Mr. Darcy's Forbidden Love-kindle (8 page)

“At least you can be thankful for your aunt, as she seems to have your best interest at heart. From what you have said, she has been most helpful with Georgiana.”

“Yes, she has been a godsend since Mother died. I do not know what I would have done without her.”

“She is your mother’s youngest sister and is childless, is she not?”

“Yes. She is but five and forty. Her husband died years ago and she never remarried. When Mother died, she moved into Pemberley, putting herself at my disposal to help with Georgiana. She and Georgiana have been in Bath. Naturally I would like to see her while she is in Town, and I know that they are planning another trip to Ramsgate to allow Georgiana to study with the masters.”

“I am happy that you do not have to worry for Georgiana. You will let me know if there is a problem after you consult with Lowell. I may not be able to do anything, but I will help however I can. I have some dealings with the mills, you know.”

William reached to shake his hand. “I will certainly keep that in mind. Do not forget your promise. Write me every day with news of how Miss Elizabeth is faring. I want Meacham to concentrate on taking care of her, and I trust you to contact me if she needs anything.”

“Every day, I promise.”

“I shall be in London unless I advise you that I have left for Pemberley, so that your correspondence may follow me.”

“Go and attend to what you must, my friend. I shall keep you abreast of the news here.”

Charles was hesitant but could hold back no longer as William stood and set his empty glass on a table as if preparing to retire.“Darcy, may I ask your opinion on something?”

“Certainly.”

“We have not had time to discuss this, what with your being stranded in the storm, but what do you think of Miss Bennet? I find myself growing quite fond of her.” At William’s cynical expression, he quickly added, “I know, I know. I have often thought myself in love in the past, but I promise that I will take my time and do nothing in haste. I am considering extending my lease on Netherfield just for the purpose of getting to know her properly.”

William considered Charles, noting the eagerness in his eyes and remembering his own desires to know Miss Elizabeth. How he wished he had the right to stay in Meryton and further their acquaintance! Carefully he chose his words, not wishing his own misery to colour his counsel. After all, Charles was like a brother to him.

“You know my advice—proceed slowly, know your mind. Keep your relationship strictly as friends. Stay if you feel you must, but make no decisions without consulting me. Promise me that we will talk before you progress beyond friendship.”

“You have my solemn promise,” Charles replied eagerly, his face aglow with happiness as he feigned a salute. “No decision without talking to you.”

“Then I have no objections to your staying or extending the lease, though I would suggest you extend it by only a few months at a time. That way you can vacate the property in short order if circumstances change.”

Afterward each man retired for the night as William was determined to leave at the break of dawn.

~~~*~~~

As the Darcy coach made its way through Meryton on the way back to London, William instructed the driver to stop at the bookshop. With the book he had intended to give Elizabeth in his coat pocket, he stepped into the quaint shop. The now familiar ring of the bell over the door brought Mr. Grant’s head around the end of a bookshelf.

“Mr. Darcy! How good to see you again! I am just dusting the shelves. Are you here to find another book?”

“No, sir, I am away to London sooner than I expected, and I need to ask a favour of you.”

The gentlemen came forward hastily, brushing his hands against the apron that he wore. “Certainly! How may I be of service?”

William pulled the book of poetry from an inside pocket of his coat. “As you may remember, I purchased this book that Miss Elizabeth Bennet was admiring, intending to present it to her for her valuable help the other day.”

“Yes, I remember.” Mr. Grant tried not to smile.

“But as I have to leave Meryton forthwith, I have not had the opportunity to give it to her. Would you be kind enough to have it delivered to her home? And, if I may be so bold to ask, would you let her assume that you are gifting her with the tome, perhaps for her assistance the other day? She was very helpful to this newcomer.”

The proprietor smiled. “I would be happy to do so. And as for your being a newcomer, perhaps you are to my humble shop, but certainly not to the world of literature! I was not eavesdropping, you understand, but this is a small shop and voices carry, and from what little I heard of your discussion, your knowledge of the best authors and works is equal to Elizabeth’s.”

William smiled at the recollection of her crooked grin. “I am most proud to be mentioned alongside such an august reader.”

With his business finished, William looked about the small establishment, fixing it in his mind. This was where he had first seen Elizabeth, and it would always have a special place in his heart. Taking a deep breath, he turned to leave.

“Oh, Mr. Darcy!”  William looked over his shoulder. “I am sure that Miss Elizabeth will appreciate the gift, but is unfortunate that she will never know the true benefactor.”

“I believe that she will know… in her heart.”

With those words the door closed behind the tall gentleman, and Mr. Grant walked to the front window to watch as he entered an imposing coach. Directly, it pulled away and in a few moments was out of sight. Shaking his head, the shopkeeper turned back to his duties.

~~~*~~~

Longbourn
Two days later

Mr. Bennet raked the back of his weathered hand across Elizabeth’s cheek and was pleased to see her eyes open. It had been two long days since Mr. Darcy had returned her in the early morning hours, and one day since the physician that Darcy had insisted on summoning from London had arrived in Meryton.

He was duly impressed with Mr. Meacham, as he had stayed with his daughter all night until the fever broke and she was greatly improved. Then, after declaring that it would be days before she would recover her strength or that he would allow her out of bed, he had returned to Netherfield to rest. Leaving instructions to send for him if they deemed it necessary, he promised to return in the morning to check on his charge.

“Papa?”

“Yes, child?”

“Why do I feel so weak?”

“You were ill after being caught in the rain and trying to ford the stream with that blasted goat!”  Mr. Bennet could not but smile as Elizabeth’s eyes widened and then crinkled to see that he was teasing.
      She sounded very weak as she enquired, “How is Juliet?”

“Juliet is doing better than you, my dear. Though, I fear she will reside in a pen from now on. I do not intend for her to escape another time, as her rescuer is not in any shape to save her again.”

Immediately, Elizabeth pictured an exceptionally tall man with black curly hair, and dark brows and eyelashes which framed sky-blue eyes. His nose was noble and straight and his lips were perfectly formed. And if she closed her eyes, she could once more hear him chiding her as she lay on the makeshift bed.

Miss Elizabeth, you could have been killed trying to rescue that kid. That was very foolish on your part; you do know that. And I may not be here to rescue you the next time.

Trying not to appear hopeful, she enquired, “I hope you were not angry at Mr. Darcy for my foolishness. Had he not intervened, I might not be here now.”

“I did not challenge him, if that is what you are asking.”  Elizabeth tried to smile. “After I calmed down and heard him out, I expressed my deepest appreciation for his assistance to you and for keeping the whole ordeal from being known. Outside our family, only he and Bingley are aware of what happened. I have sworn your mother to silence and Mary, Kitty and Lydia know nothing. Jane figured it out when I brought you upstairs that morning, but the other girls were still sleeping. When they awoke, I told them that you were sick after getting soaked searching for Juliet.”

“Has he come to call?”

“Mr. Darcy?” At her nod, he continued. “I understand that he has returned to London.”

“He did not even say goodbye,” she murmured forlornly.

“Mr. Bingley informed me that Mr. Darcy received a post that bade him return immediately to London. It must be a heavy burden indeed to be so wealthy and have so many lives dependent upon you.”

Her reply was barely audible.  “I am sure.”

Mr. Bennet must have comprehended his child’s disappointment, for she sank further into the pillow and turned her face away. He offered, “Would you like to open the package that Mr. Grant brought today? He said it was a book you admired, and he wished you to have it since you were ill and confined to bed.  I thought I would read a bit to you, if you wish.”

Even the prospect of a new book could not raise her spirits. “I believe I would like to sleep now, if you do not mind.”

“Of course, child, sleep will do you good. I shall leave you with Jane. She has been asking to sit with you. All of us have been worried, but you know that of all your sisters, Jane has suffered the loss of your companionship the most.”

Elizabeth nodded, closing her eyes as though to sleep. It was hard holding back the tears that threatened until he was out of sight. Mr. Bennet leaned in to kiss her forehead, and then rose from his place on the side of the bed. He stopped in the doorway to take one last look and then quit the room.

Elizabeth took a deep breath, willing the hot tears that filled her eyes not to spill, but they would not cooperate. Instead, they quickly made trails down her cheeks to the pillow below. Despite the tenderness Mr. Darcy had shown her during their ordeal, his heart had evidently not been touched as had hers. And all the gestures she had taken as evidence of his affection clearly meant nothing to him.
Else how could he have left Meryton without so much as a word?

Elizabeth felt that her heart would break.
Silly, foolish girl!
She chided herself.
You made the choice to care for this man against your better judgement and have learned a hard lesson!

With the backs of her hands, she began to wipe the tears from her face, but was unsuccessful in removing them entirely before Jane entered the room. Seeing her sister’s distress, Jane immediately ran to her. “Lizzy, please do not cry! You will feel better soon! Mr. Meacham has assured us that you will be out of bed in only a few days.”

“That is not the source of my misery.”

“Then why are you upset, dearest?”

“Promise to tell no one, as I could not abide it if the rest of our family should learn of my folly.”

“Whatever you share shall be between us, as always.”

So, Elizabeth confessed everything about her friendship with Mr. Darcy—from the moment she met him in the bookstore until the morning he brought her home on his horse. And for a long time after she finished speaking, Jane sat in stunned silence. Finally, taking her sister’s hand, Jane squeezed it, forcing a smile.

“I am pleased that you felt you could tell me of your heartache, and I apologise that I was too involved with my own concerns to see that you needed me.”

“You assume too much, dear sweet Jane. You are not to blame.”

“But, I never realised that you were gone! Papa made us go to bed very early that evening. He dressed in his greatcoat and said that he was going to fetch you and Juliet. It was the next morning before I awoke to find him bringing you into our bedroom. He explained to me what happened, though he told Mary, Kitty and Lydia only that you had gotten sick from being soaked chasing after Juliet. They do not know you were out all night.”

“You could not have known of my dilemma, as Papa was protecting me. And you knew nothing of my friendship with Mr. Darcy because I kept it secret.” She did not meet Jane’s loving gaze.

 “I was aware that it was a hopeless situation—that such a man could never care for me, but I misinterpreted his kindness for interest because…” she took a ragged breath, “because, I fell in love with him the first time we met. It was my lack of prudence that has left my heart broken.”

“What will you do if you are ever in his company again? After all, Mr. Darcy is Mr. Bingley’s best friend and may very well visit him another time.”

“I will just have to avoid his company. But I swear to you that I will never allow my heart to break again. I knew it would be entirely foreign for a man of his stature to consider someone like me.” She laughed mirthlessly. “I have no dowry, no connections—nothing to recommend me.”

“That is not true! You are lovely and you have a brilliant intellect. Surely, some good man—”

 “And you know what Mama says,” Elizabeth interrupted, “No man could be interested in a woman who reads too much and has an opinion on everything!”

“Mama cannot speak for every man.”

“Nevertheless, apparently she was right. He left without saying goodbye.”

~~~*~~~

Rosings
The drawing room
One week later

Lady Catherine de Bourgh looked every inch the imperious matron as she sat in her large, throne-like chair studying the two people she had summoned to Rosings. As she took the measure of the man and woman perched on settees on either side of her, she pondered why she had ever considered them capable of carrying out her plans.

Gisela, tall and regal, and beautiful beyond description with her dark blond hair and emerald green eyes, should have been the answer to her prayers. What man could resist her charms? Only the one man she had hoped to control—Fitzwilliam Darcy. And George Wickham, while a handsome rogue, had proved equally useless after he was tossed from Pemberley. Both had cost her a good deal of money in the past and presently disappointed her greatly. Nonetheless, knowing that it was too late to change her plans, she took a deep breath to calm her nerves.