Mary Simonsen - A Wife for Mr Darcy

“I understand. I truly do. But I must ask for your continued patience. I leave for London in the morning, and the matter that awaits me there will be settled. I am looking forward to a time when I may speak freely—when nothing binds me to silence.”

Lizzy saw the struggle in his eyes and leaned forward and put her cheek against his and rested it there for a moment before wishing him Godspeed and a successful journey.

After the maid had helped her out of her dress, Lizzy went to the dressing table so that Ellie could take down her hair. This was the part of having a maid that Lizzy had come to enjoy the most—someone brushing her hair. At home, Jane and she took turns, but here, she had the pleasure of someone running a brush through her hair night after night and doing so until asked to stop. But after tomorrow, she was back to taking turns with Jane.

“I hope you don’t mind, miss, but me and Lucy, Mrs. Gardiner’s maid, snuck downstairs and had a peek at the dancing. I never seen anything like it before.”

“Were you shocked, Ellie? Because, at first, I know I was. But the movements are so elegant. It is as if you are floating on a cloud, and everything is spinning all around you. It is exhilarating.”

“I was there when Mrs. Gardiner was dancing with His Lordship, and because her dress is wider than yours or Miss Darcy’s, it made it look like she was a spinning top—but a beautiful one. And I saw you dance with the master, and you were a right handsome pair.”

Lizzy steered the conversation away from Mr. Darcy. She felt it inappropriate to discuss the master of Pemberley with one of his servants, but she could not help but be pleased with Ellie’s comment.

Just before leaving, her maid reminded her that the letter that had come for her that morning was on the writing desk.

“Thank you. I had forgotten. I am sure it is from my sister,” and she was equally sure that Jane was writing to tell her that Lydia was doing her best not to return home from Brighton.

But after retrieving the post, Lizzy decided that she wasn’t quite ready to read her sister’s letter. Instead, as she lay on the bed staring at the pleated rose canopy, she remembered her last dance with Mr. Darcy and the feel of his hand around her waist and how he had brought her closer to him with each turn until they were only inches apart. The only way Mr. Darcy could have been closer to her was if he had actually pulled her into an embrace. She then remembered the previous night’s dream when Mr. Darcy had come to her bed, and she went over the scene again and again. Turning on her side, she pulled the pillow to her and dozed off in Mr. Darcy’s arms, and Jane’s letter lay unread on the bed.

“Richard, Antony, let us have a brandy in the study,” Darcy offered. Hearing the word “brandy” was enough to get His Lordship on his feet. After taking a drink, he remarked, “It is excellent, Darcy. Do you have it smuggled in from France?”

“My man arranges it. Apparently, Mercer has contacts on the coast from his coaching days, and because of Napoleon’s wars, the importers of wines and spirits from France are the ones who are suffering. It is my way of showing my support for the merchant class.”

“As a Tory and one who rarely supports any Whig policies, I must say I agree with this one,” and Antony raised his glass to allow the light to pass through the liquor. “If I had any ready cash, I would go and talk to Mercer myself.” Because Darcy made no cutting remarks about his profligate ways and seeing that he was in an agreeable mood, Antony decided to tease him. “Darcy, I feel I must point out that you are now twice in my debt.”

“Twice? How so?”

“The first, Sir John Montford, you already know. As for the second, if I had not suggested dancing the waltz, you would not have had that lovely creature in your arms.”

Darcy looked at Richard. How much had he told his brother about his feelings for Elizabeth?

“Oh, do not look at Richard. You never could hide your emotions. That is why you do not win at cards.”

“I see you are enjoying yourself at my expense.”

“I have to admit that I am. I do not think I have ever seen you more vulnerable. It almost makes you human and, therefore, much more like me.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.”

“Your being human or much more like me?” and the three men laughed. It was a rare event, but Darcy had to admit he owed the earl a debt of gratitude.

“May I take you up on your offer to stay at Pemberley for a few days? I am rarely in the country these days because Briarwood is falling apart, and it is damn depressing to hear my steward drone on and on about all that needs to be done on the outside and then to have to listen to the same thing from my butler and housekeeper. I have stopped reading their letters.”

“Yes, Georgiana will be here for another two weeks or so. Now that she has the responsibilities of the mistress of the manor, she wants to learn the ropes and will spend her time with Mrs. Reynolds and Mrs. Bradshaw.”

“But, hopefully, she will not have those responsibilities for much longer as you will be bringing your bride to Pemberley.”

“Before you announce my engagement to the world, Antony, may I remind you that there are things to be done in London first?”

“I agree there are loose ends that need to be tied up, but surely the matter is settled in favor of Elizabeth?”

“Yes, the matter is settled in my mind, and I am eager to be in London to settle it in fact. But until I have spoken to Miss Montford or her father, I do not want anything regarding the matter spread abroad.”

“I look forward to wishing you joy, and I might add that I envy you. My parents determined who my bride would be, and look how well that turned out! And poor Richard over there must marry a woman of wealth. You, however, will marry for love.”

“Before we break out the champagne, Antony, tell Will what is going on in London,” Richard said. “It may affect his plans, and you know he will say nothing.”

“Yes, I can see how that might happen,” and Antony revealed the continuing tragedy of George III. “Apparently, the death of Princess Amelia has pushed our king over the edge. He is no longer capable of ruling, and there will be no coming back this time. The wheels have begun to turn to make the Prince of Wales his regent, and it will happen early in the new year.”

“I am very sorry to hear it, but how does this news affect me personally?”

“The king’s list will remain unchanged, and Sir John Montford will be given his barony. However, his ties are to the king, and he has said some imprudent things about the Prince of Wales. Once the prince is made regent, he will cut everyone who ever criticized him.”

“That is no hardship on my part. I do not run with that crowd.”

“Will, don’t you see what could happen?” Richard asked. “Once Sir John learns that his friendship with the king will not work in his favor, he might be willing to overlook your politics in order to access your connections, and he may insist on your marrying his daughter.”

“But you just said no announcement is to be made regarding His Majesty until after the new year, so Miss Montford and I will have parted company long before then.”

“Darcy, Darcy, Darcy! Sometimes your naïveté amazes me,” Antony said. “London leaks like a sieve. The news is already starting to come out, and Sir John is likely to hear of it. So be sure that ending your courtship with Miss Montford is your first order of business, or it may end up being your last.”

Lizzy was still clinging to her pillow when she heard Colonel Fitzwilliam and his brother come up the stairs. She did not mind the disruption because her waking thoughts were even more pleasant than her dreams, and flashes of the evening passed through her mind: the dance, the touch, looking into his eyes and seeing hope there, and resting her cheek against his. If only he had kissed her, the evening would have been perfect.

When Lizzy turned on her back, she felt the crush of Jane’s letter beneath her, and since the candle by her bed still burned, she began to read it.

My Dear Sister,

I hope you are enjoying your stay in Derbyshire and that it continues to be the ideal holiday for you. Although I regret writing anything that might take away from the pleasure of your visit, I must write of my concerns about Lydia. In her last two letters, she mentioned that a particular lieutenant was paying her a good deal of attention, someone she already knew from Meryton. She then wrote to Kitty to say that the officer’s first name began with a “G,” and when she next wrote, she indicated that his last initial was “W.” When I asked if the initials, G.W., belonged to Mr. Wickham, Kitty said that they did.