Memory: Volume 3, How Far We Have Come, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) (20 page)

“He will live.” 

“Matlock!”  Lord Oakmont strode up to his friend and colleague.  “What was that big to-do out by your door?  Sounded like a boxing match for all the noise and language!”

“Creary.”  Lord Matlock said grimly.  “Drunk as a skunk and determined to make waves.”

“You should have invited him, you know.”  Oakmont sniffed and rocked on his heels.  “He will skewer you the next time you bring up legislation.”

Rolling his eyes he lifted his brow.  “He will not remember this night.  He is a joke.”

“Hmm.  He wields power, even if he is no longer the cock of the walk.” 

“So I should have invited him?”  Lord Matlock waved over to where Darcy and Elizabeth were just entering the ballroom.  “And drive my nephew and his wife to disavow me and leave with his family?”

“Hmm, good point.”  Lord Oakmont observed the couple standing together and watching the dancers.  “That girl they are watching, dancing with that boy Bingley, what is the story with her?  I notice that she has been essentially chaperoned by the entire family, but that she is also dancing with many eligible young men.  Could this be Darcy’s young sister?” 

“It is.”  Lord Matlock’s lips twitched.  “Miss Bennet is one of Darcy’s many sisters.”

“Miss Bennet, not Miss Darcy?”

“No, Oakmont, she is just fifteen.”  Lord Matlock’s raised his brows and noted his companion’s disappointment.  “Her dowry will remain safely in Darcy’s coffers for several years to come.”

“I have no idea what you mean.”  Lord Oakmont said stiffly.

“Your gambling debts are legend.  I see that you do not deny it.”

Ignoring him, he continued his inquiry.  “Miss Bennet, her dowry . . .”

“Is to be discussed with her brother.  What are you about, chasing after such a young girl?  You are nearly three times her age!”

“I know.”  He shrugged.  “But I am a catch.”

“Not for Miss Bennet.”  Lord Matlock glanced around the room and spotted his wife at work.  “Try elsewhere.” 

“Captain Peter de Bourgh, may I introduce Miss Edwina Kendall.”  Lady Matlock smiled and gestured to the young woman by her side.  De Bourgh’s eyes widened and he looked at her expressively, which was ignored.  “Miss Kendall is daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Kendall.”  Again she gestured to two parents, smiling and bowing to him.  He nodded at them shortly and glanced to where Mary was being introduced to a strange man by Layton.  His gut clenched, wishing to go stand and watch him, but feeling Lady Matlock’s unforgiving clench on his arm, he reluctantly turned his eyes to the woman before him. 

“Good evening.”  He bowed.

“It is a beautiful evening.”  She smiled at him and waited expectantly. 

Feeling a sharp pinch, he closed his eyes for a moment.  “Miss Kendall, may I have this set?”  He held out his hand. 

“Oh, thank you, sir!”  She smiled at him sweetly and with a backward glance to her nodding mother, joined him at the dance floor where she stood next to Mary.  De Bourgh found himself beside the young man who was to partner her.

“She is very pretty, do you not agree?”  Franklin Moffet said to De Bourgh.  “I have been watching her all night; she is dancing with the top of society!  Did you notice?  I have never heard of her, but even Lord Matlock danced with her!”

“She is family.”  De Bourgh said icily.

“Really!”  Moffet smiled.  “Well, now that is fascinating!  Looks and a pedigree!”  He looked across to Mary, but she was staring at Edwina.

“Oh he is the handsomest man here!”  She gushed.  “And he has not danced at all!”

“He danced with me.”  Mary said stiffly.

“Well that must have been ages ago, since I have been watching him most carefully.  He has rejected every other girl.  But Lady Matlock introduced us and he just could not wait to ask me to dance!”  Mary’s eyes moved to de Bourgh, who was staring at her and shaking his head.  “He is very rich.”  Edwina said in a loud whisper.  “He has his own estate.  Oh but he is so terribly, terribly handsome!”  The music began and the dancers stepped forward. 

Mary glared at the girl as she took de Bourgh’s hand and barely acknowledged her own partner.  De Bourgh was too busy glaring at Moffet to notice, and quickly stepped wrong.  “Forgive me.”  He murmured and blushing looked up to see a glint of satisfaction in Mary’s eyes.  His brow rose and when they had to change partners, he leaned to her ear.  “You look pleased to see me trip.  Not ladylike at all.”

“Why would I wish you to perform well with her?”

“Because you think well of me?”  He asked and they separated, back to their original partners.  He glanced at Mary to see that her feelings had been hurt and he sighed, wishing he could take his chastisement back.  Instead he found that Edwina was talking and he had no idea what she was saying.  Noticing Lady Matlock staring at him from the side, he endeavoured to pay at least cursory attention to her. 

“Do tell me about your estate!”  She gushed.

“It is adequate for my needs.”  He said at last and noticed that Mary had looked up to him when he spoke.   He danced, but directed his speech towards Mary.  “It is adequate but lacks much.”

“Lacks?”  Edwina laughed.  “Why then why do you not buy whatever is missing?” 

“What is missing cannot be bought.”  He said softly as he turned Edwina but passed Mary.  “What is missing can only be found.”

“You speak in riddles, sir.”  Edwina laughed.  “Are you fond of games?  I love spending evenings playing charades and cards.”

“I prefer conversation.”  De Bourgh said positively towards Mary, who blushed.

“Miss Bennet, I have been talking and talking, and yet I have heard so little from you!”  Moffet urged her.  “Do tell me of all these protective relatives who have been dancing with you.  That gentleman there said it was mostly family tonight, do you not wish to dance with more suitors?”

“Are you a suitor, sir?”  She said softly as he beamed and hopped. 

“I suppose I might be!”  He laughed.  “You are related to Mrs. Darcy?”

“She is my sister.”  Mary admitted. 

“Excellent, excellent!” 

“Why so excellent?”  She demanded.  “Is it my connections that you like?”

“I would be a fool to ignore them.”  He said honestly.  “But you are a pretty girl, too.  Clearly you have caught the eye of the few who have been permitted past the relatives.”

“
They
were all very kind.”

“And I?”

“I suppose that you are kind in your way.”

“That does not sound promising at all.”  He frowned.  “I must do better.  What do you wish for in the way of kindness?”

Mary looked at him then at de Bourgh, who was once again focussed on her.  “I believe that honest expression of feelings and opinion are much kinder than one who dances around, leaving the subject of his conversation waiting and wondering when he will get to the point.”

“Perhaps the person leading the discussion is unsure of his reception, particularly when he sees that she is enjoying greatly conversation with others.”  De Bourgh spoke as he held Edwina’s arm.

“Pardon?”  Edwina asked in confusion.

“Perhaps the person is enjoying the conversation, but is wishing all along that it was a different party she was speaking with.  Perhaps she has no choice but to make the best of the situation she has been dealt, through no fault of her own.”

“Pardon?”  Moffet asked.  “Are you talking to me?”  He looked to see her focus on de Bourgh.  “I say, sir.  Keep to your own!”

“Sound advice.”  De Bourgh nodded and meeting Mary’s eyes, he saw her blush and look down.  “I will indeed keep to what is mine from now on.”  The song ended and before the second set began, he bowed to Edwina.  “Miss Kendall?  May I introduce you to Mr . . ..”

“Moffet.”  Mary offered.

“Ah, yes.  Moffet, Miss Kendall.”  He held out his hand to Mary.  “Miss Bennet?”  Smiling, she took his hand and he led her away.

Moffet stared at Edwina.  “What happened, there?”

“No idea.”  She looked after de Bourgh regretfully then to Moffet.  “Have you an estate, Mr. Moffet?”

“In time.”  He grinned.  The music resumed and they began to dance.

Darcy and Elizabeth watched de Bourgh lead Mary determinedly through the crowd.  “Well, should we do something?  That was very improper to leave their partners like that.”

“I suppose that he can claim ignorance, and their abandoned partners seem rather happy with the change.”  She looked up at him and he laughed.  “I think that he vowed not to propose to her here.”

“But Mousie, thou art no thy lane, in proving foresight may be in vain; the best-laid schemes o’mice an ‘men gang aft agley.”
²
  Darcy’s eyes twinkled as she laughed at his terrible brogue, and completely forgetting himself, he drew Elizabeth against his chest and stood facing forward with her, his hands loosely around her waist, resting over her belly, and hers lightly on top of his fingers.  “I hope that whatever his plans, they are happier than that of the poor mouse.”

“Lizzy!”  Jane whispered and looked pointedly at their position.

“Oh.”  She blushed and they separated, but only so that Darcy stood with his hand on her back, with his fingers curved over her waist.  “Mary has disappeared with Peter.”

“So we noticed.”  Lucas laughed and tilted his head towards the door.  “Who is chaperoning?”

Darcy’s gaze swept the room.  “Nobody.”

“Uh-oh.” 

“What do you think?”  Jane bit her lip.  “Should we find them?”

“No.”  Darcy said softly.  “It is in their hands.  But the final dance approaches.”

“And he has waited all night for it.”  Elizabeth pointed out. 

The two couples stood without speaking, Lucas assumed a pose that mirrored Darcy’s.  The strains of the musicians beginning the final set filled the air and they made their way over to the floor to dance, joining the rest of the family.  Darcy nudged Lucas, who smiled and nudged Richard.  The message passed down the line as de Bourgh, grasping Mary’s hand and hurrying, took the last place in line.  Mary, flushed and looking everywhere but at the faces of the women staring at her, took her place across from him. 

“What are they staring at?”  Mary whispered when she took de Bourgh’s hands.

“I think that they are expecting some sort of news.”  He laughed and his eyes crinkled in a happy smile. 

“News?”  She bit her lip and giggled.  “Shall we keep them guessing?”

“That is cruel, my dear Mary.” 

“I may be many things, but I am never cruel, Peter.”  She smiled as they stepped perfectly together.  “Your dancing is much improved from our first set.”

“I think that is because I have been assured of a steady partner.”  He raised her hand to his lips.  “Thank you for giving me confidence.”

“All you needed to do was ask.”

DARCY CLOSED THE DOOR to the bedchamber behind him and watched Elizabeth slowly walk towards her dressing room.  The fatigue she had fought all evening was at last showing.  Pulling his neck cloth apart, he unbuttoned his waistcoat and shirt while walking towards her, crossing in a few strides the short distance she had managed.  Darcy’s hands fell on her waist and he stopped her, pulling her back and turning her around.  “We should have left hours ago.  I am sorry.”

“No, no.  I am fine, truly.”  Elizabeth lied as tears began to slip down her cheeks.  “I am just so very tired.” 

“Lean on me.”  Darcy ordered and quickly, he unbuttoned her gown, and let it slip down to the floor.  He smiled as her eyes closed and he ran his hands over her bare skin, then up to begin plucking out the diamond-topped pins, gathering them in his fist and, with a stretch, managing to drop them into a porcelain dish sitting on the table near their bed.  She was nearly asleep when he untied her stays, and lifting her, carried her to the bed, the covers already turned down.  There he removed her slippers and stockings, leaving her in nothing more than the sheer chemise.  He sat on the edge of the bed, looking at her and caressing her hair.  “I love you, Lizzy.”  A small smile appeared and he smiled in return, she was not quite asleep yet.  Leaning down, he kissed her lips and her cheek, then ran his hands down to rest over her belly.  He left them there, wondering about the baby within, who it would one day be, and if that baby could possibly make him feel more than he already did with Rosalie.  Bending down he kissed her warm skin.  “Hello, my child,” he whispered.  “This is Papa.  Be kind to your Mama.”  He kissed again and then moved to her mouth where he very tenderly kissed her lips, and thrilled in her sleepy, sensuous response.  “Oh Lizzy, even in your dreams you make me desperate for you.”  Gently he disengaged her arms from his neck, and rising to his feet, covered her.  “I will not be long, love.”  Smiling, he walked off to the dressing room, gathering her gown to lay over a chair on his way, and undressed.  Some minutes later he returned, blowing out the candles and climbing in behind her, spooned his body to hers.  He kissed her shoulder and she snuggled back against him.

“Will?”

“Yes, love?”

“Thank you.” 

Darcy chuckled and rested his face on her pillow.  “You are welcome.  How do you feel?”

“I think that I am just tired.”  She yawned and his brow creased.  “That must be all.”

“Lizzy?”  No answer.  “Lizzy?”  She was fast asleep.  Darcy listened to her familiar steady breathing, analyzed every nuance of her voice, every expression that he had seen that night, and finally decided that he was being ridiculous and decided to wait for morning to ask what she meant.  “You must be tired, love.  Not to want to speak of Mary.”  Settling his head back on her pillow, he laid his hands over the baby and closed his eyes.  “Sleep well, dearest.”

LUCAS LAY ON HIS BACK and stared up at the canopy, then lifted Jane’s hand to his lips.  “That was wonderful.”  He sighed happily.  “Who knew that lovemaking was possible without having to wait for the snoring of parents and siblings to fill the air?”

“It is not that bad.”  Jane laughed and turned on her side to face him.  “It only seems that way.”

“I suppose.  It is just so frustrating, everything is.  I have thought of moving us out.”