Mr. Darcy's Bite (18 page)

While Madame Delaine was measuring every inch of her person, Lizzy was imagining a shop where you could buy a ready-made dress. A tuck or two, a shortening of the hem, and a bit of added lace, and she would be done, but she dare not speak her thoughts aloud, as Madame had already mentioned her contempt for the inferior work of some of the other dressmakers, at least that was Lizzy's translation of her heavily accented English.

Buying the shoes, boots, gloves, shawls, and chemises was a lot more fun, and she particularly enjoyed visiting the milliner's shop, where she donned turbans with tassels and hats with ostrich plumes sprouting everywhere. But with Mr. Darcy's satirical eye, she could just imagine his comments about such exotic head coverings. He had already voiced his opinion on the overly wide brims of her poke bonnets, saying that she wore them not to keep the sun off of her face but to keep his lips off of her mouth. How wrong he was about that.

Two days later, Aunt Gardiner and Lizzy returned to Madame Delaine's boutique for Lizzy's first fitting, and when she saw the emerging form of her dress within the fabric, she was very pleased, and so she suffered in silence as Madame pinned away.

When aunt and niece got out of the hackney at Gracechurch Street, they saw a carriage parked outside the Gardiner townhouse, and Lizzy immediately recognized it as belonging to Mr. Darcy.

“Ah, Miss Darcy has returned to town,” Lizzy said, smiling. She had developed a deep attachment for Georgiana as she was all that a sister should be, but when she went into the parlor, there sat not Miss Darcy but her brother. After an exchange of pleasantries, Mr. Darcy told Mrs. Gardiner that his sister was upstairs with her eldest daughter, and when she learned that Margaret was teaching Miss Darcy how to trim a bonnet, she said that she would check on their progress.

Knowing of Mr. Darcy's ardor, she sat on the sofa across from him.

“I thought you were to go directly to Herefordshire,” Lizzy stated, somewhat concerned. She wanted nothing to interfere with his task of finding Nell a husband.

“Well, I had to come through London anyway, and so I decided to break my journey for a day or two. Are you complaining?”

“Of course not, but you will go to Herefordshire, will you not?”

“Elizabeth, I thought you would be happy to see me. Instead, it seems that you will be pleased to see me on my way. I have not pressed on in my journey because I missed you. Three weeks was too long. What was I thinking when I made those plans?” And then he became suspicious of her reasons for wanting him out of London, but in Herefordshire. “Is this about Nell?” Of course it was, and Darcy shook his head in disapproval. “Your silence speaks volumes. Once again, I will tell you that I have no interest in the lady. You have nothing to worry about.”

“I believe you, and I do not want to talk about Nell. How did things go with your aunt Catherine?”

“Better than I would have thought.”

“Really!” Lizzy said pleased. “I feared that it would not go well at all. So she approves of our marriage?”

“I would not put it that way.”

“Are you saying that although she does not approve of our marriage, she will not stand in our way?” Lizzy asked in an unsure voice.

“She did not say that either.”

“Well, what did she say? Is your good news that she did not throw a vase at you or hit you with her cane?”

“A vase was not immediately at hand, and her infirmities prevent her from wielding a cane in such a way as to cause injury.”

“Oh, now I see that your purpose in going into Kent was to hone your skills as a wit.”

“I have been so easily found out,” he responded, but when Lizzy started to twiddle her thumbs while waiting for an explanation for his optimism, Darcy explained Anne's supposition that since her mother did not have the last word, it was a sign of her acquiescence.

“You bring me thin gruel, sir,” Lizzy answered, unimpressed, “but it is a better conclusion than what your cousin anticipated when he called on me.”

“Richard is in town?”

“No, not the colonel, but his brother, Lord Fitzwilliam. He paid a visit earlier in the week.”

“Good God! You did not say anything, did you? Because telling him anything is the same as releasing it for publication.”

“Of course not. That is an insulting statement, Will. Your welfare is my first concern.”

“I am sorry,” he quickly added. Knowing that she would never do anything that would endanger him, Elizabeth had a right to be insulted. “It is just that he has a way of wrapping people, especially women, around his little finger, and I can see from your expression that you were taken in by his charms.”

“I must confess I was amused by his wit, but it is the same as when troupes of acrobats and jugglers come into the village. They are very entertaining, but you would not want them to linger too long.”

Lizzy shared with Mr. Darcy the details of His Lordship's visit, including his flirting with Mrs. Gardiner. When he offered to apologize for his cousin's behavior, Lizzy assured him that her aunt had enjoyed every minute of it and had shared it with Mr. Gardiner. But Lizzy did want to know if Lady Eleanor really was the Queen of Darkness and if Lord Fitzwilliam was truly broke.

“I am sure Antony told you that Lady Eleanor drowns kittens in her moat or is guilty of performing other such monstrous acts, but it is just another example of a failed arranged marriage. Although she is not the Queen of Darkness, Eleanor is definitely one of the most unpleasant people I know. As to your second question, the earl is not broke. He is one of the very few of England's elite who wins more at the gaming tables than he loses. Unlike most other members of his club, he knows when to leave the tables.”

“Then why does he not pay his bills? Apparently, his townhouse is freezing because he owes the coalman for past deliveries.”

“Because he has a liquidity problem. Winning at cards and collecting the money are two different things, but when Antony finally does get the money, he will pay Mr. Blackmun, the coalman, first. Once he is paid, word spreads quickly that the earl has money and that they can expect Gregg, his manservant, to come 'round and pay his debts.”

“What a terrible way to live.”

“It is terrible, but it is the way business is done in town. I hope you did not invite him to the wedding.”

“I did,” Lizzy answered, and when she saw Mr. Darcy's look of displeasure, she quickly added, “How could I not invite him when we were sitting in the same room discussing our wedding? But he is not coming, which raises another question. One of the reasons he will not be attending is because Lady Granyard will not be there. Surely, he is not having an affair with her.”

“Not now, he isn't. But he did have an affair with her when she was Lady Boyle. But do you see what has happened?” he said in an exasperated voice. “Instead of us talking about our wedding, we are talking about Antony. This happens every time. The only people who can upstage him are the royals, and not all of them either. But no more about Antony. Did you read my letter?”

“Yes, I did,” Lizzy said, and her whole demeanor changed. “You know, I should burn it. You should not write such things. The part about our wedding night was really improper.” But Lizzy could not keep the smile out of her voice.

“In two weeks' time, I promise not to write anything of the sort. Words will be replaced by deeds.”

Lizzy's physical response was immediate, as was Darcy's, and he spanned the distance between them in two steps. After lifting her out of the chair, he kissed her as if they had been parted for months instead of one week. But Lizzy removed her arms from around his neck, and after sliding them down his chest, she gently pushed him away.

“You have such power over me. I cannot hide anything from you,” she said, her voice unsteady.

“Do not speak to me of power. You have brought me to my knees.”

“In that case…” Lizzy pulled his mouth toward her, and because she was a head shorter than he was, he lifted her off her feet and kissed her until his arms ached.

“I cannot stay away from you, Elizabeth Bennet, and so I will make short work of my business in Herefordshire, and as soon as I have done so, I shall go to Netherfield and remain there until we are man and wife. Actually, I have no choice. Georgiana speaks of nothing but Kitty and Mary and you, of course. Whenever you are ready to return to Hertfordshire, she will leave London with you, but she will stay at Netherfield with me.”

“That is probably best. With all the preparations for the wedding breakfast, there will be too much going on at Longbourn.” Or so she thought.

With exactly one week to go before the wedding, Lizzy and Georgiana arrived at Netherfield Park, but when they came to the gated entrance, their driver had to yield as a slow-moving wagon moved in front of him. When Georgiana recognized the driver as Abel Metcalf, Lizzy knew that her wedding reception was not going to be held at Longbourn, but here at Netherfield.

“You should have written to me, Jane,” Lizzy said as soon as she was in the house. “I had no idea that the guest list had grown so long. Here you are an expectant mother doing everything, and I am doing nothing and I am the bride.”

“You need not concern yourself on my account,” Jane reassured her sister. “I have done very little. Mr. Jackson arrived two days ago, and he has met with our butler, Mr. Cleveland, and between the two, they have taken care of everything as well as seeing to the needs of all of the servants who have come from Pemberley to help. Mr. Jackson said that this is nothing to him, as he has been with the Darcys since he was a boy, and when Lady Anne was alive, the family was frequently on the move—visiting other families at their country houses, going to town for Christmas and the season, to Weymouth to sea bathe, and back to Pemberley. These pleasant memories brought a smile to his face.”

“You must be mistaken, Jane. Mr. Jackson never smiles. It is not in the butler's handbook.”

From the day Lizzy had met him at Pemberley, Mr. Jackson had shown her nothing but kindness, and she had developed a deep affection for him because of how protective he was over his master. But she had never seen even a tiny crack in his somber facade. When Lizzy had mentioned this to Mr. Darcy, he answered by saying that he knew for a fact that Mr. Jackson was capable of smiling. “One time, Mercer caught him in the act, but he only performs this exercise when he is belowstairs, and only in the company of the senior servants, and then only once or twice a year as he does not want to overdo it, or so I am told, having never actually witnessed the phenomenon myself.”

“But why does he not smile abovestairs?” Lizzy had asked. “He must occasionally be amused by something he has seen or heard.”

“It is quite normal for senior servants not to smile as they bear heavy responsibilities. You cannot judge the servants here at Pemberley based on your relationship with Mr. and Mrs. Hill. Such familiarity would not work on such a large estate. When you think about it, Pemberley is as large as some villages, so Mr. Jackson must be very strict in order to keep his young staff in line.”

“Well, if Mr. Jackson actually did smile,” Lizzy told Jane, “I am sorry to have missed it, as it happens as frequently as the appearance of Mr. Halley's comet.”

Lizzy shared with her sister all that she had done in London. “Madame Delaine is an accomplished dressmaker, and while her nimble fingers performed miracles on my wedding dress, Aunt Gardiner and I went from shop to shop, having the best time, all at Mr. Darcy's expense.”

“By the way, where is Mr. Darcy?” Jane asked, looking around. “Is he with Charles?”

“He is not here. He had some business that required his attention, but he will be here in a day or two.”

Jane was not pleased to hear that Mr. Darcy was once again absent. She had grown used to Charles's boundless energy and his need for movement, but it was nothing compared to Mr. Darcy's meanderings. At least her husband remained in the county, but that was not the case with Mr. Darcy. He was always coming and going, but only God knew where he went.

“Lizzy, I do so hope he will not be running about the country once you are married. Your courtship was unorthodox by anyone's standards, except, perhaps, for those men who travel the roads to sell their wares.”

“Please do not worry, Jane. You must understand that Mr. Darcy's wealth is not derived exclusively from his properties and that he has investments in other companies and manufactories. Up to this point, he has been personally involved in their management, but he will not do so once we are married.” All of this was true. It just did not have anything to do with what was happening in Herefordshire.

“I am very glad to hear it, and I shall hold him to it as a husband should be by his wife's side. Now, as to the preparations for your wedding, Mr. Darcy's cook arrived with Mr. Jackson. Prior to her coming, she sent such detailed instructions to poor Mrs. Blanchard that she was quite overwhelmed, but Mrs. Bradshaw assumed command and went into Meryton to talk to the butcher and the greengrocer and everyone else who will be providing whatever is needed. I have been warned that she is very demanding and brooks no interference in her kitchen.”

“Then we shall not interfere,” Lizzy said. “Besides, Georgiana is now here, and she knows how to get around Mrs. Bradshaw,” or so Lizzy hoped. “She is speaking with her right now, so I shall join her, as I feel that I should do
something
since it is my wedding.”

But it was not to be. As predicted, Mrs. Bradshaw politely told Lizzy that she was the bride and needed to tend to her own role and to leave her to do her work. This was said in a tone of voice that left no doubt that Lizzy had been dismissed, but it was a good thing that she had been shunted aside, as Mr. Darcy came to Longbourn the next day.

***

Because it was such a gray, rainy day, Lizzy and Mr. Darcy could not go for a walk and were thus confined to the parlor with Kitty, Mary, and Mrs. Bennet. The gentleman tried to appear to be interested in their discourse, but he really did not want to hear Mary summarize the vicar's Sunday sermon, nor was he interested in Kitty's visit with Maria Lucas, and he most especially wished to be spared the reasons for the onset of Mrs. Bennet's flutters. All the news he had to share with his betrothed remained unspoken, that is, until Mr. Bennet took mercy on the couple and offered them the use of his study.

“Finally, we are alone,” Darcy said as he pulled Lizzy into an embrace, and the two remained in each other's arms saying nothing. When Darcy did kiss her, it was a quick brush of his lips across her cheek. “I am at a point where if I were to kiss you on the lips it would have such an effect on me that I would risk embarrassing myself.”

“I am in a similar state, but you probably already knew that. So let us sit on the sofa, and you may tell me of your trip to Herefordshire. How did it go?”

“Very well,” he said, nodding his head for effect.

“As well as it went with your aunt Catherine?”

“Much better,” he answered, laughing. “I may have found Nell the perfect husband. He is the son of a French aristocrat, twenty-six years old, reasonably handsome, of good height and build. The whole family, their servants,
and
their chef had to flee their estate in Provence because of revolutionary mobs roaming the countryside. It seems that the Reynards are gastronomes. I spent the better part of one evening talking to Vicomte Reynard about nothing more than meats, sauces, truffles, wine, brandy, et cetera.”

“Oh, that does sound promising. I really do want Lady Helen to be happy, but I also want her gone, and not for the reason you might think. I was truly distressed at how indiscreet she was at Pemberley, and I would be constantly on edge, fearing that she would say something that would reveal your situation. With Rupert gone, it will be just you and Teddy, and he is completely reliable.”

“Unfortunately, that is no longer true as Teddy will soon be leaving Pemberley for good.”

“But why? If Nell marries Monsieur Reynard and Teddy leaves, then you will be all alone.”

“Which is exactly the way I want it. Rupert was a menace, and Nell is annoying. Teddy and I could get by on a rabbit or partridge or, God forbid, not eat at all, but if there are three of us, Nell always wants to go after a deer and that causes problems. You cannot leave a carcass out in the woods that has been torn apart by animals as it will cause alarm bells to ring, but it is nothing to her as she gets in her carriage at daybreak and returns to Granyard Hall. But Teddy, Mercer, or I must go out and bury the deer or sheep or whatever she has devoured.”

“I certainly understand why you want Nell and Rupert to leave the pack, but why Teddy?”

“I had an opportunity to speak with Teddy while I was in Herefordshire. He is there because that is where Rupert is being held prior to being transported, and it was he who came to me. At Pemberley, the explanation for Teddy's monthly disappearances was that Rupert was the son of a nobleman, and once a month he was permitted to go see his father, and Teddy would accompany him as his manservant. That situation no longer exists, and you cannot have a groom go missing once a month. It would make Teddy's life very difficult with the other grooms, and it might possibly invite comment. I cannot have that. Now that I am to be a married man with a family, I will not take any unnecessary risks and that is what I told the Council.”

“The Council was in Herefordshire?”

“Yes, Rupert remains a problem because you cannot have someone who was so public a figure just drop out of sight. The Council is made up of two werewolves and one man. It was decided that Mr. Clark, the human, will take Rupert to London where he will be seen, and when spring comes, word will have got around town that he wants to go to North America, and Teddy will go with him.”

“Oh, poor Mrs. Brotherton! Can the Council force him to go?”

“It is not a matter of
forcing
him to do it; he wants to do it. In fact, he turned down an opportunity to become alpha male. The pack in Herefordshire has grown too large, and it must be divided. The position was offered to Teddy, but he declined. He told me that he wants to make his fortune in the New World where rank does not matter. His plans are well thought out, and I told him that I would provide him with seed money if he wants to start a business. I will be sorry to see him go, but go he must.”

“I will miss Teddy, as will your sister, and his mother will be truly heartsick. I do understand why he must leave Pemberley, but I do not like to think of you out there by yourself.”

“That is because you do not yet understand my other life. When I am a wolf, I enjoy doing those things that wolves do. I like to hunt and run and chase and play in the snow. It is not a hardship for me, and when the weather is bad, there is a cave where I take shelter.”

Darcy could see that Lizzy was unhappy, and so he put his arm around her shoulder. “It is only two days a month,” he said, trying to reassure her. “So let us speak of other things, as there is another topic I wish to talk to you about.” Darcy's face changed from comforting to uncomfortable because he did not know how Lizzy would react to what he had to say.

“I have mentioned before that wolves have a heightened sense of smell, and because of that, I know when… I always know when you are about to start your courses.”

“Good grief, Mr. Darcy! That is no subject for a man, not even a husband!”

“It is for this man because I also know the days when you are fertile. Please allow me to explain why this is important. My mother died shortly after she was delivered of a stillborn child. Bearing children is very taxing on a woman's body, and so I want to limit the number of children we have because the thought of losing you… What I am trying to say is that I shall know when not to come to your bedchamber.”

“Are you telling me this now because I shall be fertile on our wedding night, and we shall not lie together?” Lizzy asked in near panic.

Darcy started to laugh. “No, I made sure of that before agreeing to the date. Actually, it works out perfectly. You will begin your courses tonight or tomorrow at the latest, and so you will be finished by our wedding day, but you will not yet be fertile.”

Lizzy covered her face in embarrassment. “This really is too much—for you to know when it is my time.”

“But it is all a part of the natural order. There is no need for you to be embarrassed, and there are advantages. I will be more understanding of your moods.” As soon as Darcy said it, he knew that he had erred.

“My moods?”

“Occasionally, your mood does alter. For example, when I went to Longbourn to invite you to Pemberley, you were, you know…”

“Oh, I see. So the reason for my unhappiness was not your coming and going without explanation for six months. It was because of my courses.”

“No. That is not what I am saying.”

“Well, what
are
you saying?”

“Merely, that it was a contributing factor.”

“No, Mr. Darcy, it was not a contributing factor. By the time you had come back to Longbourn from your last disappearance, I had been angry with you for three weeks.”

“I stand corrected,” he quickly responded and sealed his lips together.

“That is all you have to say?”

“Elizabeth, there is no way I can win this argument, so I apologize for any past, present, or future transgressions.”

“You are a quick learner, Will Darcy,” Lizzy said smiling, and she kissed him on his cheek.