Page 31 of Cousin Elizabeth
Ethan Darcy
Darcy looked up from reading his letter and asked, “What did your brother have to say?”
“Nothing of note. Admonishments to be safe and not offend our family here. Also, not to travel until next spring. I had not thought to stay in England for a full year.” Beth frowned and looked concerned.
“You are more than welcome to stay at any of my homes, and I am sure the Bennets would welcome you. What would you say to having Christmas at Pemberley? We could have all the family there.”
“All except my brother…we have never spent a Christmas apart. This will be the first one without papa.” Beth tried very hard not to start crying, but she could not help herself and let the tears run silently down her face.
Darcy handed her his handkerchief and patted her arm. “The first Christmas after my father died, Gigi and I could not stand to be at Pemberley. The Matlocks decided to stay in town that year and had thrown a ball. Unfortunately, even though their intentions were good, the mamas of the ton realized I was a prime catch…being the new master of Pemberley…and I spent my time hiding behind plants and pillars. It was miserable. Georgiana had a better time upstairs with Marie.”
“Oh, poor Will! I wonder if my brother is having to fend off visits from the local mothers and daughters. Likely so. I’m glad Mr. and Mrs. Smith are there. John’s mother can be quite formidable!”
“So can my aunt! I heard her tell one of the most aggressive mothers that I would not even consider her insipid daughter, so she might want to leave. It has been several years, and the woman still will not even look at me. Why she blamed me, and not my aunt, I do not know.”
“Your aunt, the countess? Well, that’s fairly obvious. What woman of the ton wants an earl and countess to cut them? You’re just a farmer!” Beth broke out in raucous laughter at the look on William’s face.
Will sputtered, “Just a farmer! I’ll have you know I am the grandson of an earl, and a nephew of one as well!” He pulled himself up in the haughtiest manner he could while sitting in a lounge chair and looked down his nose at his cousin. If his lip was not twitching, she would have almost believed she had offended him.
Beth mimicked a bow and curtsey while still sitting, “My apologies, your majesty, how could I possibly liken you to a farmer…who raises sheep and grows crops.”
“Your brother warned me that you were likely to stick your foot in it and be offensive.” He smirked as she jumped off her chair and tried to grab the letter her brother had written. He made sure he had a tight hold on the letter while he stood and held it high up in the air. She was jumping and trying to grab it when the other girls stepped out onto the terrace and saw what was happening.
“Help me, Gigi! Your brother has a letter from my brother and hasliedabout what he wrote! My brother would never say such a thing! Give it, Will!”
Gigi ran over and started tickling her brother under the upheld arm. He started turning this way and that trying to get away from the two young ladies, who were not being very ladylike. Kitty was laughing uproariously, and Lydia hopped up on the chair and grabbed the letter right out of his upraised hand. “Really! You did not think of getting higher.” She handed the letter to Beth.
William had not felt so playful since he was a teenager, when life was much simpler. He chased Beth into the house and room to room. The other girls would try and block his way. Finally, everyone collapsed in the parlor. “Fine, read it if you will. He did not say you were offensive, just that you could stick your foot in it.”
“THAT sounds like my brother.” She handed the letter back to him unopened.
“I wish we did not have to leave tomorrow.” Lydia pouted.
“We will be together again. The letter from my brother asked me to stay until next spring. He thinks it’s too dangerous to sail during the winter months.”
“I am so glad. Life has been different since you came.”
Kitty patted her sister on the shoulder. “Youhave been different Lyddie. This summer has changed you.”
“It has. Lydia is a different girl than the one I met at Longbourn. Be so kind as to not change back, cousin! You’re ever so much prettier with a smile on your face.”
Lydia huffed, “I shall try.”
The next morning saw the Bennet girls off with Mrs. Greaves, their lady’s maid, and a Longbourn footman. The three Darcy’s, Mrs. Russell, and John Smith spent one more night in The Rock House before they would head off to Pemberley for harvest.
In the carriage on the second day of travel Darcy mentioned, “I received a letter from Bingley before I left Pemberley, Gigi. He has leased an estate in Hertfordshire and asked us to join him after Michaelmas. Would you be interested?”
Beth had been enjoying watching the scenery go by but whipped her head around when Hertfordshire was mentioned. “Where in Hertfordshire?”
Darcy tapped his lips while looking like he was thinking very hard. John smirked and Mamie tried to keep from chuckling. They bothknew that teasing look from Ethan. Beth kicked him, “Stop teasing! Where?”
“Just outside of Meryton.” William pretended to be offended from the kick.
Gigi and Beth both started bouncing in their seat until Mamie raised her voice, “Girls! Really!”
The next few hours were full of talk about the Bingleys and what the autumn would be like in Hertfordshire. William and Charles Bingley had become friends at Cambridge. Bingley was two years behind Will, and they had grown close because of the fencing club. Bingley was smaller than Will, but he was fast and wiry. He was the only one who would occasionally beat him. Charles was all that was affable and kind and cheerful.
“Unfortunately, his sisters are unlike him. At least his youngest sister is. I cannot say I know Mrs. Hurst, his elder sister, very well. The younger is a social climber.”
