Chapter 14 - Walking the Path to Pemberley
Mr Darcy sat silently at his desk looking out across the room and through the window onto Bond Street. He had been in Town for a week, finding any form of business to entertain him. He had thought that Town would have brought him peace from the thoughts and dreams of his wife, yet it had not. His dreams if possible, had worsened. The distance between them had forced more vivid images of his wife to seek him at night. He would often find himself making love to her, the throws of passion about to take him when he would wake, frustrated and angry alone in his bed.
He had been irritable since his arrival to Town, insisting that he was not to receive visitors even Colonel Fitzwilliam who arrived unannounced one morning. Darcy's sole purpose in journeying to Town was to seek the solitude that he required to regain his self control. He had no desire to entertain guests nor to attend parties or dinners. He only wished to forget his wife and nothing more.
Forgetting Elizabeth however, was far more difficult than what Darcy had expected. He found that he longed for her more in Town than what he did in Derbyshire. Taking a sheet of paper from his desk he had designs to write to her, yet could not find the words to begin. What should he address her? For he surely could not address her so informally as Elizabeth, yet Mrs Darcy also seemed inappropriate. Pressing the paper into a tight ball he threw it across the room in frustration only to be collected by the footman who entered the room.
"What is it?" Darcy asked with unusual incivility.
"Colonel Fitzwilliam has called again, Mr Darcy. He is insisting upon seeing you."
"I am not at home."
"I have informed the Colonel, Sir. Yet he is refusing to leave." Darcy sighed heavily, waving his hand in order to allow the footman to enter his cousin.
"Darcy! What is wrong man! I have been attempting to call upon you for three days!" Fitzwilliam raged as he stormed into the study where Darcy was pouring them brandy.
"I have needed solitude, Fitzwilliam." Darcy retook his seat and watched his cousin as he took a seat opposite in frustration.
"Georgiana has been so very worried!"
"How so?" Darcy asked softly as he raised his glass.
"She wrote to Elizabeth who informed her of your travelling to Town for business. How could you abandon your bride so soon after the wedding, Darcy?"
"I am tortured by her, Richard."
"In what way, Cousin?"
"I have visions of her in ways that I should not. She would despise me should she know that I love her more than anything. I would never do anything to harm her and would give her an annulment should she desire it."
"Annulment? On what grounds?" Richard Fitzwilliam did not require a response. He slammed his hand angrily on the desk. "Why did you not do it?"
"I could not injure her further." Darcy noted his cousins anger as he stood from the chair and paced angrily. "I compromised her reputation, I could not take her maidenhood also."
"This could cause scandal, Darce! You should have gone to her bed and done your duty as I instructed you! Now she may be your ruin!"
"I would accept any punishment if she was to be contented."
"You would accept ruined possibilities for Georgiana?" Darcy had never contemplated the risk of annulment upon his sister. He had never thought of the affect upon her chances and opportunities.
"What do you expect me to do? Live with this torture?" Darcy asked his cousin with sorrow.
"I would expect you to return to Pemberley and be a husband. Woo her and hope that any thought of annulment has been dissolved. Your only hope is that she will finally accept you into her bed, otherwise you shall always be at risk, along with Georgiana."
"Very well." Darcy said gently before standing to seek his cousin's hand. The Colonel took it with more force than what was necessary.
"Georgiana has been sent on with her companion to Pemberley to be with Elizabeth." Darcy nodded, thankful that he should have his sister to encourage him when he arrived. For now he had no choice. The Colonel had made it perfectly clear, he could not risk the scandal of annulment, especially for his sister. She deserved every opportunity available to her despite his problems in matrimony.
It was therefore, with slight reluctance that Darcy called for the carriage to be made ready along with his belongings for that well known journey into Derbyshire.
Elizabeth had been surprised at the arrival of Georgiana. She had not written ahead, nor had she claimed that her brother had instructed her to travel onto Pemberley. Elizabeth had been reading peacefully in the drawing room when her sister had arrived to the households surprise. Although the pair knew little of one another they quickly developed a strong bond. Elizabeth had quickly realised that Georgiana was unlike her Brother in temperament. Where Georgiana was shy her Brother was proud.
Upon every instance where Elizabeth would find herself with Georgiana, she could never find anything in the young woman that she disliked. She was sweet natured and never appeared to think ill of anyone. Very much like Jane. Yet she disagreed very much with Elizabeth's interpretation of her Brother.
"Do you approve of Pemberley, Elizabeth?" Georgiana asked as the pair took a turn about the gardens.
"Very much, I have also enjoyed taking upon my duties here. Although I fear it may take considerable time to adjust to the management of such a large house!" Georgiana laughed, very softly before taking her sister's arm in her own.
"I will assist you as much as you desire, Elizabeth. I feel much more at ease in your presence now and I am quite happy to call you my sister." Elizabeth felt a blush upon her countenance yet she remained silent. "Let us hope that Fitzwilliam shall return home soon, then we shall be a merry party indeed!" Georgiana noted Elizabeth's hesitation and the further blush to her cheeks.
"Of course." Her pause allowed for further examination of her countenance by Georgiana. Elizabeth appeared distressed by Darcy's absence yet even more so by the aspect of his return. Georgiana was distracted by her assessment by Elizabeth's voice.
"Shall we perhaps walk toward Lambton and call upon Mrs Boone, Georgiana?"
"Of course, Elizabeth. Is she improving?"
"Yes, it appears so. Let us return to the house and gather a basket for her."
Mr Darcy urged the coachman faster in his pursuit of home. His nerves increased with every mile they covered until they arrived on the private road through Pemberley grounds. It was here that the horses were eased into a slower pace. Frustratingly Darcy pounded upon the roof of the carriage to urge them faster.
"There are ladies walking upon the road, Mr Darcy. I will urge the horses faster when we pass, Sir." Darcy reluctantly relaxed back into the coach and gazed out upon the road. He had never thought upon the pedestrians trespassing on Pemberley land until his coach pulled to a halt beside them. Before Darcy had comprehended the situation, the coachman had dropped to the muddy earth and pulled open the carriage door.
"Thank you, Thomas." Darcy was surprised to see his sister admitted into the coach along with his wife who had been walking the road back to Pemberley. They had situated themselves in the seat opposite him before he had opportunity to greet them.
"Good day ladies, I hope I find you both well?" Darcy said with a particular smile to his sister who looked radiant with the exercise.
"Very well indeed. You find us walking back from Lambton." Georgiana claimed with a smile for him as the horses continued one their journey to Pemberley.
"I am very surprised to see you here, Sir. We were not expecting you."
"Yes, forgive me Elizabeth. I suddenly found my business concluded in Town and able to return to Pemberley." Elizabeth nodded slightly and turned her gaze to the scenery.
Elizabeth listened silently to the conversation between Brother and Sister until they arrived at Pemberley. There she quickly excused herself to her chambers to clean and change. It was only there that she allowed herself to fall into a chair, tears forming in her eyes.
"Is it my arrival at Pemberley wish provokes your tears, Madam?" Elizabeth turned to the adjoining door where her husband stood in his shirt and breeches. Her tears had obviously distracted him. She stood and with the most bravery she had shown in a long time, spoke.
"Perhaps you should come in, Mr Darcy. I think it is time we discussed the aspect of annulment."