had left him weak at the knees.
The result was that he followed her into Kent and badly botched the whole affair. As he walked to the parsonage, he practiced what he would say to her and thought that if an opportunity arose, he might even drop a hint that there was more to him than he was at liberty to disclose at that time. But when he went into the parlor and saw her sitting in front of a window, with its light creating an aura outlining her beautiful features, he forgot every line he had rehearsed. Instead, he concluded that it did not matter what he said. He was a werewolf, and this lovely creature would run away when she learned of his other incarnation. Instead of professing his love for her, he had presented her with a list of reasons why he should
A few months after his bungled proposal, Elizabeth came to Pemberley on the very morning of his return to human form. It was a glorious day, and after escorting Nell to the rendezvous point, he had decided to take a walk in the gardens. As he entered the lower gardens, there she was, sitting on a bench without her bonnet but with her eyes closed and her face pointed toward the sun. When she opened her eyes and found him staring at her, she jumped up from the bench and hurriedly returned her bonnet to its rightful place. He sensed her embarrassment, but he sensed something else as well. The message given out by her scent was unmistakable. She wanted him to take her in his arms and kiss her, and once again, he had reason to hope.
After her return to Hertfordshire, he had paid a call on her at Longbourn, which had gone very well, and with each subsequent visit, her scent and the way she moved her body let him know that she would be receptive to another offer of marriage, that is, if he were human. But between his monthly transformations and going to Northumberland and arranging for transportation for the she wolf and her pups, he had not seen her at all during the month of June. In July, he was in Scotland attending the gathering, and then Rupert had arrived at Pemberley. Although he had written a number of letters to her during their separation, when he had asked if she had received them, she said nothing more than, “Yes, they were properly addressed.” Clearly, she had judged them to be unsatisfactory.
“Which reminds me that I must remember to write to Elizabeth and Georgiana before I leave Scotland,” he said out loud, and after locating a writing desk where he could perform such a task, his thoughts returned to Lizzy.
It was Anne who had finally convinced him to reveal to Elizabeth his other incarnation, and it was a good thing that she had. When he arrived at Longbourn, Elizabeth was so annoyed at him for his peripatetic habits that if he had not had a plan in place, he believed that she would have shown him the door. As it turned out, Anne’s scheme to reveal his lupine nature at Pemberley worked brilliantly, and the strength of his love eventually won her over.
If only he knew what was happening at Pemberley. Considering the circumstances under which he had been called away, he believed that he had done the right thing by providing her with an opportunity to change her mind. But would she take it? He dearly wished to know what was happening in Derbyshire. He would arrive at Pemberley shortly before the next full moon, but would Elizabeth be there to witness it?
Chapter 20
During the last few days, Lizzy had been watching Anne de Bourgh for any sign that her health might be affected by all the emotional upheaval at Pemberley. During the carriage ride to Ashton Hall, Anne had contributed little to the conversation, stating that she preferred to listen to Georgiana speak of her debut or Lizzy’s answers to her cousin’s many questions about life at Longbourn. There was also a slowness in her movements that was a sign of fatigue, so when the weather went from dreary to dismal and the rains came, Lizzy suggested that they remain at Ashton Hall so that Anne could rest, and rest she did.
The first day after their arrival, Anne did not come downstairs until one o’clock in the afternoon, and Georgiana teased her cousin that she was picking up her bad habits. The second day was a repeat of the first, and it was then that Lizzy realized why Anne felt comfortable keeping to her bedchamber and foregoing playing cards after dinner. A weight had been lifted off her shoulders because Lady Marguerite was now in charge.
Although Lizzy thought Lady Marguerite was an absolute jewel, she greatly intimidated Georgiana with her outspoken opinions.
“Aunt Marguerite wants me to be strong like Aunt Catherine, but not bossy. Assertive like she is, but not scary. A good hostess like Lady Helen, but not to be like her in any other way. Oh, and one more thing, she said that I should never marry anyone who is prettier than I am. Of course, she was referring to Jeanne and Mr. Wimbley.”
The much maligned Mr. Wimbley had departed that morning to visit a relative who had suddenly taken ill. As Aunt Marguerite had explained it, “Once he realized that I would not stay in the dragon’s den, which is how he refers to my suite of rooms, he hightailed it to his brother’s house in High Wycombe, and Jeanne went with him to make sure he was visiting his brother and not someone else.”
“I do not think Lady Marguerite had a very happy marriage,” Lizzy suggested as a reason for her harsh treatment of her son-in-law.
“Oh, I know she did not,” Georgiana said. “She made that quite plain when I asked how long Lord Ashton had been gone. She said that he had died ten years ago, but added, ‘He had a heart attack brought on by… Oh, never mind, you are too young. Just let me put it this way, he did not die alone.’” Lizzy tried to suppress a smile, but Georgiana noticed. “I know I am young, but even so, I understood what she was talking about. I think it is awful when one’s spouse is unfaithful. I do so hope that I shall marry someone who will be faithful to me. I want to be deeply in love with my husband and he with me.”
So do I, Lizzy thought.
After a five-day visit, Anne announced that she was prepared to resume her journey but hoped that she would be able to have a full day’s rest at either Netherfield Park or Longbourn before going into Kent. Lizzy thought of the palatial Rosings Park and decided that Netherfield Park was the better choice—at least for Anne, and when Lizzy suggested to Georgiana that she stay with Jane as well until Anne had departed, Georgiana agreed. In that way, Lizzy would have time to speak with her mother, and she knew what her first question would be. “Are you engaged to be married to Mr. Darcy?” When she answered no, the inquisition would begin.
Although Lizzy had only been gone for two weeks, she felt as if she had been away from Hertfordshire for a month, and Jane hugged her as if she had been absent a year. Despite the short interval, Jane, now in her fifth month, had blossomed in her sister’s absence, and there was no longer any way to conceal her pregnancy. The proud father came bounding into the room, greeting everyone with his irrepressible cheerfulness.
Lizzy was easily convinced to stay the night at Netherfield Park. She would delay her mother’s probing questions as long as possible, but Jane was equally curious about recent events and visited with her sister in her room after everyone had retired.
“Lizzy, I do not know what to make of your short visit to Pemberley. You seem to be in good spirits, but I suspect if there was an announcement to be made that I would already know of your engagement to Mr. Darcy because you would be unable to contain your joy.”
An announcement? Was there anything to announce, Lizzy wondered. Mr. Darcy’s chilling words before leaving for Scotland continued to echo in her mind: “Please know that you owe me nothing. You are not bound to me.” Unsure of her future with the master of Pemberley, Lizzy chose to remain silent.
“Mr. Darcy and I are not engaged,” Lizzy said in a quiet voice. “He was called away on a family emergency, and since Miss de Bourgh’s health became a concern, it was decided that we should leave Pemberley. But once Anne departs for Rosings, Miss Darcy will come and stay at Longbourn.”
“Oh my! Won’t that be interesting? The mistress of Pemberley will be staying at our humble abode,” Jane said, laughing, but then she asked, “What happened with Mr. Darcy? I thought the purpose of his inviting you to Pemberley was so that he could propose at the Darcy ancestral estate.”
“I am afraid things got off to a rather bad start. We both have strong temperaments, and we quarreled. However, it had the effect of clearing the air, and after that, my visit was quite pleasant. But then he had to leave. And I can see you are looking for more information, but I have nothing else to share.”
