Chapter 29

Dinner that evening appeared pleasant to the outside observer. Elizabeth sat by her husband and seemed eager to attend to his needs. The gentlemen chatted happily about the fishing and the ladies complimented them on their catch, which was served for dinner. After dinner Georgie asked Elizabeth if things were well,

"I am sorry Georgiana, I have been very busy of late. I am well. I would love to visit one day soon."

Georgiana positively beamed at her then moved to prepare tea. Mrs Gardiner was talking to Wickham. Elizabeth was impressed that she seemed to be completely at ease with him, despite what she knew. She didn't notice Darcy moving up to her as she looked at some of the sheet music.

"Would you like to play for us?" Elizabeth almost jumped, Darcy frowned at her response

"I would rather not tonight."

He looked intently at her "is everything alright?" He noticed her cut her gaze to Wickham who had his back to them.

He chanced "are things at home to your liking?" He definitely saw the flash of fear at that statement.

Elizabeth laughed it off, the sound seemed strained to her ears "of course Mr Darcy. Everything is quite well"

She moved away to aid Georgiana with the tea.

.

Wickham visited Elizabeth that night. On his appearance in her chamber she almost turned him away but he had spoken before she could.

"Wife, I can see you wish to argue on this" he was very close and his voice was a harsh whisper "but if you deny me now I can assure you the consequences will be dire"

Elizabeth turned away to hide her fear and lay down.

"Did you have a pleasant evening?"

She looked a bit shocked, he rarely spoke to her in the bedroom these days "yes"

"What was Darcy asking you?"

She knew she could not say what he had meant, not to Wickham. She had no idea what he would do "he was asking if the cottage was comfortable. I assured him it was eminently suitable."

He looked at her closely, trying to detect if she was lying. With her family in the house he could do little more than be quick with her. When he was done, he left her in peace as was his usual want.

.

The Gardiner's were to leave the next day and Elizabeth was truly sorry to see them go. Her aunt tried to persuade her to come with her but Elizabeth knew Wickham would not let her go and if she needed them as sanctuary he should not know that they were aware of his mistreatment.

Elizabeth stood watching them leave with her husband waving cordially next to her. As the carriage disappeared down the road she dropped her arm and waited.

"Well done wife" she let out the breath she was holding "I am going to visit in town this evening." The smirk on his face left her in no doubt what he meant "I hope you have a pleasant evening" and he was gone.

Elizabeth returned to the house to talk to the housekeeper about some business and then decided to work on the book she was scribing.

Things continued this way. Sometimes Wickham would impose on her, sometimes not. She would occasionally sport some new bruises but mostly they were easily hidden with gloves or long sleeves. Winter was approaching and the weather was cold which helped her cause.

She managed to find ways to spend her day that helped her forget about what went on a night. She was sure that the housekeeper knew about her husband's mistreatment of her but it wasn't her place to say anything. Little tokens of kindness went a long way to making Elizabeth feel happier.

She paid a visit to Georgiana as often as she could bear to. Mostly she suggested they meet in Lampton or went for a walk. She tried to avoid her brother and his intense gaze of her. His concern for her touched her and made her feel sadness and regret but she was not one for melancholy.

Some kittens had been found in one of the outbuildings, their mother nowhere to be found. Elizabeth brought the two of them into her house and helped them learn to feed from a saucer and they became house cats. They slept in the kitchen but spent many an evening sat on Elizabeth's lap, purring as she stroked them whilst reading.