Page 23 of Fitzwilliam Darcy An Honourable Man

Pemberley

After seeing the destroyed animals and listening to Mr. Campbell’s warning about the wolf, William had mandated that all the men at Pemberley carry arms. Likewise, he stationed guards in various sites around the grounds with the sole responsibility of watching for signs of the creature. Though he kept a pistol in the pouch on his saddle, he tried to set an example by carrying his rifle whenever he rode out. Despite the fact that it was more cumbersome, it was also much more accurate, and as he left the house that morning, he was thankful to have such a weapon. He prayed that upon completion of this mission, all his servants would be able to settle back into their customary duties.

Hesitating just before quitting the terrace, he looked towards the east—purple skies were fading and the line of trees was black against the glow of the rising sun. Pemberley in the morning never failed to inspire. Then he did something he had done seldom since his return from Ireland, he paused a moment to truly take in the beauty of his home—the bucolic scene brought to mind the landscape his father had commissioned and which now resided on the wall of his study. Suddenly an unbidden smile broke across his face at the realisation that neither the beauty of the day nor his property was the cause of his contentment.

During the last few weeks, he had felt the stirrings of something he had given up hope of ever experiencing again—unadulterated joy. The presence of Elizabeth in his home was intoxicating, but he scarcely allowed himself to dwell on it. She would dine with him, and occasionally he could talk her into staying in the library when she came searching for a book. Nonetheless, she was more apt to accept his company if Georgiana was there.

Her daily walks around the lake were undertaken alone or with Mrs. Drury, though neither knew that two armed servants, just out of sight, accompanied every outing. Though he had broached the subject of showing her the grounds himself on one occasion, she had politely refused. The excuse she had given was quickly forgotten, though not the wound to his heart at her refusal. It was clearly evident that she wanted to keep a certain distance between them, and as much as he ached to be near her, he tried to respect her wishes.

By then William had walked as far as the stables and the sight of his men, mounted and waiting, quickly dispelled the warm feelings that had spread through him at the thought of Elizabeth. Of necessity, he began to focus on the task at hand—helping to rid the area of the wolf. When he had warned his neighbours about the animal earlier, he had pledged his support in pursuit of the creature, should they decided to ban together to dispatch it.

The number of livestock killed at Pemberley had dwindled in the week after the discovery of the cow and calf and then stopped altogether. The week after that, the killings began at the estate north of Pemberley and days later, at the estate north of that. Mr. Campbell was of the opinion that the rogue was migrating back to its natural habitat in Scotland. When a request came from his neighbours in the northernmost section of Derbyshire to join a hunting party, William consented. Deciding that he, along with Mr. Campbell and every man at Pemberley competent with a weapon, would join the quest to scour the countryside, he hoped that the sheer number involved would assure success.

After determining that everyone was armed and ready, William mounted Onyx and steered him towards the path that led to the front driveway and the others followed. Now that he was on his way, he could not keep his thoughts from drifting to his sister’s visit that day. It was disappointing to know that as long as Georgiana was there, he could have spent the day with Elizabeth. She never objected to his company when his sister was a member of their party. Sighing heavily, he kicked Onyx into a canter.

The sooner we get started, the sooner I shall return.

The Conservatory

“I would love to have a picnic,” Elizabeth proclaimed, forcing a smile as she rolled the ball to Millie. She and Georgiana had been playing with the child in the conservatory all morning, but she so longed to be out of doors. Especially, since it was a warm, gloriously sunny day.

If she were honest, she had to admit feeling gloomy since Fitzwilliam had left early that morning to take part in the hunt for the beast that had been terrorising the county. Watching him meet the others from the vantage point of her balcony, she had taken pains not to be seen observing him. At one point in his walk to the stables, he had paused and turned to stare in the direction of her balcony, and it had necessitated a quick step into the shadows lingering near the walls.

Nevertheless, after he mounted his horse and departed, a deep insecurity had engulfed her. Though he might spend the day in his study or in the library, while she made sure to be elsewhere in the house, the knowledge that they were under the same roof always gave her peace. And, peace was something she had enjoyed little of since her father’s passing.

“I realise your brother is not here to ask, but do you suppose he would mind terribly? He has insisted we stay close to the house for weeks now.”

A fit of giggles from Georgiana answered Elizabeth’s question. “Mind? I assure you that if he were here for us to ask, he would find some reason to mind. He is very protective.”

Elizabeth laughed. “Why do I feel that you love that about him?”

“I did not at one time,” Georgiana mused soberly, then brightened with a small, mischievous grin. “I am afraid I gave my poor brother cause to worry for many years.”

At Elizabeth’s quizzical brow, she explained. “I was used to doing everything with him, conducting myself almost like a boy instead of a girl—catching frogs, swimming, riding recklessly across the meadows. When the time came that I had to start behaving as a proper young lady ... well, let me just say that I was not happy!”

She shook her head, remembering their arguments. “As my brother, and practically my father as well, he admonished me to act like a lady, lest I get hurt. As I matured, he included protecting me from everything else under the sun, including would-be suitors. I resented him very much. I felt as though I could take care of myself!

“It was not until my eighteenth year that a friend of mine, Miss Garret, mentioned to me how much she would love to have an older brother to protect her—someone like Brother. You see, she too lost both her parents at an early age and had only an elderly aunt to rely upon. If not for the intervention of a caring family friend, she would have been involved in a scandal involving an unscrupulous suitor, and her words certainly made me see my brother in a different light. For once in my life, I realised that he was not trying to be dictatorial, but he was trying to protect me because he loved me.”

She giggled. “So, just remember, when he is domineering or tells you stories about tragedies that happened because someone would not listen, it is only because he cares for you.”

“I have heard some of his tales.”

William’s sister laughed aloud now. “He has lots of them and will, no doubt, use that ploy for the rest of your life to keep you safe.”

Elizabeth’s smile faded, though Georgiana did not notice. Her words about the rest of your life brought home the bittersweet truth that Elizabeth would not be at Pemberley for much longer. Forcing herself not to dwell on it, she grinned, a trace of naughtiness in her eyes.

“So, we should be on our way before this domineering, fierce protector returns and forbids our picnic?”

Georgiana smirked, “Precisely!” Then she wavered. “Perhaps we should not go out of the house until William returns. After all, most of the men are with him, and the wolf has not been destroyed yet.”

“I overheard him as he told Mr. Walker that the beast has moved further north, and they think it is heading back to Scotland.” Elizabeth tilted her head and pouted. “Please! I am so tired of being in this house!”

Georgiana pondered the situation for just a moment, before rolling the ball back to her child. “If you will watch Miss Millie, I shall find Mrs. Reynolds and arrange for a basket of goodies, as well as blankets to sit on—oh, and for the phaeton to be readied. The ponies are easily handled, and we shall only go as far as the other side of the lake.”

Georgiana vacated the room while Millie took her place in front of Elizabeth, red ball in hand.

“Eee Lee ... ball!” Millie declared, using her version of Elizabeth’s name. Drawing the beautiful, tousled-haired girl into a tight hug before setting her back on her feet, Elizabeth took the offered treasure.

“Yes, darling. You have a bright, red ball. Watch it bounce across the room.” Elizabeth made it skip across the wide, open area, and Millie ran after it, giggling the entire time.

~~~*~~~

The air was beginning to cool as the sun sank lower in the sky, and it was tempting to stay a little while longer. Having eaten hours before, Elizabeth and Georgiana were lying about on the blankets spread on the grass. Millie lay between them, asleep, and occasionally Georgiana would brush from her eyes the one stray curl that the wind would just not leave alone.

Various birds, having gotten their energy back with the lower temperatures, were now flitting back and forth from tree to tree in vigorous pursuit of each other, and Elizabeth was enjoying watching them as she lay on her back.

“It is so peaceful here,” she sighed, rolling on her side and propping on one elbow.

Her gaze drifted to a small family of ducks playing in the pond that fed into the larger lake. The pond was situated just below a gentle waterfall that cascaded down a rocky slope. Overhead there were numerous outcroppings of large flat rocks that baked in the sun, but the little oasis below them was lined with large shade trees that offered a cool place to have their picnic and rest. To the right, a large meadow covered with all manner of wildflowers stretched as far as the eye could see.

“Yes, I barely remember it, as I was just a little older than Millie the first time I came here with my family. That was not many years before Mama ...” As Georgiana faltered, Elizabeth reached to squeeze her hand. Georgiana took a deep breath and nodded. They had developed a natural affinity, and words were not needed to communicate.

Elizabeth changed the subject. “It warms my heart to see Millie so happy, so loved.”

Georgiana smiled as she turned to look at her child. “My heart aches with love for her, and I want to give her everything she could possibly desire. Evan and I could not love her any more if she had been born to us.”

“So, when will your husband return?” The question brought a fleeting expression of sorrow that was not lost on Elizabeth.

“I am sorry. I should not have mentioned—”

“No, it is a perfectly normal thing to ask.” Georgina interrupted. “Ignore my melancholy.”

Elizabeth smiled wanly. “I will, if you ignore mine.”

Georgiana nodded; Elizabeth’s subdued manner that day had not gone unnoticed. It was evident that she missed Fitzwilliam, and that had been a primary motivation for Georgiana to arrange the picnic.

“To answer your question, Evan expects to be gone two more days. By then, his late father’s wife should be settled in her new home, and he can return.” She sighed heavily. “I do not understand it. I am not a weak person in any sense of the word, but I feel like such a child when he is gone. I feel lost.”

Elizabeth reached to take her hand. “You love him very much ... that is all. It is only right that you should feel an emptiness when you are apart.” Then staring into space as though seeing something Georgiana could not, she continued, “It is a void that no other person can fill.”

“You understand me so completely.” Georgiana sighed, and then sobered as she watched her companion divert her eyes to the distant hills in order to hide her tears.

Though the tears did not fall, Elizabeth’s demeanour spoke of anguish. It was at that moment that Georgiana recognised the impossible struggle this woman was going through—that Elizabeth loved her brother as deeply as she loved her husband. Never had she looked at the relationship from that standpoint. She had only prayed that Fitzwilliam would overcome his love for the young woman in order to live a normal life, without considering how devastating all of this must be to Elizabeth.

Now it was Georgiana’s turn to comfort. Using one finger, she touched Elizabeth’s chin, directing the teary eyes back to hers.

“You share the same feelings for my brother—I know. You feel the void, too, even when he is away only for the day.”

It was not a question, and Elizabeth examined Fitzwilliam’s sister for a long time before speaking. Clearly, she no longer feared being completely honest with her, and she trusted the truth would go no further.

“I ... I have missed him, longed for him.” Shaking her head as though doing so would rid her of the lump in her throat, she finished hoarsely. “By the time I returned to Hertfordshire from our encounter in Kent, I realised how foolish I had been, letting my pride overrule my heart. I recognised that I had rejected a man that I actually loved. Later, when the count ...” She breathed raggedly, waiting until she could master her voice. “I realised that Fitzwilliam was lost to me forever, and I wanted to die.”

She met Georgiana’s shocked look. “I was too much of a coward to do anything like that, but thereafter I lived with this ... this ...” She struggled for the words. “What do I call it? Ache? Relentless pain? There are simply no words dreadful enough to say how much I regretted him.”

Georgiana moved to slide an arm around Elizabeth’s shoulder. “And now that you are here?”

“It is unbearable to be near him but not with him. It is a sweet torture.”

“Oh, Elizabeth. I am so sorry. Until now, I never really understood how deeply you love him.”

Just then the ponies began to whinny, jerking their heads up, as if trying to break free from the reins that secured them to a nearby tree. Georgiana sat up. Something was not right.

“I shall check on the ponies,” she stated as calmly as possible, reaching into a bag she had laid on the blanket to retrieve her pistol.

Seeing Georgiana retrieve the pistol brought Elizabeth up to a sitting position—alert. She cast a wary eye around the pastoral scene, before her eyes came back to rest on Millie, who was sleeping soundly. All of a sudden, the ponies broke free of their restraints and began to run, dragging the phaeton with them. Georgiana stared after them in shock, not realizing the reason for their flight. Twirling about, she froze. On the large rock just above Elizabeth and Mille, sat a huge, dark gray animal with its teeth bared. The waning daylight showcased the eerie yellow eyes that met hers, and her heart stopped. The wolf!

Seeing the alarm on Georgiana’s face, Elizabeth turned slowly, her heart lurching as she locked eyes with the monster above her and Millie. It growled menacingly, moving closer to the end of the rock, preparing to jump. Georgiana began crying and running towards them, as Elizabeth instinctively rolled over to cover Millie with her body. The creature jumped just as Georgiana fired a shot, and it yelped in pain. But the wound she inflicted only served to make him land awkwardly before regaining his footing.

Back upon all fours in an instant, he leapt towards Elizabeth who hid her face in the blanket and screamed. Just as Georgiana leaned down to grab a fallen limb for a weapon, the crack of a rifle rang out. The shot brought her to a standstill, and before she could turn, William rushed past her. Brought out of her stupor by his appearance, she resumed her run towards her child, still holding the makeshift weapon and beginning to weep.

William reached Elizabeth first, leaning down to pull the dead beast away, and then kneeling with a strangled cry, “Elizabeth!”

As he rolled her over and off Millie, the child began to wail, frightened by being awakened so violently. Georgiana, trying to control her sobs, tossed the stick and reached down to pick up Millie. Sheltering the child in her embrace, Georgiana stepped a short distance away, continuing to comfort the girl as she watched her brother frantically checking Elizabeth for wounds. Her heart began to ache at the amount of blood now visible. Surely, that did not bode well.

There had been copious amounts of blood down the back of Elizabeth’s gown, whether from the wolf or from wounds to her, William could not tell. When he turned her over, his hands began moving over her body in what would have been a scandalous display of impropriety had Georgiana not been the only witness. As it was, he halfway feared that the bullet that felled the wolf might have passed through the animal into her, but she appeared unscathed. He found no evidence of wounds except for the now rapid dampening of her sleeves. Tearing the flayed cloth away, his eyes involuntarily filled with tears at the bloody scratches covering her arms.

“Oh, sweetheart!” The absolute despair in William’s voice, as he began undoing his cravat and ripping it into bandages, brought Elizabeth back to her senses. Seeing the silent tears sliding down his cheeks as he wrapped her arms, her heart broke, and as he finished, she reached up to cup his face with both hands.

“Fitzwilliam, look at me!” He obeyed, misery etched on his face. “I am not seriously injured. I have only these scratches. You have saved us.”

For a moment, he seemed not to understand, still staring with a troubled mien, but all at once he did something that he had longed to do since discovering her again at Netherfield. Claiming her mouth, he kissed her thoroughly, deeply, unabashedly, endlessly. Knowing it was futile to try and resist, Elizabeth returned his kiss with equal passion, the strength of her love at that moment so overwhelming that she lost all ability to reason.

Georgiana walked away to give them privacy, the tender scene bringing even more tears. Whispering soothing words to Millie, she headed in the direction of the phaeton, which had stopped just past the pond, one wheel hung over a downed log, stopping their retreat. In the distance she caught sight of Mr. Campbell coming towards them as fast as his old mare could trot.

~~~*~~~

The trip back to the house seemed to take forever, and on the last two hundred yards, William galloped on ahead so he could send a footman after the physician. By the time the phaeton turned the last curve to the front portico, numerous servants were waiting alongside the master to help the women into the house. One long-time footman had seen the look on William’s face, as well as the blood on his clothes, as he rode towards the front door and had immediately set out after Mr. Woodwright.

Mrs. Reynolds had descended the front steps as quickly as the front door was opened, and upon seeing the upheaval, began issuing orders. Even as William passed her with Elizabeth in his arms, taking the steps two at a time, she was right behind him and reaching for her bag of remedies from a maid hurrying towards her. Georgiana trailed after her brother but stopped to hand Millie to her nurse, Mrs. Calvert, who had heard the commotion and had hurried to the foyer.

Way ahead of the others, William reached the open door to Elizabeth’s sitting area, walked inside and having no patience, kicked the partially open bedchamber door back to enter it. Heading straight to the bed, he laid her gently on the counterpane against her protestations that she would get it dirty. Without saying a word, he sat on the edge and began unwrapping his makeshift bandages in order for Mrs. Reynolds to apply some of her remedies to the scratches. He had had little time to examine the wounds at the pond and as the bandages came off, he flinched. Swallowing hard, he realised that a few were much deeper than he had first believed and began to worry that they might become infected.

Elizabeth inspected William with fascination. He was so completely focused on her injuries that he was not paying any attention to her, not even answering her complaint that she would bleed on the beautiful counterpane. Finally, he stopped long enough to notice her watching him. There was a strange look in his eyes as he leaned in to softly kiss her forehead, both eyes, then the tip of her nose.

“I love you, Elizabeth,” he breathed into her ear before capturing her lips at last. They were lost in the kiss when Mrs. Reynolds arrived, having come through the sitting room. She respectfully turned and walked back into that room without making a sound. Unfortunately, Georgiana had not come from that direction and the bedchamber door flew open, causing them to fly apart.

“Oh, Brother, are her wounds very deep?” Hurrying closer, she could barely see Elizabeth’s face over his shoulder so she ran to the other side of the bed, taking a seat on the edge. “Are you well, Elizabeth?”

Though her mind was still on William’s kisses and his declaration of love, Elizabeth managed to answer. “Thanks to you, I will be.” She sought William’s eyes and a sharp pain pierced her heart at the look of love on his face. “And your brother.”

Georgiana began to sob. “No. I had no part in your rescue. I could not have stopped that creature with just my pistol. I am so sorry that I put us in harm’s way.” She kept chattering nervously. “I believed the wolf had returned to the north, but I should not have taken the chance.”

Elizabeth shushed her. “Please, do not blame yourself. I begged you for the picnic, so it is my fault.”

William interrupted. “No! Everything is my fault. I took most of our men to Lord Burton’s estate. I was too confident the beast had moved north, and we were just fortunate that Mr. Campbell discovered footprints showing that the wolf had backtracked and was returning to Pemberley. I pushed Onyx to the limit to get home. Finding that you had taken the phaeton out, I tracked you, albeit almost too late to rescue you. Can you both forgive me?”

Elizabeth caught his hand, bringing it to her lips and kissing the back of it. “You have always been swift to take the blame when you have done nothing to warrant it. Your quick actions saved us. Let us speak no more about it.”

Just then, Mr. Woodwright, the physician came rushing through the door, followed by Mrs. Reynolds. Glancing between the furrowed brow of Mr. Darcy and the apprehension on Miss Elizabeth’s face, he resolved to lighten the atmosphere.

“Well, well, Miss Elizabeth,” he jested, “it seems you cannot stay out of trouble.”

Elizabeth tried to smile bravely. “So I have been told most of my life, sir.”

~~~*~~~