Page 121 of Obligation and Redemption

“I will write to you then as soon as I have good news.” Bingley smiled enthusiastically.

ELIZABETH AWOKE LATE THE MORNING Darcy had left.

She had hoped to be available to give her goodbyes, but could not rouse herself for the task.

She had been sleeping later in the mornings than even while in town and still needed a nap.

When she would finally make her way to breakfast, she could not bear to eat anything beyond a plain roll and some tea.

She did find that exercise made her feel better, so when she was able to get herself going, she took her walk, but many times she had to move her exercise to the afternoon.

By now, Elizabeth was relatively certain that she was with child but had no one with whom she could share her suspicions.

She had not had her courses since some time in December.

Although Elizabeth did not know the symptoms to look for, she suspected that her growing fatigue and decrease in appetite must have some connection.

She decided to write to her aunt to see if she could enlighten her as to her experience thus far.

Elizabeth could not decide if the possibility brought her pleasure or apprehension.

Of course, she wanted a baby, but she did not imagine it would happen so soon.

She now perceived that Darcy would be happy at the prospect, but she feared that once he had his heir, he might leave her to herself more often than he had even since their wedding.

She no longer found his company irksome.

In fact, she quite enjoyed being with him when there was no threat of any physical demands.

She supposed that was one benefit if she were with child; he might find this as a reason to avoid intimacies.

Elizabeth had no way of knowing if copulation was even permitted when a woman was pregnant.

She had so many questions and only wished there were someone with whom she could speak.

Laura had kept her distance since Darcy’s return, which Elizabeth understood to be based on her husband’s presence, not her own company.

But then Laura had never conceived a baby of which Elizabeth was aware and so would have limited knowledge to counsel her.

So Elizabeth wrote to her aunt seeking guidance and hoped for clarification of her symptoms.

Without Darcy around, Elizabeth’s mind was left to its own amusement, and it cruelly determined to find pleasure in plaguing her with thoughts of Lady Annette and her husband’s intentions upon his removal to town.

Elizabeth had been certain of her own dislike of her husband not one month ago.

So what had happened to bring about so drastic a change?

For the duration of her acquaintance with Darcy, he had been conceited, selfish, arrogant, officious and demanding, all building a perfect basis for her disapprobation, but then he returned from a lengthy trip to London a changed man, it would seem.

Now she found herself not only enjoying his company but missing it as well.

Determined to make the most of her time at Pemberley while Mr. Darcy was away, she met with Mr. Stephens.

During the meeting, she collected the names and locations for all of the tenant farmers and their families.

Included were also the names and ages of their children.

She then requested that a footman be made available for her to make daily visits, hoping to meet as many farmers as she could before the planting season began.

She had Mrs. Reynolds assign a servant to make a basket of food and rations as largesse for each family that she was to visit and made drawing books for the children that were similar to the ones she had made for her husband’s family.

Elizabeth looked forward to this part of her role as Mrs. Darcy, as she enjoyed meeting people and thanking them for being a part of their great estate.

While on her route, she discovered many families and experiences for which to be thankful.

She was able to hear how esteemed her husband was within the context of his own realm.

The farmers and their wives praised him for his generosity, for keeping their homes in good repair, for paying as well as any farmer could hope to make.

They spoke of his time as a boy when his father would send him out to work in the fields, so that he might one day lead his people with a firm knowledge of the land and the difficulties therein.

She learnt that the estate made just as much profit from wool as it did from farming, and that the land at Pemberley was ideal for the raising of sheep.

Although prime for mining, the Darcys had chosen not to impose upon their land in order to increase their profits, for many a man and child had died in such occupation, and their wealth was in no way wanting to justify the endeavour.

Unfortunately Elizabeth was unable to visit as many as she had planned, but this was owing to the happy circumstance of extended visits with loquacious tenants, wives, children and shepherds.

Elizabeth began to feel a true belonging to her new home during this time, as well as a new and considerable admiration for the man whom she married.

She was welcomed with hospitality and kindness by everyone whom she met and made heartfelt promises to visit again.

While Darcy was away, Elizabeth received yet another letter from her sister, Lydia.

Before even opening the seal, she tossed it into the fire.

She refused to play any role in harming her marriage.

She now suspected that Mr. Wickham’s motives were not as benign as she had once thought and began to consider that her husband’s strong dislike for the man may just have some merit.

THE DAY AFTER HIS CALL on the Gardiners with Bingley, Darcy went to his solicitor’s office to sign papers that had been waiting for him.

While there he decided to enlist the man’s help in investigating his wife’s affairs.

Since Darcy had learnt of Elizabeth’s contributions to an unknown account, he could not stop thinking about who the beneficiary might be.

He considered Wickham, but after the past month spent in close quarters with his wife, he had a hard time supposing that she might make such a treacherous move.

There had been no indication of duplicity.

Of course she may be helping her family, but then why the secrecy?

Darcy gave his solicitor the name of the bank and account number to see if he could discover any information that might elucidate her plans.

The next day he returned but found that his solicitor was unsuccessful in his attempts to obtain any intelligence.

This left Darcy even more puzzled than before and without his wife there to calm his active imagination, his speculation began to run a course that he had originally instinctively rejected. Will I ever find peace with my wife ?

After surprising his sister that afternoon with an extended visit, he decided to eat at his club that night and spare his staff the effort of another meal before his departure the following morning. “Darcy, man, we did not know of your return to town,” said his cousin, Lord Langston.

“I am only here for a few days. In fact I leave for Pemberley tomorrow.”

“How’s that pretty wife of yours?”

Darcy raised his eyebrow at his cousin’s meddlesome question, but as this was his typical style, Darcy did not take too much offence. “She is happily settled at Pemberley.”

“So she did not join you, yet again? What brought you here? Don’t tell me you needed another visit to Madame Karina’s. I would think that your wife would have kept you satisfied enough.”

Darcy’s eyes darkened at the memory. “No, I have no need for a courtesan. Not then, and not now. Tell me how is your own wife?”

Langston shrugged as he said, “As usual. She has her amusements. She retired early tonight, so here I am. So, you never told me. How was Aphrodite ?” He asked with a snigger that sounded more like a schoolboy than a viscount.

“I left.”

“What? You left. What does that mean?”

“Just what I said, I left. I never got that far, and I would appreciate your not mentioning that night ever again. I left the place before I could make that mistake, thank the Lord.”

“I don’t believe you, but don’t worry. I promised not to tell.”

Darcy was getting increasingly irritated with his cousin but thought it best to change the subject. “Have you heard from James? Will he be around anytime soon?”

“I heard that he might be back in a few weeks. Don’t you go to Rosings each spring? I suppose you will see him then.”

“I have not yet decided if we will make the trip. I have already returned to town two times unexpectedly, and I am not at all sure Elizabeth would be welcome at Rosings in light of Aunt Catherine’s disappointment.”

“Yes, did she really think you would marry Anne? She is such a sickly creature. She would die during childbirth, I am certain. And who would want to bed her anyway?”

“Langston, do you have to be so vulgar? I warrant you are just like James. Anne is a sweet girl – but you are right about childbirth. Hopefully, she can stand up to her mother and remain single. I fear for her otherwise.”

“Your wife seems perfectly capable.” Darcy’s annoyance was obvious. “Don’t look at me so. I mean no harm. She is a lovely woman. In fact, if you remember, I had hoped for an invitation to Pemberley so we could get better acquainted.”

“Perhaps this summer.”

“Excellent.”

“Well, if you will excuse me; I have an early start in the morning. ”