Imperative: Volume 2, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (9 page)

Richard grinned.  “Are you not going to send your steward to enquire if I can attend?”

Darcy looked at Ferguson and nodded.  He was off like a shot.  “Yes, sir!”

When he was well out of hearing, Darcy cast an assessing eye over his cousin.  “Well?” 

“Is that the famous lodge?”  Richard raised his chin towards the house. 

“Yes.  Elizabeth was incredulous with the size.  I told her two hundred acres.  Of course, that is the park, not the estate.” 

“Downplaying your assets to appear more humble?” 

“No . . . I thought that to know it was more would . . . she is overwhelmed enough with Pemberley.”  Darcy shrugged when Richard smiled thoughtfully.  “So . . . why
are
you here?”

They turned their horses to the house and as they slowly rode, Richard told Darcy about the offer made to him by his general.  Listening closely, Darcy watched his cousin’s eyes and face carefully.  “What if you just stay where you are, and not take on this secret mission?”

“I assume that I continue to plod along as I am.”  He sighed.  “Which I am perfectly happy doing.”

“Yes, the joy is written all over your face.”  Darcy said dryly.  “And yet you are defying your general right now.  You cannot possibly be back in London as ordered.  Even riding into the night, I do not see you returning in less than five days, and returning exhausted.”

“I know.” 

“So why did you need to ask me for help with a decision you have already made?”

“Maybe I just wanted to see you?”

“Elizabeth tells me I am handsome, I never knew that I held such power over you . . .”

Richard smiled a little.  “Maybe I wanted you to talk me out of it?”

“So much for being handsome.”  Darcy’s smile matched Richard’s.  “I think that you will come to this position regardless of your decision, but I admit that I like you
making
the decision before it is thrust upon you.”

“I do, too.”  Richard looked down to his hands.  “I am going to need help, Darcy.  Father can show me the ropes of . . . Good God, Parliament.”  He closed his eyes.  “But the estate is what scares the hell out of me.  A roomful of blustering peers is no different from blustering officers.  The estate is another matter, I do not want to fail that bit of land.  Somebody in my family died for that.”

“Or kissed some king’s rear.”  Darcy winked and Richard looked up at him and snorted.

“Well that is possible, too.  Perhaps I am a little dramatic?”

“Read your family history and find out?”   Holding out his hand, the men shook.  “I will be honoured to give you everything I can, my time, experience, anything.” 

“Thank you.”  Richard took his hand and crushed it once again.  “I knew that I could count on you.” 

“PARKER!  What the devil are you doing answering doors!” 

The sisters looked at each other.  “Richard!”  Georgiana gasped.  “What is he doing here?”

Elizabeth laughed and went to the door.  “Stay here; and I will bring him up.”

Richard looked around as he followed Parker in.  “Very nice.  Your master is held up at the stables, I understand that it has been a bit busy here the past few days?”

“Mr. Darcy has been receiving calls.  It seems that Sommerwald is the place to be.”  Parker murmured and set down the colonel’s bags.  “Will you be staying long, sir?”

“Well, I was given a fortnight leave and as I am due back in London in four days . . . I should not really be here at all.”  He shrugged and nodded.  “But let them try and find me.  I need respite with the dearest people I know.” 

“Richard?” 

He turned and saw Elizabeth.  “Oh, my dear.”  With rapid steps, he crossed the floor and wrapped his arms around her.  “My dear Mrs. Darcy.” 

Elizabeth’s eyes were wide and she saw Parker’s surprise.  “Richard?  Are you well?”

“No.”  He just held her tighter.  “No, I most definitely am not, so please excuse me, but I am not letting go.” 

Behind them Darcy appeared.  “Richard!”

“I spoke too soon, he will strangle me.”  He murmured and smiling, he kissed Elizabeth’s cheek and turned to face his astonished cousin with his arms open wide.   “You are next!”

“Have you lost your senses!”  Darcy demanded.

“Yes.”  Richard nodded rapidly.  “But can you blame me for wanting to greet my dear cousins warmly?”

“I think that the stress of travel has gone to my cousin’s head.”  Smoothly he stepped around Richard and possessively put his arm around Elizabeth’s waist.  “I suggest that you retire and return looking your best.    Parker, I leave it in your capable hands.”

“Yes, sir.”  Parker smiled.  “It will be a pleasure.”

“You have always wished to get your hands on me, haven’t you, Parker?”  Richard asked as he followed him up the stairs.  “I can see that smile!” 

The two men disappeared up the stairs and Elizabeth turned in Darcy’s arms.  “
What
was that?”

“He is a mess.  He has decided to give up his commission.”

“Oh my, poor Richard.  He sees no hope for his brother?”  She looked up after him.

“No, and . . . I promised to help however I can.”

“Well, of course you did.”  Elizabeth smiled at him, and wiped a little mud from his brow.  “You said that as if you expected me to object.”

“I did.”  Darcy cupped her face in his hands and stepping closer, dropped his gaze to the soft swell of her lips.  “Forgive me.” 

“Kiss me.” She whispered against his mouth.

“I did not like seeing you in his arms.”  He murmured as their lips brushed gently, lingeringly together while Elizabeth’s fingers curled into his hair.  Darcy’s mouth wandered to her throat, as his hands encircled and caressed her body. 

Richard moved away from the landing where he had watched the tender exchange and retreated to his room.  “No, Judge, I will never say a word.” 

“AH, AND HERE ARE OUR GUESTS of honour.”  Mr. Kelly beamed when his butler entered the room with Darcy and Elizabeth.  “And they brought one of their own, I see.  Robert Kelly, sir.”

“Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam.”  He bowed.  “Thank you for your tolerance.”

“Not at all, not at all.  My two younger sons are considering their futures; I hope that you do not mind if a lad of fifteen and one of thirteen ask you a few questions?  They are spying on us from the top of the stairs at this moment.  Your steward was good enough to tell us of your uniform, so they were forewarned.”

“Not at all, sir.  I was once a younger son in their shoes.”  Richard smiled and laughed when he saw the two boys watching from above.  “My brother pushed me towards the military, my mother to the clergy, my father to law.  I should have wound up a surgeon.” 

“And how many patients would still be breathing?”  Darcy said softly and nudged him.  “Have a good time, Richard.”  Darcy and Elizabeth moved off with Mr. Kelly to meet his wife and daughter, and left Richard to his own devices.

After nearly four days in the saddle, he did not feel much like socializing, so with a determined step, he climbed the stairs to meet the younger Kelly sons.  “Gentlemen.   I understand that you might have a question or two?”

“Yes, sir!”  Both boys stood straight and tall, then suddenly saluted him.  Inwardly, Richard laughed at the earnest boys, but outwardly, he looked at them seriously and returned the salute. 

“At ease, men.”  Looking around, he found a chair and took a seat.  “Now . . . I suppose you are wondering what I do?”

Darcy saw that Richard had settled with the boys and his brow creased.  “He is not himself.  He is hiding away.” 

She followed his worried gaze, “He is tired?”

“It is more than that.”

“He has just made such a momentous decision.”  Elizabeth squeezed his arm.  “He will be fine.”

“I pray so.  I will get to the bottom of it before he goes.”  He smiled and they saw Mr. Kelly approaching with two women.

“Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, this is my wife Aggie, and my daughter, Sophie.”

“Mrs. Kelly, thank you for inviting us to your home.”  Elizabeth smiled and could feel Darcy stiffening.  “My husband and I have been overwhelmed by the attention of the neighbourhood.”

“We did not know that it was your honeymoon, Mrs. Darcy or we would have left you be for another few weeks.  We just so rarely have new people moving in, you see.”  Mrs. Kelly explained. 

“I understand. I am from a small village in Hertfordshire; we were much the same there.”

“Taking enthusiastic interest in strangers was almost a sport, I think.”  Darcy said softly.

“A blood sport, Mr. Darcy?”  Sophie asked as she looked him over.

“Very like one.”  He smiled to Elizabeth.   “I suppose that the view is different when you are on the receiving end.” 

“Nothing can be worse than London.”  She laughed.  “Now that is cruel.” 

“I met you about five years ago, Mr. Darcy, do you remember?”  Sophie asked. 

His head shook, “I am sorry, I do not.  I hope that I was not too much the fool.”  Sophie looked disappointed; but Elizabeth quickly concluded that it was not because of dashed hopes.   

Mrs. Kelly turned to Darcy and spoke quickly, “I met your father years and years ago, sir.  He was a good-hearted man.  He always took great care with his people.”

“Thank you, madam.  I appreciate hearing that; I endeavour to be the same.”  Darcy bowed his head and Elizabeth smiled up at him, encouraging him to continue.  “Miss Kelly, I understand that . . .” He stopped.

“Yes, Mr. Darcy?”  She looked at him curiously.

 “I think that you were about to say something that Miss Kelly’s brothers mentioned and thought better of it.”  Elizabeth noticed his cheeks colouring.

“I am afraid so.  I have begged my wife on too many occasions to forgive my tongue.”

“There is nothing for me to forgive, sir, since you never gave the thought voice!”  Sophie laughed.  “And I can well-imagine what my darling brothers had to say.”

“Four of them, I cannot imagine taking on such a task.  I thought it was bad enough to have four sisters.”  Elizabeth smiled.

“Imagine if you were the only boy, though!”  Sophie smiled and frowned when she saw Elizabeth and Darcy exchange glances.  “What did I say?”

“Nothing, if there was a boy, then there would have been a son to inherit.”

“Oh . . .” Sophie bit her lip.  “I have never had to think of such things.”

“Whereas I grew up hearing constantly how I had to marry well.”

“I think that you have managed it.”  Darcy smiled and raised her hand to his lips.  “Perhaps we should meet some more of the neighbours?” 

“Of course.  Mrs. Kelly, thank you again for inviting us.”  Elizabeth smiled at Sophie.  “I hope to know you better over our stay.”

“Yes.”  Sophie watched them walk away and sighed.  “I said something wrong.”

“No, you did not.”  Her mother assured her.  “My, they are ever so much nicer than the Walkers, what a pity that he has to lease the estate out.  Well, when the Walkers return with their noses in the air, we can laugh at them since we now know the
real
owners!”

“Oh Mama, I wish that you would let your feud with Mrs. Walker end!”  Sophie sighed and walked away. Spotting her little brothers listening raptly to Richard, she went up the stairs.  “What are you two doing?  You should have gone to bed an hour ago!” 

“Aww Sophie, we are listening to the colonel!”  Adam whined.

“I want to be in the Horse Guards!”  Mitchell proclaimed.

“And get yourself killed!”  Sophie cried. 

Richard’s focus was completely on the captivating green-eyed woman. “May I point out, Miss Kelly, that I am very much alive.”  He smiled at her
you are not helping
glare.  “But I suppose death is an occupational hazard.”

“It is if you are actually fighting the war.”  She snapped.

“I did put in my time on the continent.”

“Were you wounded?”  Adam asked.

“Did you kill anyone?”  Mitchell demanded.

Feeling Sophie’s eyes upon him, he decided he would not glorify his experience further.  “Yes to both, and as for the killing, I will tell you, the act weighs very heavily on my soul.  Even if it is necessary, it is not an experience I would wish on anyone.”

“There, you heard the man, now let him enjoy the evening and off to bed with you both!”

“You are so bossy, Sophie.”  Mitchell glared and drawing himself up, he saluted Richard again.  “Permission to retire, sir.”

Richard returned the salute smartly.  “Permission granted, and Private Kelly, please take your brother with you.”

“Yes, sir.”  Giving Adam a shove, Mitchell led the way up another flight of stairs. 

Richard and Sophie watched them go and then looked at each other and away.  Nervous for something to do, he pulled out his snuff box and opened it to take a pinch.

“What, pray tell, is
that
!”  Sophie held out her hand.

“I am not giving this to
you
.  This was a gift from my cousin, for standing up with him at his wedding.”  He waved his hand down the stairs. 

“That is a woman’s limb!”

“It certainly is.”  Richard took a pinch of snuff, breathed it in and promptly sneezed.  

“Are you better?”

“Much.”  He wiped his nose and put his handkerchief away.

“I do not see the point of it.”

“You are a woman.”  He shrugged and held up the case.  “There, as you see, it is finely crafted.”

“I never said it was not.  Why do you have to carry your snuff in such a vulgar object?”

“Because I am a soldier.” 

“Well
that
is yet another reason to discourage my brothers!” 

“Because it is sentimental.” 

“Do not tell me, it is for the love of your life.” 

“No.”  He smiled and laughed at the challenge in her eyes.  “I have no love to annoy with my box.  I only care for my cousin and this is something he bought while he was purchasing the emeralds his lovely wife is wearing tonight.”

“Oh.”  Sophie blushed.  “Forgive me . . . I just get on these tears.  I can see the temptation in their eyes, wanting to be dressed up as you, but I do not want to see my brothers sent to war.”

“That was clear as day.”  Richard nodded at the stairs.