Page 29 of Pemberley's Imposter
“Those days are long past, Richard. He pleaded for money after he married Lydia, but it has been a twelvemonth since I last tossed a letter from him into the fire,” Darcy declared firmly. He had left Wickham in no doubt that his coffers were closed to him for all eternity.
The cousins fell into silent contemplation, though on different subjects. Darcy assumed Wickham was no longer a threat. It had been a long time since he had kept any surveillance on his old friend, but according to the last report he had received, the man had adapted to his new life in Newcastle. If he had made a muddle of it, he was on his own this time.
What Darcy wanted to speak to his cousin about, he could not. He refused to evict his sister from her home, but the toll of keeping up appearances was grating on him. Adept as he was at concealing his emotions, the act had gone on too long. The effort was boring a hole in his stomach, but he had set his course, and the past could not be changed.
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Elizabeth restored her equilibrium with a frolic in the garden with her daughter before dinner. Ellie slept more easily when her energy was spent. Elizabeth preferred her to be asleep before she left her for the dining room.
Why Mr Darcy insisted she had to be present was still a mystery. Mrs Fitzwilliam occasionally included her in the conversation, but she was more often than not entirely disregarded. Elizabeth listened and sometimes gleaned useful tidbits, like this evening, when Georgiana said she wished to go shopping in Lambton. Mr Darcy took umbrage at that but was immediately mollified by the colonel’s insistence he would accompany her. Georgiana was delighted, while Mr Darcy seemed content with the arrangement. Elizabeth thought theconversation was somewhat peculiar, but since no one told her anything of import, she indulged herself with the knowledge she could relax her stance against the colonel when he was not present. A longer ramble into the woods with her daughter was settled upon. She dared not walk too far from the security of Pemberley’s footmen whilst the officer was in residence.
The next morning, Elizabeth ordered a basket of victuals for their sojourn into the wilds of Derbyshire. She was not familiar with the area beyond the formal gardens, and she could not expect Ellie to walk far. The top of the hill behind the house looked like a suitable destination. They should be safe on the well-trodden paths whilst secluded enough to afford the solitude she craved. With their sustenance secured, Elizabeth joined her relatives in the breakfast parlour.
Mrs Fitzwilliam invited Elizabeth to accompany her to Lambton, but she declined politely, excusing herself with her daughter’s education. Mr Darcy took it as a cue to look for a governess. That had not been Elizabeth’s intention at all; Ellie had not even reached her second birthday, and she could teach her everything she needed to know at this point.
Soon enough the party dissolved without further mention of a governess. Mr and Mrs Fitzwilliam approached their carriage while Mr Darcy disappeared in the direction of his study. Elizabeth fetched her daughter from the nursery, giving the nurse two hours off, and collected the basket of food from the kitchen. Holding hands, mother and daughter were strolling towards the cascading waters when a footman approached them. Elizabeth groaned; he was probably sent by Mr Darcy to prohibit their excursion to the hill.
“Mrs Darcy!” the footman called breathlessly.
Elizabeth halted in her tracks and reluctantly turned to face her pursuer.
“Mrs Darcy! Where are you going?”
“I am taking my daughter to the top of the hill for a picnic.”
Elizabeth looked defiantly at the footman, who wore an aghast expression.
“Then let me accompany you, ma’am. ’Tis rather a long walk on unfamiliar grounds.”
It did not appear as though the man had been sent by Mr Darcy, or he would surely have ordered them to turn around by now.
“There is no need for that, Jonathan, we are perfectly capable of following the path.”
Elizabeth contemplated for a second revealing how competent she was at managing her affairs on her own, but the servants had enough reasons to disdain her as it was. She silently wondered how his expression would change if she admitted to chopping wood and carrying water.
“I do not think Mr Darcy would approve,” Jonathan persisted.
“I take full responsibility, Jonathan. If Mr Darcy disapproves, I shall explain it was my decision.”
The footman nodded reluctantly and watched as Elizabeth and Ellie continued along the path. Soon, they were concealed by a dense thicket, much to Elizabeth’s relief. It was to be hoped that the servant had returned to the house now that they could no longer be seen.
Ellie was an accomplished walker, like her mother. She did not walk fast but she had the stamina of youth and enthusiasmfor exploring whatever lay round the bend. Beetles, worms, and a squirrel in a tree kept her so engrossed that she did not notice the length of the journey. But she was rather worn out by the time they reached the summit; it had been a longer route than Elizabeth had anticipated.
After their meal had been consumed on a throw the cook had added to the basket, Ellie fell asleep with her head resting in her mother’s lap. Elizabeth relished the quietude and combed her fingers through her daughter’s natural ringlets. Peace fell upon her, listening to the birds, gazing out over the lake and the fields of quivering barley. Elizabeth sat with her back turned to the house on purpose. She felt no need to gaze upon the beautiful but suffocating chambers of torture. She would accept many whippings to be allowed to leave with her daughter afterwards.
Elizabeth shrugged off her maudlin thoughts and reclined on the throw. She pulled her daughter up into the crook of her arm and let her eyes rest for a while.
She must have fallen asleep because she was jolted awake by the quivering earth and thunder-like sounds. She sat up abruptly. Ellie protested and curled up in her lap, not entirely awake yet. Elizabeth looked up at a clear blue sky.
Slowly, her mind followed her body’s awareness and realised the sound was not thunder but fast approaching hoofs pounding on the ground. The horse skidded to a halt behind her, and a heavy thump revealed the rider had dismounted. Elizabeth stiffened and braced herself for the colonel to appear in her line of vision. She would not show her trepidation by turning to meet him. Her relief was substantial when it was Mr Darcy who rounded her throw. He did not look pleased though.
“Where is Jonathan? Where is he hiding?”
Elizabeth looked at her husband, bewildered.
“I have no idea. I left him at the bottom of the hill. He must have returned to the house by now.”
“Do not lie to me, Mrs Darcy. I saw him following you stealthily at a distance. Now, where is he?”
