Page 24 of Compromise & Consequence
“My brother James loved that book. Next to theHoly Bible, theArt of Warwas his most treasured possession.”
“I have both packed in my trunk and feel exactly the same.”
“Next to Lizzy Izzy?”
Elizabeth smiled at the reference to the treasured doll her dear Papa had given her before he left so many years ago.
“Yes, she is safely tucked away in my trunk.”
“If James and Isabella could only see how well you have grown up. I know they would be troubled over the way your marriage has come about, but of you, as a person, they would be so proud.”
“My biggest regret is the harsh fact I am not marrying for love. It was my deepest wish to have a marriage like my parents.”
“Did I ever mention your parents very nearly did not get married?”
“No.”
“As you know, your grandfather de Cortez was an important man with great plans for his only daughter. Plans which didnotinclude the second son of a gentleman in England. Although James was wealthy in his own right as captain of a ship, he still fell far below the social ring your mother traveled in Spain. And yet my brother persevered. You have the same tenacity as your father – and of your mother. Isabella went against her father’s wishes and pushed to marry James. Thankfully, de Cortez relented and he never regretted them having a beautiful daughter of their own.”
“I barely remember him. I was twelve when he last visited. He was tall and swarthy, so very aristocratic.”
“Aye. He scared Fanny into good behavior for those two months. It was his greatest wish to see you married, unfortunately, he died before that came about.”
“I do miss his letters.” She turned her focus back to her upcoming nuptials. “I sent a note to Hertford House, informing the ambassador of my marriage. José and Sophia will be surprised, I am sure by the news, but details are required to update the royal archive. I also let them know I could no longer accompany them to Spain this summer.”
“I wonder what the high and mighty Darcy will think when hefinds out he plopped a distant cousin to the Spanish King onto his estate in Derbyshire?”
“He may never know. To him, I am simply Lizzy Bennet of Hertfordshire, not Elizabeth Rose Isabella de Cortez Bennet, granddaughter of Count Frederick de Cortez of Luciana.”
“You willalwaysbe the granddaughter of a count and cousin to a king. You are well within your right to exert a little control now.”
“First, I must marry to secure the future of my cousins.The whole secret lies in confusing the enemy so that he cannot fathom our real intent. I will tell my future husband all he needs to know when required. He must come to like me on my own merits, and given the amount of anger he has exhibited thus far; that will take time and patience.”
Elizabeth left her uncle’s study and made her way to the room she shared with Jane; sad this was the last time she would see her favorite cousin. She opened the door and was surprised to see her aunt seated on the bed, awaiting her. She patted the mattress and Elizabeth sat down beside her. She instinctively knew her aunt was there to give her the much-dreaded marital bed talk.
“Now, Lizzy, I know Mr. Darcy is quite upset over this whole incident, but there will come a time when he will seek your bed because he needs an heir.”
“Aunt Frances, I highly doubt that as Mr. Darcy cannot stand the very sight of me.”
“I believe he likes you far more than he lets on. I have seen his eyes follow you about the room when he thinks no one is watching.”
“He looks at me only to find fault.”
“I have seen your eyes follow him as well.”
“They do not,” she insisted and then looked down at her hands when her aunt quirked an eyebrow at her. “It is hard to miss him, he is so terribly tall.”
“I have been accused of not understanding many things, but knowing what a man thinks when he looks upon a beautiful woman is not one of them. Mr. Darcy is fascinated with you and when the time comes, you can use that fascination to smooth the angry edges of your hasty marriage.”
She then proceeded to spell out, in minute detail, what a new wife could expect in the marriage bed. For a long time after her aunt quit the room, Elizabeth was glad Mr. Darcy had no intention of laying claim to her body and was sending her to Pemberley.
Chapter Seven
The ceremony was short and not sweet. One person dared to voice an argument, but after a quelling look from the master of Pemberley, Mr. Collins retreated to the back of the chapel, leaving only the Bennet family to witness the charade of a wedding.
Kitty had managed to fix the tear and they had done their very best to smooth out wrinkles and remove stains from around the hem. Elizabeth’s reticule was filled with banknotes and she wore sturdy half boots instead of dancing slippers. But, her lack of wedding finery was the least of her worries. For now, she had to quell the rolling of her stomach and say her vows, although everything in her rebelled.
Mr. Ashbury, a man of God she had known most of her life, stood before them at the front of Longbourn Chapel, the book of Common Prayer lying open in the palms of his hands. He looked at Mr. Darcy.
