The ball rolled near, and Darcy picked it up and tossed it. Roland’s companion dog eagerly chased after it. He was uncertain what type of dog it was, only that it was desperate to fetch and did not perform a single task regarding defence, hunting, or herding.
“I just learnt that I must congratulate you,” he said in greeting. Roland gave a manly nod, but a grin threatened to burst from his mouth. “I came to thank you for keeping Georgiana company on Saturday evening. She struggles with the cooker.” That was a mild way to explain what had happened to his kitchen. “Was it a trial?”
“Only because she’s shy and really quiet, not because of…” Roland gestured vaguely. “Not being from around here.” Roland levelled him a heavy look. “Should I tell Sheryl that part of my work involves…uh…visitor maintenance?”
It was a fair question. “I understand not wanting to keep that secret from her, but I also understand not wanting to burden her with such a secret either. If you want to tell her, the four of us can sit down together. If you don’t want to tell her, you could justify it since there won’t be other travellers. I think Mrs Darcy told you how unlikely it was for anyone else to come here by accident? My sister and I both came with a purpose.”
Roland nodded, tossing the ball again to the dog. “Checking on solstices just in case is wise, though. Should I check on equinoxes too, to make sure no one goes into the centre of Nine Ladies at the wrong moment?”
“You would do that?” he asked, surprised at the offer.
He shrugged with genuine unconcern. “Yeah. No big deal, right? Holler at anyone inside the circle thirty seconds before sunset and get their attention. Ask them for a light or the time or to hold the dog’s lead or whatever.”
“But never go inside the stone circle yourself,” Darcy said in a voice that brooked no opposition.
Roland met his look. “Yeah, I got it. Not really interested in how the other half lives, if you get my meaning.”
Who knew there were so many euphemisms for time travellers? “Certainly not now that you will have a wife waiting for you.”
Darcy made to part from him when Roland called him back. “My mum found something while she was looking for her wedding album to show me pictures.” He lifted his eyes. “She remembers my dad said it was my great uncle’s. Can I show it to you?” Roland pulled out a pocket watch. “I wouldn’t have normally bothered you, but it’s been in the family a long time and since, you know, you’ve, uh, been around a while, I thought you might know about it.”
The watch had a sterling silver case with a glass front. It had a white porcelain face with copper hands, Arabic numerals, and fleur-de-lis accents at the quarter hours. The swivel panel on the reverse revealed an inscription and the keyhole for winding. It looked to still be in fine condition; it might tell time again.
The inscription read, “To HR. With gratitude from GD.”
“I recognise it, as a matter of fact,” Darcy said, smiling. “Your great…goodness, I don’t know how many. Your great-grandfather, many times removed, was my father’s gamekeeper.Mr Roland was following poachers one night and found two people wandering near to Stanton Moor who did not belong, and he helped the Darcys protect them and return them home. He also rescued my sister as a child, and found Elizabeth too. My father gave him that watch in the 1780s to say thank you for his care, not only for our land, but for keeping the secret as well.”
Taking the watch back, Roland said, “He must’ve been grateful if it was kept in the family all these years.”
“His grandson, Young Henry, works for my sister. He likely inherited that watch. I don’t know if anyone else from your family worked for mine until now, but there is a lasting connection between the people who live and work here. You are a part of that too, and now so is Sheryl. Speaking of that, I asked if she wanted to have your wedding reception in the ballroom.”
Just like Sheryl, Roland looked stunned. “She’ll be thrilled, sir. Thank you.”
Their phones made associations in this century so much easier, but yet community seemed difficult for modern people to both find and accept. Darcy had not supposed his thoughtfulness anything extraordinary.
He said, “And the details are yet to be arranged, but Mrs Darcy and I want to offer Sheryl a permanent paid position. It seemed only fitting, since she’s going to be a permanent fixture herself.”
Roland swore under his breath, staring at him with wide eyes. “You’re going to make me cry, Mr Darcy. That’s very thoughtful.”
Why did people nowadays seem so surprised by generosity and taking care of the people who mattered to you? So much information was at one’s fingertips, and yet so much distance between people who should be connected by the strongest of ties.
“Like the inscription says, I’m grateful to everyone who helps to make our life here possible. I will bring a watch key to our meeting this afternoon,” he added, pointing to the pocket watch.
He parted from Roland, knowing that his sister’s efforts in the past were just as integral to the happy life he now enjoyed as Roland’s actions and everyone else he currently employed. Georgiana deserved better from him, no matter how painful their goodbyes would be.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Darcy went to the music room to wait until the end of Georgiana’s first performance. There were about ten visitors in the house at the moment, and they were all crowded into the room to listen. Darcy caught the end of her song, but this final verse was enough to strike him with a visceral reaction. Even though the music accompanying her was a recording, Georgiana’s voice sent him straight back to 1812.
There was music in Pemberley again, the music he had grown up with. His talented sister was singing, the melody resonating around the room, with people by the instrument admiring her. Memories of another life flooded back. He felt the touch of the past unlike he had in all the years he had been here with Elizabeth.
Aside from the clothes, it was a tableau straight from the life he left behind. He felt hot all over and fixed in place. Part of him told him to leave the room and push away this powerful image reminding him of a forgotten life he no longer wanted. But he could not falter now. Regardless of his own hurt, Georgiana had left her home and thrown herself into the unknown just for the chance to talk with him.
He had acted selfishly, and it was time to remedy that.
Darcy clapped with the others when she finished, politely nodding her acknowledgement while her cheeks burned pink. Performing was easy for her; talking with strangers after was the struggle. The museum director congratulated her while the visitors moved away to see other parts of the house.
“That was fabulous! Can I record you tomorrow? I want to put you on our social media. Your voice is amazing.”
