Imperative: Volume 1, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (106 page)

“Oooh, you are touchy today!”  Christmas laughed.  “Feeling your nerves?  Don’t forget that sweet young . . .” 

“I told you not to speak of her that way!”  Wickham tried to hit him but Christmas caught his wrist before the punch landed.  Whipping out his knife he held it below Wickham’s chin. 

“Now do you really want to be doing that?”  He said in a low voice.

The sound of horses and wheels crunching up the frozen gravel startled them and picking up their bags, they scrambled up the slope.  They could hear the sound of a woman’s laughter and a man’s low voice as the carriage came to a halt.  Carefully Christmas and Wickham crept through the brush and stood behind a tree, not twenty feet from where Darcy and Elizabeth sat in the carriage, looking out over the estate. 

“I wish that we would be here this spring when everything starts to bloom, I hate that you will miss it.  But, do you see what I mean about the gardens, love?”  Darcy pointed.  “I have been thinking of changing them for years.  Grandmother designed them, but they are a little too formal for my taste.”

“That surprises me so; I would think that you preferred perfect order.  You are so precise in everything else you do.” 

Smiling, he turned back to her.  “I am?  Such as?”

“Well, I have seen you dressing and fussing over your appearance . . .”  Darcy cleared his throat, “And I have seen you address your correspondence and discharge your estate duties in an exact method.   There is the way that you play chess . . .”

“That is a game that requires precision.  Something you need to practice.  We shall take that on this afternoon when we return.”  He smiled when she raised one brow.  “Shoes are optional.”  Chuckling he kissed her cheek, “What else do I do in a precise manner?”

Biting her lip, she traced her finger over his thigh, “The way that you love me . . .”  Immediately Darcy had her in his arms.  Wickham and Christmas exchanged glances. 

“And what is wrong with the way that I love you?”  He demanded as he stared at her nose to nose.

“Nothing, I was just saying that you perform with excellent precision,” her eyes sparkled.  “Your rhythm, Mr. Darcy is . . . most admirable.” 

“Mrs. Darcy, I do not know why I am surprised, but you have learned the art of double entendre amazingly fast and, might I add, effectively.”  He growled as she giggled.  “The cabin is just behind us, shall we take advantage?”

“I am afraid that we would be late for saying farewell to your aunt and Samuel, then.”  Elizabeth determinedly wiggled out of his embrace and then pointed his chin forward.  “Forgive me for distracting you.  You were saying about the gardens?”  Silence followed and she lightly carried on while he continued to stare.  “I agree, I prefer nature as it was intended to be, allowed to be free to roam, a certain wildness is required for a wildflower to be itself, don’t you think?”  She glanced at him and bit her lip as his intense look did not waver.  “Of course some order would be nice . . . you do not want to trip over something in a garden path.”

“Oh, I would not mind
you
tripping.”  Snapping the reins he started them off again.  “Then I might trip and land atop you.  Precisely in the perfect position . . .” 

The carriage disappeared down the drive along with Elizabeth’s laughter, leaving Wickham and Christmas staring after it.  They looked at each other uncomfortably and away. 

“That’s them?”  Christmas muttered.

“Yeah.”  Wickham walked to the ridge and stared down at Pemberley. 

Christmas had turned and spotted the cabin.  “I guess that’s where we’re staying . . . but if they come back this way, we can do this today.  Bad luck we weren’t ready then.”  Wickham said nothing.  He just stood and stared down at the house.  Christmas crossed the drive and looked down at the precipitous drop and dizzy, followed Wickham’s gaze.  “Blind me! 
That’s
what this is all about?”

“That is Pemberley House.” 

“So this is what the rich call a country house.”  He shook his head in disbelief.  “Well no wonder the judge wants it so much!  It looks like St. James’s!  Out here in the middle of nothing.  Probably full of baubles worth a pretty penny . . .”  Looking back at Wickham, a slow smile crept up his face.  “You wanted it, too.  That’s why you were so rotten to Darcy weren’t you?  Wherever I went looking for you, I found places where he had paid your debts.  By the looks of this place, I guess he could afford to.  I’m surprised you didn’t set up charge accounts in his name.”  Wickham started and looked at him.  “Ha!  Didn’t think of that one did you?”

“No.”

Snorting, he crossed the drive and picked up his bag.  “Yeah, I can see you being jealous, growing up here, you could touch but never have it, playing fool to the master . . .  Wanting revenge from the man you got to play brother to . . .  You were smart, you got your jollies and made him pay for it!  You’re lucky you were allowed upstairs!”  He saw Wickham’s jaw set and smiled.  “There you go.  Remember what it was really like.”  He walked towards the cabin and tossed the bag over his shoulder, “And pretty soon you will have that . . . your
wife
back. 
And
her riches.  I bet she’s down in that little house right now.  She’s nearly yours.”

Wickham stopped walking.  “No, she isn’t.  That was a stupid plan; I don’t know why I listened to you.  The judge would never give her up to me.”  He looked back at the house.  “Fool.”

“It got you on the coach . . .”  Christmas regarded him carefully, Wickham could be manipulated but he was clever enough to see through it eventually.  “All right then, if you had thought up going to Ramsgate on your own, would you have married her?  For the money?”

“She was so willing . . .” He looked back at Christmas.  “I was going to be at Ramsgate last summer anyway.  I bet I would have found her on my own.  It isn’t that big.  And I’m sure that I would have wanted to take advantage.  Darcy had just refused to give me more money and I was furious.”

“He stood up to you at last.”  Christmas waved his arm.  “I reckon he was feeling his power, being master of all this got his confidence up.  And that made you mad.”  He nodded as he read Wickham’s face.  “So why
didn’t
you marry her?  Her brother don’t scare you; even if he did say no to the money.  What about that colonel?”

“I thought he was out of the country.”  Wickham murmured, turning back to the view.

“So?”

“I was afraid of the judge.”  He drew in a breath and blew it out.  “He saved her from me.”

“I bet he don’t see it that way.”  Christmas snorted.  “So, why are you still here now, if you’re too afraid of the judge to ask for her?”  Wickham’s gaze went to the knife in Christmas’s hand.  “Ah, looks like the judge ain’t the only one you’re afraid of.  Come on, I don’t like all of this clean air.  Let’s get this over with.”

ALL LOOKS CALM.
  Judge Darcy scanned the view as his carriage finally turned into Pemberley.  No black wreath hung on the unattended gate.  He closed his eyes for a moment. 
Maybe it is all in my imagination.  Maybe Christmas and Wickham just gave up on me and disappeared.

“How do you feel, sir?”  Carson asked cautiously. 

“Fine.”  He said shortly and returned to his scrutiny of the estate.  The carriage turned from the main drive and started down the road towards the dower house.  “So far.”

“I THINK THAT I HAVE EVERYTHING.”  Susan looked around the house with wide worried eyes.  “I packed a basket for the trip, and I have extra blankets, and oh, Samuel that book you were reading last night, I know that you said you did not need it, but I have it here in my bag . . .”

“Mother, I am certain that we will be at ease. . .”

“The plants should be fine, I told Mrs. Eustace to water them . . .”

“As she well knows, Mother.”  Samuel said patiently and spotted Darcy’s eyes twinkling as he stood relaxed with his hands behind his back. 

Susan stopped her frenzied activity and looked up at the man who towered over her.  “Have you visited the closet, Samuel?  It will be a long time before we stop at the first inn.”

Hearing Darcy’s snort and seeing Elizabeth’s hand go to her mouth, Samuel turned a shade of red that would match any soldier’s uniform.  “
Yes
, Mother.  I am quite comfortable, now if we are to make the best use of the daylight, we must depart.”

“I know that you think I am a silly fool . . .”  Susan sighed and turned to see Darcy had managed to school his features down to his slight smile and Elizabeth was determinedly biting the inside of her cheeks.  Susan opened her arms to hug them in turn.  “I will miss you both so much.  Please hug Georgiana for me.”

“We will; she just could not face saying goodbye again.  But we will all miss you, Aunt.”  Darcy kissed her cheek.  “Have a very safe trip and give Uncle our greetings.”

“I will.” 

“Thank you for all of your help and advice.”  Elizabeth squeezed her before letting go.  “I hope that your reunion is everything that you hope for.” 

Wiping her eyes, the emotional woman stood aside so that Samuel could shake Darcy’s hand and glare at him to keep quiet, and then bending down, he kissed Elizabeth’s cheek.  “Take care of my smirking cousin, Elizabeth.” 

“I will be glad to.”  She surprised Samuel with a kiss and smiled at his blush when she gently wiped the trace of her lip salve from his skin.  “Take care.” 

“Finally we are going.”  He glanced at Darcy and paled with the sight of his cousin’s fixed attention on his cheek.  “I did not expect it to take so long to work things out with Mr. Mayfield.”

After a pause, Darcy found his voice, “No, it is better that you have all of your questions answered upfront, undoubtedly Uncle will be a difficult audience for you.  I imagine that Mr. Easterly will not want to see you go either.” 

“As nice as that would be to hear, I hope that he is happy for me.” He looked around and taking his mother’s arm, he walked to the door.  “Let us go before night falls.”  Hearing Elizabeth laughing behind him, Samuel stepped out onto the stoop with Susan and turned to look back at Darcy’s possessive hand taking her arm.  Smiling, he turned when the sound of an approaching carriage reached them.  Susan’s hand rose to her mouth and Samuel stared when the carriage door opened and a tall, gaunt figure stepped shakily down.  “Father!”  He cried, and looked down to his mother.  Susan pressed her hand to her chest and sobbing, ran straight to her husband.

“Harding!”  She cried and fell into his open arms.  “Oh Harding!  You came home.  Oh dear love you came home!” 

“Shhh, shhh, Susan.  Hush, woman.”  He spoke quietly but embraced her tightly.  “This is not the place for such a spectacle.”

“It most certainly is.  It is our home.”  She squeezed him harder.  “I will never let you go again.” 

Judge Darcy looked down at her tear-streaked face.   “Susan . . .”

“Please . . .” She touched his face and read the utter despair in his eyes.  “You need me.” 

“God help me, I do.”  Hugging her to him, he kissed her.

“Father.”  Samuel stood respectfully back from the emotional reunion and contained the shock he felt at seeing his father’s appearance.  “I am so glad that you chose to come, sir.” 

The judge nodded and straightened.  “Yes, I felt a need to . . . see . . . everything.  Your mother’s tenacious letters had the desired affect at last.”  He looked down to where she had a tight grasp of his arm.  “And it seems she is determined that I will not escape.”

“I will have you in my sight at all times.”  She wiped her eyes and leaned back into him.  “You are skin and bones, Harding.  What has become of you?” 

Darcy was as stunned as Samuel to see his uncle, but quickly hid his concern when he saw that the judge’s gaze was fixed on him.  He could not understand the emotion in his eyes.  “Uncle!”  He looked down at Elizabeth and she let go, allowing him to stride down the steps with his hand extended.  “Welcome home, sir!  At last I have a relative at Pemberley whose presence will not be a trial!”

“A trial?”  He managed to extract his arm from Susan and solemnly shook Darcy’s hand.  “What do you mean?  Surely Susan and Samuel are not burdensome to you.”

“I mean a relative who wants nothing from me.”  He said softly.  “I am in need of your counsel, Uncle.  I am so relieved to see you.”  Spotting Susan’s bright eyes, he smiled. “As is my dear Aunt, I see.”  He turned and held out his hand to Elizabeth, and she joined them.  “Now
this
is a family party.  All of the Darcys are home at last.” 

“Mrs. Darcy.  You look well.”  The judge inclined his head and she nodded to him, unsure of the relief she saw.  Judge Darcy broke her gaze and looked around him.  “What brings everyone out of doors?  I saw the carriages and thought you were entertaining.”

“We were on our way to London.”  Susan reclaimed his arm.  “And here I had been cursing Mr. Mayfield for delaying our departure!  If we had left earlier, we would have missed each other somewhere on the way.  This was fate.”

“Mr. Mayfield?  The solicitor in Lambton?”  The judge’s brow creased and he closed his eyes.  “I am afraid that I am too confused to take this all in.”  His eyes opened to face the concerned gazes of his family, and looked away over their heads.  “Where is Georgiana?  Is she well?”

“Oh yes, she said her goodbyes last night.”  Elizabeth smiled.  “I know that she will be so happy to see you, sir.  She treasures your letters.”

“My letters.”  He said softly and wondered what he had written to her. 

Susan snapped to life.  “Well we certainly do not need to be standing out here in the cold!  Let us unload the carriages and get you warmed and . . .” Judge Darcy squeezed her hand while servants quickly responded and started taking down the luggage.  “What is it, dear?”

“Would you mind if we just ride up to the manor for a moment?  I . . . would like to see our little girl before I can relax.  I just need to see that my family is well.”  He smiled at her tiredly.  “Do you understand, dear?”

“Yes, I do.”  Susan said softly and wrapping her arms around him, hugged him tightly.  “I will remain here and put the house in order, and will have bathwater heated.”  She felt his body through his heavy coat and attempted hold back her tears.  “And then you and I will shut ourselves in our rooms and nobody will interrupt until I am satisfied that you are well again.”