  It makes you wonder if some girl in her family did the same.”

“I think that there was.”  Judy moved back from the fireplace.  “But I do not know the story.  I think that Mrs. Shaw is best not being challenged on her beliefs.  I have taken the stance that I will just get along with her, nod my head and roll my eyes when she is not looking.  We only have to tolerate each other for a few months and I have enough with her comments about you.”  Parker smiled when she looked at him and reached out to give her his hand when she got to her feet. 

“I am not in the least afraid of her, and if necessary, I will usurp her authority as housekeeper to control her tongue, about Miss Cargill or you, but I doubt that she would speak outside of the home, she is loyal to Mr. Darcy.”

Their hands stayed together briefly and then hearing Amy approaching with another bucket of coal, she withdrew.  “Careful, Mr. Parker.”

“Careful of whom?  Mrs. Shaw?   I lock my chamber door at night.”  He laughed and seeing she did not join in, sighed.  “You are not yourself.  Tell me what is wrong.”

“I worry over Mrs. Darcy.”

“I worry over Mr. Darcy.  They are our lives, Judy.  Pemberley is our home; their family is our family . . .”

“That is it, their family.”  She saw that he did not understand and spoke softly, “I think that Mrs. Darcy might be with child.”  Parker’s eyes widened.  “I have not said a word to her, it is probably my imagination . . . I do not know . . .”

“Have you seen any signs of pregnancy?”  He asked urgently.

“It would be only just . . .” She twisted her hands.  “I have spoken to Jennifer, she has served several ladies who became pregnant when she was their maid, and . . . I was not asking about Mrs. Darcy’s symptoms, just symptoms in general . . . to be prepared . . . well you know that they are surely bound to . . .”

“They are hardly reticent expressing their feelings for each other.”  Parker smiled and Judy blushed.  Folding his arms, he leaned against the mantle.  “And now you are afraid that Mrs. Darcy might lose the child as a result of her mishap?”

“That or . . . I have heard Mr. Darcy speaking so happily of taking her riding . . .”

“Judy, I do not for a moment expect Mr. Darcy to take her leaping fences.  He will never risk her health.  I see him putting her on the gentlest animal he can find, and riding a horse will not cause a miscarriage.”

“Falling from one would!”

“Tripping and falling anywhere could, any number of things could, even nature.”  Parker took her hand and squeezed.  “She is a healthy, strong woman.”

“Who falls into rivers.”  Judy closed her eyes and held onto his hand.  “She wants a baby so much.  After Mr. Darcy’s accident, she has felt the responsibility to give him an heir so keenly, and . . . to have a part of him to love if he had left her forever.”  She felt Parker’s grip tighten.  “Maybe I am just imagining things.  She has been so tired and emotional, and other little things, but I suppose that could be blamed on everything else that is happening.” 

“Well, I suppose that time will tell.”  He let go and her eyes opened.  “I will never be able to shave the master once he hears that news!”  Parker laughed.  Judy looked at him and shook her head with a smile.  “Keep your suspicions to yourself.  If it is true, let them discover it.”

“I hope it is true.” 

“So do I.”  Parker smiled at her and clearing his throat, stood at the door and waved at the hallway.  “After you, Miss Orchard.”  He held up his hand and waved her back.

“Mr. Parker, is everything in order for the guests?  I cannot find Judy anywhere . . .”

“I saw her in Miss Kelly’s room.”  He stepped into the hallway.  “I want to see the wine cellar Mrs. Shaw, I believe that the master will want something special tonight, could you show me what is available?”  He winked at Judy, then set off, turning the housekeeper around. 

Judy looked out after their retreating backs and felt so much better for talking to him.  “Time will tell.”

“I FEEL TERRIBLE, should we go?”  Robert looked out at the incessant rain.  “We do not belong here.”

Sophie joined him at the window.  “We would be in danger ourselves, we have to cross the bridge and you know that the water is probably brushing the bottom.” 

“We have fished one lady from the river today; I have no desire to find another.”  Richard said from the doorway and entered the room, addressing Sophie as he walked.  “I do hope that someone has assured you of Mrs. Darcy’s good health?  I just spoke to Darcy’s valet and he said that they are quite well and should be joining us soon.”

Robert looked between the pair and cleared his throat, “Yes, Colonel, Mrs. Shaw said that Mrs. Darcy was frightened, but has quickly rallied.  We only felt that we were intruding.” 

“I appreciate your concern; however I observed the staff busily readying rooms for you both upon receiving orders from my cousin.  I will be glad to lend you a nightshirt, Kelly, although you will have to raid Darcy’s closet for anything other than a uniform.”  His lips lifted a little when he saw Sophie smile.

“I wonder how you would appear in a uniform.”   Sophie turned to her brother.  “You might finally look handsome.”

“Oh ho!”  Richard laughed.

“You hate soldiers.”  Robert pointed out.  Richard’s brow rose as he folded his arms across his chest.

She shot a look at Richard and then to her brother.  “I do not.”

“You do so.”  He gestured apologetically.  “The man she wanted to marry joined the army and left her behind.”

“I am sorry to hear that,” Richard’s smile faded and his hands fell to his side.  “But please do not lump all of us together to be hated because one man was a fool.”

Sophie’s cheeks were reddening.  “He danced with me at an assembly and my brothers immediately assigned him the position as my suitor.”  Turning to her brother, she glared.  “Which he never was!”

“Well he left, he never had the chance.”  He smiled.

Richard was studying Robert.  “I think that I see what is at work here.  I am an elder brother as well, but I do my teasing in the privacy of our home, amongst family, so I wonder if you are teasing your sister or if you are directing your words in my direction.”  As Robert’s eyes reflected his surprise, Richard smiled and nodded.  “Now, why would you want to discourage me?”

“Shall I answer that?”  Darcy’s deep voice filled the room. 

“I would rather you would not.  You know me far too well.”  Richard laughed and held out his hands.  Elizabeth took them and he pulled her in for a great hug.  “How are you my dear?”

“I am fine, a few bumps and a seriously good scare.”  She felt his embrace tighten and held him as closely as she could.  “I am well, Richard, I promise.” 

“Two days in a row you find an excuse to hold my wife in a far too familiar fashion.”  Darcy growled softly.

“Did you hear something, Elizabeth?  There was some annoying buzzing in my ear.” He drew back and kissed her cheek.  “Would you two mind terribly if you stopped trying to send me to an early grave with your antics?”

“It was hardly on purpose.”  Elizabeth protested. 

Darcy cleared his throat. “May I have my wife back, please?” 

“Do you really want to go back to him?”  Richard whispered loudly.

“I did marry him.”  She laughed. 

“I suppose that you did.”  Richard let go, but not before kissing her again.

“Dicky!”

“Oh Lord, that will earn you a duel,
Fitzy
.”

“I believe that I would skewer him on your behalf for that name.”  Elizabeth said upon seeing Darcy’s cheeks reddening.  “Now behave boys, we have guests who are undoubtedly gathering the entirely wrong impression of us.”  She approached Sophie and Robert with a smile.  “Please excuse us, my husband and I seem to have a black cloud over our heads and we are perpetually at risk for some mishap or another.  I so look forward to days of calm . . . but then I suppose we will be considered quite dull.”

“Well that is no problem for you, Cousin, you are already considered a dull stick!” 

“When are you leaving?”  Darcy glared.

“Not soon enough for your taste, I am certain.”  Richard winked and clapped his hand on Darcy’s back. 

“You have never said a truer sentence in your life.”  Darcy sighed.  “Mr. Kelly, Miss Kelly, please forgive us, our relief makes us giddy.”

“No sir, it is really very good to see how close you all are.”  Sophie smiled and looked to Richard.  “This is a side of people that you rarely see outside of the family circle.”  He smiled at her and looked down to his boots.  Sophie bit her lip and turned to Elizabeth.  “As glad as I am to see your relief and happiness, I know that the last thing you want right now is to entertain a pair of strangers. If I were you, I would want to . . .”