Page 83 of Through the Eyes of Love

“I would have come here sooner, but first Mary gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. Shortly after their weddings, Lydia and Kitty both fell with child at almost the same time. They needed me to be with them through their confinements.”

“You must be quite busy visiting all your grandchildren.”

“Yes, Fitzwilliam, my days are full.”

“We are delighted to have you here. You are welcome to stay at Pemberley as long as you like.”

“You are very kind, but I can only stay for two weeks. I must return to Meryton to help Lydia pack.” Elizabeth was relieved since the open invitation was not precisely what she wouldhave preferred to have offered, but Fitzwilliam clearly wanted to mend the ill feelings of the past.

“Allow me to provide you with one of our carriages to travel back to Meryton. I shall make the arrangements for you to stay at the best inns along the way.”

Mama pulled her lace handkerchief from her sleeve and fanned her face, her expression one of excitement. “Lizzy, you have truly married the best of men!”

“Yes Mama, I know.” Her mother looked at her and her husband and appeared delighted. After all, beyond a doubt Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam married for love.

“Wait until my sister Phillips and Lady Lucas hear about the way you live. Charlotte and that evil little man can have Longbourn—you have Pemberley and Jane has Willow Hall!”

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A discussionin bed later that night caused Elizabeth to sigh. “From the moment she arrived, she demonstrated how inappropriate she is when she speaks. All that talk about your wealth! My necklace must have cost a fortune—best not show her the rest of the Darcy jewels! And those questions about how many rooms are in the house and how large is the estate! Not to mention her advice on begetting an heir. I told you she speaks before she thinks. She equated you offering her a carriage and arranging for her accommodations on her way home with being an excellent man. Oh, and it does not matter if I am now pretty with my face cream—somehowI already managed to marry a rich man! Your wealth is the only thing that matters, not that you are the best of men—which you are! Without ever meeting him, she already loves Richard for the sole reason that his father is an earl. When she asked if Anna had any of thosedreadfulbirthmarks, it brought back all the bad things she said to me upuntil the day I left for London. She blamesmefor not finding wealthy husbands for Lydia and Kitty. I am certain that the moment she learnt I was with child and that we would not be in London, she pressured them to marry the first eligible men who came along!” Her mother’s behaviour saddened her, but she had long ago given up any hope that Mama would ever change.

“I have heard a man looks at his bride’s mother as a portent of the future.” What? He was teasing, the silly man, to lift her spirits!

“That comment does not warrant a response. I suppose she means well, but she does not realize how much her words still hurt. She brought my father’s books here because no one else wanted them. I cannot complain too much because I cherish them. But heaven forbid she or one of my younger sisters read anything other than a fashion magazine. I am only glad you met her when it was already too late to change your mind about me.”

“I shall never change my mind about my love for you—besides, her behaviour could never be as bad as Lady Catherine’s. I cannot recall you ever mentioningyourmother withholding medical treatment from any of her children. Mrs. Bennet is just as you described her, all the bad parts at least. Yet she loves her daughters and is proud of the lives they have made for themselves. I believe she is very impressed with the rebuilt portions of the manor house. It was kind of her to bring your father’s books—there will be a special place for them when the library is rebuilt. I hope she describes every little detail of Pemberley to Lady Lucas and your Aunt Philips!” They both laughed.

“If she tells me she is no longer pleased to be living with her sister, may I let a house for her in Meryton?”

“You need not ask. Our money is yours to spend as you wish. We shall do whatever makes her happiest.”

“Let us have this discussion again at the end of her two weeks and see if you feel the same way then. Mama did not write to me about either of my sisters’ marriages. I did not know that all three of my younger sisters were to be mothers until she wrote to Jane about why she would not be at her wedding. I believe we had a bet that my youngest sisters would be married before we travelled to London.”

“I certainly lost that bet—what do I owe you?”

Elizabeth moved closer to her husband and caressed his face. “You know Mama reminded us that Pemberley needs an heir and encouraged us to start working on it.”

Darcy let out a low laugh. “That was a wager I am thrilled to lose. Besides, a wise man said always listen to your wife’s mother.” He leaned towards Elizabeth and kissed her in a way that ended all further discussion.

The daybefore Mama was scheduled to leave, Elizabeth and her mother took a walk in the gardens. “Mama, are you pleased to be living with Aunt and Uncle Philips?”

“Yes, now that Lydia and Kitty have married and it is just the three of us, I have plenty of room.”

“If you had enough money, would you move into your own home?”

“Move? If I had my own house, I would be all alone. No, I shall stay precisely where I am. I can visit Mary and Kitty as often as I like, and Lydia has invited me to stay after they are settled into their new home.”

“I am glad you are here with us, Mama. I wrote to Jane and told her you are here.”

“She invited me to visit her at Willow House. She wishes to introduce me to her husband and to Lord and Lady Matlock. Oh Lizzy, I feel so unprepared to meet members of the nobility.”

“You are their new daughter’s mother, and they will treat you with respect. They are generous people who welcomed Jane into the family with open arms.”

She took her daughter’s hand and kissed it. “Be happy, my Lizzy, be happy.”

For a moment, Elizabeth was speechless. She was shocked by her mother’s words. After years of hearing nothing but negative things said about her, for the first time in her life, her mother treated her as she treated her other daughters. Her heart had been injured by Mama’s unkind words but she had to forgive her in order to heal the wounds left behind. The visit would end on an encouraging note.

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