by Wells, Linda
Stewart spun and faced Foster. “Well?” The butler’s smooth expression wavered, and then nodding, stepped back.
“Please wait in Mr. Darcy’s study, sir.” He opened the door and they entered the empty room.
Bingley turned to Stewart. “I heard Wickham’s name mentioned.”
“I did as well.”
“I thought he was dead.” Bingley watched him pacing the room. “I heard something of a duel? Who on earth would Darcy want to duel? I do not visit for a few days and the world turns upside down!”
“I do not know what has happened, but Foster’s behaviour is worrying.” They looked up when they heard boots on the wood and deflated to find that instead of Darcy, it was Lord Matlock entering. His face was grim. “Sir, I have heard horrifying news, please, tell us what has happened?”
“Your information of Wickham’s death was faulty.” He said in a cool voice. “Darcy’s suspicion and desire to view his body was not as laughable as we surmised.”
“Sir …please, where is Darcy?”
“Darcy lies in his bed, he is sleeping. He continues to suffer excruciating headaches after rescuing his …wife.” Lord Matlock pulled himself together. “My niece was shot … She is suffering now with fever. We pray that she will recover. Darcy is terrified of losing her.”
“SHOT! When did this happen? What happened? Why is Darcy in pain?” Stewart and Bingley stepped closer, demanding news.
“Wickham attempted to take the baby, Darcy fought him, a pistol fired, Darcy fell and struck his head, Elizabeth received the bullet.” He spoke tonelessly. “Wickham is in Newgate, chained to the wall. He will be allowed to heal, and then … We will by God hang that bastard as he should have been to begin with!” Lord Matlock paced the room and turned to see Stewart’s stricken face. He pointed at him. “I charge you to find out how he managed this!”
Stunned, Stewart spoke numbly, “Sir, we already know that he slipped away from the work crew on the river.”
“Well then, something must be done to prevent this from happening again. Keep them in irons; assign a guard to every man!” Lord Matlock growled and seeing Stewart’s suffering, relented. “It is not your fault. I have enough people looking into this already. Something must be done. Corruption in the courts, corruption in the prisons …” He fell silent as he fumed.
“I agree.” Stewart whispered. “Mrs. Darcy … will she …”
“Live?” Bingley finished.
“We believe that she will, but Darcy was frantic.” Closing his eyes, he wiped his hand over his face. “Her fever appears to be abating. She was doing well, it seemed, and then it just …” He turned away to wipe his eyes.
“Darcy will recover?” Stewart asked cautiously.
“Yes, however his pain will remain for some weeks, we believe, and we are unsure of any lingering effects from the blow.” Lord Matlock sighed and finally took a seat. “We have decided to keep him asleep until she improves; she is dosed with laudanum as well, but not as much.”
“Would she not benefit from hearing his voice?” Bingley asked. Seeing the others looking at him, he dropped into a chair and leaned his elbows on his knees. “Forgive me, but I know very well the connection between them. I witnessed her despair when she learned he would not return as planned last autumn. I witnessed his despair when he thought they could not marry. Sir, you must allow him to care for her. If she dies … Please sir, do not wake him to find her gone. He would have no chance of surviving for his baby. He would die.”
“I agree with Mr. Bingley.” The men startled to find Jane and Mr. Bennet at the doorway and rose to their feet. Jane spoke quietly. “Mr. Darcy loves my sister deeply; do not keep him from caring for her however he feels he must. I think that all he wishes is to hold her. We have all witnessed it enough times.”
Bingley met her eyes and nodded. “Yes, we have.”
“I would like to see my daughter, please.” Mr. Bennet asked as his voice cracked.
“Of course.” Lord Matlock glanced at Stewart and Bingley then moved to lead the Bennets upstairs.
Jane paused and looked to Bingley. “Thank you, sir. I … I appreciate your care for my brother and sister.”
“It is no trouble Miss Bennet; please give them my …hopes.”
She smiled a little and left the room. Stewart watched Bingley’s expression. “Are you well?”
“Yes.” He blew out a breath and sank into a chair. “I was not prepared for that.”
“Do you regret her?”
“No.” He smiled a little. “I have had time to reflect upon her, and I think that where I once thought that I would like a beautiful woman to adore, I realize that I want even more a woman who wants to enjoy the life my father has given me, who wants to learn with me, and be my partner and my friend. I believe that I was drawn to Miss Bennet because she is so opposite of my mother, who was an aggressive and social climbing woman. Miss Bennet clearly is not, but it took me some time to realize that she also was not interested in anything I could offer her, other than safety with a genial companion.” He laughed hollowly and looked at his hands. “My angel awaits me somewhere, but she has not presented herself as yet. It was a shock though to have Miss Bennet become engaged the day that I gave her up! I mean; what a blow to my ego!” Closing his eyes he sighed. “I wish that we could see them.”
“I do, too. But we are not blood.” Stewart said quietly. Both men returned from their momentary distraction to dwell on their true concern. “You were correct; Darcy must be allowed to care for Mrs. Darcy.”
“Well with Miss Bennet and her father here now, perhaps that will happen.” Bingley’s gaze moved to the ceiling as he willed his friends to be well. “I wonder how Miss Darcy is feeling, or if they have even told her. She must frightened to death, the girl is already orphaned, and Darcy is her father now.” He stared back down at his hands. “They must be well.”
JANE SAT BY ELIZABETH’S SIDE and wiped her face with a cool cloth. “Oh Lizzy.” She whispered. Elizabeth’s eyes opened slightly and she looked at her sister. Seeing that she was trying to speak, Jane leaned close and heard the whispered words. Moving back, she stood and leaned over the bed to take Elizabeth’s hand, and place it in Darcy’s open palm as he lay sleeping on his back beside her. She watched as both of them curled their fingers together in a weak grip. “oh.” She kissed Elizabeth’s brow and walked into the sitting room where Lord Matlock was speaking to Mr. Bennet. “She is conscious; she wants her husband’s touch. Please allow him to wake for her.”
“Yes, I … We were frightened for him, he was beside himself when she became feverish, and then my son Richard was so upset that Evangeline forced him to return home. Mary decided that she was better off looking after Georgiana at Matlock House. She … I am grateful for your daughter, sir. We … had thought to keep the entirety of the news from Georgiana, but Mary and de Bourgh both insisted that she be treated as an adult in this. She lay over her brother’s chest and sobbed, and he was too drugged to notice her. She begged to stay and care for him and Elizabeth, but she was far too distraught to do either of them any good. That is when Mary agreed to take her home, although it was clear that she wished to remain.” He sighed. “Georgiana calmed then, and was grateful that she had been permitted to see them, so she could comprehend our agitation, but she also knew that she was not strong enough to remain. My wife will join me here soon. She has been working on the rumours.” He glanced at Mr. Bennet’s angry face. “You were not here when Elizabeth and Darcy were first together, but it seems that old gossip is difficult to squelch, even when it is proven wrong time and again.”
“I understand; I live with a woman who thrives upon it.” He turned to Jane. “I would like to see Lizzy.”
“It is not frightening, Papa.” She smiled and took his hand to lead him into the bedchamber. They stopped just inside the doorway when they saw that Elizabeth had managed to roll over to lie next to Darcy, her head was over his heart, and even more remarkable was seeing that
he had risen from the morphine-induced haze to wrap his arms around her. Both were asleep. Father and daughter quickly retreated, leaving the couple to Millie’s care.
“What is it?” Lord Matlock went to the doorway and looked in then returned to them. “You know, one of these days, we will learn to listen to them and stop trying to impose our will. We tried to keep them apart after the attack, and Darcy came to her. We tried to send him away after she became feverish and he nearly broke the door down. We tried to drug him to keep him calm and …well, from this point on I will tell the staff to leave them be, and treat the pain, not the behaviour.”
“If I were in the throes of death my wife would be beating on me to live, but it certainly would not be out of affection.” Mr. Bennet mused. “Well, just that entirely improper sight of them lying together warms my heart and relieves my soul. I am certain that they will be well.” He said determinedly. “I will take the carriage to my brother’s home.”
“I am sure that Darcy would wish for you to stay here, sir.” Lord Matlock offered and saw Mr. Bennet’s resigned smile.
“Perhaps, but I would never presume to invite myself. I will await the master’s invitation. Jane, you will remain?”
“Yes, Papa.”
“Fine, I will leave your luggage here. I expect that I will return this evening with the Gardiners.” He kissed her forehead. “I will write a note home for your mother and, I suppose that you will prepare one for Lucas?” She blushed and he laughed softly. “Very good, dear.”
“I will show you out, sir.” Lord Matlock left the room and after seeing Mr. Bennet on his way and speaking to Mrs. Mercer about Jane, he returned to the study. “Well Bingley, your wish is fulfilled, I think that Darcy is coming around as is Elizabeth, we will just let them make the decisions from this point on, and give them enough laudanum for the pain, but not to keep them unconscious.”
Bingley smiled with relief. “Good then, I will be happy to see them recovered.”
Stewart closed his eyes then drew himself up. “What shall we do with the gossip, sir? Creary was saying in the club that it was likely Elizabeth’s lover that Darcy fought, and intimated that the baby was not a Darcy.”
“Now what?” Lord Matlock groaned. “Creary was it?”
“Yes, sir. He also suggested that he would gladly father her next.” Stewart’s face grew red with anger. “My father was there and set him down, and I am afraid that I suggested to Creary that I would speak to you of this.”
“I thank you.” Lord Matlock rubbed his chin. “What a child he is. Darcy will not come to his party so he has to whine. I suppose that his friends were enjoying his posturing?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Hmm.” He sat down and folded his hands over his waist and thought. “You are still engaged to the Henley girl?”
“Yes, sir, we are to marry in two weeks.” Stewart could not help but smile.
“Good, well, Mrs. Henley is one who is always poised on the very cusp of London’s gossip, I suggest that you go and give her something to spread about. Knowing that woman she will be calling for her carriage five minutes after you finish.” He glanced at the clock. “Too late for her to make calls today, but I have no doubt that she will get the word around nicely in the morning. Perhaps if they are to attend something …”
“They are, sir, there is a ball tonight …” Lord Matlock raised his brows and Stewart stood. “Off you go, lad.”
Bingley was left with Lord Matlock, and awaited his orders. “Sir? Miss Darcy, is she well? And Miss Mary?”
Lord Matlock considered him for a moment and nodded. “Both are well, and are supporting each other at Matlock. Georgiana is frightened, naturally. Mary is surprising.” He smiled. “She gave me and my wife a tongue lashing and has not said a peep since.” He chuckled and saw Bingley’s concern. “I gather that it was a novelty, she is a student of Elizabeth’s I think, and undoubtedly Georgiana will be as well before long. Something to keep in mind for whatever young man falls for either of them, just look to their sister!”
Bingley nodded and smiled. “Yes sir, I am glad to know that they are safe. So sir, what may we do to help?”
“What say you to some whist, Bingley?” Lord Matlock rose to his feet. “How is your play?”
“Terrible, sir.”
“How is your purse?” Lord Matlock’s lips twitched.
“Too heavy, sir.” He grunted when Lord Matlock’s hand clapped on his shoulder. “Are we going rumour mongering?”
“Rumour killing Son, and perhaps starting a few of our own.” Arriving at the front door, he looked up at the stairs then turned to Foster. “My wife will be here before long, if you have need of us, we are at the club fighting a war of words.”
“Yes, sir.” Foster handed them their hats and bowed. “I wish you great success, sir.”
“OH MY CAN YOU IMAGINE! That horrid Lord Creary, claiming such things of Mrs. Darcy!” Mrs. Henley fanned herself rapidly. “She is the dearest young woman, why, well I should not say such things, but …”
“Come now, Mrs. Henley, you know that you are just dying to.” Lady Grafton’s lips twitched and she saw Lady Monroe step closer to listen.
“Well …” Mrs. Henley glanced around and leaned in closer. “At the ball the Darcys held at Pemberley, I saw the two of them steal away from the ballroom. I just happened to be on my way to … To the card rooms, yes, and … I saw the two of them engaged in a rather passionate exchange!” She blushed and nodded. “And when they ended their …conversation, Mr. Darcy held her to him and they danced alone in the moonlight.” She sighed. “It was so scandalous! I think it was the waltz!”
“The waltz!” Lady Monroe said with her mouth open. “Well, I have heard of that dance and I can assure you it will not be performed at Almack’s anytime soon!”
“Tell me that you have never swayed in the arms of your husband?” Lady Grafton asked. “Alone in your home?”
“Well …” Lady Monroe coloured, and turned her attention back to Mrs. Henley. “Mrs. Darcy was known to be with child then, I understand.”
“Oh yes, I asked her myself!” Mrs. Henley said proudly.
“When was the girl born?” Mrs. Smythe asked.
“Just this April. Of course we were so sorry to miss the christening.” Mrs. Henley smiled. “But I did call on Mrs. Darcy last week and met her. Such a dear little one. She reminds me so much of Julia, why when she was but a month old …”
“Yes, yes.” Mrs. Kendall waved her hand. “It seems to me that Mrs. Darcy became with child after she left London. I distinctly remember when they departed, as I wrote of the news to Lady Catherine de Bourgh. No it seems that once again, Creary is behaving as the child he is. Mrs. Darcy refused his advances, and her husband set him down. Nothing he says has any credence.”
“I agree. He chased after me in my younger days.” Lady Monroe rolled her eyes and the ladies laughed. “He was quite the specimen then, and I certainly know enough women who succumbed to his charms. Now though, he is an old fool.”
“But what of this man who attacked them?” Mrs. Smythe asked and ignored Mrs. Henley bouncing with excitement. “I am not in the least pleased that he escaped and that the Darcys had to suffer his intrusion. Something must be done!”
Lady Grafton nodded vehemently. “An intrusion is hardly the word for it. If the papers have it correct, he violated their home, and attempted to harm them! Thankfully Mr. Darcy is a man who will go to the ends of the earth to protect his family. Does anyone know if they are well?”
Lady Monroe turned to Mrs. Smythe. “I understand that this Wickham broke into their home last autumn. We were gone back to the country then, but my husband heard about it all at his club. There was a great cry to reform the way prisoners are watched, but who knows if anything will come of it. In any case, it makes perfect sense that he would wish to wreak his revenge upon Darcy somehow if he escaped. He was sentenced to Australia.”
“It makes sense for a fool.” Mrs. Kendall s
niffed and tapped her fan against her hands. “Leave it to a man to escape prison and instead of continuing out of town to a safe location and new life, what does he do? He returns to the scene of the crime to be caught again! It just proves that men do not think with their brains.”
“Ah, I agree, all of their thinking seems to be centred on that one particular organ.” Mrs. Smythe smirked as her eyes drifted down and all of the women laughed. “Well then, I am certain that the story presented by your daughter’s betrothed is the one to be believed, and, might I add, the one to be spread. I understand that Lady Matlock has been making calls today.”
“She has. I have never seen her in such a fury.” Lady Grafton nodded. “She is a mother protecting her defenceless young.”
“Well ladies, I suggest that we help our friend.” Lady Monroe sniffed. “Fan out, you know what to do.”
MRS. YOUNGE SAT by a window in the tavern near the boarding house, and ate her solitary meal. She kept her eyes on the street, watching for Wickham. As the days passed, her hope that he would return was waning. The fact that he did not take anything with him told her that his absence was unplanned. She had almost come to accept that he would probably not escape the prison, and that he would in time be sent to Australia, but then he succeeded, and returned to her, and seemed so sure, so ready to embrace their new life in America. Sighing, she looked down at the newssheet that another patron had left behind, and began to read. “Oh no.”
Attack at Darcy House
An intruder with nefarious plans came upon Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy in her garden Wednesday, and apparently attempted to kidnap her infant daughter. Mr. Darcy himself heard his wife’s cry and came to her defence. After a great struggle, in which all but the child were gravely injured, the staff subdued the actor, Mr. George Wickham, a recently escaped convict who was awaiting transportation following an earlier robbery attempt at the same address.
“Why did you have to return there!” She cried and ignored the curious stares of the people around her. “You stupid fool!”
DARCY CAUTIOUSLY OPENED his eyes and was relieved that this time the room was not spinning. From the shadows on the wall; he suspected it was early morning. Another blink and the decoration came into sharp focus. “Well, that is an improvement.” He stayed still, assessing his condition. His head ached dully, but he no longer felt as if an ice pick was jammed in his brains. His stomach ached uncomfortably, but that seemed to be from hunger. His mouth was dry and his muscles were stiff, but the strange feeling of heaviness combined with euphoria and fear was gone. Raising his hand to his face, he was surprised with the beard he seemed to possess. Absentmindedly, he scratched at it. “Elizabeth will not like this.” Then his eyes widened and he turned his head quickly to find her face resting on his shoulder. Letting out a relieved breath, he gently kissed her forehead, letting his lips linger to gauge her temperature. She was cool. “Thank you, Lord.” Darcy kissed her lips and her eyes opened. “Hello, my love.”
