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Chapter 16

Posted on Friday, 4 June 2004

Horatio had been anxiously awaiting Georgiana’s return, thinking that given her injuries, Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth would have wished to cut their visit short and bring her home to rest. He had no way of knowing, of course, that she had slept for most of the afternoon, had been given one of Gertrude’s gowns to dress for dinner and then been comfortably settled on a sofa to enjoy the virtuosity of the Royal String Quartet with her family about her. It was now just past ten, and the fireworks display that would culminate the evening’s entertainments could be seen throughout Copenhagen. Its citizens came out into the streets to partake in the royal amusement. No invitation was needed; the bursts of color and shimmering sprays of light were there for all to enjoy.

He laughed to himself, thinking of the sequence of events that, once begun, had taken on a momentum and blessed path of their own. Had Christian deliberately neglected to invite him? He thought not; it truly must have been an oversight, for what would it have gained him? Had he planned on thrusting Lord Nelson on him to make him look foolish? He had to admit that he doubted that as well. He had been given the choice of any animal in the corral and had he picked one of the stallions prancing before him, his selection would certainly have been respected.

No, it had only been after he had declared himself concerning Georgiana that Christian had become angry and had sought to belittle him. Thank heaven that Lord Nelson had been forced upon him, for with a gentler creature he would probably have joined the others and never have come upon Georgie and Gertrude on the cliff. Of course, Christian would never know that his retribution had been the very means by which his sister’s life had been saved.

As the night sky lit up with one explosion after another and cascading stars came streaming down upon them, Georgiana watched with awe and delight. Each burst still startled her, and yet she was thrilled and excited by them. Christian came to stand beside her once again. He handed her a glass of champagne, insisting that it was doctor’s orders that she take some wine every few hours to dull the pain in her shoulders. Besides, that small amount would help her to sleep more comfortably tonight.

“Miss Darcy,” he said softly, looking intently into her eyes, “I do not ask that you betray any confidence you and my sister may be sharing, but I wish to say that I know Gertrude very well, and am certain that the accident today could not have been entirely your fault, as you keep insisting.”

She started to protest but he held up his hand to silence her. “There is not need for you to say anything. However, I do blame myself for letting the two of you ride off together unaccompanied. Gertrude can be a little wild at times and I should have been more cautious. I will not risk your safety again, Miss Darcy; I promise you that! I hope today’s unpleasantness hasn’t spoiled your good opinion of my family. That would deeply sadden me.”

“Not at all, Prince Christian. Your sister has been a warm and wonderful friend to me and made my visit all the more pleasant. Do not blame her for what happened today. It was an accident, unforeseen and unavoidable. Life is just like that sometimes.”

“You are very kind … and very diplomatic,” he said, taking her hand and kissing it gently, “but how I wish that you would drop the “Prince” when we are talking this way! Could we not call each other by our Christian names when we are alone together? Might I call you Georgiana, or is it too soon?”

She looked a bit uneasy. Clearly, he was rushing her.

“You may certainly call me Georgiana, but it would not be right for me to …”

“No, no. I understand that it is uncomfortable for you – a sign of your good breeding,” he said laughing. “I should not have suggested it, Miss Darcy. Forgive me.”

“There is nothing to forgive, Sir,” she said, trying to retrieve her hand without pulling it away from him – for he still held it and was kissing it now and again, openly flirting with her. She felt the warmth rise from her neck to her face and knew she must be quite flushed. The champagne was partly to blame, but Christian’s disconcerting gaze and warm smile were having their effect as well. It was hard for her to think clearly; it had already been a very disturbing day.

When the royal carriage passed his inn, Horatio untied Lord Nelson and followed it to the hotel’s entrance. He waved to Frederick and Anne, as they were first to disembark, and then saw Darcy leaning into the coach and bringing Georgiana out in his arms, carried her quickly through the entrance doors with Elizabeth directly behind him. His heart jolted and he raced towards the coach, looking to Anne for an explanation.

“She fell asleep on the ride home, Horatio. A bit too much champagne; that is all. Calm yourself, my dear, she is perfectly well,” replied Anne.

“Ah, good. I didn’t know what to think when I saw…” he said.

“Darcy just didn’t have the heart to wake her,” Frederick interjected. “And I have been anxious to give you an account of the royal reaction to your taking this fine beast back to town!” he said, his eyes twinkling!

“Ah yes, but first let me tie him here and speak to the driver,” said Horatio, taking Lord Nelson to the back of the carriage and fastening his reins to a side bar. He stroked the animal affectionately and whispered in his ear, “Thank you for being such a good friend. Christian was right when he said that we would get on well together. Take care of yourself, old boy. I shall never forget you.”

Horatio watched the entire party being whisked away before breakfast the next morning. He was on deck when the royal coach passed the Regalia on its way back to Rosenberg castle and was momentarily stung with envy. But he tried to focus on the fact that in two days time they would be setting sail for England and he would once again have Georgiana all to himself. Although, two days now seemed like a very long time to wait.

They were again treated to a very sumptuous meal, this time, since the weather was cooler, by the edge of the lake. The water glistened and lapped soothingly as they joked and ate and enjoyed each other’s company. Christian showed Georgiana every attention, but was careful not to overwhelm or monopolize her, giving her the time and opportunity to converse with everyone in the party.

The morning was spent seeing some of the famous sights of the city and ended with a private showing of the antiquities that had been salvaged at the newly built, but yet unopened Museum of Ancient Civilizations. The unique architecture of the vast and impressive building was alone worth the visit. Christian led them around, giving background information on each piece and providing amusing or terrifying anecdotes of their discovery and retrieval, as each case warranted. They were all mesmerized by his stories and marveled at the detailed history and complex scientific knowledge he possessed. They were all painfully aware, however, of Horatio’s absence from this exhibition. If anyone deserved to see these items displayed, it was Horatio.

After lunch, they were again shown to the rooms they had been given the previous day. King Fredrik had taken Darcy at his word and had scheduled in two and a half hours of rest for his guests. They could, of course, amuse themselves with a variety of other offerings, but both couples were only too happy to take full advantage of this private and restful time together. Georgiana and Gertrude, on the other hand, took the opportunity to play duets, walk in the garden and enjoy a game of croquet.

When their first game ended, Christian joined them, insisting on playing the winner, who, he of course knew to be Georgiana. Gertrude bowed out gracefully, finding a chaise in one of the nearby arbors, where she could watch and sip her cooling raspberry tea. After the first few shots were taken, Georgiana threw down her mallet, placed her hands on her hips and said with mock indignity, “If you insist on letting me win, Sir, the least you could do is make it a little less obvious! It is most demeaning for you not to even make a show of playing your best!”

He was so startled by her little performance that he burst out laughing, and dropping his mallet as well, came to her side and took her hand. “This game was a terrible excuse to spend time with you, Miss Darcy, for I really detest it. And if I was playing badly, it was only because my focus was on you and not on this silly game. Would you care for a game of archery instead, or a walk through the garden maze or…I know, a tour of the orchids in the greenhouse?”

“That would be lovely,” she agreed. “Let’s get Gertrude to join us.”

“By all means,” he smiled. Gertrude agreed to the change of activity, but first wished to change her shoes and promised to meet them at the greenhouse in a few moments. Thus, they wandered slowly towards the beautiful glass structure on their own.

Two days – he had just two days to win her heart and mind and he knew it was not enough time. Not that he expected anything to be settled before they left for England, but he wanted to send her back thinking of him – thinking about the life he could give her, the family, the country, the prestige – the love. Oh yes, he had to let her know, in every way possible, how much he loved and desired her. She already had Hornblower’s devotion, so he would have to prove to her that his would surpass it, and that there would be countless advantages to a life lived with him – advantages to herself, her family and to the children that she would one day bear. And this would have to be done without any deprecating reference to Hornblower; for that would surely backfire on him. No, he would have to restrain himself where Horatio was concerned. The Lord Nelson fiasco had made that perfectly clear!

Since Hornblower had already made inroads to her heart, perhaps his best strategy would be to work on her sensible, logical and beautiful mind. Perhaps his focus should be on convincing her that this was the life she really wanted, the life she deserved and the only one that could truly make her happy in the long run. He would certainly not neglect the romantic aspect of their relationship, but if he could plant the seeds of doubt concerning her happiness with Hornblower, the rest, he believed, would fall easily into place. She was not indifferent to him – he was well aware of that!

“So tell me a bit about your life in England, Miss Darcy; how do you spend your days at Pemberley?”

“Oh, I doubt you’d find my daily activities very interesting, Prince Christian; I’m afraid they are rather domestic in nature,” she replied.

“Ah, but a lovely woman, contented in domestic duties is one to be treasured. Men may seek adventure in other aspects of their lives, Miss Darcy, but when it comes to love and family, constancy and contentment are the virtues most valued – and often hardest to find.” He stopped suddenly and grinning broadly, shook his head and said, “Of course, I quickly made the assumption that you are content in this domestic life of yours. Am I correct?”

“Actually, I am! I adore my little nieces and nephews and love being an important part of their daily lives. I cannot imagine it otherwise! Then there are my duties to the tenants’ families and so on and so on,” she laughed, “but Elizabeth and I do so many of these things together that they seem more like pleasant outings than obligations. And I do set aside time to practice my instrument every day; I am religious about that!”

“Well, I am glad to hear that you are not entirely selfless, Miss Darcy,” he said, giving her a teasing look. “But I can easily imagine how loving and playful you are with them. They are lucky indeed to have such an auntie!”

“Thank you,” she said, beaming with the joy that instantly enveloped her when she thought of them. “But it is I who am the fortunate one. Nothing touches one’s heart like the love of a child.”

“Then perhaps it is time for you to have one of your own,” he said softly, as though to himself.

Georgiana blushed and turned away from him. She had no idea how to respond to such a statement, but the fact that he had made it, forced her to face a fact she had been trying to deny. Christian Swenson was serious in his interest in her. He wasn’t just grateful for the care she had given him on the Regalia or simply being an attentive host to further the diplomatic needs of his uncle the king. He was courting her – openly courting her,… and she would have to put a stop to it immediately! Had she been encouraging him, she wondered? Had her unabashed enjoyment of his attention blinded her to her own behavior? She would not even allow herself to think on that subject!

He knew that he was risking frightening her by being so forward and outspoken. Yet he thought it best to have her think about the possibility of her life in Denmark – her life with him, while she was in the midst of all this grandeur and under his seductive influence. He wanted her to imagine herself living here, owning the gardens she was exploring, picture herself happy among the treasures and luxuries he could lavish on her. He wanted to give her a tiny taste of what it would be like to be his.

He stepped towards her, and before she could take in what was about to happen, he gently stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers and murmured hoarsely, “If only you would consent to be the mother of my children, Georgiana. You cannot be blind to my feelings for you. I admit to being a man of the world, but I have never felt the depth of love and desire I feel for you. You must recognize how totally besotted I am and have pity on me!”

She started to back away, but he pulled her toward him by her waist and smoothing back wisps of hair from her temples, gazed into her eyes with such passion and resolve that she was transfixed – unable to move or even breathe as he inched towards her. He placed a gentle kiss on each of her eyelids before giving her a knowing grin and moving to her mouth. Her kissed her tenderly, then slowly deepened the kiss, taking his time to tease her lower lip and then the upper – urging her lips to open, to give up their sweetness.

She pulled back abruptly and putting her hands on his chest, attempted to push him away. “Christian, I’m flattered, but this is not right! My heart belongs to another and I’m not free to…. I must be the most naïve, stupid girl on earth, but I didn’t realize how you felt until a few moments ago. I’m sorry. Please forgive me and let me go!”

“But you are still free, Georgiana – free to think about what you truly need and want. I am not blind to your relationship with Mr. Hornblower, and propriety and perhaps even common decency would have me step aside. But I love you too much to give you up to him – not just because I want you, but because – forgive me for sounding so pompous – but I believe I know what will truly make you happy and I know that I can give it to you. You are not yet engaged to him and all I ask is that you look at me seriously and think about a possible future as my wife. You are more precious to me than all the treasures I have ever uncovered, and I shall not leave you to go gallivanting around the world – unless you wish to come with me, of course. We can purchase a lovely estate near your brother and spend half the year in England if you wish it and your family and friends will always have a home with us. There is nothing I will not do to make you happy, Georgiana.”

No sound escaped her lips, for her hand was firmly pressed against her mouth, but her tears flowed freely as he spoke and although she kept shaking her head, she did not move from the spot until he had finished. But when he reached out for her again, she ran.

She ran towards the side entrance of the castle, hoping to slip in unseen and up to her room, but Gertrude was just coming down the steps as she approached it. She turned and headed the other way, not really knowing where to go or what to do. Then the snorts and whinnies of the horses suddenly intruded on her consciousness and she found herself in front of the stables. It was here that she would find the only living soul to whom she could tell this pitiful story without the fear of reproach and she slipped inside to find her. The familiar earthy smells comforted her as she went from stall to stall and she soon recognized the soft brown eyes she had been seeking. She approached her gingerly, unsure that she deserved even this creature’s approval. The mare tossed her head and came to nuzzle her lovingly.

“Oh, my beauty! What have I done?” she whispered to her.

When she had poured out her heart to this very patient and sympathetic friend, she knew she had to face the people whose opinions really mattered. She remembered what Fitzwilliam had said about Ambassador Torrington’s desire to strengthen England’s diplomatic ties with the Danish family and she cringed at her own stupidity. Fitzwilliam had made a point of not wishing to offend them and now she would be accused of toying with the heart of their beloved Christian!

She found some water to refresh her face, drew back her shoulders and walked as calmly as she could back to the front entrance. A butler informed her that the gentlemen had just gone into the billiard room, and that the ladies had not yet come down, so she gratefully made her way to Elizabeth’s chamber. She found her at her dressing table, redoing her hair.

“Georgie, you are just in time. We are to have some tea and then head to the shops to find gifts for the family. We managed to convince King Fredrik that this was an absolute necessity and far more important than going to the zoological park,” said Elizabeth without really turning around to look at her.

When she received no answer, she rose to face her and was shocked to see her sister’s sorrowful expression. Her first thought was that Torrington had gotten to her somehow and she came to kneel beside her, taking her hand in her own.

“What’s happened, Georgiana? Tell me, please. You need not fear telling me anything!” she pleaded.

Georgiana started to cry and told her story again, not quite as dramatically as she had the first time and omitted Christian’s sensuous kisses. She had allowed him to kiss her – she had just stood there and permitted it to continue – she had perhaps even encouraged him! She just wasn’t sure of anything any more.

“Oh, Georgiana! You have done nothing wrong, nothing that you need regret. Christian fell in love with you on board the Regalia when he first met you. Anne saw it immediately! Do you think you should have been less kind or less compassionate to avoid his possible admiration? It is nonsense to think that you are to blame! Fitzwilliam and I had hoped that it might only have been an infatuation that would pass, but obviously….’

“You knew? You knew that he cared for me and said nothing? Why didn’t you tell me – warn me about him? How could you let me make such a fool of myself? Behave in such a naïve, stupid way! How could you, Elizabeth?!!!”

“Georgiana, we didn’t think that Christian would ever declare his affection for you. Royals usually marry royals and we thought that even if he desired it, his family would dissuade him. Truly, Georgie, we saw his admiration but we thought it would all come to nothing! Had we told you of his regard it would have been very difficult for you behave normally around him. You would have been questioning your every word, every look… You must believe that we thought it out carefully and felt it was best to…”

“Anne! You said Anne saw it immediately! So she and Frederick know as well! Dear G-d, how humiliating! What did you all think you were doing – watching a theatrical unfold before your eyes? Was everyone enjoying a good laugh on my account?” Elizabeth gasped.

Georgiana was suddenly struck by her own impertinence. She had never spoken to Elizabeth that way, not to anyone! Distressed at having treated Elizabeth so shamefully, she looked at her apologetically. “Forgive me Elizabeth. You didn’t deserve that. I know you have my best interests at heart, but…” she began sobbing again.

Elizabeth came to hold her and found herself crying as well. She had never thought that Georgiana would feel betrayed by their decision to simply wait and see, and if anything, she thought she would have been flattered by Christian’s affection!

When Georgiana had calmed herself a bit, she looked into Elizabeth’s eyes and pleaded, “Please tell me that Horatio doesn’t know the extent of Prince Christian’s feelings for me – or his intentions? Please at least tell me that!”

Elizabeth lowered her eyes and pursed her lips in an expression that Georgiana knew very well. She then turned to her and asked in a barely audible voice. “Have you never noticed their rivalry for your attention? They have been doing battle for the last two days now,” she whispered. “I’m afraid Horatio is well aware of the situation and doing his best to control his temper – for the sake of diplomacy.”

Georgiana covered her face with her hands. When she lowered them a few seconds later she had the most frightened and bewildered look on her face. “Horatio hasn’t given up on me, has he? He knows I love him; he knows I wouldn’t…” The image of Christian’s grin before he had lowered his mouth on hers appeared before her and guilt prevented her from finishing her sentence.

“I need to go back to the hotel, Elizabeth. I must get away from here. I cannot bear to face Christian, or anyone! Please take me back. I want to calm Horatio’s fears – assure him that he has nothing to worry about! Please Elizabeth!” she begged.

“Georgie, as much as I would like to, I cannot leave the party after having made such a fuss about shopping for the children. They have made arrangements for us to see their finest craftsmen; we cannot change our minds now. If you wish to say that you are ill, perhaps Gertrude would accompany you back.”

“No, no! Not Gertrude! She … she asked me about my relationship with Horatio. She knows too much.”

It was at that moment that Anne knocked on the door. “They are waiting for us Elizabeth. Are you ready?” she asked.

Georgiana rose quickly and went to the washing basin, hiding her face in a splash of water. “We’ll be ready in a moment, Anne,” she said, giving her sister a measured smile. She would pull herself together and do her best to be cheerful. After all, there were few things that gave her more pleasure than choosing gifts for the children.

Chapter 17

Posted on Thursday, 10 June 2004

They had been very successful at a shop that specialized in handsomely made wooden toys. The workmanship and artistry was exceptional and so they had purchased two marionettes for each child, one hero and one villain, so that a variety of stories could be acted out. They chose the lovely longhaired princess and evil witch for Emma, the brave knight and scheming wizard for William and the dragon and handsome prince for Edward to grow into. The theater itself was magnificently outfitted with every sort of prop one’s imagination could desire. They also bought Edward a swing in the shape of a dragon, with scaly green wings and fierce red eyes. For their nieces, nephews and Robert they chose a variety of wooden puzzles, hobbyhorses, dollhouses and the like.

In another establishment, Georgiana bought Emma a soft-bodied doll with several Danish folk costumes to change into and Edward, a family of stuffed monkeys that hung on to each other by their tails. It was her special gift for William that was eluding her, for he was too old for many playthings and yet not quite old enough for the more serious games.

Risking her indignation, for he knew his presence still made her uncomfortable, Christian came to stand beside her and offered a suggestion. “There are some wonderfully intricate wooden construction sets that might interest you, Miss Darcy. Most boys like to build things – if only for the joy of knocking them down afterward.”

She had, at first, been annoyed with his continued attention when she had made it quite clear that she wished to be left alone, but she had to admit that the construction set was an excellent and thoughtful idea. She barely looked up at him as she thanked him for the suggestion and made her way towards the display. He followed her. As she picked up some of the pieces to examine them, he busied himself with one of the sets at a low table set out for that purpose. He was just putting the finishing touches on his fort, when she finally had the courage to look down, and chuckled, despite herself, at the sight of him. The proud expression on his face was priceless.

“What do you think of my fort, Miss Darcy? Will it stand through the siege, do you think?”

“I don’t really know, Sir. I suppose it depends on the strength of your adversary!” And with that, she gently pushed on the fort’s tower and watched the pieces tumble to the ground.

He laughed. “Such strength…and such cruelty, in just one little finger! But then, I do not believe that we are truly adversaries; do you, Miss Darcy?”

“No, Prince Christian, we are not,” she said softly, feeling a rush of warmth color her cheeks. Now that she was calmer, and had had a chance to view the situation a bit more clearly, she admitted that she could not accuse him of behaving all that badly. He had been rather forward to kiss her as he had, but how could she continue to punish him for expressing his love for her? It was very flattering, and in many ways touching to be thought of in that way, especially by someone as charming and well respected as Prince Christian. She wished she had seen it earlier – been more aware of the intensity of his feelings, for then, perhaps, she could have behaved differently and prevented so much of this unpleasantness for herself and for him. But she could not deny that he held a certain attraction for her – one that troubled her deeply. If she truly loved Horatio as much as she believed she did, how could Christian’s charms have any effect on her? Why was she not completely immune to his smile and sparkling eyes? And why, oh why, had she allowed him to kiss her way?

These disturbing feelings had been lying just beneath the surface for the past few days and she had shoved them aside, unwilling to face them, no less examine them. But now, with Christian’s demands that she consider a life with him, she found it impossible not to ask herself those terrifying questions. What she needed was time alone to think, but there was little hope of finding any solitude when diplomacy and King Fredrik’s whims had to be considered at every turn.

“I think William will adore this set,” she said as brightly as she could. “Thank you for suggesting it. Would you like me to purchase one for you as well? You seem to be deriving great enjoyment from your creation.”

“Ah, that is very kind, dear lady, but I shall confine myself to building with somewhat larger pieces. If you would just name the place, I would set to work immediately to build a palace for you there.”

She turned away in embarrassment. What had seemed to her like innocent teasing had, again, turned into something far too serious. She would have to be more careful!

“I believe I have completed my purchases, Elizabeth,” she said suddenly, taking a few steps towards her sister. “Are you ready to continue, or are you too fatigued?”

“No, no! I feel very well. You wanted to visit the music shop and Frederick and Fitzwilliam wanted to browse at the booksellers. I don’t know how many volumes they will find there in English, but they are determined to look,” said Elizabeth.

The accompanying servants were asked to deal with the purchases and the entire party meandered across the street to the booksellers. There, they discovered a great many books in both English and French, as if the Danes were still making an effort to remain neutral, as they had originally tried to do at the beginning of the war.

Darcy chuckled as he picked up a book with a Danish title that included a name he recognized immediately. “Georgiana, is this not the book you bought for me a few months ago? “El Mirador” was it not?”

She came to take the book from his hand and her emotions overwhelmed her. It had been their first private encounter and her memories of that day held a special place in her heart. “Yes, it is the book that Horatio suggested I buy for you. He said you would enjoy it and he was right.”

Darcy looked at his sister’s suddenly somber face and took her hand. “I was not aware that Horatio was the one who recommended it to you?” he said softly. “Why did you not tell me?”

Georgiana raised her eyes to his and gave him a faint smile. “You were rather upset with me at the time, if you remember. I didn’t want to upset you further,” she whispered.

King Fredrik, having overheard part of the exchange, came to examine another of the volumes and asked, “Was this one of the campaigns that Mr. Hornblower was personally involved in?”

“No, Uncle, El Mirador is about a campaign fought solely on land by the army and a small unit of riflemen. The navy was not at all involved,” said Christian, his countenance betraying his annoyance that Horatio Hornblower should once again be invading everyone’s thoughts.

“Yes, it was about a Spanish priest who was supplying us with vital information and the battle that ensued when the French discovered his betrayal,” said Darcy. Noting the look in Prince Christian’s eyes, he tried to steer the conversation away from Horatio, and put the book down to ask King Fredrik about a famous Danish writer he had recently read about. Perhaps his work had been translated into English?

Christian collected himself before daring to approach Georgiana with the books he had brought over for her to see. He held out a large, beautifully bound children’s book and said, “I hope you will accept this as a small gift for your nieces and nephews. It is one of the most popular children’s books in Denmark.

Distressed and fatigued by her conflicting emotions, she said rather sharply, “I’m sorry Prince Christian, but my nieces and nephews do not understand Danish. I don’t see how they could enjoy it.”

He lowered his eyes to the book and said nothing for a few moments. “I know that you could neither read nor understand the text, Miss Darcy, but the book is best known for the beauty of its illustrations. It is a book of common fairytales, but the illustrator is one of our most renowned artists and the plates are beautifully illuminated. I thought that you would simply provide your own narrative to go along with the pictures.” He opened the book to a plate showing Rapunzel, lowering her hair from the bramble-encrusted tower as the prince gazed up at her. The gold strands in her hair shone like the sun. It was the most beautiful illustration Georgiana had ever seen; indeed, to her mind, it belonged in a museum. She was heartily ashamed of herself and closed her eyes momentarily to regain her composure. “Forgive me Prince Christian. My earlier comment was unfeeling and quite inexcusable. The book is exquisite and my entire family will love it – adults as well as children.”

“Good,” he smiled, very eager to forgive her, “then please accept this last gift for your nephew William, as I am sure he will consider himself far too mature for fairytales. It is an atlas of equal beauty and keys to each map are, of course, all symbolic, so there is nothing he will not understand. I think every young man should have an atlas of the world, do you not, Miss Darcy.”

She could only laugh and accept both gifts as graciously as possible. She was extremely tired from the emotions of the day and had no idea how she would ever get through the afternoon and evening.

At the music shop, she purchased some sheet music for herself and Elizabeth and a beginner’s book on notes and chords for guitar. She then added some standard sheet music from the classical guitar repertoire and a manuscript tablet. Prince Christian was very impressed with her selection and asked her how long she had been studying the guitar. He stiffened at her reply and then turned the topic of conversation to something more mundane. It was time for some rest and refreshments, he declared. He would arrange for the whole party to stop at his favorite café, not three miles away.

When he approached his uncle, King Fredrik was in what looked like, a rather private conversation with Mr. Darcy, but both men gestured for him to join them. They were on a secret mission to purchase a fur-lined pelisse for Mrs. Darcy and needed Christian to steer the ladies away and entertain them until the deed was accomplished. That fit in perfectly with Christian’s plans for the café and he sent the servant to fetch the carriage.

They enjoyed a delicious and beautifully served tea under the shady boughs of some tall, old oaks, with a view of a pond full of ducks and swans to entertain them. Georgiana had seated herself between Anne and Elizabeth and was now able to rest a bit, being far enough away from Christian to be assured some respite from his disquieting remarks. He quietly savored the Napoleon he had ordered as the ladies chatted, but when he saw Georgiana glance up at him, he grinned, and asked his aunt to pass his plate over to her. “Please share it with me, Miss Darcy. The pastry chef has outdone himself today,” he said, licking his fork as he gazed at her. Georgiana reddened at this intimate gesture and Elizabeth and Anne’s eyes widened, looking to Queen Beatrice for assistance. But the Queen simply took a forkful of the confection herself and declared it positively sinful, before passing it on to her young guest.

“Thank you, but I am quite content to simply finish my tea,” said Georgiana politely, and the plate was deposited right in the middle of the table for all to see. Elizabeth, now a bit flushed herself – but more from anger than embarrassment – suggested a walk over the little bridge that spanned the pond. Everyone agreed and the group rose from the table to begin their stroll.

At first, Elizabeth tried to keep Georgiana between herself and Anne, but she soon realized that for the three of them to be walking arm in arm, to the exclusion of the Countess and Queen would certainly be rude. She therefore left Georgiana on Anne’s arm and joining Queen Beatrice, engaged her in conversation. The Countess, in turn, managed to fall into step on the other side of Anne, thus making it possible for Christian to take Georgiana’s hand and slip it into the crook of his arm. Then, under the pretext of showing her some wildflowers, he choreographed their removal from the group, and slowing his pace, soon had them at a comfortable distance from the others.

“Miss Darcy… Georgiana,” he said, now caressing her hand as he spoke. “I wish to apologize for my behavior earlier today. I frightened you with my ardor, and that was the last thing I wanted to do. But I will risk your disapproval again by saying that I kissed you in the hope that my passion would ignite your own. I know that my person is not repulsive to you.”

She gasped at the remark and tried to move away from him, but he caught both her hands, turning her towards him. “Please don’t run from me, Georgiana. Allow me to plead my case and then, I promise you, I shall press you no further. If your relationship with Mr. Hornblower cannot survive the stress of this conversation, then I doubt that you will have much chance for happiness together.” He waited for her to look at him and acknowledge the truth of his statement.

It took some time for her to lift her eyes to his and when she finally nodded, he released one hand and continued to slowly lead her down the path. “I realize that it has never been necessary for you to concern yourself with marrying well. You have lived your life in wealth and high social standing and I understand that your own fortune assures your continued comfort. Perhaps the only thing you have had to think about is finding a suitable match – someone who would bring honor to the Darcy name and fit in well with your family and friends. You may never have sought to marry well, Georgiana, but, if I may say so without you thinking me too arrogant, I believe that you now have the opportunity to do so.” He paused for a moment to lift her chin to meet his gaze.

“Our son would one day be the King of Denmark. Our daughters would have all of Europe at their feet. Your decision affects generations, Georgiana; all your family would benefit from our marriage. And do you not think that your brother would welcome such a connection?” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the tips of her fingers. “I know that you do not love me as I love you, but I would not press you into this marriage if I did not know in my heart that once we are husband and wife – once we were intimate, that I could make you love me. This would not be a marriage of convenience; it would be a passionate and loving union… and one that would give you an honored place in European society.”

She had decided, moments ago, to forget her anxiety and to truly attend to all he had to say. She watched his face as he spoke, and searched his eyes for proof of sincerity and genuine affection. She wanted to remember all his arguments and more importantly all that she felt as she listened to his impassioned speech. She would need to draw on these images and how they had affected her heart later on. An odd calm suddenly washed over her – as if her heart had already settled the matter without having informed her mind. She was confused and somewhat disturbed by these conflicting feelings for Horatio and Christian, but she was not longer afraid.

Georgiana was even more quiet than usual on the ride back to their hotel. She was so weary and was looking forward to some time to think before dressing for dinner. It was difficult having her family so close, and yet to being unable to share any of her turbulent feelings with them. How she wanted to unburden herself to Elizabeth! She was a bit ashamed of her own behavior, but she needed to talk it out anyway. Their inability to communicate had one benefit, however; Fitzwilliam knew nothing of her experiences today and she felt that perhaps that had worked out for the best.

As they ascended the stairs to their respective apartments, Elizabeth took Georgiana’s arm and said softly, “Forgive me for leaving you earlier. I simply didn’t know how to keep you away from him without being obviously rude. I hope he behaved like a gentleman and that the conversation was not too distressing. Whatever he said, you certainly handled it very well, Georgie.”

“Neither you nor I had a choice in the matter, Elizabeth; I am well aware of that. But yes, I allowed him to have his say and he promised not to press me further. I have a great deal to consider now and that is what is most distressing to me. Whatever happened to our relaxing little holiday in Denmark?”

Elizabeth was surprised to hear that Georgiana had doubts and decided it was best to just listen. If Georgiana was actually considering Christian’s offer, she must be very troubled indeed. “Would it help to talk about it, Georgie?”

“I think a bath would be very soothing just now. May I come to you when I am dressed?”

“Of course,” replied Elizabeth, stepping forward to kiss Georgiana’s cheek. “I’ll be waiting for you.”

As she lay in the steaming water, Georgiana tried to make sense of the nagging agitation that afflicted her mind. She did not love Christian; she was convinced of that and yet, there was a certain physical attraction that haunted her. To her pure and innocent heart, these feelings were treasonous to Horatio’s love and she could not make peace with herself concerning them.

Then there was the whole idea of elevating her family’s status through marriage, which she had not ever considered before. Would Fitzwilliam take pride in such a connection? Would there be benefits to her dear, sweet nieces and nephews if they were able to socialize with the aristocracy of Europe? Did she owe it to her unborn children to provide them with a royal family? She knew that she, herself, would prefer anonymity. A quiet life, like the one she had known at Pemberley was what would make her happy. But now that Pandora’s box had been opened, did she have the right to think only of herself?

“How beautiful you look! That is the perfect gown for the opera tonight,” said Elizabeth as Georgiana entered the room.

“Believe me, I would much rather stay in tonight,” replied her sister.

“I know you must be very troubled, Georgie. Is there something I can do to help you sort out your feelings?”

‘Yes, I do need to talk to you, Elizabeth, although I am afraid of what you will think of me once you have heard how I have behaved today,” she said hesitantly.

“Georgiana Darcy! I know you too well to believe that you could ever do anything that would make me think less of you. You are much too hard on yourself, my dearest.”

Georgiana raised her lowered lids and murmured, “I allowed him to kiss me, Elizabeth, really kiss me. I didn’t protest or pull away, I just stood there and let the sensation wash over me. How could I do that when in my heart I feel as if I am already betrothed to Horatio? How is it that Christian can affect me this way when I love Horatio so?”

Elizabeth could not help but laugh, although she knew it would distress Georgiana. “Christian Swenson is an elegant, sensual and extremely handsome man. There are few women who would not melt from his gaze alone! You need only hear Anne’s whispered comments when he enters a room to know that he attracts ladies of all ages and marital status. But it is only an innocent and playful attraction – it means nothing.”

“Do you mean to tell me that Anne Wentworth is affected by him as well? How is that possible? She is a married woman!”

“Yes, she is married, Georgiana – and very happily so – but that does not mean that she is blind to his masculine charms. In fact, I think it takes a married woman to really appreciate the attributes of a well built and charming man,” said Elizabeth, blushing a bit.

“What are you saying, Elizabeth?”

“I am saying that this is the first time in your life that you have allowed yourself the luxury of flirting and accepting the attentions of an amorous young man. Georgiana, your experience with George Wickham at fifteen made you fearful and ashamed, and Fitzwilliam’s desire to protect you kept you isolated for too long. Where as my younger sisters have had far too many opportunities to enjoy the attentions of charming young men, you have had too few. The only man who you have ever really flirted with was Richard and you were only able to do that because you knew he was safe.”

“I never flirted with Richard!” said Georgiana indignantly. But then, on seeing the broad grin on Elizabeth’s face, she smiled herself and said, “Well, can you really blame me? He is such a delightful tease and I had to practice on someone.”

“Precisely! You were never able enjoyed the romantic attentions of the young men trying so hard to impress you at the balls we attended. There was always that underlying fear that they were only interested in advancing themselves through marriage. Now, suddenly, you have two extraordinary young men courting you. It is hard for me to believe that you have managed to keep both feet on the ground! Don’t be alarmed by your attraction to Christian, and certainly don’t be ashamed of it. There could be nothing more natural at your time of life and in your present situation.”

“It makes me feel somewhat better to hear you say so, Elizabeth, but even if there is no reason for me to be ashamed of my attraction, it never-the-less makes me doubt the depths of my feelings for Horatio! He deserves someone more pure of heart and constant. Perhaps it is I who do not deserve him,” she said sadly.

“Only you can tell if your attraction to Christian is a titillating flirtation or the beginning of real affection, Georgiana, but guilt should not play a role in your decision. Do you think that you could love him?” asked Elizabeth.

“I don’t know. I think him clever and charming and witty… And there are other advantages….. Perhaps I should be considering…” she said softly.

“Ah, so now we come down to the heart of the matter,” thought Elizabeth. “You are a true Darcy, aren’t you, my girl. Duty and family honor,” she said to herself.

“Well,” she said, taking Georgiana’s hand, “if your heart is still so confused, then perhaps your mind will help clear up the dilemma.” And walking over to the writing table she took a sheet of paper and folded it in half. She put Horatio’s name at the top of one column and Christian’s at the top of the other.

“Let us make a list of each gentleman’s personal qualities and attributes and see what it suggests.”

“You make it sound as if I am hiring a servant or making a large purchase, Elizabeth! One cannot decide on marriage on the basis of a list.”

“No, you are correct in that,” said Elizabeth, smiling, “but sometimes seeing things in black and white can help us to understand ourselves better. Play along, Georgie; it cannot hurt.”

Georgiana nodded and came to sit beside her sister.

“Good! Well let us start with Christian. What would you say on his behalf?”

“Well, he is very handsome,” laughed Georgiana. “We can all agree on that! And charming – and intelligent – and witty – and well mannered.”

Elizabeth repeated each attribute as she wrote it down and then looked to Georgiana for more.

“But the same can be said for Horatio,” said Georgiana. “And he has had to educate himself. He learned all those languages without the benefit of royal tutors and the guitar without music masters…. He may not be quite as beautiful as Christian but there is strength of character in the lines of his face and he is so sweet and more truly charming, I think.”

“All right! We’ll put charming, plus, under Horatio. What else?”

“Christian has wealth, rank and social advantages,” she said softly. “He is in line for the throne and is well respected throughout Europe,… as is Horatio, of course, but for different reasons. His family seems to approve of me. He says …he loves me.” The volume of her voice had diminished and she was staring down at the hands.

Elizabeth was not insensitive to her melancholy and said in a more animated manner, “Now let us add to Horatio’s list. What can you say for him?”

“Well, he is genuinely good and hard working. He puts his full heart into everything he does and he is completely unselfish. He is loyal, and patriotic and very courageous…”

“Oh, but Christian is loyal and patriotic and courageous as well. I must add those qualities to his side also,” said Elizabeth.

“Oh, no! Don’t do that! Oh, this is ridiculous! This whole exercise doesn’t make sense! It won’t help at all!” cried Georgiana, now pacing the room in frustration.

“Why are you so upset, Georgie? Are you afraid that Christian’s list will be too long or that Horatio’s will be too short?” she asked with an arch look.

“Aaaargh! It doesn’t matter! Don’t you see? These lists are meaningless,” she cried as she came to Elizabeth’s side and pulled the paper from her hand. “Because I don’t care about any of it – the Royalty, the wealth, the society! I love Horatio and none of the rest matters!” And with that she tore the sheet in half and collapsed into the chair and wept.

Elizabeth sat back in her chair and sighed. This had been a somewhat risky business, but she had been relatively sure of the outcome and was extremely glad to have been proved right.

“ Well then,” said Elizabeth, coming to her side and stroking back wisps of hair from her face. “If you care so much for the gentleman, may I suggest that you relieve his suffering and agree to see him. He sought you out earlier and I told him that you could not be disturbed. He must be quite anxious by now.”

“Oh yes! My G-d, where is he?” cried Georgiana.

“I imagine he is downstairs, waiting.”

The dinner had been exquisitely prepared and the opera beautifully staged and sung and they were now strolling along the harbor promenade. Georgiana allowed Christian to take her hand as they walked and chatted about the performance. When they had run out of accolades for both the composer and the singers, Georgiana decided to broach the painful subject.

“Prince Christian, I have given some very serious thought to all the things you said today and I wish to tell you that I have come to a decision. I want you to know how grateful and privileged I have felt to have been the object of your affection. I did not take your flattering statements lightly, I….”

“Are you telling me that you have chosen to marry Hornblower?” he asked in disbelief, cutting her off before she could finish her carefully rehearsed declaration.

“Yes, that is what I know is right for me. As I told you yesterday, my heart is already bound up with his and I simply cannot change that. I hope you will be able to forgive me in time. I did not set out to hurt you; you must know that!”

He angrily held up his hand to silence her and walked some distance away to compose himself. He paced back and forth for some time as she watched him and finally returned to her with a most determined look on his face.

Christian Swenson was not accustomed to disappointment. He had never been rejected by a woman before, and having offered Georgiana his heart as well as his kingdom, he could not fathom her refusal. His pride would not allow him to concede defeat. He would win her yet!

“Georgiana, I know that I promised not to press you further, but there is something that I must still say – for your own good. I don’t believe that you have been able to make a truly informed decision because painful facts have been deliberately kept from you. And I think it unconscionable for you to enter a marriage without fully understanding the difficulties that may lie ahead.” His eyes blazed as he spoke and his countenance was grim.

“What are you implying Christian? If you have something to tell me than please do so, if not, please don’t frighten me so.”

“It is not my place to tell another man’s secrets, but I would imagine that your honorable Mr. Hornblower has been hesitant to tell you about his experiences in the war.”

“That is where you are mistaken, Sir. He has told me about many of the campaigns and his role in them – his victories, as well as the difficulties he had to endure.”

“Is that what he called them – difficulties – such a nice, polite word for a dirty business. But then, why would he want to tell you that he was beaten, starved and tortured for so many months in that Spanish prison. You may then come to realize that perhaps he did not survive this war completely unscathed – that perhaps he is not quite whole. I know your heart is set on having children, Georgiana. Despite his love for you, he may not be able to bed you properly, no less give you children!”

Chapter 18

Posted on Friday, 18 June 2004

Her first instinct was to allow the horror of his statement to overtake her and dissolve in a flood of tears. She felt her heart suddenly locked in a vice, and the actual, physical pain of it, stunned her. Yet she had enough fortitude to realize that he was lashing out at her and trying to discredit Horatio in every way possible – with no regard to her feelings. Fighting the urge to succumb, she blinked back her tears and focused on simply breathing.

When she had finally steadied her trembling and found her voice, she lifted her face to his and said, “Thank you Prince Christian; thank you for letting me know. You have done me a great service.” She looked at him with unusual calm.

He wasn’t sure if he was reading her expression correctly. Had it really been that easy? He had obviously hoped to frighten her away from Hornblower, for he doubted that she would ever have the courage to approach him with such a question, but this reaction was unexpected. Warily, he reached out for her. She stepped back – away from him, squared her shoulders and raised her chin.

“In the future, on those rare occasions when I am upset with my husband, I will look back on this evening and thank G-d that we had this conversation .You have shown me your capacity for cruelty, Sir, and I shall count myself blessed not to be you wife! I will certainly never regret my choice!” She turned and strode off determinately towards her brother.

“Fitzwilliam,” she said, when she reached him, “Forgive me, but I need to go back to the hotel this instant; I am not well. Please let us go.”

Darcy looked at her in alarm. Her eyes blazed, her expression was unwavering in its intensity. He had never seen her look so resolute. Without comment, he took her arm and escorted her to the waiting carriage, calling on Elizabeth to join them as he went. He made sure both of them were comfortably seated before making his apologies to King Fredrik and Queen Gertrude and informing Anne and Frederick that they were departing.

“We do not mean to end this pleasant evening so abruptly for the two of you. Please stay. I’ll send the carriage back for you immediately on our arrival.”

“No, Fitzwilliam, I’d much rather go back with you now, unless Georgiana would prefer some privacy. It has been a long day,” said Anne, glaring over at Christian, who was pacing further down the promenade.

“I’m sure Georgiana would not object at all. I believe she simply wants to get back as quickly as possible.” And with that, they entered the carriage and were gone.

They rode in silence, for it was obvious that Georgiana needed quiet and they all sat listening to her shallow breathing and the muffled whimpers that sometimes escaped her lips. She stared out her window, preferring to hide her face, yet she held tight to both her brother hands, squeezing them now and again.

As they reached the hotel entrance, she turned to Frederick and said, “Captain Wentworth, I know it is late, but would you be so kind as to go to the inn and tell Horatio that I must see him immediately. I would not ask it if it were not very important to me,” she said with emotion. And then turning to her brother, she added, “I must speak to him alone, Fitzwilliam. There is nothing to be done. We need some time alone to talk.”

“What is it, Georgiana? What is wrong?” he asked as he came into the sitting room of the Darcy’s larger apartment. Distress and confusion lined his brow, but his eyes searched her face in the tenderest way. “Has Christian upset you? Was he rude to you when you told him?”

“He told me that you are keeping secrets from me,” she blurted out. That was not at all the way she had intended to say it, but her tongue and her troubled heart had taken command. Seeing his dear face, now suddenly so bewildered and hurt, she was remorseful; but once spoken, there was no way for her to retract her words.

He shook his head ever so slightly, mystified as to the reason Christian would use the diamond against him, and said in a somewhat off-hand manner, “I cannot see why he would accuse me of keeping a secret he himself pledged me to keep! That seems rather strange, but yes, I have been keeping something from you.” He slipped his hand into the waistband of his breeches and pulled out the offending gem. “He gave me this as a gift of appre…”

“No! …about the war! He told me you’ve been hiding things from me about the war! Is it true?”

He was stunned. How would Christian know these personal and intimate details about him. His jaw tightened and anger set grim lines about his eyes. “I have never lied to you, Georgiana, I have simply chosen to omit some particulars that I thought might be painful to you. I saw no reason to hurt you unnecessarily; I still don’t. There is no reason to….”

“No reason!” she cried. “No reason to tell me things that will affect my life – that I too, shall have to live with? Do you deny that you were beaten and tortured and starved? And can you look me in the eye and tell me that those experiences haven’t left their mark on you?”

He gave her a very strange, puzzled look, as if trying to make out the real question at hand. “No, they have definitely made me the man I am today. And, you are right, there are still nights, though far fewer than before, that I awaken in a cold sweat with fearful memories. But I had hoped that you would want to be there to help calm and comfort me.” He looked sadly down at his hands, which she noticed, seemed unusually calloused and rough.

“Do you suffer from any other afflictions?” whispered Georgiana, coming to take his hands in hers.

“Well, my right knee pains me at times, especially in foul weather. But I didn’t think that it would be an important factor in your decision to share your life with me.”

“It is not, and neither would any other affliction – large or small, I assure you. I just need to know. I understand your wanting to spare me the anguish, but secrets have a way of coming out in the end and how much worse to hear them from someone else. Please Horatio, I need to know everything. Having heard this from Christian today, I will never be at peace until I am sure that there is nothing that will ever surprise or shock me about your past again. Please come and sit by me and tell it all. Do not spare me; it is something you must share with me.”

He looked uncomfortable but came to sit beside her, never the less. He kissed her hands. “Georgie, some of this is really ….nasty stuff, I…”

“The worst of it – what was the worst for you?” she whispered, pausing to kiss his swollen knuckles.

“The worst for me? The worst for me was “the hole” in the prison in Spain.”

“The hole?” she asked, with eyes already brimming with tears.

“Yes – my men had attempted an escape – a foolish mistake that I had cautioned them about, but obviously they had not listened. When they were caught, I was naturally held responsible.”

“But you did nothing! You even warned them against it!” cried Georgiana.

“Georgie,” he smiled and held her hand against his cheek, “Do you wish me to stop? I gladly will…”

“No, no! Please continue. I shall not interrupt you again. Continue.”

“They put me in a hole in the earth in the middle of the prison courtyard. It was not large enough to lie down in or stand up in, so I had to sit with my legs drawn up or crouch. It does not sound so terrible, I know, but in time, your muscles cramp. A metal grate covered the hole and at first, it was a novelty for the guards to come round and taunt me, banging on the grate, poking me with their sticks or swords or…relieve themselves on me. During the day it was unbearably hot and at night, I froze. I remember praying for rain to relieve my thirst, but then being afraid that in a great downpour, I would drown. I sat in my own filth and the rats – these huge, ugly rats would crawl all over me – climbing up my chest and sitting on my shoulders or perching in my hair. At first I would scream and kick and try to get them off me, but they would bite and soon I learned that they were the masters of the hole and I had to learn my place in it. I was brutally burned by the sun; the blisters on my lids were so large and painful that I could barely open my eyes and the ones on my lips made it impossible for me to close my mouth. When they finally pulled me out, I could neither stand nor hold up my head. I don’t know how long I was in there; my men must have told me at the time, but I honestly don’t remember. I only know that I wanted to die.”

There was nothing she could say. She wept softly, clutching his hands against her mouth, wiping her tears on his fingers. She silently cursed Christian for putting them through this, for truly, Horatio had been right. This knowledge would alter the way she looked at him forever. It would flash through her mind at odd moments, both happy and sad, and simply be incorporated into her picture of who he was. It would haunt her forever.

He bent forward to kiss her brow, and whispered, “There, now it is something we must carry together, but perhaps the burden will be lighter, as we are two.”

She gave him a sad, little smile, her eyes still searching his face for the information she could not directly ask. He sensed her uneasiness.

“Georgie, I get the feeling that there is still something you wish to know, for you are not yet content. Just come out and ask me Georgiana; I will answer any question you may have.”

She fled his scrutiny and went towards the window. How could she humiliate him so; and what purpose would it serve? She would love him regardless and consent to be his wife even if children were an impossibility. It consoled her to remember that his late wife had died in childbirth, but she did not know the chronology of it all. Had they conceived this child before he went to Spain? It was so confusing and frustrating! And as for her dreams for a passionate, physical relationship, she had to trust that he would tell her if he could not consummate the marriage. He would not deceive her – not Horatio!”

He came to stand behind her and wrapped her in his embrace, his lips whispering in her ear, “Unburden yourself to me, my love. I don’t know what poison he has fed you, but it is obvious that you cannot cast it off. And few things are as terrible as our fears of the unknown.”

He turned her towards him and with that charming smile, murmured, “Out with it.”

She lowered her gaze and swallowed hard. “It is so difficult to ask this, “ she began, “but… did they humiliate you as well?”

“Humiliate me?” he laughed. “Georgiana, humiliation is what being a prisoner is all about. What are you really asking?”

“No, I mean… personally… physically.” She turned away in shame and hid her face in her hands.

“The bastard!” Horatio snapped. “Is that what he told you to tear you from me – that I was used?”

Georgiana was confused. She did not even understand what he was saying, but she knew that she had given him the wrong impression.

“No, he said that perhaps you had not survived the war a whole …” She could not continue.

But suddenly Horatio’s rage turned to laughter and he scooped her up in his arms as he said, “So he wishes you to believe I am not whole and cannot make love to you properly or give you children, aye? Well, I’ll be very happy to spend the rest of my life proving him wrong, Georgiana. They hurt me; I will never deny that. But they did nothing that would prevent our perfect happiness as a couple. I cannot guarantee that we will have children of course, but if we do not, it will have nothing to do with the war or my ill treatment.”

Her sobs burst forth as she threw her arms about his neck and kissed him again and again between her tears.

“My poor darling! What a merciless bastard he is to have hurt so!” murmured Horatio, holding her close. “I will not have you subjected to him again! I will speak to Fitzwilliam about your staying behind tomorrow, and if he deems it absolutely necessary that you join them, then I shall add myself to the party – invited or not! I shall not leave you to his revenge!”

He drew her towards the couch and lowered her gently against the cushions, his arms still holding and caressing her shoulders. She placed her head upon his chest and hugged him, wishing that she could simply kick off her slippers, tuck her legs beneath her and spend the rest of the night in his arms. Of course, that was out of the question, but she would make the most of the few moments they could share together like this. How she loved the sound of his heartbeat, the scent of his body, the feel of his muscles beneath the linen shirt. If only ….”

Horatio felt her breathing regulate and looked down to see his beloved asleep on his chest. Chuckling to himself, he said softly, “Too exhausted to even stay awake for another kiss?” He brushed his lips against her brow and gathering her skirts, lifted her into his arms. He went to the door and tapped on it to rouse the attention of Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam, who had stationed themselves just outside it. Fitzwilliam rushed to open the door and on seeing his sister being carried thus, thought that she had fainted. He had, of course, unavoidably overheard some of the louder protestations and understood the seriousness and painful nature of their conversation. But Horatio soon calmed his fears and the three of them took Georgiana to her bedroom.

While Elizabeth remained to help Alice put Georgiana to bed, Horatio informed Fitzwilliam of all that Georgiana had endured that day. He was incredulous that while such turmoil had been going on about him, he had been unaware of it! Why had not Elizabeth summoned him, he wondered? Georgiana should not have had to handle this on her own!

They came to agree that it would be best for Georgiana to sleep as long as possible the next morning and that they would make their excuses to the king on her behalf for most of the day’s activities. But Darcy did feel it imperative, however, for her to accompany them to the farewell dinner held in their honor, and so it was decided that Horatio would come along on the pretext of wishing to properly say good-bye. One way or another, he would manage to wrangle a dinner invitation for Horatio from the king.

When Georgiana awoke the next morning, she was greeted to the fragrance of roses from her bedside table and two letters placed at the base of the vase. The first that she opened was from her brother, informing her of the plans for the day and wishing her a pleasant morning; she was free to do what she wished as long as she was accompanied by both Horatio and Alice. The second was from Horatio, asking her to send a messenger as soon as she was ready to meet him at the café for breakfast. Her heart sang! A few precious hours alone! She would not waste one more minute in bed!

She was glad to find their favorite table empty, and as Horatio had not yet arrived, she urged Alice to order her own breakfast and requested some coffee for herself. She sat back and gazed out over the quaint harbor, trying to put to memory not only the look of the place, but the feel of it. So much had happened here in the course of a few days – some of it painful, some of it heavenly and none was to be forgotten. She was so lost in her thoughts as to be completely unaware of the gentleman that had come to stand by her side.

“Good morning, Miss Darcy. I don’t believe that we have ever been introduced, but perhaps your brother has mentioned me. My name is Nathaniel Torrington; I am England’s ambassador to Denmark.” He bowed to her and gave her a warm smile.

“Oh yes, Mr. Torrington, your name is known to me and I am very pleased to meet you. But if you are looking for my brother and the captain, I’m afraid that they are already with King Fredrik.”

“Actually, Miss Darcy, it is you who I have come to see. I must speak to you on a diplomatic matter of great import. May I sit with you for a few moments?”

Georgiana felt a vague uneasiness, but could not imagine that it would do any harm for her to speak with such an honorable gentleman, in a public establishment and in full view of the world. So she nodded and gestured for him to sit.

“Miss Darcy, this concerns a rather personal and delicate matter, but let me assure you that my message to you comes directly from the Prince Regent himself and that he looks to you with great hope and expectation for our future diplomatic accords with Denmark.”

“I’m sorry, Sir. I do not understand. I know very little about politics or diplomacy and although I would do all I could to promote good relations between our two countries, I don’t see how I could be of help.”

“Ah, but that is the beauty of it, my dear. All you need to do is to fulfill your own dreams for happiness and in doing so, align yourself and the Crown with the power behind the Danish throne. You are aware, no doubt, of Prince Christian admiration for you? And is it not every young woman’s dream to marry a prince charming? I do not know of a more handsome and charming prince than Christian; he is everything a woman could want and more. You are a very lucky girl indeed!”

Georgiana could feel the color drain from her face and her eyes start to burn, but she looked passed Torrington towards the Regalia and found the strength she needed to compose herself. After an uncomfortable pause she said, “I am very sorry Mr. Torrington, but I’m afraid it would be impossible for me to accept Prince Christian’s offer of marriage, as I am already engaged to another man. I hope the Prince Regent will understand that I do not wish to be disloyal, but my heart and my hand are already spoken for.”

“Miss Darcy, I am aware that you are in the midst of an innocent little flirtation with a sailor on your brother’s ship, but surely that understanding could be broken, given the circumstances? This is your opportunity to become a queen and, at the same time, do a great service for your country. You have grown up with great privilege – have enjoyed the best of what is England. Do you not think that it is time that you gave something back to the nation that has been so very good to you? Men have died, lost their limbs and sight for the good of England. Is it such a sacrifice to live with every advantage and luxury for the sake of your country?” He was trying to keep the anger from his voice, but his tone was unmistakable.

“Mr. Torrington,” said Georgiana, “this sailor, whom you dismiss so easily, has risked his life again and again for the safety and glory of England, and he is far more deserving of my affection than a prince who will only cooperate with the Crown when it truly suits him! Believe me, Mr. Torrington, do not pin your hopes on a stable relationship with the heir to this throne. He does not understand the meaning of loyalty or commitment! Please convey my heartfelt regrets, but I cannot comply with your request.”

“I am shocked at your unwillingness to do your duty, Miss Darcy and I urge you to consider carefully before refusing absolutely. Think of the honor that has been bestowed on you not only by Prince Christian, but by our own royal family as well. I shall leave you to ponder this, Miss Darcy, and look forward to a more positive answer at dinner this evening. Good day to you!” And with that he rose and strode away.

“Who was that gentleman that stopped to talk, Georgie? I saw him as I came up the street and he looked vaguely familiar,” said Horatio as he took his seat beside her reached for her hand.

“No one of consequence,” replied Georgiana, eager to cast all thoughts of Mr. Torrington from her mind. How long would it take, however, before Horatio sensed that she was, yet again, distressed? Here was their chance for lovely morning together and she could not enjoy it. She wanted to go home – more than anything on earth – she wanted to go home! She wished they could pack their trunks and run this very afternoon!

“I’ve learned from some of the Danish sailors that there is a lovely seaside resort, not half an hours ride from here to the south. We could spend two hours there and easily be back in time to meet the others. What do you say, Georgiana? Does it sound good to you?”

“Oh yes! It sounds lovely. Why don’t we eat by the sea then?” she said, only too happy to leave the cafe on the chance that Torrington might return to threaten Horatio directly.

“Are you not hungry though? This will turn out to be a very late breakfast for you.”

“No, not at all. I seem to have lost my appetite, but perhaps the sand and sea air will revive it.”

They hired a carriage to take them to the small resort town that was alive with happy people, some enjoying the morning air and others bravely venturing into the water. Georgiana had never been sea bathing and was enthralled as she looked out at the lively scene. Children splashed, old ladies waded and young women her own age paraded about in their bathing costumes, flirting with the eager young men who had come to gaze, as much as swim.

“Oh, how wonderful, Horatio. I would dearly love to go in the water, but alas, I have never learned to swim,” she said, as they were being shown to a table overlooking the beach.

“Then it will be one of the very first things that I teach you to do. It is a prerequisite to being a sailor’s wife, you know,” he said teasingly.

“And if I am a poor student and do not perform to your expectations, will you release me and deny me your love?” she asked, with a mischievous grin.”

“Never! You will simply have to practice until you are able. I rather relish the idea of holding you afloat in the water. Promise me you will not catch on too quickly, or if you do, pretend otherwise!” came his reply.

They shared several wonderful peasant dishes that Georgiana had never tried before – good, simple food that they washed down with ale. Alice’s eyes widened when she saw Georgiana consuming it, for she knew that the master would not approve and that Georgiana’s tolerance for alcohol was minimal. Yet she held her tongue, for it was not her place to question her mistress’s choices unless she was in danger.

They walked along the promenade for a while, watching the ongoing show of merriment all about them until they came to a bench and Horatio suggested that they remove their shoes to walk on the cool, wet sand. This simple activity seemed like a forbidden indulgence to Georgiana, but the sun and the ale and Horatio’s cajoling grin made it impossible for her to resist. They all three, discreetly removed their shoes and stockings – with Alice providing a visual barrier between them – and hurried onto the warm sand. The ladies giggled at the feel of the fine sand squishing between their toes, but it was rather difficult to walk, as the sand was deep and getting hotter and hotter with each step. Horatio took Georgiana’s hand and ran with her to the water’s edge, where the icy foam rushed up to greet them. Georgiana jumped back with shock and delight as the refreshing little waves washed over her feet.

“I love this!” she cried. “How wonderful to feel so cool and free and…” she turned to Horatio and bringing his hand to her lips, whispered, “happy!” She could almost forget her painful conversation with Torrington; she was so very happy.

They spent the next hour frolicking on the beach, playing tag with the waves, and basking in the glow of each other’s love. The sun was now high in the sky and despite the cooling effects of the water, their faces glowed with the heat of the day. Horatio would wet his handkerchief and bring it to Georgiana’s face, deliberately letting tiny rivulets of water trickle down her neck and onto her chest. By now she had lost all thoughts of decorum and had let the hem of her gown rest in the water, unaware that the fabric was soaking up the moisture at an alarming rate.

“Miss Darcy! Your dress!” shouted Alice from her protected spot further up on the sand.

Georgiana looked down and saw that her gown was soaked almost up to her knees, and ran onto the dry sand, tripping in her haste and falling down upon it. Horatio raced after her, afraid that she was hurt or in the very least, distressed, but he found her laughing and contented.

“I think I have made quite a spectacle of myself,” she said grinning. “And….oh,no! Now the sand is sticking to my gown! What a disastrous appearance I shall make returning to the hotel! Do you think it will dry in time?”

He could not lie to her. “Most of it will fall off as it dries, but I can’t promise it won’t be noticeable anyway. Do you wish to go back?”

“No. I wish to stay here forever, but… I think we should. Perhaps I can sneak into my room and change before Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth return.”

As luck would have it, Fitzwilliam was in the lobby when they entered. He had just settled their bills, for they intended to make an early start in the morning and he preferred to have these money matters taken care of beforehand. The clerk had protested that there was nothing to settle, as they were the personal guests of King Fredrik himself, but Fitzwilliam had insisted hard and long enough to have some modest payment accepted.

He smiled to see them enter and then frowned deeply at the sight of his sister. Why her petticoats were at least eight inches deep in….. What was that clinging to the hem of her gown? And her face! Her cheeks were slightly burned and she looked absolutely… radiant. He had never seen her looking more beautiful. His thoughts flew back to Netherfield and Elizabeth’s entrance into the breakfast room. How could he be upset with her?

Georgiana blushed. “We’ve been to the seashore and had a wonderful morning,” she said a bit shyly. “But I’m afraid the waves were stronger than I imagined and before I knew it, they raced up to claim the hem of my gown. I shall go and change.” And without waiting for a reply, she hurried up the stairs and away from the possibility of her brother’s disapproval.

Fitzwilliam and Horatio grinned at each other. “She’s becoming quite adept at avoiding my censure,” laughed Darcy. “I suppose that it is a sign that she is ready to leave home.”

“Yes, I believe she is…that is, we are ready, but… I hope to be able to make an official call on you at Pemberley after our return.”

“I look forward to it, Mr. Hornblower,” said Fitzwilliam, heartily shaking his hand.

“As do I, Mr. Darcy,” smiled Horatio. “But at the moment, I am concerned that there is still something making Georgiana terribly unhappy – something she does not wish to share with me. It would relieve me to know that you and Elizabeth are aware of it and helping her through it.

Chapter 19

Posted on Sunday, 27 June 2004

With his fist pressed against his lips and his jaw clenched tight with anger, Darcy listened to his sister’s painful tale of her meeting with Torrington. Yet this demeaning and distressing encounter seemed only the beginning of her anguish. Her mind had leapt from the problems immediately before her to their far-reaching consequences for Horatio and her family and she seemed to be carrying the burden of the entire world on her narrow shoulders.

“But even as I refused him, I kept thinking of what he could do to our family’s reputation at home. He could tell this story to the newspapers, or even just quietly spread rumors about us throughout the ton. The slander could destroy us Fitzwilliam,” she cried. “And if the Prince Regent can ask this of me, what may he demand of Horatio? He could have the Admiralty order him to stand aside and then send him to some far off place – or worse! I am so frightened Fitzwilliam! How I wish we had never come here!”

Darcy enfolded her in his arms and comforted her as best he could.

“We Darcys are not so easily destroyed, Georgiana, but I promise you it will never come to that, in any case. What Torrington did to you this morning was abhorrent and completely inexcusable – and common sense tells me that he had no real authority backing his request. Think on it, my love; there has not been sufficient time for letters to be exchanged. How could the Prince Regent even know of our dealings with the royal family? I can well imagine that Torrongton mentioned his Highness only to intimidate you into a marriage for which he hopes to take credit. Do not distress yourself so, my precious girl,” he said, gently wiping her tears with his thumb, “I will speak to him immediately and set things to right. I assure you that he shall not bother you again – nor shall Prince Christian. And trust that the ton would not look kindly on one of its own being ordered about and forced to marry outside the country. They believe in being served, my dear, not serving.”

“But that is precisely the point,” cried Georgiana. “Is it truly my duty to serve my country in this way? How can I live with the thought that I have put my own happiness above the good of England if it is really what I should…”

“Georgiana, do not think it for even a moment! This is precisely the effect that Torrington hoped his words would have on you! If we consider this soberly, it is clear that the sacrifice far outweighs the probable benefit to England. Christian’s loyalties will always be with what is best for Denmark – which is as it should be – and having an English wife may make him more amenable to a friendship with the crown, but it will not influence him to act against his country’s interests. If you speak to Horatio about duty and service to one’s country, I believe that he will tell you the same thing. As a naval officer he is certainly bound to follow orders, but even then, each captain must weigh the losses he will face when making a critical decision. There are times when one must sacrifice all and there are others when it is wiser to hold firm and live to fight another day.”

“Come, Georgiana. Have some tea while it is still hot,” interrupted Elizabeth. “Fitzwilliam will deal with Torrington and you must get some rest. Please dearest, come lie down. I shall stay with you, if you like.”

Georgiana was too weary to do anything but allow herself to be led to the armchair by the hearth. And as Elizabeth prepared her tea, her brother kissed her brow, again assuring her that all would turn out well.

Without waiting to be announced, Darcy forced his way into Torrington’s office, and came to lean most menacingly over the man’s desk. “Tell me Mr. Torrington,” said Darcy in a low, seething tone, “does the enmity you harbor for my family extend to all of England’s wealthy families or is it only we, whom you regard as undeserving leeches upon our society?”

“Uh, uh,” stammered Torrington, his eyes widening and the color draining from his face. “Forgive me, Sir, but I believe nothing of the kind! Why would you ever think such a thing, Mr. Darcy. I hold your family in the highest regard…”

“So it is only my sister then, that is “enjoying the best of what is England” without any regard to her obligations to the greater good?”

“The young lady completely misunderstood me, Sir. I only wished her to know of the great benefits to our country should she wish to accept….”

“You lying, scheming bastard!” hissed Darcy. “You imposed yourself on a sweet, unsuspecting girl, who has done nothing but what is noble and good in the face of great danger, and rewarded her generosity with anguish! How dare you even speak to her about such private matters and then have the audacity to frighten her by pretending that you speak in the name of the Crown? I am certain that you have not had the opportunity to communicate with the Prince Regent, but I assure you, that on my return to London, I shall! And your disgraceful behavior will be the sole topic of conversation.”

“But Mr. Darcy, you do not understand the issues involved here….,” began Torrington, but Darcy, once again, cut him off.

“I understand your greed and your indifference to those you use to achieve your goals, Sir. But allow me make one thing very clear to you. If you so much as glance at my sister at the ball tonight, I shall call you out. And perhaps your spies will have told you that I am rather skilled with a rapier!”

“Dueling is illegal, Sir; you have no right to suggest it!” said Torrington, defiantly.

“May I remind you that we are not on British soil, Mr. Torrington and I believe that Denmark has no such restrictions! What is more, I expect a written apology to my sister, admitting your deception and stating quite clearly that you were wrong to even suggest such a request. Have it delivered to our hotel no later than five this afternoon or so help me, I shall come back and have your hide!” He turned on his heels and stormed out of the room, leaving the Ambassador in stunned silence.

Returning to the waiting carriage, he instructed the driver to take him on to the palace, where he was greeted by a bewildered butler. “Mr. Darcy, Sir, “ he said bowing, “we were not expecting you before eight o’clock this evening. Is something amiss?”

“Please forgive me for disturbing the household at such an inopportune time, but I would like to leave a message for his Majesty concerning this evening’s arrangements.”

“Yes, Sir. Of course! I would be happy to relay the message to King Fredrik as soon as he leaves his chambers. I believe he is resting at the moment,” was the butler’s reply.

“Excellent,” said Darcy. “Please make his Majesty aware that Mr. Hornblower will be escorting my sister to dinner this evening and that I request he be seated beside her. He is most anxious to pay his respects to the royal family before we set sail tomorrow morning.”

The butler, who was quite speechless at this presumptuous demand, could only nod and bow before Darcy turned and made his way towards the carriage.

“What an unexpected pleasure, Mr. Hornblower,” said Queen Beatrice with a grin as she gave her hand to said gentleman upon his arrival with the rest of the party. “I have always enjoyed our dinner conversation, Sir, and I am claiming that privilege again for this evening. I hope you will not disappoint me?”

“Oh do stop teasing the dear boy, Beatrice,” broke in King Fredrik. “It was an inexcusable oversight that he was not originally included in our farewell dinner, but knowing his good natured temperament, he will, no doubt, forgive us. Is that not so, Horatio?”

“I know of no reason for you to ask my forgiveness on any account,” said Horatio, smiling. “I am simply pleased to be able to be in your company once more before we head for home.” He bowed graciously to his hosts and offered Queen Beatrice his other arm as they proceeded towards the dining room.

Darcy was more than pleased with the seating arrangements, for it was clear that his Majesty understood his concerns regarding Georgiana. Horatio had been seated to the left of her and he was at her right. Queen Beatrice was on Horatio’s other side and Christian sat at the other end of the table between Frederick and his royal Highness. With the social boundaries clearly set, they could all breathe easy and enjoy the company of those around them.

With the conclusion of the last course, King Fredrik invited Darcy into his library for a glass of his best cognac and a private word. It was difficult to say which man was the more uneasy, for they each hoped to correct any misunderstandings and strengthen their friendship before parting.

It was King Fredrik who began. “Mr. Darcy, I wish to thank you and your entire party once again for the risks you took and the compassion you displayed in rescuing our nephew and his crew. I hope that the unpleasantness of the last two days will not remain foremost in your memories of Denmark. Queen Beatrice and I sincerely wished to show our gratitude and give you some pleasant experiences in our fine city. It is very unfortunate that Christian’s admiration of your sister cast a dark shadow on your stay with us.”

“And I, in turn, hope that you do not doubt my sister’s innocence in this matter. She truly had no notion of your nephew’s affection for her, Your Majesty, and as soon as he declared it, she told him of her attachment to Hornblower. I am very sorry indeed that Prince Christian was unable to accept and respect her wishes without resorting to … shall we say, ungentlemanly like behavior. But I sincerely hope you harbor no resentment towards our family for her decision. I assure you that it is, in no way, a reflection of our admiration and esteem of your family or your country – simply a matter of a deep and unalterable love.”

“I do understand and admire her steadfastness, Mr. Darcy. Hornblower is a lucky man indeed. It would, however, have given me great pleasure to welcome her into our family; she is an exceptional young woman. And I certainly would have enjoyed a closer and more intimate friendship with you and your lovely wife, Mr. Darcy. It has been a joy getting to know you both. You would, no doubt, have become your country’s unofficial ambassador to Denmark. I believe you would have done your government a great service – better than that jackal they’ve sent me,” he said, in somewhat lower voice.

“King Fredrik, I doubt that Mr. Torrington will be your Ambassador for very long and when I speak to the Prince Regent, I hope you will allow me to convey the amiable and open-minded nature of the Danish court. With mutual respect and honesty, I do not see why we should not be able to understand each other very well, Your Majesty.”

“A toast to your wisdom, Mr. Darcy, and a safe journey home!” offered King Fredrik, raising his glass.

Continued In Next Section

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