“None that I know of. However, there are gentlemen of French, German, and Swedish origin in the various packs near the Welsh border. In the spring, I want you to go to Herefordshire and visit with Mrs. Evesham, and she will see that you are properly introduced to those gentlemen of suitable rank and age.”
“Must I marry?”
“If you are asking me if I am ordering you to take a husband, the answer is no. However, the decision whether to marry a human or a werewolf has been taken away from you. I cannot risk your being careless with your husband’s relations, so you must marry a fellow lupine, that is, if you choose to marry. But you are of a most agreeable temperament, and you are usually kind. I know that you have taken great care with your brothers and sisters, and so I imagine that you would want to marry.”
“Yes, of course. I would want to marry and have a family.”
“Then, as I have said, you will go to Herefordshire. In the meantime, I shall write up the reprimand, and you must sign it after daybreak.”
“Yes, I shall do that. Is there anything else you want to talk to me about?” Nell knew that Mr. Darcy had every right to tear into her for trying to sabotage his relationship with Elizabeth Bennet, and now that she understood he had never wanted her, she was overwhelmed by a sense of remorse.
“No, that is all I have to say. My power over you extends only to matters pertaining to the lupine community. A discussion of personal matters would be inappropriate.”
“Mr. Darcy, I am so sorry,” Nell said with tears pouring down her face. “I only wanted to…”
“I believe you, so we will say no more about it. I shall see you at nightfall. Since this is the first bad weather we have experienced this autumn, and with only the two of us to hunt, we probably will have to be satisfied with small animals.”
“I can ask my father to tie up a goat or a sheep, if you would like.”
“You may, but do not do it on my account. It is no hardship for me to go without food for only two days. When I was at Hudson Bay, there were occasions when the only things available were berries and bugs, so I shall survive.”
Nell grimaced, and Darcy knew that during their time in the wild they would be eating goat meat or mutton. But it did not matter. He had no appetite. Between Nell and Rupert, he had lost Elizabeth. So immediately after daybreak, he would leave for Hertfordshire to bring Georgiana home and to have one last look at the woman he loved.
Chapter 23
Darcy was so weary that his muscles ached, and every bump in the road to Hertfordshire caused him to wince. But he wasn’t the only one. Mercer, who was sitting across from him sleeping, was feeling unwell but had refused to remain behind at Pemberley. Metcalf was exhibiting the same stubbornness. Darcy had tried to convince the man that his son was capable of driving a carriage on a well-traveled road between Derbyshire and Hertfordshire. But Metcalf disagreed, and so he had two Metcalfs sitting in the driver’s seat. Darcy wondered what he would do when these faithful servants, as well as Jackson, Mrs. Reynolds, and Mrs. Bradshaw, retired from his service. A worry for another day.
When he arrived at Netherfield Park, he was warmly greeted by Bingley, but then his friend always acted as if he had just got a new puppy. Being of a mercurial temperament himself, Darcy did not understand how Charles could be so even tempered all the time. Mrs. Bingley, however, was another matter. There was a coolness in her reception, and what, pray tell, did that mean? But he was too tired to probe. That evening he excused himself, citing fatigue, but he also wanted Mercer to retire, and as long as Darcy was up and about the man would not do that. An exasperated Darcy told his valet that his nursery maid had not hovered as much as he did, but it made no difference.
The next morning, an unshaven Darcy went to the stables and asked the groom to saddle Montcalm, Bingley’s favorite horse. Because Charles had tamed the unruly animal himself, he wanted Darcy to ride him so that he might see what a wonderful mount he was, and this was the perfect morning to do that—clean, crisp, with a layer of hoarfrost on everything. Before speaking to Elizabeth, he needed to clear his head of the detritus that had accumulated there. Maybe he was misinterpreting what Elizabeth meant when she said that her conversation with Nell had “changed everything.” Was it possible that it was a change for the better?
Forgetting about his scruffy appearance, he headed for Longbourn. He would know by her welcome if there were clear skies ahead or a storm on the horizon because Elizabeth was incapable of concealing her emotions. Her eyes, the way she moved her body, her scent revealed everything, and he pictured himself sitting in the Bennet’s parlor drinking a hot cup of tea on this cold morning. While conversing with Elizabeth about all that had happened in Scotland, he would learn if she had reconsidered his offer of marriage. Hopefully, the visit would end with his asking Mr. Bennet for his daughter’s hand in marriage.
A well-rested Lizzy came to the breakfast room full of vim and vigor and ready to take on a new day. Mr. Darcy’s note had been liberating. He wrote that all was well, and so she wished him well. No more worries on that account. If the gentleman decided to marry Lady Helen, he would have a pretty wife and handsome children. Hopefully, they would inherit his intelligence, but that would be none of her concern. Besides, it was better this way. It made sense for Mr. Darcy to marry a she wolf, because if he did not, he would eventually face nightfall alone as Nell would marry and leave Granyard Hall, and Teddy, who had indicated that he would not be content remaining a groom, would want to take on something more challenging. No, this was definitely better for everyone.
The previous day, Mr. Hill and his sons had cut off the lower branches of some pine trees so that the Bennets could decorate their parlor with evergreens. For the wreaths and garlands, he had also cut some sprigs of greenery with its red berries from the holly bushes. This was something the Bennet sisters usually did a little later in Yuletide, but Lizzy was eager to get started and enlisted Kitty and Georgiana’s assistance.
Mary had resisted all pleas from her sisters for her participation. It wasn’t until Georgiana asked her to join them that she finally agreed. Because Mary held Georgiana in such high regard, Miss Darcy had succeeded in convincing the third Bennet daughter to stop practicing her vocals so that she might concentrate on improving her fingering on the pianoforte. “So few people can do justice to both,” Georgiana had told Mary. “I am of a mind that I would prefer to do one thing superbly than two things adequately.” The Bennet family would forever be in Miss Darcy’s debt.
The four ladies put on heavy leather gloves and coats with patches and were handed knives by Mr. Hill. Having been surrounded by servants since her infancy, Georgiana had never done anything like this, but the enthusiastic young miss stated that she hoped to start such a tradition at Pemberley.
Everyone had been working for about an hour when Kitty noticed that a rider had just turned into the drive. “Maybe it is an express rider.”
“Oh, I hope not. An express rider never brings good news,” Mary said, thinking of the rider who had brought them news of Lydia’s supposed elopement with George Wickham.
Although Georgiana did not recognize the horse, she did recognize the rider. “It is William. It is my brother.” She handed her knife to Kitty and ran down the drive to meet him. Darcy immediately dismounted and gave his sister a hug.
“You look wonderful, Georgie. Your cheeks are rosy, but so is your nose.” He tweaked it, making her laugh.
“Is everything all right? How is Teddy?” They started to walk toward the house.
“Teddy is fine. He will stay with Rupert for a while, but then he will be back at Pemberley.”
“Oh, Will, I am so happy to hear that everything went well. Would you mind if I went inside and gave Mrs. Brotherton the good news? She has been so worried about Teddy.”
“Of course. Besides, I want to talk to Miss Elizabeth, so take your time.”
As soon as Lizzy saw Mr. Darcy, she froze. Why had he not written to say when he was coming to Longbourn? Because she knew she would be working outside, she had not seen to her morning toilette. With her hair in a braid and with curls popping out every which way and wearing a patched coat, she looked like something
