Page 83 of I Thee Wed (Pride And Prejudice Variation #2)

After dinner, Georgiana turned to Anise.

“Will you play and sing for us, Miss Stanton? Your sister speaks so well of your talents that I am eager to hear you.”

Anise lowered her head, and Elizabeth noted that her hands trembled. Abby stood.

“Come, I will sit with you, Annie.”

The two sisters moved to the instrument, and Elizabeth observed that Abigail placed herself between her sister and the audience. Although Anise’s rendition was mechanically precise, she played with a delicacy of feeling that one rarely heard. Elizabeth was always moved when Annie performed.

Lady Helen was greatly affected by the music, and she was saddened that a woman with such a gift would not suit Phillip, who had no appreciation of the musical arts. Georgiana approached Anise again, this time to ask for a song.

“Miss Stanton, will you sing The Last Rose of Summer?”

Anise looked more relaxed.

“It is my pleasure.”

Abby moved away, and Georgiana took her place on the bench while Anise sang.

Her soprano voice was rich and resonant.

Once again, Lady Helen grieved that such a woman would be wasted on Phillip, who was unable to appreciate her talents.

It would take a strong, clever woman to hold his interest and his constancy.

When Georgiana began to exhibit, Elizabeth moved to Lady Helen’s side.

“I heard your interview. I believe Abby showed very well. What is your impression?”

Lady Helen looked pleased.

“She would make a fine match for Phillip. Her lively manner is very like yours, Elizabeth, and she has a sweetness of character and enough wit to capture and hold my son. Now, if he will only attend us to the Lakes, everything will fall into place. As for the talented, lovely Miss Anise Stanton, no, she is far too reserved for Phillip’s tastes. ”

Elizabeth looked amused.

“Perhaps you dismiss her too quickly. She may have hidden treasures that reveal themselves only in time.”

“Perhaps,” Lady Helen allowed, without conviction. “But men do not fall in love with hidden treasures. They fall in love with charm and conversation. It is a pity, for Anise has beauty and talent enough, but she seems to have no notion how to use it.”

Elizabeth laughed softly.

“You are formidable when it comes to matrimony. I tremble for poor Abby, should she fall short of your expectations.”

Lady Helen smiled, unoffended.

“You laugh now, Elizabeth, but I am determined. Phillip shall not be left to drift into a disastrous marriage for lack of guidance.”

Elizabeth pressed her hand affectionately.

“You are a thoughtful mother. But remember that hearts have a way of surprising us. He cannot go too far wrong with either of the Stanton sisters.”

Lady Helen regarded her niece with fondness.

“You may be right. After all, did not Fitzwilliam surprise us all when he chose you?”

Steps were heard in the hall, and then Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley entered the room, ending the conversation.

Later that evening, when the household had settled for the night, Elizabeth withdrew to her chamber. Mr. Darcy joined her soon after and stood watching as she brushed out her hair.

“You look very pleased, Elizabeth. Have you been scheming with Lady Helen about her new campaign?”

Elizabeth turned to face him.

“She does not require any assistance. My poor friend was cross-examined as though she were on trial for her very life. I am surprised Abby was able to swallow any of her dinner.”

Darcy chuckled.

“My aunt is a managing woman. Between you and her, Phillip will not stand a chance of remaining a bachelor for much longer.”

Elizabeth shook her head and raised a brow.

“Between me and Lady Helen? Pray do not accuse me of such designs. I merely listened while she extracted information.”

Darcy looked amused.

“My love, do not attempt innocence with me. I saw your smiles when she pressed every answer from that poor woman. You, after all, were the means for bringing the twin sisters to Pemberley.”

Elizabeth set down her brush.

“Very well, I confess it was diverting. But it is not a crime to hope Phillip may find a good wife.”

“True enough,” Darcy said wryly. He leaned back against the bedpost, his expression playful. “And since we are in the mood for confessions, I have one of my own.”

Elizabeth arched a brow.

“Indeed? And what dark secret weighs upon your conscience, Mr. Darcy?”

“I have written to Phillip,” Darcy said, his tone deliberately casual. “I invited him to join us at Windermere.”

Elizabeth gasped.

“You did not! Without telling Lady Helen?”

“Precisely. I wish her to be as surprised as Richard and Anne. Phillip is to act as if he came of his own accord, not at my urging.”

Elizabeth shook her head.

“Fitzwilliam Darcy, you are as bad as Lady Helen. You contrive and plot as though matrimony were a military campaign.”

Darcy laughed.

“My dear, you mistake me. Military campaigns require order and precision. In this case, I rely upon confusion, surprise, and a well-placed ally. If Richard will not ask Anne to marry him, perhaps Phillip’s influence may bring matters forward. In short, my scheme is superior to my aunt’s.”

Elizabeth could not help but laugh, even as she moved to his side.

“You astonish me. The great Mr. Darcy, reduced to matchmaking.”

“Reduced?” Darcy caught her hand and pressed a kiss upon it. “I consider it a promotion. Did I not first succeed on my own account? You and I have already established that I married the handsomest woman of my acquaintance.”

Elizabeth leaned into his embrace.

“I see I shall never be rid of your vanity.”

“No, you shall not, Mrs. Darcy,” he whispered, his voice thickening. “Rather, you shall discover what a most devoted lover you have married.”

His lips brushed hers in a gentle caress before claiming her more fully, slow and deliberate, until her heart seemed to beat out of her chest. Her arms wound about his neck as he gathered her close.

His hands, strong and sure, held her at the waist, drawing her nearer until she felt the steady beating of his heart.

Elizabeth yielded to his embrace, to the warmth of him, to the press of his body against hers. When at last he lifted his head, his eyes held hers with a look so ardent that her cheeks flushed.

“You undo me, Fitzwilliam,” she whispered.

His smile was at once tender and possessive.

“And you undo me, Elizabeth. No man was ever so blessed.”

He drew her down beside him, their laughter mingling with whispers and sighs as time slipped by unheeded. The cares of the household, the schemes of relations, the weight of family expectation, all were forgotten in that private world where there was only husband and wife, lover and beloved.

In the early hours of the following morning, Darcy woke, troubled.

His thoughts were on the dinner conversation between Lady Helen and Abby.

He wished to tell Elizabeth about his mother and her charge that he wed a woman of consequence, but he did not.

He had almost lost Elizabeth once for admitting his reservations on this very point.

What would it do to her now if he confessed that he had chosen the wrong woman?

Had he paid attention to the introductions that night, he would have made a match equal in rank, but instead, he had fallen headlong for Elizabeth, and now he was unequally matched.

He realized he must keep this revelation to himself. But would he be able to? And if so, for how long would he keep this secret? Would this eventually act as a wedge between them?