But it was not a bold invitation, only an innocent hint to let his new wife manage his household. He might have every right under the lawto take her to bed, but coercing her or forcing her felt appalling. A desire for children would eventually overcome every other reservation—their not having an affection for one another, their scarcely knowing one another, their losing control of their own fates.
As he watched her write, he recognised he had not even considered it until her unintended remark, especially after Elizabeth had announced she would submit neither her body nor her heart to a husband she did not choose. Strong esteem and lively friendship were more important goals for now if they were to make their marriage work.
Elizabeth was a striking beauty, but any reluctance on her part made the act impossible.
“You can come in,” she said to him, without looking up. He had not realised she had noticed him staring from the doorway. “This is still your house.”
“Our house,” he corrected. Every time he said it, it became easier to say. Darcy came into the room and stood before her. He wondered if he warranted a mention in whatever thoughts she recorded. “My cousin will be here in a moment. He is eager to meet you.”
She set aside her pen and turned her full attention to him. “Not as eager as he must be to talk over the astonishing event with you.”
“You were there,” he said flatly. “You can add your account of what happened in Gretna Green.”
“No, I meant your outrageous marriage to a woman of no consequence.”
“I will not disparage you,” he insisted.
“I should hope not, but there must be a natural feeling of resignation and frustration when you discuss marrying me. Unburden yourself to Colonel Fitzwilliam, and I will join after. By then, you will have once again reconciled yourself to your unwanted wife and be able to pretend you like me.”
“I do like you,” he said in a low voice. “Please do not suggest that I hate you or resent you.”
Elizabeth looked chastened. “I am sorry I said that. That was thoughtless of me, and not true. We are determined to be friends afterall, and I will help you along until you like me because youactuallydo and not because you feel you must.”
She carefully closed her journal and set down her pen. With her hands lightly tapping the cover, she murmured, “I like you too.”
Looking into her eyes stirred something in him, made him feel restless, vulnerable. But at the same time, he enjoyed talking to her, listening to her, and even allowing her to sport with him. He would have to get accustomed to whatever this was she made him feel.
She saved him from thinking of anything to say. “But you need to talk with your friend in confidence, and Iwillbe one of the subjects. I would rather join you after, if you do not think he will be offended by my not greeting him on arrival. Send for me when you are ready.”
“Just come into the library in half an hour,” he said. “You will be welcome, and I promise to put any discussion of you early in our conversation, so you will overhear nothing as you open the door.”
Elizabeth smiled, then took her journal and left.
By the time he went downstairs, his cousin was already in the front hall.
“How do you do?” Colonel Fitzwilliam asked him, his voice heavy with meaning. The tone was as though he had shaken his hand and said, “I am sorry for your loss.”
“I am as well as it is possible to be, given the circumstances.”
“With a sister scarcely better than ruined and a stranger with your ring on her finger? I would be stale drunk and on the floor.”
Darcy wondered if he would be more distraught had he returned to Pemberley alone after Gretna Green. Was he as composed as he was because Elizabeth was a sharer in his sorrow? But of course, part of his disquiet was that he now had a wife whom he met a fortnight ago. “I will not make a favourable impression on my wife if I am drunk at half past three.”
“Where is the new bride? Did you lock her in an attic or basement?”
He had been leading his cousin into the library, but turned round to cast Fitzwilliam a glare. His cousin only laughed. If people knew the truth about their marriage, would they assume he hated her, andwould mistreat her? “No, as a matter of fact. She is giving us time alone to talk about her.”
“I am sure that we will, but Georgiana is more on my mind. Has she written to you?”
He nodded, heaving a sigh. “She asked for money. She wants her fortune released to her because ‘dear George’ has only the thousand pounds my father settled on him. They are still in Scotland but intend to remove to London as soon as they can. When she married him, I told her she made her choice, and having neither money nor support from me was one of the consequences.”
Fitzwilliam hung his head. “Damned stupid girl. And why did she agree to have him, even after everything you told her?”
“Because he is handsome and charming, and Mrs Younge supported her?—”
“I will wring her neck if I ever see her again.”
“Indeed.” He already made certain she was never left in charge of another young lady. A few well-placed words with the right people and an advertisement in the newspapers took care of that. “But the real reason Georgiana eloped is because she thinks I was controlling her, and she imagines my father would have approved of her choice.” He threw himself into a chair. “I should never have allowed this to happen.”
