Страница 12 из 69
She made one last, valiant effort to guide him, not for his own benefit, but that of the helpless infant now entirely dependent upon his judgment. “Boarding the child out would likely increase the pool of candidates.”
“We most certainly will,” declared Miss Elliot.
“We most certainly will not,” said Sir Walter.
Though Miss Elliot’s vexation with her father was apparent, her tone was restrained. “We do not have space for an infant and nurse here, nor at our lodgings in Bath when we return.”
“The Elliot heir will not spend the first year of his life living with a family of such ignoble origins that they make ends meet by the wife’s nursing a passel of other people’s children like a common dairy cow. He will have his own nurse, in his own home, as did you and your sisters.”
Miss Elliot gestured about her. “Where is the nursery to be? This is not Kellynch Hall.”
Sir Walter sighed heavily. “I must speak to Mr. Shepherd about this alteration in circumstances. It was all very well for us to reside in Bath this past year, but now that I have a son, we should return to the ancestral Elliot home.”
Elizabeth hoped for everyone’s sake—most particularly the child’s—that Mrs. Harville’s efforts had proved successful, and that by the time Sir Walter’s servant collected the celebrated “Elliot heir,” the matter of hiring a wet nurse would be a fait accompli.
She had experienced enough of Sir Walter and his daughter; she wanted nothing more than to complete their melancholy errands and end this wretched day. Sensing that Darcy was of similar mind, she tactfully brought the meeting to an end. Sir Walter and Miss Elliot escorted them to the door, full of expressions of pleasure in having made their acquaintance.
And not at all overcome by grief.
Once on the street, Darcy offered his arm, which Elizabeth accepted as they continued up the hill. “That was certainly not the meeting I anticipated,” he said.
“That was not even the person we anticipated meeting.”
“I ca
“Nor I,” she replied. “I had pitied Lady Elliot for having drawn her last breath among strangers, but now I believe she found more sympathy in Mrs. Harville’s home than she would have known in her own husband’s. When I die, I hope you take more interest in the event itself than in the modifications it will impose upon your attire.”
“It does appear that the Elliots’ marriage was not a match of affection.”
“How could it be, with Sir Walter already deeply in love with himself?” Elizabeth knew that many people married for reasons other than romantic attachment—her friend Charlotte Collins offered a prime example. But even Mr. Collins would pause to mourn his wife’s passing before hastening to Rosings with the news.
“Did you notice that Sir Walter did not enquire into any particulars of his wife’s death?” she asked. “Whether her last moments were peaceful? Whether she died knowing that she had given him the son he so obviously wanted? His thoughts and words focused entirely on his co
“Mr. Elliot might take the news more gravely.”
“Though Sir Walter does not wish for us to communicate any news to his cousin, I do feel that Mr. Elliot ought to be informed. Yet even Mr. Elliot—whatever his relationship was to the former Mrs. Clay, and for all his professions of concern—could not trouble himself to remain at the Harvilles’ during her travail, and gave us vague directions by which to find him. Do you truly think he will be any more moved by Lady Elliot’s death than Sir Walter was?”
Darcy stopped in front of the Lion. “Let us find out.”
Although a bored attendant at the Lion confirmed that Mr. William Elliot numbered among the i
Thankfully, they found all well with Georgiana and their daughter. Georgiana described how they and Sir Laurence had reached Broad Street and sent a surgeon back to the Cobb before the rain increased to an intensity that prevented them from continuing up the steep hill home. Their small party had taken refuge in a pastry shop, where they warmed themselves over tea and cake until the rain ceased and they could resume the walk to the cottage.
“As distressing as the circumstances were,” Georgiana said, “Sir Laurence was a reassuring presence. He knew just where to go and what to do, and took very good care of us. He was exceedingly attentive to both me and Lily-A
“Pray, do not feel guilty any longer,” Elizabeth said. “I am glad one of us had a day that was not miserable.”
“Two of us,” Georgiana corrected. “Lily-A
The animation in Georgiana’s eyes as she spoke of Sir Laurence made Elizabeth long to ask whether Lily-A
Besides, Elizabeth was not in playful humor. Though happy that Georgiana and Lily-A
The company of her own child, however, helped lift Elizabeth’s mood. So, too, did a bath and fresh clothing. As her maid completed a simple arrangement of her hair, Elizabeth watched Lily-A
Lily asked to go for a walk. Elizabeth wished she could indulge her daughter immediately, but she and Darcy had agreed to make one more attempt to call upon Mr. Elliot. They also felt they ought to return to the Harvilles’ home. Upon reaching their lodgings, Darcy had sent a note advising them to expect Sir Walter or his emissary to call for the infant, but both he and Elizabeth wanted to take more formal leave of the generous couple as they ended their involvement in this whole unfortunate event.
“I am afraid a walk with me will have to wait, Lily. Do you want to play with Betsy and Maggie a while longer?”
Lily-A