Chapter 12
Lady Abigail awoke from yet another night of tossing and turning. Hours earlier, she was shaken awake by the recurring nightmare that had haunted her since the death of her husband. The nightmare was not the only thing on her mind. Her thoughts continued to stray back to Colonel Fitzwilliam. Lady Abigail got out of bed and sat at the vanity to brush her hair. She stared at her reflection in the mirror and began speaking aloud to herself.
"Why can't I stop thinking about Colonel Fitzwilliam? True, he is very handsome, an intelligent conversationalist, and a fine dancer, but I have only known him for a few days."
She glanced down at the vanity table and unfolded a piece of paper that was lying there. It was a letter from her sister in law, Marianne, that she had received a few days prior. She read its contents again for the third time:
Dear Abby,
How are you holding up in these hard times? I do hope that you and your lovely daughter are well. I was deeply saddened to hear about your father's passing. He was a good man. How is my goddaughter coping with the absence of her father? I dare say this past year must have been awful. My dear sister, I hate to say it, but you need to get out more in society. You are still young and there are plenty of handsome young men to go around. Now I know you loved my brother tremendously and still grieve for him, but Margaret is at that age where she needs two loving and attentive parents. I am not telling you to go out and marry the first gentleman who says hello to you, just meet some nice gentlemen. Margaret needs a father figure in her life.
In other matters, life here in Surrey is wonderful. That eccentric husband of mine longs to see his favorite niece. No luck yet as to having a family of our own, but I pray that someday we will have a daughter as beautiful and lively as little Margaret. I must be away now, but give my love to your little one.
Your friend and sister in law,
Marianne
Lady Abigail could not stop thinking about her sister in law's advice about finding a father figure for Margaret. Deep in thought, she was startled when Margaret came bursting into the room. The little girl ran to her mother and hugged her tightly.
"Good morning, Mama!" she shouted. Lady Abigail smiled at her treasure.
"Good morning to you, my love," she said to her daughter. "Did you sleep well?"
The child beamed and replied, "Yes, Mama. I wish I could have gone to the ball. What was it like?"
Abigail turned Margaret around and began brushing her hair. "The ball was marvelous. There was music and dancing..." she was interrupted by Margaret.
"Did you dance, Mama?"
"Yes I did, love."
"With who?"
Abigail laughed and said, "My, you are full of questions this morning! Let me see...I danced with Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley, and several dances with Colonel Fitzwilliam." Abigail started daydreaming about her dances with the Colonel.
"I like the Colonel! He's nice and handsome," declared the vivacious youth.
Abigail chuckled at her daughter's assessment of Fitzwilliam and teased her. "And how do you know what is handsome and what is not?"
Margaret made a face at her mother and retorted, "I know Papa was handsome and the Colonel looks like Papa, so he's handsome too."
Abigail was quite taken aback by Margaret's statement. She had not heard her mention her father, with the exception of a few times, since his death. Margaret's opinion that the Colonel looked like her late husband got her mother thinking about him even more than she was before. "Come, little one. Let us go to breakfast."
The smile upon Elizabeth Bennet's face the following morning was as radiant and bright as the sun gazing into the room through the window. Jane had already woken up and was not in the room. Lizzy wondered what time it was. She had not woken up in such a good mood in a long time. Today was her first day as Mr. Darcy's fiancée. Lizzy was eager to see him and hoped he would call on her after breakfast. Breakfast! She did not know what time of morning it was so she speedily dressed herself to go downstairs.
Everyone was already at the table, waiting for Elizabeth. She descended the stairs as if she was floating upon a cloud. Lizzy was all smiles. "Good morning Aunt; good morning Uncle," she said, kissing each one on the cheek. She also greeted her sister and all her nieces and nephews.
"Well, you are certainly in a good mood this morning Lizzy," remarked Mrs. Gardiner. Jane smiled at her sister.
"Yes, I am, Aunt. It is a beautiful day."
Breakfast seemed to pass much too slowly for Lizzy and Jane, who both were eager to see their future husbands. When it finally ended, the sisters sat in the parlor talking and impatiently waited for the gentlemen.
"What if they are not coming?" asked Lizzy, after much waiting had begun to unnerve her. Jane chuckled softly.
"Charles told me at the ball that he would come here this morning and if he is coming you can be sure he is bringing your Mr. Darcy."
Just then one of the Gardiner's maids walked into the room and announced the arrival of Bingley and Darcy. The two ladies stood and met the gentlemen with smiles. Lizzy stared at Darcy and he returned her look with a passionate one of his own. This made Lizzy look away. I am going to have to get used to being engaged to him, she thought. Mrs. Gardiner entered the room and greeted the gentlemen.
"Mrs. Gardiner, Mr. Darcy and myself request your permission to take your lovely nieces about town to do some sightseeing," Bingley said very dramatically with a deep bow and a sweeping wave of his hand.
The older woman laughed and replied, "Of course you can, just have them back in time for afternoon tea and you gentlemen may stay and take tea with us if you wish."
They agreed and after talking a few minutes longer, the two couples took their leave. The group strolled happily down Gracechurch St with Bingley and Jane leading and Darcy and Lizzy taking up the rear. Elizabeth and Darcy had not said a word to each other since they left the Gardiner's house.
"Did you have a good night, Miss Bennet?" asked Mr. Darcy.
"After I fell asleep, I did, but I'm afraid I enjoyed it too long for I was late for breakfast," she answered, smiling and laughing. "I daresay my mind was much engaged on something very agreeable."
"And what could be so agreeable that it would make you late for breakfast?"
"Do you have to ask, Mr. Darcy? The only thing agreeable in my mind is you," she said, gazing lovingly in his eyes.
Darcy felt his heart melt and hoped he was not blushing, even though he was on the inside. Bingley and Jane stopped and turned to face the other couple.
"How about a stroll in that park over there?" asked Bingley.
"That would be delightful," replied Elizabeth.
The couples walked across the street to the park and decided to go their separate ways for a short time. The men decided they would meet back there in a half hour. Bingley and Jane proceeded down a path going to the left and Darcy and Elizabeth went down a path on the right. Elizabeth admired the trees, flowers, and the little children playing. Rays of sunlight forced their way through the treetops onto the lovers like the celestial glow of Heaven.
"Mr. Darcy," began Elizabeth, "may I ask when you are planning on asking for my father's consent?"
"You return to Longbourne in a week?"
"Yes, we do."
"Then I will accompany your aunt and uncle in taking you and your sister home; no doubt Bingley will join me. I shall ask him then."
"I must warn you, Mr. Darcy, my father has no idea of my feelings for you. In fact, he believes I severely dislike you. It will come as quite a shock to him that I have agreed to marry you."
"I will heed your warning, Miss Bennet." Several minutes of silence elapsed before Darcy remembered her reaction to Jonathan Wilbourne and asked her about it.
"He seemed to think that us country girls are indecent and have no morals. He hinted toward some very inappropriate activities and I casually told him off. He didn't bother me after that," Elizabeth told him.
Darcy wanted to strangle that little boy for suggesting such things to his lady, but she reassured him that all was well and it would not do anyone good to dwell on the past. The two spent the rest of the time in silence admiring a small babbling brook and each other. Elizabeth held firmly onto Darcy's arm as they stood by the stream. Darcy quietly whispered to Elizabeth that the half hour was nearly over and they walked back down the path. After meeting Bingley and Jane, all four decided to visit a small art gallery before returning to the Gardiner residence.
Lady Abigail was giving her daughter a singing lesson when the maid opened the door to let a visitor in. Lady Abigail didn't hear the bell and so continued her lesson. She began to sing an Irish lullaby as the visitor was shown in. It was Colonel Fitzwilliam. He motioned for the maid not to say anything to her mistress. He enjoyed hearing Lady Abigail's high and enchanting voice. Suddenly in the middle of the song, Margaret looked behind her and noticed the colonel standing there.
"Colonel!" she shouted. Abigail stopped singing and quickly turned around.
"Colonel Fitzwilliam, I did not hear you come in," Abigail said, puzzled.
"I told your maid not to inform you of my arrival, so that I could hear your sweet voice," said he.
"I thank you, sir. But you startled me and that was most rude." She smiled at him and said, "What can I do for you, Colonel?"
"I came by to invite you and your daughter to the circus." This excited Margaret a great deal.
"Oh Mama, can we go? Please...oh please."
"I suppose we can."
"Oh thank you, Mama. Thank you, Colonel!"
"You are quite welcome, Margaret," said the Colonel. "May I call you Maggie?"
"Yes, you may," replied the little girl trying to sound more like a grown lady.
Lady Abigail seemed troubled by the scene. How strange, she thought, Margaret would let no one but her father call her that.
"Little one, why don't you go with Miss Cybill and play in your room?"
"Yes Mama."
The Colonel seemed happy to be alone with the woman who had enraptured him so much. "You are a very splendid dancer, m'lady," complimented Fitzwilliam.
"I suppose you say that to all your dance partners," she said modestly.
"No, just you."
"When is the circus?" she asked.
"I shall be here to pick you both up at six in the evening."
"We shall be ready and waiting, Colonel," said Lady Abigail. She walked him to the door and bid him farewell. He gallantly kissed her hand and was on his way. After he had gone, Abigail let out a sigh. She was extremely confused over her feelings for Colonel Fitzwilliam.
A/N: Thank you guys so much for all your reviews. I'm sorry it's taken so long to update.
- April :-)
