One Love - Two Hearts - Three Stories Page 17

  “Fitzwilliam Darcy, yesterday after Richard told me of your confrontation with my husband and the reasons behind that encounter, I stepped away from him for the first time in almost five and thirty years. It was not a decision easily made. Hugh has complete control of my life, with the exception of the rest of my dowry. Our home will not be comfortable ever again.” Her words softened as she gazed lovingly at the man in front of her. “You can choose to demand the respect and obedience of your sister and she will be forced to give it to you most unwillingly. That is the position in which I now find myself with your uncle. Or, you can earn her respect by working as a team with Elizabeth. Assert your authority, yes. Georgiana will not break under a firm hand. Help her to see where the course she has chosen will lead. Remind her of her foolishness. Do not coddle her or treat her as the little girl she once was. She is on the threshold of adulthood. Do you love her enough to do the hard thing, William?”

  “You know that I do.” He whispered. Then he sat up in his chair. His voice firm, he spoke. “I have heard all that you have had to say, Aunt Helen. I am deeply saddened at the situation in your home. You and Richard are always welcome to seek refuge here at Darcy House or at Pemberley. My wife and I welcome you at any time.” He looked to Elizabeth for confirmation, which she readily and gratefully gave.

  “As to this matter with Georgiana, this is not the first that I have heard of it.” He moved to sit closer to Elizabeth on the settee. Taking her hand in his, he patted the back of it without thought. “My beautiful wife endeavored to bring this very matter to my attention only last night. Instead of appreciating her insight, I arrogantly denied her charges. I see, now, that I need to rethink my response.”

  He lifted Elizabeth’s hand and kissed the back of it. She held her breath at his next words.

  “I see the wisdom in your suggestions, Aunt Helen. Georgiana will benefit from being guided by you and Elizabeth. My wife has younger sisters about the same age as Georgiana, so her experience in advising Richard and I is invaluable. We shall look for a companion who is older and experienced with girls of her age that have been…” Darcy looked for the correct term as Elizabeth mentally inserted ‘spoiled’. “… indulged. Until we find such a woman, I believe we will implement Elizabeth’s plan to expose my sister to the quality of life she would have had as Wickham’s wife.”

  Turning to Elizabeth, he gave her hand a squeeze. Whispering for her ears alone, “When we are alone, we shall discuss my attitude from last night. In the meantime, please accept my humblest apology.”

  Elizabeth saw true regret in his eyes. Those eyes were such a deep, dark brown that it was hard to tell where the brown of the iris ended and the black of the pupil began. His lashes were long and thick, framing those beautiful orbs like thick trees in a lush forest. She knew how hard it was for a man of authority and position to lower himself to seek forgiveness. How could she not welcome this with opened arms?

  “All is forgiven, my husband.” She whispered back.

  Lady Matlock watched the exchange with interest. She wondered if the couple was aware how quickly and deeply they were falling in love with each other. The countess smiled to herself, then she looked at her youngest son. What he needed was a wife who would complete him, a woman with a strong will and a big heart.

  Richard saw the look on his mother’s face and knew that whatever she was thinking was bound to affect him.

  “Richard,” She ignored the couple on the couch. “It is time you put your soldier toys away and found a wife of your own.”

  The colonel was not insulted by her comment about his career. He was aware that it was the way his mother coped with the danger she knew he faced each time he went to the continent. Richard allowed her this, but only her.

  “Certainly, mother. If I do like my always-responsible cousin here, I shall have one by the morrow. Will that suit?”

  The four of them laughed as they watched the red creeping up Darcy’s collar. He did not mind. It had been a deadly, destructive bullet they had dodged with his sister. His relief at having his Elizabeth back and a solid direction for the immediate future lightened his heart. He could only imagine what his sister would think when she found out that her life was soon to change.

  Elizabeth imagined what Georgiana would think when she found out that Darcy knew about her false tears and eavesdropping on their conversation last night for she would tell her husband when they were alone. Nothing should be hidden from him as she would not want him to act in that manner towards her. Elizabeth had always been content with her circumstances, never jealously wanting what others had. At this minute, she was exceedingly grateful she was not Miss Georgiana Darcy.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  In all of her fifteen years, Georgiana Darcy could not recall ever being so embarrassed. Richard had called at Darcy House early the next morning and demanded Georgiana ready herself for an outing. She was required to think of and pack a gift for a deserving mother of four small children. Without much thought, she pulled one of her old dresses from the back closet along with a petticoat and matching slippers. Her maid carefully packed it in a small trunk.

  She was unaware, until Richard helped her into the carriage, that her brother would be accompanying them. Georgiana briefly pondered the absence of Elizabeth but refused to ask. She was not happy with her brother’s wife. The scolding Georgiana had been given by Aunt Helen the day prior had been uncomfortable. Georgiana was certain that somehow Elizabeth had been at fault. After all, it had been Elizabeth’s sister who had suffered from Bingley’s attentions being diverted. Surely, Elizabeth was jealous of Georgiana’s connections to an earl.

  Georgiana had never before been in the part of London close to the barracks. It was rough and unkempt. She was grateful for the presence of her brother and cousin. They had stopped in front of an apartment building that seemed to have an overflow of children pouring out of the front door into the small yard. There was an absence of lawn and shrubs, the dirt dotted by clumps of weeds and broken children’s toys.

  Once inside, the first thing that assaulted Georgiana was the smell. Unwashed bodies, improperly disposed of sewage, and the smell of rotted vegetables hit her like a surging wave while she was unavoidably pressed into the hallway with the others. With the colonel in front of her and her brother behind, there was no escape. Behind William, one of the Darcy footmen carried the trunk with Georgiana’s gift.

  Mrs. Timmons was ashamed to have the Darcys in her home. There was not enough proper seating and she did not have food or tea to spare. Yet, the colonel was her husband’s commanding officer and he had requested an introduction of his ward to the household. He could not be denied.

  It had been six years since Miss Edith Wolfe, the third daughter of an impoverished country gentleman, had fallen in love with a man in a red coat. She quickly and quietly married her officer. Her life at home had prepared her for the life she would lead. Edith looked at the young girl before her and realized these men were trying to leave an impression on her. Had she been attracted to a red coat as well? No matter. The colonel was a fair man and her husband benefited greatly from serving under his authority.

  “Thank you for coming to my home. I do apologize for not being able to offer the hospitality you are used to. We live simply in our household.” The men stood as Georgiana sat next to Mrs. Timmons on the threadbare sofa.

  Georgiana could tell that the woman was educated. Her speech and manners were similar to her own. She wondered how this woman came to be in such a situation.

  “Miss Darcy, I love my husband very much and am grateful every day for the four sons we have been blessed with. It is a hard life that I have chosen. I have no maid. There are no servants to help with household chores. There is no extra money to improve our situation.” Mrs. Timmons paused, considering her words carefully. “I do not know the purpose of these gentlemen bringing you to me, but I can guess that you, too, had affection for a soldier.”

  Georgiana’s reaction was telling
. Her face flaming, she was upset with her guardians for putting her into this situation. It was so far outside her sphere that Georgiana knew not where to look.

  “The man I loved was raised a gentleman.” Georgiana responded, her chin raised a little higher in the air as she spoke. She was trying to have enough control over her voice to not give the woman a hint of the emotions she was feeling. The longer she sat in the squalid room, the angrier she got. “Our lives would have never plummeted to this level. We, the both of us, are used to finer things and would never live in such a hov-…” Georgiana stopped herself at hearing her brother’s gasp, knowing she had gone too far.

  “A hovel, miss? Is that what you meant to say?” Mrs. Timmons had a sharpness to her voice that indicated her anger had arisen as well. “Miss, pray look around you. I have no shame in my home. I am proud to be married to a good man. But, my friends and family do not visit and I am grateful. They are uncomfortable with my situation and I am unable to provide for them if they did visit. My sons will receive the benefit of my education but will never be gentlemen. They will work with their hands and always serve others. Is this what you want for your life?”

  Georgiana refused to look up at the woman addressing her. She might have acted foolishly in agreeing to elope with Wickham, but she was not ignorant. She knew that she would see a range of emotions on her brother and cousin if she were to glance at their faces; sadness, disappointment, and frustration. They had brought her to this home for her to learn a lesson and her stubbornness would not help her situation. Georgiana knew all of this, but a voice inside her begged her to take a stand, to let them, all of them know they had misjudged her. She was five and ten years old! She knew what she was about. This was so unfair!

  Georgiana stated bluntly, “It is not.”

  “Miss, if you did choose to put yourself in my shoes at this moment, what would you prepare for supper to feed these children? How would you clothe them? Where would you empty the chamber pot?” She could see Georgiana’s face pale at the thought. “My husband is the second son of a gentleman who could not afford to purchase a rank higher than lieutenant. He, too, was not raised for this life. So, these chores would be yours, and yours alone. How soon do you think your husband would tolerate your ignorance? Would you expect him to work from sun-up to sundown and then come home to care for you?”

  “No, Mrs. Timmons.”

  “Then, why would you even think of starting down this path, Miss?” She looked at the top of Georgiana’s head where it was now bowed in front of her. Noticing the drooping shoulders, Mrs. Timmons realized the young lady was finally getting the point. “This is the life of the wife of a soldier. Even officers with a higher rank live little better than this.”

  Turning to Colonel Fitzwilliam, Mrs. Timmons stated, “Colonel, Sir, I have much to tend to this morning.”

  Before the colonel could speak, Darcy did.

  “Mrs. Timmons, we thank you for allowing us into your home. None of us meant any disrespect to you or to your husband.” His sharp look turned on his sister. Mrs. Timmons took note. “It is evident that you are an excellent woman who cares deeply for the welfare of your family.” Darcy was sincere. He bowed to the lady before him and took his sister’s elbow to help her up from the sofa. “We will take up no more of your time. It has been a pleasure.”

  When Darcy bent down, he caught Georgiana’s eye, noticing the tears at the corners. He motioned to the trunk she had brought which was sitting beside the door. Next to it sat a larger basket covered with a towel.

  Georgiana did not know what to do. The dress she had packed would not fit Mrs. Timmons. After four children, the woman’s waist would never again fit in such a style. There were no daughters to use the frilly fabric and the slippers would not last more than a day on the rough wooden flood. Her face flooded with embarrassment.

  Darcy allowed his sister to feel her discomfort. He took up the basket Elizabeth had included. It was filled with bread, precious sugar, tea, fruit, and dried meat. There was a folded pile of heavy cotton and one of wool alongside threads, needles, and a dainty pair of scissors. At the bottom, he recognized a tin of Elizabeth’s favorite chocolates. He doubted the children had ever tasted such a sweet. How he appreciated his wife for the thought she put into her gift.

  Mrs. Timmons was thrilled to see the contents of the basket and realized what Georgiana had most likely done with the one she refused to reveal. “You may leave the trunk at the door and I will make sure that whatever it contains is well used and appreciated by myself or my neighbors. All of us like pretty things.”

  The Colonel had not been disappointed in Lieutenant Timmons’ wife. Her husband had been overheard bragging about her more than once and Richard could see why. She was a woman of sense and practicality. He was not disappointed in Elizabeth either. The colonel knew the value to the household of the gift the new Mrs. Darcy had sent. It would be used and savored by an appreciative family. Before they left the apartment, he saw Darcy place a stack of coins on Georgiana’s trunk. It, too, would be used wisely.

  Clearing his throat, the colonel spoke to the woman in front of him.

  “Mrs. Timmons, your husband is often heard praising you and your fine qualities to anyone who would listen. It was the reason I asked him if we could visit your home.” Though Richard came from a household where luxury was normal, he well knew the life of a typical soldier and his family. It was filled with harsh deprivation and uncertainty. A faithful, hard-working wife was a treasure at any level of society. He sincerely wished Mrs. Timmons well. “My appreciation to you both.”

  Mrs. Timmons basked in the praise from such a man. Colonel Fitzwilliam’s reputation was one of fairness and firmness. She would hold his words to her for her lifetime. She smiled behind the three of them as they walked out her door.

  Richard watched Georgiana as the carriage wound its way back to Darcy House. She had not said one word since they had walked out of the Timmons’s house. He hoped she had learned a valuable lesson and that it would serve to humble her.

  “Richard, does Mrs. Timmons’s husband serve under your command?” Darcy, too, was impressed with the sensibility of the woman.

  “He does.” Richard was quick to confirm. “However, he is not as wise as his wife. It was good that you gave the coin to her as he tends to drink. He has even been spotted with loose women when he is inebriated. It is a shame really. Some men do not appreciate what they have at home.”

  The colonel had no way of knowing that his cousin was thinking the same of himself and his wife. Certainly, he would not get drunk and chase other women. That had never been his nature. Elizabeth continued to show her worth by the hour. Darcy was grateful for her calm acceptance of his error. He was ashamed that he had not listened to her and that he had allowed his arrogance to get in his way.

  “Georgiana, what impressions did you have of Mrs. Timmons and her situation?” Richard stared at Georgiana. He would not let her off the hook. This excursion had been arranged at the prompting of his mother and Elizabeth for her benefit. It was his responsibility as her guardian to see that she learned her lesson well.

  “I am deeply embarrassed that I thought one of my dresses would please her. However, I soon realized how ill-considered it was, Richard. I am grateful Elizabeth packed something more appropriate for the family.” Georgiana’s mind was reeling. Would that truly have been the outcome if she had married George Wickham? As she had said to Mrs. Timmons, he had been raised a gentleman. “I… I never thought ahead of the wedding. I now doubt that Mr. Wickham is a man of good judgment. After all, what would he want with a wife such as me? Once my dowry was exhausted, we would have been in exactly the same situation as the Timmons and I could see how easily resentment would fester and grow— for both of us. “

  “Your thinking is correct, Georgiana.” Darcy was proud of her for reaching the right conclusion and for feeling embarrassment. It was about time! “Do you, then, feel that you are grown-up enough to wisely choose a man
for your future? What about Mr. Bingley? From your conduct at the theater, you either want him as your husband, or you wanted to take his attention from Miss Bennet. Which do you think was your motive?”

  In Georgiana’s thinking, it was a horrid question. She knew that both of her guardians did not think she was mature enough to choose a husband. She also knew that they would be appalled at her if she admitted that she wanted Bingley to admire her instead of Elizabeth’s sister. It frustrated Georgiana that she could not come up with an answer that would satisfy either of them. So, she stayed silent.

  “Your silence speaks for itself, sister.” Darcy was slowly coming to realize that he did not know his sister’s thoughts and feelings and he did not know if he wanted to. He heaved a great sigh. “I believe it goes without saying that you will not be joining Elizabeth and me in any more outings until you have a proper companion, one who can teach and train you well. I have yet to express my feelings regarding your actions this week, Georgiana.”