Page 39 of Roses from Pemberley
“You will laugh for it seems so…childish.”
She laughed and said, “But I shall laugh anyway.”
“Fitzy’s Little Rainbow,” he said forlornly.
Elizabeth put her fingers to her nose, then began to giggle; and then she began to laugh outright. She looked at the tall and serious man beside her and could not think of a more incongruous name. Especially since Darcy himself wore black a great deal. At least during formal events. For a moment she was worried that he would take offence, but eventually he gave her a small smile.
“And what did this flower look like?” she asked, pressing her palms to her eyes.
“It was pink, with green and yellow edges.”
They were silent again, Elizabeth attempting to imagine this elegant hybrid which was called,Fitzy’s Little Rainbow.And then she remembered something and said, “The flowers in my room…they are pink…and their edges are pale green. You could almost call them yellow.”
“Yes, I know. They look like the ones at Pemberley.”
She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. Elizabeth did not know why, but now she felt a little tearful, thinking about the Pemberley roses that his mother had named after her little boy. The boy she must have loved more than life itself. The seedlings were probably sent to Rosings then planted there. They grew there, and thrived. And yesterday morning they were picked by that same boy who had grown to be a man. And now they were in her room. And she felt terribly maudlin about the whole thing though she didn’t know why. Elizabeth turned her head away.
“Are you crying, Miss Elizabeth?”
She sniffled and answered, “Maybe.”
“But there is no need for it.”
“I know.”
She felt his hand close over hers and noticed that he wore no gloves at present. He squeezed her hand briefly then let go again.
“Did you pick Fitzy’s Little Rainbow and give them to me?” she asked.
“I did,” he answered. “And I hope you enjoyed them.”
She looked at her hands and then at the handkerchief he held in front of her. She dabbed at her nose and eyes, then murmured, “I think they are beautiful.”
He nodded and she was surprised to find that he looked relieved.Could he possibly think that I would not like the flowers?she thought to herself.
“They have a very delicate scent,” she added without thinking, “and are now on a table beside my bed. I think of you whenever I see them.”
Their eyes met and she noticed a slow smile overspreading his face.
She returned the smile.
CHAPTER 18 Mrs. Bennet
It was then that Elizabeth heard the sounds of a carriage coming up the drive. Before she knew it, it had stopped at the gate to Hunsford. The door opened and Mrs. Bennet stepped down, not even waiting for the steps.
“Lizzy!” she said. “Oh, my Lizzy! Are you well?”
Mrs. Bennet rushed forward and engulfed her in a tight embrace.
“I am well, Mamma,” she said, still taken aback by her mother’s sudden appearance and noticing that she had begun to cry.
“Are you certain?” asked Mrs. Bennet, still clutching Elizabeth by the shoulders. “For Jane said that you were quite ill…”
“But I am better now, Mamma. Truly.”
“Oh, thank God. Thank the Lord.”
Mrs. Bennet finally leaned back and only then did she acknowledge Darcy's presence. “Mr. Darcy?”
