Imperative: Volume 1, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (12 page)

“It shows how little liked Darcy made himself to be if a stranger’s word is accepted over a resident of the neighbourhood, and Miss Elizabeth, that was his doing beyond any insult he delivered and affront you expressed.”  Hurst mused.  “Well, you can clear this up for them, the whole engagement issue, as well, Bingley. You are liked by all.”

Bingley laughed.  “I do not know about that, I think that the sight of Miss Elizabeth’s hand firmly placed on Darcy’s arm and her smile directed into his eyes will do more to dispel ridiculous rumours than anything I can say.” Looking at Elizabeth’s tear-streaked face, he took her hand.  “But I did promise to protect you in my friend’s stead.  Come Miss Elizabeth, you are in no condition to be walking.”  Ignoring her protests, he easily lifted her up onto his horse, then taking the reins back from Hurst, who had dismounted and stood beside him; they began leading the horses towards Longbourn.  “Let us see you home.” 

“HERE YOU GO.”  Thursday afternoon Judge Darcy tossed a ribbon-tied packet onto Darcy’s desk and took a chair.

“What is this?”  Darcy said curiously as he picked it up.

“I was at Doctor’s Commons this morning, and visited a friend at the Chancery court.” He lifted his chin.  “That is your special license.”

“It is?  I was told I would not see this until Friday.”  Darcy quickly opened the document and eagerly read it over, then looked up with admiration.  “How did you manage to acquire it a day early?”

“Court is court, whether criminal or civil, we all know each other.”  He shrugged.  “It was the least I could do after losing my temper so spectacularly the other day.  I thought I would move things along for you, after taking over Pemberley, you know how slow that court is.”

Darcy stood and held out his hand.  “Thank you, sir.  Your support is indescribably important to me, and I admit to feeling quite overwhelmed by your fury.  Richard’s I understood, as his sister was a potential wife for me, but yours . . .”

Judge Darcy held up his hand.  “Say no more, but you admit I had good reason for feeling surprise?”

“Yes.”  Darcy’s slight smile matched that of his uncle and he sank down into his chair.  “Of course, it was hardly the expected path for my future let alone for Georgiana’s.”

“I still do not agree with your decision, but as you said, you are master and it is yours to make.  May I point out, as much as it turns my stomach to do so, marrying your cousin Anne might be the best solution should you continue with this course of pretending parenthood of this child?  You would have Rosings, and could assign it to Georgiana’s son should that be the result for some technical reason, and then if Anne bears you a son, he would have Pemberley . . .” Darcy’s stony expression brought on a quiet laugh.  “I cannot say that I blame you, but it was worth mentioning.”   He sat back and nodded at the license.  “So with that in hand, you may return to your betrothed today, unless you have more business to address here?  I see you have the jewel cases out?”

Darcy at last smiled fully, and he looked over to the jewel box at his side.  Judge Darcy noted the unusual change in his nephew.  “Most of the collection is at Pemberley, but I remembered there were a few things here.  I was just debating if this ring of Grandmother Darcy’s would suit as Elizabeth’s wedding ring, or perhaps I should have a new one just for her.”  He looked up to see his uncle staring at his mother’s ring.  “She will be a Darcy and eventually give birth to . . .”

“A second child.” 

Darcy’s eyes cast down and the glow left his cheeks.  He then drew himself up and met his uncle’s steely expression with one of his own.  “I see no other course.”

“There is time to change your mind, it would cost you perhaps, but . . .” The silence was deafening and Judge Darcy conceded defeat by moving on.  “Give her a new ring.  Perhaps when this child is born and you can at last consummate your marriage nine months from now, you might celebrate by giving her one of the Darcy jewels.”

Inwardly Darcy marvelled at his uncle’s continuing subtle attempt to discourage him.  “Perhaps we could say our vows again.”  He proposed and looked at the small circle of elaborately engraved gold in his palm.

His uncle eyed it.  “Perhaps.” 

Keeping the ring in his hand, Darcy closed up the jewel case and changed the subject.  “I have heard nothing from Matlock or Rosings, but then I only just sent the letters.”

“With luck you will not hear anything until your wedding is accomplished.  Any news of Wickham?”

“No, sir.”  He looked back up to him.  “You?”

“No, not a peep.  I have notices at every constabulary to have an eye out for him, but who knows if they read them.”

“What can you do to him if he is found?  Is there any law that applies to this circumstance?”

“Who needs law, I thought that you were going to tear him from limb to limb then hand the pieces to your cousin?”  Judge Darcy smiled to see his nephew’s grim expression.  “I just beg that the colonel leaves a bit for me in the end.”

“I will see what I can do to convince him of that.”

“Samuel says that the settlement is finished?”

“Yes, I should have it in hand late this afternoon, a final copy is being written out as we speak, so really, even with your help, I still could not leave any earlier than Friday morning.”

“Ah well.  Some excitement over there this morning, the office was burgled.”

“No?”  Darcy’s brow creased.  “What happened?”

“The charwoman came in to clean and, in her words, a tall gentleman with a wild look in his eye came bursting out, grabbed her by the throat, then something spooked him and he let her go, knocking her to the floor in his haste.  Papers were everywhere.”  He shrugged.  “Samuel said that yours were amongst them.”

Alarmed, Darcy sat up.  “Was anything taken?”

“No, no, they were a mess, open and crumpled, but still there.  It looked as if the drawers had been turned out.”

“Then Pemberley was not a target?”  He relaxed.  “What would be the point of robbing an attorney?  There surely would not be vast sums of money; they invest but do not handle funds.  I can see robbery of a client, perhaps . . .”

“True.  But Easterly just works with wills and estates, nothing earth-shattering.  Perhaps it was a search for information.  Whatever it was, it was left behind.”

“Hmm.  Curious.”  Darcy said thoughtfully then sighed.  “I will be glad to go home to the relative peace of Pemberley.”

 “Well, if ever you were speaking to someone who understands exactly what you are saying, it would be me.”  Judge Darcy stood and held out his hand.  “If I do not see you again before you depart, I wish you well in your decisions.  I will be curious to meet your bride.”

“We will come to London following the wedding, so I will be sure to have you and Samuel to dinner before we depart for home.”  Darcy smiled and shook his hand.  “Thank you again, Uncle, for your support.  I would be lost without it.”

Judge Darcy laughed softly.  “I doubt that very much, Fitzwilliam.”

“THIS IS FROM DARCY.”  Lady Catherine noted with surprise.  “I have not had word from him in months.”  She studied the letter and looked across the room to Anne.  “Perhaps he is ready to behave sensibly.”

“We will never know until you open it.”  Anne said mildly.

“No, we will not.”  Lady Catherine set it down.  “Let us save it for last, here, a letter from Mr. Collins.  That should be quite entertaining.”

“Mama . . .” 

“Patience, Anne.”  Opening the letter she started to read and her brows rose.  “Well it seems that Mr. Collins brings us news of Darcy as well, he is visiting a neighbour of the Bennets’.”  She paused and read on.  “Mr. Collins has yet to meet him, but it seems that the cousin he was promised has hopes for Darcy favouring her.  Foolish girl, as if my nephew would ever consider a wife with nothing.  He knows his place, and she surely knows hers.”

“I imagine many young ladies hope for Darcy’s attention.”  Anne said pensively.

“Anne.”  Lady Catherine looked over the top of the letter.  “You will win him.”

“But there is Cathy . . .”

“Cathy’s father wants her to marry him.  That does not mean Cathy wants him.”  She sniffed and returned to her reading.  “My brother pushes her to spite me.  My daughter has an estate to give her husband; his daughter only has a title, just as my sister had, to enhance her husband.”  Glancing back at Anne she barked.  “You were formed for him.”

“But will he want me?  He has so many ladies courting him.”  Anne looked down.  “He knows I am not strong.”

“You are no weaker than my sister, and she bore that strapping man who will be your husband, and you will bear him an equally magnificent son.”  Lady Catherine said pointedly and returned to the letter.  “Darcy left his friend and went to London but will return soon.  Hmm.  Well that seems to confirm that any interest is purely one-sided, good for you, Darcy.”  Setting the letter down, she sighed.  “Collins was to attend a dinner at the home of this girls’ family . . . last night it seems, and he planned to remain close to her there and make his admiration clear.  There is a rumour of a ball next week at a neighbouring estate and there he intends to dance with her and make his intentions known, then propose the following morning.  He sounds so positive about this Miss Elizabeth Bennet, why do I think he will fail?”

Anne smirked.  “Because only a desperate woman would want to marry him.” 

“Indeed, but a sensible woman would not pass up the chance.  Due to my benevolence he is quite well set until he inherits her father’s estate.”  She picked up Darcy’s letter and broke the seal.  “OH!”

“Mama?”

“What is this!”  She held the letter and stared.  “Mrs. Jenkinson!” 

“Yes, madam?”  Anne’s companion stood. 

“Go tell my maid to pack, go tell them to bring the carriage around!  We are going to . . .” She picked up Mr. Collins’ letter.  “To Hertfordshire!”

“THANK YOU.”  Darcy examined his grandmother’s wedding band closely, walking to the window to read the inscription he had engraved within, and seeing it, bit his lip and closed his eyes. 

“Sir?”  The jeweller held up a separate box.  “Would you care to examine this as well?”

“No, I am certain it is fine.”  He returned to the counter and carefully placed Elizabeth’s ring into its box and closed the lid, then looked up to see the jeweller’s smile. 

“It is normal to be nervous as your wedding day approaches, sir.”

“Is it?”  Darcy lifted his chin. “That is encouraging.”  He looked around the shop as the owner watched him hopefully. 

“Perhaps a gift of different significance, something to enhance the honeymoon?”  Bending, he removed a tray of bracelets and another of necklaces.  “A pleased wife is a giving wife.”  He winked and waved his hand over the jewels.

Darcy looked them over, tilting his head and again catching his lip in his teeth.  “I am not familiar with buying for a lady, perhaps . . .” He pointed at a simple choker of emeralds.  “This?”

“Excellent choice, sir, and there are earrings and a bracelet . . .” He pulled them out and displayed them together suggestively. 

“Give him the lot.”  A jovial voice boomed.  “He needs something to lend him confidence.” 

“I have plenty of confidence.”  Darcy straightened as his cheeks coloured with Richard’s tease.  “Where have you been?”

“Saving the monarchy from Napoleon singlehandedly.”  He grinned.

“And how did you manage that?”  Darcy saw the jeweller waiting for his approval and touching the necklace and bracelet, nodded, then pointed to a different pair of earrings.  The man beamed and set to work wrapping the purchase.  “You were sleeping, the last I heard.”

“If you spent the night entertaining bloated generals, you would be sleeping late as well.  Your staff spilled the beans of your occupation so I took a stroll to find you here.”  Richard folded his arms and leaning on the glass case, picked up an elaborate snuff box in the shape of a woman’s leg.  He held it up and grinned.  “Gift for your supporter?”

Darcy sighed and nodded at the jeweller, who happily added the price to his receipt.  Richard pocketed the item and slapped his back.  “You will manage to tear yourself away from your awesome duties to come to Hertfordshire?  Bingley is hosting a ball on Tuesday; you can stay until the wedding.” 

“I will see.  Nothing is pressing; I have already alerted my superiors I will be absent beginning Thursday, what are a few more days?”  He laughed.  “And that means I will not be here to receive whatever apoplectic letter my parents are likely composing as we speak!” 

“Do you think they will appear?”

“You told them where . . .”

“Richard, all they have to do is ask Georgiana.”  Darcy closed his eyes.  “I pray that they leave her alone.”  Richard gave his shoulder a firm squeeze and he opened his eyes in time to see the jeweller tying a long green ribbon around the velvet box containing Elizabeth’s gift.  “Am I buying her?”

“Naturally . . .” Richard stopped when he saw the distress in his cousin’s eyes.  “No, you care for her.  I cannot imagine why, but you do.” 

“Well.”  Darcy paid the bill and picked up the three boxes.  “Tomorrow I will see if she still wants me.”

“COME ALONG GIRLS!”  Mrs. Bennet cried as she led the way to Meryton.  “Why your father could not give us the carriage . . .”

Elizabeth and Jane looked at each other and smiled, “Leave it to Mama to have us on the way to the dressmaker five minutes after Mr. Bingley leaves.”

“She made sure to ask who else had been invited to the ball.” 

“So she knows that we are the first to arrive at Mrs. Walton’s shop.”  Elizabeth sighed at her mother’s enthusiasm. 

“Lizzy!  You will have a gown of ivory.”  Mrs. Bennet called back to her.  “It will match your complexion.  Jane, you will have white.” 

“Mama, I have a white gown . . .” Elizabeth protested and was surprised when her mother came to a dead stop in the road and rounded on her.  “Miss Lizzy.  You may have captured Mr. Darcy, but you are not married to him yet.  You must hold his interest!”

“Mama . . .”

“Oh no, and I heard what all of those jealous hens were saying at my sister’s house last night!  I may look like I do not understand, but I do!  They heaped all of their fury upon you!  That old cat Lady Lucas, she would give her eye teeth to be in this position with Charlotte!  I have known for years how she envied my girls.  I know that they claim you compromised yourself or that Mr. Darcy might have compromised you, but Lizzy, all that matters is the result.  However you captured that man does not matter!  In the end YOU are the one in his mansion!  YOU are to be Mrs. Darcy!”  Mrs. Bennet found her handkerchief and fluttered it.  “I could not be prouder.”  She sniffed and dabbed at her eyes.