Page 65 of Obligation and Redemption

“Lady Annette would have come into the marriage with an understanding of her responsibilities and the grace to fulfil them.”

“Are you so certain that Mrs. Darcy does not?”

“I am certain that she has no suitable clothing, and when I attempt to fix that problem, she resists; I am certain that her family has no connections to add to my own, and not only that, their behaviour is abominable; and I am certain that she cares not a whit about me, my home or my family. She only has the security and fortune that I can provide in mind.” Even as these words left Darcy’s lips, he knew he was exaggerating her faults.

“What if you are mistaken? Do you see how your treatment of her will only increase the conflict that seems to be growing between you?” Darcy made no answer.

“Darcy, you are right; I am no expert on relationships, but I do know how to treat someone who is below me in rank and how to help them meet expectations. Treating her as if she has no value will not make her happy, and believe me, if she is not happy neither will you be.”

Darcy wanted to say again that he was perfectly content with his life as it stood, but that would be a lie to himself and to his cousin.

He was miserable and therefore willing to listen to his cousin’s wisdom on the matter.

But he was not so humble as to admit his acquiescence quite yet.

Add to that, he was not ready to hear of how that might play out in his day-to-day life.

All he knew was that he needed a change.

He could not carry on with a woman who despised him.

They went their separate ways once reaching Darcy House. Dinner would be served in two hours. Fitzwilliam withdrew to his usual room while in residence there in order to get some rest after the vigorous exercise, and Darcy went to his study for some needed time alone.

SEVEN-THIRTY CAME, and punctual as usual, Elizabeth heard Darcy’s knock on the shared door.

This time she nodded for her maid to open the door in her chamber, as she looked in the mirror in her dressing room trying to add some colour to her unusually pale cheeks with a little pinch.

Had Colonel Fitzwilliam not been invited to dine, she considered coming up with an excuse for not joining her husband for dinner, but she knew this would be a blatant dereliction of duties with his cousin in attendance, and having him there as a diversion for both would help the evening to pass with greater ease.

She entered her chamber, and while avoiding his eyes, she walked towards him.

They descended the stairs in silence and went straight to the dining-parlour where Colonel Fitzwilliam awaited their arrival.

Standing, Colonel Fitzwilliam said, “Mrs. Darcy, you look lovely this evening.” She did indeed hold an attraction for the man with her dark hair and green, kind eyes, but he had to admit that her appearance lacked some of the lustre that it had even earlier in the day.

He was surprised to see that Darcy let the footman pull the chair out for her; Darcy had always been fastidious in his attentions bestowed upon a lady.

In fact, Fitzwilliam had been present more than once when witnessing Darcy’s solicitous behaviour towards Lady Annette in attending to her comforts himself.

As he witnessed Darcy’s interactions with his wife, Fitzwilliam’s sense of foreboding increased.

“Thank you, sir,” Elizabeth responded to his compliment. “Did you enjoy your afternoon with Mr. Darcy?”

“Yes, we went to Angelo’s, the fencing academy. Has Darcy told you about our shared passion for fencing?”

“No, I cannot say he has. But don’t feel like he has been neglectful in his duties to myself. I am sure he has told me all I need to know in order to faithfully admire him,“ said she with a sidelong smile.

Colonel Fitzwilliam joined in her amusement saying, “You too, then? That happened to me years ago,” which elicited gentle laughter from Elizabeth.

“James, please do not encourage her so.”

Elizabeth then turned to Fitzwilliam with a wink and said, “So, will you not tell me which of you was the victor?”

“As we are pretty equally matched, we were equally divided in our successes. I would have come out ahead had Darcy not gotten his second wind. Have you ever seen the sport?”

“Fitzwilliam! She is a lady. Please do not suggest otherwise.”

She looked over to Mr. Darcy archly, and then turned to the colonel, “Yes, as a matter of fact I have.” Fitzwilliam’s countenance lit up with the intelligence.

“My uncle, you see, used to fence, until he received a knee injury three years ago. Jane and I once secretly watched him practise with a friend of his in the mews at his home. I am quite certain he knew we were there, but did not reprimand us. Instead, he gave me a book on the topic, so I could study more about the sport. Unfortunately it was written in French, so I had to learn what I could through the pictures. You see, my French was never very good! But I found the sport fascinating, nonetheless.”

“And so what did you learn from those pictures?” questioned the colonel.

“I learnt that men and women are not so different after all. Men have their own lists of accomplishments and like to show off every bit as much as women. The only problem is that they display this talent in front of men alone. It is a shame that women are not invited to watch.”

“Mrs. Darcy, that would be most inappropriate,” said her shocked husband.

“And why is that, sir? Why can a woman of discernment not watch the sport, for I daresay it is every bit as much art as sport?” Then she turned to the colonel with a gleam in her eye, knowing she was about to alarm her already disturbed husband.

“My uncle knew the adventurous side of me and asked if I wanted to learn a little about fencing hands-on. Of course I wanted to, so he carved a stick about the length of a foil, if a little bulkier, and taught me the various moves. When my mother found out, she threatened to keep me from visiting London, so there ended my days as a swordswoman.” Elizabeth said this as nonchalantly as she could manage, knowing she was causing great aggravation for her husband.

“That is some story, Mrs. Darcy! And so you can add that to your list of accomplishments,” said the colonel, joining in her game as he considered that her teasing nature might be just what his cousin needed in his life .

“I suppose I can, but I am afraid not everyone would have your enthusiasm for its inclusion. I will have to stick with keeping that particular one amongst us alone.” She held an engaging smile as she took a sip of wine while Darcy sat dumbfounded.

He was hoping to learn more of his wife, but this was extraordinary.

The colonel continued, “Your uncle sounds like an interesting fellow. Tell me about him.”

Elizabeth glanced to her husband to see how he would bear her indulgence; then not seeing reproof, as his countenance was unreadable, she began her description.

“Thank you for asking. My uncle Gardiner is my mother’s younger brother, born at least ten years after her.

While still young, his mother, my grandmother, died so my grandfather desired to find husbands for my uncle’s sisters, the older marrying his clerk (for he was a solicitor in Meryton) and the younger a country gentleman, my father.

My grandfather was lonely and desired a mother for his son, so he found a wife, fortunately of some means, for she was a widow herself.

Her family had owned a warehouse and ran a business into which my uncle was then destined.

After school and completion of his studies at Oxford, he returned to his father’s home to become a partner.

The next year my grandfather died and the following, his wife.

Since that time Mr. Gardiner married and had four children and now resides in London, on Gracechurch Street, so that he can live near his warehouses. ”

“And he enjoyed the sport of fencing?”

“I suppose he did, but his real love is fishing. Unfortunately, London holds few places where he can indulge that particular passion. He has spoken of purchasing a country home where he could have lakes full of fish for the sport, but life as a father and businessman seems to have distracted him from that particular goal.”

“Are your mother and brother close?”

She smiled, “Not in age or temperament. But they do love one another as family should, and he indulges her by taking in her daughters to attempt to educate us in decorum.” Then she laughed, “Some of us must need more work than others, for he invites Jane and me often.”

“I am sure he invites you for your engaging company,” said the colonel. Elizabeth glanced to her husband who was paying close attention to his plate.

“Well, I cannot claim to know his motive, but I do know that he is a kind man who seeks to further his place in the world through diligent work. And he is generous enough to share his success with all of his family.”

Darcy changed the subject, “Speaking of family, Fitzwilliam, how is your sister? Will she be in town for Christmas?”

The colonel knew Darcy could answer this question better than he himself and saw that it was a ploy to change the conversation, which he did with finesse.

Elizabeth listened on in heightened interest as the two gentlemen spoke of family and the upcoming festive season.

Elizabeth had rarely heard Mr. Darcy speak so openly and loquaciously.

Usually he sat quietly while the conversations around him ebbed and flowed without his participation.