Memory: Volume 1, Lasting Impressions, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) (61 page)

“What do you want, Fitzwilliam?”  She said affectionately.

“Do not tempt me further, Elizabeth.  Please.”  He closed his eyes and drank in the scent of her perfume, felt the warmth of her bare arm under his hand, and looked longingly at the maddeningly soft breasts that peeked teasingly from her gown.  His fingers itched to touch her, just as his tongue longed to taste her. 

“Forgive me.”  He heard her say softly.  “I have learned many things, but I do not truly understand.”

“You will, I promise, and it is nothing to fear.”  Darcy sighed and moved them to stand by the window, and waited as the insistent desire gradually subsided.  He saw Mrs. Bennet staring around the room in the reflection.  “I wonder if your father said something to your mother, she is silent.  Perhaps she will remain that way?”

“Wishful thinking, Mr. Darcy.”  They exchanged glances and he rested his hand on her waist for a moment in a slight embrace.

Elizabeth walked away to serve as hostess for the tea.  Darcy stood and quietly admired her skill, and became lost in the thoughts of their life together.  “So, this is your father-in-law.”  Fitzwilliam broke into his reverie.

“Soon.”

“He laughs at us.”  Fitzwilliam observed.  “I do not believe that he is awed at all.”

Darcy listened to Mr. Gardiner’s intelligent conversation and Mr. Bennet’s comments.  “Perhaps his remarks are meant to inflate his feeling of self-worth in a room where he is very low.”

“Could be, a braggart is generally a weak man.”  Fitzwilliam listened some more.  “Do you like him?”

“Not particularly, no.”  Darcy cocked his head at his cousin. 

“The mother is a terror.  I wonder if she will be examining the silver to see if it is plate.  Mother will not enjoy my report and will be decidedly unhappy.  She will not like hosting them for dinner at all.”

The two men eyed each other and laughed softly.  “I assume that you will not be inviting them to Pemberley frequently?”  Darcy said nothing and Fitzwilliam laughed when he looked back to Elizabeth wistfully.   “Soon enough Cousin, soon enough.” 

“How is Audrey?  Elizabeth says that she seemed happier.  I imagine that she has seen more of her than you.” 

“Singleton has improved, I think.  I understand that he sat alone in that room for nearly an hour.”  They laughed.  “Nothing like a threat of death to convince one to stop gambling.  We will see if it continues.”

Mrs. Bennet looked around the room, took a bite of a delicate cake and licking the sugar from her fingers cornered Harwick.  “Mr. Harwick, I understand that you have two girls?” 

“Yes, Mrs. Bennet.  Margaret is four and Ella is two.”

“I see, and your intention is to remarry and produce a son?”

“My desire is to provide a proper home for my children, madam.  If additional children result, then it will be a blessing.”

“And what took your wife?” 

Harwick hesitated, and felt Evangeline approach to take his hand.  “My sister died in childbed, Mrs. Bennet.”

“I see, and what of the children with this second marriage, will they be considered lesser or greater than the existing ones?  Which wife will take precedence?”  She demanded and Harwick looked at Mr. Bennet, expecting him to step in to control the questions, but he did nothing. 

“Mrs. Bennet, I will treat all of my children, regardless of their mother’s identity, equally.”

“And what of this estate?”

“What of it madam?”  He said with growing irritation.  “It seems to me that these are questions to be asked by Miss Bennet’s father.”

“I only wish to know of your income, sir.  And of course the size of your home and property.  How many carriages do you own?”

“Why?  So that you can gossip to your friends?”  He contained his desire to leave the room immediately.  “Forgive me madam, but I assure you that I am quite capable of caring for my family, and that is all you need to know.”  He walked away and approached Mr. Bennet.  “Do you exert any control over your wife, sir?  Or do you simply not wish to see your daughters wed?”  Looking around the room, he spotted an open door.  “Sir, I wish to speak to you privately.”  Not waiting for an answer he waved off his sister and stalked away.  Mr. Gardiner had been listening and stepped up to his brother’s side.  “Come on, Bennet.”  He gave him a push.  Darcy heard the confrontation and excusing himself from Elizabeth, followed the men into the adjoining room. 

Jane stood with her hand to her mouth; saw her aunt’s closed eyes, and the sure signs that her mother was going to burst forth with proclamations of her indignation.  At last the truth of her parents’ failings and her own behaviour sank in, and she went immediately to where Elizabeth was staring in absolute mortification at the closed door.  Before she could speak, Mrs. Bennet cried out her unfiltered opinion. 

“Well, I have never met a man so rude before!  Where did they all go?”

“Mama!”  Elizabeth hissed and looked as Evangeline turned to listen.  “Mr. Harwick had every right to be unhappy with your questions.”

“He made me feel that I was prying!”  She huffed.  “I was merely inquiring after his estate, is that so wrong?  I would want my daughter to be kept properly.  It is bad enough that she would be raising another woman’s children, I want to be sure that she would not be forgotten when Mr. Harwick dies.”

“Papa will certainly be sure that Jane is cared for in the event of Mr. Harwick’s death.  It is his place to approve the settlement, not yours.  And as for the children,” She glanced at Evangeline who was watching her, “they are dear to Mr. Harwick, and are a part of him.  He would not choose a woman to marry who did not care for them.”  She turned to face Evangeline.  “I am sorry, Mrs. Carter.”

“Thank you, Miss Elizabeth.”  Her gaze shifted to take in Jane, who was clutching a handkerchief and staring down at her feet.

“Lizzy,” Mrs. Gardiner said softly, “I will speak to your mother.”   Elizabeth nodded, and close to tears, walked back over to Jane and flushed again with shame to realize that Colonel Fitzwilliam was still in the room.  She turned away from his piercing eyes and did not notice when he walked away to speak quietly with Evangeline.  Jane pressed her hand on Elizabeth’s arm.

“Oh Lizzy, I am so sorry, how can you be so supportive of me when I have behaved so poorly?”

Elizabeth awakened from her thoughts to face her sister.  “What are you saying?”

Jane said tearfully, “I was so happy for you when you first became engaged, and then I allowed my jealousy over your joy to turn me into someone I do not know.  I told you that day I would be happy to marry for security, but I begrudged you the love you found with Mr. Darcy.”

“Why did you?  I have been so hurt Jane, I thought that I was living with my youngest sister, not my eldest.”

“But you see, Mama told me that marrying was my duty, that I was the only hope.  When you became engaged, I . . . I lost my way, and I think that I feared losing Mama’s love.  Now I understand how much she has hurt you.”  She took Elizabeth’s hand. “Can you forgive me?”

Relieved to finally see the sister she knew return, Elizabeth gladly embraced her.  “Yes, but oh Jane, what of Mr. Harwick?  You can see how much his opinion must be hurt after meeting our parents.”

“I will accept whatever decision he makes.”  Jane drew away and steadied herself.  “I have hardly done anything to make myself appealing to him.” 

Harwick was standing in a far corner of the room, examining the portrait of a young woman with dark hair and warm, smiling eyes.  When the door shut he turned to find the three men facing him.

“Who is this, Darcy?”

Looking at the portrait, he said slowly, “That was my grandmother, on my father’s side, Rebecca Darcy.”

“She resembles Miss Elizabeth.”  He observed.  Unsaid, Darcy knew, was that the portrait resembled Ellen Harwick.  Addressing Mr. Bennet, Harwick left no doubt of his displeasure.  “Sir.  You may or may not be aware that this meeting between us was done by design.  It was recommended that I meet the father of Miss Bennet without being exposed to her family.  Although at the time I felt it was rather unnecessary, how could the family of such a pleasant woman be a problem?  I now understand thoroughly the reasoning in my friend Darcy’s mind.  Your wife has, in a matter of moments, insulted the memory of my beloved wife, questioned my honour, and pried into my business, while you sir, stood silently by, allowing her to continue.  I can only assume that you have no desire to see your daughter make, frankly, an extraordinary match.  Perhaps you are blinded by Mr. Darcy’s devotion to Miss Elizabeth?  I have no such sentiment to sway me, sir.  I can walk away from this courtship without a heavy heart, and after meeting Miss Bennet’s parents I am inclined to do so.  What have you to say about this?”

Mr. Bennet took a moment before speaking.  “It seems that I journeyed to London to be the subject of chastisement by two rich men today, have you both become tired of society and wished for some sport at the expense of my daughters?”

“Bennet!”  Mr. Gardiner exclaimed.  “Do not be a fool!  This is not a game.”

“Mr. Bennet, you knew what was likely to happen if Mrs. Bennet accompanied you here.  You cannot feign indignation with our reactions.”  Darcy spoke quietly.  “You created this situation, not we.”

“You are ending the courtship with Jane?”  He asked Harwick.

“I have made no decision on that particular subject, although I have made decisions on others.”  Harwick’s cold gaze met Mr. Bennet’s eyes.

He sighed and nodded.  “Very well, I apologize for what occurred, and I will speak to my wife.  Your decision for Jane should be based on her behaviour, not her parents’.”

“I can accept that.”  Harwick glanced at the portrait again then caught Darcy’s eye, nodding to him when he recognized that he understood, and departed the room to stand pensively by the fireplace.  The other men followed.  Darcy went immediately to Elizabeth’s side, and did not hesitate to tell her what had just occurred.

“Mr. Harwick, I would like to speak with you privately, if you do not mind.”  Jane requested quietly.  “We could take a seat over in the corner?”  He nodded and they walked across the room.  She sat down and looked at her family talking and drinking their tea.

He sat beside her and waited.  “Miss Bennet?”

She sighed and continued looking down.  “Mr. Harwick, please accept my apology.”

“What have you done?” 

“I . . .I have for the entirety of our friendship displayed little of myself, and further, I have discovered a side of me that I never knew and I hope will be banished forever now that I recognize its existence.”  She looked up to see his brows knit, but no other expression.  “When my sister announced her engagement, I was so happy for her.  She had been through a terrible rejection and faced the wrath of our mother in very cruel ways, and Mr. Darcy is the ideal partner for her.  However, as I saw her love blooming and how Mr. Darcy displayed his affection for her, I am afraid that I became, shamefully, resentful.”

“I noticed some tension between you.”

“Yes.”  She twisted her hands again, and looked over to where Elizabeth stood talking to Darcy.

Harwick followed her gaze and asked gently, “What is the purpose of this conversation, Miss Bennet?” 

“Mr. Harwick, I know how poorly I have shown myself to you, and I know that I am wanting in many areas, but now that Lizzy has relieved me of the requirements of duty, I hope that I can . . . learn to be myself.”

“I appreciate that you have had to work through these feelings, and admire the conclusions you have drawn.  Your parents’ decision to put you out at such a young age astounds me, and I must also remind myself that you are still quite young, although you are the eldest.”  He smiled and touched her hand.  “Your words remind me that you are not the only person in this room who has some barriers to overcome.”

“You, sir?”

“Me as well.  Darcy was kind enough to speak to me earlier about this.”

“Sir, you witnessed my parents, I suppose that your private conference was in reference to their behaviour and I fear that it will only grow worse as the tour continues.” 

“Thank you for the warning, although I hope that it is at an end.”  He stood up and offered her his hand.  “I promise to keep an open mind.  Is that what you were asking of me?”

“I suppose that it was, but also I . . . I will understand if you choose against me, and not just based on my parents’ behaviour but on mine.” 

Harwick studied her silently.  “I have made no decision, Miss Bennet, however, I will soon.”  Jane smiled a little and looked back over to Darcy and Elizabeth, who were in turn watching them.

More than anything, Darcy wished to be holding Elizabeth after their quiet emotional discussion, but that was certainly not permissible with a roomful of guests.  Instead he took her hand in his and locked their fingers together.  “So, she has apologized to you and to him.”  Darcy said thoughtfully.  “That is interesting.”  He saw her brows rise and smiled.  “It fascinates me how you are so shy about our love, but so feisty about your sister’s, despite your frustration with her.  Well it is up to them now.”  He touched her cheek. “How did we become matchmakers?”

“I would prefer to just worry about our own match for a change.” 

Darcy bent near her ear.  “We have nothing to worry about, except my pending demise from wanting you.”

“What does that mean?”  Elizabeth whispered as her shoulder brushed against his chest.

He thought of how they could possibly touch, and moved to stand behind her.  Drawing her back so she lightly rested against him, he whispered so nobody else could hear.  “It means, my love, my darling Elizabeth, that I want to feel our bodies join together, as man and woman were created to do.”

“Ohhhhhh.”

“Was that too plain?”  He asked as he gently caressed her wrist with his thumb. 

“No, it was . . .oh Fitzwilliam.  I think that I will die if I do not touch you soon.”

His voice shook.  “Are you serious, Elizabeth?  You would wish to . . ..”

“Is that wanton?”  She asked and leaned further against him.

“Oh no, dearest, it is everything I have hoped for.”