An Autumn Accord: A Pride and Prejudice Novella Variation (Seasons of Serendipity Book 4) (5 page)

Nodding her head a single time was all the acknowledgment Margaret Fitzwilliam would give this unpleasantness. She could enforce a few measures of economy in both homes, but it was ever so important to take such actions with the utmost discretion. One tiny sniff of financial troubles surrounding their house and any prospects for her sons, and by proxy their company, would dry up without notice.

“
I’ll have the kitchens ready water for a bath. I can still see the dust from your travels on your clothes.” The Countess gave her husband a sly wink as she knew he enjoyed her fussing over him.

“
Many thanks, Margaret. I’ll see to a few letters here and retire upstairs shortly.”

His wife nodded and left him to his business, but Reginald Fitzwilliam continued to sip his drink while reclining on the sofa. With each swig, he imagined the portrait of his girls on the swing becoming more and more alive until the sound of a servant tending the fire snapped him out of his daydream. Ignoring the numerous bills from shop owners in town, the Fifth Earl of Matlock decided he wanted nothing more than a hot bath and the company of his wife.

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Two carriages laden with multiple trunks traveled south over the border between Scotland and England. As the miles between Elizabeth Darcy and her family members increased, she sank deeper into her thoughts. She expected to spend at least the first day of their journey in an emotional upheaval. Instead, she sat, utterly unfeeling.

She had raised her eyebrows at the small array of armed guards now escorting their carriage, even going so far as to inquire about the danger they must certainly face to warrant such protection. Her husband assured her it was merely a routine precaution as many wealthy families traveled for the Season, to and from London. As the sun’s light began to wane, Elizabeth tucked her unread novel into her traveling satchel with a sigh.

“
We are not far from the inn if you are tired.”

Elizabeth offered a weak smile to her husband. She felt immense guilt that as they were finally traveling alone, she could not seem to muster any feelings of happiness. “I fear I am restless as opposed to weary. I have gone nearly a year with no place to think of as home, and I believe I’m finding my childhood fantasies of a gypsy lifestyle sorely inadequate.” Making a small jest lifted her spirits, but her husband frowned.

“
It has been a number of months since you visited Hertfordshire. I understand missing one’s home county. For my tastes, we would tell all in London to meet us at Pemberley and be done with it.”

Darcy’s proposal was not what Elizabeth wished to hear. “I cannot say I agree with you, husband, though I’m certain I shall love Derbyshire as my home once we retire there for the year. I am quite keen to visit my aunt and know my uncle has healed.”

With a heavy sigh, Elizabeth peered out the carriage window with squinted eyes as she could see the lights of a building in the distance. “As much as I was an unimportant offspring to my own mother, I find that I even miss her affections.”

Darcy paled at Elizabeth’s surprising confession of missing her mother but reasoned that even imperfect parents were still loved and exalted due solely to the position they held in one’s life. Though he and his father rarely saw eye-to-eye on many issues, there was little Darcy wouldn’t give to seek his counsel one last time.

The carriage slowed into the small drive on the side of the inn. Darcy’s mind began to piece out a surprise for his young wife. He would need to write a letter to arrange it all, but he was fairly certain his friend Charles Bingley would reopen Netherfield for the last month of his lease. Charles was an all-around, merry fellow, even if he was no longer courting Jane Bennet.

Despite the heavy traveling season, the White Doe stood nearly bereft of patrons. The Darcys found themselves situated in the finest rooms the proprietor could offer, yet not feeling up to braving even deserted common areas, the forlorn couple elected to dine privately.

The meal was simple, and despite becoming exceedingly familiar with her husband, Elizabeth still felt the compliment when Fitzwilliam dismissed the servants and performed small services on his own. As he poured them both a glass of wine, Elizabeth swirled her drink once it was offered.

“
The falsehood of Lydia falling ill this winter will be accepted you suppose come spring? I still worry that Caroline Bingley woman will ruin everything with her vicious tongue due to the convenient timing of our arrival.” Elizabeth swallowed a gulp of wine in aggravation.

Darcy’s head cocked to one side as he considered the very real possibility his wife imagined. His vague inkling of spending a week or two in Hertfordshire conveniently seemed a good foundation of their plan to act as if there was no babe and Lydia had not died in childbirth. Still, convenience or not, he did not wish to spoil the joy he hoped to bring back to his Elizabeth with his surprise. His memory held the vision of Elizabeth Bennet, lively and enchanting, from his shy observations at the local assembly just one year ago.

He tucked into his meal and offhandedly made additional suggestions away from his true intent. “Perhaps a few excursions strategically arranged are called for once we return? Our wedding escape started the conversations, and I would be honored to display how happily a married man I am to those with eyes to gawk.”

Her husband’s dry humor supplied a small bit of mirth to Elizabeth’s heart and she quickly covered her mouth with a serviette, careful to maintain her demeanor. Swallowing a morsel of roast duck pie before speaking, she flashed her husband a brilliant smile. “I can imagine explaining to your aunt why we need to invite the Bingleys, in particular, to a dinner at Darcy House at our earliest convenience.”

The quiet evening in a strange suite of rooms eventually soothed both husband and wife of their trepidations regarding their return to London. Their plans and soft signs of affection did nothing to alleviate the heavy responsibilities still ahead, but it was an incomparable comfort to express reliance upon each other. Hours later when Elizabeth Darcy finally felt the last moments of consciousness before sleep, she thanked the Lord for a husband that offered her the love and affection she had not known her heart missed.

♠♠♠

Chapter 4

Genuine embraces shared between the Bennet sisters and Elizabeth Darcy warmed the hearts of the Darcy House staff. Tittering away in a manner only sisters can decipher, the reunion of three was oblivious of the Darcy siblings, enjoying a more formal greeting.

“
Are there presents? I so wish I could travel more, but at least there are always presents when people return,” Kitty Bennet tugged on her sister’s arm to gain Elizabeth’s attention from Mary.

“
How can you show appreciation for a gift you expect? I wouldn’t fault our sister for keeping any gift of yours in her possession,” Mary remarked.

Elizabeth freed her hands to encourage Georgiana Darcy closer, “Georgiana, Georgiana! I missed my sisters.”

That was the only encouragement the youngest Darcy needed to scurry over and find herself in her new sister’s arms. And if Elizabeth Darcy hugged Georgiana slightly tighter than her other two sisters, Georgiana merely credited such affection an overabundance to compensate for the newness of their relation.

Elizabeth winked at her husband, who hastened to show his aunt to his study for an update on affairs, while she steered the three young women into the parlor.

“
Tell me everything, I’ve been away from England for ages and ages. Scotland was most beautiful but I find myself a very confirmed Englishwoman.” Elizabeth laughed and noticed Georgiana nod most vigorously in agreement.

“
Mary sees the Colonel nearly every day, but she’s always cross with him–” Mary gasped at Kitty’s forwardness, “and Lady Matlock makes us study table settings and practice conversations about boring subjects because I giggle too often, she says–“

“
Kitty.” Georgiana tried to hush her friend and involuntarily glanced towards the door.

“
You weren’t threatened with wearing a backboard all day!” Kitty dismissed her friend and sister by law. “Honestly, I thought Mama’s expectations were a bit much when we all lived at Longbourn. The delights of London are thoroughly spoiled for me.” Echoing the Catherine Bennet of Longbourn, the youngest lady in the room folded her arms in a pout as she flopped onto the settee.

In another time, Mrs. Darcy would laugh and scoff at her younger sister whom she once thought to be utterly lazy. But the harsh report of Lady Matlock’s lessons in such frivolous matters by Elizabeth’s standards did not sit well with the intelligence of the summer’s events she had received from Jane before leaving Scotland. Still, this was not the time, nor place, to inquire further.

“
Mary, have you learned any new pieces on the pianoforte?” Elizabeth Darcy asked earnestly and caught the attention of the footman who traveled from Scotland with them. In his arms he held the small trunk Elizabeth had specifically packed with gifts and delights from the northern country. She waved him in and stared expectantly at Mary.

Mary stammered a reply but, along with the younger girls, her attention was fixed upon the approaching footman and his burden.

“
I had thought to dole these out above stairs, but I find myself too eager for your reactions. Open it, if you please?” The footman, Carl, complied with his mistress’ request and the girls held their collective breaths. The trunk revealed bundles of delicate toiletries of Scottish scents and bolts of fabrics in different tartans and calicos.

After Catherine Bennet inventoried her portion of the treasures, she wrinkled her nose as one small detail would not be ignored. “Where’s Lydia? I thought she was most anxious to leave Scotland and return home?”

Elizabeth pressed her lips together and observed Mary’s hands shaking as she held a small bottle of foxglove water. It would be the first of many times Elizabeth Darcy would need to say the lie.

“
Unfortunately, in the last weeks of our holiday, we took a picnic and the weather turned quickly. Mr. Darcy and I recovered quite well, but Lydia caught a dreadful cold. I wished to delay our departure until Jane and Lydia could return with us. But Jane made a friend, it would appear, with our neighbor Mr. Hamilton . . . “

“
Another suitor? Jane is the lucky one.” Kitty pouted, eliciting an odd look from Georgiana.

“
But I thought you did not wish to –”

“
Oh, I may not wish to marry, but having suitors would please me quite well, I believe.” Kitty interrupted Georgiana and the two younger girls giggled over the outrageous notion of leading a parade of suitors with no intention of matrimony.

Talking about Lydia for the first time, and witnessing the silliness she had not missed, Elizabeth Darcy touched her fingertips to her forehead. Resolving to remain calm, she locked eyes with her sister Mary. With both knowing the truth, a silent nod of solidarity and support allowed them to remain committed to the lies that would save them all.

“
I am delighted you all love your gifts. Why don’t you take them to your rooms and I’ll go see to my husband. Mary, has dinner been set?”

Before Mary could open her mouth, Georgiana answered. “My aunt had Kitty and I plan the menu for many weeks. Perhaps tomorrow, we could review the selections in case you or Fitzwilliam have different tastes?” Georgiana beamed with pride at one of the projects the two had accomplished. Anticipating her new sister and her brother’s arrival, she had purposely selected special dishes for last evening’s meal, this evening’s meal, and tomorrow’s evening meal just to be thorough when anticipating their arrival.

Elizabeth smiled at her new sister and reached a hand out to clasp hers. “How truly kind of both of you. It is one less responsibility on my shoulders. I almost forgot to mention the surprise Fitzwilliam told me as we entered London! In a week, he and I are to visit Hertfordshire to see Mama. Would any of you wish to join us?”

The awkward silence and squirming of Georgiana and Catherine Bennet seemed peculiar to Elizabeth, but she dismissed it as harmless mischief when the two of them declined, pointedly looking at one another. Let them enjoy their intrigues Elizabeth thought to herself, remembering how difficult that age was to endure. Besides, they had both spent a large portion of their summer months in the county, so she was not surprised to hear them express their wishes to remain in London. Mary, on the other hand, had an answer that perplexed Elizabeth.

“
I do so miss our home, and our mother, but I fear it would greatly injure and misinform another if I were to leave London at this time.”

Making a mental note to speak individually with each girl as soon as she may, Elizabeth Darcy wished them all a farewell as they gathered their gifts and she left the parlor to walk towards her husband’s study. She was most satisfied that experiencing the happy occasion of gift giving tempered her anger at the person she next needed to address.

Opening the door to the study, her presence startled her new aunt but Fitzwilliam did not react. The two of them continued in a heated discussion and Elizabeth heard the names of Mary and Richard just as she opened the door.

“
Elizabeth, dear, marriage suits you well. You positively light up the house, just as a mistress’s return should.” Lady Matlock approached her new niece to greet her.

“
I thank you for the compliment, my lady.”

The icy-toned and formal greeting stopped the Countess of Matlock where she stood. She narrowed her eyes, unsure of why she was given such an unexpected welcome. “Come, come, I thought we dispensed with such formalities long ago.”