Page 57 of Hidden Desires
“Lizzy!” she exclaimed, rising to gather her elder sister in an enthusiastic embrace. “Are you with child? I thought you had given up on the idea of adding to your family. This is delightful news! I cannot wait to tell Mama when I see her.”
“Too late,” Elizabeth said and laughed, “I already wrote to inform her. We expect them next week, unless she convinces our father to bring her right away.”
“That should not be difficult.” Darcy chuckled. “He loves my library and often finds, or invents, an excuse to leave Longbourn just so he can spend a day or three reading.”
Elizabeth leaned close and took hold of Mary’s hand. “How is Jane? I have not heard from her in so long, I sometimes wonder if she is still alive.”
Mary smiled. “Jane is the same as always. Her heart belongs to Charles and the boys. They are growing into fine young men, and no one could ask for better sons.
“Miss Bingley refuses to visit them, though I doubt Jane minds. For all her pretense of friendship, the announcement of the marriage revealed her true character. Even Jane, who always looks for the good in others, could not regret her absence from the estate.”
Elizabeth said nothing at first. Her gaze wandered across the table, past the children’s laughter and Mary’s gentle smile, until it came to rest on a patch of sky beyond the hedgerow. The quiet stretched as the memory took hold.
“I remember Mama telling me how incensed she was when Charles approached Father to ask permission to marry Jane,” she said at last. “She had spent her time trying to convince him that Jane was beneath him, and would never be welcomed by his friends or hers.”
Mary nodded and laughed. “When heard that he told her he could live without his so-called friends but not without Jane, I began to think there might be more to him than charm and wealth.”
Elizabeth tilted her head and raised an eyebrow. “Where is she now? Jane told me she left Netherfield but did not say where she was going. To be honest, I applauded her decision, in silence of course, and forgot all about the woman.”
“She returned to London, where she lives in a small house somewhere near Rosings Park. Jane is not sure where, exactly, as she made it clear to Charles that while he was welcome to visit, Jane was not. I do not think she has ever met her nephews, which is a shame, as they are good boys.”
Elizabeth’s mouth curved in amusement. “Has Charles finished working on Netherfield? He was so worried it would not be good enough for Jane. He told me his greatest fear was that she would reject him because the estate was not to her liking.
“I told him that if he thought Jane was that shallow, he did not know her at all.”
“He mentioned to George that once the stable repairs are done, the work will be complete.” Mary gave a small shrug. “Jane wants to believe him, but suspects he takes too much pleasure in discovering new improvements.”
“Speaking of which, I believe it is time for me to return to mine,” Darcy said, rising from the table. “I would saddle some horses, but I need a few young men to ride them.”
“We can help you.” James glanced at his brother and smiled.
“That still leaves us one rider short,” Darcy replied. “And George did not come this time. Whatever are we to do?”
“I might be able to help,” Anthony said, his cheeks coloring and his voice low, “if you need another rider.”
Darcy gave him a thoughtful look, then nodded. “That would solve my problem.”
He turned to Mary. “What do you think? May Anthony come to the stable with us? We could put him to work cleaning the stalls. No one has tended them in a month or more.”
Then he looked back at Anthony. “If he manages that without complaint, I suppose we might let him ride one of the horses.”
“Do you have a rake or shovel?” Mary said with a look toward her son. “And a pair of boots; the animal refuse is probably deep.”
As the conversation continued, Anthony’s demeanor changed, from one of excitement to a manner suggesting some trepidation regarding the task they would assign him.
“Maybe I should stay and keep an eye on Isabel and Ruth,” he said, his voice uncertain. “They could slip away without anyone noticing.”
“Your uncle is teasing you.” Elizabeth gave him a pointed look, though the corners of her mouth curved upward. “He will not put you to work. The stables are cleaned by our servants, are they not, William?”
“They are,” he agreed with a laugh. “I promise not to give you such an onerous task. Thomas and James get that duty when they misbehave, which happens too often, in my opinion. Of course, their mother disagrees. As far as she is concerned, they are perfect in every respect.”
“Quit filling his head with such nonsense. They are well-mannered boys and on their way to becoming fine young men.”
“Your aunt is correct.” Darcy laughed again. “Please forgive me. I was having a bit of fun at your expense. If you care to join us, I promise not to disappoint you.”
Darcy turned and beckoned his sons to follow. With only a moment’s hesitation, Anthony hurried to catch up, and the group passed from sight as they entered the building.
“He is a different man from the one you married,” Mary observed, giving Elizabeth’s hands an affectionate pat. “As I recall, his humor was not quick to show, and his friendly tendencies took some time to emerge. You affected him, Lizzy, and for the better, I might add.”
“He is little changed in the years since our wedding.” Elizabeth shook her head, though a quick smile touched her lips. “I agree that he seems more friendly and willing to engage in lighthearted banter, but those inclinations have always been part of him, though often kept from view.
“It was the disagreement with Lady Catherine that forced him to reconsider his outlook on life.”
“What do you mean?”
“She flew into a rage when she learned William was courting me. According to her, he was promised to her daughter, Anne. As he explained at the time, and as Anne confirmed when we finally met, neither of them supported such an arrangement.
“Lady Catherine called at Longbourn and demanded that I reject him. When William heard of it, he lost all patience and prepared to visit her and insist on an apology.”
“From what I hear of this woman,” Mary said with a shudder, “she is mean and spiteful. Mr. Collins still holds the living at Hunsford, and from what I understand, she has not changed. George tells me stories about her whenever he returns from business in London.”
“I begged William not to go, knowing it would only deepen her resentment.” Elizabeth nodded. “He agreed, though it cost him something to do so. When Lady Catherine saw he intended to marry me, she disowned him. From what I hear, she no longer permits his name to be spoken in her house.”
“Poor man. It must have been hard for him, losing contact with a relative in this manner.”
“Just the opposite,” Elizabeth said, shaking of her head.
“William believes her decision removed what would have been a continual source of conflict and contention in our marriage. He is relieved he no longer has to defend me and the Bennet family from Lady Catherine’s attacks whenever he speaks with her.
“The issue, and the way it transpired, changed him. He decided that no matter what, his care for me and our family would always be his first concern.”
“And what of his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam?” Mary asked, her voice mocking. “Was he persuaded to reject their friendship and family ties?”
“The colonel is a dear,” Elizabeth smiled, a faraway look in her eyes.
“He retired from the military and married a wonderful girl. They have a small home near Pemberley. With him, the boys have a loving uncle who spoils them without apology. He is also a wonderful example of honesty and integrity that the boys look up to. William would have lost a valued companion had his cousin bowed to her demands.”
“I was unsure how he would respond to our engagement, as we had not met before William began to court me. Yet from the moment of our introduction, he treated me with warmth and respect.”
“Whenever I have seen him,” Mary said with a nod, “he has conducted himself as a complete gentleman. He is even friendly with George, though it must have been difficult in the beginning, knowing what he did of George’s former conduct.”
Elizabeth offered no reply at once, but her expression softened.
After a moment, she said, “We expect Georgiana next week, and I know she would be glad to see you.” The mention brought a smile to Mary’s face.
“She looks forward to spending time with you and the children and will be sorry to miss you if you leave too soon.”
“I would like that very much,” Mary said, though a frown soon followed. She looked at her sister. “Are you certain the house will not be too full? Don’t forget, George will be here by then.”
“Pemberley can accommodate far more,” Elizabeth replied. “I have already asked the servants to prepare a room for them. Believe it or not, William is happy to receive everyone.”
“I heard she is doing well,” Mary said. “It made me happy to learn she found someone to care for her as she deserves. If anyone is entitled to peace and tranquility, it is Georgiana.”
“Her husband is the son of an earl, so he brings wealth,” Elizabeth said with a faint smile.
“He also denies her nothing, though she has never been one to ask for much. We have remained close, and he encourages that bond. His affection for her is easy to see. He tells anyone who will listen that he considers himself the most fortunate of men. Georgiana protests, of course, and blushes whenever he says so, but he refuses to stop.”
“I am glad for her.” Mary clasped her hands together and smiled.
“So am I,” Elizabeth said, her thoughts turning to her life with William. Their path to love had been winding, marked by more than one trial and several missteps. Had it not been for the quiet longings of Mary’s heart, her own happiness might never have been so complete.
Her love for her younger sister, always constant, had deepened over the years, especially as she came to reflect on the part Mary had played in leading her to a husband whose devotion had never wavered.
What pleased her most, and surprised her still, was the strength of affection between Mary and George Wickham. He had once given the world no reason to believe he would change, yet he had done so, and now stood as both his wife’s greatest champion and a steadfast partner.
And to think it had begun with a single request for help with her appearance.
Elizabeth smiled as she watched Mary laughing with her daughters, the children happy and secure in the love of parents who had found something rare: redemption and a future built on affection, not pretense.
The End