Imperative: Volume 1, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (40 page)

Richard’s brow creased.  “Problem?” 

Shooting him a look, Lord Matlock hesitated.  “A slight injury, nothing to be concerned about.”

“What did you do?” 

“Nothing.  Who else is unhappy with Darcy’s bride?”

“The judge.”

“Serves him right.”  Lord Matlock said with satisfaction.  “Cosying up to the boy . . .”

“Hardly a boy; and Judge Darcy
does
live on the estate.”

“Influencing Darcy . . .”

“He has no daughter to marry off . . .”

“But he has a son!”  Lord Matlock waved his knife this time and Richard leaned back.  “A son to marry Georgiana!”

“Do not be ridiculous, Father.”

“How is that ridiculous?  It is ambition, not unlike mine for your sister.  He has nothing to give the boy, no estate, some money perhaps.  That dowry would do a lot of good things for his family.”  Lord Matlock’s voice drifted away.  Richard studied him and startled when he spoke.  “Well?”

“What?”

“When are you going to marry her?”

“Me?”  He stared.  “She is fifteen!  And my, well I share guardianship!  You are out of your mind!”

“I would marry your brother to her in a heartbeat and he is two years your elder.”

“I think that the mighty viscount could do much better than an untitled child bride if he just took the time from his drinking to look around.”  Richard said dryly.  “Besides, he would be through that dowry in days if he does not die first from some disease.  You should speak to him, Father, he needs to begat an heir before too long.”

“Which is why you should consider courting Georgiana, not marrying now, but put it to Darcy, say in two or three years . . .”  He nodded significantly and pointed at him.  “You will be out of this army business, have a pretty, young, submissive girl as your wife, and plenty of money.  It is your easiest option!  A guaranteed future!  Keep the girl with child and your son might be the heir of Matlock if your brother disappoints as I suspect he will.   Make the match now, sign a contract . . .  Come, you could live on Pemberley, he would be glad to give you a home there!  Perhaps in the manor!   Darcy trusts you; she likes you, what better match for Georgiana?  The girl is shy; can you see her in the marriage market?  Darcy will be glad to have the match made and avoid putting her through the Seasons, save himself some trouble as well.  Go on, Son; speak to him while he is well-satisfied with his new wife and getting some of his own.”  Lord Matlock gestured to his crotch with his middle finger and laughed.  “He is feeling no pain this morning, I am sure.  That could be you in a few years, make a woman of her.”

“Thank you, no.”  Richard muttered.

“Do not count on your brother to keep you when I am gone.”  He said bluntly.  “I am fond of you, Richard, quite fond.  Fonder than I am of your brother.  I want you cared for.  Damned entailment keeps me from doing anything.”  He growled.  “But we dare not change it!”

“That entailment keeps Matlock intact.  I will be fine.”

“Marry your cousin.”

Richard recovered his humour.  “Anne?” 

“Wretched girl.”  Lord Matlock glared as he tore up a piece of bread and dunked it in some gravy.  “I pity the man who takes her.”

“As do I, but there is Rosings.”

“Indeed, and your aunt lords it over me.  Anne will go to whoever kisses my sister’s boots to her satisfaction.  But when this girl who married Darcy sends him to an early grave, Pemberley will be in Georgiana’s hands.”  He raised his brows and nodded.

“She may just produce an heir, you know, as you said, Darcy is feeling no pain this morning.  Why not meet Elizabeth before you declare her a witch?”  Richard wiped his mouth and put down his napkin.  “She is lovely, and kind, and probably the best thing that has ever happened to him.”

“I thought that you said she is not one of us?  My sister seems to believe that.”   He watched Richard get to his feet.

“She is not, but I am beginning to think that is not a bad thing at all.  I thought that you were going to help her in society?  You want Darcy to like you.”  Richard smiled when his father sighed and went to the dining room door.  “Darcy is honeymooning, I would not disturb him, send a note if you want to see him.”

“I will see him at Christmas.  Where are you going?”

Richard waved his hand over his uniform. “To fulfil my duty as a second son, and earn my keep, Father.”  Lord Matlock laughed.  “Safe journey whenever you return.  Give Mother and Cathy my love, and my brother . . .” He thumbed his nose and his father nearly choked.  “Take care.”

“Take care, Son.  I will see you at Pemberley.”  He reached for his cup of coffee again, and grimaced at the pain in his arm.  “Damn!”

“OH, THOSE BENNETS!”  Caroline angrily pulled her hat from her head and threw it across the front hallway.  A maid scrambled to retrieve it.  “Can they not manage a church service without mortifying behaviour?”

“You are angry over Mrs. Bennet’s crowing about Mrs. Darcy.”  Louisa said in a soothing tone.  “It is to be expected.”

“It is a triumph of significant proportions for that family.”  Hurst wandered into a parlour and poured himself a glass of wine.  “Any mother would be celebrating that connection.  I have no doubt that her neighbours will soon tire of it.”

“Exactly!”  Caroline seized the subject.  “She is crass, unsophisticated, rude . . .”

“Tell us what you really think.”  Hurst laughed and sat down.  “Is this not as Louisa said?  Anger over your utter failure with Darcy?”

“No.”  She sat down with a thump.  “It is no longer my affair what Mr. Darcy takes as his wife.”

“Who.”  Louisa corrected and received a glare.  “And somehow I doubt you have washed your hands of him.”

Caroline’s cheeks reddened.  “Nevertheless, my concern lies with our brother.”

“Bingley?”  Hurst smiled.  “Ahhhh, Miss Bennet.”

“She is lovely, sweet, kind . . .”

“And brings with her that horror of a family!  Oh, it is one thing for Eliza to marry Mr. Darcy, he will never see that family, he will take her to Pemberley,” she sighed wistfully, “or London, he will never deal with them again.  But our brother, he is smitten with Jane Bennet.  If he marries her, we will be stuck in this forsaken country forever, with them on our doorstep!”

“You could marry and escape it all . . .” Hurst offered.

“I cannot count on finding a suitor with an estate; I will have to rely on my brother’s good fortune, just as you do.”

“Well that is an unprecedented display of honesty, I must say.  Perhaps there is hope for you yet.  Of course you are still hanging onto your brother’s coat tails.”  Caroline made a face at him and he stretched his arms over his head.  “I am perfectly happy visiting Bingley wherever he is.  I have my sport to keep me occupied, and the men of the neighbourhood are not bad company.”  Smirking, he looked to Louisa.  “What about you?”

Louisa shrugged.  “There are some things lacking in the ladies, but then they do enjoy learning from our example.”  

“It is a miserable neighbourhood!”  Caroline spat. “Nothing is here.”

“The very definition of a country estate, Sister.  Pemberley is no different, only larger.”  Hurst chuckled and saw his wife’s brow knit.  “What is it, Louisa?”

“Does Charles have intentions for Jane Bennet or is this all her mother’s speculation?  She practically has them married!  Has he spoken to you?”

“Well.”  Hurst set down his glass and finally spoke seriously.  “He is interested, but is unsure if she returns his feelings.  You are women, what do you see?”

“Nothing.”  Louisa said thoughtfully.  “She is so mild that I doubt she would cry out if a wasp was in her hair.  I have no idea if she is in love or merely being polite.”

“Exactly!”  Caroline crowed.  “And we do not want to be connected with the Bennets!  Relatives in Cheapside!”

“Relatives in Derbyshire . . .” Hurst pointed out with a grin.

“Miss Darcy is Mr. Darcy’s sister, too.  And she has a dowry, a considerable dowry.”  Caroline looked between them and nodded significantly.  “And you saw how they got along this summer before she left with her companion to Ramsgate.  Even Mr. Darcy noted it.  I could tell that he was speculating about a match between our brother and his sister.  They are suited . . .”

“Do not attempt to surmise what Darcy is thinking at any time.  The man is inscrutable.”  Hurst returned to his wine.

“Besides, she is so young . . .”

“So is Charles!  By the time he is of a good marrying age, she will be presented and out.  Perfect timing!  Make the match, put the idea in Charles’s head and suggest it strongly to Mr. Darcy!”

Louisa nodded slowly.  “But Mrs. Darcy would probably want her sister to win out.” 

“Well then the first thing we must do is convince Charles that Miss Jane Bennet is not interested and while it is fine for Mr. Darcy to marry a girl with no dowry, it is not a small issue for him.  He must do better.  I say we leave for London in the morning and speak to him while he is far away from Miss Bennet’s smiles.” 

Hurst and Louisa exchanged glances.  “What do you think, Mr. Hurst?”

“It frankly disgusts me that you think Bingley is so malleable, the man is not a fool, he is young and after listening to you two, I can understand his hesitation with engaging in more than a flirtation with any members of your sex.”  Feeling their unrelenting stares, he sighed.  “If I saw any indication of attraction on Miss Bennet’s part I would fight you vigorously, but unfortunately I find myself agreeing with Caroline.  And . . . I admit that Mrs. Bennet’s antics are disquieting and a match with her daughter means to remain in her company.  But I do not hold with making Bingley’s decisions for him.  Present your case, if you must, but leave him to mull it over.”  Hurst stared at his sister pointedly.

Caroline smiled widely.  “Of course, of course!  I will have Netherfield closed up . . .”

Hurst stopped her.  “A brief excursion to Town does not require such measures.”

“Noooooo.”  Caroline glanced at Louisa.  “Of course not.”

“How will we travel?   Charles has the carriage.”

“We could hire one like I did for church.”  Hurst offered. 

“Good!”  Caroline leapt to her feet.  “I will tell the servants to begin packing.”  She bustled out of the room.

“She is entirely too happy about this.”  Hurst noted.

“She sees the danger of being connected to the Bennets.  They may have an estate, but they are not what we hoped Charles would have when he married, and if there is any chance of him joining with Miss Darcy, it should be explored.  If he decides against her, Miss Bennet will still be here.  Nobody is anxious for a girl with nothing, no matter how pretty she is.”  Louisa patted his knee.  “It is wise.  Besides, you know Charles well; do you not think that he looks at Miss Bennet because she is the best available girl at the moment?  How many times have we seen him fall in and out of love?”

“Many.”  Chuckling, he shrugged.  “Very well, a trip to Town for a few days then we will all return together.  Just promise me you will rein in your sister’s enthusiasm, we all know that it is Pemberley she ultimately seeks, and Miss Darcy just comes with greater rewards.”

Louisa sighed.  “I know, but it does us no harm, either.” 

Hurst finished his drink and set down his glass. “Yes, but it is not our life to direct.  Leave Bingley to make his own decisions.  He is not a boy, no matter what his sisters may think.  What he does is his decision, nobody else’s.”

“I WONDER HOW your brother and sister are getting along.”  Susan smiled encouragingly to Georgiana.  “Married five days!  I imagine they are discovering so many things about each other they never revealed during their courtship.  Hopefully they are pleased with the little habits that were well-hidden before.”

“Fitzwilliam has no bad habits.”  Georgiana said pensively.  “He is perfect in every way.”

“Nobody is perfect, dear.”  She patted her hand and nodded when Georgiana looked up to her quickly.  “Even your dear brother.”

“Well I can tell you how they are getting along!”  Mrs. Reynolds appeared and excitedly waved a letter.  “Mrs. Gaston wrote to me!”  

“Mrs. Gaston!”  Georgiana sat up and looked at her eagerly.  “What does she say?  Is he well?  What is she like?”

“I will read it out.”  Mrs. Reynolds proudly opened the letter.  “Dear Maggie . . .” Mrs. Reynolds coloured a little and continued, “I simply could not wait a moment longer to write to you about the master!  Mr. Darcy smiles!  He beams and laughs!  I have never seen the like!  If I did not know better, I would say he has been in Lowry’s pantry sampling the stores of wine with the colonel!  You know as well as I the respect we all hold for him, a better master one could not hope to find, if only he would try to smile, well, it has happened!  How many times have we hoped he would marry a woman who made him happy and both of us thought there could never be a woman good enough?  Well, I tell you, Maggie, Mrs. Darcy is just that woman.  I know we have only known her two days, but this young lady has the touch!  She draws out the boy in the master.  He teases her!  Can you imagine Mr. Darcy being playful?  And she teases him right back!  If anything she is far more determined.  Oh, and such a laugh she has!  I even heard them argue, and it lasted no longer than a quarter hour before, well I blush to say it, but I did happen by the open door to the library, and there they were, wrapped up in such an embrace it sent my heart to pounding!”  

Mrs. Reynolds glanced up to see Susan’s smile and Georgiana’s shock.  “It is a love match to be sure.  I bid them good evening on Sunday and they waved me off, seated side by side at the pianoforte, picking out some tune, and it was not long before I heard the sweetest voice singing in some foreign tongue.  I was dying to find some pretence to come downstairs and listen and to see the master’s face, but I did not, I left them to their honeymooning.  Tomorrow the modiste comes and will prepare the mistress’s wedding clothes, such a shame she was not able to have them made before the wedding.  You know how worried we were to learn of the fast nature of their engagement, but Parker assured us this was a good match, and we would be happy, and of course he would know far better than we what the master was feeling.  The mistress seems to come from little though, her wardrobe is sparse and while not poor, certainly not the quality that you would expect.  Do not mistake me, she is a gentlewoman, without a doubt, but I suspect she is far lower than the ladies who we have been coming to the house with their parents to call on the master.  Bless him for ignoring them!  I only say that to you, Maggie!”  Her eyes widened and she put her hand over her mouth.