Page 79 of Obligation and Redemption

While they made their way to the nursery, Elizabeth began, “Georgiana, may I have a word?” At the younger woman’s reluctant agreement, she continued.

“I know that the past month has been hard on you, being away from your home and your brother. If it were up to me you would be with us at Darcy House, but your brother felt that the wisest course was the current arrangement. As he knows your needs better than I, your brother must have taken other concerns into consideration of which I am unaware.” Georgiana kept her eyes glued to the floor as Elizabeth spoke.

“As you know, my marriage to your brother was not your brother’s wish.

I do admire him for his sense of honour that would drive him to request my hand despite having no one to enforce him to uphold his duty.

I hope that one day Mr. Darcy and I might develop a mutual regard, and that you and I will see one another as sisters.

Please know that I will do my best to be a worthy wife and sister, and hopefully one day mother, if God wills it so. ”

Georgiana could not speak for fear of what she might say.

Instead she looked to Elizabeth for several moments before continuing on their way.

Elizabeth felt the disquietude in Georgiana’s heart and could only hope that one day they would be friends, knowing there was nothing else she could do but wait patiently.

When arriving at the nursery, Elizabeth entered the suite and immediately the two children turned to look at her in wonder.

She said, “Hello Edmund, Emily. I hope you don’t mind my intrusion upon your privacy.

” They continued to stare. “I met you downstairs. My name is Mrs. Darcy; you see I married your cousin, Mr. Darcy, and have come up here to get to know you better.” She asked them their ages and favourites for a few moments with hushed responses, and then told them a story about a little girl who loved Christmas so much that she would make gifts for all her family, referring to herself.

After a few moments, she got to the point.

“I thought you might enjoy opening a present that I made for you.” At the word present, their stupor was overcome, and smiles came across their faces as they approached her.

She brought two identical packages from around her back where they had been hidden.

They each opened the ones handed to them and discovered within a drawing book with pencils and chalk contained in a small pouch, embroidered with each child’s initial.

Across the tops of the first ten pages of each book were four small drawings demonstrating how to compose a particular picture.

The first in Edmund’s was a lion – the first of the four pictures containing two circles, one for the body and a smaller one for the head, the second added a mane, the third a tail and legs, and the fourth had the finished picture with eyes, nose and mouth.

Emily’s first page had a rabbit in like manner.

“When I was a child, my aunt used to make me books, such as the ones I have made you, so I could teach myself how to draw. My mother thought I was so gifted as an artist. I never told her that I had help from the drawings my aunt had made for me because after I had practised, I stopped needing help in that way and could make a lion or rabbit all on my own. Do you think you would like to learn to draw too?” To her satisfaction, they nodded and expressed desire to do just that.

Georgiana had immediately left Elizabeth to the children and returned downstairs while trying to find justification for fault in Elizabeth’s speech.

Darcy saw Georgiana enter and decided to check on his wife to make sure she knew her way back to the music room.

When he arrived at the open doorway, he looked in, curious as to what might be going on between his wife and the two young children.

He watched as she presented the gifts to them.

Elizabeth was smiling and showing great kindness to these children whom she did not even know, children of two people in his family who had been nothing but accusatory and rude to her – and not on display for all to see.

Elizabeth’s eyes danced in satisfaction at the children’s response to her kind gifts.

Darcy felt ashamed of how his own sister had disregarded so flippantly the gift Elizabeth had made for her.

“Elizabeth, you have another hidden talent.” She looked up intently to him and not seeing censure, she smiled.

“Indeed I do. It is a wonder my suitors were not clamouring at my door anticipating my next talent to be unfolded.”

“So you made these books?”

“Really, it is just a little something that I enjoyed as a girl, nothing more.” Elizabeth was blushing under his stare, unable to discern if he approved or found displeasure in her trifling gift.

His family was likely used to giving and receiving much more extravagant presents than these.

Then she recalled that the rest of the family was still gathered downstairs. “Perhaps we should join your family.”

“Would you like to spend more time with the children? I could stay with you for a few moments and then escort you down when you are ready.” She nodded that she would and began helping the children with their first drawings.

Not wanting to keep Mr. Darcy waiting, however, she quickly finished her task and stood to depart.

“I have similar gifts to present to Lady Victoria’s children if we are to see them in the near future. Do you suppose we might have an occasion to meet them?”

“I am sure we could arrange a meeting.”

“I was unable to determine on Saturday how Lady Victoria viewed me. Her husband was not in attendance, and she hardly spoke a word, which is much unlike the colonel, yet you say they are alike?”

“The siblings are both of a discerning nature. Fitzwilliam is gregarious, but don’t let his affability tempt you to miss his acumen.

I believe they are both open to your entrance in the family.

What is done is done, so the proper and right thing is to accept our marriage, giving you the benefit of the doubt.

Like Fitzwilliam, she will welcome you, I believe.

Of course, to truly approve of you, she would want to know your character and maybe even desire answers, but she is not so set that she cannot be persuaded to accept you.

On the other hand, I cannot predict her husband’s response. He will believe as he chooses.”

Elizabeth was quiet in contemplation. Could her own husband one day accept her?

Was there hope for future happiness? “If you seek the truth, you will find it. I guess you have to want to seek the truth though,” she said quietly, her thoughts moving from his cousins to her husband.

Darcy, who had barely heard the last, considered her words.

Had he not always valued truth? He followed the evidence in all circumstances and measured it against his own understanding and experiences. An educated man could do no less .

“DARCY, THERE YOU ARE. Georgiana sent me looking for you,” came the voice of Langston.

“She asked if you would meet her in her sitting room. I believe she had something that she wanted to give you in private.” Noticing Darcy’s glance towards his wife, he said, “Don’t worry, I will escort Mrs. Darcy to the rest of the family. ”

Elizabeth was uncomfortable to be left alone with this man who wore his privilege – and dislike for her – upon his brow, but she nodded her acquiescence to her husband.

When Darcy left, Langston led her continuing on down the passageway, but instead of taking her towards the music room where Elizabeth had expected, he took her down another hallway.

Because Elizabeth was not sure of her direction, nor was she familiar with the house, she let herself be led along by the arm down the unknown hallway.

The viscount opened a door and guided her in, closing and then locking it behind him while keeping her within his grasp.

“Mrs. Darcy, Elizabeth, perhaps you might be wondering why I brought you here.” By now Elizabeth realised her peril.

She had allowed herself to be led into a secluded room with this man of privilege who would naturally believe he was entitled to whatever she might have to give him.

If they were discovered, she would be the one condemned by his family.

Her husband would likely take his cousin’s side as well, suspecting her duplicity.

Elizabeth grasped that she was completely at this man’s mercy.

He openly laughed at the look of trepidation in her eyes while he reached up to touch her curls beside her cheek.

“What I am wondering is how you were able to induce my priggish cousin, Darcy, to break his overzealous rules of propriety, to tempt him to offer for you – a woman with nothing but her shapely figure to entice.”

Elizabeth felt it best not to enter into this conversation and made to leave the room. She was stayed by his grasp. “Sir, I will not remain here and listen to you insult me.”

“I am sorry you see it that way, for I meant only to compliment.”

“Please, open the door and let me go.”

“Not yet; not until you answer my question. You don’t have to say a word though; you can show me,” said the viscount as his eyes travelled over her.

“Please, whatever you think to be true, I can assure is not, and my husband would not appreciate your keeping me against my wishes.”