Imperative: Volume 2, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (34 page)

“Lydia likes the sound of anything that has to do with men.”  Bingley sighed.  “Where is she?”

“She was helping to move Mama’s things, but she spends most of her time hiding in her room.  She hates being in black and says that she will not appear in public until she can at least be in half-mourning.  She is quite upset with Papa for dying and keeping her from going to Brighton.” 

“Wait until she realizes she cannot go dancing either.”  Bingley shook his head.   “You know Darcy wrote to me that he thought it was excellent news.” 

“Yes, Lizzy did the same.”  Jane sat nervously twisting her handkerchief.  “Kitty has become so quiet.  I think that she is very afraid of Mr. Collins coming to live here.” 

“I imagine all three of the ladies are.  That might explain some of their nerves.”  He smiled and put his hand over hers.  “I do not know your mother very well so I really should not judge her.  Do you think that she is more upset about her husband’s death or the change to her life?”

“I never understood Mama and Papa.  I did not know if what we saw was a show and what they had in private was very different, or if Papa laughed at her all of the time.  I just do not know.   It makes me appreciate you all the more, Charles.” She smiled at him and he beamed. “You are the same sweet man no matter the circumstances.”

“And you are always my angel.”  Bingley kissed her. 

“Lizzy said that Mama will probably seem unsettled for a long time while she tries to find her place.  I had not really thought about it until she wrote to me, but she said that Mama has been Mistress of Longbourn for so long, that she does not know what else to do anymore.  She was Mrs. Thomas Bennet.  She has never really been just herself before.  And she said that Mr. Collins is so different from Papa.  They could do whatever they liked with him, but Mr. Collins will be very proud of his new position and since he has visited so often, they can imagine what it will be like with him as the head of the household.”

“Elizabeth has the ability to look at the situation as a whole, since she is not here living it every day.”   Bingley mused and saw Jane frowning.  “Jane dear, I know that you are very sad, and miss your father terribly . . .” Her mouth opened and closed, and her brow creased.  “Do you?” 

“I . . . I had not thought about it.   I miss him . . .  Oh, I sound terrible!”  Her hand went to her mouth. 

“You were not very close.”  He said understandingly.

“I spent more time with him these past months than I did over the whole of my life.  He was always teasing and I did not know what to say.  But I did what I had to.  I wish that Lizzy had been here, she would have taken care of everything.  He wanted her, not me.”  She looked to the chair where Mr. Bennet had always commanded the room when he joined the family.  Her eyes filled with tears.  Bingley put his arms around her.  “Charles, how can I feel so terrible now?  Why am I the only one who seems to feel this way?  Even though Papa is gone I still feel like I must help everyone prepare for Mr. Collins coming.”

“You do not live here anymore sweetheart.  I wonder if Elizabeth is as sad as you are.”  Weighing his words carefully, he spoke softly, “When my parents died, I thought of a thousand things that I wished they had told me, and realized that I will never have those questions answered.  Father was so focussed on being the man to bring our family out of trade and to be a gentleman that he had no time for me, so I did not know him very well, and then suddenly, he was gone.”  His eyes brightened.  “I believe that he worked himself to death, and it was all for something he never achieved.”

“Oh Charles, but you will fulfil his dream.”

“It is his dream, not mine.  I think that I would have been just as happy following his footsteps in Scarborough.  But then I would not have met you.”  He hugged her.  “I am just saying that . . . after my father died, I felt very sad for losing the man I wished I had known better but who never had time for me, and in some ways, I think that your father was the same way with you.  And you miss that now.” 

“And Mama cannot dwell upon Papa because she knows that she must face this new man taking over her home.”  She took his handkerchief and wiped her eyes. 

“Jane, let us go on a trip.”

“A trip!  Oh Charles, but I am in mourning, and Mama needs me, and Kitty and Lydia . . .”

“I am not suggesting that we leave this minute, but once Mary and Collins settle in, I think that you and I should remove ourselves from the area.  The residents of Longbourn must find their new way of living, and frankly, your mother must not become dependent on us.  So I propose that we travel to Scarborough and you can meet the rest of my family, and then we can go visit the Darcys in Scotland.  How does that sound?”

“Go to see Lizzy?”  Jane said softly.

“I see that visiting her is more interesting than meeting my extended family.”  Bingley laughed when she blushed.  “I want to see Darcy, too.  I miss him, and I am afraid that this is the limit of my seriousness.”

“I do not believe that.” 

“Oh no,
do
believe that.”  He looked to the window.  “They are here.”

“Well.”  Jane stood and brushed out her skirts.  “Shall we welcome the new Master and Mistress of Longbourn?” 

“Certainly.”  Standing up, he kissed her.  “And I think that I should fulfil my father’s dream and make you the Mistress of . . . somewhere.” 

“Netherfield?”

“I would have to purchase it, and it is not for sale, only for lease.”  He shrugged.  “Father wanted to be a landowner, not a leaser.”

“Well then, if you are determined to take me travelling, maybe that could be our purpose, besides visiting relatives.” 

“That sounds wonderful.”  He took her hand and they walked out to the foyer where they watched Collins, talking a mile a minute while he helped Mary down.    Mary patted his shoulder and he stopped, and taking her arm he assumed a sombre countenance.  Bingley looked at Jane and they both smiled.  “I think that Mr. Collins is excited.”

“And I think that Mary knows how to calm him.”  She looked up to the top of the stairs where her mother and sisters peered down at them.  “Maybe it will not be so bad for them.”

“Now
that
is my Jane.” 

“MR. FITZWILLIAM.”  The housekeeper announced and Richard stepped into the drawing room where the entire Kelly family was gathered.  Immediately years of experience were set to work and he read the protective posture of the men. 

“Good evening, sir.”  Mr. Kelly bowed. 

“Good evening.”  Richard smiled and bowed to the room.  “Thank you for the invitation.  I beg that you excuse me if I make any minor errors in behaviour, I am afraid that lately most of my conversation has been had with young men and old bilious officers.”

“Both are green.”  Sophie smiled.

“So they are.”  He laughed. 

“I do not know if dispensation should be given to you, Mr. Fitzwilliam, after all you were raised by a countess and an earl, and I assume you had the best education that is available.” 

“Yes to both of those points, Miss Kelly, however, it is rare that I have had the chance to put those skills into practice amongst people who would not overlook my faux pas.”

“So you have not called upon a woman in her home before?”  Mr. Kelly asked.

“I thought that I was invited to dinner with your family.”  Robert looked at his father for a reaction and Richard smiled easily.  “As a matter of fact, though, I
have
called upon a lady in her home.  Quite recently.”

“Oh?”  Mrs. Kelly bristled on behalf of her daughter.

“Yes, I called upon a young woman while I was in Kent for my brother’s wedding. Mrs. Collins.”  He looked to Sophie, “Mrs. Darcy’s younger sister.” 

Sophie shook her head, “You tease us, Mr. Fitzwilliam.”

“I did no such thing.  You chose to rise to the bait.”  He winked.   

“Should I warn you now about proper behaviour, sir?”

“Sophie!”  Mrs. Kelly hissed.  “We are all hoping to know you better, sir.”  She took him by the arm and led him to a sofa.  “Please sit and relax.”  Smiling to himself, he took a seat and watched Sophie sit next to him.  Silence reigned as the brothers looked between their sister and the man at her side.

“I trust that Mr. and Mrs. Darcy are well?”  Mrs. Kelly asked, breaking into the thick atmosphere.

“They are very well.  I am certain that they are glad to be rid of me.”

“They do not like your company?”  Stephen asked with a touch of challenge in his voice.

“I would say that they prefer their own.”  Richard laughed. “But then they are newly married and have eyes only for each other.”  He noticed Sophie bite her lip. 

“What happened to your uniform?”  Adam asked.

“And your sword!”  Mitchell cried. 

“I decided to sell my commission.”  He smiled and bent towards the boy, “However I retained my sword.”

“Will you show me how to use it?”

“I would be glad to, in about three years.  But if you have a foil about the house, I can show you the ins and outs of fencing.  Mr. Darcy can join me, perhaps, and we can put on a show.”

“I think that Robert might show you a thing or two, Colonel.”  Mr. Kelly said proudly.

“Father, I have no doubt that the colonel could have me sliced and served on a platter faster than you can say grace.” 

Sophie interrupted.  “Well, this is pleasant.  What shall we discuss next?  Gaping wounds?  Thank goodness we are not eating.” 

“Miss Kelly, I meant no offense; I was only offering my expertise.” 

“You were posturing, sir, to match them.”  She waved her hand.  “I was hoping you were above that.”

“Above?”  Richard laughed.  “No, I am afraid that I am like any other healthy man.  Always measuring himself against the room.”

“Why would you resign your commission?”  Robert asked.  “When we last met, you seemed quite proud of your achievements.”

“I was, and am.”  He glanced at Sophie and plunged into the unspoken questions.  “My brother the viscount married our cousin, who happened to have been left heiress to a very sizable estate, significantly larger than the small estate associated with his title, Gladney.  Our aunt asked him if he and my cousin Anne would make their home at Rosings, and after discussing the matter with my father, the earl, he agreed.  This left Gladney with no master and me with a golden opportunity.”

“How generous of your brother!”  Mrs. Kelly cried.

“It is probably part of the entailment, dear.  So it is generous of your father.”  Mr. Kelly said thoughtfully as Richard inclined his head.  “And you have the income from this place.”

“Yes, sir.” 

“Papa, please.  If you must interrogate Mr. Fitzwilliam on such matters, leave it for after dinner.”  Sophie demanded.

“We are only curious about the colonel, dear.  For example, I can only wonder what would bring him back to Scotland now that he has an estate to run and undoubtedly much to learn.  As the Darcys only have eyes for each other, and Mrs. Darcy is in mourning, it is hardly the ideal time to be paying another call.” 

Richard looked to his hands and back up to Mr. Kelly.  “If you do not mind sir, I would appreciate leaving this conversation for later, as Miss Kelly asks.” 

Surprised, she smiled at him.  “Thank you, Mr. Fitzwilliam!”  

“You are welcome, Miss Kelly.”  He smiled at her and noticed the men staring.  “My cousin Darcy gave me a piece of advice this evening.  He said that if a lady changes the topic, then it is because she is embarrassed.  He said that it is either from lack of knowledge or from fear of exposing too much of it.” 

“A defensive posture.”  Mr. Kelly noted.  “That should play into your hands, sir.” 

“Indeed, although I prefer taking the offense.” 

“Mr. Fitzwilliam, while I appreciate your cousin’s lessons to you, I do not think that he asked you to reveal them before me.  All you have succeeded in doing now is embarrassing me.”

“Nonsense, I am not a mind reader, so how else may I determine which subjects are taboo?”

“By using common sense!”

“But your family brought them up.  Are you claiming they have no sense?”  He prodded.

She sighed.  “My family I know well.  I only hoped that you would not sink to their level.” 

“Sophie, that was uncalled for.”  Mrs. Kelly clucked. 

“I cannot pretend to be what I am not, Miss Kelly.  I apologize for not intuitively rising to your standards.”  Richard met her eye unflinchingly.  “I thought that to satisfy their questions would mean leaving us free to enjoy the evening together.  The elephant in the room would have been vanquished.”

“But you just agreed to change the subject.”  Robert pointed out.

“Until your sister opened it up for further examination.”  He looked to Sophie whose mouth was agape.  “Well you did.  You should not have thanked me.  That only encourages a man.”

She studied him and shook her head.  “I think that encouragement for you should be doled out sparingly.”  

“Why are you back in Scotland?”  Stephen asked.

“Because I promised I would be, and I am a man of my word.”  He never broke his gaze with Sophie.  “May we leave it at that for now?  I have no desire to antagonize Miss Kelly further.  I prefer to be on her right side, and she wants the subject changed.  Correct?”

“Correct.”  She pursed her lips. 

“I think that will be fine.  For now.”  Mr. Kelly smiled at his wife who was nodding her head.  “Now sir, what shall we speak of?  Horses, hunting, war . . .?”

“All such fascinating subjects.”  Sophie sighed. 

“Travel?”  Richard suggested.  “I have been to many places, and can tell many stories.  Tasteful ones if it is necessary.”

Sophie smiled and assured him, “It is necessary, sir.” 

“Where have you been?”  Adam asked.

“Were you at war there?  Did you ride into battle?”  Mitchell questioned eagerly.

Richard started laughing and the rest of the company joined in.  “I cannot win, as much as I try . . .”

“But you are trying.  That is what counts for me.”  Sophie said softly and their eyes met.  “Thank you.” 

“You are welcome.”  His ruddy complexion reddened a little more.  “Shall I interrogate you, now?”