Page 62

“Thank you for relating that to us, Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth said gratefully. She turned to her husband and took his hand. “You well know I have a robust constitution.”

He allowed that he in fact did know that.

“And yes, there is always inherent risk in the birthing process, but I am not like her . I will never selfishly endanger myself and our child. Also, look around this room at all the examples of women who have safely delivered their children and are still here to tell of it. Not only Aunt Anne, but Leticia and Aunts Elaine and Maddie as well. Remember, Archy, if I know you are uneasy, that will do the same to me.”

He had wondered why a man of the Duke’s age would be interested in a young lady of sixteen. As William listened to Her Grace speak to her husband, he saw that her chronological age in no way reflected her maturity. ‘ If only I could meet such a woman someday ,’ William thought.

“You have the right of it, Lizzy. I will endeavour to push thoughts of the past from my head and think of all of the positives.” A chastened Hertfordshire promised.

Elizabeth turned her attention back to the Darcy heir, while the fingers of one of her hands remained interlaced with one of her husband’s. “Before we proceed, I would very much like to begin again and see if we could become friends.”

“That is most magnanimous of you, Your Grace; I believe I would like that,” William responded.

“Good, that is settled as it should be.” Elizabeth paused as she cogitated. “I understand you are a fellow bibliophile,” she stated to change the subject, knowing how much Archy loved books as well. Hence, the subject would be interesting for him too.

“Indeed, Your Grace…” William began to say when the Duchess raised her hand.

“You are the reformed son of our very good friends, people I address as aunt and uncle, and we have just agreed to begin again.

With all of that, I give you leave to address me as Lady Elizabeth in private.

And I know, Lady Hertfordshire is more accurate as I was not born the daughter of a peer, but in our homes, I prefer it without the name of the title mentioned.

“As long as you address me as William.”

Elizabeth nodded.

“In that case, yes, Lady Elizabeth , I love the written word. “I am currently reading Samuel Coleridge’s Rime of the Ancyent Mariner ,” William reported.

“I read it some years in the past and greatly enjoyed it,” Elizabeth responded.

“Am I correct, Lady Elizabeth, that you can recall anything you have read at least once, no matter how long ago?” William verified.

“Yes, it is an ability I have,” Elizabeth confirmed.

“Will you do me the great honour of allowing me to witness your gift?” William requested.

“I will, although I do not readily boast about my abilities,” Elizabeth said.

“If you will indulge me, will you recite the first three stanzas of part two? It is not something I will request again,” William vowed.

“From part two.” Elizabeth cleared her throat.

“ The Sun now rose upon the right:

Out of the sea came he,

Still hid in mist, and on the left

Went down into the sea.

“And the good south wind still blew behind,

But no sweet bird did follow,

Nor any day for food or play

Came to the mariner's hollo!

“And I had done a hellish thing,

And it would work ‘em woe:

For all averred, I had killed the bird

That made the breeze to blow.

Ah wretch! said they, the bird to slay,

That made the breeze to blow!

“I believe that is all three; there is a copy in the library if you need to check my accuracy,” Elizabeth challenged.

“No need, Lady Elizabeth; I read part two only yester-night, and although I cannot recall it word for word like you are able to do, I am certain your recital was an accurate and true telling of the stanzas,” William assured Her Grace as he bowed in deference to her and her abilities.

Hertfordshire was happy to see that Elizabeth had released any residual animosity she may have held against William Darcy.

He had always known that there was the character of a good man in his friends’ son.

It had taken the shock of being in service to allow it to come to the surface.

He was pleased that Lizzy had not met this version of William before they had fallen in love.

Hertfordshire had a feeling they would have done well together.

Soon enough, dinner was announced by the Hertfordshire House butler.

Other than the Duke and Duchess, who were seated at either end of the table in the relatively small—small in this house, which could seat thirty—family dining parlour, seating was informal.

William sat next to Richard with Anna on his other side; she was seated next to the two youngest Bennet sisters.

“You seem to be getting along well with Her Grace,” Richard observed while the footmen were serving the good smelling creamed mushroom soup.

“Yes, in fact…” William related a synopsis of his conversation with her.

“Then all is well,” Richard acknowledged. “She is rather extraordinary, is she not? It is a great pity I did not meet her before His Grace did.”

Rather than give his cousin more to rib him over, William said nothing about his having similar thoughts with regards to himself.

Richard was correct; she was a magnificent woman, and those eyes…

he could drown in their emerald-green depths.

William knew that he could never show even a hint of his infatuation.

He had another problem, ever since he had seen her fine eyes flashing at him in anger at Falconwood, William had been intrigued, to the extent he dreamt of her many a night, and many of the dreams were rather indecent.

Yes, he would never act on his feelings.

Also, he would make sure no one became aware of his attraction to Her Grace

He took a long sip of the claret from the Duke’s extensive wine cellar. Then he promptly changed the subject.

After an extremely well-cooked and enjoyable meal, there was separation of the sexes.

Elizabeth led the females to the music room while her husband and the men remained at the table to enjoy their libations.

There were no cigars offered because neither of the Chamberlains tolerated the smell of tobacco smoke very well.

Hence, it was not very long before the men arrived in the music room.

William had thought Anna had been exaggerating when she had related how well Miss Bennet and the Duchess played and how sweet the latter’s voice was. If anything, she had understated their abilities.

By the time the guests departed, everyone had enjoyed the night greatly.