Imperative: Volume 1, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (70 page)

“Good morning.”  She whispered, and letting go of Darcy’s arm, walked into the breakfast room.

Darcy’s restored mood deflated and Elizabeth squeezed his arm.  “Did you speak?”

“Barely, I told her that we would talk after breakfast.”  Shaking his head, he caressed over her hand, “I do not know if I can do this alone, Lizzy.  Speaking to my little sister is not the same as addressing anyone else.”

“Even me?”  She smiled and he laughed. 

“Oh, I am putty in your hands, love, you know that.” 

“You are a tender-hearted soul.”  She kissed his cheek and he looked down at his boots.  “But even with me, you have expressed great disappointment, and I did not break.” 

His eyes returned to hers, and he saw her support.    “Thank you.”  He raised her hand to his mouth for a kiss and leading her into the bright room, looked at his sister staring out of the window.  “It will soon be too cold to eat in here; the fire cannot compete with all of this glass.”

“But it is beautiful.”  Elizabeth looked up, taking in the tall ceiling and the bank of French doors in the airy space.  “This must be wonderful for a warm day, with the doors open; I can imagine a breeze fluttering in, almost like eating outdoors.”

“Yes, we have wrought iron furniture for the terrace and often take small meals there.”  Darcy led her around the table, then pulling out a chair, pushed it back in place when she sat.  “It is a pleasant place to read, when the wisteria is in bloom and the pergola is covered with vines.  Georgiana, may I seat you, dear?”  He stood behind another chair and smiled expectantly. 

She turned and automatically moved to the seat by his right and stopped in mid-step to find Elizabeth there.  Her eyes met her new sister’s and lifting her chin, she walked around the small circular table to sit opposite him.  The chair to his left was clearly reserved for their aunt, who just arrived.

“Am I late?”  She fussed with her cap, quickly hiding her reaction to Darcy’s seating arrangement when she noted Georgiana’s frown.  “I was writing to my husband of your safe arrival and lost track of the time.  Thank you, Fitzwilliam.”  She smiled when he pushed her into place.  “I hope that you found your new rooms satisfactory, Elizabeth.  Mrs. Reynolds was unhappy that they were not completely redecorated for you, but we thought you would enjoy doing that yourself.  Did we not, Georgiana?”

“Yes.”  She stared at her plate as a footman delivered a platter to the table. 

“Oh, the rooms are very comfortable; I cannot imagine changing a thing.”  She caught Darcy’s twinkling eyes and gave him a little nudge under the table.

Darcy began serving the ladies, Elizabeth watching him in fascination as he immediately assumed his place as the head of the household. 

“What amuses you, dear?”  He asked softly when she thanked him for her plate, and took her hand when she set it down.  “Tell me.”

“I was only wondering what habits were followed for meals with you absent?”  Her eyes danced.  “Were things quite so formal?”

“What happened at Longbourn when your father would go to London?”

“It was a free for all.”  She laughed and picked up a roll from a bowl before her, “And do not pretend surprise, sir.” 

“I said not a word.”  He looked to his aunt.  “Well, what happened in my absence?”

“I think that we were as likely to eat in our rooms as at a table, sometimes we never left the music room.”  She smiled at Georgiana.  “I am afraid that with your brother home, those days of freedom are history.”

“They certainly are!”  He said stiffly.

Elizabeth laughed and leaned forward towards Susan.  “You know, I have noticed he is rather annoyingly dedicated to following the rules.”  

“Like his father; and my husband.”

“Oh, so it is in the blood.”  She sighed and shook her head.  “Let us hope that our children take after me a bit.”

“And what bit might that be, Mrs. Darcy?”  His smile warmed. 

She stuck out her chin.  “The lively bit.”

“Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.”  He shook his head sadly.  “It cannot be; a houseful of lively Bennet-like creatures.  No, no, no.”

“You liked me well enough!”

“Whatever possessed me?” 

“I can hardly say, Mr. Darcy, but for your sake, I think you should be grateful for your lapse of judgment.” 

“Do you?”  Sitting back in his chair he cast a critical eye over her.  “What do you say, Aunt?  You married into the Darcys; do you think she will do me some good?”

“I think she already has, Nephew.”  Susan smiled to see Elizabeth grin triumphantly and then turned to Georgiana, who was staring at them.  “What is it, dear?”  All eyes turned to her.   

“It is nothing.”  Seeing her brother’s continued expectant expression, she said quietly, “I am not used to hearing you spoken to in such a way, Fitzwilliam.” 

Darcy’s smile faded.  “Precisely what way is that?” 

Elizabeth took his hand under the table.  “Remember when Miss Bingley said that you were not to be teased?”

Groaning, he shook his head.  “I miss Bingley very much, but I decidedly will
not
miss his sister.  I am glad to have you away from her influence as well, Georgiana.”

“I thought that you liked her.”  She looked down to her plate and pushed the food around.  “Everyone thought you would offer for her.”

Darcy’s mouth dropped open.  “Who?  Who could possibly . . . and who is everyone?  You do not know that many people!”  He turned to Elizabeth, “I swear, I never considered her!”

“Oh she did enough considering for both of you.”  Elizabeth squeezed his hand and let go.  “However you do remind me of an important point.  We will have visitors soon.  I will have to learn my way around and have a good talk with Mrs. Reynolds.  At least I have met most of your relatives; I look forward to meeting the rest of the residents of Matlock.”

“Who do you have left?”  Susan jumped in.  “Oh, the countess, the viscount, and Lady Cathy.  Well, they are not too difficult, as I recall.”

“Some are more difficult than others.”  Darcy murmured as he took a drink and looked to his wife.

“When was the last time that Lord and Lady Matlock visited?”

“Without an ulterior purpose?”  Darcy’s lips lifted and her eyes widened.  “Years.”

“Cathy will be unhappy.”  Georgiana said.  “She had hopes for you.”

“Good heavens, to hear you talk every woman who ever laid eyes on me had hopes!”  Elizabeth started to laugh, and he stepped on her foot.  “I never believed that Cathy was interested.  I can see her agreeing to marry me if
I
had shown any interest, but she is vain enough to want whoever she marries to love her, or at least her perception of it.”

“And what is that?”  Elizabeth asked curiously.  “From your expression, I have a feeling that our definition of love and hers are opposites?  What should her husband be?”

“Oh . . .”  He waved his hand and searched for words.  “Lost to her charms.”  Elizabeth’s hand went to her mouth to stop herself from laughing harder.  “Careful love, you nearly snorted with glee.”  His eyes twinkled.

“I know, forgive me, Will.  So she wants a man to fawn over her every word, and adore her looks?”

“And admire her father’s title . . .”

“That is her mother’s doing.”  Susan shook her head.

“Well I certainly do not have that from you.”  Elizabeth’s lips pursed as his twitched.

“Nor I from you.”  He raised one brow. 

“You have disagreements?”  Georgiana stared between them.

“Oh yes.” 

“Constantly.”

“Not
constantly
,” Elizabeth chided him. 

“Perpetually?”

“No.” 

“What are we doing now?”  Darcy leaned to her.  “
You
are playing the devil’s advocate.”   

She leaned to him and looked at his lips then up to his eyes.  “And you are encouraging me.” 

He chuckled and smiled.  “I will never own to that.”  Seeing Georgiana gaping at them again, he sighed and put his napkin down.  His appetite was gone.  “Have you finished eating?  I ask because your mouth is open and nothing is being consumed.  Perhaps we should have our discussion now and clear the air.”   He was looking at Elizabeth as he spoke.

Georgiana stiffened.  “We?”

Elizabeth said softly to Darcy.  “I do not want to intrude.”

“It concerns all three of us, dearest.”  He said seriously.  “Your presence is not an imposition, if anything, it is necessary.”

Watching Georgiana’s eyes darting between the two of them, she shook her head.  “I will remain near if you need me.”  She smiled at him, entwining their fingers and squeezing hard. 

Darcy hesitated, then very deliberately lifted their hands up and placed them on the table.  “Are you certain?”

“Yes.  Go on, then.”  Darcy looked at Georgiana and she was up and out the door without a word.  Elizabeth watched the two siblings leave. 

“He needs you.”  Susan observed quietly.

“I know, but Georgiana distrusts me.  I thought he would have better luck if it were just the two of them.”  Hearing his footsteps disappear, she got to her feet.  “Come on!” 

Susan smiled and rose with her.  “You never intended to leave him alone.”

“Of course not!” 

Entering the study, Darcy indicated a chair to his sister and closed the door behind him.  He stood for a few moments gathering his thoughts and saw her look up at him.  “Tell me, do you disapprove of the way Elizabeth and I speak to each other?  You mentioned that it was unusual.”

Georgiana hesitated.  “You enjoyed it, Brother, so it must be fine.”

“Not in your eyes.  Your stare indicates that.”  Leaning on his desk, he crossed his arms.  “You have had few examples of marriages from which to draw any conclusions.  Witnessing your Aunt Susan’s is probably the only one?  At least of late?”

“She is always deferential to Uncle.”

“Yes, she is.”  He nodded.

“And you are so like him . . .”

“I am?”

“Well, I mean, you are both so passionate about Pemberley and look down on others who do not belong here.”  Darcy’s eyes closed.  “And of course I feel the same way, Brother.”

“And yet you accepted the attention of George Wickham, the steward’s son.  Was it Father’s attentions to him that made him seem acceptable?  I suppose that you also were extremely deferential to him at every turn, as you saw Aunt Susan behave with Uncle.”

Her face flooded with colour and she stuttered, “I . . . I tried to behave as a wife should, how I was taught . . .”

“Interesting choice of word, Georgiana.  May I ask, who taught you to elope?”

“Nobody, Fitzwilliam.”  She stared at her hands.  “I . . . I am so sorry, I know that I have disappointed you.  This is why you have stayed away, you never said anything when you brought me home, but when you forbade anyone knowing of my marriage, I knew you were angry.”

“Angry?  That barely scratches the surface of what I have felt these past months.  May I remind you that you were nearly mute?  I still have no idea what happened to you.”  Shaking his head, he tried to hold back the pain that suddenly flooded over him.  “Georgiana. . . Naturally our aunt has kept us informed of your recovery and your . . . situation.  Your pregnancy.”  He barely choked the words out, and concentrated on watching Georgiana twist a handkerchief.  “This unexpected result of your . . . behaviour complicates our plans for . . .” His hand waved as he fought for the words that finally flowed out of him, “. . . for saving your reputation and preparing for your future.  Had you not become with child, it would be much simpler, but of course since you did behave as a married woman with Wickham, we must now deal with the consequences.  Fortunately no comment has apparently been made about your disappearance from Ramsgate.  How
that
news was not spread, I do not know.  It was as if it were planned somehow . . .” Closing his eyes against her stare, he slowed.  “In any case, it seems that only your family here, your Uncle Darcy, Samuel, and Richard know the truth.  And Wickham, may he rot in hell, fortunately knows nothing of the damage he has wrought, only the triumph of his perfidy.  I miss the old punishments; it is not his hand that should be severed!”  Georgiana’s expression reflected incomprehension as he turned away from her to face the window. 

There was a soft knock at the door and it opened.  Elizabeth appeared.  Waiting outside, she had heard his voice changing tone and decided that Darcy was correct; she did need to be there for him.

“Fitzwilliam . . .” Elizabeth began as she looked between the girl and her husband, immediately seeing Georgiana’s bewilderment. 

“You heard me.”  Elizabeth nodded and she entered, followed by Susan.  They closed the door and took seats near Georgiana.  He hung his head.  “Forgive me . . .” Suddenly his anger flared.  “No.  I will
not
apologize for wishing him justice!”

“We all hope for justice but concentrating on what happened does nothing to improve the situation we find ourselves in now.”  Elizabeth willed him to listen, but his turned back was not a good sign. 

Susan held Georgiana’s hand and addressed Darcy cautiously.  “Fitzwilliam, I am afraid that Georgiana does not understand some of your anger, perhaps we should begin elsewhere . . .”

“What would you have done with him?”  Georgiana squeaked.  “My husband cares for me . . .”

That did it, the gloves were off and Darcy exploded.  “
Cares
for you!  Please tell me you do not still feel affection for him!”  He stared at her and striding forward he gripped the back of Elizabeth’s chair.  “What man who proclaims affection would convince an innocent to leave all that she knows without a word to her guardians and run off to a future fraught with danger and deceit?  What in heaven’s name drove you to believe his ardour and to entirely disregard your upbringing, your family, your future, is entirely beyond my comprehension!”  She shrunk again as his voice grew louder, and Elizabeth saw that both Georgiana and Susan had been effectively muted.  He spun away and returned to the window.  “I thought of this nearly incessantly as I searched for you; and since your recovery . . .” He caught Elizabeth’s reflection in the glass and seeing her steady and pointed gaze, closed his eyes, reigning in the anger and hurt he had carried for nearly eight months.