Page 90 of I Thee Wed (Pride And Prejudice Variation #2)

The cavalcade had been on the road for three hours when Darcy called a halt to rest the horses.

Phillip dismounted and handed off his reins.

“Miss Anise, come. A stream runs through the Oak Grove. It is not far.” Without waiting for an answer, he took Miss Stanton’s arm and led her toward the creek.

Elizabeth called her sister. “Georgiana, I brought my rod. We may fish while the horses rest.” She turned to Abby. “Do you fish?”

Abby shook her head. “No, I have never even held a rod. But I will come and learn. Perhaps I will like it.”

The groom held Elizabeth’s rod, tackle box, and creel. Elizabeth said, “Ladies, Peter has everything in hand. Come, let us see if we can catch anything.”

Elizabeth set up her rod for Abby, while the footman prepared Darcy’s for Georgiana.

“I shall demonstrate first; then it shall be your turn,” Elizabeth said to her friend.

She cast the line, and the fly landed at the far end of the stream.

She reeled the line in and then handed the rod to Abby.

“Hold the rod in your right hand. Then, with your left hand, collect the line, like this. Now, draw a length of line off the reel. Good. Now then, flick your wrist.”

Abby gave a small shriek. “The line is caught in the shrubbery.”

“Hold the rod, I will free it,” Elizabeth replied, laughing as she ran to untangle the hook. On her second attempt, Abby cast again and caught the hook on Elizabeth’s slipper. Both burst into laughter as Elizabeth struggled to free herself.

Within moments, Phillip stood at Abby’s side. “You are not accelerating the rod forward on the back cast. Let me show you.”

Elizabeth walked the line back to where Phillip now stood next to Abby, providing instructions.

Two hours slipped by as Darcy, Richard, Phillip, and Abby fished, while the others strolled or rested on blankets.

Their leisure ended suddenly when rain began to fall.

All was hastily gathered, and the men took their places in the carriages alongside the women.

Phillip placed himself between the two sisters, then bent his head to Anise and spoke quietly into her ear.

“Miss Anise, what do you think of your sister’s skill?” He grinned at Abby, but Anise only looked down at her folded hands.

“Abby’s lesson was very entertaining, my lord.”

“Shall I teach you to fish at our next stop, my dear?”

“No, thank you, my lord.”

“Why not? Do you not like the sport?”

“Fishing is not a sport I would enjoy, my lord.”

He took her hand. “Miss Anise, you would find it enjoyable if I were your teacher.”

Lady Helen coughed. He is just like his father, a flirt and a prattle. What is he thinking of? But aloud she asked, “Phillip, do you know how many more hours lie ahead of us before we stop for the day?”

“Darcy says it will be another three hours before we reach our lodging for the night, mamma.”

The Countess turned to Abby. “Did you catch any fish, my dear?”

Abby forced a smile. “Phillip caught a fish, my lady. I caught Lizzy, a tree, and four bushes before I gave up.”

Phillip said, “The last time you cast, Miss Abby, you began to look as though you knew what you were doing.”

She studied his face. He seemed sincere, but his smile was devastating.

Abby caught her breath. This man was dangerous.

Women probably fell at his feet when he looked at them that way.

She felt the urge to do so herself, but then anger saved her.

He had been trifling with both her and with her sister the entire day. How dare he?

By the time the rain ceased an hour later, she was tired of his flirtations and resolved to avoid him. As Phillip left the carriage to ride his horse, Abby determined she would not be a participant in his little games.

That night, Abby waited in the dark hallway of the coaching inn for Elizabeth’s maid. When the maid came out, Abby stopped her.

“Miss Stevens, may I speak to Elizabeth?”

Stevens curtsied. “Yes, miss.” She tapped on the door. “Mrs. Darcy, Miss Abby would like to speak with you.”

“Show her in, Stevens.”

The maid opened the door. “Come in, miss.”

Elizabeth stood at the dressing table. Seeing Abby’s face, she set down her brush and came to her. “What is it, Abby?”

Abby drew a handkerchief from her sleeve.

“I am sorry, Lizzy. I know Phillip is now your cousin, but I am exceedingly angry with him. Flirtations make Anise uneasy. She never knows what to say and often does not perceive the undercurrents. Today, the Viscount turned his attentions upon us both in turn. It was demeaning, Lizzy. We are not simpletons. I have come to beg a favor. Will you and Georgiana enter the dining parlor with us tonight and sit on either side?”

Elizabeth chuckled. “Yes. And I will do more. I will ask Fitzwilliam and Aunt Helen to sit with you as well. You will be protected from further attention, at least during dinner.” She narrowed her eyes.

“Perhaps Anise can use this experience to her advantage. If she writes to Michael about the Viscount and his attentions, Michael will pass it on to Mr. Fairfax. They are best friends, after all. Surely Mr. Fairfax will ask your brother how his sisters are doing in Derbyshire. Perhaps the fear of losing Anise will help him decide to offer for her.”

Abby smirked. “I will do one better for my sister. I shall write to Michael tonight and post the letter in the morning. I believe it will light a fire under Martin Fairfax. He will learn that Anise is desirable and will not be trifled with. He has been stringing her along these past four years. We shall see.” Her narrowed eyes and determined expression made Elizabeth laugh.

That evening, when it was time to go down, the Darcys and Lady Helen stopped at the Stantons’ door and escorted them to the private parlor, then sat on either side. Phillip was the last to join the group and took the only remaining seat between Anne and Darcy.

Dinner was pleasant. The trout caught by Darcy and Phillip was served as part of the meal, and afterward they moved to the parlor.

Elizabeth read aloud from The Italian, picking up where they left off in the carriage.

After hearing one chapter, Lady Helen declared she was falling asleep in her chair and would retire to bed.

The Stanton sisters likewise excused themselves and retired early.

Elizabeth turned to Fitzwilliam. “Will you play a game of chess, Mr. Darcy?”

“I am sorry, Elizabeth, but I cannot. I have business with Richard and Phillip. Please go up. I will join you soon.”

She looked disappointed but curtsied and went upstairs, followed by Anne.

Darcy poured cognac into three glasses and handed them to the two men.

He was frowning when he turned to face his eldest cousin.

“Phillip, you will stop trifling with the Stanton sisters. They are Elizabeth’s guests and her closest friends.

If you injure either, you will answer to me.

Abby came to our chamber this evening and begged Elizabeth for assistance.

The sisters are exceedingly loyal to one another, and they will not contend for the same man.

If you are interested in one, leave the other alone. Make your choice or leave them both.”

Darcy’s frown deepened. “You will not find a better woman elsewhere, not if you searched for another year, nor even in a lifetime. I thank God each day that I had the sense to claim Elizabeth before another did. Pembroke was set to have her, and it would have been my loss had I not acted when I did. Phillip, do not squander such an opportunity.”

Phillip looked chastened but said, “And this advice comes from the most backward man in England when it comes to matters of the heart?”

Richard set down his glass. “Darcy is right. You will not find two women of greater quality. They are kin to an earl, amiable, unspoiled, and kind. You would be a fool to treat them lightly.”

Phillip rose. “I will think on what you say. For now, I need air.” He left the room.

When the door closed, Darcy asked, “Will Phillip take correction, or have we made him double down?”

Richard leaned back. “It could go either way. He has had his way too long. I would not wager on which course he takes.”

Darcy shook his head. “Then I leave him to Elizabeth. I expected her to scold him tonight. If he does not heed me, he will heed her.”

Richard shook his head. “I hope she will take him to task if he continues in this way.”

Darcy looked at his cousin, and a smile touched his lips. “Now I shall turn my notice on you, Richard. It appears you have won Anne’s heart.”

“Yes. She is beginning to trust me. Aunt Catherine filled her head with rubbish, saying that I was a libertine and a rake who did not care who I hurt. Anne feared she was one of many, just another amusement. But now she begins to see me as I truly am. I have come to love her and hope that she will come to love me in time.”

Darcy leaned back with approval. “And to think once we were both set against her.”

Richard laughed. “True. We opposed my aunt at every turn.”

Darcy sipped his drink. “Perhaps that was part of it, but Anne was also in some measure to blame. She deceived us. She kept us at arm’s length with her frailty.

Imagine my surprise when she walked three miles beside the carriage on our journey to Scotland, as she wanted to get some exercise.

Aunt Catherine was shocked to learn her daughter had the capacity and the will to do so. ”

Both men laughed. “She deceived us, but I forgive her. It was her mother’s doing.

Lady Catherine would have used Anne to carry out tedious errands.

Our cousin was very thin, and because she is tall, it made her look frail.

I assigned one of the undercooks to prepare simple fare for her each day, and see how she looks now.

Her figure is light and pleasing, and she is strong.

It was worth every mile I walked her against her will. ”

Darcy laughed at this. “I am glad for you. Our aunt will not be pleased, but if Anne has chosen you, then Aunt Catherine cannot interfere.”

“You have not told Aunt that you are married, have you? Darcy, she will soon learn, and it is more respectful if you tell her yourself.”

“I will, Richard. I will write to her tomorrow and post the letter from here. That will give me a few weeks’ peace before she comes down on our heads. Once she receives the news, I expect to see her waiting on my front stoop at Pemberley when I return.”

“If I can get Anne to agree, I will marry her here and remain with her an extra month. When we return to Kent, I will tell my aunt she must live peacefully with us or move to the dower house. If she refuses to reside in the dower house, I will settle her in Ramsgate, Margate, or Bath. I will not allow her to ruin any more of Anne’s life. ”

That night, Darcy entered his chamber to find the fire banked, but a candle burned. In the dim light, he could see Elizabeth in bed, her dark hair loose on the pillow. He climbed in, careful not to wake her, but then she turned to him.

He buried his face in her hair and drew a long, slow breath. “Darling, your scent has become my favorite. It reminds me of family and love and home,” he said softly.

She caught his lower lip between her teeth. “I love you, Fitzwilliam.”

His laugh rumbled in his chest. “I will make you love me more when I tell you what I have done.”

She looked at him curiously. “Now you have got my full attention. What have you done, Fitzwilliam?”

“I scolded Phillip. He is to stop trifling with your friends.”

She drew him into her arms. “Thank you, Fitzwilliam. You have done what I believed to be just and right, though I had not the courage to speak. I do not fear Phillip, but I do fear your aunt when it comes to him. He is her favorite.”

“You need not worry for your friends now, my love. It is done, and he will behave himself.”