Hi guys, happy sunday. Bonus extra chapter for you!
thanking you all for the lovely support. stay with me on this one.
...
Chapter 12
...
Shoreham house, the country seat of the Earl of Matlock, was a beautiful estate. The grounds were extensive and had the same charm that Pemberley did, indeed most of Derbyshire shared the same untamed beauty.
Elizabeth was helped out of the carriage by Darcy and they walked up the steps to the large house where the Earl and Countess of Matlock were stood waiting for them, the weather was dry if a bit cold. Elizabeth curtsied deeply to her aunt and uncle. Lady Rachel lent over and kissed Elizabeth on her cheek affectionately and gestured for the two to follow them in. The Earl merely grunted and looked her up and down in a somewhat disconcerting way.
Elizabeth hadn't dared speak to Darcy about her new Uncle's opinion of her. She knew she would not be liked by all but she had hoped her new family would at least accept her. She took the am offered by Darcy and followed her aunt and uncle to the drawing room.
"Elizabeth" the cry was welcome and the accompanying embrace was equally so.
"Eleanor" Elizabeth was pleased to see her friend again.
"Well well, do I get such a pleasant greeting?"
"Colonel Fitzwilliam!" Elizabeth smiled and curtseyed.
"Oh please, can you not call me Richard now? We are family" Elizabeth saw him turn to look at Darcy, as if wanting approval.
"Of course, cousin Richard. And you must call me Elizabeth, or Lizzie if it pleases you?"
He smiled and bowed over her hand bestowing a kiss.
The other two people in the room moved forward.
"Elizabeth you remember my other son Henry Fitzwilliam, Viscount Milton and his wife Lady Annabelle?"
"Of course, a pleasure to see you again My Lord, Lady Annabelle."
They both smiled but the smile did not reach their eyes.
A short conversation about the state of the roads and the flooding in Derbyshire ensued. Elizabeth took the opportunity to look around. Lady Annabelle had sat away from her and was concentrating on her needlepoint, not participating in the discussion. The Earl was stood by the mantle piece, drink in hand, just watching. His eyes most often on the neckline of her gown. She turned away slightly and pulled her shawl tighter around her.
Eleanor noticed Elizabeth looked tired.
"You both must be in want of rest. I will show you to your rooms."
Eleanor took Elizabeth by her arm and led her from the room, Darcy following behind.
Eleanor paused outside a door.
"These are yours Darcy, and these are yours Elizabeth" Eleanor pointed to the door just down the corridor. "They are connected of course." She winked at Elizabeth who blushed, not daring to look at Darcy. She heard the sound of his door closing a moment later and peaked up at to the offended look on Eleanor's face "well there no need to be like that." Eleanor huffed in annoyance as if her cousin was still a small child.
Elizabeth smiled and tugged Eleanor over to her door.
"We are, the both of us, very tired. It has been a few weeks full of difficulties!"
Eleanor sighed "yes, I am sorry. It must have been a trying time."
They smiled at each other and hugged again.
"Shall I call for you in an hour or so?"
Elizabeth nodded and entered her room. It was lovely but she only wished to lie down and rest. There was a fire in the grate and with a little fire magic she was warm and curled on the bed, thinking only of resting her eyes she was startled awake an hour later by Eleanor knocking on the door.
...
Dinner was pleasant and more lively than she expected. The conversation between the Fitzwilliam family was interesting. Occasionally the topic would be politics, sometimes social inconsistencies, sometimes estate management. Elizabeth found it varied and fascinating. She spent the first night mostly listening but was starting to feel more confident with her new family and the confidence manifested in spirited conversation.
She found that as the days passed the Earl seemed to warm to her and engaged her in conversation often, mostly in the evenings after a few glasses of port, but she was happy to take any extension of friendship from him.
...
It was Christmas morning, Elizabeth jumped out of bed, excited as she always was on Christmas. The feeling of peace and friendship and giving all appealed to her. She went to the window. She had listened to the Fitzwilliams talking often about snow in Derbyshire. Hearing them speak she had fully expected it to snow on Christmas. In Hertfordshire it rarely snowed in December, although it was common enough in January.
She threw open the drapes and peered out in to the dawn. The ground was frosty but there was no snow. She laughed at herself for the twinge of disappointment. She looked back around her room, noting how the house was quiet. Usually on Christmas morning she would go in to Jane's room, they would snuggle in Jane's bed and tell each other stories of Christmas cheer and exchange an early morning present.
She wondered if she could go in to her husband's room. She had never tried to before but he had never said she could not. He had only visited her room once since being at Shoreham and he had not looked especially pleased, barely looking in her eyes for the whole time. There was not even the same feeling as when they had been at Pemberley. As usual he had left as soon as he was done.
She walked over to the door between their rooms and listened. There was no noise beyond, she thought to herself and made her decision. He was her husband, she loved him, she knew he loved her. She wanted to be with him this morning. She walked over to her bedside cabinet and reached inside pulling out the wrapped present.
She then made her way with confident steps and pushed through the door in to her husband's room. The room was dark and cool, the fire was not lit. She made her way over to the fire and added some logs using fire magic to help them catch alight. The fire grate would need cleaning properly later but for now her magic would keep the fire alight. In the glow she saw Darcy lying on the bed. His face was soft and carefree and his hair was in disarray. He looked so handsome and Elizabeth felt her breath hitch.
She did not know if she should wake him or leave him, but the excitement of the day won and she sat next to him on the bed. She contemplated snuggling in next to him but was not at all sure if that behaviour was wanton. It seemed as if Darcy was actively discouraging anything too intimate, so she assumed it was unacceptable behaviour.
Instead she ran a hand through his unruly hair. Darcy moaned in his sleep and turned in to her caress, turning his face and kissing her palm. She smiled at the natural move and lifted her hand to caress his face again, eliciting another groan and a whisper of her name. She giggled and Darcy's eyes fluttered open. When he saw her he gasped and jumped across the bed away from her.
"Elizabeth, what are you doing in here!"
The words came out sharply and she couldn't help but be affronted by it. He was her husband, she was allowed in his room. She made an effort to keep the frown from her face.
"Am I not allowed?"
"Of course not, this is my room."
"But you are allowed in mine whenever it pleases you? Not that it seems to much!"
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Both of them had raised their voices more than they should.
"Nothing at all, sir" she couldn't help the sarcastic tone that slipped out on her last word, she saw him wince at the appellation, it was so cold, so informal.
"You should not come in to a gentleman's room like that. It is not proper."
"What is not proper about a wife wanting to greet her husband on Christmas Day morning?"
"I am not dressed, neither are you. It is..." he trailed off seeming to lose the words, but Elizabeth understood the point. She dropped the smallest of curtsies.
"I am sorry to have disturbed you."
She walked towards the door that led to her room, leaving him staring after her, embarrassment and regret on his face. Her hand on the handle to the door she turned.
"It is Christmas morning. At home I would always come in to Jane's room and we would share stories and exchange a gift before the rest of the house was awake. I naively felt that you were my family now and that we might continue this tradition. Obviously I was wrong to think my husband would wish to put up with my foolish traditions." She held herself straight, not giving him the satisfaction of seeing her eyes with tears in them. She pulled his present out of her pocket and tossed it carelessly on to the table near the door. Without another word she turned and shut the interconnecting door.
Darcy winced as if she had slammed it. Despite their, initially, raised voices her last speech had been delivered with an icy coldness that had hurt him far more than shouting would have, and the door had shut gently behind her.
Elizabeth stood for a moment leaning heavily on the door behind her, she had not meant to shout but she was tired of being turned away by the man she was supposed to love and spend the rest of her life with. His words had made her feel unwelcome and brazen and she could feel the emotions warring with her desire to be with her husband. It was an internal conflict she was tired of and it was wearing her down. She felt a wave of homesickness come over her. Yes her family home was not the most calm environment but it was home and she did not see how this life, devoid of affection, could ever be a life she was comfortable with. Even if it was 'proper'.
She sighed, it was Christmas, she would not be melancholy. Jane had her gift and she would write a letter later. She moved to the night stand and pulled out a slim wrapped gift from Jane. She smiled and decided to open it.
"Oh Jane, they are beautiful." She exclaimed to the air. Inside were four embroidered silk handkerchiefs with her new initials on. The initials had vines woven around the lettering and tiny intricate flowers stitched. Jane had always had excellent needlepoint skills and these were beautiful. She smiled and placed them neatly on the stand and rang for Betsy.
Betsy's knock, a few minutes later, was cautious.
"Come in"
"Good morning ma'am, Lizzie ma'am, I was sure if you would...ummm" Betsy blushed "I wasn't sure if the master might be."
Elizabeth put her at ease with a smile "it is just you and me this morning. Happy Christmas!"
"Oh and the same to you Lizzie ma'am!"
"I have something for you" she gestured at a neat wrapped package.
"Oh that is lovely" Betsy exclaimed over the new bonnet with delight
"I trimmed it myself, my sisters Kitty and Lydia are far better at that sort of thing and if you need to pull it apart I will not be offended."
"Not at all Lizzie ma'am, 'tis lovely" she looked down "I have something for you also, but 'tis naught in comparison to this ma'am."
"Oh Betsy, I did not mean for you to feel badly. I did not expect a gift in return." Elizabeth was worried she had made a faux pas.
Betsy handed her a small package, inside there was a pretty bookmark with a few colourful ribbons sewn neatly in to the top and a pattern winding up it.
"It is lovely Betsy, and just what I needed. Thank you" Lizzie walked up to the maid and gave her a hug.
Betsy looked embarrassed but pleased.
"Well now Lizzie ma'am, let us do something about that hair of yours before church shall we?"
She smiled and sat down while Betsy worked her own brand of magic on the unruly curls.
...
The atmosphere at Matlock house was one of celebration. Everyone seemed to be cheerful and Elizabeth found herself enjoying the day, even though it was a contrast to home. Georgiana was shy, as always, but she managed to get Elizabeth some lovely duets and other sheet music which Elizabeth was really pleased about. She managed to spend some time alone with the girl and made sure she told her some stories and generally extended the arm of sisterly affection. The young woman seemed to bask in the attention and Elizabeth wondered if she had not paid enough before. Since coming back from Pemberley she had been rather occupied with the more gregarious members of the Fitzwilliam household.
Darcy had claimed her arm but they had barely exchanged words until they were on the way back from church. He had made her walk slowly until they had fallen behind the rest. She had given him a quizzical look but did not venture to speak. Once they were a few steps behind he began in a low voice.
"Elizabeth, I am sorry for the events of the morning. I had been rather shocked to find you there and the surprise manifested in anger. I should not have said what I did."
Elizabeth walked for a few paces, digesting his words.
"Will you not forgive me?"
She looked up at him, his eyes were full of remorse and warmth. Why was he so affectionate and loving in public and yet so cold and distant in private? She could not work it out at all.
"It is Christmas sir, I would not wish to hold a grudge."
He smiled softly at her, stole a look at the group in front and quickly caressed her cheek. She felt herself warm under the touch of his fingers.
"Thank you for the present. It was very thoughtful of you. I have one for you that I have placed in your room, as well as the one I will give you shortly."
Elizabeth smiled up at him, and they carried on walking.
The day passed well. With Richard and Eleanor occupying a room there was never a lack of conversation. Even the Viscount and Lady Annabelle were knowledgable about certain topics. After dinner there was carols and everyone took their turn at the piano.
Elizabeth managed to convince Georgiana to play 'o come all ye faithful', she promised her some magic to distract the audience so she could play without fear. Georgiana still only liked to play for her brother and now new sister.
On each chorus Elizabeth made some water arches by passing water from one bowl to another. The water passed over the heads of the singers and everyone looked on in appreciation. On the last chorus Elizabeth sang the soprano descant and everyone admired the clear sound of her voice, she made the water in to sheets and it seemed for a few moments as if they were in a bubble before the song came to a close and the water returned to the pots.
Everyone applauded.
"I say cousin Lizzie, that was spectacular" Richard was the first to speak up after the piano notes died away.
Eleanor rushed forward and embraced her "beautiful" she whispered.
Georgiana gave her a grateful smile and Lizzie bent down and kissed her on the cheek "you played exceptionally, thank you."