The Inseparable Mr. and Mrs. Darcy

by Jennifer Joy

  Miss Darcy’s eyes bulged. “Babe?”

  Mr. Nelson colored. “I apologize. My happiness in finally finding you has made me too bold.”

  “I do not have a babe. I am not married,” said Miss Darcy, placing a hand on her agitated brother’s hand.

  “Of course not,” Mr. Nelson squirmed in his seat. “Your circumstances are safe with me, and your family wishes for me to assure you of their steadfast support. Miss Pembroke, they want you to return home. They want to care for your needs and those of their grandchild,” he implored to a stunned audience.

  Elizabeth gaped at William, who asked, “Who is Miss Pembroke? Are you not Mr. Michael Nelson, the gentleman who has been corresponding with my sister in secret?”

  Mr. Nelson’s jaw dropped. “I would never court a lady I was not proud of courting openly, nor would I ever agree to give cause for her family to doubt my honor or intentions by hiding my regard.”

  Miss Darcy’s giggle broke through the tension surrounding the table. Both of her hands covered her mouth, but even her eyes smiled.

  William cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. “Clearly, there has been a mistake.”

  Miss Darcy chortled, “I should say so!” Gaining complete control of her person, for she was a Darcy after all, she added, “Mr. Nelson, I surmise that you and my brother had goals quite distinct from each other when you last conversed. Please, tell us how that came about and perhaps we may help you find Miss Pembroke. She sounds as if she needs assistance.”

  “You are Miss Darcy?” Mr. Nelson said, his face burning red at his realization. “My sincerest apologies, Miss. I did not know you. Far be it from me to bring up such a delicate subject in your hearing.”

  “But it has been said and I want to help. Who is Miss Pembroke? And why did you think my brother could lead you to her?”

  Mr. Nelson looked around the table, unwilling to share his story before the ladies.

  William noticed, and said, “Mr. Nelson, I am intrigued at the connection you made between me and the lady for whom you search. If you believe it within my power to find her, I would never turn my back on a lady in distress.”

  With a nod, Mr. Nelson, said, “Miss Pembroke is the daughter of a wealthy merchant. She ran away with a man who deceived her into believing he loved her. As soon as he found out she was with child, he left her.”

  Miss Darcy gasped. “That is awful! What sort of fiend would act so deplorably?”

  Mr. Nelson frowned. “It is worse. The man did not have the decency to give his real name to the lady. She knew him as Daniel Howard. His real name is one you will recognize. He grew up on your family’s estate.”

  Elizabeth clasped Miss Darcy’s hand under the table. She knew what he would say.

  “Mr. George Wickham.”

  Miss Darcy said in a voice as fierce as the pressure with which she squeezed Elizabeth’s hand, “We will help her. Will we not, Brother?”

  William’s face hardened at the mention of his old foe. Wickham was no longer a threat to anyone, but his sins would continue to reap suffering for others. “When was the last time Miss Pembroke was seen?” he asked, his search already begun.

  “In London. We can only guess Mr. Wickham used an alias in order to conceal his numerous debts from Mr. Pembroke. Miss Pembroke had a sizable dowry, to which Mr. Wickham sought to gain possession. Unfortunately, Mr. Pembroke discovered his real identity and called him out. He forbid him from seeing his daughter and cut off all association with Mr. Wickham. That same evening, Miss Pembroke disappeared. A month later, they received a letter from her. The paper was riddled with water stains and difficult to read, but they understood she was with child and desolate. However, before they could reach her, she had disappeared again. They have been looking for her ever since.”

  “She must be using an assumed name if they are unable to find her. If she is willing to renounce her own identity, her shame must be great indeed,” said Mrs. Annesley, adding, “Assuming a healthy birth, how old would her child be?”

  “Perhaps three months. Her family minds not the shame. They only wish to see her and protect her.”

  Elizabeth counted back in her mind. This would have been done before Wickham’s attempt to elope with Miss Darcy. What a scoundrel! With the way Miss Darcy continued to grip her hand, Elizabeth deduced that she, too, had drawn the same conclusion.

  William asked what had been done to find Miss Pembroke, making a few suggestions which Mr. Nelson took note of gratefully.

  Extricating her hand before she lost all feeling in her fingers, Elizabeth whispered to Miss Darcy, “We have much to discuss.”

  “Yes, but please not with William present, I beg you. It will be uncomfortable enough to admit what I have done to you and Mrs. Annesley.”

  “Does it involve Lydia?”

  Miss Darcy nodded her head with wide eyes. No words of affirmation were needed.

  “Dear Lord, what is that girl scheming?” Elizabeth mumbled to herself, then looked cautiously at William who was still deep in conversation with Mr. Nelson.

  Elizabeth took a bite of her stew, hoping the gentlemen would follow suit. She understood, now, why Mr. Nelson was so thin if his work distracted him from taking in nourishment.

  William took her hint, buttering his bread and offering the dish to Mr. Nelson.

  Spreading the knife over the chunk of bread in his hand, Mr. Nelson said, “You understand the source of my confusion, but I admit I am curious to know why you sought me out in town, Mr. Darcy. I will admit to feeling flattered, but I do not pride myself you did so out of regard for me or any talents I might possess.”

  William immediately looked at his sister. She still had a secret she had not yet revealed, and far be it from him to force her to speak of it before their small crowd.

  “I think I can offer an explanation, Mr. Nelson,” said Miss Darcy with a smile at William. “It is, I believe, the fault of poor handwriting and mistaken identities.”

  Mr. Nelson sighed. “My hand is infamously sloppy. When I become a barrister, I shall have to employ a law writer.”

  Miss Darcy grinned. “A dear friend I went to finishing school with suffers from the same problem. You share her surname, sir. Perhaps you are related to Miss Michaela Nelson?”

  Mrs. Annesley stifled a groan, as did Elizabeth.

  Shaking his head, Mr. Nelson answered, “No, though it is not an uncommon surname. I do not recall ever meeting a young lady named Michaela.”

  “For sure, it is not common. She is the fifth in a long line of daughters. Her parents were so determined she would be a boy, they merely added an ‘a’ to Michael when they discovered they had borne yet another female.”

  Elizabeth wanted to slap her own forehead. How foolish they had been to jump to conclusions! She really must learn not to be so quick to act on her assumptions. Would she never learn? Of course, the knowledge that William and Mrs. Annesley had been equally fooled eased her guilt.

  Mr. Nelson bellowed a throaty laugh. “I will have to thank my mother and father for bestowing upon me such a worthy name. Who would have thought it would have made my introduction into your society possible? I am forever honored and … grateful.”

  William raised his glass. “To new friends.”

  Miss Darcy added, “To indecipherable letters.”

  Elizabeth raised her glass. “To nonexistent engagements.”

  Mrs. Annesley said, “To restored trust.”

  Amen to that, thought Elizabeth.

  An hour later, Mr. Nelson departed to pursue his search for the Pembroke’s missing daughter. Wishing him success, Elizabeth, Miss Darcy, Mrs. Annesley, and William decided it best to return earlier than they had planned to Longbourn.

  Before Mrs. Molly had fetched their coats and wraps, Mr. Tanner joined them.

  Looking worriedly at Miss Darcy, he said, “Is the young gentleman worthy?” He smashed his fist into his open hand.

  Miss Darcy looped her hand through his arm, hugging hi
m to her side. “I fear for the gentleman who would face my brothers to ask for permission to court me,” she said, resting her golden head against his shoulder.

  Mr. Tanner leaned his head down, his cheek resting gently on the top of her curls. Elizabeth saw in him the same fatherly affection William often displayed to his little sister, and the sight melted her heart.

  Mrs. Annesley explained, “Mr. Nelson was not who we believed him to be at all.”

  When Mr. Tanner’s head popped upright and his hands flexed, she added, “He is much more honorable than we had thought him. He is not courting Miss Darcy. In fact, they had never laid eyes upon each other until today.”

  Miss Darcy buried her face into her eldest brother’s arm to hide her blush. Elizabeth saw it, as did Mrs. Annesley. It was too early for love to bloom for Miss Darcy, but Elizabeth could understand her attraction to the idealistic gentleman. And that was not merely Elizabeth jumping to conclusions! All the signs were there. The blush, the way Miss Darcy had been unable to look Mr. Nelson directly in the eye as she spoke, her returned shyness once her outrage over Miss Pembroke’s fate had abated, the twiddle of her fingers as she had waved at Mr. Nelson’s departure….

  Mr. Tanner grunted. “People often are not what they seem.” Jutting the thumb of his free hand back in the direction of the taproom, he said, “There is a man who calls himself Inspector Seymour out there. He is asking some strange questions.”

  Chapter 26

  A man with a bulbous nose and thin strands of dark hair combed over his balding head approached them, hat in hand, as they filed into the taproom. Elizabeth watched him as he observed them.

  He was the sort of man who would blend in with a crowd at a tavern. He did have one feature, however, which set him apart. His keen, blue eyes assessed each of them as he approached and when he opened his mouth to speak, his voice echoed through the open room.

  “Inspector Seymour at your service,” he stated with a bow. “I am investigating a gentleman of your acquaintance.”

  “A gentleman?” asked William.

  Leaning in and lowering his voice, the inspector said, “A gentleman, sir, such as you would wish you had never met. Evilness personified, he is.”

  “Can you give us no name?” Elizabeth asked.

  Inspector Seymour clucked his tongue. “I made that mistake last time and the criminal escaped before I could make an arrest. I cannot give a name as yet, but I can warn you to be cautious. Do not trust a man merely because he is of the gentle class.” Swooping a bow, he said, “I wish you a good day and pray I will not have need to make inquiries at your respective homes.” With that, he returned to the corner where he sat.

  Miss Darcy whispered to Elizabeth, “What an odd man.”

  Elizabeth nodded in agreement. He was odd. But what he implied made her skin tingle.

  They discussed him in the carriage on their way back to Longbourn.

  “He spoke of a gentleman. Who do you think he means?” Elizabeth asked.

  Miss Darcy gasped. “You do not suppose he meant to imply Mr. Nelson, do you?”

  “No,” William was quick to answer. “Mr. Nelson is so recent an acquaintance, and is so highly spoken of by others whom I trust and who enjoy a closer acquaintance with him, I do not think it possible. Whoever the inspector spoke of must be someone — a gentleman — who is not originally from Meryton, someone who is, perhaps, visiting.”

  There was only one man in the area who fit that description. “Mr. Hurst,” Elizabeth said under her breath, but with the silence inside the carriage, she may as well have shouted it.

  William furled his brow and massaged his chin. “He spoke of the gentleman as if he were a monster. I will admit I do not know Mr. Hurst well, but his lackadaisical habits seem at odds with the inspector’s description.”

  “Unless it is merely a front to hide what he really is. It would not be the first time a man has succeeded in deceiving his peers,” observed Mrs. Annesley, rubbing her ring finger.

  They rode the rest of the way in contemplative silence. When they entered Longbourn, Mr. Hill greeted William with a letter.

  Glancing at the writing, William said, “It is from my man. I must see to this immediately. I will share its contents when I am done.” He started down the hall to the stairs, leaving Elizabeth with Miss Darcy and Mrs. Annesley.

  Elizabeth longed to know what news the letter contained, but she had another mystery to solve and the missive had given her the perfect opportunity to do so.

  She asked Mr. Hill, “Where is Mr. Collins?”

  “He is attending to your father, Miss Lizzy. Miss Lydia is there too.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Hill,” she said. Excellent! She wanted no interruption from Mr. Collins.

  “Miss Darcy, Mrs. Annesley, will you join me in the drawing room?” she asked.

  Once the fire had been stirred and they had settled comfortably around it, she closed the door and said, “First, I must apologize to you for being so willing to assume you were exchanging letters with an unmarried gentleman.”

  Miss Darcy sighed. “You know of my past with Wickham, Miss Elizabeth. You knew me capable of deceit.”

  Elizabeth insisted, “But I was wrong. When I saw how you befriended Lydia, I was concerned she might have convinced you to behave in a manner in which you would not normally indulge. She has a reputation as a flirt and believes an elopement is the height of romance to which a young lady ought to aspire.”

  Miss Darcy chuckled. “She holds some … interesting … views, but I can assure you she has an even bolder plan than what you suspect.”

  Bolder plan? Only the laughter in Georgiana’s tone held the panic threatening to surge through Elizabeth at bay.

  “Em, would it be acceptable to you … I hope you will not think me presumptuous … but … I would very much like it if…,” Miss Darcy chewed on her lip, her uncertainty visible.

  “Please ask what you wish, Miss Darcy. You are among friends,” Elizabeth said encouragingly.

  Miss Darcy met her gaze, her eyes brimming with hope. “That is what I wish the most. For me and for my brother. Please, will you allow me to call you by your given name? And I pray you address me as William does.”

  That was all she wanted? To address each other as friends? Relief flooded over Elizabeth. “Of course, Georgiana. I would like nothing more.”

  Georgiana’s shoulders relaxed. “Thank you, Elizabeth. I know you can be trusted with my secret. I only kept it from you at the risk of William overhearing it. He can be so proud sometimes and, while I have noticed a change in him, I feared his opinion of you and your family might alter were he to know.”

  How little she knew her own brother. Elizabeth was convinced that nothing her family could do would lessen her in his eyes. But Georgiana could not know what William had suffered through with Elizabeth. Not in its entirety. So she thanked her. “I am impressed you would offer me, a stranger to you, so much consideration. Thank you, Georgiana.”

  Taking a deep breath and clasping her hands together in her lap, Georgiana said, “Are you aware of the story about King Charles and his spaniels?”

  Elizabeth recalled snippets of Lydia’s ramblings to mind. “Yes. He loved the breed so much, he decreed they be allowed into Parliament.”

  Another deep breath. “Lydia believes the story to be true and has decided to use Chloe to gain entry to the Houses of Parliament where she will charm a wealthy and handsome gentleman with greater influence than Mr. Bingley or my brother. So long as she accompanies Chloe, they cannot, in her thinking, throw her out until she has accomplished what she has set out to do.”

  Elizabeth raised her hand to her temple and groaned. Of all the hair-brained schemes, this one took the cake! “Does she plan to set up a living within Parliament walls? They would certainly toss her out into the street, spaniel or no spaniel!”

  Mrs. Annesley, her face blank and her eyebrows raised, said, as if speaking more to herself than to her companions in the room, “I s
uppose she would forever confirm or disprove the myth. You could take consolation in her satisfying the curiosity of anyone who has ever heard the story.”

  Georgiana clamped her mouth closed, clearly determined not to giggle. Elizabeth, however, would rather laugh than bemoan her sister’s desperate attempt to marry better than her or Jane.

  “How very optimistic of you, Mrs. Annesley,” Elizabeth said with as large of a grin as her cheeks could manage. “I only wonder why other ladies seeking prominent husbands have not thought of it before. Can you imagine the sight?”

  Mrs. Annesley added, “A thousand unmarried maidens storming Parliament with their army of spaniels, demanding lower taxes and equal rights along with a declaration of undying love!”

  They burst into laughter, melting away all restraint to leave only friendship.

  Catching her breath, Elizabeth asked Georgiana, “How have you prevented Lydia from escaping to London to storm Parliament?”

  Georgiana shook her head and sighed. “It was not easy. First, I convinced her that Chloe required training. It would not do to arrive to Parliament with an untrained dog.”

  “That is why you have spent so much time together? You were helping her train Chloe?”

  “Yes. It served to delay her plans as well as keep her away from William. I see how happy he is with you and I would not allow anything, or anyone, to spoil it. When Lydia grew impatient, I told her of a young lady with whom I had attended finishing school. Her father loves Spaniels and breeds them as hunting dogs. I begged her to allow more time to hear from my friend, convincing Lydia that her superior knowledge of the pedigree would be to our advantage.”

  “Let me guess. Her name is Miss Michaela Nelson?” asked Elizabeth.

  Georgiana nodded.

  “And you hid her letters to hide all evidence of Lydia’s plan and protect your brother’s interests?” she continued, her heart full.

  “I may be quiet, Elizabeth, but I notice everything. I see how you care for your family — even the more troublesome members. I see your devotion to my brother. I appreciate how you have allowed me time with him even though I realize there is no one else on the earth with whom you would rather be. And I trust my brother’s judgment. He would never attach himself to a lady unless she was exceptional.”