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Chapter 2
Her son was nervous, that much she was certain, he stayed by the window the whole day, much to the teasing of his little sister. Lady Anne truly felt for her only son.
"Fitzwilliam, dear, it is said a watched pot never boils. Come away from the window, my love, and sit with your sister and I. We dearly miss your company." She watched as her son tore his eyes from the road, sighing, he made his way to the ladies. "I do not know if I should be offended that you do not want to sit with us, or delighted that you are this smitten over a girl, do you Georgiana?" She turned to her daughter who giggled, and looked back to her embroidery.
"My big brother, useless in the face of a pretty lady."
"Quite so," Lady Anne nodded in agreement.
"Are you two finished," Darcy snapped, then sighed. "I am sorry. I am just-"
"Nervous. In love. Pondering on how to attract the affection of the only woman you have showed interest in?"
Darcy sighed, and leaned back into the sofa, "She does not love me, mother."
"Perhaps not, but she is far from indifferent to you, that I can tell. We should only just help her along. Perhaps, we can convince her to stay a few days more, and she shall see Bingley. You said so yourself, that you wanted to correct the wrongs you bestowed on her family. Maybe Bingley should be the first."
"I doubt Bingley will speak to me after I tell him."
"Bingley is a good man, son. He does not hold grudges. Now his sister-"
Georgiana now broke into a fit of giggles, "She's so orange!"
Lady Anne had to bite back a laugh, while she scolded her youngest, "Georgiana, do not be rude, my love. Perhaps that is the latest fashion, and we are simply behind the times."
"I highly doubt it mother," her giggles continue. "Tell me. How do Mr. Bingley, and Miss Bingley hail from the same parentage?"
"GEORGIANA!"
Darcy laughed, really laughed, for the first time in so many months. It was a soothing balm to the ladies. "Mother, do not scold my sister for speaking the truth. I often find myself asking that same question, Georgie." Her nickname was his term of endearment.
Lady Anne smiled at her children, her life's blessings. She often felt the responsibility laid upon her young son, after the death of his father was too much. He had to become too responsible so young. In the period of days only, he became responsible for not only himself but hundreds of people who now depended on him, and the estate that was now his own. Lady Anne had helped with the transition, but she was no longer mistress of Pemberley. She was acting mistress of Pemberley, and was waiting for the day that her son married, to turn that title of to her.
Her son, as she knew he would, took the weight of the responsibility in all seriousness. He was a Darcy through and through, and she often wondered if he carried any of her genes, at all! By G-d, she carried him!
She had to step in multiple times, when her own brother and sister tried to step in and secure Pemberley in their families. From the moment she suggested it, Lady Anne rendered her sister Catherine's suggestion for her son and Anne to marry and unite the two homes ridiculous. Her brother was more sneaky, not sneaky enough that she never caught him though. He played with her sons emotions. His sense of love to his family, and pride.
She had stayed up many nights with her son, undoing the damage done by Catherine and the Earl, so much so, that he starting being indifferent to anything that they had to say. The proud, aloof exterior he now was an expert at was by definition, created by Catherine and the Earl. He no longer listened to their advice. And because they did not trust him as the man that he was, that he could not make the decisions for his own estate, the relationship between them were much strained.
Fitzwilliam, he carried her maiden name as his first, was always loyal to family no matter the tension, which is why he visited Rosings every Easter. Catherine kept the pretense that he was there to visit Anne, her own namesake, but the truth was known by the entire family. He was there to go through her books. His excellent sense of business was utilized to save Lady Catherine from herself.
None the less he was always happy to come home. Except this year. This year was different.
He did come home, but he was not himself. He was tired, and cranky, and forlorn, and, well there was no other way she could put it, heartbroken. At first Lady Anne, unassumingly presumed that it had something to do with her sister, and she had half the mind to call her out. No one messed with her children, ever. Another reason why Georgiana never visited Catherine without the companionship of her mother.
Imagine her surprise then, when her sweet young daughter came to her one night, crying, because her big brother was heartbroken, over a girl, who rejected his proposal, his love, and his heart. She could not understand anyone could reject a fine man such as her son, until she heard the story from him.
He was more upset with himself than the woman he loved, most ardently. He had come to regret his harsh words with her about her family, and connections. He did not regret his love for her, as much as he tried. But she was especially concerned when he mentioned what Wickham had told her of him, the cad. And surprised, at the letter he had said he had written her, then fled without her response.
He had not known then if she had even read the letter. He had guessed not, that she despised him that much.
By their interactions yesterday, Lady Anne, had guessed that she had. She also guessed, that Wickham's claims were the main reason she had rejected her son, that even then, Elizabeth was far from indifferent to her son, and that even the objections he had raised about her family did not play a part. Except, perhaps the Bingley part. But as far as Lady Anne was concerned, that was soon to be corrected.
She moved to sit next to her son and daughter and wrapped her arms about them. "I love you both dearly. And no matter what this next chapter brings, I always will. You two are my angels." She turned to Darcy. "Son," she ran a finger across his cheek, "We will do everything, in our power, to make sure that Elizabeth's future home will be Pemberley. It is home, it is where she belongs."
Darcy was about to speak when Mrs. Reynolds walked through the door, ushering their guests in.
"Miss Elizabeth!" Georgiana, hardly the shy girl she was just a year ago, stood and ran to greet her. "I am so excited that you all are here. We shall have a grand afternoon!" She turned to her mother and brother, who were walking up behind her. "Is not that right Mama? We have so much planned that you shall never want to leave, ever!" Her childhood innocence brought blushes to Darcy and Elizabeth's faces, as Lady Anne looked on in pleasure.
"Of course my love," she turned to Elizabeth. "Would you introduce us to your companions, Miss Elizabeth, I fear I have not met them before."
Elizabeth, embarrassed when she suddenly remembered her manners, "This is," she struggled to put her words together in front of the great lady, and the man who had been in her day dreams since that fateful day she had rejected him and his proposals. She cleared her throat and began again. "This is my aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, they are from London. I am traveling with them this summer."
They all made their greetings, and Lady Anne was quite surprised at their clothing, they were well dressed, and their manners were that of the rich society. "You are all welcome to Pemberley, of course. I fear the men would rather be out of doors," she slid a sly glance to her son. "fishing. So I thought that since it is quite nice outside, that we would join them. A picnic, around the lake, then we shall return later for supper."
"That is very generous of you, Mrs. Darcy," Mrs. Gardiner said in surprise. "I assure you we require not such grandeur."
"Nonsense. You are friends," practically family, she thought, "and I love hosting outings."
Mr. Darcy cleared his throat and offered his arm to Elizabeth, and Mrs. Gardiner and led them through the door, and outside to the waiting carriages. Mr. Gardiner followed with Georgiana and Lady Darcy on his arms. As they made their way to the lake conversation was relaxed, mostly with Lady Anne and Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner doing all the talking. Though each were not too busy to notice the little glances between the young Elizabeth and Darcy.
"Do you like the lake, Miss Elizabeth," Darcy asked her as he escorted to their picnic spot, then jumbled his words. "I mean, not this lake. Well yes this lake, but also-" Elizabeth giggled
"Lakes in general," she finished for him. "Yes I do. I spent many a summers with my father around a lake. Though I do not like fishing. Tis a cruel sport, not made for women." She giggled. "Though they taste quite good, when cooked."
Her giggles made him relax, and he was relieved at the easy banter she provided. "Tell me then, Miss Elizabeth, what is considered a womanly sport?" He raised a brow in her direction.
"Embroidering cushions, as Miss Bingley would say."
Lady Anne behind them choked out a laugh, and Georgiana giggled, "See mama, even Miss Elizabeth notices Miss Bingley's qualms! And she has not known her as long as I!"
They made it to the spot where they would have their picnic. "This is a beautiful prospect," Mrs. Gardiner stated admirably. "I remember growing up in Lambton, and we would always come here. I must say that the beauty is the same, but I did not admire it so much. You do not miss your home, until you leave it."
"You grew up in Lambton?" Lady Anne was in shock.
"Yes, we try and return every other year to visit old friends. I'm afraid all of my family has moved away."
"That is sad, indeed. My late husband, had many childhood memories of Lambton. All of them he recalled with fondness. I remember being smitten by all of this when we first married. I grew up in Matlock, and while it is beautiful, It is nothing to Pemberley, or Derbyshire. I would not trade it."
"How long, if you do not mind my asking, Lady Anne, where you and Mr. Darcy married?" Lady Anne was not surprised at the question, merely the questioner.
"We were married two years before we had Fitzwilliam, so two and twenty. Goodness, it seems so long ago."
"Goodness! That is a lifetime," Elizabeth was in shock.
"Sometimes, my dear, even a lifetime is not enough time." She patted the young woman's hand and turned to her son. "Were you not to go fishing son? I'm sure Mr. Gardiner would enjoy the company." She smiled. "Go and be sociable." Elizabeth giggled at this. "My son is extremely shy," she said to the ladies as he walked away.
"Mother," he called back in irritation.
"What? I am speaking the truth, am I not?" Darcy's groan cause the ladies more laughter.
"He's shy?" Elizabeth was the first to speak. "He does not appear it."
"Brother has always been shy, or socially awkward. He does not make friends easy," Georgiana giggled.
Elizabeth was in shock at this, though she heard it from the man himself, she teased him then, told him to take his aunt's advice and practice. But hearing it from his family themselves, those closest to him, it was another revelation, of the man that she had grown to respect, revere, and even love.
"Yes. I am afraid, the Darcy's are not known for their excellent socializing skills. But they are good men, and women," she smiled at her daughter, "none the less. I find nothing to complain about."
"Was Mr. Darcy shy when you met him, Elizabeth," her aunt questioned.
Elizabeth giggled, "I do not recall him being shy. But I do recall he talked little, danced little, and drank a lot. Perhaps, now that I think about it, it was just nerves." She turned to Lady Anne, "What of his father, when you met him. Was he?"
"James was," she searched for the right words, "he was. He could not say more than three words to me. Hi, yes, and goodbye."
Georgiana laughed, "That sounds truly horrible mama. It is a wonder you and papa ever got married."
"Sometimes, my love, you have to look past the exterior into their interior. You would not want them to judge you by the way you talk, or do not talk, would you? It is the essence of character, their personalities, and their love that means the most."
Lady Anne's words affected Elizabeth, more than she liked, and she excused herself for a walk. Lady Anne and Mrs. Gardiner shared a knowing look as the young woman walked away.
Elizabeth came upon Mr. Darcy on her way to the lake, surprised that he was not there. "Mr. Darcy. Are you not fishing." The man who had been sitting on the ground, stood in surprise.
"Miss Bennet, I find, I am unable to concentrate" he motioned to her uncle and his steward down by the lake, laughing.
"Why is that, Mr. Darcy?" She took a step closer to him.
"Because I-" He was cut off, but the feeling of her lips against his. He wrapped his arms around her tightly.
It was exquisite.