Chapter 24

Elizabeth had not suffered any sleepwalking episodes since her arrival at Pemberley. But fatigue, coupled with the anxiety of maintaining the peace between their family members and this latest argument with Mr. Darcy, took a toll on her. When Parker departed from her, Elizabeth forgot to lock the door to her chambers, as was her custom.

Her sleep that night, being of the deep, troubled kind, filled with strange dreams, led to her arising from her bed. In her stupor, her feet led her down the stairs and out the side door to the gardens.

Georgiana, whose room was closest to Elizabeth's, heard the door next to hers open. Wondering what could cause her sister to arise at such an hour, Georgiana sleepily opened her door a crack and peered into the corridor. Seeing Elizabeth making her way down the stairs, Georgiana stepped into the corridor and whispered to her. "Elizabeth, are you well?" Hearing no answer, Georgiana followed her.

She watched Elizabeth pass through the exterior door into the gardens, still barefoot and in her shift. Elizabeth passed through the gardens, and opened a side gate leading to the woods. Georgiana's alarm grew as she realized Elizabeth was unaware of her behavior, and still more alarmed that she would enter the woods, alone and unprotected, in the dead of night. Fearing Elizabeth might injure herself, or that she might wake from her stupor and be lost, Georgiana rushed to inform her brother what had happened .

Darcy knew at once that he must find Elizabeth before she wandered too far. He wasted no time in throwing a greatcoat and trousers over his nightshirt and pulling on a pair of Wellington boots. Discretion was necessary, but he awakened Perkins to assist him. Together, they set out with a pair of lanterns in the direction Georgiana had indicated.

Once Darcy was out of earshot from the house, he began calling for her.

"Elizabeth! Elizabeth, where are you?"

"Mrs. Darcy!" Perkins echoed.

Their cries rang through the darkness, disappearing into the depths of the woodlands.

A feeling of panic shot through Darcy's breast. Pemberley's woods were vast– several miles square in all, bordered by the river on one side and stretching far beyond the house and gardens on the other side.

She cannot have gone too far, he assured himself.

He shivered against the cold night air, wishing he had dressed warmer. How cold must Elizabeth be, in only her nightshift, with no shoes even?

A light rain began to fall as the temperature continued to drop. He was thankful there was no snow on the ground. Still, Elizabeth might freeze to death on a night like this, if she were exposed overly long. Lord, let us find her soon, he silently prayed.

S

Elizabeth awoke shivering and damp, her feet hurting. Where am I? She wondered. From the trees and underbrush surrounding her, it was plain she was somewhere in the woods, but she had no sense of bearing. She could not see the house, nor any familiar landmark. Even the moon was covered over by the clouds on this night. Something sharp was poking into her foot. She leaned her back against a tree and tried to determine the source of her pain.

"Ouch!" she exclaimed aloud, pricking her finger on a thorn embedded in her foot. In the dim light, she could not see to remove it from her sole. Her feet appeared to be covered in scratches.

I must locate the house , she determined. But without any idea of a heading, she worried she might inadvertently wander deeper into the woods and never be found.

I must have been sleepwalking. But how have I wandered so far?

Her teeth chattered as she crouched down in the leaves, trying to keep warm with the rain splattering down on her through the openings in the canopy above.

She contemplated whether she should seek out the river, and follow it northward until she reached the bridge, and by that means find her way back to the house. But when she strained her ears, she could not hear any sound of rushing water. She could be miles from the river, for all she knew.

Will anyone realize I am gone before morning? What if I expire here in these woods, and no one finds me until I am but a skeleton?

The thought was too horrifying. She wished she were safe in her bed at Pemberley, not here, alone, cold, miserable, and frightened.

In her despair, she thought she imagined a voice, calling her name. But the voice soon grew louder, and she realized she was not imagining it. The light from a lantern came into view, along with the sound of Mr. Darcy's voice, growing still nearer.

"Elizabeth!"

"I am here!" She cried. "Over here!" Though her foot still throbbed from the thorn in it, she forced herself to stand and wave her arms towards the light. "Here I am!" she repeated, until at last, Mr. Darcy saw her and rushed to her.

"Elizabeth! Are you hurt?" She could not see his face, but the concern was evident in his voice.

"My foot," she said. "I think there is a thorn in it, but I cannot see."

He held the lantern near her foot, trying to examine it. "It is too dark to tell. We must get you back to the house."

Perkins was not far behind. Handing Perkins his lantern, Mr. Darcy's arms were free to pick up Elizabeth and carry her to the house.

Elizabeth clung to Darcy's chest, her body still shaking from fear and cold. His arms felt strong; he carried her as if she were nothing, his feet sure and steady on wooded trails that were well familiar to him. She nestled her head against him, feeling the softness of a patch of exposed hair around the open neck of his nightshirt, his body warm despite the dampness of the rain falling on them.

S

Elizabeth's maid Parker was awake and ready to assist when they reached the house, with Georgiana also hovering nearby.

"Oh, thank the Lord, you found her, sir!" Parker exclaimed. "If you would bring her upstairs, I have drawn a warm bath for her." He carried her upstairs to her bedroom before depositing her on the edge of her bed. It was only after he had released her that he began to feel the ache in his arms from carrying her such a distance.

"Her foot needs tending before the bath. She believes there is some thorn or other embedded in it," he told Parker.

He left to allow the women to tend to Elizabeth.

"Shall I draw a bath for you as well, sir?" Perkins asked him .

"No, that will not be necessary, thank you. You ought to return to bed, Perkins. I am grateful for your assistance."

"Of course. My services are always at your disposal, sir." Perkins bowed, bidding him goodnight.

Darcy went to his own quarters. His heart had finally returned to its resting pace, but his mind was still disturbed. Suppose I hadn't found her when I did? Suppose she was still lost in the woods all night? He tried to reassure himself, all was well, that they had, in fact, found her and she had come to no harm other than a chill and a thorn in her foot. He raised a prayer of thankfulness for her rescue.

Knowing he could not sleep until he was assured of her comfort, he changed from his damp clothing into a clean nightshirt, wrapping a banyan around himself and donning a pair of slippers. He waited outside Elizabeth's chambers until Parker appeared.

"Is she well?" he asked, his voice full of concern.

Parker nodded. "She is, sir, thanks to you. She appears no worse for the wear, despite being caught in the rain. The thorn in her foot was a tedious one to remove, but small."

"Is she sleeping?"

"She is resting, yes, but not yet asleep. Miss Darcy has chosen to remain with her. Would you like to see her, sir?"

He shook his head. "No, I'll not disturb her. Thank you, Parker."

S

Elizabeth awoke the next morning with a sore throat and a stuffy nose. Her family wondered at her lack of appearance at the breakfast table, but Mr. Darcy explained to them that she was unwell. None of their guests seemed to be aware of Elizabeth's nighttime peril, for which he was thankful. Mrs. Bennet seemed peeved that their morning plans had to be rearranged; she had counted on her daughter taking her to visit the shops in Kympton. Fortunately, she had two other daughters who were more than willing to accompany her, as well as Georgiana, who was fast becoming friends with Lydia and Kitty.

Georgiana came to check on Elizabeth after returning from Kympton, and was pleased to find she was little worse for wear after her nighttime wander.

"It is fortunate that Fitzwilliam and Perkins were able to locate you," she said.

"I feel foolish for not bolting my door, as I usually do," Elizabeth said. "If you would be so kind as to not mention to anyone what happened, I would be grateful. I should hate to think how Lady Catherine would react if she were to learn I had sleepwalked my way into the woods in only my nightgown!"

"Of course," Georgiana answered with a smile. "Your secret is safe with me."

"How was your shopping venture?"

"We had a wonderful time. Miss Lydia helped me select a new bonnet. She has the most excellent taste in hats, I discovered. And Miss Kitty suggested I might need new shoes, so we tried on dozens of pairs together, before I found the most darling boots in blue leather which match my dress. "

"I am glad to see you are becoming friends," Elizabeth said. "I do miss my sisters at times."

"Why don't you invite them to stay here?"Georgiana suggested. "I am sure Fitzwilliam would not mind it."

Elizabeth's heart pricked over the reminder of Darcy's proposing the very same, and their subsequent argument.She quickly changed the subject. "Did you have many friends when you lived in London? "

Georgiana shook her head. "Not at all. At school, the other girls teased and bullied me. They dubbed me prudish for my refusal to join them in sneaking out of the school at night and said I was dull for always practicing my music."

"How cruel!"

"Julia Culpepper was my one friend; she stood by me when the other girls made fun of me, and was my confidant. How she cried when I left the school! That was when Fitzwilliam engaged Mrs. Younge to be my governess and I removed to Darcy House."

"Did you see each other afterwards?"

"Oh yes, the headmistress was kind enough to let her call on me once a week at Darcy House, at least until I came here, and we have written to each other since then. But I do miss her."

"Perhaps you can visit, or invite her to Pemberley."

"I hope so," Georgiana replied. "In the meantime, I am glad that your sisters are here. It does grow lonely at times, without anyone else my age to visit with– not that I do not love you and Fitzwilliam!" she quickly added.

Elizabeth laughed. "I do understand."

S

By the time the week was out, Elizabeth had recovered, and all were looking forward to the ball to be held at Matlock Manor.

"I shall wear my beige gauze," Lydia declared, "with the lovely gold turban I purchased at the milliner. What will you wear, Miss Darcy?"

Georgiana kept her eyes focused on her needlework. "I do not plan to attend the ball," she answered.

"Not attend!" Kitty exclaimed. "But it is your own uncle who is giving the ball. Surely you cannot be serious. "

"But I am not out yet," Georgiana said. "I do not think my brother means for me to attend such a public affair."

"What a shame, to be kept at home on such an occasion. I am sure I would die of boredom!" Lydia declared.

"I do not like large gatherings," Georgiana told them, in a half-whisper. "In truth, I am glad I am not yet out; I feel unready to be forced into society."

"Lord, but all the fun is to be had in public! At home there is little more to do but sew and read," Lydia scoffed.

"Or play the pianoforte," Kitty added. "But then, Miss Darcy never seems bored when practicing her scales and arpeggios."

"Indeed, I find it invigorating. In fact, I am thinking I shall begin a new piece. I can spend the whole evening practicing it in peace," Georgiana determined. She went to the bookshelf beside her instrument and began looking through her music to find a new piece to master. When she was last in Town, she had purchased a large selection of new music, but had yet to even touch much of it.

Lydia shrugged. "To each their own, I suppose."

S

Matlock Manor glowed with the lights of hundreds of candles when the party from Pemberley arrived. Lord and Lady Matlock's Twelfth Night balls were the toast of the countryside, with families from all across Derbyshire and the neighboring counties traveling to attend. Such notable persons as the Earl of Chesterfield and the Duke of Rutland were known to attend, not to mention numerous baronets. Among these estimable guests, a small gentry family from Hertfordshire seemed out of place, and it was solely by their connection to Darcy that they merited an invitation .

Mrs. Bennet, eager to curry the favor of their hosts, lingered long in the receiving line, thanking Lady Matlock profusely for her invitation and remarking on the magnificence of her home.

Elizabeth deftly came alongside her mother and, taking her arm, said, "Mamma, you must come listen to the string quartet. They are playing your favorite piece." Despite Mrs. Bennet's protests that she did not have a favorite, she allowed her daughter to take her into the ballroom. Mr. Bennet followed behind silently.

S

As soon as the dancing was underway, Lord Matlock pulled Darcy aside. "Come, let us have a drink together. There is something I wish to say to you."

Darcy nodded, following his uncle through the side door adjacent to the hall. Lord Matlock poured two glasses of gin and handed one to Darcy. His brow furrowed and he appeared to be deep in thought.

"Lady Catherine has informed me of the circumstances surrounding your marriage, Darcy."

"I am surprised she did not apprise you sooner," Darcy replied coolly.

"How could you, Darcy!" Lord Matlock said angrily. "Involving your family in such a scandal!"

"The scandal would have been far greater had I abandoned Elizabeth. Rural gossip travels far, and Hertfordshire is not so far away from London as to make it impervious to spreading news, especially as it pertains to members of the ton . "

"But what was she doing in your bedchamber in the first place? Had it been a scullery maid, no one would have blinked an eye, but you had to go and involve the daughter of a landed gentleman in an affair?"

Darcy's grip on his glass tightened. "There was no affair, I can assure you. Elizabeth found herself in my bedroom entirely by mischance, as a result of her sleepwalking."

"So she claims! But I think my sister is right in her presumption that the whole debacle was a scheme concocted by the Bennet family."

"I disagree with you, sir, but even if I did not, the matter is too late to be remedied. Elizabeth is my wife."

"Are you entirely certain the marriage is valid? You were officiated by a real minister? Were the banns read?"

"We were married by common license," Darcy answered. "And I am certain the marriage is valid."

Lord Matlock shook his head. "I wish you had consulted me first, Darcy, before entering into such a union. I could have told you to break it off. You could have claimed a prior engagement with Anne, and hastily married her instead. Lady Catherine would not have objected."

"I am sure she wouldn't, but your warnings were unnecessary. Lady Catherine delivered to me almost the exact same warnings, but I chose to ignore them."

"But why, Darcy? Why does this girl's honor matter to you? Why did you feel the need to go through with marrying her, instead of some other, better suited, young lady?"

"Elizabeth is my choice, uncle, and you shall have to accept it. Now, if you shall excuse me, I believe there is a party to attend." Darcy turned on his heels and left the room before Lord Matlock could stop him.

S

Elizabeth admired the score of elegantly dressed ladies and gentlemen dancing while listening to the strains of music coming from the musicians. She was grateful she had worn her new gown, a deep crimson satin, with a complicated folded pattern on the sleeves, and a split-skirt overlay trimmed in gold lace. A standing collar of the same lace showed off her neck, and she displayed the tiara Darcy had given her.

Her senses were assaulted by raucous laughter. She cringed as Kitty and Lydia passed by, arm in arm, uproarious over some joke they had shared.

"Your sisters are in good spirits tonight," a voice said. She turned to see Colonel Fitzwilliam beside her. He bowed. "Mrs. Darcy, good evening. I trust you are well."

"I am, thank you, Colonel Fitzwilliam. I trust you are the same?"

"Never better," he smiled. "If Darcy will not mind it, I wondered if I might claim you for a dance this evening."

"I am sure he will not," Elizabeth said, offering him a curtsy before accepting his hand. The first set was about to begin, so he led her to take their places on the floor.

The colonel displayed his skills well, and Elizabeth commended his lightness of foot. "You must have many occasions to dance, when you are stationed at home," she said.

"More than I care for," he admitted. "The London Season keeps me on my toes with eligible ladies vying for a dance. I have to say, I shall not be disappointed if this business with Napoleon keeps me away from the crush this year."

"But how mournful the young ladies shall be, without your presence to grace them!" Elizabeth teased.

The colonel's eyes twinkled. "I daresay I disappoint them already, by my failure to choose a bride. "

"Has there been no one to catch your eye?"

"There are plenty of beauties, to be sure! But it will take a special lady to induce me to retire from bachelorhood." His lips twisted, and Elizabeth could almost believe he had cast a longing glance towards Miss de Bourgh, seated on the edges of the fray. The lady's long standing ill-health prevented her from dancing, or so her mother claimed.

"Well, whoever she is, your parents could hardly disapprove of your choice. Being the second son, you need not worry about providing heirs, and your good name must allow you to have your pick from the suitable families of the ton ."

"My mother, I think, would be happy even if I married a milkmaid, so desperate she is to see me wed. But there are others in the family who have definite opinions on the subject." The colonel's expression was downcast.

Elizabeth let the matter rest and turned to other topics. They discussed some of the colonel's adventures on the Continent, both before Bonaparte's tyranny and after, and he returned the favor by inquiring about Elizabeth's childhood in Hertfordshire, which she was happy to supply a detailed description of.

"And how are you liking life at Pemberley?" he surprised her by asking.

Elizabeth said, "Pemberley is all I could have hoped for. A more beautiful place does not exist within England, I think."

"Well said," Colonel Fitzwilliam nodded. "But I meant not so much your opinion of the house and grounds, which undoubtedly have no equal. I am curious how you are getting on with its residents."

"Georgiana is the sweetest creature there is! I could not love her more if she were one of my own sisters. As for the other…I begin to know him better on further acquaintance."

"He certainly speaks highly of you. He bragged to me the other day of the improvements you have made since the time of your arrival. "

"Has he? He once complained that my reduction of our candle usage would result in his blindness."

Colonel Fitzwilliam chuckled. "That does sound like him. He has always been used to a certain style of living and has never wanted for anything his entire life. But it has never spoiled him; despite the benefit of having every comfort, he never fails to think of those less fortunate, and his generosity is limitless towards those he feels are deserving of it."

Elizabeth nodded. The character sketch he provided aligned with the man she had come to know in the past month.

"Speaking of, here is the man himself," Colonel Fitzwilliam said. Their dance had ended, and he led her to where Darcy stood beside a marble column, his posture tall and elegant.

"Mrs. Darcy," he bowed, "would you care to dance?"

Wordlessly, she curtsied and accepted his hand. It was the first time they had danced since the Netherfield Ball, and their first time as a married couple.

The colonel gestured to them both before leaving to find another dance partner.

"You are looking well this evening, Mrs. Darcy," Darcy said as they took their places for the set.

"As are you, Mr. Darcy." A small smile formed on her lips. He did indeed look well. The cut of his suit against his athletic form made her breath hitch slightly, his soulful eyes seeming to pierce hers as if he could see right into her.

"I am glad to see you make use of the tiara."

"It seemed the perfect opportunity to wear it."

He glided her across the ballroom floor effortlessly, like a stream gently guiding a boat along its course.

"You disappeared earlier," she observed.

Darcy nodded. "Large crowds intimidate me. "

"I have known you long enough to realize that nothing intimidates you. You may dislike large gatherings, but you are able to maneuver them as easily as you guide me across this floor."

"I was with my uncle, having drinks in his study."

She judged by the expression on his face that it had not been a pleasant encounter.

Out of the corner of her eye, Elizabeth saw Lydia dancing with Colonel Fitzwilliam, a silly grin on her face. Kitty had been asked to dance with an elderly gentleman, probably an earl or a baronet who had been kind enough to favor her, but she did not appear to be happy about it.

Next to Kitty and the gentleman, Mr. Collins and his wife bumbled along, neither of them a great dancer. At one point during the dance, Mr. Collins tripped over Mary's feet and landed on the hem of Lydia's skirt, earning him a screech and a rebuke from Lydia to kindly watch himself.

"It is good to see your sisters are all dancing tonight," Mr. Darcy said. "I recall Kitty's displeasure over sitting out one or two dances at the Netherfield Ball."

"Yes, it is a great misfortune for a young lady to find herself without a partner at a ball," Elizabeth said, sorely tempted to remind him of their first assembly in Meryton.

Perhaps her comment reminded him nonetheless, for he became silent and did not speak the remainder of the dance except to comment on the number of couples.

S

Elizabeth's remark was teasing, but Darcy knew there was a hint of truth beneath her smiles. She still holds my behavior at the assembly against me. Inwardly, he vowed he would make it up to her somehow. Perhaps he could begin by ensuring she and her sisters were never without a partner that evening if they wished for one.

But it appeared they had no difficulty obtaining partners on their own. After the set with Lydia, Colonel Fitzwilliam danced next with Kitty, and lastly with Mary. Lord Matlock also honored each of them with a dance,and Lydia and Kitty were thankful to never be without a partner at any point in the evening. Mrs. Bennet worked tirelessly to ensure it.

The colonel seemed to be her primary object. She expressly insisted that Colonel Fitzwilliam dance a second time with Lydia during the supper set, knowing he would be obliged to sit by her during the meal as well. Colonel Fitzwilliam, too gracious to do otherwise, acquiesced. Such pronounced attention drew the remarks of several of the peers in the room.

One of them, standing close to Darcy, said, "Who is that young girl your cousin is dancing with? I declare I have never seen her before, but she looks to be about the same age as your sister. I marvel that he should dance a second time with such a child– he must be twice her age!"

The comment stuck with Darcy the remainder of the evening. His sentiments were echoed by his aunt, who approached him towards the close of the ball after they witnessed Lydia try, and fail, to solicit the colonel for a third dance.

"You must not allow your sister-in-law to be so obvious in her pursuits!" Lady Catherine said under her voice. "It is plain her mother has designs for her to attach herself to Colonel Fitzwilliam, but you and I both know such a thing is beyond the realm of possibilities. I urge you to do what you can to curtail this, so as not to cause the family any further embarrassment. We are still recovering from the shame of your own hasty union."

Darcy was in no mood to rebuke her. Besides, what good would it do ?

With a huff, Lady Catherine left to find her daughter, who was sitting alone in the corner to observe the dances. No doubt, she wished to repeat all her thoughts and feelings to Anne while her ire was still raised.

S

Elizabeth hadn't meant to overhear Lady Catherine's sharp words to Mr. Darcy, but having just returned from the retiring room, she could not help being mere feet away when Lady Catherine made her remarks about their sudden marriage. Her cheeks burned to hear Lady Catherine speak so openly of the shame their union brought. She knew her own father felt the shame of it as well, though her mother seemed to think it a wondrous thing for her daughter to have caught such a wealthy husband. Does Mr. Darcy feel ashamed to be married to me as well?

Though she had despised him initially, she had come to esteem him since their marriage. She had observed him to be a fair and generous master, a kind brother, and a gracious host. He was kind to her as well, respectful of the invisible boundary between them, and had yielded to her methods of running the household as its mistress. She recalled the tender moment between them when they had exchanged Christmas gifts, and Darcy's bravery in venturing out into the stormy night to rescue her after her last sleepwalking episode. Her heart beat at the memory of her relief at hearing his voice call out to her in the dark, and the feel of his strong arms as he carried her to safety.

But it stung her that he merely stood there calmly and listened to his aunt's berating, without even a word in her defense. Perhaps he still saw his marriage to her as nothing more than an obligation to be fulfilled, another measure of his generosity towards a poor unfortunate soul .

If I had not wandered into his room that night, I doubt whether he would have given a second thought to marrying me.

Nor would she have given any thought to marrying him. But still, they were married, and she was determined to bring no further shame to his family, either through her own conduct, or her family's.

Lady Catherine was right about one thing, though: something must be done to curb Kitty and Lydia's behavior, and to diminish their mother's influence, before they brought further ruin to the Bennet name. Perhaps Darcy had been right in his suggestion to invite Kitty and Lydia to remain with them at Pemberley for some months, where they might receive the governance they lacked at home.

S

The next day, she communicated her agreement of Darcy's plan to him, then shared it with her parents. She found Mrs. Bennet in the drawing room, idly reclining on the sofa, nursing a slight headache from the night before.

"Oh, Lizzy, there you are," Mrs. Bennet sat up straighter. "I wondered if I might speak with you. I have been thinking how good it would be, if Mr. Darcy were to invite his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, to stay here at Pemberley for a few days before our departure. His noble manners would surely make a welcome addition to your party here."

"No, Mamma, I do not think Mr. Darcy would welcome any more company at this time, not even from his own family. The house is altogether too full as it is."

"Nonsense! This house must have dozens of bedrooms. It cannot be too full to admit one more."

"Be that as it may, I do not think I shall try my husband's patience for it. There is, however, another matter which Mr. Darcy and I spoke of, and I wondered your opinion on it. "

"Certainly! I would be happy to give you my opinion on any matter you require."

"Mr. Darcy and I have been contemplating the need for more young ladies of Georgiana's age among her circle of companions. At the same time, we discussed how beneficial it might be for Lydia and Kitty to spend some months here with us, if you can spare them. They could study under Mrs. Younge's guidance, to further their education and refine their manners, which might improve their chances in society."

Mrs. Bennet clapped her hands in delight. "Oh, what an excellent plan! I knew I could count on you to think of your sisters, and how you might use your newfound influence to further their chances of making an excellent match. Perhaps Mr. Darcy might even see fit to invite some of his friends to stay with you for a time. The house will be less crowded, without all of us, so he would have room for additional guests. You might even suggest the colonel to him. He will surely wish to spend more time with his cousins before he departs for the continent. "

"I shall think on it. In the meantime, I must put this proposal forward to Papa."

"You know he shall have no objection to the loss of Lydia and Kitty. Daughters can always be spared!" Mrs. Bennet said.

"Yet it is proper I should ask him, now that I have confirmed your interest," Elizabeth said firmly.

Mrs. Bennet merely shrugged and returned to her resting posture.