Mr. Darcy's Proposal (42 page)

Georgiana frowned and set aside her needlework. “You sound very serious. Have I done something to bring you displeasure?”

“No, it is nothing like that,” Elizabeth assured her.

Georgiana’s eyes widened. “Is there going to be a baby?”

Both Elizabeth and Darcy blushed. Darcy recovered first. “No, this concerns the matter that took Elizabeth and me to London last month,” he said.

“I did wonder what had happened when you both left with hardly any explanation,” she replied.

“There is no easy way to tell you this, my dear. It involves Mr. Wickham,” Elizabeth began. Georgiana’s eyes widened but she said nothing. “He attempted to elope with another girl about your age,” said Elizabeth.

“Oh, no! That poor girl,” said Georgiana, her face full of concern.

“The outcome was better than we had first hoped,” Darcy explained, “and they are now married.”

“I see, but why did this concern you, Brother. He has no connection to us any longer.”

“That is the more delicate part of the matter. The young lady to whom he is now married is Elizabeth’s sister, Lydia.”

As Darcy mentioned Elizabeth’s name, he reached over and gently put a hand on her arm. She was completely taken by surprise by this easy, intimate gesture and she laid her other hand over his. Georgiana moved over to sit beside her brother putting her head on his shoulder. He placed his arm around his sister protectively.

“I am so sorry that you ever had to hear his name again, let alone learn that he is now related to us by marriage. It is the last thing I wanted,” said Elizabeth. She reached across Darcy to take her sister’s hand, and Georgiana squeezed back. After that she sat up very straight and drew her shoulders back. When she spoke, she sounded so grown up that Elizabeth would forever mark this day in her mind—Georgiana was no longer a little girl.

“Elizabeth, you are not responsible for the foolish actions of your sister. I am so very sorry for dear Lydia, but at least they are married. That is something,” said Georgiana.

“The truth is he never intended to marry Lydia. It was only by your brother’s doing that they were discovered and Mr. Wickham persuaded to agree to the marriage.”

Georgiana sighed and shook her head sadly. “Will we have to see him?” she asked hesitantly.

“No, he has a new commission in the regulars, and his post is way up in Newcastle. In fact, he and Lydia will not be attending Jane’s wedding,” he said, trying to reassure her. Georgiana took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

“Poor Lydia. I cannot imagine being tied for life to a man such as that.” After another sigh, she said, “Now I think I will play some music for you. Would you like that? I have been working on a new piece I think you will enjoy.”

As they listened to the soothing melody, Elizabeth moved closer to Darcy on the sofa. Instead of moving away, he put his arm around her. As she felt the heat radiating from his body and then spreading through her, she realized she had not been truly warm in a very long time.

***

The day following their little talk with Georgiana, Darcy surprised her with an invitation to go riding, and she accepted with pleasure. She took great care to dress in her smartest riding outfit and made Margaret fix her hair three times before she was pleased with the outcome.

When they reached the stables, Elizabeth felt a bit uneasy. She had not ridden Sonnet in some time and wondered if the little horse would remember her. As if he knew what she was thinking, Darcy produced an apple for her to feed to Sonnet. After rubbing the little horse’s nose and talking with her for a short time, she could hardly wait to ride again.

Reaching a favorite look out point on the hill, they stopped. They were looking down at the house from a point on the opposite side of the valley from the one they always stopped at when they journeyed home. The view took her breath away every time she saw it.

“I have been receiving reports about your charitable work on the estate,” he began.

“I hope I am doing some good,” said Elizabeth.

“You are doing more than that,” he said. “Your efforts are strengthening our relationship with our tenants. Although the baskets and gifts continued after my mother died, it was not the same as having a member of the family involved. Everyone speaks very highly of you.”

“I see the hard life these people have and I want to do what I can for them,” she said.

“Elizabeth, I thank you for what you are doing. I know that your concern for these people is sincere, and so do they. That is what makes them care so much for you.”

Elizabeth was pleased to hear his words of praise and she hoped when he said the tenants cared for her that he might be expressing how he was feeling, too. “What is done from love needs no thank-you. This is my home now.” As she said it, she felt it in her heart. Pemberley had become a part of her. It was more her home than even Longbourn had been.

Darcy looked at her as if he was going to say something but then thought better of it. Still, Elizabeth sensed he had something more to say so she waited quietly. “Elizabeth, I wanted to tell you that you were right in insisting we talk to Georgiana about Wickham and Lydia. I thank you for your good advice.”

“I am happy I was able to be helpful,” she replied.

“I knew she needed someone like you.” As he turned his horse back toward the stables, she thought she heard him add, “We both did,” but his voice was so soft that she could not be certain.

Fifty Six

After they had been home at Pemberley for a few weeks, Elizabeth received a message that little Janie Cooper had been injured. Generally, in a case like this, the mistress of the estate was not expected to attend, but Elizabeth had developed a special connection with the little girl over the course of her visits. The last time she visited their house before going to London, Janie had presented her with a small stick doll with little scraps of cloth tied on to make a gown. The idea that this little angel could be hurt tore at Elizabeth’s heart.

She sent a message to Cook who packed up a nice piece of roast beef, some potatoes and fresh bread for her to take along. The last thing Mrs. Cooper needed to be concerned about was making dinner for hungry children. One of the young footmen, Hardy, who often accompanied her on her visits, was dispatched to bring the curricle around.

As soon as they were out of sight of the house, Elizabeth insisted on taking the reins. She had begun learning to drive even before her trip to London, as it pleased her to do more than just sit and be carried from place to place.

Hardy had protested at first, but acceded when he saw there was nothing for him to do but let her have her own way. He insisted on lessons, telling her that if she was going to handle the horses, at least she should know how to do it properly. Upon reaching the Cooper’s cottage, she was relieved to see the doctor’s horse already tied outside.

***

“She climbed one of the tall ladders when no one was looking and tried to help with the apple picking,” said one of the other children as soon as Elizabeth reached the door. Mrs. Cooper looked surprised to see the mistress of the great house but seemed glad to have the supplies Elizabeth had brought.

Janie was lying on a small cot in one corner of the room. It was clear at a glance that her arm was broken. Since the doctor and Mrs. Cooper seemed to have things well in hand, Elizabeth began talking to some of the other children to distract them. Rounding them up, she took them outside for a little picnic, and kept them entertained with stories of when she was young.

When it was time to say her farewells, Elizabeth asked to speak with Janie for a moment. Kneeling down beside the bed, she gently brushed some strands of damp hair back from the little girl’s tearstained face. In spite of being groggy from the laudanum the doctor had given her for the pain, Janie’s face brightened when she saw her friend. Elizabeth whispered to her for a minute, then Janie managed a small smile. She kissed the little girl on the forehead and stood to leave.

As Mrs. Cooper walked her out, she asked, “What ever did you say that made her smile, Mrs. Darcy?”

“I told her the little doll she gave me on my last visit had been to London and had accompanied me to several very nice parties and a wedding.”

Mrs. Cooper shook her head. “You certainly have a way with the little ones, ma’am. I was just about to shoo the other children away when I saw you had already distracted them. I thank you.”

“I am glad to see that she is feeling better,” said Elizabeth.

“You were more help than you know. It left me both hands to help the doctor without any of the others in the way. If you will forgive me speaking plainly, I think you will be a wonderful mother someday.”

Tears sprung to Elizabeth’s eyes as she thanked Mrs. Cooper and took her leave. The only thing on her mind was returning home and talking to Darcy about her day.

Although exhausted, Elizabeth still wanted to take the reins on the return trip. She and Hardy went through their usual routine—she asked, he declined, she insisted, and he gave in. When they had left on their errand in the early afternoon, it had been unseasonably warm for November. On the way home, it suddenly began to grow colder. A bitter wind whipped up the trees and a storm seemed imminent. The rain began as a steady drip and finally a downpour. In just a few minutes, they were both soaked to the skin.

Hardy begged her to allow him drive and finally she agreed. Just as she was in the process of handing over the reins, a streak of lightning flashed very close-by. It was immediately followed by a loud crack as a tree was struck by the lightning. Almost simultaneously, they heard booming thunder. The horse, terrified by the light and the noise, bolted dragging the curricle along behind at a frightening speed. Elizabeth pulled on the reins as hard as she could, but it was beyond her strength. By the time she tried to pass the reins over to Hardy again, the situation was already out of control. They careened along until the wheel hit a rut in the road. The next thing she knew, she was on the ground. Elizabeth lay very still, checking herself over for injuries. While nothing appeared to be broken, she ached all over and was shaking.

Through the rain, she could see the curricle nearby was a twisted mess. Hardy, who by some miracle had jumped clear of the wreck and was unhurt, ran to check on her. Although she tried to assure him she was not seriously injured, she could not miss the panicked look on his face as he stared at the right side of her head. Reaching up to check what he was looking at, she located a large bump on the side of her head. Pulling her hand down, she saw it was covered with blood.

“Do not look so worried! I just need something to stop the bleeding. Do you have a handkerchief?” Hardy did not look convinced. “Head wounds always bleed excessively. Truly, I feel just fine.”

It was immediately clear that despite her protestations of being “just fine,” she was unable to stand on her own. Scooping her up, Hardy carried her to the shelter of the overturned curricle. Taking off his coat, he draped it over Elizabeth to help keep her warm and dry. He tied the nervous horse to a tree and took off at a run for the nearby stables.

The thunder was in the distance, but the bitter rain showed no signs of letting up. By the time Hardy returned with some men and a wagon, Elizabeth was so cold that she wondered if she would ever be warm again. Just a few minutes after that, Mrs. Reynolds arrived carrying her special basket filled with ointments, salves, and bandages. The motherly housekeeper examined the bump on Elizabeth’s head and pressed a fresh cloth on the wound. Although Mrs. Reynolds tried to hide her concern, Elizabeth could tell she was worried.

“Margaret will not be happy with me for getting blood on my gown,” Elizabeth said, trying to make light of the situation. Mrs. Reynolds said nothing as she kept pressure on the wound. “Do you think the blood will come out?” Elizabeth asked through chattering teeth.

“We must take her home as quickly as possible. She needs to be out of this miserable weather and warmed up,” ordered Mrs. Reynolds taking command of the situation as if she were drilling a military unit.

Hardy took the wagon and transported Elizabeth and Mrs. Reynolds to the main house. As soon as they arrived, one of the footmen carried Elizabeth to her room where Margaret was waiting. Hot water was already being poured for a bath. They stripped off her wet, bloody clothing and helped her into the tub. Between the efforts of Margaret and Mrs. Reynolds, Elizabeth found herself washed, dressed, and tucked into bed almost before she knew it. Fortunately, her head had stopped bleeding before they returned to the house. Dr. James arrived soon after Elizabeth was in bed. Upon examining the wound, he pronounced it was not serious and no stitches would be necessary.

Then he checked her over very thoroughly and found no broken bones. As the he was completing his examination, he coughed into his hand nervously. “Mrs. Darcy, is there any chance that you are with child?”

Elizabeth could feel the heat of embarrassment radiating from her face. She lowered her eyes. “No, that is not possible.”

“I only ask because if you might be, then my examination would be a bit more, ah…extensive.”

Elizabeth did not look up but shook her head “no” again. Just at that moment, Darcy arrived out of breath. His usual good manners seemed to have abandoned him, as he had rushed into the room without so much as a knock.