Page 85 of The Heroic Mr Darcy's Bad Manners
“Indeed,” she chuckled in the crook of his arm. Such a promise was impossible to keep.
June 1816
Little Anne Francine Darcy had surprised them all by waiting the entirety of a fortnight after Georgiana’s wedding to make her appearance. By the time of his daughter’s birth, Fitzwilliam Darcy believed his family to be complete. It was a known fact that within the Darcy family one was blessed with a son and a daughter, nothing more, though nothing less. Therefore, when an invitation to Lydia’s wedding arrived, he opened it with a more composed demeanour than on previous occasions.
Elizabeth watched him read the missive, then saw him pause, then reread the same sentence over and over again.
“I believe my eyesight is failing. Would you read this for me?” he enquired of his wife.
“Certainly, my dear.”
He handed her the letter with a mien suggesting it contained something particularly distasteful. He pointed at a line, and Elizabeth read it aloud.
“Lady Lydia Bennet of Glentworth to Captain George Wickham. Was that all, dear?”
“It cannot be one and the same. Pray tell me it is not my father’s godson who has imposed upon our family?”
“Oh! They have already wed.” She tried to divert him, but he was like a dog with a bone and only glared at her. “They were married over the anvil at Gretna Green, but my mother is pretending it never happened and is inviting us to what I suspect will not be a simple affair. After Mary and Kitty’s extravagant weddings, she will want Lydia’s to outdo them both.”
“So, he has succeeded in seducing an heiress at last. I am shocked, and grieved I did not have the wherewithal to send him to prison after Ramsgate, at the very least.”
She lowered the letter into her lap. “I am not so certain. Lydia seems to be a willing bride. When the militia moved to Brighton, Mr Wickham was transferred to the navy where he rose quickly in rank and won a substantial sum in prize money. By my father’s account, he is now quite wealthy in his own right, and Lydia’s fortune is tied up in such a way that he cannot withdraw from the principal.”
“You cannot possibly suggest we should attend?”
“I think we must. If only to assure ourselves there is affection between them. Though I suppose even that is too late since they have been wed these three weeks, which may already have had consequences…”
She looked intently at her husband, who immediately understood her meaning.
“I suppose I should be grateful you are not heavy with child this time, or you would surely have delivered during the service.”
When Elizabeth did not immediately laugh at his jest, he eyed her suspiciously. “I hope you were not affronted by my poor joke?” he gently enquired.
“Not at all. I am excessively diverted, first and foremost because you have quite mistaken the matter.”
“Surely not…”
“Would it be so strange? It can hardly come as a surprise…”
Elizabeth raised one eyebrow and let her eyes roam his body in a suggestive manner.
“But…” he stuttered. “No one ever begets more than two children?”
“Do they not?”
“Not a Darcy. May I remind you that even your father had but one sister.”
“How can I forget? But we were just speaking about Lydia. ThefifthBennet sister…”
Darcy rose abruptly and hauled her to her feet. “If you have gained any weight, I cannot detect it.”
“It is too soon to be marked, but there is a tiny bump here.” Elizabeth grabbed his hand and placed it atop the small swell.
Darcy added a slight pressure, and his eyes widened before he laughed and twirled her around.
“Have I told you lately how amazing you are?”
“Not for the last half hour.” She smiled. “Are you pleased?”
