Page 58 of The Next Mrs Bennet
A s planned, the Portnoy and Barrington families arrived at Pemberley on Wednesday afternoon past. To say they were surprised at the number of guests in residence was an understatement, and then to learn one of them was the Duchess of Hertfordshire had flabbergasted them.
Once the shock had worn off, everyone mixed well with new connections made and friendships begun. Missing was the one Portnoy daughter who had married and resigned that family name some four months previously. The other female cousin missing was Retta on the Barrington side, she had been married for over a year and was increasing, causing her and her husband to choose to remain at their estate in Devonshire.
As her eldest daughter would only enter her lying-in in two to three months, Darcy’s younger sister, Leticia, had joined her husband, son, and youngest daughter in travelling to her brother’s estate for Easter.
It was the Saturday before Easter and, as they had each day since the day after they arrived at Pemberley, Jane, Elizabeth, and Charlotte were taking a stroll around the manmade lake in front of the manor house.
Since she had been openly reunited with her family and friends, practically other than when she slept, Elizabeth was in the company of one or more of them. As they walked, Elizabeth kept a reasonable pace knowing that neither Charlotte nor Jane walked as fast as was her wont. As always, they were followed at a distance by John and Brian.
What he had almost done that day when he stopped himself from striking her was not amusing, but Elizabeth could not but smile at Uncle Edward’s reaction when she had shared that detail with him the evening they arrived. He had been ready to charge back to London to find the deplorable old man and thrash him. Failing that, he wanted to go to Longbourn to punish Mr. Bennet for not protecting his daughters as he should have. However, between herself and Aunt Maddie, they had sufficiently calmed Uncle Edward by assuring him that the man had never actually struck her and since then, had not threatened to do so.
Once his equanimity had been restored, Elizabeth had explained how she had begged Aunt Maddie not to share that with him until he was far away from London.
“What makes you smile like that, Eliza?” Charlotte asked.
“I was thinking of Uncle Edward’s reaction when he was told about the day of my presentation,” Elizabeth revealed.
“He would not have been alone in returning to London had that man actually physically harmed you,” Charlotte surmised. “In fact, I think he would have been joined by most of the men here.”
“Unfortunately while he still lives, I am considered his property so he would say he is allowed to do what he will with something which belongs to him,” Elizabeth mused. “Enough about him. Is it my imagination or is Lawrence Portnoy interested in you Charlotte?”
Charlotte blushed and looked away. “Come Charlotte, do not be coy, it has only been a few days, but he always seeks you out,” Jane observed.
“You mean like Lord Andrew does with you?” Charlotte responded. Now it was Jane’s turn to blush deeply.
“And Janey met Lord Hilldale many months ago,” Elizabeth pointed out.
She could not be with the man she wanted to be with, but she would do what she could to make sure those she loved were able to find men of their choice.
Elizabeth stopped in her tracks. At the instant she thought about Jane and Charlotte being able to make free choices about who, if anyone, they ever married; a handsome face invaded her thoughts. It was the face of the man she had been dreaming of since meeting him, regardless of his insulting her.
“Lizzy, are you well? Should we return to the manor house?” Jane asked concernedly.
“Excuse me, I was wool-gathering,” Elizabeth hedged.
Neither her sister nor her friend thought that was what had caused Elizabeth to freeze, but they would not press her until she was ready to share with them—that is if ever she was able. She already had too many choices stolen from her and they would not do anything to force her into a confidence.
Although she was walking again, Elizabeth was thinking of the interactions she had with Master Darcy—William. The times she sat in Pemberley’s magnificent library, usually with Mary, and sometimes others as well, accompanying her, the Darcy heir seemed to find his way there as well. So far they had debated one of Shakespeare’s histories and a volume of poetry by Lord Byron.
He never discounted her opinions because of her sex. In fact, he treated her with respect for her intellect. As often as she conceded his point was correct, he did the same with what she had been arguing.
Whenever, and it had not been many days from the time they first met, she was in his company, it just felt right. Unfortunately, they could never be more than friends. Neither of them would think of flouting propriety or contravening her marriage vows, at least the one to keep herself unto her husband and none other.
‘ If only… ’ Elizabeth began to think, but then she stopped herself. She reminded herself how she had told Janey about seeing the world as it was, not how she wanted it to be.
She had to take her own advice. Who knew what would happen to her loathsome husband or how long it would be before he went to where he belonged? Hell!
And if she was freed from the bondage which was her marriage, would William still be available then? It was not like she could expect him to wait for her for an undeterminable amount of time. Besides this, she did not know his feelings on the subject. Even if she were free now, would he want to pursue her?
Surely he, like all men, would want his wife to come to him pure on their wedding night. Elizabeth was positive William would not want a wife who was sullied, as she was. As always occurred when she reached this conclusion, she felt an overarching sadness descend over her.
Jane looked at Charlotte questioningly. Charlotte shrugged. Neither of them knew why Lizzy looked like she had been gripped by melancholy all of a sudden. As hard as it was, they stuck to their resolve not to press her. Since they were almost at the house anyway, Jane decided she would talk to Aunt Maddie to see if her aunt had any idea what caused Lizzy’s mood to change so suddenly.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Fitzwilliam Darcy was well aware he was losing his heart. The problem was not only that she was a duchess, but she was married, to the most worthless, vile man in the realm, but married nonetheless.
When they were together it felt like his heart was whole. How was it his heart had gone and settled on one who could never be his?
As much as he knew no other woman would ever measure up to Lady Elizabeth, he was certain that for the continuation of the Darcy line, he would have to take a wife one day. It would be a difficult search as everyone would be measured against Elizabeth , and he was sure they would all be found wanting.
Yes, he had only turned four and twenty in January past, so he was still relatively young and had time. Would time erase the ache of not being able to be with the woman with whom he was falling in love?
Until he had to cross that particular bridge, he revelled in spending time with her and was amazed by her intelligence. Not only was she well read, but she played chess as well. Her skills were far from rudimentary. In the days since she had been in residence, they had played four games and each of them had won one with two ending in draws.
He had been a chess champion at Cambridge which made her playing that much more impressive.
She was one of the most compassionate people he knew to the extent that she had agreed to meet with Pemberley’s steward, Mr. Lucas Wickham, and tell him all about his son and what she knew of his employment with the Duke.
During the meeting in his father’s study, she had related how she had seen some subtle, although small, shifts in George Wickham’s behaviour as it related to his treatment of her. She could not be sure, but based on her husband not ringing a peel over her head, she believed his man no longer reported anything the Duke would find objectionable about herself.
If her goodness and intellect were not enough, he knew of no more beautiful young lady. Her extremely fine, emerald-green eyes, radiated intelligence, flashing when she was angered, absolutely bewitched him.
On several occasions, he had heard her say her older sister was far better looking than herself. William could not agree with that assessment, Lady Elizabeth was, by far, the most handsome woman of his acquaintance.
He did not begrudge either of his cousins the burgeoning friendships Andrew and Lawrence had with Jane Bennet and Miss Lucas respectively.
‘ If only she was not married to that corpulent bastard ,’ William thought to himself. He did not wish the damned Duke dead, but he knew he would not complain if the man did them all a favour and shuffled off the mortal coil.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“You have told me all is planned for the morrow, but I want you to go over everything again,” the Duke demanded when Wickham stood before him.
“As you wish, Your Grace,” Wickham bowed. If his master needed to hear the plans again, then so be it.
“I am waiting,” Hertfordshire interjected petulantly.
“It is confirmed Lord Jersey will convey his son and daughter to his brother-in-law’s estate outside of London directly from St. George’s after the Easter services on the morrow,” Wickham began. “Lady Jersey will be returning to Jersey House to confirm all the arrangements for the dinner she has planned, and to be held there on the morrow are satisfactory.
“As the brother’s estate is a little under two hours away, with time to spend with his family, Lord Jersey will be away for upwards of five hours giving you more than enough time for what you plan to do.”
“Have you used my money wisely bribing all of the footmen who would normally be on duty in the house?” Hertfordshire asked the same question he had asked earlier.
“Yes, I most certainly have, Your Grace. I showed you the accounting did I not? They will all leave the house as soon as Lady Jersey enters her bedchamber to change. We will be in your nondescript carriage near the house and we will see her arrive home and then before you enter the house, you will see the footmen departing,” Wickham explained. “Before he leaves, one of the men will unlock a door on the side of the house which leads into the ballroom. From there we will enter the house and take the stairs up to the master suite. Are you certain you do not want to take the servants’ stairs for added security?”
“Of course not, do not suggest that again or it will not go well for you,” the Duke spat out. “There is no world in which I would use the servants’ anything!”
“As you wish, Your Grace. The entrance hall, stairs, and upstairs hallways will all be devoid of the footmen we would have seen abandoning the house. I will lead you to Lord Jersey’s bedchamber. It is there the maid I bedded told me her Ladyship will be to take a rest after church.” Wickham paused. “Do you require me to enter the bedchamber with you?”
“Of course I do not, you simpleton,” the Duke stated disdainfully. “I will bring her to heel, and if she resists me, my pistol will be with me! It is not the first time I have forced a reluctant woman to have me, and it will not be the last.”
“In that case, Your Grace, I will wait for you outside the door. As soon as you are satisfied, I will lead you safely out of the house,” Wickham related. “It is a pity you will not be able to see the look on your enemy’s face when he discovers you have violated his wife.”
“He will come to call me out and then I will see the anguish I will have caused him. When I threaten to release all of the information to the gossip sheets, he will leave my house with his tail between his legs. My revenge will be complete!” The Duke looked gleeful as he spoke. “Even if he does not end his own miserable life, he will be a broken man.”
Finally happy the plans were in place and they met with his approval, the Duke waived Wickham away.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
After dinner on Saturday evening, the residents of Pemberley sat in the drawing room, with the movable wall between it and the music room pushed back. They had been treated to the pleasure of Lady Anne exhibiting on the pianoforte. She was a true proficient.
Mary and Anna had played a duet, and then they had been followed by Olive Portnoy on the harp while her cousin Marjorie Barrington accompanied her in song.
There had been card tables set up as well with whist at one table and loo at another.
Given the early hour of the Easter services, no one lingered past an hour or so in the drawing room, everyone making for their bedchambers. They would all be attending the Lambton church and then Adam, Eve, and their two boys would join them at Pemberley for the Easter meal.
When they reached the first guest floor where they were being housed, Aunt Maddie invited Lizzy into the suite’s private sitting room.
“Lizzy, are you well?” Madeline asked her niece once they were comfortably seated facing one another across the low coffee table.
“What do you mean, Aunt? I have never been happier.”
“Then Lizzy dear, explain why you have periods of great sadness disconnected from anything we know about?”
“Did Jane mention this?”
“No Lizzy, she did not have to, I have seen it for myself.”
“Now and again, it hits me that regardless of the pleasure of being with all of you now, I am still in the prison which is my marriage. Yes, I know, I am free right now, surrounded by love and acceptance, but at some point after I give birth,” Elizabeth placed her hands on the slight bump in her belly, “A time will come when I will be back living with him . In many ways after experiencing the complete bliss of being with everyone, having to go back to him could very well break my spirit. I think I am strong enough for that not to happen, but I will only know then.”
Madeline pulled her niece into a hug. “We will find a way so you will not be cut off from us again. I know not how, but we will. That I swear to you. Also, it is quite possible you may hardly be in that man’s company if the babe growing inside of you is an heir.” All the talk of babes cause Madeline to place her hands on her large belly where her new daughter or son was making her or his presence known.
“It must be! I cannot have him importune me ever again!” Elizabeth knew she was omitting the reason for a major part of her melancholy, however, there was nothing she said that was not true.
“Go and prepare for bed, Lizzy. I need to go join your uncle in our bedchamber.” Madeline kissed her niece on the forehead.
Elizabeth watched wistfully as her aunt entered the bedchamber. As long as she was married to him she would never know a love like the one her aunt and uncle shared.