Page 55 of A Different Impression

He drew her beneath him once more. “There are other appetites we might satisfy first.”

“Food, William,” she said, laughing as he lowered his mouth to hers. “You must feed me before you nibble upon me again.”

He distracted her once more before finally ringing for his valet. A cold collation was brought to their sitting room, along with the welcome assurance that Georgiana, Kitty, and Mrs Annesley had arrived safely and already retired.

The following morning, Elizabeth and William rose late and enjoyed breakfast in their rooms. Afterwards, William sent a note to Matlock House informing his aunt and uncle of their arrival in Town.

An hour later, Elizabeth was seated beside him in his study when the door opened and Lord and Lady Matlock entered without waiting to be announced.

“Congratulations, you two,” the earl said warmly.

Elizabeth and William rose to greet them. Lady Matlock kissed them both upon the cheek, while Lord Matlock clapped William upon the shoulder.

“I am proud of you, son.”

“Thank you, Uncle.” William’s expression immediately became serious. “Now, what the devil has been happening? Is Lady Catherine insane?”

The joviality vanished from the room.

“Blast it all, Darcy, I do not know,” his uncle admitted. “I have been unable to reason with Catherine since she arrived. The physician has prescribed laudanum to calm her when she becomes particularly agitated. Anne’s health has improved slightly, but she remains very weak.”

“Is it certain that she killed her husband?” William asked directly.

“She admitted as much during one of her rants. She blamed his valet for administering too much of the tonic, but she ordered the tonic containing arsenic and insisted that Sir Lewis take it each day. We still need to question the apothecary who prepared it.”

“Do you believe he will admit to knowingly poisoning someone?” Elizabeth asked.

“I cannot say. We must first determine how much he understood about what Catherine intended.”

Lady Matlock sighed. “The physician cannot yet say how completely Anne will recover. She has improved since the tonic was stopped, but he believes it may be some time before she regains her strength, and she will need to be particularly careful not to overexert herself. Catherine, however, cannot be permitted to return to Rosings or to have any further influence over her. For now, they are being kept at opposite ends of Matlock House.”

She turned towards William.

“Anne would like to meet you and your wife. She was very pleased to hear of your marriage.”

William released a long breath, and Elizabeth placed her hand over his.

“Would she feel strong enough to see us today?” Elizabeth asked. “We would not wish to exhaust her.”

“I believe she would welcome a brief visit this afternoon,” Lady Matlock replied. “I am sorry this has interrupted your honeymoon.”

“We shall be happy to visit her after luncheon.”

“You are very kind, my dear.” Lady Matlock’s expression softened. “And now that you are family, please call me Aunt Susan when we are in private. There is no need for such formality between us now.”

Lord Matlock invited Elizabeth to call him Uncle James as well, and the gesture warmed her. They continued discussing Anne and Lady Catherine until Georgiana and Kitty came downstairs. The ladies then withdrew to the drawing room while the gentlemen remained in the study.

After tea arrived, Georgiana and Kitty soon wandered into another room with their sketchbooks, leaving Elizabeth alone with Aunt Susan.

“I am sorry that this crisis has so completely altered your plans,” her aunt said. “Have you decided what you will do about your wedding journey?”

“Not yet,” Elizabeth answered. “William had suggested that we visit the Lakes in the summer, and we hope to travel to Pemberley as soon as matters are settled. For now, we intend to remain quietly here.”

“We shall often invite Georgiana and Miss Catherine to Matlock House to allow you some privacy,” Aunt Susan replied. “And I know that William means to leave the knocker off the door, so you need not receive callers so soon.”

Elizabeth smiled as she remembered William’s expressed determination to keep her secluded with him once they reached Pemberley.

Aunt Susan’s expression grew knowing. “If you do not mind, my dear, might I ask a rather personal question?”