Memory: Volume 3, How Far We Have Come, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) (36 page)

A long walk came to mind, just before they left Pemberley in September of 1806.  They had already ridden over the estate, paused up on the precipice to look at the valley below . . .  “And then we walked.”  He relived the scene, the endless conversation with his father, talking of what he would be experiencing on the continent, words of advice, stories of his own tour, then more stories of the family, so many he could barely keep them straight, and then a stroll past the lake, into the forest, and a slight wave off to the side of the path. 

“Do you know that trail, Son?”

“Yes, Father, it leads to a glade, I found it years ago when I was looking for respite.”

“Ah yes, a good place for that.”  Mr. Darcy smiled and nodded.  “Safely within the arms of your family.  Your mother loved that place, and still does.  She lives on there.  A very special place.”
 
Darcy had looked at him curiously, but his father had kept walking, talking about a new subject, and the moment had been lost
.
 

“The glade is your, our, special place.”  He smiled at last, liking that connection to his parents.  “Safely in the arms of my family?”  His brow creased, and he thought back again of the pearls.  “She lives on there?”  Closing his eyes, he lost himself in thought again until he felt a gentle kiss on his cheek. 

“Time for sleep, love.”  Elizabeth whispered and kissed his nose.

Smiling, he opened his eyes.  “We
should
sleep, too.”

“A very early start requires much rest.”  She nodded and held his cheeks in her hands.  “Unless you would prefer to remain in this chair?”

“No.”  He kissed her and rose to his feet, setting down the last journal.  “I think that I may have solved Father’s mystery, at least part of it.” 

“Will you tell me?”  She leaned against him and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders as they walked into the master’s chambers.

“No.”

“Will!”

“No, I need to do some more investigating.”  They climbed into bed and he blew out the candles before curling around her.  “Do you mind?”

“As a matter of fact . . .”

“I knew you would understand.”  He chuckled when she reached back to pinch him and rested his face on her pillow.  “Goodnight, love.”

“GONE.”  Foster appeared at Mrs. Mercer’s office door and leaned against it.  “Such excitement, I have never seen.”

“Surely you have.”  She glanced up from her papers.  “This home is filled with it.”

“I would say that there is a bit of dread, as well.”  He walked behind her desk and looked down at her lists.  “Smelling salts?”

“For Mrs. Bennet, she seems to be fond of them according to Mrs. Lucas.”  They both cleared their throats.  “I ordered a new bottle of laudanum for the master while I was sending to the apothecary.”

“He has been doing so well.”  Foster’s brow creased and seeing Adams passing, he waved him into the room.  “How is the master?  Are his headaches controlled?”

“Tolerably.  Especially since the mistress’ health has been restored.”  Adams looked at them curiously.  “He was lost in thought this morning, I think that he was plotting something with Mrs. Darcy at the Derby, there seems to be a game afoot between them.”

“There is always a game afoot between them.  Did you notice the word game at . . . Well no you wouldn’t, you aren’t in the dining room.”

“What was happening?”  Mrs. Mercer put down her papers.

“It was a regular meal but,” Foster started chuckling, “it seemed that they each had a word that they tried to work into conversation.  Everyone else at the table was completely oblivious to it, only confused at the rather intense staring between the master and mistress.”

“If they are not expecting another child soon I will be amazed.”  Mrs. Mercer shook her head with a smile and returned to work.  “Susie caught them in a guest room yesterday,
inspecting
it for the Bennets, she was told!”

“Ahem.”  Adams coughed and smiled.  “No comment.”

Mrs. Mercer laughed.  “Well I for one am glad that they are all off today on their little trip.  The Bennets’ arrival on Monday will be tense enough.  Not Mr. Bennet, he will go to the library and will be happy to have a bottle of port by his side, but the mother. 
That
woman puts me on edge!”

“I can still hear her insulting the master and mistress when she toured the house years ago.”  Foster said with distaste.  “If she disrupts Miss Bennet’s wedding joy . . .”

“I do not think Mrs. Darcy would permit anything to harm her sister.”  Adams said thoughtfully.  “Millie says . . . well, never mind, but Mrs. Darcy is not the girl she was when Mrs. Bennet was last here.” 

“Aha!” 

All three servants turned when Mrs. Robbins appeared with Rosalie.  “Good morning, Miss Rosa.”  Mrs. Mercer smiled. 

“Whoa!”

“And how is the young mistress this morning?”

“Missing Mama and Papa.”  Mrs. Robbins smiled.

“Papa!”  Rosalie looked around anxiously.  “Mama?”

“Not for a long time, dear.”  She sighed.  “I have to remember not to say their names today.”

“Well, as they will not return until after dark, I would say you have a long day ahead of you.  At least Miss Georgiana and Miss Catherine are here to entertain her now.”  Foster smiled at Rosalie.  “I have to check the wine supplies for the wedding; I will be in the buttery if you need me.”

“How is the silver?”  Mrs. Mercer’s pen hovered over her list.

“Polished and ready.”  He laughed and went on his way.  “I know my duties.”

“Hmm.”  She looked up at Adams.  “The master truly is well?”

“Of course he is.”  He noticed the laudanum on her list and understood.  “No need for that, I think.  The mistress will soothe him.” 

“Who will soothe her?”  Mrs. Mercer crossed it off the list and stared at it thoughtfully, then began scratching again.

 Adams leaned over and chuckled.  “Ahh, Mr. Darcy was mentioning buying some chocolate for the mistress.”

“You have a good Papa.”  Mrs. Mercer smiled at Rosalie.

“Papa?”  She cried, and Mrs. Robbins sighed.

“I am sorry!”  Hurriedly she handed the baby a biscuit.  “Off with you now!” 

“Bye!”  Rosalie waved the treat from Mrs. Robbins’ shoulder.

“Goodbye, dear.”  She smiled fondly and glanced at Adams.  “Don’t you have work to do?”

“I’m waiting for my biscuit.”  He said seriously.

“Out!”

LEANING OVER TO LOOK around her hat brim, de Bourgh grinned at Mary.  “This is spectacular!”

“I have never been around so many people before.”  Mary examined the crowd, some standing, some sitting, leaning over rows, shaking hands.  Women preened and gossiped; the finest of hats and dresses were on display.  “I thought Lizzy was silly telling me to wear one of my new gowns, but I am so glad that I listened.” 

“And you are stunning.”  He took her hand and lifted it to his lips.  “This is my first Derby, too.  My first horse races, actually.  I am so glad that you are here.”

“If you were without me you could be as terrible as those men down there.”  Mary indicated a group, clearly in their cups and arguing loudly about the last race.  “Their wives must be mortified.”

“No, I do not drink to excess, and certainly not in public.  I learned my lesson long ago.”  Seeing her brows rise, he smiled.  “Being drunk on a ship is unpleasant, the motion is not conducive to an unsettled stomach.”

“Oh.

“And, you just might fall overboard.”  He nodded at her widened eyes.  “It happened more than once when the ration of rum was consumed.”

“The things I learn from you.” 

“I cannot wait to teach so many things, my dear Mary.”  He whispered close to her ear and delighted in her blush.  “Mary, Mary, will you marry me?”

“I think I’m going to in a few days.” 

“Only think?”  He laughed and squeezed her hand.  “What did you think of our carriage ride?”

“It was crowded.” 

“You were sitting in the wrong place.”  He glanced at Lucas.  “We will make other arrangements on the return journey.  There is no reason for us to sit according to our sex.  That was just Darcy being annoying.”

“It was just following the rules of propriety.”  Mary reminded him gently.  “Fitzwilliam is not trying to annoy you.”

“Well, it was also very tight, three men sitting shoulder to shoulder, especially with a big one like Darcy . . .” Leaning close to her he whispered, “I want to sit by you, and I know that your sisters prefer to sit by their husbands.”

“Only three can sit on each side, which of my sisters would you deny her husband?  Besides, you are sitting by me now.”

“And when we are on our honeymoon trip, I will sit by you the whole time.”  Laughing at her blushes he sat back again.  “Oh Mary, will there ever come a day when I do not surprise you with something?”

“I hope not.”  She peeked around at him and slipped her hand into his.  “That would be dull.”

“Should we stop them?”  Jane nudged Lucas.

Looking them over, he shrugged.  “From doing what?  He is remarkably well-behaved, considering the state of perpetual arousal he lives in.  Leave him be.  I am rather looking forward to tomorrow night.”

“Dinner?” 

“Hmm, after dinner, actually.”  He wiggled his brows.  “When we send him off properly.”

“Robert, what do you have planned?  Not drunkenness?”

“Nooo.”  He winked at her.

“It will be Sunday.”  She said sternly. 

“Better and better.” 

“Why?” 

“Because he will not be able to fight us!”  Lucas shook his head.  “Dear Jane, he is to be my brother, I must do my part.  You know that Darcy will not.”

“You are so much happier since we left Hertfordshire.”  Jane observed.  “What will happen when we return home in a few days?”

Lucas sighed.  “We will do our best to continue the good humour we have discovered here.”

“I will do my best to keep you in good humour,” Jane smiled, “because Mama and Papa will be here in two days.”

“Do not remind me.”

“I just hope that everyone behaves.”  Jane looked back in the stands as the final race was set and ready to begin.  “Ohhh, where are Lizzy and Fitzwilliam?  They are going to miss it!”

“Come on, come on . . .” Elizabeth whispered under her breath.  “Come on, Phantom, move!”  Behind her, Darcy stood close with his hands holding her shoulders, both because he wanted the contact, and to protect her from the tight press of the surrounding crowd.  “Come on . . .oh I cannot see!   Fitzwilliam, lift me up!”

“What?”  He chuckled and peeked around the feathers of her fashionable hat.  “I think not!”

“Well, who is winning?”  She stood up on her toes and taking out her fan, tapped the man in front of her.  “Pardon me, sir, could you just shift to your right a bit?”

“Are you daft?”  The modestly dressed man demanded and turned.  His face registered surprise to see Elizabeth’s bright intelligent eyes looking at him expectantly and then Darcy’s serious gaze boring into him.  “Oh, of course your ladyship.”  He stepped over and Elizabeth rewarded him with a brilliant smile. 

“Thank you for the advancement into the peerage, but I just wished to see the race!  Come on, Phantom!”  She cried along with the rest of the roaring crowd.  Amazed, the man watched her rather than the race, and Darcy held her tighter, keeping her from jumping and holding back his laughter.  Seeing her like this was worth the interminable carriage ride to and from London.  Finally the horses sped past them, the thunder of the hooves on the turf and the pleading of all those watching filled the air.  Elizabeth looked to Darcy when the horses slowed and cries of triumph and disappointment replaced the urgent cheers.  “Well?”

“I am not sure.”  His eyes twinkled.

“Phantom!”  Another man spat and threw his arms in the air.  “Two pounds gone!” 

Elizabeth spun around and squealed.  Darcy bent to kiss her.  “Ahhhh that’s the way, sir.”  Someone nudged him.  Elizabeth’s arms wrapped around Darcy’s waist just in time to feel a hand reaching to snatch his pocket watch.  Her nails sank into flesh and they heard a screech and curse. 

Smiling at her, he grinned.  “What have you done?”

“Do you still have your pocketbook?”

“I do.”

“How do you know?”

“It is in my hat.”  He whispered as she giggled.  “Come, we have mingled with the masses long enough, and I have fulfilled my wish.”

“Do you think anyone we know saw us?”

“Hmmm, probably.”  Darcy smiled and led her through the crowd back up to the grandstands, showed his ticket, and at last they joined a cleaner, far more genteel collection of people.  Taking off his hat, he retrieved his pocketbook and placed it back into his coat, buttoning a little strap of fabric over the hiding spot and looked up to see her hands on her hips, watching him.  “Yes, love?”

“Ingenious.”

“Experience.  My tailor is always suggesting different methods to thwart the thieves, each one more uncomfortable than the next.”  Placing her hand on his arm, they made their way back towards their party.  “Shall we cash in our tickets?”

“What did you win for Mary?”  She looked at him studying his betting slip and the final odds. 

“I think . . . well, let us see.”  They stepped up to the teller and a pile of bills was thrust forward.  “Three hundred and fifty-eight pounds.”  Darcy carefully secreted the ungainly stack away.  “Not bad.”

“No, not at all!”  Elizabeth gasped.  “What an incredible amount!  Oh Mary will be overwhelmed!” 

“Good.”  He leaned to speak softly.  “Shall I sweeten it a little?”

“No.”  She patted his cheek.  “It is enough.  It is nearly three years worth of support from Papa.”

“It would hardly buy you ten gowns.”  He smiled at her blush.  “Do you remember how you tried to give me the twenty pounds you won here with your uncle?”

“Yes.” 

“What does that little amount mean to you now?” 

“Are you asking if I am spoiled?”  Elizabeth smiled.  “That twenty pounds can keep a family fed for a long time.  I still have it in my jewel box, set aside for a rainy day.”