The Colonel's Son

by APRIL FLOYD

  Lady Matlock stood and walked her nephew to the door. “I had begun to doubt you believed me capable, Darcy. Since Elizabeth arrived in Town you have been quite unwilling to consider my predicament in this mess. Had Richard only listened to my direction, none of us would be attached to the Bennet family.”

  Mr. Darcy did not argue for he knew to engage his aunt logically was to fail. She operated on the rules she invented and not the use of reasoning. He hoped he would not come to regret involving her more intimately with Elizabeth’s family.

  He left Matlock House and glanced down the street to Fitzwilliam House. He longed to go there straight away but he had business to attend in his own study.

  Richard’s son had become very important to Darcy and he thought of the boy keeping watch at the parlor window that looked out over Grosvenor Street.

  He would hurry to Darcy House and complete his correspondence before making his way to Elizabeth and young Richard. When Darcy thought of Elizabeth Bennet Fitzwilliam, his heart picked up its pace.

  She had watched him with admiration as he attended her son. She often touched his arm or smiled at him with genuine affection when she came to take her tea in the library with them instead of remaining in the parlor with the other ladies.

  Darcy wondered again if she were falling in love with him and hoped with all his being this was true. He thought he might propose to her come the fall after Georgiana was settled upon her young man. They could hold the wedding wherever Elizabeth might wish.

  His throat constricted as he made his way to Darcy House just a few doors down from Matlock House. His step was heavy and he found himself recalling the tune he and Richard often whistled when they were at the club. The one that burned down and took Andrew’s life. Another pain pierced his heart.

  Darcy had not allowed himself to fully accept the deaths of his only male cousins. He often imagined Richard pushing his way past the butler at Darcy House and strolling into his library unannounced. In truth, Richard never needed to be led to Darcy’s library by servants.

  Their relationship had been one of brothers rather than cousins. He swallowed hard as he rubbed at a tear lodged in his left eye.

  Having the son of Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam only moments from his front door eased the ache in Darcy’s chest. He would care for the boy as long as he lived and see that he was well prepared for his title, the birthright that had come tragically to rest on his small shoulders.

  Breathing deeply to regain his composure, Darcy entered his townhome and called out for Georgiana. Her maid, a sweet young lady named Lottie, rushed to the stairs and came to meet him in the entryway. “Mr. Darcy, your sister is not well. She has taken to her bed and Mrs. Greaves has sent for the family physician.”

  Mr. Darcy thanked the servant and hurried upstairs to see to his sister. He hoped it was only a cold. For Mrs. Greaves, his London housekeeper, to send for assistance worried him for she was not a reactionary woman. Georgiana’s door was halfway open and he knocked gently.

  “Come in,” she called, her voice trembling before a fit of coughing made it impossible for her to continue.

  He hurried to her side and gently laid the back of his hand against her forehead. It was warm to the touch but there was no perspiration. Her eyes were not bright with fever and her face was only slightly paler than usual.

  “Oh poppet, I am sorry you are not well. I understand Mrs. Greaves has sent for the doctor. You seemed fine when I left this morning.”

  Georgiana sat up in her bed and Mr. Darcy arranged her pillows much as he had when she was younger.

  “It came on quickly but I am not terribly ill. I am only abed because Lottie saw me lying on the sofa in the salon. I felt I might faint and intended to rest for just a moment. The cough came on soon after. ’Tis only a cold, but I was supposed to visit Fitzwilliam House today. Elizabeth will be disappointed.”

  Mr. Darcy held her hand. “Elizabeth will understand. I meant to see Richard this afternoon but I would not leave you.”

  Miss Darcy shook her head. “I am not so ill that you must sit day and night at my side in a vigil. By tomorrow, I am certain I will be better. The doctor will recommend a draught and I will read and drink my tea and broth.”

  Rising and touching her forehead again, Mr. Darcy bent and kissed the top of her head. “I will wait for the doctor’s word and then if all is well, I will visit Fitzwilliam House. I have work in my study to keep me busy for the evening.”

  Miss Darcy gave a weak smile to her brother. It was best that she recover soon. She wished to be well for the ball Elizabeth would have in only a fortnight. “Leave me, William, and go to your work. If there is need, I will send Lottie to bring you to my side.”

  The doctor appeared at the door and Mr. Darcy went to shake his hand and give his account of his sister’s illness.

  The man listened patiently before leaving Mr. Darcy in the hallway. “Send in Miss Darcy’s maid so that I might examine her and make my recommendation. Likely she has this cold that is making the rounds this spring. There is always more work than I might do this time of year.”

  Mr. Darcy quit the room and sent Lottie in to attend his sister with a request. “See that the doctor comes to my study when he is done.”

  Chapter 4

  Mr. Darcy left for Fitzwilliam House soon after the doctor gave instructions for his sister’s care. Lottie had already seen to Miss Darcy’s comfort with the tea and broth. While Mr. Darcy promised to give his sister’s regards to the Bennets, Lottie quickly administered the draught the doctor had made and pulled up a chair to read until her mistress fell asleep.

  “I will stay with her all through the night, sir. If she worsens, I will send for you.”

  Mr. Darcy thanked the maid and quit his sister’s room. There was still much work to be done on his desk in the study but the draw of Elizabeth and her son was stronger than the pull of his duties. His work could wait until the morrow as he would certainly be home with Georgie ill upstairs.

  As he stood at the door to his cousin’s townhome, his hand on the knocker, Mr. Darcy turned as a bright color in the fading light of the afternoon caught his eye.

  The man strolling with a confident air in his direction was none other than Major George Wickham. He wore his red coat as though he had ever held honorable intentions.

  Darcy was not fooled by the man’s appearance and attire. Any gentleman of good breeding could dress well and charm the young ladies he encountered.

  But Wickham, he was rake and a scoundrel. A bounder of the worst sort. He stopped at Fitzwilliam House and gave a mocking bow to Mr. Darcy.

  “Good evening, what a surprise to find you on Mrs. Fitzwilliam’s doorstep.” Wickham delivered this greeting without the least bit of surprise registering upon his face nor in his voice.

  “I am welcome here and you are not. Move along and spare Elizabeth the embarrassment of fisticuffs at her home. You would never approach Fitzwilliam House if my cousin were still living.” Mr. Darcy’s voice was a growl and he moved to block the man’s way up the steps.

  Major Wickham taunted Mr. Darcy. “But he is not, is he? And his widow welcomes me as her particular friend. With her son being the next Earl of Matlock, she will want for nothing and she may marry again for love. I aim to be the man she loves.”

  Noticing the gloom surrounding them, and knowing not many would see their exchange, Mr. Darcy grabbed the calculating man by the collar of his fine, red coat and delivered a blow to his midsection.

  Major Wickham would have doubled over but Mr. Darcy kept him upright. “I am no man of violence, Wickham, just as you are no man of honor. You may depend upon the fact that I am capable of great violence where you are concerned. Your commanding officer could easily be persuaded to send you far from London. I will see to it if you continue to trouble my family.”

  Mr. Darcy released the man and shoved him into the street. Major Wickham placed his hands on his knees and caught his breath. He stood proudly after a moment and le
ered at Mr. Darcy. “You would do the same as your cousin when he found me in Meryton? Why not pay me to go away? A bit of the Darcy fortune would be sufficient to keep me from her side.”

  Darcy stepped toward the major with his fists doubled. “Richard had you sent away? He was kind in his handling of the situation. You are fortunate he did not kill you when we found you with my sister in Ramsgate. Stay away from my family, Wickham. Your life will not be spared the next time.”

  The door to Fitzwilliam House opened and Mr. Harley stepped out. “Mr. Darcy, Mrs. Fitzwilliam is expecting you. She awaits your arrival in the salon with Master Richard.”

  The butler looked to Major Wickham with a cold stare. It was plain he did not welcome the man nor wish to speak to him.

  Major Wickham smoothed his coat and gave a salute to the butler and Mr. Darcy. “Consider my offer, Darcy, if Mrs. Fitzwilliam and her son are so dear to you and yours.”

  He turned and sauntered back down the street the way he had come. Mr. Darcy mounted the steps and clapped Mr. Harley on the back. “See that he is turned away whenever you might, Harley. He means to harm Mrs. Fitzwilliam and her family.”

  The butler nodded and stepped aside so that Mr. Darcy might enter Fitzwilliam House. “I owe a great debt to this family, sir. You may depend upon me to do my best. Mrs. Fitzwilliam is quite fond of the man, though. Perhaps you might give her a strong warning against him?”

  Mr. Darcy handed his hat and gloves to the man before removing his greatcoat. “I will speak to her again of my reservations regarding the major.”

  Elizabeth rose from her seat and followed her son as he bounded toward Mr. Darcy. “Richard, you know the polite way to welcome company.”

  The boy stopped short and looked back at Elizabeth. “Yes, Mother.”

  He turned to Mr. Darcy and stood straight and remained perfectly still. “Good afternoon sir, how kind of you to call upon us this day.”

  Mr. Darcy regulated his countenance for he so wished to smile at the boy. Instead he knelt and held out his hand. Young Richard shook it firmly. “I am most honored to visit you and your mother, kind sir.”

  As the boy turned to guide him to his place on the sofa, Mr. Darcy gave in to the urge to ruffle the boy’s hair. “Well done, son,” he whispered as he followed his young host.

  Elizabeth called for Nanny and sat again. “Now you must go with Nanny for Mr. Darcy and I must speak alone for a time. I will have Nanny bring you to him in the library when we have finished our business.”

  The boy wanted to disagree with his mother but Mr. Darcy pulled a shiny coin from his pocket. “Keep this safe and when we are alone in the library, I will show you how to make it disappear into thin air. I saw a man perform such a trick on the Strand last year and he shared with me his secret.”

  Young Richard took the coin and closed his small fist tight. Nanny came and he rushed to her side.

  Elizabeth smiled at Mr. Darcy’s way with her son. “I am impressed by the way you manage him, William. If only I possessed such magical skill and exciting secrets.”

  Mr. Darcy laughed. “It is only the way of boys and men, Elizabeth. We enjoy diversions of every kind but most especially those which defy logic, such as the lure of a beautiful lady.”

  Elizabeth blushed and laughed at him. “And what lady have you been lured by of late? Is it Miss Bingley? A letter arrived from Jane just the other day and she mentioned the lady was eager to visit Miss Darcy and see you again.”

  Mr. Darcy’s countenance became one of exaggerated horror. “I would not have said it is a wonderful thing my sister lies ill in her bed, but if it keeps Miss Bingley from my door I am happy for that.”

  Elizabeth’s hand went to her heart. “Miss Darcy is ill? Why did you not send for me? I would sit with her so that she might have company.”

  “No, no, Elizabeth, you must not. She would not like for anyone to become ill, especially not anyone from Fitzwilliam House. My doctor has seen to her and she is tended by her maid. There is nothing to fear. There is the promise of the ball to encourage her recovery.”

  Elizabeth still worried. “If she has not improved in a day or so, I will come to her and bring an herbal remedy Jane and I learned from Mother. It truly does ease a terrible cold.”

  Mr. Darcy grew serious at once. He did not wish to tell Elizabeth he had turned away Major Wickham from her doorstep but a warning was in order after such a close call. “I have had word that Major Wickham is returned to London. He is not to be trusted, Elizabeth.”

  Instead of listening to his warning, Elizabeth held up a hand to stop his words. “Unless you are able to share with me the reason for your distrust of the man, I will not give up his friendship.”

  Mr. Darcy breathed deeply to remain calm. “He grew up at Pemberley, the son of my father’s steward. I know him far better than I’d like and have spent a small fortune covering his debts and preventing the complete devastation of young ladies he uses and discards.”

  He stopped short of telling her of his own sister’s perilous dealings with the scoundrel. If Georgiana wished to share the terrible scandal of her encounter with Wickham, it was her decision alone to make.

  “But that was many years ago, when he was a young man. Certainly he is changed after all this time? I do not like to share details of private conversations, but he did say that you denied him the living your father intended. Perhaps that act compelled him to his rakish behavior?”

  Mr. Darcy shook his head in frustration. “He is not changed, Elizabeth. He seeks the fortunes of the Fitzwilliam and Darcy families as he has always done. The living my father intended for him could never have supported his questionable character. I would have done a grave disservice to the flock at Kympton to settle a living upon him.”

  Elizabeth thought for a moment. “I will watch and see what he is about, William. I am not so foolish as to think him less of a fortune hunter than any other dashing young man.”

  Mr. Darcy stared at Elizabeth as though she were just that foolish. And she thought Wickham dashing?

  “You have three sisters under your care and you would risk their reputations by continuing your friendship with this man? I will not allow Georgie to visit if you will not heed my warning. It is given with the utmost care for your family, Elizabeth.”

  “I am certain my sisters will not be turned from their interest in the wealthier young men to be found in London. Besides, Major Wickham might only be here for a brief time before being sent away again. Do not worry, William. If he misbehaves, I shall simply turn him away.”

  Exasperated by Elizabeth’s lack of understanding the dire nature of his warning, Mr. Darcy stood. “I would see Richard now if it pleases you. I find it much easier to crawl about the library floor and pretend to be a ravenous lion than to try and change the mind of a lady.”

  Chapter 5

  The two weeks before the ball kept Elizabeth and the servants of Fitzwilliam House busy with preparations.

  Lady Matlock came faithfully to gather the Bennet sisters in the ballroom and guide them through the many scenarios the event might present.

  Mrs. Bennet had gone in with her daughters the first time and an argument commenced not ten minutes after Lady Matlock arrived.

  Elizabeth and Mr. Harley had slid open the ballroom doors a tiny bit and watched in horror as the ladies stood eye to eye hurling the worst insults. Lady Matlock had whirled in disgust and headed for the door.

  Mr. Harley wisely stood aside but Elizabeth charged in nearly colliding with Lady Matlock. She begged the lady’s forgiveness. “You must not go, not on the first day. I will deal with my mother. Please, forgive her for she is only concerned with matching my sisters to wealthy suitors.”

  Mrs. Bennet rushed to Elizabeth’s side. “We will not beg her to teach the girls her ways. What young man would like such a snob for a bride?”

  Lady Matlock’s face grew as red as a beet and Elizabeth pulled her mother close. “If you had only taken them in hand, there would be
no need for tutelage now, Mother. Lady Matlock has done us a great honor to come and see to the girls. You would like for them to marry well?”

  Mrs. Bennet could not argue this point. She opened her mouth but Elizabeth shook her head and led the woman from the room. “Lady Matlock, there will be no further interruptions from my mother.”

  Pleased that the odious woman had been removed, Lady Matlock turned and made her way back across the ballroom floor.

  Elizabeth gave a sigh as she recalled that first day. She stood and left young Richard sleeping on the sofa in her sitting room. She meant to have a walk in Hyde Park before her son awoke.

  The ball was more than a diversion for her sisters. It would be the talk of the Ton, there was no avoiding her celebrity.

  She called for Nanny to sit with Richard and hurried downstairs to retrieve her spencer. Mr. Harley called a footman to go with her and Elizabeth waited until Thomas appeared.

  How she wished for her old paths at Longbourn! Perhaps she would return there for the summer with Richard. Her father would take him fishing and allow him to go along when he collected rent from their tenants.

  The park was busy for the early afternoon and Elizabeth walked along briskly enjoying the sight of the riders along Rotten Row. She did not care for horses and so she set her feet towards The Serpentine. It was a pleasure to walk along its banks in the afternoon away from the odor of the horses.

  As she made her way across the grass, Mr. Darcy called out to her. Elizabeth was surprised to see him and hoped he was not still upset with her over Major Wickham.

  He handed his horse to a servant and caught her up in three long strides. “Why did you not send a note to say you would be here today? I would have left my horse at home and joined you.”

  Elizabeth had not thought to bother him as Mr. Darcy was a very busy man. “I only came for a short walk before Richard awakens. How is Georgiana? I know she wanted to come for tea, but Mrs. Greaves would not allow it. I agreed that one more day of rest would be beneficial.”