The Engagement Read online

  “Moi?” she asked innocently, pointing her finger at herself.

  “Yes, you.” He pulled her to him, her back to his front. “With the beginning of the year, I was trying to forget you. When I was convinced that I had been successful, we met again in Kent. Then I returned to Pemberley, hoping that in there I would erase your words from my memory. What you said to me that afternoon at Hunsford haunted me mercilessly.”

  Elizabeth shifted in his embrace while his arms closed around her tightly. “Colonel Fitzwilliam told me that he never again wishes to see you in the state that you were in when he visited Pemberley last May.”

  “He exaggerated. I was upset; however, there is no doubt that I deserved it.”

  Elizabeth turned her head to look at his face. “I think that he was warning me against hurting you again.”

  Darcy straightened up a little. “I am thankful for my cousin’s good intentions. However, I am perfectly capable of protecting myself from harm and ensuring my own happiness. After all, I succeeded in winning your feelings and good opinion all by myself.”

  Elizabeth bit down on her lower lip. “May I remind you that Lady Catherine helped you to a certain point?”

  “I prefer to believe that she only hurried the process. We would have met again because of Jane and Bingley’s marriage even without my aunt’s assistance. I would not have been able to stay away from you for a long time. And speaking of my relatives, my aunt and uncle agreed to come to our wedding.”

  Elizabeth sat up, pulling away from him. “The Earl and Countess of Matlock?”

  “Yes, indeed. I was quite surprised myself when the letter arrived. Naturally, I informed them about our engagement. However, I never thought that they would even consider attending the wedding. They are still in good health, but they barely leave Matlock Hall these days.”

  “I am glad that they are coming,” Elizabeth assured with caution in her voice. “However, I am afraid of their reaction towards Longbourn and my family.”

  “They made the decision to come, which in my opinion indicates their acceptance of our union. Colonel Fitzwilliam must have been an excellent advocate for you.”

  “What about Lady Catherine? I am quite certain that she did everything in her power to present our situation in the least favourable light.”

  “Uncle did not mention Catherine in his letter, although I agree with you that she probably tried to convince them to her point of view. I know from Colonel Fitzwilliam that she even travelled to Matlock, even though she never travels north.”

  “Will they welcome me?” Elizabeth worried.

  “Uncle wrote in his letter that I was my own man and he had no intention or right to interfere in my decisions. He also added that young, healthy, well-mannered and educated gentlemen’s daughters, even though poor and without connections, might be a good choice, much better than some actress. He heard that you were from a family of many children; I believe that Lady Catherine referred to the Bennets as ‘the brood’ when she talked with him. Thus he hopes that we will have many children as well. Too few heirs have always been a great concern in our families.”

  “Why an actress?”

  “He has a strong aversion to actresses since his eldest son’s romance with one. Viscount Castlereagh, older brother of Colonel Fitzwilliam, wanted to marry one years ago. I was still a boy when it all happened, but I heard enough.”

  “Did your cousin marry her? The actress?”

  Darcy chuckled. “Of course not. The Earl of Matlock would have never agreed to that. He married an heiress from Scotland, our distant cousin. Almost ten years after the wedding and they do not have a son, only one daughter. I think that uncle is afraid that the boy will not be born to them and there will be no one to carry on the family title. I think that he is determined to marry off Colonel Fitzwilliam, the sooner the better.”

  “I see. Is Colonel Fitzwilliam aware of those plans concerning his person?”

  Darcy shrugged. “I believe so. He is quite devoted to his career, though.”

  Elizabeth sighed. “We should tell Mama that your uncle and aunt are coming. She will be beside herself with joy and worry.”

  “Why should she worry?”

  “She has never admitted an earl and countess in her home. This will be quite an experience for her and for all of us as well.”

  Elizabeth looked down at their joined hands. Despite Darcy’s reassurances, she was very much concerned over the Matlocks’ reaction to her family. It was impossible to predict Mrs. Bennet’s behaviour. She did not wish for Darcy to become alienated from his relatives, from his mother’s brother, because of their marriage. It was enough that Lady Catherine would never accept their union.

  “Look at me.” Darcy touched her cheek, making her look into his eyes. “Do not fret over this. Uncle and Aunt will be gracious to you, your parents and sisters.”

  “I am more concerned over my mother’s reaction to the news.”

  “The Matlocks wish to have good relations with me, thus they will do nothing to offend you. I am quite certain that Lord Matlock wishes for Colonel Fitzwilliam to marry Georgiana.”

  “But they are first cousins!” Elizabeth protested.

  “Not exactly.”

  Elizabeth frowned, not understanding.

  “Lord Matlock and my mother were half siblings because grandfather was married twice. My mother and Lady Catherine are the children from his second marriage.”

  “I see. Would you agree to such plans, of Colonel Fitzwilliam marrying Georgiana?”

  “For now, I intend to give my uncle hope that I will not oppose it when the time comes. Trust me on that; the Matlocks will be kind and welcoming to you. I am certain that Colonel Fitzwilliam told them how much in love I was with you. They will not wish to alienate me now by disrespecting you.”

  “What about Georgiana?”

  “What about her?”

  “Does she know?”

  “I doubt that she suspects anything of the kind. She is much too young to even think about marriage. I will worry about it in a few years. I do not plan to agree to any marriage for her until she is at least your age.”

  “Are you against Colonel Fitzwilliam?”

  “As Georgiana’s husband?”

  She nodded.

  “Not at all. I can trust him with her. She will be safe. They will live near Pemberley. I know that he will not hurt her. However, I do believe that there is time yet to consider it. Georgiana sees him as a brother. He is nearly fifteen years older than she.”

  “You are older than I am.”

  “Only seven years, not over a decade.”

  Their conversation was interrupted as Mrs. Bennet together with Jane and the maid entered, carrying a tray with tea and a cheesecake.

  “Your favourite dessert, Mr. Darcy,” Mrs. Bennet said, cutting out a generous helping of the cake and placing it on a small plate before passing it to Darcy.

  Darcy murmured “thank you,” then put the piece into his mouth, chewing slowly with a pleased expression on his face.

  “Good?” Mrs. Bennet asked with a motherly smile, to which Darcy nodded before swallowing and putting another piece into his mouth.

  “I always have cheesecake, knowing how much you like it, Mr. Darcy. I will make sure that Lizzy passes the recipe to your cook at Pemberley.”

  Darcy stared imploringly at Elizabeth, not interrupting his eating. She understood that he wished for her to announce to Mrs. Bennet the arrival of his relatives.

  “Mama, Mr. Darcy has some news to share,” she said, gaining her mother’s attention. Mrs. Bennet was sipping her tea, but thankfully she put the cup down in anticipation of hearing the news. Elizabeth did not wish for her to burn herself with hot liquid.

  “What news?”

  “There will be more guests attending the wedding.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yes, Mr. Darcy’s aunt and uncle will attend.”

  “They will?” Mrs. Bennet looked over at Darcy. “Where are
they from? Have I heard about them before?”

  “You have, Mama,” Elizabeth answered. “You remember Mr. Collins mentioning them last year when he was visiting us? He told you about the brother of Lady Catherine de Bourgh.”

  Mrs. Bennet’s blue eyes widened dramatically. “The Earl of Matlock?” she whispered.

  At last Darcy decided to voice himself. “They will be arriving with the beginning of the next week, Monday probably.”

  “The Earl of Matlock,” Mrs. Bennet repeated in awe.

  Jane leaned over, touching her mother’s arm. “Are you well, Mama?”

  Mrs. Bennet turned her head to look at her eldest daughter. “In which room will we put them?”

  “The guest room,” Jane replied calmly.

  Mrs. Bennet nodded. “The guest room.”

  “I am certain that Bingley would not mind if they stayed in Netherfield together with Colonel Fitzwilliam and I,” Darcy proposed.

  “Absolutely not!” Mrs. Bennet exclaimed in a high-pitched voice, making Darcy drop the piece of cheesecake on his black trousers. “Mr. Bennet will move to the guest room until the wedding. The Earl of Matlock and his wife will stay in his bedchamber.”

  “Mama, it is not necessary,” Elizabeth protested, collecting up the pieces of fallen cake from Darcy’s leg and the carpet.

  “It is! Your father’s room has fine furniture and it is much bigger than the guest room.”

  “What will Papa think of it?” Jane worried.

  Mrs. Bennet made a dismissive wave of her hand. “He almost sleeps in the library, he will not mind moving to another room for a short time. I doubt that he will notice. Tomorrow we must go to Lady Lucas and later to my sister, Mrs. Phillips. They have a few pieces that they should agree to lend to us.”

  “Mama!” Elizabeth cried out.

  “Oh, shush. I am doing this for you. You do not wish for Mr. Darcy’s family to think of us as beggars. Lady Lucas’s crystal vases will look excellent in our drawing room, while Mrs. Phillips’s blue Persian carpet will be placed in your father’s bedroom, making it look less dreary.”

  Elizabeth felt her face growing hot, and she looked over at Darcy, nervous of his reaction to her mother’s plans of borrowing finer pieces of furniture from the neighbours only to impress his relatives. But her fiancé was calmly drinking his tea.

  “More cheesecake?” Elizabeth asked him weakly.

  He nodded with a smile. “Yes, please.”

  As Elizabeth was cutting him another generous piece of his favourite dessert, she thought that there was probably nothing that could come from her family that would ever truly surprise him. He had indeed gone a long way in the last year.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Elizabeth ran down the hill, enjoying the feeling of freedom.

  “Elizabeth!”

  Still running, she looked up to see Darcy waving at her from behind the fence separating Longbourn’s pasture from Netherfield. She waved, running faster. Soon she reached him, only slightly out of breath.

  “Careful,” he cautioned her, helping her to climb over the fence.

  “I am quite adept at this,” she boasted, hopping down straight into his arms.

  “I am well aware of it,” he said, smiling down at her, keeping her close to him. “Good morning,” he murmured.

  “Good morning,” she whispered back.

  They stared into each other’s eyes for a long time. Elizabeth was certain that he would kiss her in a moment, but he did not. He only ran his hands down her back, asking, “Are you not cold?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  “Derbyshire is much colder than the south of England. I am worried that you will feel cold there.”

  “Mama ordered a new velvet coat with fur lining for me.”

  “That is excellent. However, Pemberley is a cold house. It is difficult to keep it warm in winter, especially the reception rooms. They are simply much too large to keep them properly heated. However, the family bedrooms on the second floor are usually warm and welcoming. Georgiana and I are used to lower temperatures in the house, but I am afraid that you may become sick.”

  “I shall be well, Fitzwilliam.”

  He kissed her forehead. “I will see to it.” He took her hand in his and began walking.

  “We are going to Netherfield?” Elizabeth asked.

  “We are. I thought that we could have some privacy before Bingley’s return. It is difficult to get a private moment at Longbourn these days.”

  “Are you sure that Mr. Bingley is truly returning?”

  “He is.”

  “Tomorrow?”

  “Yes, tomorrow. At least, from what I could decipher from his scribble.”

  Elizabeth sighed. “I am so relieved.”

  “Relieved? You thought that he would not come.”

  “I thought that Caroline would try to stop his marriage to Jane.”

  “You overestimate her. I hear that she is feeling better.”

  “Yes, she is. Mr. Bingley wrote about her improvement in his last letter to Jane. She will stay for a few months with Mrs. Hurst now that she is recovering. Mr. Bingley thinks that the company of a sister and a child will help to improve her mood.”

  “Let us hope so. For Bingley’s sake.”

  “And Jane’s,” Darcy added.

  “And Jane’s,” Elizabeth agreed.

  Soon they reached Netherfield. Elizabeth was rather surprised when Darcy did not lead her to the drawing room or the library but directly upstairs and to his bedroom.

  She walked into the spacious room with sparse furniture. Apart from the bed, there were only a few chairs and one small cabinet pushed against the wall. Jane for sure would be busy with finishing decorating the house. Many empty rooms gave the impression of an unlived house, especially upstairs.

  Darcy closed the door, walking to her confidently, placing his hands on both sides of her waist. “Do you remember what I promised to you here at Netherfield the day before our departure to London?”

  Elizabeth cocked her head to the side. “I do remember. You promised that you would try to find some private time for us.”

  “I believe that it is time to fulfil this promise.”

  “What about the restraint you talked about before?”

  He ducked his head to kiss the side of her neck. “I had my reasons back then. Now that situation is quite different.”

  “Oh?”

  “Our wedding is in exactly a week’s time. Even if there are consequences to our actions, no one will notice or say anything,” he murmured, nuzzling her neck. He pulled her to him, his hands running down her back, pressing her to him, cupping her bottom.

  “Are you well?” he asked when she did not respond to his kisses and caresses with the ardour that he expected.

  “Do you always plan everything?”

  “No.” He smiled down at her. “I certainly did not plan on meeting you.”

  She sighed, closing her eyes, hiding her face in his chest.

  “You are unwell,” he insisted.

  “Forgive me, Fitzwilliam. I am exhausted. Mama is insufferable. Papa compared her today to a headless chicken running around the house.”

  Darcy chuckled. “Your father has a way with words.”

  “The house is unrecognisable. She moved around all the furniture, adding the pieces she borrowed from Lady Lucas and Mrs. Phillips. Do you know that she ordered new wallpaper for the drawing room?”

  “She did?”

  “The entire downstairs smells so badly now. You can develop a headache from only sitting there. I think that the walls cannot dry properly because it is so cold, even though there is always a fire in the mantelpiece. I do not think that this shade was a good choice; it is a very vivid green. It was Mama’s intention, though, to brighten the room. She remembered how Lady Catherine had said during her visit that it was much too dark to serve as a drawing room.”

  “It is partially my fault. Perhaps I should have told her about my relati
ves’ arrival a day before, or taken them directly to Netherfield and introduced them in the church.”

  “No, no, Mama would have been beside herself if she did not know that they were coming.”

  “Do not think about all this now,” Darcy whispered, kissing her forehead. “Try to forget. In a few days we will be alone on our way to Derbyshire.”

  “Georgiana is coming with us,” Elizabeth reminded.

  “No, she is not. She will return with my aunt and uncle and Colonel Fitzwilliam. She will stay with them for a few weeks in Matlock.”

  “Will she not feel rejected? I do not wish her to think that her brother’s wife wants to get rid of her as soon as possible.”

  “Nonsense,” Darcy dismissed her worry. “This stay will be beneficial for her. The Matlocks are quite sociable. She should overcome her shyness and meet more people. I can already see a change in her after those few months spent in Hertfordshire.”

  “And she will have the opportunity to spend more time with Colonel Fitzwilliam.”

  “Yes, indeed.”

  “Did he talk with you about his intentions towards Georgiana?”

  “His intentions... I do not believe that he has any serious intentions as for now. Georgiana is still very young. He is willing to give both of them a chance to see whether there may be something more between them.”

  Elizabeth wished to ask more, but she decided to put the topic to rest. In her opinion, the age difference between Georgiana and Colonel Fitzwilliam was quite significant. Darcy, however, was rather sensitive when she discussed Colonel Fitzwilliam. He might take her further questions concerning Georgiana’s possible marriage as another sign of personal interest in his cousin.

  Darcy’s hands moved to the front clasps of her pelisse, opening them slowly and pushing the thick material off her shoulders. He draped it over the nearest chair, before leading her to the bed. They sat on the edge of it and Darcy began kissing her in earnest, his hands roaming freely over her body.

  Even though Elizabeth enjoyed his attentions, she could not relax. After a moment longer Darcy realized how unresponsive she was. He kissed her neck, murmuring, “Your mind is elsewhere.”