“He is not being very gracious to Nell,” Lizzy finally said after watching Mr. Darcy run Nell ragged.
“He never is. He is the alpha male, and he makes everyone in his pack work hard.”
“Everyone? There are others?”
“Yes. There are two werewolves who live on the property, but they are currently in Scotland. One is a groom on the estate who always demonstrates exemplary behavior, while the other is here by a special arrangement made with a titled family.” Anne’s disapproval for the visiting werewolf was apparent in her tone of voice. “But all must follow William’s lead or risk being disciplined.”
Lizzy’s attention returned to Mr. Darcy and Nell. For a man who doted on his sister and saw to her every need, he was doing an excellent job of roughing up his female hunting partner. He pounced, wrestled, broadsided, and flipped her over, but she seemed none the worse for it. In fact, there was something teasing about her actions—a bit of the coquette.
“I do believe Nell is flirting with him.”
“Possibly. She may be practicing the art of courtship as she will soon be going to Devon to pay a visit to a werewolf she met in Scotland during the rendezvous. If all goes according to plan, Nell and that special someone will be tying the knot next spring.” Or so Anne hoped. “No need for you to be concerned.”
Lizzy looked at Anne. “I was not concerned,” she said as she watched Nell sidle up next to Mr. Darcy, swishing her hips all the while. “When does she leave for Devon?”
“I think I heard that she is to go sometime after the new year,” a pleased Anne answered. There was no doubt that Lizzy was experiencing a tinge of jealousy. What Lizzy did not know was that Darcy was aware that he was being watched. The whole thing was a staged performance so that Elizabeth could see what a fine animal he was. When combined with his attractive physical qualities when he was in his human form, it was hard for Anne to believe that Elizabeth would be able to walk away from him.
As soon as the phaeton pulled up in front of the manor house, Georgiana was out the door. She had been standing by the window for the past thirty minutes waiting for the travelers to return.
“I am positive you went up to the clearing. Oh, Elizabeth, isn’t my brother magnificent when he is at play? I could watch him for hours. And the way he and Nell get on. Well, it’s comical, isn’t it?”
“Georgiana, you are not allowing Elizabeth to answer, and may we please go in?” Anne said in a tone that was meant to tamp down some of her cousin’s excessive enthusiasm. Elizabeth still had a ways to go before she was of a mind to consider an offer of marriage from a werewolf.
The ladies went into the drawing room where Georgiana continued to prattle on and on. In her mind, Elizabeth had gone to the clearing because she had come to terms with Darcy’s unique situation and would agree to become his wife. Anne was hopeful, but it was by no means a foregone conclusion.
“Georgiana, do you know what Mrs. Bradshaw is serving for dinner? Since Elizabeth hasn’t eaten today, I think it would be helpful to know what she has planned. Our guest must have nourishment.”
Georgiana agreed to speak with the cook, and as soon as she had gone, Anne turned to Elizabeth.
“I sent Georgiana away because I need to speak with you. I think you can discern from Georgiana’s attitude that she believes you have made a decision in favor of her brother, but I would like to hear it from your lips.”
Lizzy looked away from Anne. She had thought of little else since Mr. Darcy had revealed that he was a werewolf. She had run the whole thing through her mind over and over again. Could she marry a man who would disappear for two days every month and run about the countryside? Would she be able to lie by his side and forget that he was part wolf? And what of their children? Granted, they would not be werewolves themselves, but what would such young minds think about their father howling and hunting rabbits?
“Anne, I care very much for Mr. Darcy, but this matter of… of his becoming a werewolf. I do not think I would ever get to the point where I would be comfortable with such a transformation, and now that I know that there are she wolves of marriageable age, I think it would be best if he looked for a mate from among his… his peers. I am sure he would be happier in the long run.”
“I certainly understand, and William will understand as well. It was a risky thing for him to do—to fall in love with someone who is fully human. But he is so in love with you that he was willing to place his heart in your hands and hope for the best. So there will be no candle in the window tonight, and when he returns tomorrow morning, you may take your leave of him and return home. I am sure you will remain friends since Mr. Bingley is one of his dearest friends and that will be of some consolation to him.”
“Anne, I am truly sorry,” she said, her voice cracking.
“No need to apologize. If you cannot give yourself to him completely, then you should not become his wife because William would know that your feelings did not match his own and that is a burden he should not have to bear.”
Chapter 6
At supper, Elizabeth was engaging and conversant, but it was merely a performance. Although she thought there was an element of deceit in such false cheerfulness, she feared that if Georgiana knew she was to return to Longbourn alone and unattached, there would be a repeat of the previous night’s histrionics. But she could keep up such a pretense for only so long, and she played so poorly at cards that Anne suggested to Georgiana that she perform one of the pieces she had been practicing so diligently.
While Miss Darcy played, Anne and Lizzy chatted quietly. Anne insisted that there was no need for Elizabeth to apologize for appearing to be in good spirits when she was not.
“I understand completely. I know how unsettling it was for you to see Georgiana so distraught, and you certainly would not want to have to witness such an exhibition again.”
Lizzy squeezed Anne’s hand, comforted by the knowledge that she understood her difficulty. “I am a mere three and a half years older than Miss Darcy, but I feel so much older than she is.”
“That is because she has been protected her whole life,” Anne answered, “as are most of the girls who will come into society in the spring. I think it is rather unfair actually. Because once they are out, they are expected to act as adults when they have been treated as children up to that time.”
“I am sure that Mr. Darcy, in his role as Georgiana’s older brother and guardian, acted in the same way as he thought his parents would have,” Lizzy said.
“Exactly. He has felt the weight of being her guardian for the last five years. He has frequently said that in all decisions regarding his sister he would err on the side of caution, and so her upbringing has been very conservative. Despite what happened yesterday in your bedchamber, Georgiana is actually quite mature. But she loves the theater, and it shows.”
After finishing her piece, Georgiana rejoined the two ladies and suggested that Elizabeth accompany her while she played a ballad.
“Georgiana, I shall answer for Miss Elizabeth. She is very tired, as am I, and we are going to retire early.”
“Retire? It is only a quarter past nine. The evening has just begun.”
“Not everyone slept most of the day, and I really must insist that the evening come to an end, as I am weary to the bone.”
“All right then. I shall go to my room and read, but I can tell you that I am too excited to sleep. I shall be thinking about my brother and how he will be here by breakfast time, and I know one person who will be especially glad to see him,” she said while looking at Lizzy.
“Georgiana, you are too hasty,” Lizzy responded, beginning to feel cornered. “There are so many things that need to be discussed. I would not wish to give you false hope.”
“Oh, I am not worried about any of that. You will be persuaded. I am sure of it.”
Shortly after Lizzy went to her room, Ellie appeared to help her prepare for bed. When Lizzy had first arrived at Pemberley, she was puzzled as to how Ellie knew exactly when Lizzy required her assistance, but then she realized that Mr. Jackson had a way of signaling the staff when any of the Darcys or their guests were on the move. He anticipated everything and planned accordingly, which was probably why Mr. Darcy’s transformation remained
