Page 66 of Sketching Mr. Darcy

D arcy pulled slightly away from Elizabeth and looked at her beautiful, flushed face, her long eyelashes trembling on her still closed lids, and her lips half parted, red and swollen from his kisses.

The nightgown was slightly lowered from her shoulders, now covered only by her long, heavy locks, spread over the pillow.

He placed small kisses on her face while he rested near her a moment longer. “If something really dramatic has not occurred, it will now, as I shall kill Stevens. I will return shortly,” he whispered against her temple, and she released a laugh while trying to breathe steadily.

She heard Stevens speaking with distress through the half open door.

“Everything is in the letter, sir. The messenger is waiting for your answer. It seems the fire destroyed the houses of two families of tenants and—”

“Stevens, I shall read it for myself. Go and give the man some warm food.”

Shortly after, Darcy returned to sit near Elizabeth while he started reading the letter.

“A fire started on the Box Hill estate last night. Nobody was badly injured, but two households are entirely ruined, and two families are without shelter in the middle of the winter. Mr Gordon, my steward, informs me the families have been hosted in the manor and he asks for my instructions.”

He glanced at her then stood and walked about the room. “Thank the Lord nobody was hurt…I wonder what caused it. Could there be a problem with the houses—with the chimneys? Could other families be in danger?”

“William, calm yourself. There is not much you can do from here.”

“True, I cannot do much from here. I shall write Mr Gordon and instruct him. I am rather displeased that I do not have enough details. There are still so many questions and—”

“Has anything like this happened before? Is there something that can be done?”

“It happened two years ago in Newcastle, in October. Many of the crops of three families were ruined. It seemed it was the fault of some workers who made a fire in an open field. We managed to rebuild the damaged houses before winter came. It was easier to handle as I was there.”

His agitation was obvious, and Elizabeth could do little but touch his arm in comfort. He smiled and kissed her hand. “I am sorry for this upheaval. You should go and rest now.”

“Please do not say that, William. I could not sleep when you must face such a distressing situation.”

“Forgive me—I shall go change and then speak with the messenger. I shall return shortly.”

Elizabeth arranged her appearance, still wearing a trace of their shared passion. It was long past midnight, yet her concern kept her alert until he finally returned half an hour later.

Before she had time to ask anything, he took her hands in his. “Elizabeth, I must go to Box Hill to see the situation for myself. I know I have promised to spend more time with you, but I need to go. I hope you are not upset…”

“I am not upset, but do you have to leave in the middle of the night in such weather? ”

“If the messenger managed to reach London and return, I can do the same. You must not worry. But I am reluctant to leave you and Georgiana alone. I shall send word to Robert…”

“You have no reason for concern for us. We shall be together in a house filled with servants, and Mrs Annesley is here too. Everything will be fine. You should worry only about what you have to accomplish and the long road ahead of you. I will take care of Georgiana.”

“Please, promise you will not leave the house unchaperoned. If you need anything, you should send a servant. I must take Stevens with me, but the rest will be at your disposal.”

“I will not leave the house alone, I promise.” She caressed his distressed face. “Why are you so troubled about this? Is it not true that you have been on journeys many times before and left Georgiana only with Mrs Annesley? Now we shall be together.”

“It is true,” he admitted, wondering why indeed he was more concerned and heavyhearted at this departure than any others.

Within half an hour, one large valise was packed, together with some food and drink, and Stevens took them to the carriage.

Elizabeth walked after her husband, feeling as useless as Lucky and Titan, who ran between his legs, sensing the distressful situation.

“I will not stay a moment longer than is necessary. Once I evaluate the situation and take proper measures, I shall return without delay.”

“Travel as safely as you can.”

He kissed her hands, and with a long gaze, he left the room. Elizabeth ran to the window, watching the snow falling heavily, the carriage waiting…

Then the door opened again, and he hurried to embrace her painfully tightly while he kissed her with an urgency that seemed desperate. There was neither tenderness nor passion in his kiss, only shared worry that left her cold and lonely in the middle of the room when he left.

The night passed unbearably slowly while Elizabeth remained at the window, suddenly angry with the snow that continued to fall.

Only a few hours earlier, she loved it, and she thought that walking in the park on the arm of her husband was the loveliest thing.

Now it was just another reason to worry for his safety—among many other dangerous threats on the roads in the middle of the night.

It was unbelievable that a man in his situation in life should abandon his comfort and safety to attend the well-being of others. And that man was her husband!

Unsettled, a cold hole in her stomach, she looked at the roses on the table. It seemed such a long time since he offered them to her, yet it was only that early morning.

The revelation that struck her was that he had been gone for so little time and she missed him already. She was more concerned for his departure than she remembered being for the members of her own family. The second revelation came in the blink of an eye: he was her family now!

Her thoughts followed him along the road, and she took her diary and wrote down all that was in her mind and in her heart until she finally fell asleep. It was just as the household awoke at dawn.

***

London, 4 January

First thing next morning, Elizabeth visited Janey and her little girl—whose improvement was significant. She spent half an hour with them while Lucky and Titan—who had kept after Elizabeth—anxiously invited Peter to play.

As Georgiana was still in her room, Elizabeth decided to have breakfast with her and Mrs Annesley.

The news of the tragic incident and her brother having to leave worried Georgiana exceedingly.

They shared concerns and hopes for a positive outcome, and Elizabeth wondered whether she should take the opportunity to raise the subject of Mr Wickham.

However, with Mrs Annesley there and Georgiana already distressed, she decided to postpone the conversation.

On a happier note, Elizabeth told them about the opera, not speaking of Lady Stafford and briefly mentioning their meeting with Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst.

Breakfast was long finished, and the conversation had turned lighter when Miss Darcy’s maid announced that Mr James Darcy had arrived to meet the master.

Elizabeth was tempted to dismiss him with an apology and an invitation to return in a few days—then she suddenly changed her mind and asked that the guest be shown to the drawing room.

***

“Mrs Darcy—I thank you for receiving me. I was told my cousin is not at home.”

“Good day, sir. Indeed, Mr Darcy was summoned away urgently. There was a fire at Box Hill, and he had to leave in the middle of the night.”

“I see…then I do not want to disturb you. I shall come another time.”

“If you are in no hurry, it would be my pleasure for us to have a drink together.”

He seemed uncertain of how to respond then accepted and asked for a glass of brandy.

“So, Darcy left for Box Hill…It surely will be a difficult journey in the middle of this winter.”

“Most certainly. But he thought his presence was needed, and he put others’ problems before his comfort. I see he tends to do that.”

“Yes, he was always very diligent with his duties,” James said.

“One must be very diligent if one has to manage so many estates. I know only a few details about my husband’s business, and I can imagine how difficult it must be for him.

It is my goal to support and help him in any way I can.

He will surely be more at peace once you take the management of your properties. I am sure you look forward to it.”

“Yes…I look forward to not depending on anyone for my decisions—who would not be?”

“Indeed. It must be a matter of pride for a gentleman to use his mind and education to influence the life of many others and to prove himself worthy of his family inheritance.”

She smiled charmingly while enjoying her tea. Her companion finished his brandy in one gulp.

“Some of us are not very skilful in managing business. We can only try to do our best.”

“Perhaps. But where there is not enough skill, one can compensate with harder work and a willingness to learn, especially if one has an interest in the subject. I am hardly as talented at the piano as Georgiana, and until now, I had not given it much consideration. However, in my present position, I understand I have new responsibilities, and I must practice more. I am sure my husband would be happy to support you. He seems very fond of you.”

“I am sure he would,” James replied, growing uneasy. “I am very fond of him too, and I have admired Darcy since we were children. He always had the highest expectations of himself and of others, but sometimes people around him cannot meet his goals.”

“That must be true, but I wonder: Is he allowed the luxury of not rising to those expectations? Can he afford to abandon his duties? If tomorrow he decides things are too hard to accomplish and retires to Pemberley, enjoying the benefits of his fortune and cutting off any distressing connections, is there anyone to take over his responsibilities?”