Imperative: Volume 2, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (33 page)

“I am afraid to ask, but do not let that stop you.” 

Darcy laughed.  “It is nothing worrisome.  I just recognize that you both are hoping to take the next step forward in your lives.” 

“I hope that she does not look at me as a means to escape those brothers.”

“I think that you should be ashamed of such a pessimistic remark.”  Their eyes met and Richard sighed and nodded.  “I know that you are protecting yourself in case something takes a turn and this does not work out.  But frankly, this is not a time to be timid.”

“Granted, but I cannot kiss her like you did with Elizabeth.”

“Not after meeting her all of four times.”  Darcy looked at him pointedly.  “You have a great deal to accomplish, and I am not speaking of securing your place in Miss Kelly’s heart.  You have to revitalize Gladney so that you have a place to bring her home.”

“So, let’s take inventory here.  I need to charm one father, four brothers, refurnish and repair an estate, learn how to be a landowner and possible earl, while using my newly discovered gentlemanly behaviour to sweep Miss Kelly off her feet and into my arms.” 

“That should do it.”  Darcy grinned.  “And all before supper.” 

“Of course.  At least her mother likes me.”  Richard puffed his cheeks and followed him into the hallway.  “And what will you do with yourself?  Elizabeth is still out walking.”

“I will go spend time with my sister, the reason why all of us are here.”  Darcy pressed his palms together.  “It is odd, if you think about it, Georgiana’s behaviour has had a great influence on both of our paths to marriage.” 

Richard cleared his throat and shook his head.  “I have nothing to add to that.” 

“I did not expect you to.  Good luck.” 

“No parting words of wisdom?”

“Be yourself.  They will find you out sometime so you might as well start with the truth.”  His eyes twinkled.

“Why do I sense a subtle insult in there?”

“Because you look for one.  Get on, Dicky.”  Richard snorted and Darcy watched him head down the stairs.  Glancing at the clock ticking in the hallway, he walked into the drawing room where he found Georgiana arranging some freshly cut flowers in a vase.  “Those are lovely.  Were you out walking in the garden?” 

“I can barely waddle down the stairs anymore.”  She smiled when he shook his head.  “I never was much of a walker before, but after all of these weeks confined to the house and fighting to catch my breath, I become quite envious when I see Elizabeth set off on her morning constitutional.” 

Darcy immediately looked out of the window and scanned the view.  Georgiana nudged him and shrugging, he smiled and sat down.  “So perhaps when you are free of this burden, you will take up a new habit and enjoy nature?”

“Maybe.”  She picked up a flower and placed it into the vase.  “I never really took the time to appreciate Pemberley before.  It was just . . . home.  I am grateful that I still have one.”  Darcy held out his hand and helped her to sit down.  He put his arm around her shoulders and hugged her.  “I am so sorry.” 

“So am I, dear.”  They sat together, both entirely unable to speak, and both at a loss of what to say if they could.  Georgiana’s hand went to her belly and he looked away when she grimaced.  Gradually, Darcy managed to take control of his emotions.  “So . . . where did you find your flowers?  Did Jennifer cut them for you?”

“No, Mr. Ferguson did.”  Darcy’s brow creased, but she was looking at the blooms.  “He has been very kind.  He does not seem to judge me like others do.” 

“What others?  You have seen nobody for weeks.” 

“Mrs. Shaw.  I see how she frowns at me.”

“Does she?”  Darcy’s eyes went to the door.  “I will speak to her.”

“No, no . . . I did not say that to cause trouble.  She is entitled to her opinion, after all.  And she never treats me poorly.  Do you know about Amy?”

“Amy . . . the maid?”  He nodded.   “Yes, Judy told Elizabeth her story and how she came to be here.”

“Mrs. Shaw dislikes her for throwing away so much.” 

“I see.” 

“I see what could have been.”  Georgiana’s gaze went to her hands. 

“Never.”  He turned her face to his.  “Never would that have happened.  Not with me as your guardian.” 

“What would Papa have done?”  She rested her head on his shoulder. 

Father never would have let this happen.
  All of his feelings of inadequacy and guilt came rushing up and unconsciously, he rubbed at his chest.  A glint of sunlight off his ring caught his eye and clasping his hands, he stroked his thumb over the initials on the gold band.

Georgiana regarded him worriedly, “Does your heart hurt?  I am so sorry, Fitzwilliam!”

“No, no, I am fine.”  He said definitely and let go of the ring.  “And you are fine.  There is no sense in debating what our father might or might not have done since there is no way to ask him his opinion, and no way to know if you might have been tempted by any man if he had lived.  So.  I think that you have been stuck in this house for too long.  You need some fresh air.”  Darcy stood and held out his hands.

“I really cannot walk far, my feet are so swollen.”

“I said nothing of walking.  Come, I will take you for a drive.”  He spotted Parker passing the door and called out for him.  “Could you ask Ben to run down to the stable and prepare the curricle for us, Parker?  Miss Cargill and I are going to take a drive to the sea.” 

“Yes, sir.”  He nodded. 

“The curricle?  But . . . would I not be seen?”

“I want to be alone with you, that is not possible with a driver and a footman along.”  Darcy smiled down to her.  “Go on and prepare yourself.  We will just put a blanket over your lap.  I know a lovely spot to take in the view.  I want you to experience the peace that listening to the water brings.” 

“But what of Elizabeth?” 

“She will probably be glad to be rid of me for a few hours.”  Georgiana laughed.  “Go on, and I will write her a note.”  He watched her leave and then sitting down at the writing desk, scratched out a message.  Reading it over, he stood and selected one of the flowers remaining on the table, and walked to their bedchamber where he left the two on her pillow. He imagined her reading it and looking down at his ring, he gave their initials a rub.  “I hope that I make you proud.” 

“OH, MR. BENNET!”  Mrs. Bennet sobbed and sinking down onto her bed, she pressed her handkerchief to her mouth and looked around her nearly empty bed chamber.

Jane hurried from the closet and sitting down next to her mother, put her arm around her waist.  “Oh Mama, do not cry.  Papa is at peace, and we are all safe.  We are not in the hedgerows as you feared.  Kitty and Lydia are almost finished decorating your room.  Everything is fine.”

“It is
not
fine.”  Mrs. Bennet dabbed at her eyes.  “I am being forced from the rooms I have occupied for almost five and twenty years.  I think that they should be mine until my time comes!”

“I am afraid that they belong to the mistress of the house, Mama, and she will be arriving soon.”  Jane said softly and tried to smile in the face of her mother’s baleful look. 

“You have no mother-in-law to displace.  And you do not live here any longer.”

“No, Mama.”  She agreed. 

“Mary moving into my rooms.”  Mrs. Bennet looked around and sighed.  “She will have the drapes replaced by burlap and the floors covered with straw.” 

“Mama!”  Jane gasped.  “How can you say that!  She grew up here; you were her example.  Why would she not want to emulate your ways?”

“Do you really think so?  I did try to make the home nice.  After Mrs. Bennet died, I could not wait to ask Mr. Bennet to finally allow me to redecorate.  He  held me off for years after we married.  He promised me up and down that the day his mother departed this earth, he would wave me off to Meryton.  Of course, I begged to go to London, but as I was carrying you . . .” She sighed and patted Jane’s hand.  “I sacrificed.”

“It came out beautifully, Mama.”

“But Mary will not freshen it.  Even with all of my instruction, I cannot see that little miser she married opening his purse to pry out a penny, much less a pound.  I suppose we shall be eating oysters morning and night now, not a speck of beef, just old mutton and boiled potatoes for us from now on.”  Her handkerchief waved, “And then I will retire to that room where Lizzy slept, and as Mary and Mr. Collins have each baby, I am sure they will gradually push me down the hall until I am sleeping in a bedcloset with Mrs. Hill.” 

“Mama, how can you say such things?”  Jane whispered urgently.

“And while I am suffering alone, you and Mr. Bingley will be there in your mansion, with all of those lovely empty bedchambers, eating your pheasants and drinking your fine wine . . .”  Jane closed her eyes and thought of her husband’s surprisingly immovable stance about Mrs. Bennet coming to live with them.  “I will be all alone . . .”

“You will not be alone; you have Kitty and Lydia still to marry off.”

“And then they will be gone.”  Suddenly a thought occurred to her.  “Mr. Bingley must take a house in Town next Season.  And then we will all go to London so that you may present the girls to all of his rich friends.”  Mrs. Bennet nodded eagerly.  “Surely Mr. Collins will be happy for that!  He will give me money to buy them dresses and we will live in style instead of staying in Cheapside.  I miss my brother, of course, but to stay in Mayfair . . . “

“Mama, my husband has no need to rent a home.  We will stay with the Hursts; or even Lizzy if she is in Town.”

“Lizzy.”  Mrs. Bennet snapped.  “Where was
she
all of this time?  She was his favourite!  He made that perfectly clear.  I had to fight for his attention.  And there he was, languishing for all of those months and where was she?  By his side?  No, off to stay at her mansion in Derbyshire, or her mansion in Scotland.  Hmmph!”

“Lizzy is a married woman, Mama, she must obey her husband’s wishes.”

“Lizzy Bennet is an obstinent, headstrong girl and if she wished to be here, she would have been.” 

Jane could not deny that statement. “But Mama, with Lizzy not here, you had Papa’s attention for all of those months.  You sat and talked to him for hours and hours.” 

“Yes . . . I did.”  Mrs. Bennet considered that fact.  “I even ran out of things to say sometimes.” 

“I am certain that Papa noticed.” 

“He
did
seem to smile with some amusement when I stood up to leave.”

“Of course he did.  You brought him much joy at the end.” 

“Lizzy just would have argued with him.”  Mrs. Bennet sniffed and twisted her handkerchief.  “But I know that he would have preferred her company.  For twenty years he doted on her, and when the end came, where was she?  Here to help with him?”

Jane said quietly, “I imagine that she was simply being a good wife to Mr. Darcy and looking after his concerns.
 
 Just like . . . I try to do for Mr. Bingley. And Mary does for Mr. Collins.”

“Mr. Collins.”  Mrs. Bennet shuddered.  “Better Mary has to live with him than me . . .” Her eyes lit up.  “Jane, do you suppose that Mary spends her nights with Mr. Collins?”

“Mama!” 

“Well then she would not need to take my rooms!”  

“Oh, Mama!”  Jane sighed. 

“I think that I should write to Lizzy, wherever she is, and tell her that since Mr. Bingley will not rent a house in Town, that it is her responsibility to host us all next Season in London.  It is the least she can do after I encouraged Mr. Darcy towards her as I did.  After all, if her father had his way she would be the one moving into my rooms.”  Mrs. Bennet looked around.  “Heaven knows what she would choose as decoration.” 

“Jane?” 

“I am in here, Charles.”  Jane stood and went to the doorway to meet him.  Seeing the state of the room, he smiled reassuringly at Mrs. Bennet.

“You look very well, Mother Bennet.  Your dress is very fine.” 

Immediately the miserable woman brightened, “Do you really like it?”  She brushed over the dull black bombazine.  “I must wear this for a year, so I thought that I would not skimp on the fabric.  Of course I knew that Mr. Collins would never wish to pay for my mourning clothes, so I made sure that I ordered everything well in advance.  I do not know what I will do when it is over, surely fashions will have changed greatly.  I do hope that someone will be kind and pay for my things . . .”

Bingley knew where this was heading and thought of his sisters’ spending habits.  “Mrs. Bennet, since you ordered so much, I am sure that the money you save not buying clothes during your mourning will surely be enough to buy a whole new wonderful wardrobe for your coming out.”

“My coming out!”  She tittered.  “Mr. Bingley you are a sweet talker!” 

“So I have been told.”  He smiled at Jane, who was blushing.  “Now, shall we go down and await Mary and Collins?” 

“No . . . no, I will just sit here a while longer.”  Mrs. Bennet’s handkerchief reappeared.  “I asked Hill for my salts ages ago.”

“They are in your new room, Mama.”  Jane said gently.  Mrs. Bennet looked at her and began sobbing.

“Come on, Jane.”  Bingley tugged her arm and led her to the stairs. 

“Oh Charles, should I leave her?  She was so upset . . .”

“She did not look upset, she looked like she was asking for a handout.”  Bingley kissed her hand and they sat down in the drawing room.  “Your mother reminds me a great deal of my sisters, particularly Caroline, who used to shop to make herself feel better.”

“Caroline had no problem thinking well of herself, Charles.”

“She was not married, nor sought.  And Darcy did not want her.”

“He wanted Lizzy.” 

“And he got her.”

“But why would nobody want Caroline?”

“Jane, there are far more heiresses than men to marry them, it is a buyer’s market.” He smiled at her, “Not that I was looking.”

“Why buy the milk when you can have the cow for free.”  Jane mused.  Bingley stared and she blushed.  “Mama said that about Lizzy and Mr. Darcy when she would let him kiss her.  Mama thought that Lizzy captured his attention that way.”  When his brow creased, Jane rushed on, “Lydia liked the sound of it.”