“All three suffer their courses for most of the month, while, according to Mrs. Reynolds, Georgiana’s are normal.”
Elizabeth blushed. “Oh, I see.” After a pause, she sought a safer subject. “Is your aunt amiable, sir?”
Darcy gazed pointedly at her. “Did your cousin say otherwise?”
“My cousin never mentioned her, except to say that she has strong family loyalty and advised him to take a wife from among his cousins, since he was to inherit our father’s estate. I thought her values sound enough, sir.”
“But?”
She grinned. “But she also seems very high-handed. My cousin said she insisted that he leave Kent at once and marry, or she would have him removed if he returned without a wife.”
Darcy chuckled. “My aunt has no such power, but she could have made his life difficult. He did well to follow her advice. I believe he is the sort of man who will do better married, especially in his role as rector.”
Elizabeth nodded. “Yes, perhaps his masculine propensities will be tempered by marriage.”
Darcy saw as a shiver ran through her, and he felt concern. Had he married a woman who would not accept her husband into her bed except out of duty, to provide an heir? Was Elizabeth cold or merely modest? It was too late to do anything about it; they were married, but he meant to find out.
“Elizabeth,” he asked gently, “why did you shiver?”
She laughed softly. “Did I, sir? I was not aware. Something about my cousin fills me with fear. I was only thinking of Miss King. She is one year younger than I, yet she seems much younger in mind. Even Mary seems more mature, though they are the same age. I feel for that child, for what she will suffer at the hands of that man.”
Darcy’s concern deepened. “What do you believe she will suffer? Is he wicked?”
“Oh no, sir,” she said quickly. “Not so bad as that.” After a moment’s silence, she continued, “Yet I believe he might be capable of forcing her, or if not that, of pressing her even when she is not ready. How well can she know him after only three or four days? I do not doubt he will take her before she learns to love him or even wish for him. He will find a way to coerce her.”
She shivered again.
Darcy asked carefully, “Then if he waited and allowed her time to know him, you think things would go better?”
“Yes, sir,” she said with conviction. “She would have time to fall in love with him, and then she would go to him willingly, even happily. But as he is, he is repellent.”
She grew quiet, lost in thought. “I believe I understand why I fear him so,” she said at last. “He wishes always to be in control, and I believe causing fear, anger, or intimidation gives him pleasure.”
Darcy understood her at once and felt a wave of relief. His wife did not fear the marriage bed; she feared cruelty.
“Elizabeth,” he said gently, “in the short time I was in their company, I saw that Miss King was very much attracted to the rector, and she never appeared repelled by him.”
Elizabeth nodded. “You are right, sir. She was not repelled; she was too silly to understand him.”
Darcy disagreed mildly. “I think it is possible that she found his manner attractive. This world is filled with all kinds of people, each drawn to different qualities. Miss King is not like you oryour sisters. I saw true attraction in her eyes, and so did your father. That is why he withheld your sisters from Mr. Collins and recommended Miss King instead. He knew she would be a good match, and not only for her ten thousand pounds. I think she will hold him, for she is drawn to his type.”
They reached the center of the maze, where they found Georgiana and Mary seated on a bench, watching birds at a feeder. The four remained for a quarter hour, speaking softly, before returning together through the maze.
As they walked, Georgiana asked what time they would return on the morrow to see the Old Palace itself.
While the others discussed their plans, Elizabeth remained silent, lost in thought. She realized she had been mistaken. Miss King would not be frightened or miserable in her marriage. Elizabeth felt unexpectedly glad to have been wrong, and her mind turned inward.
If she could be so wrong in this, in what else might she be mistaken? She resolved to pay close attention and to learn more about herself.
Chapter 27:Pemberley
The following day, Darcy and Richard walked with their party of ladies to the Old Palace and obtained permission to tour the interior, one of the housekeepers serving as their guide. Darcy took Elizabeth’s arm and drew it through his own. It felt natural to have her near; every so often, he caught the faint fragrance of her hair. He realized, with quiet wonder, that he was happy. Life had never seemed so bright. They were all silent as they passed through the long, wide banquet hall, its lofty arches rising overhead and its walls hung with intricate tapestries. They continued through several bedchambers and salons, and on the second floor stepped out onto a balcony that overlooked what had once been the inner courtyard of the palace. Darcy stood beside Elizabeth as she leaned over the stone balustrade. She turned to him, her eyes alight.
“The view is striking. Everything looks smaller from up here, the elaborate mazes, the clipped hedges, and in the distance, the willow and yew trees swaying in the light breeze, just as the trees must have done when the princess lived here.”
He turned his gaze from her face toward the gardens below. “Yes, you can almost feel her presence here, a young girl wandering through the garden beneath the old oaks.
Darcy moved from the balcony and gathered the party together. “I ordered an early luncheon at the inn,” he said, “and hope to be on the road again by noon.” They walked away, leaving behind the ancient palace and its memories of the Tudors; of Mary and of the fifteen-year-old Elizabeth, who had once lived there under the shadow of danger, navigating conflict, scandal, and accusations of treason.
