Imperative: Volume 1, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (60 page)

“No, knowing the flocks there, I would say these are only the strays.”  His gaze wandered over the details and he laughed again.  “There is the fence that nearly cost Pemberley its heir.” 

Samuel frowned.  “What do you mean?”

Richard leaned back on the mantelpiece and lifted his chin.   “Darcy was riding a new hunter, his first I believe, and let him loose to see what he could do.”  He pointed to the fence and shook his head.  “The horse was flying and then he came up to that rail and he stopped dead, something spooked him.  Darcy flew up over his head and landed, thankfully, in a hedge that broke the impact.  If that had not been there, I have no doubt that instead of a bruised backside, he would have had a broken neck.”  Richard sobered.  “Uncle George gave him hell, and I have never seen him take a risk like that again.”  

“It was just after his mother died.  George was furious; he could not bear to lose Fitzwilliam, too.”  The judge looked down to his boots.  “How different things would be.”

“You would have been the heir.”  Richard mused as he studied the painting again.  “Well, Uncle would likely have remarried and tried for another son then.  Look at that!   There is the duck pond!”  He grinned and looked to Samuel.  “Did you ever sail boats there?”

“Yes.”  He smiled and laughed.  “I sank a fair many of them as well.” 

Richard nodded.  “Yes, my brother used to skip stones to take my ships down, calling them storms at sea.  He told me I was better suited to the army since I could not keep the boats afloat.”  He smiled with the memory and saw the judge’s pensive look.  “Are you well, sir?  You will like Elizabeth, I think, give her the benefit of your good judgement.  I am glad that I did.”  Turning to the doorway, he threw out his arm.  “And here they are.”

“Uncle.”  Darcy had his hand pressed firmly against Elizabeth’s back and smiled confidently at her.  “Dearest, may I present my uncle, Judge Harding Darcy?  Sir, this is my wife, Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth assessed the man standing before her and curtseyed.  “It is a pleasure to meet you, sir.  You have a beautiful home; it reminds me so much of Darcy House.  That must be a mark of your mother’s influence upon you and Fitzwilliam’s father.” 

“I believe it is my father’s preferences more so than my mother’s.”  He fixed her with an unrelenting stare.  Elizabeth’s face broke into a wide smile and her hand went to her mouth as she stopped a laugh.

“Is she daft, Darcy?”  The judge glowered.

“Uncle!” 

“Forgive me sir, I know I must seem odd, but . . . before me I see my husband as he will be in twenty years.  That frown you sport is a familiar accessory of Fitzwilliam’s.”  She tilted her head and examined him.  “You could be his father, the resemblance is so exact.”  Turning to Samuel she smiled.  “And here I see my husband in his not so distant youth.”

“You have already mistaken me for William once, Elizabeth.”  He smiled and looked at his father.  “I had never really seen it before, but yes, all of the elements are there, except for the eyes.” 

“Are we finished with this discussion?”  Judge Darcy looked between them.  Samuel’s smile faded, and Darcy’s brow creased.  Richard kept his eye on Elizabeth who was not at all intimidated.  “Mrs. Darcy.”  He inclined his head.  “Congratulations.”

“Your sincerity is overwhelming, sir.”  Darcy said flatly. 

“Fitzwilliam, it is fine.”  Elizabeth took his hand.  “I did not expect a fanfare.  But I cannot help being myself.”  She addressed her new uncle with a smile.  “After this week of unending challenges brought on by another of my husband’s relatives, I daresay I can bear the scrutiny of one who he admires so much.  I hope to win your condescension sir, if not tonight, then one day.”

“You understand my hesitation, Mrs. Darcy.  My nephew’s decision to marry was sudden and I think poorly planned, and his reasons for choosing you in particular were dissatisfying to me.  He seems content enough.  I hope that it lasts as long as is necessary for him to wait to consummate this union.”

“Uncle!”  Darcy glared.  “How dare you speak of such things before my wife?”

“Surely you have discussed them with her?  This was the reason you married.”  He lifted his chin and Samuel hurriedly closed the door.  “Or do you paste on this look of contentment due to the satisfaction of becoming mistress of all this?”  He waved his hand towards the landscape as Elizabeth grew increasingly red. 

“That is quite enough, sir.”  Darcy’s face was a thundercloud.  “It is one thing to abuse my decisions to my face when we are alone, but to do so before my wife is unconscionable.  I will not accept it.”  Infuriated, he took Elizabeth’s arm.  “Forgive me, Elizabeth, for bringing you here.  This was one relative I thought I could count upon to support me.  We are going home.”

“Wait, wait!”  Samuel spoke up and all eyes turned to him.  “I did not have the opportunity to speak of your plans before you arrived. I put Father in a poor frame of mind, and he was . . .”

“Anything you may have said does not excuse his behaviour towards my wife, Cousin.”  Darcy said through his teeth. 

“Before you two call for pistols at dawn, may I suggest that you both calm yourselves?  This show of pride is certainly admirable, from a military point of view at least, but do you not see that you are defending the same thing?”  Richard came to stand between the men.  “The future of Pemberley?”

“I defend my wife!”  Darcy spat.

“Who will one day bear the heir of Pemberley.”

“No, not if he takes on Wickham’s bastard as his son!”  Judge Darcy bellowed.

“Wait!”  Samuel moved to stand with Richard.  “I . . . I have good news!”  All heads turned and he drew a breath.  “William asked me to confirm with Mr. Easterly the particulars of adoption.”  Samuel addressed his cousin.  “It is as we surmised.  You can take on the child as a ward for a needy friend, and raise him at Pemberley, even eventually he may choose to take your name, but he will have no rights to any part of the estate that you do not specifically leave to him in your will.  Of course since there is no entailment you could leave him everything, but obviously that is not the point.”

“What is this?”  Judge Darcy demanded.

“Father, Darcy came to me a few days ago with this new idea.  They will not have to attempt to pretend a pregnancy or pass off Georgiana’s baby as their own.  They are free to . . .”  Samuel looked at Elizabeth and blushed as she did.  “They are free to begin their marriage and enjoy the fruits of it.” 

Darcy’s anger instantly dissolved and taking Elizabeth’s hand tightly into his grasp, their eyes met.  “Dearest Elizabeth . . .”

“Oh, Will!”  She wrapped her arms around him and they held each other. 

“Well done!”  Richard grinned.  “Why did I not think of this?”

“You are not my brilliant wife.”  Darcy said softly, and letting go, he smiled at her.  “It seems Valentine’s Day has arrived?

“Just a minute.”  Judge Darcy stared.  “
She
thought of this?” 

Darcy put his hand around her waist.  “Elizabeth may only be a Darcy for a fortnight, but she has proven that she is as proud of her name as any of us.  She refused to accept my foolish plan from the very beginning.  It will be
our
child, our legitimate blood, who will carry on.  My only regret is that we married so very quickly when we did not need to.  You deserved so much more from me.”

“You forget that you saved me from Mary’s fate.”  Elizabeth caressed his cheek.  “We married when we were supposed to.”  Darcy nodded and looked back at his uncle who was staring between them, his face was unreadable. 

“Sir?”

“You will still have to spirit Georgiana away.” 

“Yes, we will go to Scotland, we will work out our reasons for having to remain there so long, but I think that calling it an extended honeymoon might suffice to begin with.   I know that there are countless details to address, but . . . we
will
address them.  We have plenty of time.”  He watched as the judge turned and walked to the landscape, and stood before it with his hands behind his back. 

“So there may very well be a legitimate heir to Pemberley born next year.” 

Darcy’s mouth lifted as he looked to Elizabeth.  “Perhaps, if that is God’s will.  Boy or girl, it does not matter.  The first of many, I hope.”  Elizabeth smiled then looking to Judge Darcy, her brow creased as his shoulders visibly slumped. 

“So Georgiana escapes ruin, her child escapes the foundling home, you escape marriage to your cousin, and ultimately Pemberley will be saved from shame.  The damage caused by one man is expunged.  My brother’s good fortune continues.”  He murmured.

“Sir?”  Darcy’s brow furrowed and he looked to Richard who was watching just as closely.  “My father’s fortune?”

He turned and looked at Darcy sadly.  “I cannot tell you how deeply I admire you, Fitzwilliam.”

“Thank you, sir.”  Confusion crossed his face, and he tried to read his uncle’s expression.  “I admire you as well.” 

“Yes, well . . .”  He clapped his hand on Richard’s back.  “Come Colonel, we second sons must stick together.  I hear there is a fine repast prepared for us tonight.” 

“Excellent.”  Richard looked back at Darcy and Samuel, a shrug was clear in his eyes.  “Let us eat, then.”   They opened the drawing room door and exited. 

Samuel looked to Darcy and Elizabeth apologetically.  “I made the mistake of mentioning my deceased siblings to him just before you arrived; I think that is what put him in this mood.  He keeps a great deal locked away in his heart.  This entire situation with Georgiana has been very burdensome on all of us.”

“Of course.”  Elizabeth gave his hand a squeeze.  “We understand.” 

“He has always been quite jealous of your father, William.  I am only now understanding it.  I suppose that living on the estate does not help his feelings of prejudice and that is why he stays away.” 

“I am sure he is not the only younger son who feels that way.”  Darcy reassured him and looked up at the landscape.  “Well, thanks to you, we are free to . . . have a houseful of younger sons who will undoubtedly resent our first as well.” 

“I believe that your uncle is as frighteningly complex as you, Fitzwilliam.”  Elizabeth took his arm and smiled at him.  “I look forward to meeting your aunt; she may have some important advice to impart.”

“No doubt.  Thank you for your extraordinary tolerance, Elizabeth.  I . . . I do not know what to say other than I am so very sorry.”  He spoke softly, and nodding at Samuel, all three breathed out long sighs and began walking to the dining room.  “Lucky you for avoiding all this emotional Darcy behaviour and taking after your sweet mother, Cousin.”

“Well, I have the looks, but I do have her gentle blood.”

“Like Georgiana.  She is my mother completely.  Or she was.”  Darcy smiled resignedly to Elizabeth. “We will see.”

“I am sure that she is still as gentle as you remember.  And with the Darcy mind, she will accept this chance we give her.”

“Darcy mind.  Do not expect to meet a female version of myself, dearest.  You and I are more alike in that respect.”  He shook his head.  “No, Georgiana is . . . She is well educated in the subjects that a girl of her station should be, but . . . She does not think like me or my father did; she is not like my Aunt Catherine or Uncle Matlock.  Her blood definitely follows the female line; she is my mother, like my grandmother Fitzwilliam, a sweet, loving, artistic girl.” 

“A dreamer.”

“That is my mother, and me, I suppose.”  Samuel smiled and gestured for them to enter the dining room where Richard and the Judge remained standing behind their chairs, waiting for Elizabeth to be seated.  Darcy pulled out her chair and slid her in place beside his uncle, and then the men sat. 

Clearing his throat, the judge turned to her.  “Mrs. Darcy, please forgive my outburst.  Hearing your new plan took me completely by surprise.  Living with my nephew, I imagine you can understand how deeply my feelings run on this entire subject.”

“I do sir, and of course you are forgiven.”  Elizabeth felt Darcy’s hand grasp hers beneath the table. 

“You wear my mother’s wedding ring.”  He stared at her left hand resting on the table.  “She was a formidable woman.  The Hardings were quite remarkable in their own right.”

“So that is the origin of your name?”  She smiled.  “How did your brother come to be named George?” 

“He was named after the King George II.” 

“Oh, not the present King, of course he would be too young.”

“Good thing, my brother was no madman.” Judge Darcy said pensively and pouring out some wine for himself, tossed it down just as quickly.  “Your father is a gentleman, Mrs. Darcy?”

“Yes, sir.”  She set down her spoon, and watched as he poured another glass. 

“And your Mother?”

“A tradesman’s daughter, they met at an Assembly . . .”

“Ah.  And he was smitten.”  He muttered something under his breath.  “No sons?”

“No sir.  Five daughters, my younger sister just became engaged to my father’s heir.  He is a clergyman, who has the living from Lady Catherine.” 

“So Collins finally picked one of you?”  Richard laughed.  “Now that is an ambitious little man.”

“Marrying his cousin for the good of the family.”  Judge Darcy stared straight at Samuel, who looked down.

“My father is after me to marry Georgiana.”  Richard broke into the silence and seeing Darcy’s frown, he held up his hand.  “I promise you, I have no interest.  I am far too old.”

“And she is far too young.”  Darcy said significantly.

“Not too young for you, Samuel.”

“Father, please . . .”

“Name a better man for her, Darcy!”  His uncle turned to him and demanded.  “No man!  The blood of these cousins united would be . . . ideal.”  Pleadingly he looked at his son.  Samuel stared, not recognizing this man, and shot a look at his cousin.  “Do it for the family, Son.  Sometimes you must do things . . . to protect your children.  No matter what Darcy’s plans now are for the child, Georgiana remains damaged.”  He set down his glass.  “Excuse me, I need to compose myself.  Please enjoy your meal; I will join you for coffee.”  Rising to his feet, he waved at the men to remain where they were.  “Mrs. Darcy . . .” Hesitating, he bowed to her.  “I apologize for my behaviour; I see that you truly do care for my nephew, and that you are sincere.”  Nodding to Darcy, he left the room.