Darcy and Fitzwilliam: A Tale of a Gentleman and an Officer

I am in dire straits, old friend. I need you at Netherfield as soon as possible. Please hurry, and again, please do not say a word to Elizabeth. Hurry.

Charles

“Is something wrong, William?” Elizabeth stood at the breakfast buffet watching her husband’s brow darken.

“No, dear, nothing much really. However, some business does seem to have arisen that I will need to attend to as quickly as possible.”

“No trouble at Pemberley, I hope.” Georgiana quickly looked up from her tea.

“No, no, Georgiana.” Darcy folded the letter and put it into his pocket. “But it is something I must see to as soon as possible. Elizabeth and Georgiana, I am afraid I shall have to leave for a while. I will notify you as soon as I can ascertain the length of my departure. Aunt Catherine, is that all right with you? I should only be a few days at most.”

Catherine looked insulted.

“Whatever do you mean, ‘Is that all right?’ Why of course it’s all right! They are both welcome in my home for as long as they like.” Catherine picked up her teacup, muttering crossly to herself before her focus was derailed by several of her dozen or so dogs, now fighting over the scraps of ham and bacon and cheese she had thrown to them on the floor. “Spartacus! Ulysses! That is beyond enough! You are worse than spoiled children.” Two King Charles spaniels stopped for a moment and then assailed each other once again. “Whatever gets into those two?!”

“A few days?!” Elizabeth stopped halfway into her chair. “William, what is the issue?”

“Nothing, dear. Boring stuff really. It is the… drainage. Yes. A new drainage system is being tested by Charles at Netherfield Hall, and I promised him I would help out if he ran into any difficulty.” He leaned toward her to kiss her head. “Evidently, there’s a glitch, and Bingley is in need of some consultation. You know I am widely regarded as the local expert on drainage.”

Fitzwilliam mumbled into his coffee, “Evidently, water really does find its own level.”

“I will go and speak with him,” Darcy continued after glowering at his cousin, “and if I am unable to quickly remedy the situation, I will put him in touch with whatever professional is needed and return immediately.”

“Go take care of that business. I can watch over our Lizzy for as long as you need, Darcy.” Mr. Bennet, as usual, displayed no desire to know what problems there may be concerning physical operations of the estates. He immediately forgot about Darcy and hurriedly set upon finishing his breakfast so that he could return to “his” magnificent library.

“Thank you, sir. I will return as quickly as possible.”

Elizabeth was worried, despite his assurances. She knew his every mood and nuance; he was plainly concerned about more than drainage. She smiled sweetly at Darcy when he touched her hand and kissed her cheek.

***

The following morning, Lizzy watched from their bedroom window as his horse rode away. He sits so well on his horse, and he’s so handsome and kind and brave and noble and sweet and bold and heroic. Placing a protective hand over her stomach, she decided to have a word with their child.

“I must speak with you (we will settle on a name soon, I promise). Papa will be gone for a little while, helping out your uncle Charles. You will come to realize, when you are older (say one day old or two) that this is often the case with your father, since he is the most clever and decent of men. The happiness of many people, as well as our own, rests on his magnificent shoulders.”

She walked slowly to the bed. Still morning sleepy and already lonely for her husband, she lay down, tenderly holding her stomach. She yawned and smiled.

“Your mama is very clever also, you know.” Lying on her side she brought her knees up and cuddled her stomach in her arms. “I put a trinket in his coat pocket to surprise him, a locket within which is a lock of your mama’s baby hair. Hopefully this will make him feel so hideously guilty and wretched that he will return to us sooner than he had thought.”

This was, incredibly enough, Elizabeth’s first brazen attempt at wifely maneuvering, and she was quite proud. She was also extremely tired, gently patting her tummy and pulling the cover up to her shoulder, relieved that the little sprite within her had finally stopped booting her spine.

***

“Mrs. Darcy, Mrs. Darcy.” Her maid was trying to wake her by gently shaking her shoulder.

“William?” she garbled and looked around, blinking at the semidarkness of the room.

“No, ma’am, sorry, it’s just me, Cara. A message was delivered to you from Mrs. Bingley. Lady Catherine thought it might have something to do with Mr. Darcy’s errand. She said I should bring it right up to you.”