Mr. Darcy's Bite (14 page)

Darcy was so weary that his muscles ached, and every bump in the road to Hertfordshire caused him to wince. But he wasn't the only one. Mercer, who was sitting across from him sleeping, was feeling unwell but had refused to remain behind at Pemberley. Metcalf was exhibiting the same stubbornness. Darcy had tried to convince the man that his son was capable of driving a carriage on a well-traveled road between Derbyshire and Hertfordshire. But Metcalf disagreed, and so he had two Metcalfs sitting in the driver's seat. Darcy wondered what he would do when these faithful servants, as well as Jackson, Mrs. Reynolds, and Mrs. Bradshaw, retired from his service. A worry for another day.

When he arrived at Netherfield Park, he was warmly greeted by Bingley, but then his friend always acted as if he had just got a new puppy. Being of a mercurial temperament himself, Darcy did not understand how Charles could be so even tempered all the time. Mrs. Bingley, however, was another matter. There was a coolness in her reception, and what, pray tell, did that mean? But he was too tired to probe. That evening he excused himself, citing fatigue, but he also wanted Mercer to retire, and as long as Darcy was up and about the man would not do that. An exasperated Darcy told his valet that his nursery maid had not hovered as much as he did, but it made no difference.

The next morning, an unshaven Darcy went to the stables and asked the groom to saddle Montcalm, Bingley's favorite horse. Because Charles had tamed the unruly animal himself, he wanted Darcy to ride him so that he might see what a wonderful mount he was, and this was the perfect morning to do that—clean, crisp, with a layer of hoarfrost on everything. Before speaking to Elizabeth, he needed to clear his head of the detritus that had accumulated there. Maybe he was misinterpreting what Elizabeth meant when she said that her conversation with Nell had “changed everything.” Was it possible that it was a change for the better?

Forgetting about his scruffy appearance, he headed for Longbourn. He would know by her welcome if there were clear skies ahead or a storm on the horizon because Elizabeth was incapable of concealing her emotions. Her eyes, the way she moved her body, her scent revealed everything, and he pictured himself sitting in the Bennet's parlor drinking a hot cup of tea on this cold morning. While conversing with Elizabeth about all that had happened in Scotland, he would learn if she had reconsidered his offer of marriage. Hopefully, the visit would end with his asking Mr. Bennet for his daughter's hand in marriage.

***

A well-rested Lizzy came to the breakfast room full of vim and vigor and ready to take on a new day. Mr. Darcy's note had been liberating. He wrote that all was well, and so she wished him well. No more worries on that account. If the gentleman decided to marry Lady Helen, he would have a pretty wife and handsome children. Hopefully, they would inherit his intelligence, but that would be none of her concern. Besides, it was better this way. It made sense for Mr. Darcy to marry a she wolf, because if he did not, he would eventually face nightfall alone as Nell would marry and leave Granyard Hall, and Teddy, who had indicated that he would not be content remaining a groom, would want to take on something more challenging. No, this was definitely better for everyone.

The previous day, Mr. Hill and his sons had cut off the lower branches of some pine trees so that the Bennets could decorate their parlor with evergreens. For the wreaths and garlands, he had also cut some sprigs of greenery with its red berries from the holly bushes. This was something the Bennet sisters usually did a little later in Yuletide, but Lizzy was eager to get started and enlisted Kitty and Georgiana's assistance.

Mary had resisted all pleas from her sisters for her participation. It wasn't until Georgiana asked her to join them that she finally agreed. Because Mary held Georgiana in such high regard, Miss Darcy had succeeded in convincing the third Bennet daughter to stop practicing her vocals so that she might concentrate on improving her fingering on the pianoforte. “So few people can do justice to both,” Georgiana had told Mary. “I am of a mind that I would prefer to do one thing superbly than two things adequately.” The Bennet family would forever be in Miss Darcy's debt.

The four ladies put on heavy leather gloves and coats with patches and were handed knives by Mr. Hill. Having been surrounded by servants since her infancy, Georgiana had never done anything like this, but the enthusiastic young miss stated that she hoped to start such a tradition at Pemberley.

Everyone had been working for about an hour when Kitty noticed that a rider had just turned into the drive. “Maybe it is an express rider.”

“Oh, I hope not. An express rider never brings good news,” Mary said, thinking of the rider who had brought them news of Lydia's supposed elopement with George Wickham.

Although Georgiana did not recognize the horse, she did recognize the rider. “It is William. It is my brother.” She handed her knife to Kitty and ran down the drive to meet him. Darcy immediately dismounted and gave his sister a hug.

“You look wonderful, Georgie. Your cheeks are rosy, but so is your nose.” He tweaked it, making her laugh.

“Is everything all right? How is Teddy?” They started to walk toward the house.

“Teddy is fine. He will stay with Rupert for a while, but then he will be back at Pemberley.”

“Oh, Will, I am so happy to hear that everything went well. Would you mind if I went inside and gave Mrs. Brotherton the good news? She has been so worried about Teddy.”

“Of course. Besides, I want to talk to Miss Elizabeth, so take your time.”

As soon as Lizzy saw Mr. Darcy, she froze. Why had he not written to say when he was coming to Longbourn? Because she knew she would be working outside, she had not seen to her morning toilette. With her hair in a braid and with curls popping out every which way and wearing a patched coat, she looked like something the cat had dragged in. But when he got closer, she realized that he was not in his best clothes either. Obviously, he had not come a-courting.

After exchanging pleasantries, Mary and Kitty went into the house, leaving Darcy and Elizabeth to stare at each other. Finally, Lizzy spoke.

“I did not know you were in Hertfordshire, Mr. Darcy. You should have written and given your sister advance notice so that she would be packed and ready to leave.”

“I will be at Netherfield Park for a few days, so there is no hurry. Knowing of her fondness for you, I imagine she is perfectly agreeable to remaining at Longbourn for another two or three days.”

“She is most welcome to stay here. She has been a delightful visitor, and we shall miss her when she leaves. But then all good things must come to an end. Isn't that right, Mr. Darcy?” Lizzy asked in a voice lacking in any warmth.

And with that Darcy's hopes faded. His first assessment of her exchange with Lady Helen had been correct. His leaving for Scotland had changed everything. She wanted no part of a life that involved being married to a werewolf. But then he hesitated. If that were the case, then why was she angry, and it was clear that she was. He would have anticipated regret, sadness, disappointed hopes. But anger? And for one of the few times in his life, he was genuinely puzzled. Apparently, he was already in hot water, so why not ask?

“You are angry,” he said, stating the obvious.

Lizzy glared at him. “Oh, yes. I forgot. You can tell how I feel without me having to say a word.”

The mystery deepened. “Didn't you get my letter?”

“A letter? No I did not get a letter. I did receive a three-line note, consisting of twenty-six words in its entirety. Is that what you are referring to?”

Darcy dodged the question. “I was wondering if you would come to Netherfield Park this afternoon so that I might…”

“So that you might what? Take your leave of me? It is not necessary, Mr. Darcy. I fully understand what has happened.”

What did she mean by “take your leave of me?” Did she think
he
wanted to end their engagement? “I am not sure how to respond to that.”

“Of course not. You are a man of few words and fewer letters.”

Although her words stung, he was not unhappy with her being angry with him. Anger meant she cared. Right?

“I thought you might want to know what happened in Scotland.”

“Of course,” Lizzy said, looking down at the ground. Because she was so cross with him, she had neglected to ask about Teddy. She was pretty sure she knew what had happened to Rupert. Her embarrassment gave her pause, and she took the time to look at Mr. Darcy. There was no doubt he was exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes and a weariness about him that she had never seen before.

“You look awful,” she told him.

He laughed. “You don't,” he said with that smile she loved.

And a picture flashed before her of him sitting on the floor of his study after he had returned from his two days in the woods with her foot on his chest to keep him from making any further advances. He had wanted her so badly, and if she were a different sort of woman, she would have given in to him. And then she realized that her thoughts had brought about a physical change in her, and it was the same thing as saying out loud, “I want you—every inch of you.” Her face turned crimson.

“When do you want me to come to Netherfield?” she asked, avoiding his gaze.

“May I send my carriage for you this afternoon? Let's say three o'clock?” From the lilt in his voice, Lizzy knew that he had noticed the change.

“Are you sure you want me to come today? Because the days have grown so short, if I leave that late in the afternoon, I will need to stay at Netherfield.”

“If you do not have a problem with that,
I
certainly have no objection,” he said as he moved the reins over Montcalm's head in preparation for his departure. “I look forward to seeing you—preferably without the knife?”

Lizzy looked down at the weapon in her hand and chuckled. “And maybe you will have shaved by that time.”

“You do not like my stubble?” he asked, scratching his face.

“You look scruffy. My preference is that you have a full beard or be clean shaven.”

Darcy was reassured. By her statement, she was telling him that whether man or beast, she loved him.

After mounting his horse, he tipped his hat. “Then I shall see you at Netherfield this afternoon. Oh, by the way, your Scottie has been looking out the window ever since I got here. You might want to reassure her that I am not coming into the house.”

Lizzy looked at the window in the front parlor, and she could see Magic's face smushed up against the window. Even from such a distance, she could tell that the Scottie was very tense.

“I will go inside immediately or she will have an accident. But one more thing before you go. When I come to Netherfield, I want you to know that I am in no mood for noble speeches. Your aunt Marguerite told me to tell you that.”

Darcy bit his lip, and the furrowed brow returned. “Since it is never wise to disagree with Aunt Marguerite, I will consider myself warned.”

Magic was not the only one with her nose pressed up against the glass. As soon as Lizzy walked into the house, she was set upon by her mother.

“Well, what did Mr. Darcy have to say? Why did he leave? Are you engaged?”

Lizzy did not need this kind of attention. She wanted to digest what Mr. Darcy had said, but her mother was like a hound on the scent when she thought there was a possible suitor in the neighborhood.

“Mr. Darcy came to say hello to his sister and to inform me of the happy conclusion of events in Scotland. He left because he is tired from such a long journey, and we are not engaged. Did I answer all your questions?”

“I have no doubt that you let that fish get away. Just like Mr. Collins. You will have to start all over again, and Jane has not been particularly helpful in finding you a husband. Mr. Bingley has four brothers. Why have you not been introduced to them?”

“We
were
introduced to two of them. You have forgotten that the next three oldest Bingleys after Charles are his sisters and that James, whom we
did
meet at the wedding, is only nineteen years old.”

“Nineteen years old? He is too young for you, but he will do nicely for Kitty.” Lizzy could see the wheels turning. “As for you, young lady, since there are no young men in the neighborhood with a fortune sufficient to support you, we must look to Aunt Susan.”

“If by ‘looking to Aunt Susan,' you mean Mr. Nesbitt, I would rather have married Mr. Collins because whoever does marry Mr. Nesbitt will have to have a very large bed as the elder Mrs. Nesbitt will be sleeping between husband and wife.”

The Nesbitts were neighbors of Aunt Susan, Mr. Bennet's sister, and because mother and son came to all their aunt's teas, Lizzy had been in the gentleman's company on several occasions. Excluding his resemblance to a stork, it was his habit of always sitting on his hands that made it impossible for Lizzy to take him seriously. Whenever Jane and she returned from a visit with Aunt Susan, they would have the best time trying to guess what Mr. Nesbitt was trying to stop Mr. Nesbitt from doing.

“You may jest all you want, Lizzy, but Mr. Collins is married to your best friend because you would not have him, and Mr. Nesbitt's attentiveness to his mother shows that he has a kind heart. He also has a good income and a good-sized house and will shortly be called to the bar.”

“Mr. Nesbitt could live in Grosvenor Square and have ten thousand a year,” Lizzy said to her Mama, “and I would not marry him. I would rather be a spinster living on the parish than marry Mr. Dalton Nesbitt.” Turning away from her mother, she called upstairs to Kitty, Mary, and Georgiana to come outside so that they might finish cutting the holly. “I shall be going to Netherfield Park this afternoon to visit Jane. Mr. Darcy has been so kind as to offer his carriage.”

“Oh, that is very good. You must stay overnight, and I insist that you remain at Netherfield Park until you are engaged.”

“Shall I remain at Netherfield even if Mr. Darcy leaves?” There was something comical about her mother's doggedness. But wishing to end the conversation, she finally said, “I promise I shall not leave Netherfield Park until I am engaged, but if I have not returned by the spring, please do come visit me.”

***

Darcy's impression that Mrs. Bingley had given him a less than warm greeting the previous day had been correct. When he mentioned that he had ridden over to Longbourn, Jane had asked how her parents were.

“I was not so fortunate as to see either of your parents, Mrs. Bingley.”

“Oh, that
is
unfortunate, as I am sure that was your purpose in going to Longbourn.”

So sarcasm was a Bennet trait, Darcy thought. Although Elizabeth was better at it than her older sister, Jane had landed a good punch.

“I briefly spoke to Miss Elizabeth, and I am to send a carriage for her this afternoon.”

“Now
that
is good news. I can never see enough of Lizzy, so it is a good thing for me that she did not remain in Derbyshire as long as I had anticipated.”

Another jab. But since the tone of Mrs. Bingley's voice had softened, Darcy did not feel the sting as much as the first.

“Please excuse me, Mr. Darcy,” Jane said, rising, “One of Lizzy's favorite dishes is mutton chops, and so I shall need to speak with Cook.”

“More mutton,” Darcy mumbled. During his last nightfall, without Teddy and Rupert to help in the hunt, Nell, who was not one to miss a meal, had asked her steward to make sure that a freshly killed sheep was left at a prearranged spot on the Granyard property, and he had eaten mutton on both days. But what was on the Netherfield dinner menu was the least of his problems. Trying to figure out what Elizabeth had meant by “not making any noble speeches” was his top priority; shaving was his second.

***

Although Darcy had hoped to speak to Elizabeth upon her arrival at Netherfield, Mrs. Bingley had other plans for her sister, and most of Elizabeth's time was taken up with discussing what was required to prepare for the arrival of baby Bingley. Darcy knew that he was being punished by Jane Bingley for his dillydallying in asking Elizabeth to marry him, so he would just have to wait until after supper. But when the meal was finished and it was suggested that they play cards, Darcy had had enough.

“As much as I would enjoy playing cards, Mrs. Bingley, I am eager to acquaint Miss Elizabeth with some events that took place in Scotland. I was called away on a family emergency, and since she knows some of the parties, she expressed an interest in learning how things turned out.”

It was only after getting a nod from Elizabeth that Jane finally agreed to retire for the evening and leave Lizzy and Darcy alone. Knowing that it was important that no one hear their conversation, Lizzy closed all the doors of the drawing room. She went and sat on the sofa next to Mr. Darcy, so that they would not have to whisper, an intimacy she was not prepared to engage in at the moment.

Darcy related every detail of what had transpired in Scotland, and there were times when Lizzy's heart dropped into her stomach, especially when she learned how close Rupert had come to being discovered in his lupine form. After Mr. Darcy left Pemberley, she had asked Mr. Jackson to bring her every book on wolves and werewolves in the house. These tomes were concealed in the hidden room behind the study, and Lizzy had pored over them. The picture that emerged was that wherever wolves roamed, there was a concerted effort to exterminate them and that they had been successfully eradicated in all but the most remote areas of Britain.

Lizzy remained silent as Mr. Darcy spoke of his visit with the laird, waiting for Rupert's Council custodians to arrive, their arduous return visit, and Nell's reprimand.

“Disciplining Nell must have been difficult for you, and then nightfall came hard on the heels of your reprimand.”

“It was awkward for the first few minutes, but Nell knew that there was a fresh kill on the property, and she could not wait to get at that sheep.”

Lizzy started to laugh, and Darcy joined in. Nell's appetite had become a source of amusement for them.

“In the spring, Nell will visit the émigré population living near the Welsh border, and she should be able to find a mate as there are some aristocrats amongst them.”

“Then Nell and you will not…”

“Will not what?”

“Will not be getting married?”

Darcy shook his head in confusion. “Me marry Nell? Why would you think that? I have never given one moment of thought to withdrawing my offer of marriage to you. It is you who have reconsidered. Jackson told me what you said after you and Nell came out of the study. You said that ‘you had changed your mind.'”

“I said no such thing. My response to her efforts to separate us was that ‘it had changed everything,'” Lizzy said visibly upset that her words had been misinterpreted. “After she told me of all the dangers werewolves face, I swore that, except for nightfall, I would never leave you again. It is as Ruth said to Naomi in the Bible: ‘Entreat me not to leave thee or return from following after thee; for wither thou goest, I shall go, and where thou lodgest, I shall lodge. Thy people shall be my people.' That is exactly how I feel about you.”

“Then you still want to marry me?” Darcy asked in a stutter, choking up after such a speech, and every frustration Lizzy felt since she learned that Mr. Darcy was a werewolf came to the surface.

“How dare you ask me such a question,” she said, standing up and stepping away from him. “Without so much as a backwards glance, you left me at Pemberley with no words of comfort or an embrace to reassure me, and your noble effort to release me from my promise to marry you left me heartsick.” When he started to apologize, she told him that she was not finished. “I waited and waited for some word from you, and when it came, it was three lines of prose that you could have written to your solicitor.” She made her hands into fists. “And then you come to Longbourn and play these cat-and-mouse games with me. I am so angry I could hit you.”

“You may do so, but I warn you that I took lessons at Mr. Jackson's Boxing Academy.”

“Do not think you can make me laugh and that all will be well, Fitzwilliam Darcy. These weeks have been pure torture for me. I did not know if we were truly engaged.” Hot tears poured out of her, and when he offered his handkerchief, she refused it and went in search of one of her own.

“Elizabeth, you can be unhappy with me, but is it necessary for you to take your frustration out on my handkerchief?”

When Lizzy went to take it out of his hand, he pulled her to him, and he held her tightly until she stopped fighting him. After he felt the tension leaving her body, he placed his hand on her head and brought it to his chest, and she put her arms around his waist and clung to him.

“You are not angry anymore,” he said, and when she looked up at him, he traced the outline of her face with his fingers and kissed her forehead. “You must understand that I did not know what was happening in Scotland, so I had to leave immediately. The only reason that this situation did not end in disaster was Teddy did everything exactly right. If it had not been for him, I do not know what would have happened to Rupert. But there was no way for me to know that until I reached the Underhill estate.

“As for my letter, what could I write? After all that you had gone through in those two days after nightfall, I had to leave you to rush to Scotland to tend to another werewolf situation, so I thought it only right that you should have an opportunity to end our engagement. If I had written a love letter to you, it would have been the same as pleading with you to stay with me.”

“Your letter to your sister was longer than the one you wrote to me,” Lizzy said, after seeing the logic behind his staid missive.

“What was the point of writing the same thing twice?”

“Mr. Darcy, you have a lot to learn about women,” she said, shaking her head in dismay. After drying everything that was wet, Lizzy took him by the hand and returned to the sofa. “I have had weeks to think about our marriage, and I have made a decision. I want to go to Gretna Green right away.”

Darcy burst out laughing. This was a good sign. Lizzy had not lost her sense of humor, but after seeing the look in her eyes, he realized that she was serious.

“No,” Darcy firmly said, “it was a terrible idea when I suggested it. It sounds even worse coming from you. Do you really want people to be looking at your belly for the next few months wondering if you are in a family way and
had
to get married?”

Lizzy thought of all the tongue-waggers in Meryton who would delight in speculating on a possible pregnancy. “No, I do not want that, so we shall do as you suggested and get a special license.”

“Special licenses are expensive.”

“I believe you said that you had a few pounds in the bank. Did you gamble away your fortune while you were in Scotland?”

“No, I am not a gamester, but I think your suggestion of having our banns announced in the village church is the right one. If we set a date for after the first of the year, that will give us ample time to make arrangements. You may wish to go up to London for your wedding clothes, and there is much to do to prepare for the wedding breakfast.”

“After the first of the year? This is quite a change from the man who carried me to his sofa. Where has all that passion gone?”

“I can assure you I do not want for passion. If you knew what my thoughts were, you would run from the room.”

“I know what your thoughts are, and I am still here.” She gave him such a flirtatious smile that he felt his manhood rising, and so he crossed his legs, causing Lizzy to start laughing.

“Have you no compassion, you heartless wench?” he said amused, but uncomfortable.

“I do have compassion, and so I suggest that we marry in three weeks after the banns are announced.”

“That will not work because it will bring us to within a few days of the next full moon. Surely you do not want your husband to leave you so soon after we are married.”

“But you will
always
leave me for two days every month, and I will
always
be there to welcome you back.”

“Very well,” Darcy said, nodding his head in acknowledgment of her commitment to him, and after some quick calculations, he added, “shall we say December 24th?”

“Yes, I like that. You first told me of your other incarnation on the eve of All Saints' Day. It is fitting that we should marry on Christmas Eve. There is a symmetry in that.”

“Now that we have set a date, please tell me what you would like as a token of my love. My mother's ruby ring, my grandmother's emerald necklace? Perhaps while you are in town, you will want to go to a jeweler and pick out a diamond ring. I shall get whatever you wish.”

“I would be honored to wear your mother or grandmother's jewelry, but I have no need of diamonds. However, I would like something. A dog. Actually dogs.”