One corner of Edward's mouth crooked up. "The question is whether I wish to see him."
"That is up to you, but I will not hide your whereabouts again. I do not hold with keeping this sort of secret."
Lady Mary looked up at Edward. "My love, you will have to see him sooner or later."
His face softened. "I know, my dear. But I must say that later sounds better than sooner."
Under the influence of laudanum, Eleanor finally fell asleep, the lines of pain in her face relaxing at last. When Darcy and Paxton reappeared with the intelligence of Lord Bentham's departure, the others relocated to the greater comfort of the private sitting room just beyond the bedroom, where Darcy reported on the remainder of his meeting with the Marquess. "He did not say anything about his sources of information, but I asked enough leading questions that he should have the answer soon. He says he was at Bentham for hunting season when it happened, and that the news first came via a letter to his wife, but then he refused to say anything further about it."
Paxton had just given directions for a light dinner to be served in the sitting room when Symons appeared once more in the doorway, several lines appearing between his furrowed brows. "Begging your pardon, sir, but we have just received two urgent messages for the Dowager Marchioness of Bentham."
"Yes?" said the dowager sharply. "Where are they?"
"They were both oral messages. The first was sent by Lord Charles Carlisle, who asks that your ladyship proceed to Bentham Park with all speed, and suggests bringing reinforcements. The second, which arrived as I was ordering a carriage to be prepared for your ladyship, was brought by a young boy. He claims to have been sent by the butler at Bentham Park, who begs for your ladyship's immediate presence, and I am most particularly to tell you that this is not the polite request sort of begging, but the kind done on hands and knees out of desperation." Clearly it pained Symons that any butler might sink to such a state. "Neither gave a reason, though on closer questioning, the boy reported that Lord Bentham is in a towering rage, as evidenced by locking people up and dismissing all the servants."
The dowager raised her eyebrows. "It seems I am going to Bentham Park. Since I am to bring reinforcements, and I also have the responsibility of chaperoning Eleanor and Miss Bennet, I will have to insist that Paxton and Darcy accompany me. Edward may remain if he chooses, since Eleanor is his sister."
Darcy scowled. After the stressful day, all he wanted was some quiet time with Elizabeth and Edward, but clearly that was wishful thinking. Charles had asked for reinforcements, and since he was unaware of Edward's presence, that had to mean Paxton and Darcy. If Charles was asking for his help, the situation must be desperate indeed.
Lady Mary said, "I will accompany you as well, since I need to return to Bentham in any case. I am accustomed to seeing battlefields, and I doubt anything at Bentham Park can match that."
Edward sent Darcy a glance that suggested he did not necessarily agree with that assessment. "Very well. I will come, too."
Chapter 17
If war had broken out at Bentham Park, it was not obvious as they drove up the long lane. The only sign of unusual activity was the expression of pathetic gratitude on the butler's face when he saw the Dowager Marchioness among their party, quickly replaced by a look of astonishment when he recognized Edward.
Lord Charles strode out into the hall to meet them, his hair uncharacteristically disheveled and his cravat askew. "Thank God you are here! The worst seems to be over, but it has been... Edward!" Astonished, he embraced his brother. "You are a welcome sight. Very welcome, indeed." He turned to his grandmother. "You, madam, are a miracle worker. I have spent the last hour promising my father that I would fetch Edward from Portugal and bring him back here immediately. It was the only thing that would calm him. I do not know how you managed to produce my brother from thin air, but I am very, very grateful for it."
"What has happened here?" The dowager looked stem.
"My father returned from Hillington - at least I think he was at Hillington - in a rage, then confronted my stepmother about something. He kept shouting, to the point where I began to fear for her safety. After a long argument, he forced her into her rooms and locked her in from the outside, then he went on a rampage, horsewhip in hand, and began dismissing all the servants she had hired during her tenure here, telling them to leave and never come back. Since she replaced almost everyone except his personal servants and the butler, most of the staff is gone. They were so terrified that some ran out the door without even collecting their effects. After that, he called for his fastest horse because he was going to ride to Portsmouth that very minute and get on a ship for Portugal, which is how I ended up promising him I would find Edward." He raked his hand through his hair.
"Everything seems quiet enough now," she said suspiciously.
"Desperate measures, madam! I kept handing him glasses of his favorite port, and he would toss them off without a thought until he was so foxed that he no longer had the energy to rage at everyone. Thank God Lord Alford was here! He can certainly bark out orders when he sets his mind to it, and my father actually listened to him eventually. As for the servants, I can only hope the housekeeper is doing something to prevent some of them from leaving, since otherwise there will be no one to cook our breakfast." He paused to catch his breath. "But you may come to the parlor and see for yourself."
In the parlor, Lord Bentham was sprawled on the sofa while Lord Alford spoke to him quietly. Lady Alford hovered nearby, ready to assist. The dowager waved away the butler when he moved to announce them. Edward made a bow in the direction of his father, who blinked slowly at him.
Lord Alford stepped forward, his hand outstretched. '"Huntingdon, good to see you once more," he rumbled.
Shaking his hand, Edward said, "A pleasure, Lord Alford. In another few years, I might even believe that failing to salute you is not a hanging offense."
'"Hah! I trained you well."
Charles, recalling his duties, said, "Edward, I see you are already acquainted with our guests."
"Acquainted? That is one way to put it," said the Earl heartily. "I've ridden into battle by his side. A fine soldier - the very devil in battle, begging your pardon. He makes Boney's troops turn tail and run." Lord Bentham wagged his finger slowly at his eldest son. "You," he said, his words slurred. "You are in Portugal."
Edward pressed his lips together to hide a smile. "I was in Portugal, sir. I am now in England."
"Oh." His eyes shifted to Charles. "That was quick."
"I do my best," Charles said modestly.
Lord Bentham drew his brows together as if trying to concentrate. "Darcy."
Darcy stepped forward. "I am here, sir."
"I figured it out. It was my wife. Don't know why you couldn't see it. Obvious, once I thought about it."
Darcy almost yelped as the heel of Edward's boot came down forcefully on his toe, and he turned a quick glare on his cousin. "Well done, my lord. I knew you would solve the mystery."
"I locked her in her rooms. Told her I was going to send her away." He looked around blearily. "Where is Charles? Oh, there you are. You should hire some new servants."
"Fortunately, Grandmama is here to rescue me from that duty," Charles said. "No one can manage a household as well as Grandmama."
The Dowager Marchioness gave him a sidelong look, then sat down beside her son and patted his knee. "You have done very well, my dear. Now I think it would be best for you to rest here while I find out what has happened to your dinner. Edward and Lord Alford will keep you company and tell you all about Portugal."
Lord Bentham appeared to ponder this for a moment. "Very well. I would like to hear about Port...Portugal."
"Good," said the dowager briskly. "They have some news for you regarding Lord Alford's daughter as well."
"The one who is to marry Charles?"
Charles' head jerked up. "Did I miss something?" he asked suspiciously.
"No, dear, Lady Mary is engaged
to Edward, not Charles."
He looked puzzled, then nodded slowly. "That will do as well."
"Good." She pointed to Charles, Paxton and Darcy. "You will come with me."
They dutifully trailed after her. In the hallway, she turned to her grandson. "Good Lord. Charles, how much port did you pour into him?"
"Half a decanter, then another bottle. He had already smashed all the French porcelain his wife had collected, and was chasing after the servants with a horsewhip. And I thought he had mellowed in recent years!"
"You should have dosed the port with laudanum. It works faster that way."
"Indeed. I will keep that in mind should the circumstance arise again, madam." His lips were pressed together in amusement.
She waved the butler over. "How much of the staff is gone?"
"Well over half of the indoor staff, madam. It is possible some may return eventually."
"We will make do. Pray attend to his lordship and his guests."
The butler bowed and disappeared into the parlor.
The Dowager Marchioness gestured to Paxton.
"We must remove his wife from here with all dispatch. Mr. Paxton, I hope you will be so kind as to write out a letter for me to my butler at Newiston House, commending Lady Bentham to his care to be kept under lock and key. Also, he should send as many servants as can be spared - and the spaniels. Darcy, you will check on the outdoor staff and discover which of them can do indoor work temporarily. Charles, you will come with me below stairs to speak to the remaining servants. Most of them will not know me, and I will need your authority."
"I cannot imagine why," Charles muttered.
The dowager gave him her haughtiest look. "I beg your pardon?"
"Madam," said Paxton with a laugh, "you have just given orders to a Marquess, an Earl, a Viscount, two gentlemen of property, Lord Charles, and the butler, and you are worried about whether the kitchen staff will listen to you?"
She favored him with a dark look. "You are supposed to be writing a letter, young man."
"Ho, there!" A gentleman in riding clothes approached one of the gardeners whom Darcy had already interviewed and rejected for indoor work. "Why is no one answering the door at the house?" Darcy's head shot up. "Richard? What in God's name are you doing here?"
Colonel Fitzwilliam's eyes widened at the sight of Darcy. "The question is what you are doing among the gardeners! But never mind that - I am hunting after that scapegrace Edward. Is he perchance here?"
"He is conversing with his father in the parlor, but you might wish to wait until he is done to see him."
"Oh, no," said Richard firmly. "I am going to speak to him right this minute."
Recognizing the signs of temper in his usually affable cousin, Darcy declined to argue. "Very well, but you are walking into a hornet's nest."
"Once I am done with Edward, he will think a hornet's nest is nothing but a walk in the park!"
After dismissing the gardeners. Darcy took him inside, explaining briefly about the lack of staff. The scene in the parlor was mostly unchanged, though the ladies had left and Edward now sat stiffly in an armchair near his father.
Richard did not trouble himself with greetings apart from a perfunctory bow to Lord Bentham. "Damn you. Edward! I have chased halfway across England after you. What in God's name do you think you are doing?"
Edward said. "Calm down, Richard. I am perfectly well. I needed to return here quickly, and there was no time to dawdle with slow carriages in short stages." He took a few steps forward, then turned in a circle. "See - no damage."
"No damage? Ha! I called in every favor I had to get you the finest surgeon in Portugal, and I stayed by you day and night until he could assure me you would keep that leg - as long as you followed his orders. I forced you to stay in that damned bed for months to allow the muscles to knit properly so you would be able to walk again. Then, the minute my back is turned, you rush off and do the one thing he said you should avoid at all costs, not only riding a horse but riding half the length of England! By God, you deser'e to limp for the rest of your life!"
Edward held his hands out placatingly. "I could tell everything was healed. It is my leg, after all."
"And that justifies sneaking out of the inn in Portsmouth and leaving me nothing more than a note saying you were going North? How could you be such a fool? Did you think Lady Mary would thank you for re-injuring your leg in your haste to reach her? Devil take it, if you had not already sold your commission, I would have you court-martialed for disobeying my orders!"
"Enough! Very well, I admit that it was a foolish thing to do, as well as unfair to you; but I did stay in that damned bed for six long months doing everything your surgeon said, and I have had enough of being an invalid."
Lord Alford laid a hand on Richard's arm. "You need say no more, Colonel. I assure you Huntingdon will be hearing from me on this subject," he said in an ominous tone.
Darcy handed Richard a glass of port. "You can both take this up with him later. We are attempting to keep everyone here calm." He cast a significant glance toward Lord Bentham.
"I hope you added laudanum to that," said Edward dryly.
Lord Bentham looked up, his eyes bleary. "Laudanum? Is someone injured?"
Edward patted his arm reassuringly. "No, everyone is perfectly well. Richard Fitzwilliam is here to see me."
"Fitzwilliam is here, too? Is anyone left in Portugal?"
Richard said in an amused tone, "I promise you, sir, Portugal is in good hands."
''Good. Then Edward can stay here. I would like that." Lord Bentham looked around the room as if trying to ascertain who was present, then turned back to Edward and spoke in a confidential tone. "I still miss your mother, you know, even after all these years."
"Yes, Father," said Edward quietly. "I do know."
Darcy looked back over his shoulder at Edward and his father as Lord Alford herded Richard and him from the room. At least that was one problem resolved.
"Are you certain you wish to do this?" Darcy asked Elizabeth for at least the fourth time.
"Yes. You need have no worries; you will be able to see me the entire time."
"And you may be certain my eyes will not wander for a second," he grumbled. "I still do not like it."
She touched his hand lightly. "I know, and I am sorry, but it is something I must do." She could feel his eyes on her as she left him to enter the morning room where Lord Charles sat reading a newspaper, a spaniel sprawled at his feet. The bruise around his eye was beginning to fade to yellow.
His eyes gave a flicker of surprise when he saw her. "Miss Bennet, I had not expected to see you at Bentham today."
"It is a spontaneous visit. May I join you?"
He indicated a chair. "Certainly. I will be happy for the distraction. I have heard enough from Edward about the wars without reading about them in the newspaper."
She could not help but notice the change in his demeanor toward her. In the past, he would have slipped in a compliment or an endearment. "I will try to be more amusing than the wars."
"I doubt you could do otherwise, yet I suspect you did not come merely to keep me company - especially as I can see Darcy glowering in the hall.
He is not best pleased by this tete-a-tete, is he?"
"No, he is not, but he will survive. And you are right that I do have something to tell you. I wanted you to know that Mr. Darcy had been courting me for some months before I came here. By the time you made your unexpected offer, I had already decided in his favor and we were very close to an understanding. It was not a matter of choosing him over you, but of already having an attachment to him. Had I met you first, it might have been different."
"You are very kind, Miss Bennet," he said with a certain irony, "but I am well aware that no woman in her right mind would, given a choice, take me over Darcy. He has an estate and a fortune; I have only a courtesy title."
She laughed, which seemed to surprise him. "You do not know me well, then! Your pr
ospects played no part in it, nor did his. I turned down two very advantageous offers because I could not respect the gentlemen concerned. Not all women are venal."
"If any woman were to judge a man only on his merits, I am not surprised to find it is you," he said. "May I ask you to indulge me by answering one question?"
Elizabeth would much rather not, but she nodded. "Of course."
"Why did you act as if you planned to accept me?"
Now it was Elizabeth's turn to look away. Reluctantly, she said, "I was afraid that if I did otherwise, you...you might make it impossible for me to refuse you."
"What? And that is what you think of me? Miss Bennet, I have committed a great many sins in my life, but I have never forced myself upon a woman. I might have pestered you mercilessly to change your mind, but not that."
She let out the breath she had been holding. "I am very glad to hear it. I did not like thinking it of you."
"And somehow I suspect Darcy had some role in suggesting it to you." he said darkly. "He always thinks the worst of me."
"A compliment which you seem to return!"
"It was him. was it not? I remember - you started to refuse me. then he asked to speak to you. and I thought he had made you reconsider. And he was engaged to Eleanor at the time, damn his eyes!"
"I am sorry that I misjudged you, and I do realize Mr. Darcy is prejudiced against you. I have also been informed that you are quite a decent fellow, when you are not playing the part of a rake."
"Good Lord, someone actually spoke well of me?" he said with heavy irony. "I must not have tried hard enough to disillusion him."
"Her, actually."
Mr. Darcy's Noble Connections: A Pride & Prejudice Variation Page 28
