Page 39 of Fitzwilliam Darcy An Honourable Man

“Very good, sir. I feel sure it will raise her spirits.” Mrs. Drury could not contain her smile as she entered Elizabeth’s room.

Rosewood Manor

A Drawing Room

“And you say this woman is living at Pemberley?” Georgiana’s voice got higher as she questioned her sister.

“I am only repeating what I heard,” Cecile stated resolutely. “He said he wants to keep this woman, Elizabeth, a secret, and he mentioned her special problem.”

Evan Ingram frowned at his wife. “Ana, you should wait until your brother explains. I am sure he will come today. He always sees you as soon as he gets home. Cecile may have been mistaken.”

Cecile looked between the two with barely concealed irritation. By the time Evan had joined them, she had practically convinced Georgiana to storm Pemberley, demanding that Mr. Darcy throw the whore out. How she wished that he had been out of the house when she returned! He was being the voice of reason, and she could not let him prevail.

“Mr. Darcy did not seem eager to visit today. In fact, he seemed more worried about the problem Mrs. Drury was having with the woman.”

“And just how did you happen to hear a private conversation between Darcy and this Mrs. Drury?”

Evan’s question made Cecile colour, but she had become quite used to producing excuses since she had partnered with Mr. Wickham. She needed plenty of them in order to borrow her friends’ jewels and visit their homes to learn their configuration.

“As I explained to Georgiana, I left my riding crop in the parlour and was going back inside to find it, when I accidentally heard them talking. I was shocked by the scandalous topic and froze to the spot. But I could do nothing but wait on the portico until they left the room, then retrieve the crop and hurry here.” She slowly lifted her eyes to Evan’s, but his face was as expressionless as Mr. Darcy’s had been.

“I see,” was all he managed to say, though his manner clearly showed his disbelief. He turned back to Georgiana. “I have my steward and a tenant in my study as we speak, but if you will wait, I will ride over in the carriage with you after we conclude our business.”

Georgiana would not be gainsaid. “I believe it would be better if I talk with my brother alone. He will speak more freely with just the two of us present, and if he has really brought a—someone he needs to hide…” Georgiana could not go on, as she was overcome with emotion, thinking of the implications.

Evan frowned, as he took in Cecile’s satisfied smirk. He tried once more. “If you go now, alone, I fear you will only make matters worse.”

“Nevertheless, I shall ride over and see what he has to say.”

Evan scowled at her insistence on doing as she pleased, even knowing that he disapproved. She was just as stubborn as her brother. “I only wish to reiterate that you should wait, but if you are determined, good luck! You will need it.”

With that, Evan stalked out of the room, clearly annoyed, leaving Georgiana flustered and Cecile with a wicked smile on her face, one which instantly sobered when Georgiana looked her way. She offered encouragement.

“If it means anything, I believe you should go alone as well. Mr. Darcy would feel the need to defend himself in front of Evan.”

“I believe you are right, and I must know for my own peace of mind if what you heard is true.”

“I will ride over with you and wait in the garden, if you desire.”

“No, it is best that I go alone.” With that, Georgiana hurried toward her bedroom, eager to change into her riding habit.

Pemberley

“Do you see that rock over there?” William pointed to a large boulder that was about fifty feet out into the lake. Elizabeth stood with him on the bank, staring in that direction. “There is a terrapin that suns itself on it every day in the summer. He is larger than any I have ever seen, and his is so colourful that Georgiana used to sit on this bank and draw likenesses of him.”

His heart leapt as she smiled wanly—only the second time that he could remember her doing so. “Do you remember when I talked about my sister, Georgiana?” She squeezed his hand, and he continued excitedly. “She lives nearby—she and her husband, Evan Ingram. They are very good people, and I know they will love you. Perhaps Gigi—that is what I call her—will bring some of her drawings to show you.”

They were almost at the end of the path around the lake, and Elizabeth seemed to be tiring. So as they neared the house, William planned to escort her back to her room to rest until the afternoon meal was served. Instead, a calico cat trotted past them on her way to the stables, the evidence of her newborn kittens very noticeable. As she passed, she mewed a greeting to William.

“Good day, Stockings!” William called after her, causing Elizabeth to glance up at him. He smiled at the evidence of her attention.

He squeezed her hand. “Georgiana named her that because she looked as though she wore four white stockings.” She still wore a blank expression, and a thought crossed his mind.

“Do you want to see her kittens?”

Elizabeth’s eyes showed a spark of interest, so he pulled her off the path and across the lawn in the direction of the stables. Once there, they went around to the back of the building and entered a door. The last stall was filled with so much hay that there was no room for a horse, but atop several bales, sat four kittens in various hues of black, brown, orange and white on an old blanket. As they stood there, Stockings hurried inside to plop down among her brood, and the kittens began to nurse hungrily.

Elizabeth was mesmerized, and William had no intention of suspending her enjoyment. They observed the kittens until the last one was satisfied with his meal, and then William gently pushed her towards them.