Page 50 of Through the Eyes of Love

CHAPTER 12

Elizabeth was slowly shaking her head when her husband found her reading a letter in their bed chamber. As he sat beside her on the bed, she burst out in laughter and covered her eyes. The contents of the letter and the picture in her mind it inspired were both too bizarre.

“Clearly your missive is both perplexing and humorous, my love. Can you tell me about it?” he asked.

“I hardly know where to start. It is a letter from my mother. I can just imagine the conversation that inspired her to write. My aunt Phillips will have read the London newspaper and come rushing into her drawing room with the news. Those two women are incredible gossips and feed off each other.‘Sister, sister, you will never believe it! Look at this!’” Elizabeth mocked the last in a high-pitched voice, then bent over in laughter. Her husband joined the mirth. “She will have waved the paper at my mother, who would have thrust her nose in the air and proclaimed that she does not care for the scandal sheets—until she read Lord Matlock’s announcement of our wedding.”

“I myself am quite proud of that announcement. Wait.” He went over to the escritoire and pulled out a newspaper. “Here it is.‘The Earl and Countess of Matlock are delighted to announcethe marriage of their nephew Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley, Derbyshire and London to Miss Elizabeth Bennet formerly of Longbourn, Hertfordshire.’”

“My mother then will have changed her tune. She would have shouted something like‘Lizzy’s husband is related to nobility! He must be rich!’”Once done with the mimicking, she huffed. “This is where I become frustrated. Since she never thought I would marry, she cannot believe I have done so well for myself—you know, finding a wealthy husband, not to mention the man is related to the nobility! She cares not if you are a good or kind person—her one and only qualification for a potential husband is affluence.

“She has demanded we host Lydia and Kitty at our home in London. Since I am now rich, she has instructed me to purchase all the gowns and fripperies they will need to win husbands—and everythingmustcome from London’s finest dressmakers. She expects us to introduce them to the wealthiest men we know from the most prominent families in theton.If they are members of the peerage, all the better. Nowhere does sherequestor evensuggestwe help them—she just issues her commands and takes for granted we shall do whatever she wants.” Elizabeth shook her head again as she turned to look at her husband.

“What will you tell her?”

“There is no reason not to tell her the truth. We have no plans to be in town until after Easter next year, for the height of the Season. As anxious as she is to have her two youngest daughters marry wealthy men, Frances Bennet hasneverbeen known for her patience. She wants those girls married, and as soon as possible. If they cannot meet eligible men in London, the local men will have to do. Until they are wed, she will not feel her only mission in life has been accomplished. I would bet money mysisters will both be betrothed or married by the time I first step foot in Darcy House.”

Her husband’s brow furrowed. “Let us hope they are still unmarried when we arrive in town. If their behaviour is as inappropriate as you describe, weshouldhost them and hire a governess to teach them how a gentleman’s daughter behaves. Besides, they are too young to think of such things regardless of what your mother says.”

The tips of her fingers glided across his forehead to smooth the lines. “I love that you always try to make everyone’s life better. Your intentions are admirable, my dear, but I know my mother all too well. If you wish to hold onto your money, you will not bet against me.”

“Theonlything I wish to hold against you is me.” Fitzwilliam took the letter from Elizabeth’s hands and dropped it on the floor. She was soon seated on his lap and all thoughts of Mrs. Bennet were quickly forgotten.

* * *

Darcy had hired backmany of Pemberley’s landscapers and groundskeepers and tasked them with restoring the gardens and orchards. He spent time with his steward every day to plan the next phase of rebuilding the manor house and they discussed next year’s crops. He believed his efforts would be worthwhile, and he had expectations of pride in the finished product.

Darcy and his steward surveyed the front of the manor house and discussed the progress of the construction. The men walked towards the cottage and spoke of other matters. “Bethel, if some of the previous tenants do not return, we may need to hire local men for the planting, care and harvesting next fall. This spring we planted only a portion of the acreage, but I would like to cultivate all the land that was once used for crops. In the past, welet some areas lie fallow for a year, but for the first year, all the land should be ready for cultivating in the spring.”

“Yes, sir, that sounds about right. It will not take long for our rotations and plantings to be back to where they once were.”

“Thank you, that is my goal. Excuse me, I see Mrs. Darcy in the garden and I wish to speak to her.”

* * *

“May I walk with you,my love?”

“Of course—I thought you were meeting with Bethel.” She placed her hand inside his elbow.

“I was, but we finished our business and I wished to join you on your walk.”

“I am delighted to have your company.”

“Come this way; I have something I wish to show you.” He led her to an area farthest from the manor house. “The gardeners are clearing a plot of land where some hedges were.”

His wife tilted her head. “Were they damaged by the fire?”

“No, but I want to have an area ready to grow something new.”

“A new type of rose?”

“No, a field of lavender.” Darcy reached towards Elizabeth and embraced her. “It is my favourite scent in the world, and I wish to have plenty on hand for anytime you need it.”

“Thank you, love,” she said as she caressed his face. “When the weather turns cold, I shall dry the plants and make sachets for all my drawers. Whatever I wear will be scented.”

“I could not ask for anything better.”

* * *