Imperative: Volume 2, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (66 page)

“That was her supposition, but of course, I doubt that very much.  Our servants are exceptional.”  She sighed.  “But I do not see it here, so it may be true.” 

 “Oh no, you must have more jewels than these.  Fitzwilliam surely would have given you all of them by now?”

“I have had few occasions that warranted dressing up in that way, I think that he enjoys presenting them to me as the situation demands.  Are there many?”  Elizabeth tilted her head.

“Well, yes, there are jewels from all of the mistresses, going back almost a hundred years, I think.   The stones are older, but they get reset as the styles change.   I remember Father telling me about them sometimes.  We would walk down the gallery together and he would point at the paintings and show me different relatives wearing the same jewels, or there were some that he said had to be sold when the estate was in need of money, and oh, they had such stories behind them!  He told me how they were used as bribes sometimes and how they had been lost gambling, but always they were brought back when they could.  Oh, Papa could tell the most wonderful stories!” 

“So the Darcy jewels are certainly an important part of the history of Pemberley?”

“Oh yes.”  She nodded.  “Very important.”

“That is interesting.”  Elizabeth stopped her fussing and picked up the emerald necklace Darcy had given her upon their engagement.  “As I said, your Aunt wrote to me.  She noted that the woman who is married to the new reverend at Hunsford was wearing a ring that was very familiar to her.  I admit that I was surprised; after all, your mother has been gone a great many years.  This ring must have been something very particular for it to make such a distinct impression upon Lady Catherine, enough of one to last so long.  I asked Fitzwilliam about it, and he immediately recognized the description as a ring he had given you last year for your birthday.  It was your mother’s ring.”

Georgiana gasped.  “
That
ring.”

“You said that Mr. Wickham sold your clothing and other belongings when you were in need of money, but you begged him not to sell the necklace your father gave you for your birthday.”

“Yes.”

“And yet, you allowed him to sell a very significant ring that belonged to your mother.  From what I understand, it was given to her by your father when she became pregnant with you.  When your mother felt you move for the first time, she was terrified that she would lose you like all of her other babies, and your father was so determined to cheer her that he bought that ring.  She called it her good luck charm, and the reason she was able to hold onto you.”  Elizabeth calmly put on her earrings and looked at herself in the mirror.  “Did Fitzwilliam tell you that story when he presented it to you?”

“Yes.”  She whispered.

“Do you realize how much he trusted you, how much he loved you to give you that at fifteen?  Do you know that he was trying so hard to make you happy?  He was alone, a young man being father to a young girl becoming a woman and he had no idea what to do for you.  He thought that giving you that ring would help you to feel close to your mother, just like sending you to Ramsgate last summer was to make you feel close to your father who wanted you to experience a favourite place of his.  But this was when you were so certain that Fitzwilliam was trying to rid himself of you.”  Elizabeth put on her bracelet, and turned to face the girl.  “And you did not try to protect that ring from being sold by Wickham.  Why?” 

“I thought of Papa’s stories, about selling jewels to support Pemberley, and thought it would be allowed.  Papa said that they always retrieved the jewels when they could.”

“Did you seriously believe that Mr. Wickham would retrieve that ring?  When he told you to your face how disappointed he was that you were not in London and could not get a better price?  He had no money to feed you let alone pay for a ring.”  Elizabeth got to her feet.  “Well, we know where it is now, and since you rejected it, Fitzwilliam has no intention of retrieving it.  If you ever visit Rosings and meet Mrs. Maxwell, you may admire how it shines on her finger.”

“Yes, Elizabeth.” 

“There is nothing to be done, Georgiana.  And I realize that you are a different person than you were then, and I do not want to make you feel worse than you probably do already.”  Elizabeth turned around and put her hand on Georgiana’s shoulder.  “I cannot begin to imagine how you felt then.  Perhaps by that time you thought you were married and would never come home to Pemberley, and that you needed to please Mr. Wickham.  Or maybe you really did think that you loved him, or maybe you were feeling ill with the beginning of your pregnancy, I do not know. But, I want you to understand that as hard as Fitzwilliam will try to make you happy and see you safe for the rest of your life, there is a part of his heart that will never ever heal, and it is things like what you did with the ring that make him hurt.  I do not like seeing him hurt.”

“Neither do I.”

“So what will you do about it?”

“My best, I will do my best to make him proud again.” 

“Do you know how to make that happen?”  Elizabeth opened the dressing room door wide and waved her hand.  “Listen.”

As Georgiana wiped her eyes, from the open door to the sitting room they could hear Darcy’s low rumble of a laugh.  “Do not give him any reason to become silent again.”

“I promise, Elizabeth.  I do, I am not the same girl who gave up that ring.  I am not.”

“I hope not.”  She hugged her and let go.  “So that means that when Fitzwilliam and I wish to be alone, or go to enjoy the estate together, you will not be jealous, and will not make us feel that you are abandoned?”

“No.”  Georgiana shook her head and smiled a little.  “I saw you kissing on the wall.  When you did not move as the carriage drove past; Richard laughed and said that Fitzwilliam was making a point.” 

“Did he?”  Elizabeth smiled and crossed her arms.  “He was drawing a line in the sand.”

“Samuel’s mouth dropped to his chest when he saw you.”

“Poor man.  His eyes were burning.”  She looked up when they heard Darcy’s boots crossing the floor.  “Will, when we were kissing yesterday and we did not separate when the carriage came; did you remain that way on purpose?”

Momentarily stunned, a slow smile crept across his face, “Well, yes, I was enjoying myself, and I do not recall you pushing me away.”

“Richard said that you were making a point.”

Darcy looked at his sister.  “Did I succeed?”

“With whom?”  Elizabeth asked as he took her waist. 

“With Georgiana.  Did I make my point?”

“Yes, sir.” 

“Excellent!”  He nodded and looked at Elizabeth, “Dearest you look like you are ready to go dancing with all of your jewels on.  What is on our agenda today?”

“I received a note that your watch was repaired.” 

“Did you?”  He laughed, “This is an outstanding day!   Shall we drive?”

“I thought that I might try . . .”

“In my brand new curricle?  I think not.”

“A gig, maybe?”

“But I have my new curricle!” 

“He is whining, do you hear that?”  Elizabeth laughed. 

“If we take my curricle, we can have a picnic on the way home.”  He raised his brows.  “In the meadow near the cider press?”

“Why would you want to picnic there?”  Georgiana asked.

“It is none of your business.”  Elizabeth and Darcy said at once.  Both blushed and Darcy cleared his throat.   “You should be lying down, should you not, dear?”  Without waiting for an answer, he took Elizabeth’s hand and started out the door.  “Of course you should.”

Chapter 25

“G
ood morning, ladies.”  Darcy entered the breakfast room and took his seat. 

“I was wondering when, or if, you would appear.  The day is half over.  Any longer and we would be late readying for dinner.  Mrs. Johns was fretting for hours over you.”  Elizabeth picked up the coffee pot and poured him a cup.

“Mrs. Johns was.”  Darcy spoke softly and then raising his voice, he placed his napkin on his lap.  “Barnes was full of news and worries.  I should not have confidently waved off the refreshments you had sent in.”  He watched her add some milk to his cup and stir.  “I can do that, love.”

“I know.”  She tapped the spoon and picking up the cup and saucer, handed it to him.  “One day I will stop doing it, and you will wonder if the love has left our marriage.” 

“That will be my signal, then.  It will not be a cold shoulder or sharp tongue.”  He chuckled and taking a sip, set it down.  “Hopefully I will spot trouble before it filters down to my morning beverage.”  Feeling a little kick under the table he met her eye.  “And how shall I tell you that I am displeased?”

“Oh, that will never happen.”  She smiled as his boot found her toe. 

Georgiana watched them curiously.  “Will you still go out today?”

Sighing, Darcy glanced out of the open doors at the beautiful day.  “I expect that we should stay close to home since we are attending dinner with the Monroes.  That is unfortunate; Barnes told me that the south meadow is suddenly in full bloom and is a sea of yellow.  It would be nice to see it before the sheep mow it down.  It would not be difficult if we rode, but it would take a whole day if we walk.”

“Oh, then we must ride, you have not been home to appreciate it for years, and you know that I would enjoy it so much.  Can he hold the flock back another day or so?  Perhaps he could move the beehives there to make use of the blooms in the meantime?  Then we could go tomorrow if your business is addressed.”

“I have already asked him to keep the sheep off, and I worked today so that we would have tomorrow free.  The Gardiners are to visit their friends in Lambton for a few days before joining us, are they not?” Smiling, he watched her nod and look thoughtfully out of the window.  “What happened to the girl who was so hesitant to ride?”

“Was I hesitant? I thought that I simply expressed my preference to walk.” 

He cleared his throat and smiled, “And now?”

“I suppose that it will always depend upon my companion and the purpose of our excursion.” Elizabeth reached for a platter and started serving him.  Darcy sat back and crossed his arms.  “Hush.”

“Did I say a word?”

“You were thinking it.  How many times have you served me?  Just because you are in
that
chair . . .”

“I ask again, did I say a word?”  Elizabeth set the plate before him and looked pointedly at his fork.  He smiled and started to eat. “Yes, dear.” 

“When may I ride again?”  Georgiana asked.  “It has been a month.”

“Well . . .”  Darcy looked helplessly at Elizabeth.

“I suppose that if you feel well enough, you may begin.  You and I can go out a little and see how well you do when Fitzwilliam is busy with Mr. Barnes again.”

“Pardon?”   He stared.

She looked at him, “Is that a problem?  You certainly do not mind us riding?”

“Not alone.”

“Well, Mrs. Annesley probably knows how and she will be here soon.”

“That is not what I meant.”

“We could ask Aunt Susan to join us . . .”

“Elizabeth.”

“What do you suggest we do when you are occupied?”  She looked at him innocently. 

Darcy cleared his throat.  “Walk.” 

Georgiana put her hand to her mouth and started giggling.  Darcy and Elizabeth smiled at each other, and sitting back with her cup of tea, she watched him eat and remembered the envelopes piled on the table, “Oh, Fitzwilliam, there is a letter for you.  Evans left the post with us rather than disturb you.  I had one from Aunt Susan.  She and Uncle expect to arrive home tomorrow.”

“We already know that from Samuel.”  He nodded and continued eating.

“I wonder how the arrival of a baby in their household will be received by the neighbours?”  Elizabeth smiled at Darcy.

“I daresay they will be curious, but given their history, the neighbours will likely see it as an indulgence by Uncle for Aunt, and perhaps a bit of tongue-clucking will ensue.” 

“For taking a child in?  That is ridiculous!  Why, one of your tenants, Mr. Daugherty, lost his wife and her mother came to raise the children.”  Elizabeth’s eyes flashed.  “And when I met that woman, she clearly has the spirit of a lady half her age!  Indulgence indeed!  It is a sign of their kindness!” 

“Goodness, Elizabeth!  You are so feisty today!”  Darcy laughed.  “I simply know the neighbourhood, and I suppose like any other, they enjoy a fresh bit of gossip, especially when it comes from the direction of the manor.  You will have an opportunity to make up your mind tonight.” 

“I think they should be happy that a child was not abandoned.”  Elizabeth’s ire was still high.  “I cannot forget that baby we found on the church steps.”

“The neighbours may wonder why they did not take a local child, if they decided to accept another into their home.”  Georgiana said softly.

Both Darcy and Elizabeth focussed on her, and both were glad that she decided to contribute to this particular conversation.  “I imagine that no matter what the situation, someone will think it is wonderful, and someone else will find something to grouse about. All that matters to us is that
this
baby is in a good, safe, home.  And that
you
are in a good, safe, home.”  He held her eyes until she nodded.  “Now then, where is this letter you mentioned?”

Georgiana watched Elizabeth retrieve the envelope. “I think that it is from Mr. Bingley.” 

“Splotches.”  Elizabeth sighed as she handed it over.

“It seems a little better from his past letters.”  Georgiana smiled.

Darcy wiped his mouth and opening the envelope, read and sighed.  “It seems that our removal from Scotland somewhat changed their plans.  Bingley thought he would stay with us at Sommerwald and use it as a base of sorts to show Jane Edinburgh and perhaps cross over to Ireland.  He was even hoping to convince us to travel with them.  A little presumptuous, I think, but then when Bingley gets an idea in his head, he sometimes acts faster than he should.  At least he did nothing more than write a letter instead of packing up and arriving at Sommerwald to find us gone.”   He set the letter on the table.  “I wonder what prompted him?”