Darcy's Temptation

When the coach pulled up in front of the house, Elizabeth, Kitty, Jane Bingley, and Anne de Bourgh awaited the travelers. Evidently, Elizabeth ordered the servants to relay the first sightings of the coach.The colonel alighted first and helped Georgiana to debark. Mr. Bingley followed her closely.There were a few brief seconds of absolute stillness before Darcy stepped from the livery. Elizabeth gasped and immediately rushed to him, encircling his waist with her arms while sobbing into the collar of his waistcoat. Burying her face into his chest, she mumbled, “Thank God—Fitzwilliam—thank God, you are all right.”

Darcy knew instinctively who the woman who held him so closely must be, but from the coach’s window, he realized this woman’s countenance was not one he readily recognized, although subconsciously he knew her to be the one from his dreams. He nodded to the colonel to take the others into the house before he took Elizabeth forcibly by the arms and removed her grip on his being. “Mrs. Darcy,” he stammered. “May we not go into the house? We are making quite a scene. I do not wish to be the talk of the servant quarters this evening.” His voice held a coldness Elizabeth did not recognize.

“Yes, Madam,” Darcy addressed her formally. “If you have no objection, I will freshen my clothes and then meet you in the study.” Then he strode away from her toward the open door. Elizabeth stood bewitched by the abruptness of her husband’s exit as a single teardrop slid down her face. Slowly and methodically, she, too, turned toward the house.

Georgiana came back to wait for Elizabeth once she noted how Darcy purposely left his wife in the carriageway. When Elizabeth reached the top step leading to the entrance, Georgiana rushed forward to take the woman, whom she felt knew her better than anyone, into her arms. Elizabeth swayed as the adrenaline rush left her, and Georgiana supported her until they seated themselves in the drawing room.

Miraculously, all the travelers, and even Kitty, disappeared into their chambers.“Fitzwilliam is not well, Elizabeth,” Georgiana tried to explain. “He was attacked along the road and apparently is having some trouble remembering all the details of his life.”

Georgiana dropped her eyes. She instinctively moved closer to support Elizabeth’s sagging body, and Elizabeth rested her head on the girl’s shoulder. “My brother,” she began quietly, “remembers little after our father’s death. He no longer knows Mr. Bingley, your family, his life the last six years, or you. Edward and I tried to explain things, and Fitzwilliam knows what happened; yet, he possesses no actual recollection of the events.”

The finality of her words hurt Elizabeth with an indescribable pain. How could Darcy not remember her—they were like kindred souls crying out to each other in the night. “It cannot be, Georgiana,” Elizabeth whispered.“Fitzwilliam and I are mysteriously united by some association of the spirit—you have seen it, have you not? We only know each other.”

Georgiana took Elizabeth’s hand.“You will find each other again—of that fact, I have no doubt. You must be patient; Fitzwilliam six years ago was so frightened, believing he could not handle Pemberley and be my guardian. It was daunting—an experience he must now relive, along with the knowledge he now has you and your unborn child as additional responsibilities. This has to be exasperating for him, and I can honestly say he was not always the easiest person with whom to live in those days.We must remember the Fitzwilliam we loved of late is part of that scared young man of three and twenty.”

“Tell me.” Elizabeth searched Georgiana’s countenance for the truth. “Tell me what you remember of him in those days.” Elizabeth stifled her sobs.“I must know what to expect when I speak to him again.”

“My brother has—had an idolized opinion of our parents. They married for love, but they were a product of their time. They taught my brother duty first—above all other things.You know of my parents’ duty to our tenants. Fitzwilliam was brought up in opulence, and often he came off as proud and leaden, but we know he is a different man; he is a man who desperately needs to be loved. Do not stop loving my brother,” Georgiana pleaded.

“I will always love your brother, Georgiana.” Elizabeth’s voice trembled from fear of what would happen next; yet, the unspoken truth led her to realize loving Darcy and living with him were two different things.

“Henry, I am pleased to see you.” Henry served Fitzwilliam Darcy for many years, long before the passing of the elder Mr. Darcy. Darcy followed the valet to what was once his father’s chambers. Darcy stepped into the room, and memories of playing on the floor of this very room as a small child flooded his mind.

“My father’s old room,” he mumbled as he turned round and round in the center of the floor. On sensory overload, flashes of memories invaded his mind. Nearly dizzy from the swirling images, Darcy grabbed his head for balance.

Henry immediately rushed to support his master. “I am here, Mr. Darcy. Let me help you to a chair.We are so pleased to have you back at Pemberley; the staff and your family felt your absence considerably. I arranged a bath for you and clean attire, Sir.”

He sat, heart racing, trying to recapture his composure. Just stepping into this bedroom took Darcy’s senses to another level. Images of his mother and his father surrounded him.The furnishings were different—more muted tones—more to Darcy’s liking—but definitely his father’s quarters. His father’s dominating presence filled him as he sat there, trying to remember his life—remember anything. Could he do this again? Could he become the Master of Pemberley?

The elder Darcy warned his son repeatedly of those who would flatter him to become an intimate. Darcy learned his place in the world—an air of confidence and an aristocratic demeanor. He wanted desperately to replicate his father—a great man—a well-respected man.The elder Darcy came from a respectable, honorable, and ancient family. His mother Lady Anne came from a line of noble earls; she gave him his identity, his name of Fitzwilliam. But he lost all that—all that history—on the road to Hull. Now, he knew not what to do. His responsibilities were so numerous. Could he be the man his father taught him to be? Darcy feared failure; he feared loss of respect—loss of face in society.

Another fear crept into his memory. As he circled the room moments ago, an image of the woman who was his wife flashed across the reaches of his mind. She lay across his bed, muddy and covered in blood, and he cut her clothing from her body, cleaning and bandaging her wounds. Tears streamed down his face, and he offered the woman endearments. How could he love this woman so much and now have no feelings for her? How could he learn to love her again? His wife’s connections went against everything his parents expected of him, but Darcy could not turn the woman away. She carried the heir to Pemberley, and duty required he have an heir.

Darcy spent nearly an hour in his study reviewing the estate books before Elizabeth found enough courage to approach him. The light tap on the door told Darcy the moment he anticipated since leaving Darling Hall arrived. “Come,” he called automatically.

Elizabeth Darcy entered his study unsure of her reception. “Mrs. Darcy,” he said, upon seeing her enter the room. He left the desk and came forward to meet her. Darcy led Elizabeth to a chair and took the adjoining one. Elizabeth searched his face for a semblance of her dear husband in the man seated across from her. Trying to get enough nerve to begin his conversation, Darcy cleared his throat twice and ran his fingers through his hair. “This is an awkward occurrence in which we find ourselves, Mrs. Darcy,” he still spoke formally.

Darcy looked at her shamefacedly. “I am sorry this brings you grief.” He tried to look directly into her eyes to relay his truth, but the depth of the emotions he found there bothered him, and he looked away without knowing. “I want to assure you, I will treat you with all the respect due you as my wife. I will do my best to allow my regard for you to grow naturally. Of course, our child will receive the best of care as the heir to this estate.”

“I understand your expectations, Sir, for our child,” Elizabeth stammered, “but I do not understand your expectations for me as your wife. Am I expected to pretend not to love you?”Tears filled her eyes.“The prayer the devil answers.”

Elizabeth could hear no more; she bolted from the chair and fled the room without even a “by your leave.” Darcy stood in amazement. How had he become involved with such a highly emotional woman? She knew not even how to have a civil conversation. Many couples in society held no regard for each other, but they managed households with civilities. It was not his fault the last couple of years no longer existed in his memory. He hoped to make the best of a bad situation; he tried to do his duty by the woman. He thought he was being very reasonable.

Darcy sent for his steward to address the estate books. His ability to run his estate must be proven for the world to accept him, an area often addressed by his father; Darcy wanted to establish his worth. Mr. Howard came laden with his copies of the estate books to his master’s study. Howard was made aware of Mr. Darcy’s health problems, and the steward knew not what to expect. Mr. Howard had served Pemberley since the death of the former steward, Mr. Wickham, George Wickham’s father. Demanding, the elder Mr. Darcy spent much of his time reprimanding Mr. Howard. Early on, Fitzwilliam Darcy chose to imitate his father, but the younger Darcy learned his lessons and took a more cooperative turn in the estate’s business. Pemberley flourished under the son’s control. Howard wondered if the young master would have to learn those lessons again, and would he have to once again withstand Mr. Darcy’s criticisms?

Mr. Howard made Darcy a proper bow. “We are happy to see you well, Sir.” Howard brought the estate books to Darcy’s desk. “When we found your coach, we knew not what might have become of you, Sir.”

“Yes, Sir, Mrs. Darcy had a premonition of what had happened, and then she received the letter from Miss More, indicating you failed to arrive in Hull. Distraught, Mrs. Darcy sent us immediately to retrace your route. I do believe if Mrs. Darcy was not with child, your wife would have led the search party herself.”

Mr. Howard paused to recollect when they attended to Mrs. Darcy’s misgivings. “You could not have been more than two days out, Sir. Mrs. Darcy suddenly took on a dreadful feeling and collapsed in this very room. Mrs. Reynolds and Miss Darcy attended to her. I am unaware of all the particulars, but the irony of the situation once we knew of your not achieving Hull did not escape the men in the search party.”

Darcy sat back in the chair. He brought his fingers together in supposition, resting his chin as he meditated on what Mr. Howard shared about Elizabeth Darcy. How could she know? Could she have arranged the attack? No, that was impossible. Elizabeth would not bring attention to herself if she were a culprit in his encounter.Then that meant they had an unusual connection—one not found in most marriages. Darcy could not explain how confused the stories of Elizabeth made him. His brief observation of her told him his wife did not meet the standards of what his father drummed into Darcy. Yet, from all accounts, they had a loving—a trusting—relationship. Perplexity ruled his thoughts about the woman he married. How could they achieve some semblance of marital felicity?

Mr. Howard’s voice brought Darcy’s attention back to the books. “As you can observe, Sir, the recent changes instituted by you and your wife proved wise ones.The estate is on solid footing, and the promise of new crops opened markets we did not anticipate.”

“Of course, Sir,” Mr. Howard beamed. “Your insights proved themselves, and Mrs. Darcy’s attention to the needs of the tenants creates a feeling of solidarity among them. They band together to help each other. I, personally, have seen nothing to compare to what you achieved here, Sir.”

“There is a general feeling of—of—how to explain this—of congeniality.When Mr. Lucas hurt his leg last week, Meyers, Littleton, and Sanderson came to help him finish the plowing and mended Lucas’s fence wall.Your wife and sister make regular tenant calls; they listen to the women and praise the efforts of the men.They bring food and comfort to the families.”

“Most of the food comes from the controlled kills,” Mr. Howard added nonchalantly, forgetting Darcy had no memory of this recent change in how the estate handled nature’s tendency to allow some species to be more abundant than others.

“Miss Darcy’s idea, Sir. Forgive me—when I spoke, I forgot about your recent attack. Miss Darcy reasoned we could cut down on poachers if we controlled the number of deer ourselves. We thin the herd periodically and give the meat to the tenants. In return, they help with repairs upon the estate. We become our own state, taking care of our own. It is quite simple in concept, but the positive tendrils have spread among the cottagers.”

“Quite sure, Sir. Your family and I sat in this very room when the plan came into fruition. Miss Darcy and your wife assumed much of the control of the estate while you were away. Your jointure on Mrs. Darcy proved prudent.” Mr. Howard’s praise of the two women continued for several minutes.

At dinner, Darcy planned to extend his congratulations to Elizabeth for her insights in regards to the estate, but his houseguests, anticipating the strain of his first evening at Pemberley, all begged off and took their meals in their rooms. Earlier in the day, Mr. Bingley came briefly to Darcy’s study to inform him he and Mrs. Bingley would depart from Pemberley tomorrow. “You are welcome to stay, Sir. Mrs. Bingley, as Mrs. Darcy’s sister, should not be deprived of her relations on my account.”

Yet, Bingley insisted; the garbled relationships played havoc on Mrs. Bingley’s kind nature, and he would remove her from Pemberley until Darcy could reestablish his position with his wife. Therefore, their absence from the dinner table did not surprise Darcy. Kitty Bennet, not used to confrontations, followed suit.

Edward insisted he and Anne had extensive wedding plans to discuss. Darcy did not believe him; he knew Anne did not want to witness the problems in Darcy’s marriage. If Lady Catherine, according to Edward, thought Darcy might withdraw his attention from Elizabeth and take Anne as his wife, then difficulties would occur for his cousins.

Mr. Harrison, suspecting a change in the dynamics of the household, made an early exit and took a room at the Royal Crown in Lambton. He promised Georgiana to call tomorrow before leaving for Hines Park.

“Fitzwilliam, I admit Elizabeth is not what you say you want and is not what our father on first glance would find appropriate, but I know she is what you need. Our father would approve of how happy you are with Elizabeth. No one who saw the two of you together would think otherwise.” Georgiana laughed nervously. “Of course, no one except our formidable aunt.”

Darcy looked surprised to see his sister speak out about their aunt.“Lady Catherine? Obviously, our aunt would disapprove of my marriage to Mrs. Darcy. Lady Catherine would approve of no one except Anne as my wife.”

“Fitzwilliam, she did not just disapprove,” Georgiana protested. “She tried to stop your marriage. Our aunt presented herself to Elizabeth before you proposed the second time. Lady Catherine’s words demonstrated a lack of breeding, but Elizabeth refused to deny or confirm your relationship.”

“Elizabeth refused you at Easter time at Hunsford. Fitzwilliam, you were very disrespectful to her,” Georgiana half teased. “I will explain more later, but Elizabeth found your proposal insulting at best; then you spent several months in misery. Elizabeth traveled to Derbyshire with her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner; you came home a day early to find her at Pemberley. By then, she had a better understanding of what an honorable man you are and was able to finally accept you.”

Again, Georgiana came to Elizabeth’s defense. “Elizabeth is not like that, Fitzwilliam. She knew of your wealth in Hunsford and refused you. Elizabeth was misled by Mr. Wickham’s lies about you.When she realized she—she misunderstood the situation, Elizabeth allowed herself to see the man you are.”

“I esteem her above anyone I ever met. Elizabeth took over the estate when you were missing; she is the most capable person I know beside you, Fitzwilliam. At her suggestion, I learned much about how to run an estate. Elizabeth could legally make all decisions regarding our ancestral home in your absence, but Mrs. Darcy would not allow that. Plus, Elizabeth reasoned a man who really esteemed me would accept my knowledge as an asset to our marriage.”

“Our aunt, Fitzwilliam, came here with the purpose of removing Elizabeth from the estate. Lady Catherine was unaware of the jointure placed on Elizabeth, but even if no such document existed, our aunt could have shown more solicitous feelings toward Elizabeth. Lady Catherine even insinuated your child belonged to someone else. I could not tolerate such expurgents in your house, Brother!” Georgiana’s voice rose with indignation.

“Fitzwilliam, our aunt knew where you were, but she kept the information from Elizabeth—from me. How could she? How could she place her disapproval of your wife above your safe return home?”

A light tap came at Elizabeth’s bedchamber door, and she looked up to see Darcy standing in the doorway. For a moment, she wondered if he intended to take his husbandly rights, but he approached her not. She rose to address him. The translucent silky fabric of her nightdress revealed the lilt turn of Elizabeth’s figure, only enhanced by the fullness of her breast and her abdomen. Her auburn curls cascaded over her shoulders, and Darcy’s eyes found both the depth of her eyes and the enigmatic smile she wore very enticing. “Yes, Sir,” she said softly.

“You must think of yourself and our child first.” Elizabeth’s appearance shook his resolve to make amends and then leave. “Would you feel well enough to join me in the sitting room for a few minutes?” For some reason Darcy really did not want to leave her.

Elizabeth wanted to rush into his arms and kiss his face until the hurt went away. “May I beg off, Fitzwilliam? The child has been quite active today, and the need to reevaluate how we live our lives has taken its toll on me.” Elizabeth looked at her bed, nervously wishing to be there with Darcy. “My sister and Mr. Bingley depart early tomorrow. I wish to give my dear Jane the comfort of seeing me refreshed and rested.” She finally allowed her eyes to rest on her husband’s countenance.

“Naturally, Madam.” He gave Elizabeth a slight bow.“I will see you in the morning then.” With those words, he left the room. Entering his own bedchamber, Darcy leaned back against the door and took several deep breaths. He rakishly ran his hand through his hair. “My wife has some appealing qualities,” he smiled at his own jest, “some appealing qualities, indeed.” He reached to remove his cravat and tossed it on the back of a chair.