Mr. Darcy's Secret (4 page)

"Let us not worry our heads over people who do not deserve such attention," Mr Darcy continued. "Let us look forward to our future, to being all together again. I have longed for this time to come to pass, a chance to be settled at Pemberley once more and amongst my fellow Derbyshire neighbours. This county, this land of high peaks and lush valleys, all you survey before you is in my blood; it forms part of what it is to be a Darcy. Oh, Elizabeth, I hope some day you will feel as I do about our home. Georgiana, I know, was unhappy in town and longed to come back. I see the change in her already. Soon she will have to make her own establishment, but I see no reason for her to go very far from us. A neighbouring estate will do very nicely. We shall have to look about for a husband for her in the not too distant future."

"Surely there is no need to do that just yet," Elizabeth implored. "Besides, I cannot think of anyone suitable in the vicinity."

"Hugh Calladine would make a good match."

"But he is at least ten years older than Georgiana, and besides, I thought it was common knowledge that he is in love with Eleanor Bradshaw. Mrs Bradshaw entertains high hopes of there being an alliance between the families."

"Hugh Calladine is a good gentleman of suitable standing, with a fine property, a sizeable inheritance, and what is more, a title to come. He has ambition, despite his friendship with the Bradshaws. They are a respectable family, but there is no fortune. Hugh Calladine will not make an imprudent match; he is very sensible. He is a young man and like all young men he has had his share of falling in love and breaking one or two hearts. That is the way of life; there is no harm done. Besides, I like the fellow. It is true, he is older than Georgiana, but I think he would be a settling influence on her."

"Do you mean to tell me that you would encourage him? And what does Georgiana think of him? I'm sure she would have no interest in a man who loved another. Darcy, you cannot be serious. Please tell me that you are joking, that you are teasing me for some cruel amusement. You do not really mean to marry Georgiana off for money and position alone, do you?"

Darcy let go of her arm, and turning away from her continued to speak. "Georgiana is a wealthy young lady and, as such, will be the prey of fortune hunters. It is imperative that a suitable marriage be made for her. There is no reason to delay."

"But surely you will let her find her own love," said Elizabeth, lightly running to catch him up slipping her arm inside his again. "Georgiana has not yet attended her first ball or had the pleasure of meeting any suitable young men who are nearer to her in age. She is just at the beginning and learning how to overcome her shyness. Even talking to young gentlemen will be a sore trial at first, let alone to someone of more mature years who might require a certain sophistication. Besides, you surely cannot deny her what you have allowed for yourself, can you?"

"I can think of no other gentleman more suitable; my parents would have been delighted if they had thought my sister would make such a match. It is all they dreamed of for their only daughter. You do not understand these matters, Elizabeth. Romance and sentimentality have no place here. Georgiana is a dutiful girl; she knows what is expected of her."

At this point Elizabeth lost her temper. "So, you are determined on this course for Georgiana. Oh, Fitzwilliam, I do not understand you. The poor girl has hardly set foot in Derbyshire and you have her married off to a man we know little about except for the fact that he is rich and enjoying the charms of another, less fitting candidate. Well, I cannot be a party to such folly and I will not discuss this matter further until you have come to your senses."

Elizabeth turned on her heel and, before her husband could stop her, she left. He stood, half amazed and half angry at the sight of his new bride running down the hill as fast as she could to get away from him.

Almost as soon as she got to the bottom of the hill Elizabeth began to doubt the wisdom of speaking out in such a manner, but she was convinced she had been right to do so.

"Impossible man!" she said to herself. "He claims to love his sister and have her best interests at heart and yet he would enslave her in marriage before she is ready, and to a man she does not love. To think that I thought he had changed for the better, that his disagreeable prejudices and notions of superiority were changed. Oh, Georgiana, how you will wish you had stayed in London."

Elizabeth hastened to her room. She felt so cross she could not trust herself to do anything else, but once there, she paced up and down, all the while trying to reason with herself. However hard she tried, she could not forgive Darcy for his belief that Georgiana must do her duty in marriage to a partner he would select. An hour passed during which every torment of feeling, every contrast of emotion from indignation to remorse unsettled her. But she was most sorry that she had stormed off, surely leaving him feeling quite the superior by his attitude. "I must learn to curb my tongue," she thought, "for I am sure that shouting at my husband will only antagonise him. It is my temper I must control. I was too quick to show my exasperation and this will not endear me to him or change his views, I fear. In any case, I don't doubt he wishes to see Georgiana safely married. I know so little about her, truly, but from what I have gleaned from others, she has something of the Darcy spirit. I daresay I am being unfair, but a girl who was so easily persuaded to run away with George Wickham must have her own faults."

More important and uppermost in her mind was the problem she now faced of how to apologise to her husband for her rash behaviour. Though not wishing him to think that he had been right, she knew her impulsive actions had done nothing to further her argument. With this in mind, she hurried downstairs to search for him.

On poking her head around the saloon door she discovered Mr Darcy within standing by the blazing fire, which considerably cheered the aspect of this north facing room in winter. He turned as he heard her enter and they both began talking at once, declaring together their heartfelt sorrow at their misunderstanding. Within moments all was forgiven and forgotten, the lovers united by a tender embrace.

"I wish we did not have to go out to dine this evening," said Elizabeth.

"Oh, Mrs Darcy, I think you can read my mind," her husband answered with a smile. "How I wish we could stay here alone, away from the inquisitive eyes of our neighbours."

"I must admit I have had quite enough of being stared at to last me a lifetime," Elizabeth replied. "Well, I daresay I can endure it for another evening if I must."

"Perhaps I was not entirely honest when I described how our life at Pemberley might be, omitting to tell you how often you would be called upon to perform duties which are bound not only to be tedious but also irritating. Dining at the Eatons' tonight is, I fear, the last straw."

"I do not consider such evenings to be so very tiresome, and I have enjoyed meeting the majority of your neighbours. I must confess, however, that I do have a particular dislike for Mrs Eaton who has on the two occasions of our meeting displayed an unsurpassed aptitude for conversation of a particular variety. She can relate an amusement in detail, tell a ludicrous story, and laugh at her friends with much vigour. At least it is not a requirement to join in. She is happy enough to supply her own replies."

Mr Darcy laughed. "I am fortunate that her long-suffering husband is a good deal more pleasant."

"Well, at least I shall be able to talk to him during dinner. It is after dinner, the ladies withdrawing from the dining table that I dread."

"They will no doubt quiz you and question you as to the kind of man you have married, Mrs Darcy. I hope you will not disappoint them or they will have nothing to gossip about."

"Gossip: the fuel of village life. It doesn't seem to matter where one lives, there is certainly no escape from hearsay and scandal. For my own part, I thwart it whenever I can, though it is impossible to avoid when talking with Mrs Eaton." Elizabeth paused to consider whether she ought to discuss the story related by this lady, yet she was curious to discover if Fitzwilliam had any notion of the gossip surrounding his mother's former employee. "I have been quite unable to put some of her tittle-tattle out of my head. She told me about a lady's maid who was formerly in the employ of the Darcy family. There is a rather unpleasant tale going about that her child's father is a gentleman of some distinction. It was in many respects a disconcerting story. Do you know anything of the matter or circumstances?"

Fitzwilliam Darcy turned once more to the fire. He picked up the poker and stabbed at the glowing logs before picking up a sizeable chunk of wood to add to the flames roaring up the chimney.

"I know nothing of these tales," he answered in a voice that immediately discouraged further discussion on the subject. "You should not concern yourself or listen to these gossips. My mother's maid was of exemplary character--that is all you need to know."

The second week in December heralded much excitement for Elizabeth. Her aunt and uncle Gardiner with all the young Gardiners arrived from London in preparation for Christmas. Lizzy had the pleasure of fulfilling her aunt's dearest wish on her arrival, by taking her round the park in a low phaeton with two ponies as had been that lady's suggestion several months before.

"I needn't ask if you are happy," said her Aunt Gardiner, turning for a moment from the view to take Lizzy's hand and squeeze it hard. "Your face is a picture, my dear niece, glowing with health and vitality, but also with something more--dare I say it, with pure unadulterated joy."

"Oh yes, Aunt, I never was so happy in my life. My husband is so generous, so kind, so loving. I can truly say I was never so loved in all my life."

"And are you enjoying your new role as mistress of Pemberley? I hope your neighbours have been kind."

"I am very busy and fortunate for the most part with our neighbours. It was very daunting at first, but I am feeling more confident than I admit I felt when I was first faced with the county families. So confident, in fact, dear Aunt Gardiner, that I have decided that we will have a grand Christmas ball."

"Oh, Lizzy, I am so proud of you. To think that I too will be a part of such a lavish entertainment; I've no doubt that such a diversion will be on a grand scale. I suppose you will be inviting everyone in the district."

"Yes, indeed, but I also have some other guests arriving, those to whom we are both related. Papa writes to me constantly and though his letters are full of news and as amusing as ever, I have detected a little unhappiness within the well-scripted pages. I happened to mention this to my husband and he insisted that my parents be reminded of their Christmas invitation with my sisters. Of course Lydia would not come without Wickham, but the invitations have been sent to Longbourn and Netherfield. Indeed, Mr Darcy first made the invitation to my father on our wedding day, leaving him to understand that he was most welcome to come to Pemberley to see me whenever he wished. Fitzwilliam had not told me and I think Papa thought he should wait for an official invitation."

"Oh, Lizzy, your mother will be so pleased."

"Yes, I am sure she will," said Lizzy softly, looking away. They both were silent for a moment, lost in their thoughts. "I know I am probably being very unkind, but Aunt, the prospect of my family coming here does fill me with some trepidation. My mother will not keep her tongue and has the habit of saying such unfortunate remarks before she considers what she is saying. I am worried that she may not behave with all due decorum and expose my husband and myself to the ridicule of our neighbours, some of whom are difficult to please at the best of times. There, now I expect you will consider that I am a most unfeeling and undutiful daughter."

"You must not worry; I do understand, you know, and I feel honoured that you are able to speak to me in such a confidential manner. But I am sure that your mother and father will do you proud. Concentrate on the things that matter. Organising such an event will be quite enough for you to think about, without worrying your head over anything else. If I can be of any assistance, it will be a great delight to help."

"Thank you, Aunt, I knew I should feel instantly better about everything with you here. But tell me, what would you like to do whilst you are in the area? There must be acquaintances you long to see from the old days or perhaps you would like to call on the friends you met in the summer. I can have a carriage put at your disposal at any time if you would like to go visiting in Lambton."

"Elizabeth Darcy, I should love that very much. You are a very kind girl, no matter what you say to the contrary. Perhaps you would like to come with me when I go visiting. I would like to see how my old friend Martha Butler is faring. We have corresponded for many years but I missed her in the summer as she was visiting her son in London. It would be so very good to see her again. What do you think, Lizzy? Should you like to come with me?"

"I would love to, if you do not think I would be in the way. There are bound to be many topics on which you will wish to converse and I should not wish to disturb you."

"Certainly not. Mrs Butler will consider your coming a great compliment and will, no doubt, have her status within the village highly elevated as a result."

"Then let us make a visit tomorrow."

"Splendid! Perhaps we could ask Georgiana to come along too. She seems to be blossoming under your care, Lizzy. I remember she was so shy and could hardly speak a sentence in company when first we met."

"Yes, though I doubt whether I have made any significant difference to her behaviour in the few weeks we have lived under the same roof. And Mrs Annesley is to leave us tomorrow for a little holiday, so I am sure Georgiana will miss her company. But are you quite sure Mrs Butler will want to be so overwhelmed by visitors?"

"When you meet her, Lizzy, I know you will see I was right. She is a very genteel but very affable lady, and I am sure you will become friends. I would trust Martha Butler with my life and all my most prized possessions. It would be a comfort for me to know that you will have an acquaintance you can call on who is someone to be relied upon at any time."

"Then let us call on her tomorrow and we shall all have an outing to which we may look forward with pleasure."

∗ ∗ ∗

Georgiana was delighted to join the party that set out next morning after breakfast, driving along in the carriage away from Pemberley taking the road to Lambton. The three women travelled alone with the coachman and his boy, leaving Mr Darcy and Mr Gardiner to their shooting and all the little Gardiners to their lessons with their governess.

"Thank you so very much for inviting me, Mrs Gardiner," said Georgiana. "I'm rather embarrassed to admit that I am not really acquainted with anyone in the village, though I've always longed to have more friends in the area. But having been in London for such a long time meant I did not have the opportunity to meet with many people round about, apart from the families that called when I was here in the summer."

"There is no reason why you should be acquainted with anyone in Lambton, Miss Darcy," replied Mrs Gardiner. "I know the circles you have moved in all your life are very different to those of my own and I am sure there was never the chance to enjoy a very wide society."

Georgiana looked thoughtful. "I do remember my brother telling me that my mother was very conscientious in her duties and often called in the village, especially on the needy and sick. It is a practice I would like to rejuvenate; I know my mother was very well regarded in Lambton. What do you think, Elizabeth? Would you like to revive the habit?"

"We shall go together if you should like it," agreed Elizabeth warmly. "I know Mr Darcy has always tried to help the poorer families where he can, and I think we could certainly find other worthwhile occupations and enterprises to which we may give a helping hand, especially if it can be done without giving offence. The people here are very proud, hard-working, and for the most part self-sufficient, but we can do much to improve their general happiness and condition, I am certain."

"If any two people can undertake such work with sensibility and discernment, I am sure you both can," said Mrs Gardiner. "There is always someone or something that needs attention in a place like this, where those who do fall on hard times often find it difficult to ask for largesse."

The carriage turned into the High Street and Elizabeth could not help noticing the excitement their arrival was causing amongst the inhabitants going about their business. Being Mrs Darcy was going to take some getting used to, she decided, as she witnessed passers by nudging one another, curtseying or bowing and doffing caps, as they travelled the length of the thoroughfare to a good-sized stone house with gables set back from the road.

"Here we are. I am so looking forward to seeing my friend, though I have to tell you, it shall be a visit tinged with sadness," declared Mrs Gardiner. "Dear Mrs Butler's lovely husband passed away last year. He was a naval captain until his health took a turn for the worse and an upstanding member of the community, always willing to help those less fortunate than himself. He succumbed to consumption after a long illness and poor Martha is left quite alone. Her only surviving son has gone to seek his fortune in London and is doing well, I believe, and although he has tried to persuade his mother to join him there, she would never consider leaving Derbyshire or the home she shared with John."

"I can easily understand that," said Lizzy peering out at the house before them. "To leave a house full of memories shared with the one you love would not be easy, even if you were going to make a new home with those you adore. Her son must be a generous, affectionate young man to take such care of his mother."

"I have not seen him for some time, but I do remember that he was the very image of his father and with the same gentle ways. I know he would have tried very hard to persuade his mother to join him."

The coachman was at the door in a moment and the ladies stepped down to make their way along the flagged path leading up to the house with its central door set between mullioned windows. They were soon shown into a comfortable yet old-fashioned parlour furnished in country style. On one side of the gleaming mahogany fireplace was an oak dresser displaying a wealth of pewter, illuminated by the bright flames of the fire in the grate, and in the opposite corner, a grandfather clock with a painted face of flowers and cupids stood ticking the hours away. Placed before the hearth an ancient settee draped in chintz and a sturdy settle adorned with blue check cushions were arranged to make the best use of the heat of the coals.

Georgiana looked around her with wonder. Such a cosy room and stuffed with objects of varying interest, though not necessarily of great worth. It had the feeling of what she imagined it would be like to enter a ship, with its low beamed ceiling and dark panelled walls. Every surface displayed some treasure, from exotic shells, oyster pink and glossy with a finish of pearl, to spiky sea urchins and stiff, bony sea horses. A mahogany box brimming with bright fishing flies lay open on the shelf before the window, in between a Chinese bowl decorated with peonies in vivid blue and the skeletal remains of what appeared to be a large and rather sinister looking fish.

Martha Butler bade them sit down after the introductions and immediately addressed the Darcy women, telling them what an honour it was to receive them. "And to see you again, Mrs Gardiner, after all these years and under such splendid circumstances. I cannot think of anything that would have pleased you better than to see your niece as mistress of Pemberley. Lambton was always so dear to your heart and now you have an excellent excuse to visit us both very often, I hope."

"I am very lucky to have been invited to stay so soon and I hope to visit you often, my dear friend," Mrs Gardiner replied.

Mrs Butler glanced at Georgiana who despite herself could not help look with fascination at everything around the room. "It's a very queer room, is it not, Miss Darcy?"

"Oh, Mrs Butler, on the contrary, it is a lovely room, but you must think me so rude for staring."

"Not at all, my dear, and if there is anything that takes your fancy for a closer scrutiny, I hope you will have a look. See these old panels on the walls? My late husband rescued them from a ship he served in that was broken up for scrap. I never felt so far away from him when he was at sea, so long as I could see these lovely pieces of timber worked on and polished by his own hand to fit into my parlour."

"Mr Butler was a skilled carpenter as well as being an admirable sea captain," joined in Mrs Gardiner. "I remember he made you a sewing box on your marriage, a most beautiful object to my mind."

"I have it still, though it is locked in the cupboard this morning. I'll fetch it out in a minute, Miss Darcy, and you can see what my husband had to keep himself occupied during those long days on board ship when he was a mere midshipman."

At that moment the party heard the sound of the front door shutting and a man's voice booming with cheerful resonance to the maid in the hall.

"Oh, my goodness me, I quite forgot to tell you in all my excitement in seeing you again," Mrs Butler declared, her face lighting up with pleasure. "Master Thomas is home for a holiday. He has just finished on a scheme of work at Lord Featherstone's house in Richmond, but I expect he will tell you all about it himself."

Just as she spoke, the door of the parlour opened to admit a tall young man with an air of affable good nature and with such pleasing looks that Georgiana, who had started to become quite at ease, felt quite unequal to meet the eyes of those that alighted so eagerly upon her countenance.