Imperative: Volume 2, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (68 page)

He strode on through the sitting room, leaving Parker staring after him.  “Th . . . thank you, sir.” 

“I am probably starting something I will regret one day.”  He said softly to himself and then arriving at the mistress’s chambers, he spotted his wife at the window.  “Lizzy?  Have you seen my . . .” Tilting his head to see what she was doing, he walked up behind her.  Elizabeth was holding his pocket watch up to the sun.  “What are you doing?”

She started and blushing, gathered the chain and watch to slip into his waistcoat pocket.  Carefully she secured the fob; and patting it all she lifted her head and met his eye.  “I was just testing it; to be sure that the repair was satisfactory.” 

“It runs well, does it not?  Its heartbeat has been restored.”  His eyes twinkled as her blush deepened.  “The case is as perfect as it can be, I think.  Perhaps we should have our jeweller in London look at it the next time we visit.”

“No, no, I have decided that I like the slight imperfections.  There are marks that are meaningful and should not be completely polished out.”

“I see, and you needed to steal it away to . . . What exactly were you testing?” 

“Nothing.  And I did not steal it.  I nearly stepped on it this morning when I was searching for my nightdress . . . which I forgot I had not put on.”  Darcy smiled and touched her hair.  “If it were not for the moonlight . . .” She glanced up at him and briskly walking towards the door, rested her hand upon the handle.  “Are you ready for our exercise?” 

“Always.  Day or night.”  His lips twitched and he gestured to the window.  “It is a nice, bright day, is it not?  But of course you have noted that already.  Forgive me; it was the moonlight you enjoyed, I am without a doubt that you enjoyed it
very
much.”

“Fitzwilliam.”

“Yes, my love?”

“Hush.” 

Darcy’s chuckle deepened and he took her hand in his.  “Hush? Shall I simply shine my watch at you to show that you were heard?  But then again, who did not hear you last night . . .”

“WILL!”  She spun around.

“Yes, just like that!  Will, oh Willllllllllllll.” 

“Oh you
are
proud!”  He laughed outright.  “It is not amusing!”

“No, it is not, it is everything lovely.”  Raising her hand to his lips, he brushed a kiss over her fingers and was pleased to see her self-conscious smile.  “Now then, ride or walk today?” 

“I think that I have had enough riding for some time.”  Elizabeth shot him a look and saw that he was absolutely beaming.  “You know, you were hardly a silent partner.”

“Oh, I know.  I wondered who was making all of that noise and realized at some point that it was me.”  He slipped his arms around her waist and hugged her back against his chest.  “I imagine that had we been sleeping at an inn, we could have put the loudest of the revellers to shame.”

“And broken the bed.”  She whispered.

“Quite.”  He kissed her tenderly and let go.  “Of course, had we been sleeping at an inn, last night would not have happened.” 

“It would have happened, Mr. Darcy.  I promise you that.”  She touched his lips and traced over his smile.  “Was it the wine, do you think?” 

“Loosening our inhibitions?”

“I had no idea you were so strong.”

“Did you not?”  He whispered.  “I am glad to have demonstrated that to you so . . . effectively.” 

“Your thighs, Fitzwilliam . . .”  Elizabeth blushed once more and feeling his hand take hers, she smoothed her gown. 

“You are trembling . . . how can you possibly be nervous now?  Alone with me?” 

“It was a wonderful, wonderful night.” 

“Yes, it was.”  He leaned and whispered in her ear, “Your thighs, Elizabeth . . .” 

“Shhhhhh.”  She hid her face on his shoulder for a moment before looking up to him with a sparkle in her eyes.“Ohhhh, Lizzzzzzzzzzzy. . .”

“That is the way of it, dearest.  I am certain I babbled incoherently, well, more so than usual.”  Lovingly he kissed her temple and entwining their fingers; they at last left the room, and walked, slowly swinging their hands.  Every so often they looked at each other shyly, and eventually, the quiet couple descended the stairs and reached the great foyer.  Darcy stopped and just drew her into his arms, and rested his cheek on her head.  “Did you hear anything else between my cries of . . . well . . . did you hear me?”

“If you had not been teasing me so terribly I would have been telling you how much I loved your very coherent babbling.  Yes, we began with passion, but then your tenderness, Will . . .” His embrace tightened and she closed her eyes.  “I have been reciting your words over and over, and I rose in the darkness so that I could write everything down before it slipped away with sleep.” 

“Lizzy . . .”

“And then I found your watch shining in the moonlight . . .” Kissing his chest, she relaxed while he listened and rubbed his hands over her back.  “I knew that you would be looking for it.”

“Did you?  Why did you keep it?”  He looked down at her upturned face. 

“I was just waiting for you to come and tease me.” 

Darcy chuckled and hugged her again.  “Why am I not surprised?”

“This has been the most wonderful day . . .”

“The day is quite young.  I wonder if Georgiana has wakened yet.”  They kissed and he let go.  “I am all yours today.  No estate business, no distractions.  Anyone who enquires will be told we are not at home.”

“Oh my.”  Elizabeth laughed.  “Mrs. Annesley arrives today.”

“And she will settle in and assume the duties we explained to her, occupying Georgiana who will set to work showing her the house.”  Darcy’s brows rose.  “Better and better.”

“Your aunt and uncle come home, too.”

“They will be going to
their
home, dear.  They will be grateful to have reached their destination and will not bother us.”

Elizabeth laughed at his pleased smile.  “What exactly do you have planned, Mr. Darcy?”

“You forget, we have an appointment with a field of buttercups.”  He kissed her nose and his eyes twinkled, “And you agreed to ride.”  Elizabeth groaned and he chuckled. “We have been busy these past weeks and I think that we should enjoy the day while we can, and before the whirlwind begins.  Last night was only the beginning of the many invitations we will receive as the families return to the country.”  Elizabeth closed her eyes and he kissed her forehead. “I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news.” 

“If this was a year ago I would be delighted with the prospect of meeting new people, I suppose that keeping to our family party could not last forever.”

“That response indicates that you are not yet bored with me.” 

“Yet.”  Elizabeth laughed.

“I think that I just made a discovery.  Does this mean that the more invitations you accept the more disappointed you are with me?   Is this a more effective sign than you not stirring milk into my coffee?”

“Not at all, meeting new and interesting characters simply gives us the opportunity to find relief in our own company.”

“As we did last night when we returned home.”

“Well . . . it does not always have to involve great exercise . . . passionate discussions do not have to involve passion.”  She giggled when one of his brows rose.  “You know what I mean.” 

“Yes, love.  But may I say that I enjoy both forms of expression?”

“It was hardly necessary; however I concur with the sentiment.  I was just playing the devil’s advocate to see what you would do.”  Elizabeth squealed and spun away as he tried to tickle her waist.  She wagged a finger of warning at him as he grinned.  “I suppose that we will be expected to host something or other.” 

“We have a harvest celebration.” 

“mmm, that is for the tenants.  Your neighbours of similar rank will expect at least a dinner.  You are married now; there is no excuse of a single man unwilling to be sociable anymore.”  She bit her lip as they strolled towards the door.  Darcy opened it and they stepped outside.  “When did Pemberley last host a ball?”

“A ball?  There has not been one here since I came of age.  Everyone for miles around came for that.”  He made a face.  “I danced every set.”

“Did you?”  Elizabeth looked at him appraisingly. “And how was it?”

“Torture, I assure you.  But with Father hosting, I had no choice.  I felt like poor Bruin being cornered by Daisy.”  Elizabeth’s mouth dropped open.  Darcy’s brow creased and he suddenly understood, “No!  No, I promise you, I did not respond!  I . . . I was . . . inundated by hopeful ladies and parents, but thankfully Father agreed I was far too young to consider marriage.  He simply wished me to . . . get my feet wet, so to speak.”

“I will not say what is in my mind.” 

“Lizzy.”

“I hope that all of these potential wives are married now.” 

Darcy grinned at his green-eyed wife and reached for her hand, “I suppose.  I did not keep notice of them.  They probably watched me far more.”

“Wonderful.  Ladies to meet who coveted you.  Ladies who have seen your pile of bricks.”  They turned and looked up at the imposing Pemberley facade.  Elizabeth spoke softly while he took her hand in his, “So much house for so few people.” 

“Well . . . we are working on that.”  Darcy kissed her and they rested their foreheads together before turning and setting off to the stables.  “Happily.” 

Chapter 26

“G
ood morning, madam.”  Evans bowed his head.  “May I have a moment of your time?”

“Certainly.”  Elizabeth smiled and set down her pen.  “What can I do for you?”

“Mrs. Darcy, we have discussed this, it is I who perform the tasks.”  He smiled slightly, but it extended to his eyes. 

“I was not proposing shining the silver for you.”  She laughed.

“Of course not, madam.”  Seeing her brow rise expectantly, he indicated the door.  “If I may?”

“Yes.”  Curiously, Elizabeth watched him close the door and return to her.  “This must be serious, or at least something you wish to keep from the gossips who roam the halls carrying feather dusters.”

“The gossips are not all female in this household.” 

“I stand corrected.  Now, I assume that your concern is over a member of our staff?”

“Indeed madam, I will not waste your time beating about the bush.”  He cleared his throat and looked at her through his bushy eyebrows.  “Mrs. Darcy, you really should not need to concern yourself with matters below stairs . . .”

“Mr. Evans, I believe that the servants are exactly one of the mistress’s most important concerns, is it not my position to assure a smoothly run household?  I trust you and Mrs. Reynolds to . . . oh.  It does not concern Mrs. Reynolds does it?  I know that she sometimes seems a little . . .” Elizabeth searched for a diplomatic word, “. . . passionate in her care for Pemberley House, but I know that she is tough as nails with her charges.  I have rarely been needed to step in.”

“No, this does not concern Mrs. Reynolds . . .” He hesitated. 

Elizabeth watched the man struggling and took a stab at what he was not quite ready to say, “It does not concern a valet under your supervision, does it, Mr. Evans?” 

“While that was not my primary reason for wishing to speak with you, I will take the opportunity to say that I was quite surprised to learn of Mr. Darcy’s subtle endorsement of Mr. Parker’s attentions to Judy.  I believe that Mr. Parker is as well.”

“Mr. Parker should not be, and if he is, then he certainly has an excellent relationship with my husband and may speak to him at any time.  I realize you may fear that a precedent is being set here, but I have no doubt that members of the lower staff have flirted within full view of you and Mrs. Reynolds for years.”

“Of course, we are not without feelings, but I will not tolerate anything that might disrupt the efficiency of this household.  May I say Mrs. Darcy; it is a rare mistress who recognizes we even exist.” 

“If you were gone, I think that your absence would be noted rather quickly.”  She said dryly and he coughed.  “I was raised in a much smaller household, Mr. Evans, things were different there.  Mr. Darcy may feel that a good servant is one who blends into the background, but he also has certainly proven he is as concerned for your welfare as much as he is for his tenants’.”  She smiled when he nodded.  “Now then, if Mr. Parker and Judy cannot bear whatever is whispered about them by their peers, then I leave it to them to decide their next course.  They have proven themselves to be quite capable.  I hope that you do not object to our tolerance?”

“It is not for me to have an opinion at all.”

Elizabeth laughed.   “Mr. Evans!  This entire conversation was begun because of your opinion!”  He looked down and nodded.  “Are you speaking to me on Mr. Parker’s behalf?  It is easier when the rules are very clear, I know.”

“That is precisely the situation, madam.  I think that Mr. Parker would enjoy a rule or two.” 

“Very well, I will speak to Mr. Darcy on it if Mr. Parker is too shy to question him.  Now, if this was not your original reason for approaching me, what was?”

“Yes . . . Mrs. Annesley.”

Elizabeth nodded, “She is new to service, please help her.”

“I understand, she is used to being a wife . . . I am afraid that she is unsure of her place.  I only have had experience with a governess in a household when I was a young footman, and I am afraid that her position was . . . of a duel nature.”  He said carefully.  Elizabeth’s brow furrowed.  “She was a striking woman, as was the governess who preceded her.”

“I am afraid that I do not understand.”  Elizabeth watched a very unbecoming flush spread over the elder man’s face.  “What did her look have to do with her position?  Was she not there to care for . . . Mr. Evans!”  She gasped and her face quickly matched his in colour.  “I dislike this conversation even more than the last!  I hope that you are not suggesting . . . what I . . . oh, Mr. Evans!  How could you even think that Mr. Darcy . . . ”

“No, madam, no, certainly not!  Mrs. Annesley is a mature woman.  I would not think . . .”

“Perhaps you should leave before you say anything more.”  Elizabeth said coldly.