Mistress Mary and the General: A Pride and Prejudice Inspired Story Page 7
“And that should give you enough time to recuperate from today’s outing,” Mr. Bennet said jokingly as the gentlemen nodded their agreement.
Chapter Eight
Darcy lifted his wife into his arms and crossed the lawn in a determined stride. “I believe we agreed you would remain on the blanket, my dear.”
“I believe I was told not to exert myself. I do not believe walking to the water’s edge is exerting myself.” She pouted prettily, but her husband was unmoved.
Placing her upon the blanket, he sat beside her and leaned back against the tree. “I see I shall have to remain close by to be certain you do as you are told.”
“Oh, William, this is ridiculous. Go enjoy your game with the children. I am well.”
“You simply wait for me to turn my back so you may go off as you please. Lizzy, you are not fully recovered. Lucinda has kept you awake far more than the other girls did. Now sit here,” he pulled her against his side and placed her head on his shoulder, “and rest.”
A yawn escaped her lips as she snuggled against him. “So the great Master of Pemberley is still recuperating from his excursion with the older children?” she teased as she looked out at the others playing a game of cricket, modified so the youngest of them would enjoy it as much as the older ones.
“If that is what you choose to believe to keep you here, I will agree.” He wrapped his arms about her and kissed the top of her head. Within a few minutes they were both sound asleep.
***********
“It appears we have lost our bowler.” Richard looked toward the couple and smiled sadly; envious of his cousin. He glanced about, blinking to clear the tears from his eyes, but brightened as he saw the children. The three little girls, Patience Darcy, Franny Bingley, and his Beth, were picking clover under Georgiana and Janet’s supervision while Richie appeared very intent upon something in the grass. Looking farther, he found Charlie and William in the outfield, heads together and backs turned.
Since it was obvious everyone was losing interest in the game, he called out to the older boys. They met his gaze, looking suspiciously guilty, and began moving toward him.
“Yes, Papa?” William asked as they approached.
Understanding how boys could be, Richard decided not to ask what they had been planning and instead suggested a safe activity. “How would you like to learn to bowl?”
Charlie’s eyes grew large. “Bowl? Truly, General Fitzwilliam?”
“Well, we must be certain no one would get hurt. Have either of you bowled before?” he asked, knowing he had worked a bit with William the summer before.
Charlie shook his head, while William tipped his quizzically. “You taught me, Papa, but that was last year. I’m not certain I remember.”
Richard took in the remainder of the participants. “I believe the younger ones are tiring. Shall we suggest they join the Darcys and Miss Bennet under the tree for a treat and we may practice? Charlie, go ask your father to join us.”
Charlie ran off to where Bingley was trying to hold Thomas’ attention by rolling a ball to him. The toddler truly was more interested in a butterfly he had seen go by and had no desire to play with the ball whatsoever.
“Papa, Mr. Fitzwilliam said the babies should go sit on the blanket while we learn to bowl.”
Richie, who had been crouched close by examining a caterpillar, snapped about. “Who? I want to learn to bowl.”
“No, you are to go have a treat on the blanket.”
“I’m not a baby! I want to bowl!” Richie scowled at Charlie as he balled his fists at his side.
Bingley looked at the two and shook his head as he scooped up his youngest son. “Come along, both of you. Let us go see Fitzwilliam and learn what was truly said.”
The small group crossed the lawn to join the others who stood together near the area they had previously designated as the pitch. As they drew closer, they could see Janet standing with her arms folded across her chest and a cross expression upon her countenance. Bingley was immediately struck by her resemblance to her mother and fought the urge to laugh at her distress.
“But I already know how to bowl; Papa and Mama showed me.” Janet’s lower lip protruded as she blinked furiously to keep her tears at bay.
Richard looked up in time to see his youngest son’s matching petulant expression, and hear Bingley’s defeated moan as young Thomas struggled to be free of his father’s arms.
Shrugging his shoulders the General attempted a smile. “I simply offered to teach Charlie and William how to bowl while the others enjoyed a treat in the shade.”
“I want to learn to bowl too, Pa.” Richie’s brows angled downward as he moved beside Janet and matched his older cousin’s stance.
“You’re too little!” Charlie glared at the young boy.
Completely flabbergasted, Bingley and Richard glanced about. Jane had returned to the house with the infants, and their hosts remained ignorant of the storm brewing amongst the remaining children. The Bingleys’ nurse, Miss Flanders; the Darcys’ nurse, Mrs. Southerland; and Mrs. Hampton had been given the day off and had chosen to visit Lambton with O’Toole as their escort. There was no sign of reinforcements on the horizon, and they were at a loss for how to stop the melee that threatened to erupt.
“Janet,” a soft voice came from behind them. “Since you already know how to bowl, you do not need further instruction from the General. Allow him to focus on Charlie and William as he has offered.”
“But Aunt Mary, I could help him.”
Nodding her head, Mary glanced at young Richie who was clearly becoming more upset. “I did not say you could not participate. I believe you would do very well assisting Richie.”
Richie’s eyes widened. “But I want Pa to teach me, not a girl!”
“I will have you know my sister, Lizzy, is one of the best bowlers I have seen, Richie.” She neglected to tell the young boy she had seen only four bowlers, and two of them had little talent for the game. “Janet learned from both her father and mother. You saw Mr. Darcy bowling earlier. Would you not wish to bowl like him?”
Cocking his head to one side and squinting into the sun which shone behind her, Richie looked at Mary as he considered her words. Suddenly, he nodded his head. “Very well, Mistress Mary. Janet may teach me to bowl.”
“Come along, Richie,” Janet said as she took up a ball. After glancing over her shoulder at the older boys, she lifted her nose in the air and turned toward a patch of lawn away from the blankets. “You shall be the best bowler in the family.”
Mary turned to the remaining group. “Charles, you appear to be in need of refreshment. A new supply of lemonade has just arrived from the house. I believe Patience, Beth, Franny, and Thomas would also enjoy a glass.” Mary looked at the young children gathered about her skirts. “Perhaps there is a bit of cake remaining as well.”
A cheer went up from the quartet as they ran as fast as their little legs could carry them toward the serving table which had been set up to one side.
“Thank you, Mary,” Bingley sighed as he followed behind them.
“Yes, thank you,” a mischievous gleam entered Richard’s eye, “Mistress Mary. However did my son come to call you such?”
“It’s from the rhyme, Papa.” William shook his head as he and Charlie picked up balls and moved toward Janet and Richie.
“You have forgotten your nursery rhymes, Richard?” Georgiana tsked as she looped arms with Mary and turned to follow the others back to the blankets.
Richard laughed and began a slow run toward the older boys. “Come away from there, Charlie. Leave Richie and Janet be; they are doing very well without your assistance.” He motioned for them to join him on the pitch and began his instructions.
***********
“Blast!” Bingley cursed as he wiped the port from his coat. Still laughing, he decided to set the glass upon the table before another mishap might pursue.
Richard chuckled as he eyed his cousin. “You did not hear
a word of it, Darce? I began to think Richie would challenge young Charlie to a duel. I fear I may have a pugilist on my hands.”
“Thank Providence for Mary. Jane was nowhere to be seen, and I doubt Fitzwilliam and I could have handled the lot had they turned on us.” Bingley took up his glass again and lifted it in toast to his sister.
“Mary, you say?” Darcy chuckled as he imagined the scene which had played out while he slept. “I begin to question how we did without her for so long.” He winked at Richard. “Of course that was before we had three families of children residing under the same roof.”
“And whose brilliant idea was it to give the nurses the day off?” Richard asked exasperatedly.
Darcy glanced at Bingley before they both turned back to his cousin in surprise. “I believe it was yours, Richard. You suggested their parents were sufficient to entertain the children at a picnic.”
Colouring, Richard thought over the events of the previous days. “So I did.”
In an attempt to keep his demons at bay and make up for time lost, he had decided to spend as much of it with his children as possible. He had taken tea in the nursery the day before, listening as they told him of their lessons. It became clear the nurses enjoyed his visit as he distracted at least three of the ten children in their care, and he decided it was only right to treat them to a holiday while the family was at leisure the following day.
“It was well deserved if they must deal with situations such as this on a daily basis,” he justified his decision.
“True, but could we not scatter them next time so that we retain one or two in the home?” Bingley asked as he laughed again. “I was never so thankful to see their return, and I believe they anticipated it. I swear Mrs. Southerland was laughing at us, not the children, as they made their way to the nursery.”
“I would not doubt it,” Darcy said as he stood. “But I believe it is time to join our ladies in the music room. I understand Lizzy and Mary have been working on a duet, and I wish for my wife to retire early again this evening. Lucinda is very demanding and Lizzy refuses to allow me to hire a wet nurse. If her constitution was not what it is, I would insist it be done.”
“Guard her health well, Darcy. If you do not see a change, hire the wet nurse and accept your wife’s displeasure.” Standing, Richard finished his drink and turned toward the door.
Darcy cursed himself under his breath as he too finished his drink and followed his cousin. He exchanged a repentant glance with Bingley as he passed.
“I would not raise Lizzy’s ire unnecessarily,” Bingley said as he shook his head. “Jane was most displeased when Mrs. Bennet hired a wet nurse for Charlie without her knowledge. I believe it is the only time my angelic wife ordered her mother from the house.”
The others paused, surprised by Bingley’s statement. “Jane?” Darcy asked as he turned to look at Richard. “Forgive me, but I do not believe I have heard this tale.”
“No, I doubt you have,” Bingley replied. “Lizzy was entering confinement about that time. Both Jane and her sister were very upset they were unable to be together for their first births.”
Darcy nodded as he thought back six years. He had been exceedingly anxious for Elizabeth and had refused to allow her to travel to Hertfordshire, though her mother and sisters were there. She had not spoken to him until she heard Jane was well and had delivered a son.
“I remember now. Mrs. Bennet arrived at our doorstep days ahead of her expected date. We thought it strange; but when Lizzy began to labour early, we determined it was Providence.”
“Yes, Mr. Bennet had been witness to Jane’s distress and, knowing his wife would not relinquish her arguments, thought it better to send her on to Derbyshire ahead of schedule rather than risk Jane’s wellbeing.” Bingley finished his drink. “Possibly it was Providence which caused it all. It was the first time I realized my wife did indeed have a temper, and I would be wise to stay on her good side.”
“The first time?” Richard asked, a glint of amusement returning to his eye.
“Yes, well,” Bingley stood to join them. “That is a story you shall not hear from my lips.” He continued past them and exited the room.
Darcy and Richard exchanged an amused glance before following their friend.
Chapter Nine
Life at Pemberley continued quietly for a fortnight, the residents settling into a serene routine. Shortly after the picnic, the Bingleys had returned home to Branston Manor, leaving a welcomed peace behind them. Though Elizabeth loved her time with Jane, Charlie’s mischievous ways were tiring to all; and his determination to completely exclude little Richie resulted in rows which wreaked havoc upon the nursery.
True to his word, Richard had spent each day in a productive manner which allowed him to fall into his bed at night too exhausted to do naught but sleep. He divided his time between his children, the stables, and Darcy’s study where they researched the profitability of breeding horses.
“If you start small, I believe you shall not put too great a strain on your coffers, Richard.” Darcy pushed the latest tally sheet across the desk to his cousin. He bit his tongue before renewing his offer to assist in the expenses, knowing he would be refused yet again.
Richard read over the figures as he slowly nodded his head. “Do you know of a property this size which would suit and not set me back more than necessary? A mere farm would suffice for me but, being the son of an earl, I must think of my children’s futures.”
“I shall write to my solicitor and have him begin a search. There is always a peer in some need of money who might be convinced to relinquish a bit of land for a good price in order to rescue his family name or reputation.” Darcy took up his pen and pulled a fresh sheet of stationery before him.
A knock at the door paused his hand, and he called out permission to enter. His butler stepped into the room holding a silver salver.
“I thought the mail had arrived earlier,” Darcy said as he stood to accept the letter.
“It had, sir. This express just arrived for General Fitzwilliam.”
Hearing his name, Richard’s head rose from his study of the documents before him. “For me?” He stood, crossed the room, and took up the missive. With one look, he recognized the writing and waved the servant away. “Thank you, Braxton.”
“Forgive me, sir, but the messenger has been instructed to await your reply.”
Richard’s brow drew together. “Very well. I will send for you when it is prepared.”
The butler nodded as he bowed and left the room. Darcy watched his cousin as he studied the letter, not yet opening it.
“What could it be, Richard?”
“It is from James.” Taking a deep breath, he broke the seal and quickly read the letter, feeling his face redden and his heart beat faster as he progressed. Finally, after reading it through a second time, he flung the offending paper at his cousin. “It appears my brother is summoning me to Matlock.”
Angered by James’s high handed manners, Richard paced the length of the study while Darcy read the missive. “It has come to my attention …”
“Of course he means Lady Matlock’s attention,” Richard muttered.
“That you have been living off the generosity of our cousin.” Darcy continued to read how this had been deemed unacceptable, and Richard was instructed to remove his family from Pemberley immediately and bring them to Matlock where they could ‘rest within in the bosom of their family.’
“Matlock is but a day’s ride, Richard,” Darcy said as he watched his cousin. “Perhaps we could ride over to see James …”
“It is not James, Darce; you know that. That witch he married no more wants me and my children in her home than she would want a case of plague, but someone has indicated our being here does not reflect favourably upon her. I shall not uproot my children when they are finally feeling settled, just to drag them to my brother’s home where they would be hidden away in the nursery and forbidden to step foot below stairs.”
“You must respond to him, Richard, but you need not comply with his wishes.”
“Wishes? Do you not mean demands?” Richard turned and crossed to the desk where he retrieved the letter. Holding it as though it bore the very plague he had earlier mentioned, he read aloud. “As the head of the Fitzwilliam family, it falls to me to see that we maintain the expectations set before us by our mother and father, God rest their souls. Having found yourself in such dire straits as to feel the need to seek assistance, it wounds me that you turned to a distant cousin and not your elder brother. Whatever shall be said amongst the ton? How shall I address it when I return to Parliament in the fall?”
Releasing it, he watched as the paper fluttered down onto the desk. “The unmitigated gall of the man, to call you a ‘distant’ cousin! As though we had not spent as much of our youths at Pemberley as we did at Matlock.” He shook his head. “Oh, I shall answer him, but I shall not do so in writing.”
Crossing to the bell pull, he yanked it and returned to his seat to gather his things while Darcy sat quietly watching him. When the knock came at the door, Richard called out for the butler to enter.
Braxton entered, flashing a slightly confused look at his master who simply nodded toward the General. “Sir?”
“Braxton, I will be accompanying the messenger back to Matlock. Please see to his comfort while I prepare and have the stables ready two fresh mounts for us.”
Glancing once more toward Darcy who nodded again with an amused grin upon his lips, Braxton bowed and left to do as he was instructed.
“I see you do not wish my interference, Richard, so I will remain at Pemberley. I assume you shall stay the night at Matlock?”