Rebuilding Pemberley

by Melanie Schertz

  “This is an outrage. How dare you treat me in such a manner, simply on the word of this woman?”

  Lord Matlock gave a slight chuckle. “And why do you believe it is on the word of this young woman? Have you met her before today?”

  “N…no, I have never seen her. As I heard recently, while at my club, that Darcy had married, and this chit is holding on to his arm as if she were about to swoon, I assume she is Mrs Darcy. There are rumors of the two needing to marry quickly, as she is said to have forced herself on him, in a compromising manner.”

  “HOW DARE YOU!” Darcy began to move forward, prepared to end the man’s treachery with his bare hands.

  “Fitzwilliam, stop.” Elizabeth said, her courage rising in the face of the situation. “He is not worth getting blood on your hands. Allow the court to determine his fate.”

  Calming slightly, Darcy turned his face to look at his wife. “Is he the man?”

  Elizabeth nodded her head. “He is. I saw him outside the manor house at Netherfield Park, the night of the fire.”

  “I do not know of what she is speaking.” Ashby was looking at the duke as he spoke, never turning towards Elizabeth.

  “Yes, you do. You were there, watching, as the fire destroyed the house. While the family who lived there, their servants, and others in the neighborhood died from the fire, you stood there, watching the tragedy, as if it were entertaining. It was you who changed my life, nearly taking it from me. My dear friend, who was the same age as me, died that night. Her brothers, her mother and father died that night. They were found in their beds, where they had been sleeping. You are a coward, sneaking around in the middle of the night, committing a barbarian act which stole their lives. How dare you continue to live, when they will never again draw breath?”

  The fury that had been hidden under the surface for months was bubbling over.

  “If it was in the middle of the night, how can you be certain who you saw? You could not see clearly, so you make a mistake and believe I am the culprit.” Ashby was still focusing his eyes away from his accuser.

  “It was a full moon that night. Between the light of the moon and the flames from the fire, I could see you perfectly. It was you, and I know you saw me. You looked me straight in the eye, sneering at me. Until the day I die, that memory will live in me. So much hatred, so much cruelty. It was as if I were seeing the devil himself standing there, waiting to take souls with him.”

  Ashby finally broke. “I am not devil. Had Atherton only sold me the property, nothing would have happened. He forced me into taking such a step. It is my estate now, and it did not cost me half as much as I had offered the fool. Atherton condemned his family, not I.”

  ~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~

  Chapter 19

  The men in the room were outraged by this man’s disgusting words, though it was Elizabeth that continued to anger the heartless man.

  “You blame a man for wishing to remain living in his home? It was the home of his family for over two hundred years. Why should he have to sell to you, just because you wished to have the estate? How would you react if someone tried to take something you treasure?”

  “He should not have treasured it more than he did his family. If he truly loved them, he would have sold the land and taken his family elsewhere.”

  “There were other estates in the area which could have been purchased. Why were you so set on purchasing that particular estate? What was so precious of Netherfield Park that you had to have the land?”

  “Because I liked how it looked. And when I like something, I must have it immediately. Why is it that no one can understand? I demand to have my way, and if someone steps in my way, I destroy them.”

  Ashby’s cheeks were a deep shade of red, his fury at the situation nearly shooting puffs of steam from his ears.

  “And what of your father and brother? Did you have them killed?”

  “They stood in my way. I cannot stand for disapproval, and my father had cut off my allowance. Intolerable. My brother was of no importance in the world, and far too kind hearted. He was forever doing something kind to aid others. A waste of funds on worthless people. Such a fool.”

  Lord Matlock stepped closer, moving between his nephew and Ashby. “And what of your attempt to purchase Pemberley. When my brother-in-law refused your offer, did you set his estate on fire? Did you destroy Pemberley, killing my sister and many others?”

  Ashby was wild. His anger continued to build, taking all sense from the man. “Your brother-in-law was a fool. He should have sold the property to me. And you refused me after the blaze. I have hated you ever since. If it had not been for other, more important matters, I would have paid a visit to Matlock. Pemberley was the only estate I did not obtain. It should have been mine, not yours.” He had turned his attention to Darcy for the last statement.

  “You murdered my mother!” Darcy lunged forward, and was only prevented by his cousin stepping behind him, taking hold of Darcy by the arms.

  “Gerald Darcy paid for his refusing me. He owed me for his refusal, for no one refuses me without a penalty. Pemberley should have been mine.” Ashby’s eyes showed the man’s insanity. “And, if Wickham had done as he was instructed, you would have paid as well.”

  “Just what did Wickham do for you?” Eddington asked.

  “He did whatever I told him. Wickham is guilty of murder, he has blood on his hands. Where is he, why is he not here to stand against you?”

  Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam moved forward, placing himself between his cousin and Ashby. “Wickham has paid the price with his life. He is burning in hell for his sins, and you will soon join him.”

  “No, I will be returning to my home. Wickham can be blamed for all that happened. With him dead, you have your justice. You need no further blood on your hands.” Ashby began frantically searching the room for another way out. He stepped backwards, attempting to place distance between him and everyone else in the room.

  “You have just admitted to taking the lives of your father and brother, destroying Pemberley which led to the deaths of Lady Anne Darcy and many servants, destroying Netherfield Park which led to the deaths of Viscount Dimpsy, his family, and servants.” Eddington recounted. “It is my duty to king and country to have you arrested and taken to the gaol, to wait for trial. You will hang soon enough.”

  “I am an earl, and not subject of the same laws of lower men. Now, have your man unlock the door and allow me to leave this house. There is much I need to attend today, and no longer wish to be here.”

  Richard stepped closer, his hand on the hilt of his sword. In a swift movement, he pulled the sword from its sheath, holding it menacingly.

  Ashby moved just as rapidly, pulling a pistol from his pocket. “Stay back. I will shoot if you move one more step.”

  “You are under arrest, James Ashby. You would be wise to place the weapon on the floor.” Lord Griffin said.

  Turning his head slightly to see Griffin, he noticed, out of the corner of his eye, Colonel Fitzwilliam move closer. Ashby pointed the gun at the man who was wearing the uniform of His Majesty’s Army.

  As his finger pulled the trigger, the scoundrel was struck by something. The gun fired, but was off its mark. Grazing the colonel’s arm which was holding the sword, the weapon fell to the floor. Darcy scooped the weapon into his hand and advanced on Ashby.

  Seeing no way out of the room, James Ashby took the only other exit in his need to escape from the group. Turning away from the group, he ran towards the exterior wall, throwing himself through the large glass window.

  Everyone moved forward, rushing to the window, so they could look below. On the ground was the crumpled body of the scoundrel who had destroyed so many lives. The sound of the library’s door being unlocked alerted them that the butler had heard the commotion and knew there was a need for the doors to be opened. Richard and Darcy nearly ran down the stairs, making their way outside and to the body which had not moved.

  Richard knelt beside the b
ody, checking for any signs of life. Finding none, he motioned to the footmen who had followed the cousins outside. “Have the body moved from here. We do not wish to gather more notice than we already have.”

  The footmen nodded their heads in unison. One spoke. “We will put em in the mews.”

  His words were met with agreement from Darcy. The gentleman turned his attention to his cousin’s arm. “Richard, we will need to have your wound tended.”

  “Do not fret, William. It is not but a scratch.”

  “Never the less, it needs tending so it does not become infected.”

  The colonel nodded his head. “Now that this situation has come to completion, I believe we could all use a holiday. Perhaps a battlefield would be calmer than life in the ton.”

  ~~**~~

  The following days brought much in the way of gossip around London. The tales being told included such events of a fight had ensued out of jealousy between Darcy and Ashby, and the former threw the latter through the window, or that Ashby was a French spy, working for Napoleon, who had been caught with vital information.

  In the wake of Ashby’s death, as he had no heirs, his properties would be divided up amongst those who had been greatly harmed by the deceased. Netherfield Park was granted to the Darcys, who then gifted the estate to Mr and Mrs Gardiner. If it had not been for the Gardiners, their lives would not have been rebuilt after the tragedies that had befallen them.

  Lord Griffin purchased the Ashton family estate, having spent many days with his friend over the years of they had spent together. He planned to keep the estate as part of the dowry for his daughter, who had been the godchild of the elder Lord Ashton. It was his belief that the gentleman would have smiled down on them from the heavens, knowing his goddaughter would be the next Mistress of the estate.

  Lord Matlock was finally able to put to rest all the pain and heartbreak he had held in over the years, since the fire at Pemberley. The death of his beloved sister had always been difficult for him, but he had held his emotions, feeling the need to be strong for her son and daughter. Now, they were safe from the demon who took Lady Anne from them, nearly destroying Pemberley forever.

  Once all had been settled in Town, the Darcys and Fitzwilliams made the journey to Pemberley. Word had been received that one of the tenants who had survived the fire, had a new addition in their family. A baby girl. She was given the name of Anne, in memory of the late mistress. The Darcys and Fitzwilliams wished to welcome the babe into the estate’s fold, and pay their respects to Lady Anne. Lord Matlock wished to finally mourn his cherished little sister, as he had been unable to do so before.

  For their first Christmas as a family, the Bennet family was invited to Pemberley for the holidays. It was then that the Darcys learned of Charles Bingley courting the eldest of Mr Bennet’s daughters. Of course, the Bingleys were invited to join the party at Pemberley, and a merry time was had by all.

  The Christmas gift Elizabeth gave her husband was the most precious and priceless gift one can give. She informed her husband that he would be a father in the following year. Fitzwilliam Darcy could barely contain his pure joy. He prayed for a daughter who would be just like his beloved.

  The years to come saw many joys in the lives of the Darcy, Fitzwilliam, Bennet, Gardiner, and Bingley families. They were intertwined, strong and caring. After all, is that not what a family should be? And the Darcys spent the rest of their lives, rebuilding Pemberley with their loving family.

  ~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~

  The End

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Melanie Schertz was born and raised in a farming community in central Illinois. She moved to Utah with her family in 1984, and has remained there ever since. Melanie has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Criminalistics, with a minor in Photography. She became one of the first civilian crime lab/crime scene technicians for the SLCPD, enjoying a 15 year career. After seeing the 2005 Pride and Prejudice movie, Melanie fell in love with Jane Austen’s work and characters. This is her 28th book featuring the beloved characters.