Mr. Darcy's Bite

bounding up to me and nudged me with his nose.”

Ah, so he has had that habit for a while, Lizzy thought.

“Of course, I started to giggle, and seeing that I was amused, he started to run around in circles and to jump over logs or in the air. This doglike creature was putting on a performance just for me, and when he stopped playing, I looked into his eyes, and I knew the animal was my brother. Obviously, there is a dramatic physical change during transformation, but the one thing that does not alter is the wolf’s eyes. You would never mistake Will for any other male wolf because of his beautiful gray-green eyes. But once I was let in on the family secret, Mama and Papa impressed upon me the importance of never telling anyone, explaining that not everyone liked wolf-men and some bad people might want to harm Will.”

“That was very clever. Your parents went about it in exactly the right way,” Lizzy said, impressed by their handling of so difficult a subject.

For another hour or so, Georgiana amused Lizzy with stories of staying with her aunts Catherine and Marguerite while her brother was in North America.

“It was a matter of choosing your poison,” Georgie said, laughing. “Except for being deprived of Anne’s company, I was actually glad when I had to go back to seminary.”

After assuring Georgiana that she had completely recovered following her tearful exhibition, Elizabeth insisted that her sister-in-law retire.

“I know you are exhausted because I am, so if you will undo the buttons on my dress, I can see to the rest.” She kissed Georgiana on the cheek. “Thank you for all you have done in making me a part of your family and in helping me to better understand your brother.”

“It will get easier. I promise,” Georgiana said, taking hold of Lizzy’s hands.

“Please stop worrying. Go to bed and forget all about my emotional display. You will not see another.” And Lizzy meant it.

*   *   *

There was nothing Lizzy wanted more than to fall into a deep sleep so that the hours would pass quickly, but after tossing and turning and turning and tossing, she left her bed, put on her robe, and after lighting another candle, she stepped into the hallway to have a closer look at her new home and the portrait gallery. Unfortunately, her little candle failed to cast enough light so that she could actually view the portraits, but there were niches containing objets d’art all along the gallery as well as on both sides of the double wrought iron staircase that were visible by candlelight.

In one niche, there was a reproduction of Laocoon and His Sons, trying to break free of sea serpents, and in another, the lovely Aphrodite of Knidos. She imagined that the elder Mr. Darcy had bought Aphrodite for his wife, and Lady Anne had purchased Laocoon for her husband, which would account for the dramatic differences in their subjects.

She was studying two glazed Chinese vases when she heard someone approaching, and she turned to find Mercer walking toward her.

“Mrs. Darcy, is there anything wrong?” he asked anxiously.

“No, not at all, Mr. Mercer. It was just that I could not sleep, and so I was admiring some of the pieces in the Darcy collection. I did not mean to wake you.”

“I’m a light sleeper, ma’am. Mr. Darcy accuses me of having a ‘mother’s hearing’ and says I worry too much. But if you are having difficulty sleeping, may I suggest a glass of sherry?”

“Yes, thank you, I would like a glass.”

“Shall we go into the study?”

After lighting some candles, Mercer immediately went to the fire, and in the ashes he found some glowing embers, and soon there was a small but sufficient blaze going.

“If you would like a drink, Mr. Mercer, please help yourself, and do sit down.”

“If you don’t mind, I’ll have something less sweet, ma’am.” He poured himself a glass of port and sat on the edge of his chair, as if being comfortable in the presence of his mistress might be viewed as being disrespectful. She hoped to put him at his ease by asking about his service to Mr. Darcy.

“Excuse me, ma’am, but you don’t have to make small talk with me. I can see that you are troubled, and all I can say is that it will get easier with each nightfall.”

“That is what Miss Darcy says as well,” she answered, her voice trailing off.

“Meaning no disrespect, ma’am, but Miss Darcy’s situation is a little different from ours. She grew up knowing what her brother was, but it wasn’t that way with me and you. First, we come to know him and then to like him and then to love him before learning of his burden, and it hurts us to see Mr. Darcy having to carry this weight on his shoulders, especially since he don’t complain about it or ask why this had to happen to him. He just goes out there once a month and does whatever is necessary to protect Lady Helen and any other wolves who might be on the property.”

“Mr. Darcy made me promise not to go out of the house at night,” Lizzy said, “but would there be any harm in going up to the glade tomorrow?”

Mercer shook his head no. “Right now, with you being newly married, he probably wants you to see him only in his human form, not as some creature of the night.”

“Yes,” Lizzy said, nodding in agreement. “I see the wisdom in your advice.” She went quiet for a moment, and another idea came to mind. “When I was last here, Mr. Darcy asked that I put a candle in the window if I was willing to accept him as he was, and I am ashamed to say that I did not do it. But I could do it tonight. I am not sure he will see it, but I would like to do it nonetheless.”

Mercer’s response was immediate. “I’ll get a candle.” After doing so, he led her to a sitting room in the front of the house which was directly over the portico. After pulling away the drapes, he said, “If you set the candle on that table, he’ll see it right away, that is, if he’s about.”

“Thank you, Mr. Mercer. You may go back to sleep. I wish to stay here for a few minutes longer.”

Lizzy went to the window carrying the candle and looked at the falling snowflakes. If the snow continued to fall at this rate, there would be several inches by morning, and she would have something to look forward to because she loved snow-covered landscapes. When the coach had turned into the Pemberley property, she had seen a great white expanse broken by denuded oaks and pine trees groaning under the weight of the newly fallen snow. She wondered if, in her role as the mistress of Pemberley and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy, she would be permitted to throw snowballs and to make snow angels as she did with her sisters. She certainly hoped so.

After one last look at the moonlit scene, she left the candle on the table and stepped away from the window, but before she reached the door, she heard a howl pierce the night. Quickly returning to the window, she waved the candle back and forth. A second howl followed, and there was nothing mournful about it.

Chapter 36

Clear skies and milder temperatures followed in the wake of the storm, and it was a perfect day to make a snowman. Elizabeth and Georgiana enlisted Mercer’s help, and the result was a fine-looking snowman with a button nose, two eyes made out of coal, and crowned with one of Mr. Darcy’s old top hats.

“It is one of William’s old hats, isn’t it?” Lizzy asked Georgiana.

“Well, it is now.” The two ladies dissolved into laughter.

The snow had proved to be the perfect antidote for Lizzy’s emotional exhaustion, and because somewhere in the woods behind her Mr. Darcy and Nell were also enjoying the snow, she was happy as well.

While building the snowman, Lizzy asked Mercer how he occupied his time when Mr. Darcy was away “doing other things.”

“Even with the master gone, there is still a lot to do, but I do have the evenings to myself. So I decided to tackle something I didn’t know anything about, and I learned how to make fishing flies. I’m proud to say that when Mr. Darcy steps into the streams hereabouts, he’s using one of my flies.”

“What a marvelous idea, Mr. Mercer. I could view Mr. Darcy’s absences as an opportunity to make improvements in those areas where I am lacking, such as riding a horse. I could also work on my French. Since I am