Memory: Volume 3, How Far We Have Come, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) (60 page)

“Hmm?”  He looked to where she was pointing.  “Oh I suppose that Mrs. Annesley has the girls studying poetry.”  He sat up and smiled, helping her to sit up as well.  “I like her.”

“I do, too.”  Elizabeth’s brow furrowed.  “Fitzwilliam . . .” She stood and shaking out her skirts, she walked over to the table with a stack of books on top.  “Oh my!” 

“What is it?”  Rising to his feet, he adjusted himself and rebuttoned his breeches before joining her.  “What happened?”  He cried and picked up the books.  “They are ruined!”  Spinning he looked back at the shelves.  “More are missing than just these four.”  He picked up the books and started flipping through.  “Who would do such a thing?”

“I think that I know.”  Elizabeth put her hand to her mouth and bit back her laugh.  Darcy turned to her with demand in his eyes, and she held up the binding, and pointed to the teeth marks.

“Rosa?”

“Rosa.” 

“She ate my books!  How did she . . . why did nobody stop her!”

“That I cannot answer, and I think that she will not either.”  She rubbed his back as he looked at his precious books with dismay.  “What can we do?”

“I think we know what Mrs. Robbins was chastising her about.”  He ran his hand through his hair.  “I am at a loss.  It is surely too late to say anything.”

“From us, yes.  She will not know why we are upset.”  Elizabeth sank down on the table and picked up the torn page while Darcy knelt at the shelf to see which other books were missing.  He turned when she started to laugh.

“This is not amusing, Elizabeth.”

“No, it is not.”  She looked at him and began to read.  “
On a bank of flowers in a summer day for summer lightly dressed, the youthful blooming Nelly lay
w
ith love and sleep oppressed
;”
  She looked up at him and he stood and walked to her side.

“The youthful, blooming Lizzy lay.”

“
When Willie, wandering through the wood, who for her favour oft had sued, he gazed, he wished, he feared, he blushed, and trembled where he stood.
”
  She smiled at him.  “Did you ever tremble at the sight of me, my Willie?”

“Fitzwilliam.”  He whispered and touched the page.  “Yes.”

“
Her closed eyes, like weapons sheathed, were sealed in soft repose; her lip, still as she fragrant breathed, it richer dyed the rose; the springing lilies, sweetly pressed, wild-wanton kissed her rival breast, he gazed, he wished, he feared, he blushed, his bosom ill at rest.
  Elizabeth looked up at him and moved to rest against his chest, and listened to his thumping heart.  Darcy kissed her hair as she continued to read, “
Her robes, light waving in the breeze, her tender limbs embrace; her lovely form, her native ease, all harmony and grace; tumultuous tides, his pulses roll, a faltering, ardent kiss he stole,
  Darcy leaned and kissed her deeply, Elizabeth sighed, “
He gazed, he wished, he feared, he blushed, and sighed his very soul.

“I love you.”

Elizabeth kissed him and caressed his cheek.  “
As flies the partridge from the brake, on fear inspired wings, so Nelly . . .
”

“Lizzy.”  He breathed.

“
. . .
starting, half-awake, away affrighted springs
;
  She smiled and shook her head.  “Never.”  Darcy smiled and kissed her.  “
But Willie followed as he should, he overtook her in the wood; he vowed, he prayed, he found the maid, forgiving and all good.
”
⁸

“Beautiful.”  He hugged her.

“Shall we be like Nellie and be forgiving to our daughter?”  She smiled up at him. 

“We have no choice, I think.  But we should make inquiries as to what happened.”

“I think that Matthews was trying to tell us that before.”

“Probably.”  He sighed and looked at the torn page in her hand.  “We will have to speak to our daughter, undoubtedly numerous times.”

“And keep the library door shut until she understands.”

“Absolutely.”  Taking the poem from her, he carefully folded it and placed it into the pocket of his waistcoat.  “On a bank of flowers, Mrs. Darcy.” 

“Is that a suggestion or a promise?”

“Both.”  He turned her around and kissed her.  At last the gentle sound of the music box died.  “Happy Birthday, love.”

Chapter 19

T
he pounding hooves of a flying horse made Fitzwilliam turn quickly in his saddle and instinctively, he reached to touch his sword, only to slap his thigh.  “Damn it!  I did it again!”  He swore and staring at the approaching figure, his mouth dropped open in surprise.  “Darcy!”

“What was that move?”  He grinned and pointed at his cousin’s hand.  “Were you expecting the French?  In Derbyshire?  Rather far afield, don’t you think?”

Groaning, Fitzwilliam shook his head.  “You saw that?”

“Hard to miss, I am afraid.  I am glad to have never faced you or my head would assuredly be rolling on the ground.”  He held out his hand.  “I come in peace.”

“Very funny.”  They shook and smiled.  “I am still adjusting, I suppose.”

“I do not remember you drawing on anyone in London, or anywhere else for that matter.”  Darcy patted his mount and looked Fitzwilliam over.  “What was that about?”

“Nothing, think of it as a security blanket.”

“I would not admit that to anyone else but me, Richard.” 

“I can trust you with anything.”  He smiled and looked down.  “I never thanked you for that letter, but I was touched.  It relieved a great deal of misgivings.”

“Not enough it seems.”  Darcy tilted his head when Fitzwilliam looked back up.  “I have reports of you driving yourself into the ground, which was not the point of your coming here.  I understand the need to prove yourself, but there is no reason to make your condition worse in the process.  Who are you trying to impress?  Your father?  That is unnecessary.  And Layton will never admit it, but he admires you to the point of feeling quite inferior.”  He watched the surprise register on Fitzwilliam’s face.  “Slow down.  Observe.  Ask questions and learn.  That is all you need to do, well one more thing.  Heal.”  Hearing a sigh, he chuckled.  “Or is this a plan to somehow wrest control of Matlock from your brother by showing your father how much more suited you are to being master?”

“Now that is ridiculous!”

“Who tried to draw an imaginary blade?”  Darcy cried.  “What did you think I was going to do?”

“I have no idea.  Damn it Darcy, you were lost when you began, but at least you knew this was your destiny.  I never thought I would be in this position.  I never prepared for it!”

“Of course not, Matlock was not destined for you, and that is why you do not need to know every speck of soil in this estate.  You just need to know the mechanics.”  He lifted his chin.  “What are they about over there?”

Fitzwilliam followed his gaze.  “They are ploughing under the fields and planting winter crops.” 

“Good.”  He pointed to an orchard.  “And over there?”

“Pruning the fruit trees.” 

“Excellent.”  Darcy turned in his saddle and pointed to a barn.

“Putting the straw up in ricks and beginning the threshing.”  A slow smile started to lift Fitzwilliam’s lips. 

“What is taxed on the estate?”

“Everything.” 

Darcy chuckled.  “Well, not quite that much, but it seems that way.  Shall I continue your oral examination?”

“Please do.”  The two cousins slowly rode around the estate, beyond the home farm and into the fields kept by the tenants.  They discussed weather and crops, the need for compassion and a strong hand, the importance of good staff, and the responsibilities of the master.  Watching a herd of deer race by, Fitzwilliam at last relaxed.  “I am not as lost as I thought.”

“You had to pick up something from simply growing up here, and have been paying close attention since you arrived.  And you should continue to do so over the rest of the seasons.  Winter is not idle time, and spring is frantic with activity.”  Darcy watched him nod thoughtfully.  “And hopefully by then we will have found you a place of your own.”

Sitting up straight, he looked at Darcy sharply.  “Any possibilities showing themselves?”

“Yes, besides the Robinson estate, I know of two others that may suit.”

“Nearby?”

“Come back to the house and I will give you the particulars.”

“Thank you.”  Fitzwilliam turned his horse and they walked towards Matlock.  “Father has been trying to force me to slow down.  He threatened to hide my horse.”

“He would, too.”

“I am too stubborn, I suppose.  But here we have been riding for hours and I am not in terrible pain.”

“But you
are
in pain.  I know you far too well; I know your tricks for hiding emotion.  We are very much alike in the ability to don a mask.”  Darcy looked at him pointedly when he shook his head.  “You have had your chance to feel sorry for yourself, now the time to look ahead is here.  Enough.”

“Yes, Darcy.”  Richard smiled and still seeing the unrelenting glare, he held up his hands in surrender.  “I promise; I know that you will not hesitate to come and correct me if I do not, and I know that whoever brought you here will not hesitate to rat me out again.  Are you here alone?”

“No, Elizabeth is with Evangeline.”

“Just could not leave her at home, could you?”  Fitzwilliam laughed at his satisfied smile.  “I guess we will join you at Matlock for dinner.”

“I do not know; we are guests of the dower house.  It is up to your good wife to make that decision.”  Fitzwilliam tilted his head and Darcy groaned.  “We are here to visit
you
,
Richard.  We will visit the mansion before we leave tomorrow, but we are here for you.  In
your
home.  Uncle has no idea that we came today.  Well, by now he probably knows.”

Fitzwilliam stared.  “I am without words.”

“Will wonders never cease!  You do not live in a tent.”  Darcy reminded him.

“No, I do not.”  He sat up.  “Was that a boot applied to my behind?”

“It shows how thick your hide is, I believe I have been kicking it since I arrived!”  Darcy laughed.  “Out of the saddle, Colonel.  It is time to hone your skills as a gentleman.”

“I do not need lessons for that, thank you.”

“I disagree.”

“You would.”  They laughed and Fitzwilliam eyed him.  “You really drove out here for one night just to berate me?”

“Yes.”  Darcy said simply and lifted his brow.  “Well?”

“I suppose that I had better listen, then.   Thank you.”

“You are welcome.”  Looking ahead, Darcy spotted the small stable by the dower house.  “What say you to a little wager?”

“First to the barn?”

“First to kiss his wife.”  Darcy’s lips twitched and Fitzwilliam snorted. 

“Prize?”

Kicking his horse, Darcy took off and called over his shoulder.  “The kiss, you idiot!”

“I AM SO GRATEFUL that you came.”  Eva poured out the tea and handed Elizabeth her cup.  She looked out of the window for the thousandth time.  “I am at my wits’ end with him!”

“Fitzwilliam is either making headway or they are rolling on the ground in a fight, either way they will be back when they are ready.  Stop worrying!”  Seeing that distracting her was increasingly hopeless, Elizabeth continued, “Do you think that he has actually grown worse since moving here?”

“He surely has not grown better.”  Evangeline took a sip of her tea and set it down.  “He was shot, he was stabbed, how he emerged with his legs intact is a miracle.  The doctor was poised above him, saw in hand, a corporal was ladling gin down his throat, four men stood by his side, ready to hold down his arms and body . . .”  Tears began to roll down her cheeks, “Then another man stuck  a piece of wood in his mouth to bite.  Oh I cannot bear to think of the horror!”

Elizabeth moved to her side and hugged her.  “How did he escape such a fate?”

“Doctor Brandon was there, he said that they had better treat the stab to his stomach since that would kill him quicker than his legs.  Poor Richard fell unconscious then, and was only half-awake for the long journey back to England.  He was so ill.”  She wiped her eyes.  “He found out later in London that it was a ruse, he said that the doctor could not stand to see another man lose his life when he lost his limbs.  He knew that Richard would rather be dead than be left maimed.” 

“I would have to agree with that.  Can you imagine Richard being dependant on someone?”

“Oh, he would be a miserable patient!”  Evangeline sniffed and wiped her eyes again.

“I can see his nurses muttering about him.  Men are the worst of patients at the best of times.”  Elizabeth laughed.  “I swear there is something absolutely pathetic about a strapping man felled by a cold.”

“I cannot disagree with that.”  Lady Matlock appeared at the door with Alicia.  “My butler informed me that you arrived three hours ago, Mrs. Darcy.”

“We did.”  Elizabeth stood and embraced them both.  “We came to visit Eva and Richard.”  Her eyes sparkled.  “We would have come to see you before departing tomorrow, Lady Helen.”

“Hmm, I am not so sure.  Where is Rosalie?”

“At home with Georgiana and Kitty.”  Elizabeth said softly.  “Mr. Bingley is the responsible adult.” 

“Oh, you came alone!”  Alicia cheered.  “Are you frantic?”

“After she disappeared the other day and was found in the library eating Fitzwilliam’s books, I confess to increased apprehension.  But the staff is now fully aware that she is mobile.”

“How did she escape?  The nursery is two floors above the library.”  Lady Matlock demanded.  “I presume that your staff is somewhat lighter?  Lucky for you the quarter is ending and the hiring fairs are on.”