The Darcys of Pemberley by Shannon Winslow Read Free Book Online

when she wrote to summon me, and of course everything was
fine when I was last at Hunsford three months ago. I called in at
the parsonage some once or twice, and the Collinses dined at
Rosings frequently during my stay.”
    A quiet thoughtfulness overtook them all and
held for some minutes.
    “How was Cousin Anne when you saw her?”
Elizabeth asked the colonel, breaking the silence.
    “I am happy to testify that she looked quite
remarkably fit, with much better color and energy than ever before.
Her spirits are vastly improved as well. She has a new physician
now – one of those scientifically educated fellows – and he has
done wonders for her. I was quite impressed at the transformation.
Did you not see her when you were there?”
    “No, we were denied that pleasure,” answered
Darcy. “She was not at the service with her mother, and calling at
Rosings was obviously out of the question. Still, I am gratified by
what you say of Anne’s improvement, Fitzwilliam. I hope her
superior health will allow her to be more out in company. To be
relieved, even briefly, of Lady Catherine’s domineering presence
must do her a good at least equal to whatever medicine her
physician prescribes.”
    “Perhaps I can help accomplish your wish
whilst I am there. I shall have my eyes open for some scheme to
take me from the house in any case; I will endeavor to help Anne
make good her escape as well,” said the colonel with a hearty
laugh.
    The evening passed pleasantly with
conversation and music. Colonel Fitzwilliam insisted on hearing
both Georgiana and Elizabeth perform, and they were happy to oblige
him.
    That night, in their private apartment, Darcy
surreptitiously studied his wife as she readied herself for bed. At
length he said, “Fitzwilliam was flirting shamelessly with you
again tonight, Lizzy. If I did not trust him so absolutely, I would
never tolerate him taking such liberties.”
    “Your cousin is very charming, but quite
harmless,” Elizabeth assured him as she brushed out her hair at her
dressing table.
    Darcy came and stood behind her, resting his
hands on her shoulders and his eyes on her reflection in the
mirror. “Nevertheless, he was quite right when he said you look
uncommonly well, my dear. I will grant him that much. I truly was
thinking the same myself.”
    “Thank you, my darling … for the compliment
and also for the note of jealousy in your voice. Fitzwilliam was
right about one more thing, however. If you remember, he very
correctly credited my marriage as the source of any added beauty.
It most definitely does agree with me,” she said turning and
reaching for her husband’s embrace.
    He met her halfway and lifted her to himself.
“I am glad to hear it, Mrs. Darcy. Still, I wondered…that is, I
hoped…that there might be a more particular reason…,” he said
uncertainly. “We have been married almost a twelve-month, and I
thought…”
    Then Elizabeth understood him. She took his
face in her hands and looked up into his hopeful eyes. “My love,
when I have news of that sort, believe me, you will be the first to
know. In the meantime, I suggest we not waste energy worrying about
it. Let us instead conserve our strength for efforts that have more
chance of yielding the desired result.”
    She gave him a playful kiss and, with a
lilting laugh, bounded into bed. Taking her meaning, Mr. Darcy
instantly assented to the wisdom of her proposal and followed her
forthwith. He never was one to procrastinate.
     
    ~*~
     
    After three days, Colonel Fitzwilliam took
his leave, promising to stop at Pemberley again on his return from
Hunsford where he planned to stay about a fortnight. In the
meantime, there was plenty of employment for those who remained.
Mr. Darcy added instigating inquiries on the Bingleys’ behalf to
his regular slate of occupations. Along with her correspondence and
normal household responsibilities, Elizabeth began her preliminary
plans for Georgiana’s eighteenth-birthday ball,