Memory: Volume 3, How Far We Have Come, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) (67 page)

“She does not understand pursuits of work and pursuits of the heart.”  He smiled and kissed Mary’s cheek.  “Any other pearls of observation?”

“Nothing any different from the usual.”  She pointed at the back of the barouche.  “She did present us with a gift.”

Curiously, he lifted out a portrait.  “This is Anne.”  He looked up.  “Why would she want to be rid of it?”

“She said that it belongs in Rosings.”

Mrs. de Bourgh sighed and looked at the image of the sickly woman.  “I have a suspicion.  Mary, would your mother treasure a portrait of you or Elizabeth?”

“Treasure?”  Mary looked confused.  “No.  But she might brag about us to guests for our successful marriages.”

“Ah that is it.  She no longer wishes to look upon her daughter; it reminds her of the girl who died before achieving her goal to remain mistress.”

“Perhaps she feels guilt for how she neglected her.”  Peter suggested.

Mary glared.  “Anne should stay with her, to remind her of how she died!”

“And she would respond that if she had not died, your husband would not be the master, he would still be on a ship somewhere, and you would be a spinster.”  Mrs. de Bourgh looked at the portrait sadly.

“Well, I am the master, and this was once the mistress.  Let’s give her a place of honour in our home.  She belongs here.”  He smiled at Mary.  “This will be a reminder to us how to care for our children one day.”

“I did not need Lady Catherine to remind me of that.”  She hurried ahead of him and opened the front door.  “I had my own to teach me that.”

“DO NOT BE RIDICULOUS, LIZZY!”  Mrs. Bennet exclaimed.  “Of course you are staying here!  We have all the room in the world!  You can take your old chamber and Mr. Darcy may have Jane’s, and of course Kitty will be in her old room.  I suppose we have a place for your maid in the cellar.”

“Mrs. Annesley is
not
a maid, Mama.  She is Kitty’s companion.  It is a mark of her,” Elizabeth thought quickly, “standing that she has a companion to guide her through her coming out.”

“Her standing!”  Mrs. Bennet preened. 

“Yes, Mama.”  Elizabeth glanced at Darcy who turned away to hide his expression, and noticed Lucas shaking his head.  “After all, she did attend one of the most fashionable schools for girls in London; it would not do for her to lose all the good of that education by not having it reinforced now that she is out.  Mrs. Annesley will make sure that she is well-versed in what is required to make a very successful match.  So you must be sure to let her do her job, she knows what is required to prepare Kitty for her future life.”

“Kitty is so fortunate to have these opportunities, Mama.”  Jane added. 

“Yes!  And with your connections you will put her in the way of rich men!  Just imagine what my granddaughter will have!”  Mrs. Bennet said eagerly and bending towards Rosalie stood up in surprise when the baby squealed and ran blindly into Jane’s legs.  She lifted her up and cooed, swaying back and forth, then meeting Elizabeth’s eye, walked out of the room and outside.  Lucas followed after her.  Mrs. Bennet recovered herself.  “Well.  She may stay in the attic.”

“I was thinking of the small chamber by Kitty’s, Mama.”  Elizabeth said quietly. 

“That seems appropriate.”  Mr. Bennet spoke up. 

“Oh.  Very well then.  I suppose that is fine.  Now then, Mrs. Darcy, you will be staying . . .”

“Mrs. Bennet, we are guests of Mr. Bingley.  We will be departing for Netherfield directly.”  Darcy took Elizabeth’s hand and placed it on his arm.  “Clearly our daughter is in need of rest.”

“But Mr. Darcy, I have never hosted you!”  She protested then stopped.  “But since you are to be in residence there, we will have to call upon Netherfield to see you.”  Everyone could almost see the gears turning in her mind.  “And then Kitty may meet him!”

“I have already met him, Mama.”  Kitty said with a sigh.  “Many times.”

“That is not what I meant.”  Mrs. Bennet said sharply.

“No, it is not, Mrs. Bennet, but fortunately, I
did
understand your meaning.  Leave the man be.  He will have every other mother of the neighbourhood hounding him.  He does not need you adding to his burden.”  Mr. Bennet spoke decisively and when he looked away he caught Darcy giving him an approving nod.  “If he is attracted to our daughter, he will have ample opportunity to make that known, but we will not chase him like some prize turkey.”

“Goose.”  Elizabeth said softly.  “Mr. Bingley is too handsome to be a turkey.”

“A truly noble bird.”  Darcy’s lips twitched and he saw her eyes light up.

“But he is silly enough to be a goose?” 

“A gander, love.”  He whispered.  “Do not emasculate the poor man.”

“I would not think of it.” 

“Lizzy!”  Mrs. Bennet cried.  “What on earth are you doing, talking of birds!  Mr. Darcy, how you manage to tolerate this girl running on as she does; I will never know!”

Darcy’s hand squeezed Elizabeth’s. “Mrs. Darcy is the most intelligent and fascinating woman I have ever known madam, to apply the measure of tolerability to her is an insult to her worth.” 

“Did I insult you, Lizzy?”  Mrs. Bennet demanded.

She sighed.  “Not directly, Mama.”

Lucas stuck his head in the door.  “Rosalie is becoming quite restive.”

“Yes, she has had a disruption to her routine.”  Elizabeth looked up at Darcy.  “We really must go.”

“That child does not travel well.”  Mrs. Bennet sniffed.  “As soon as she saw me she began to cry.”

“She is tired, Mama.”  Elizabeth murmured.  They began to leave and Mrs. Bennet caught Elizabeth’s arm.  She let go of Darcy and he reluctantly continued out with the rest of the family.  “Yes, Mama?”

“Lizzy, I did not want to say this in front of Mr. Darcy, but,” she glanced around, “you must watch what you eat.”

“Pardon?”

“I know that you live the high life with him, but you are looking quite round in the face, Miss Lizzy.  And your middle is thickening.  You do not want to drive Mr. Darcy away!  You must give him a son, but it will not do for him to have to lie with an unappealing wife.  I suppose all that walking you used to do had some usefulness, but now you are getting fat and lazy!”

Elizabeth’s mouth dropped open.  “Fat and lazy?”

“You said that he will never take a mistress, but if you continue to widen as you are, he will surely be driven to take one to satisfy his carnal desires.  No man wants to visit an ugly woman, and he should not have to work so hard to do his duty.”

“I . . . Work hard?” 

“Well to ignore your looks, of course, and as you grow, it will only become more difficult to . . . you know.”  She nodded knowingly.  “You might have to lay in undignified ways!”

“Undignified?”  She blinked and tried to wrap her mind around the visions her mother inspired.

Nodding vigorously, she continued, “Now dear Jane is doing her duty by Mr. Lucas, and I am certain that she will give him a son, just look at how pregnancy suits her!   She simply glows as she increases!  But she is so beautiful, how can she not?  I knew right away that she was with child.”  She watched from the window as Jane handed Rosalie over to Darcy.  “My baby holding a baby, it makes one quite emotional.  She will be a wonderful mother.”

“Rosalie is
my
baby.”  Elizabeth said softly, passing her hand over the one she carried.  Looking around the familiar environment of her childhood, she felt very much like the little girl being found wanting once again.

Mrs. Bennet continued her scolding.  “Yes, and you will never have another if you continue to let yourself go!  Mr. Darcy should not have to swallow his disgust to get his son!”

Elizabeth snapped out of her reverie, “Enough, Mama.  You have absolutely no idea of what you speak, and I have no intention of listening to more of this balderdash.  I am leaving now before I say something I will undoubtedly not regret.”  She spun on her heel and headed straight for the carriage.  “Good night, Papa.”  She nodded to him.  “Kitty, bless you for staying here, you know that we will come to your rescue if needed.”  She took Rosalie right out of Darcy’s arms and hugged her fiercely.  “Come, sweetheart.” 

“Elizabeth?”  Darcy looked back to the house.  “What on earth did she say?

Jane stood by her, “Lizzy?”

“I will visit you at Lucas Lodge, Jane.”  She blinked and kissed her cheek.  “Good night.”  Climbing into the coach, she sat down with Rosalie and hugged her.  Darcy was torn between comforting her and wringing Mrs. Bennet’s neck. 

“I will find out what this is about.”  Mr. Bennet said quietly.  “Perhaps my daughter is a little more prone to emotion at the moment?”  He raised his brow.  “It is clear as day, Son.”

“I will not deny it, but it is too early to confirm.”  Darcy said tightly and looked at the house.  “Elizabeth may be emotional sir, but I think that we are agreed that she would not practically run from her mother’s side without cause.  We were both hesitant to make his journey to Netherfield due to the proximity to Longbourn, and I am shocked that our worst fears are apparently coming true within minutes of our arrival.  I will do whatever is necessary to protect my family, sir.”  He fixed his unblinking eyes upon Mr. Bennet.  “Do you understand?”

“I do.”

“Thank you.”  He turned to Lucas. “I am certain that we will meet soon enough.”

“If there is anyone else in the world that understands, it is I.”  They shook hands and Darcy climbed into the carriage.  Waving it off, Lucas looked at Mr. Bennet.  “Well?”

“What could she have said to upset Lizzy so quickly?”  They watched Jane and Kitty enter the house and looked at each other, and with a sigh, Mr. Bennet followed.

“What did she say, love?”  Darcy wrapped his arms around his girls.  “Tell me and I will throttle her for you.”  He tried to smile, but quiet fury was evident in his voice.

“Once, just once I would like my mother to acknowledge that I am a success.”  She blinked back her tears. 

His brow creased as he tried to understand what happened.  “According to Jane; it seems that the neighbourhood is bored to tears with stories of Pemberley and Darcy House.  And she talks of Rosalie, I understand.”

“She might bore the neighbourhood but she never ever tells me these things.”  She wiped her eyes.  “She only tells me how unworthy I am, and how I am failing, and . . .”  She sniffed and he hugged her.  “I felt like I was ten again.”

“What did she say?”  Darcy whispered insistently. 

“I am growing fat and that you will not desire me anymore.  No man wants to take a fat woman to his bed.”  He stared in complete shock.  “Yes Fitzwilliam she said that.  She would have gone into even more excruciating detail had I let her.  Jane is wonderful because she is pregnant, but can my mother, who can spot a pregnant woman at fifty paces, determine I am pregnant?  No!  I am fat and ugly, and you will never want to touch me!”  She sobbed and Darcy held her close.  “It will never change, will it?  We can correct her and warn her, she might do better in company and perhaps be less silly, but when it all comes down to it, I am the much unwanted child and nothing, absolutely nothing I do will ever be good enough.”

“Dearest . . .”

“And it does not matter that she thinks you are handsome and rich, and she even says some nice things of you.  I . . . I will never be wonderful because anything bad that happens is my fault.  I broke up Jane and Mr. Harwick.  I broke up Jane and Mr. Bingley . . . and that is another thing, we have told her that Kitty is not going to be pushed at Mr. Bingley!  You know full well that she will try her hardest to make that match!  One of her daughters will live in Netherfield!”  She squeezed Rosalie and she squealed.  “I am sorry sweetheart, I am sorry.”  She kissed her cheek.  “I promise, I will never ever treat you this way.”   Sighing, she rested her cheek on her daughter’s bonnet.  “I do not even know that she realizes what she is doing.”

“Elizabeth Darcy.”  He said firmly.

“mamamamamamama”

“Yes, Mama.”  Darcy kissed Rosalie’s cheek then lifted Elizabeth’s chin so he could smile in her eyes.  “Elizabeth Darcy might have a miserable mother, but she is the most beautiful woman I have ever known, and I can barely contain my desire at any time, but especially now when I know our child grows within you.  You are the most wonderful mother I have ever known, our children are blessed.”  He kissed her tears away.  “We are here for Bingley, and we are here to relax.  I will not allow your mother to upset you again.”  His stare became intense, and Elizabeth stroked his cheek, trying to calm him.

“What will you do, muzzle her?” 

“It is a thought.”  He closed his eyes and fought back against the familiar beginnings of a headache.  “Perhaps a fashionable gag?”

“A straight jacket composed of silk so she can brag about it on the way to Bedlam.”  She wiped her eyes with her hand and Darcy took out his handkerchief to do a better job.  “Thank you.”

“We are going to have a wonderful time here.”  Darcy said seriously.  “We are going to see our good friends; we will see our sister and brother.  We will for once be the guests and be free to play.  Do not let your mother’s foolishness hurt this time.  After all, we do have a game to play, do we not?”

“Yes.”  Elizabeth smiled and hugged Rosalie, whose eyes were blinking shut. 

“Good.”  He looked up as they stopped in front of Netherfield, “Here we are.” 

“Darcy!”  Bingley bounded down the steps.  “Mrs. Darcy!  And ohhhh Miss Rosalie!”  His face fell when she ducked her head and clung to Elizabeth’s neck.  “I frightened you!  Forgive me!” 

“It is fine, Mr. Bingley, she is just a little shy.  I am afraid that my mother was rather overwhelming.”  Elizabeth kissed her daughter.  “But we are fine now, are we not, dear?”

“Of course we are.”  Darcy smiled and touched Rosalie’s bonnet.  “I certainly am happy to have arrived.”

“No secret there.”  Elizabeth whispered.

Chuckling, he shook Bingley’s hand.  “She will warm up to you soon, then you may tell your staff to beware of her antics.” 

“I look forward to them.”  He stepped up to smile softly and touch Rosalie’s hand.  “You are not afraid of Uncle Charles are you?  Come, you have to teach me how to play with children, I might have a niece soon!”