Imperative: Volume 2, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (44 page)

Kitty and Lydia looked between the two mistresses and waited for the next shot to be fired, but Mary seemed to have lost her vigour.  Mrs. Bennet nodded with satisfaction.

“Please forgive my tardiness, ladies.”  Mr. Collins hurried in and took his seat.  “I was lost in the bookroom, trying to make some sense of the arrangements.  I do believe that it is entirely at random.  I observed in the library of Rosings a most extraordinary system of cataloguing.  I am quite keen to apply it to my own library.  My own library.  Imagine that, Mrs. Collins!  I have made my father proud, if only he were alive to see it.”

“If he were alive, would he not be the master of Longbourn?”  Kitty asked as she nibbled on a roll.

“Well . . . yes, of course.”  Collins stuttered.  “I meant . . . if he could look down upon me from heaven.”

“That is not what you said.”  Lydia smirked

“But it is what I meant.”  He said positively. 

“Will you say grace, Mr. Collins?”  Mary spoke up.  “You always know just what to say.” 

Lydia rolled her eyes and bowed her head. “La, the food will be cold by the time he finishes.”

“YOU LOOK HOW I FEEL.”  

“Spent?”  Darcy smiled to himself as he watched Richard come into the study and settle into a chair with his feet propped on a hassock.  “I feel like a cloth that has been wrung out.” 

“No small wonder, your thoughts have been focussed on yesterday for months.  I bet that you never put any serious consideration into today.”  Richard clasped his hands behind his head and stared up at the ceiling.  “What happens after the battle is won?”

Darcy looked up at the moulding and followed the endless circles worked into the plaster. “I cannot see it as over yet.”

Richard raised his brows.  “The baby is born.”

“The recovery has just commenced, and I do not mean just physically.  We have to start Georgiana back on the path to . . . whatever her future holds.”

“Naturally, but this work is no different from what you expected to be doing now, anyway.  Is it?”

“I suppose not.”  Darcy picked up a pen and watched the feather twirl as he rubbed the quill between his palms.  “I forget what I thought I would be doing right now.”

“Do you?”  Richard smiled.  “Think back to last spring, when you had the Bingley clan at Pemberley and Miss Bingley was determined to have you.” 

“Is it too dramatic to think of myself as almost virginal then?”

“Well . . .”

“Quiet.”

“
You
broached the subject.”  Richard studied the soft smile playing across his cousin’s lips curiously.  “In any case, I believe that you might have been in the thick of a courtship or engagement right now, to the right girl, from the right family . . .” Darcy nodded, watching the feather. “Who would it have been?”

The smile grew and he looked up.  “Elizabeth.”

“I admire your confidence, particularly when I
do
remember who you were then.”

“But I still would have gone to Netherfield.  And Elizabeth still would have set me straight.” 

Richard allowed his delusion and set his feet back on the floor.  “What do you think Sophie will do to me?  Will she turn me into a sentimental being like you?”

“If you are fortunate, she will.”  Darcy set down the pen and sat back, looking out of the window.  “Although, I think that you are in full possession of sentimentality already.  You and Samuel both.  What were you two doing escaping the house when Uncle and I were upstairs waiting for the baby?  You ran out of the door as soon as you were alone, I spied you out on the lawn and then you disappeared.  Where did you go?”  Turning to smile at him he laughed to see his face reddening.  “Richard, if it had not been my sister, I assure you, I would have joined you out there.” 

“Well, I was glad to go out, even if it was for a wild goose chase.”  Samuel entered and took a seat.  “I could not bear to hear Georgiana suffering any longer, I felt so helpless.  I hated it.”

“As did I.”  Darcy looked at him curiously and then to Richard, who was staring at Samuel menacingly.  “What was this folly?”

“Richard thought that he saw . . .” Samuel noticed the glare and caught himself.  “Ferguson.  Outside of the window.”

“Ferguson?  What of it?”  Darcy looked between them.  “I know that you bear some unreasonable distrust about his attention to Georgiana, something that you and I need to discuss, by the way, but why would the sight of him prompt you out of doors?  He belongs here.” 

Richard cleared his throat, drawing Darcy’s gaze back to him.  “Naturally.  I did not recognize the man and thought that it was an interloper.  After all, the last thing that we needed at that moment was to have a stranger lingering nearby and hearing Georgiana.  We could hear her cries outside, could we not, Samuel?”

“Yes.”  He licked his lips and looked at his clasped hands.  “I have only heard such pain in a woman’s voice once before, but that was anguish of an emotional nature, although I am sure that the pain felt was very real.” 

Darcy’s fingers found his ring and he rubbed as he continued to watch the two men.  “While that is an excellent subject to distract me, I will not give in just now.  What are you not telling me?”

“Secrets?  Is it not early in the day for such things, particularly a day such as this?”  Harding walked in and sank onto a sofa.  “Your aunt resembles a woman half her age.  So why do I feel like a man twice mine?” 

“Your new ward has a strong set of lungs.”  Richard laughed when Harding rubbed his face wearily. 

“Elizabeth chastised me for wishing to rise.”  Darcy smiled fondly.

Richard’s eyes lit up as he at last cottoned on.  “I am sure that you did not mind.  I can imagine the methods she used made you express your feelings quite vehemently.  I can see you rising to the occasion nicely.” 

Darcy’s eyes narrowed.  “What, or who, did you suspect was outside yesterday?”

“You will not be distracted.  Or maybe you see this as your distraction.”  Richard threw up his hands.  “Fine, it was Wickham.”   

“Wickham!”  Darcy and Harding said at once, both sitting up and staring. 

“What do you mean?  You saw him?”

“I thought that I spied his figure on the lawn.  Maybe I was just imagining him, I do not know.  I was caught up in listening to Georgiana suffering and cursing him for what he had done . . .”  Richard glanced at Harding whose shoulders had slumped.  “But why would he be here?  I made myself perfectly clear when we last met.  I am telling you all now; he has run out of chances with me.”

Samuel interjected as Richard’s face set into a menacing scowl, “We did not see any sign of him, William.  And believe me; we were beating the bushes.” 

“He is slippery though.”  Richard muttered.

“Like a shadow.”  Harding said softly.  “I thought that I saw him yesterday, as well.  Just as we arrived and Georgiana’s labouring began.  I . . . I thought that it was a spectre, not a man.  A shadow of guilt.”

“Guilt?  Uncle if you are guilty than so am I.”  Darcy focussed back on Richard.  “Was it him?”

“I do not know.  I truly do not.  If I had found him, I would have told you, hell, I would have shown you his lifeless body.  As it was, I was not going to mention it at such a moment.  I did not want you to start . . .”  Richard watched his hand flexing.  “Damn it!  There you go!”

“Pardon?”  Darcy followed his eyes and held up his hand.  “It hurts from clenching the chair so tightly!” 

“A likely story.  If you fall dead because of something I said, Elizabeth will have me rotating on a spit in the garden in a thrice, and don’t you laugh at the thought because it is true.  Put this out of your mind, I saw nothing, the judge saw nothing, it was stupid.  Just something stupid brought on by the tension of the day.  That man would be an absolute fool to approach here.”

“Shhhh!”  Samuel glanced at the doorway.  “Elizabeth is coming!”

The room fell silent as the men straightened and tried to appear relaxed.  In the hall they could hear Elizabeth asking Amy to cut some flowers and bring them up to Georgiana’s room, and then heard her addressing Mrs. Shaw.  Darcy smiled to hear the clipped, businesslike tone that she used on the woman, and the respect in the housekeeper’s voice.  Elizabeth’s light footsteps could be heard coming down the hallway and then she was at the door.  In unison, the men stood.

“Good morning.”  She smiled and tilted her head. 

Darcy walked forward and taking her hands, kissed her cheek.  “Good morning, love.  Mrs. Shaw seems to have changed her tune.” 

“Oh.”  Elizabeth shook her head and taking his hand, followed him back to the desk chair where he sat and she perched beside him on the arm.  “She is seeing all of her preconceived notions dashed, I think.”

“And what were those?”  Harding asked, watching with interest as Darcy’s hand slid around Elizabeth’s waist and drew her to lean back comfortably on his shoulder. 

“I hardly know, but she is overwhelmed seeing the family coming together for what she deems an unforgivable offence.”

“I wonder if she had a natural child.  Those who have sinned and recovered are often hardest on others who do the same.”  Darcy said thoughtfully.  “Have you seen such things in court, Uncle?”

“I did not make a habit of stealing or assaulting people, Fitzwilliam.”  He smiled.

“I was not referring to you, sir.”  Darcy looked to Elizabeth.  “How is she?” 

“Sleeping at the moment, until Hope demands her again.  Mrs. Dickson is confident that she will recover quickly, she sees no sign of fever or unusual bleeding.”

“Thank God.”  He closed his eyes.  “And so we must begin discussing the next steps.”

“When we have a firm date for our return, I will go to visit Mrs. Annesley.”

“Who is that?”  Samuel asked curiously.

“She is a local widow who has little to live on now that her husband’s income is gone.  She has decided to try and support herself as a companion rather than go to her family.  Elizabeth has spoken to her on several occasions and thinks that she would be an excellent companion to Georgiana when she leaves Pemberley for London.”  Darcy smiled at Elizabeth and she squeezed his hand.  “Before you say anything, just know that I am no more happy about it as you, but I do not see that we have a choice.”

“If she chooses a quiet country life . . .” 

“She may ultimately take that, but the point is that she must finish her education and be seen as . . . just another debutant.” 

“Unsullied.”  Richard muttered.

“Pure.” Samuel sighed.

“Innocent.”  Harding closed his eyes and hung his head.  “As much as I wish to see her remain at home, I am afraid that you are correct, Fitzwilliam.  She must improve her mind, as well as cement her reputation.  It is a tall order for any girl her age.”

“Let alone one who has just given birth.”  Elizabeth looked up at the ceiling and sighed. 

“You have a visitor.”  Samuel went to stand at the window.  “It is a man about your age, Father, in a curricle.” 

“Reverend Campbell.”  Elizabeth stood and smoothed her dress.  “We asked him to come and christen the baby this morning, just in case . . .”  The four men hung their heads and she added quickly,  “But of course Hope is strong and she will not die.”

“Who will be her godparents?”  Harding asked.

“Elizabeth and I . . . and I thought that Aunt should be the other woman.”  Darcy looked at Elizabeth.  “She will then have a more . . . official capacity beyond guardian.”

“Mr. Darcy, Mr. Campbell is here?”

“Show him in, Parker.”  The men stood and the reverend entered.  “Good morning, sir.”

“Good morning!”  He smiled and looked all around.  “My goodness, quite a crowd of bleary-eyed friends, I see.  Has our newest parishioner made herself known to you all?”

Darcy laughed with the rest of the room.  “She has, sir, but she is not converting us.  We remain steadfast Anglicans.”

“It was worth a try.”  He held up a small box.  “I am prepared.”

“I will go upstairs and see if everyone is awake.”  Elizabeth started to leave and he stopped her. 

“Could you bring this note up to my sister, Mrs. Darcy?  It arrived by messenger this morning, and it seemed to be urgent.”

“Of course.”  She took the letter and smiling around, left the room.  When she arrived at Georgiana’s door, she heard voices within.

“Is she drinking?”  Georgiana asked softly.  “I cannot tell.”

Mrs. Dickson helped to reposition the baby and checked to see if she was latched on properly.  “Let’s just lift you up a little . . . there, do you feel it?”

“Oh!”  Suddenly the baby started sucking with great purpose.  “Slow down, Hope!” 

“She is new at this, too, dear.”  Mrs. Dickson laughed.  “She will learn the way of it before too long.”

Elizabeth knocked and peeked inside.  “May I come in?”

“Of course.”  Georgiana smiled.  “Look, Elizabeth, she is feeding!”

“So she is.  She is beautiful.”  Elizabeth caressed her head and sat down on the edge of the bed.  “Mr. Campbell has arrived to christen her.  He brought a message that came for you, Mrs. Dickson?”

“Oh?”  Curiously she opened the letter and walked to the window to read. 

“I have just the gown for Hope to wear for her christening.  I know that Aunt will probably have something special for the church ceremony, but I . . . I made this one,” Georgiana looked down at the baby, “for her.”

“Where is it?”  Elizabeth walked to a small chest where all of the baby clothes had been stored as they were completed.

“Right there, wrapped in the blanket.  I . . . I had it ready in case . . . in case she died.”  She wiped her eyes.  “Oh, I thought that the crying would stop now!”

“You have some time before your body recovers, dear.”  Mrs. Dickson said as she folded the letter and turned from the window.  “Is my brother downstairs, Mrs. Darcy?”

“Yes, all of the family is together in my husband’s study.  Do you need him?”

“Actually I would like to visit with the family, we need to discuss Miss Cargill’s care, do we not?” 

“You are going to leave?”  Georgiana started to panic.

“You will be fine, dear.  Jennifer may sit with you.  She can change Hope into her christening gown when you finish.”  Elizabeth went to summon Jennifer.