Chapter Eight

Lizzy tucked John and was thankful William was in the other room.

When the little boy's eyes stared into hers, he spoke.

"Thank you, mama. I can't wait for you and papa to get married so we can have this forever!"

Touched, Lizzy smiled as she drew back and stared at the boy in response. She could hear a few noises sounding from the opposite room. She guessed William was taking extremes to prepare himself and she'd kept quiet about the episode with the chair and her pulling him off. Plus also: she'd noticed Fitzwilliam wasn't acting in a manner she would have felt comfortable with. Still staring at John, Lizzy replied.

"You're going to be very happy when your papa and I marry, John. I'm sure you will be honored to know that future siblings will be under you. You know what that means?"

"It means I'm going to be a big brother, like William is to me, right?"

Lizzy smiled and leaning forward, though she crouched down, she placed a kiss on his forehead before she responded.

"Yes, John. That means you're going to be a big brother. Just like William."

"If only he wasn't as mean on the inside he would be a great person." John answered and hearing this, Lizzy knew this was her signal to leave. After she rose, she checked the fire was well for John before she took her exit. Placing her hand on the doorframe, she glanced back and saw John barely took his eyes off her. Then he surprised her.

"Mama? You're beautiful in the light."

Lizzy smiled when she heard this. John nodded before he turned and closing his eyes, prepared himself for sleep. As Lizzy watched, she felt more inclined to believe God was doing something in her life. Remembering she'd gone to Adoration after speaking with Father Anthony, Lizzy silently existed and closed the door. Once she was standing in the main hallway, she peered around her and the candles were lit. Very few of the servants walked in this area so Lizzy decided to take a little walk before returning to her room. The carpet was elaborate and indeed: the women servants took pains to clean it.

Remembering she was in charge of them, Lizzy inwardly nodded. She remembered being taught that when she married, she would be responsible for the household duties of the servants. They all included cooking, cleaning, washing, and she too would be responsible for raising the children. Recalling Fitzwilliam was a friend of her husband's, Lizzy remembered meeting Fitzwilliam before she married Edward. Edward Macy, an Englishman, was into business and prior to the Unsinkable, the two were great friends and the business world was theirs. Lizzy recalled little about what Edward spoke about his position in the business world but he and Fitzwilliam were incredible partners.

Stepping forward, she moved her eyes over to a painting and much to her surprise, it was a picture of Rachel. Choosing to pause, she tilted her head to the side as she speculated the woman's features. Auburn hair, hazel eyes, a complexion which was soft, yet at the same time, Lizzy noticed something else.

"She doesn't seem happy," she voiced this aloud.

"That's because she hated getting her picture painted."

A voice from behind startled her.

Jumping, Lizzy turned and felt her heart beat when Fitzwilliam stood beside the stairs. He was holding a pipe in his hands but his arms were folded, while one foot was crossed over the other. Lizzy felt her cheeks heat when she apologized.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Darcy. I didn't see you there."

"As everyone seems to say about me when I sneak up on them, Mrs. Mayfield."

"Mrs. Mayfield," Lizzy heard her inner voice speak. She felt Edward's wedding ring and when she peered over at the one Fitzwilliam given her, she wondered what he was thinking because she heard him uncross his foot as he spoke.

"What's your take on how she looks?"

"How she looks?" Lizzy asked and she returned her attention to the painting of Rachel Darcy. As she was progressing this, Fitzwilliam made his way over to her and at a distance which didn't feel strange to her, Lizzy felt him stand very close to her. But not close enough where she wasn't uncomfortable in his presence. Then she remembered his question.

"She looks much like John but with a different countenance."

And then she added something which simply slipped.

"And she looks a bit sour."

Then Fitzwilliam let out a sound Lizzy never heard before. Turning, he actually started to laugh and when she noticed this, she peered around him as he continued to laugh. For a moment, she thought she offended the widower but when he wiped his eyes, he turned to her as he answered.

"Sour? Mrs. Mayfield? That's the first time anyone commented on Rachel like that! I was hearing stories about this painting that she looked exactly like that! Sour!"

"And yet she bore him two sons," Lizzy inwardly thought as Fitzwilliam drew himself out a little. When he returned his attention to the painting, he paused in laughing when he noticed a speck of dust on his deceased wife's face. Using his hand, he brushed it aside but when he did, Lizzy noticed he didn't do this with gentleness. He seemed to wipe at it as if she were some marble bust; only useful for display and not for love or longing. Then she watched as his Adam's apple bounced when he swallowed and then he turned to her. His eyes were soft and when Lizzy heard him speak, what he said next startled her.

"She wasn't a Catholic, Mrs. Mayfield. She despised attending Mass and reluctantly gave in to letting the boys' have a Catholic education. She despised the Latin Mass and always complained about the mantilla. The other women knew this about her but she told me that if she told anyone about this, she would do something that would damage me for life."

This was something new she'd never heard before. Taking a step closer to her fiancé, Lizzy asked.

"She would damage you? For life? And how?"

Fitzwilliam turned and shook his head. He was holding the pipe, so he gave it a toss in the air and she could smell the leftover pipe pieces as he answered.

"That's something she never told me, Mrs. Mayfield. She would always feel unnerved whenever I would bring the Catholic Faith up and she disliked hearing anything about it. Especially Our Blessed Mother whom we all love."

"Yes." Lizzy softly replied.

She paused in taking any steps closer to him but she felt he needed someone to touch him. Something about what was occurring and what her uncle asked him to do: marry her in 6 weeks and then he would explain things later… felt more to Lizzy she was in for an adventure and it was only beginning. Scanning Fitzwilliam's body, she wondered what he was thinking about revealing to her about his late wife's take on spirituality. Edward was Catholic but she didn't recall him speaking to her about how authentic he was or how he was in love with Our Blessed Mother. She felt inclined to believe Fitzwilliam revealed to her a little about his previous wife and she felt drawn to know more. But she didn't bother to ask when he spoke.

"Well… best retire for the evening, Mrs. Mayfield. If there's anything you need, let the servants know by ringing the bell. I shall see you in the morning."

"Thank you, Mr. Darcy," Lizzy replied and the two parted ways. Walking past her, Fitzwilliam bowed a little before his figure vanished into his room. Unique part was Lizzy noticed he was walking in a strange way. Before he entered, she raised her hand as she asked.

"Wait! Mr. Darcy?"

"Yes?" he asked as he paused at the door.

"Why are you limping?"

His response startled her.

"I'll let you know tomorrow."

Then he stepped inside and closed his door.

Standing underneath her window, Lizzy rubbed her shoulders.

The maids arrived and helped her undress for the evening but all Lizzy could think about was how Fitzwilliam limped. For some reason it felt out of place. Not to mention too that when he showed up for dinner, he displayed an attitude which showed he didn't seem to encounter the sheriff well at the office.

"Whatever happened didn't appear it progressed well." Lizzy thought as she turned and approached her bed. Then she thought of something.

Kneeling, she made the Sign of the Cross and praying to Our Blessed Mother, she offered a Hail Mary for Fitzwilliam as well as his two sons. She inhaled when she opened her eyes and a feeling of peace engulfed her as she crawled into bed. Rolling to her side, Lizzy prayed for the grace of sleep to touch her and before long, she was sound asleep.