Darcy chuckled as he caressed Elizabeth’s cheek.
“I fear not, Sloane,” he pronounced. “Neither do I wish to control my lady. Why would any man wish to contain the natural instincts of God’s most precious creatures when he could enjoy the beauty of their souls instead?”
Darcy caught Elizabeth’s hand to kiss her knuckles.
“You will possess a bruise tomorrow,” he said lovingly when he noticed the red mark upon the bone.
Ignoring all within the room, Darcy cupped her hand.
“Next time, my dear, do not tuck your thumb inside your palm. You could break it.”
Darcy adjusted Elizabeth’s fist so her thumb locked her fingers in place.
“In this manner,” he said as he rotated her fist upright. “And use the knuckle of your pointing finger and the middle one to strike your target. They are the two strongest bones in your hand, and you are less likely to know injury.”
He brought her knuckles to his cheek, and softly tapped them against his skin.
“Like so.” Darcy instructed.
Elizabeth’s eyes remained upon his features, and it pleased Darcy to realize she was not immune to him.
“Will you teach me?” Elizabeth challenged.
Darcy chucked her chin in a gentle caress.
“Late at night in Pemberley’s ballroom, there will be no one to criticize the master and mistress. You may choose whatever new experience your heart desires.”
Darcy had a few desires of his own to add to her list, but first he must win Elizabeth’s trust.
Elizabeth’s forehead rested against Darcy’s lapel as she digested what he promised. He held her close, but Darcy spoke to Sloane.
“We possess one potential husband between us, Sir. The question is who will win the cur.”
Sloane scowled.
“If not your lady, which woman of your acquaintance requires a husband?”
Darcy whispered to Elizabeth, “Would you bring your sisters in?”
She nodded shyly, which Darcy imagined was an emotion Elizabeth rarely experienced. She disappeared into the dark hallway. In less than a minute, Elizabeth reappeared with the Misses Mary and Lydia.
Sloane turned to look upon Elizabeth’s younger sisters.
“What are you doing here?” Sloane stammered.
Miss Lydia appeared confused, but Miss Mary’s eyes held recognition.
“Mr. Sloane,” the girl said in a voice barely above a whisper.
“Miss Mary Bennet,” the man pronounced with a bow. “Miss Lydia.”
Elizabeth demanded of her middle sister, “By what acquaintance do you know this man?”
Mary glanced about the room to realize everyone’s attention was on her. The flush of color claiming the girl’s cheeks add a vibrancy not customarily found in Mary Bennet’s features.
“Mr. Slo…Mr. Sloane apprenticed with Uncle Philips, perhaps a year or more removed.”
“Fourteen months,” Sloane confirmed.
Darcy noted an interest shared by Sloane and Mary Bennet, but the issue of a husband for Miss Lydia still hanged over their heads.
“Why did you not recognize Miss Elizabeth, Sloane,” Fitzwilliam asked in suspicion.
“Mr. Sloane was only with Mr. Philips some three months before word came of his windfall. I believe Lizzy and Jane were in London with the Gardiners at the time.”
Mary came to the man’s defense again, a fact that did not escape Darcy’s notice. He did not think he ever heard the girl say more than a dozen words prior.
Sloane glanced to Darcy.
“Might we speak privately?”
Darcy nodded his agreement.
“Colonel, I assume you are comfortable in keeping Mr. Wickham company.”
“It would be my pleasure,” Fitzwilliam said with a devious grin. “Do not be long. I cannot account for the itch upon my gun finger.”
“As you decide my sister’s future, I demand to know Lydia’s options,” Elizabeth insisted. “Mr. Bennet would expect me to act in the family’s honor.”
“Do I not have a say?” Miss Lydia began, but three voices naysayed her objections.
“You will remain in this room,” Elizabeth instructed. “We shall not be long.”
Accepting Darcy’s proffered arm, Elizabeth moved to Darcy’s side. He adored her unconquerable spirit for the trait would prove valuable in the wilds of Derbyshire.
In the second room, Darcy and Sloane sat at a small grimy table while Elizabeth lit two rush candles for light.
Sloane sighed heavily before he spoke.
“I must speak in earnest, Mr. Darcy. If Mr. Wickham does not soon marry my sister Penelope, the world will know her shame. I am persuaded that I must persist in Wickham’s capitulation.”
“Even so, I must protect my future family. Miss Lydia traveled with Mr. Wickham for more than a week. Wickham served in the Meryton militia, and many in the neighborhood are already privy to the tale. I cannot simply return the girl to the bosom of her family.”
Elizabeth moved a straight-backed chair beside Darcy’s before slipping her hand in his. Darcy tucked it into his lap.
Sloane’s mouth set in a straight line.
“Both girls fell foul to a deceiver. I tell you, Mr. Darcy, it provides me no pleasure to claim Mr. Wickham to brother.”
“How many know of Miss Penelope’s fall?” Elizabeth asked softly.
It was hard to believe not a quarter hour earlier, she struck the man violently.
Sloane closed his eyes, battling the emotions crossing his features.
“It is only Penelope and I,” he explained with what sounded of regret. “If I had my choice, I would prefer to remain Mr. Philips’ apprentice, but when my uncle passed, the opportunity to provide Penelope with a bit of society could not be ignored. Unfortunately, bringing the mines up to snuff consumed more of my time than I anticipated. I left Penelope to her devices more often than I should.”
Elizabeth asked with sympathy, “And your sister possesses a sizable dowry?”
Darcy studied her features: Even without Darcy’s letter regarding Georgiana’s shame, Elizabeth claimed a knowledge of Mr. Wickham’s character. It took Elizabeth longer to arrive at the truth, but she did, nevertheless.
“Some fifteen thousand pounds.”
“Significant,” she remarked.
A long silence followed.
“If Mr. Darcy and I were to permit Mr. Wickham to claim Miss Sloane, we remain at a loss as to Miss Lydia’s future. Mr. Wickham would use the opportunity to blackmail one of you to present him an exorbitant sum to protect your family name.
“I was considering whether you might desire a wife, Mr. Sloane. Those in Meryton would accept my sister’s joining to one of Mr. Philips’ former associates, and needless to say, when Miss Sloane marries, you will require a mistress for your household.”
Darcy glanced to Elizabeth. She could not possibly believe that Miss Lydia would make Sloane a good wife. The man’s mannerisms were antiquated at best.
Without a turn of her head, Elizabeth answered his question. She squeezed his hand and held tight to Darcy’s fingertips as a warning for Darcy to hold his tongue.
Sloane’s frown lines deepened.
“From what I recall of Mr. Bennet’s youngest daughter, we would not suit. I am some ten years Miss Lydia’s senior. Moreover, I require a woman not concerned with frills and satins. Mining communities are unique. A girl of Miss Lydia’s disposition would dwindle into a hopeless soul for lack of society.”
“Then support us with another who will serve the girl,” Darcy insisted. “I would be willing to set a reasonable dowry upon the girl if you know of one in need of a wife.”
Sloane’s gaze sharpened.
“I might possess a candidate. I thought to press Penelope into accepting him, but my sister professes her love for Mr. Wickham.”
“Tell us something of this man,” Elizabeth encouraged. “I am certain Mr. Darcy has a like list of suitable matches
for Lydia, but we welcome your insights.”
Darcy created such a list only last evening, but no viable candidates surfaced.
“The man is Welsh and a former sailor. A captain in the Royal Navy.”
Elizabeth shared, “Lydia fancies a man in a uniform.”
“His name is Owen Vaughan. His father is the foreman for my Welsh mine, but Owen received a gentleman’s education. He is five and twenty. Young for a man of his responsibilities.”
“And his countenance?” Elizabeth asked.
Darcy realized Lydia would consider the man’s features important.
“Fair of face,” Sloane remarked. “Towheaded. Stoutly built. His father wishes the lad to marry into the gentry. Vaughan is a war hero.”
Elizabeth glanced to Darcy, and he asked the question upon both their lips.
“Can the man afford to marry?”
“Vaughan earned prize money in the war,” Sloane explained.
Darcy shook his head to clear his thinking.
“The man appears a better candidate than Mr. Wickham. Why would you choose to strap your sister to a man of Wickham’s character?”
Sloane looked off as if he could imagine his sister.
“First, I am a highly principled man. It would bother me greatly to bind another to Miss Sloane while she carried Wickham’s child. If Mr. Wickham was a casualty of war, I could more easily see my way clear, but I am a firm believer in a man claiming his children.”
Darcy personally knew of two others who Wickham left with child, but he would not mention those facts before Elizabeth.
“Moreover,” Sloane continued, “I am not certain Penelope would treat Captain Vaughan well. It pains me to say so, but Penny is a bit flighty in her tastes; my mother permitted Penelope much latitude in her opinions.”
Darcy thought the late Mrs. Sloane and Mrs. Bennet held that characteristic in common.
“Vaughan lost part of his left arm in service to the King,” Sloan explained. “Such is the reason many of the gentile class will not choose a match with Vaughan.”
Darcy leaned close to speak to Elizabeth privately.
“How will Miss Lydia react to such a joining?”
Elizabeth turned to whisper in Darcy’s ear. He wished he could simply enjoy the warmth of her breath on his neck, but Darcy made an effort to listen to her evaluation.
“Lydia and Mrs. Bennet will appreciate that Mr. Vaughan is an officer of renown and that he possesses a bit of a fortune. I am not certain whether Lydia will respond with more aplomb than Miss Sloane regarding the captain’s injury. If we repeat the valor with which Vaughan acted during his service years and the fact Lydia will not be simply ‘Mrs. Vaughan,’ but rather ‘Captain Mrs. Vaughan,’ we possess a chance to convince my sister to accept the man.”
“Might Sloane and I leave you alone with Miss Lydia? I think in this matter, your sister will respond better to you than to me.”
When Elizabeth nodded her agreement, Darcy asked Sloane, “Are you certain Vaughan will accept Miss Lydia to wife if we arrange it?”
“I will speak to Vaughan’s father,” Sloane assured. “Having the privilege to claim a man of your status as family will go a long way to convince Mr. Vaughan of his son’s future.”
Elizabeth added another layer to the temptation.
“You are aware of my father’s estate, but you may not realize my elder sister is soon to marry Mr. Charles Bingley. They will reside at Netherfield Park, and you may know something of Mr. Bingley’s shipping lines.”
“Indeed I do,” Sloane acknowledged.
“And that is not to discount many of Mr. Darcy’s other relatives. The colonel is Mr. Darcy’s cousin and the son of the Earl of Matlock. Moreover, Mr. Darcy claims Lady Catherine de Bourgh as his aunt.”
Darcy chuckled, “Miss Elizabeth is my champion. I require no other.” He stood. “Come, Sloane, let us permit Miss Elizabeth time to speak to her sister. Join us, my dear, when you have Miss Lydia’s decision.”
When Darcy and Sloane returned to the passageway, Sloane caught Darcy’s arm to stay him.
“I must extend my deepest apologies for my shortsightedness. I pray you will forgive me.”
Darcy wondered how desperate he might have been if Wickham left Georgiana in the condition he did Miss Sloane.
“We each make mistakes,” Darcy pronounced. “If you secure Miss Lydia’s future, you will earn my benevolence. After all, it is not as if Miss Elizabeth deserted me for a life of independence after my absence from the ceremony.”
“Certainly not, Mrs. Philips always spoke of the quick intelligence of her second niece,” Sloane related. “Miss Elizabeth would possess enough sense to realize you are a man of honor.”
Darcy wasted his attempt at humor upon Sloane. The man was quite singular in his opinions.
An awkward pause followed, but Sloane cleared his throat to speak again.
“I thank you, Mr. Darcy,” Sloane said in what appeared to be a fit of nerves. “I possess another favor to ask of you, Sir, and I am not certain how best to express it except coming out with it. I am hoping you would hold no objections to my calling upon Miss Mary Bennet while she is in London. Your future sister is one of the reasons I desired to remain in Meryton.”
Darcy kept the amusement from his tone.
“You wish to court Miss Mary?’
“Aye, Sir.”
Darcy glanced to the room where the Bennet sisters awaited their return. Sloane would make Mary Bennet a fair husband: well educated, of modest economy, and of a protective nature. Fortune could soon see Mrs. Bennet knowing the pleasure of four daughters married.
“I expect your foreman claiming his employer as family would assist in swaying Captain Vaughan’s decision,” Darcy observed. “And it would do you well to claim like connections: Perhaps Bingley has a need of the captain’s service or of your raw copper.”
Darcy nodded toward Mr. Wickham’s room.
“I hold no objections of your attentions toward Miss Mary, but you must receive the lady’s agreement first. I will not tolerate your coercing Miss Mary into a situation, which would not please her.”
* * *
“Mr. Darcy?”
Darcy looked up to find Elizabeth framed by the open door. It was as if his long-time dream came to life. How often did Darcy imagine Elizabeth crossing this very room to curl up in his lap? It took a good shake of his head to leave his desires behind.
He rose to cross the room to where Elizabeth waited for his permission to enter. Only then did he realize how nervous she was.
“I thought you sought your quarters,” he said as he captured her hand to lead Elizabeth to a comfortable settle. “This is a pleasant surprise, but I will not have you know exhaustion.”
His party returned to Darcy House some five hours prior. Sloane and Fitzwilliam agreed to detain Mr. Wickham until Sloane could arrange Wickham’s marriage to Miss Sloane. Unsurprisingly, Darcy’s former childhood companion readily agreed to the joining for Miss Sloane’s dowry would assure payment of Wickham’s other creditors, and Sloane’s wealth remained an inducement for future allowances.
What Grange had yet to disclose to Wickham was the man purchased passage to India for the pair. The mine owner also negotiated a position in the East India Company military force for Wickham. Darcy admired Sloane’s forethought. The man might prove an excellent influence on Mr. Wickham.
“I am all amazed with today’s transactions,” Elizabeth admitted. “I could not sleep.”
“I always welcome your company,” Darcy assured. “Do you care for claret or something a bit stronger? It might help you sleep.”
Elizabeth shook off the suggestion.
“I am well tended, Sir.”
Although he would prefer otherwise, Darcy sat across from her rather than beside her.
“Did you know success in convincing Miss Lydia of the necessity of her marriage to Captain Vaughan?” he asked in sympathy.
The girl was difficult with
which to reason. Miss Lydia complained of the need to accept Captain Vaughan sight unseen.
“What if he possesses the countenance of an ogre?” was heard often since their return to Darcy House.
He overheard both Elizabeth and Miss Mary assure the girl that if Miss Lydia did not favor Vaughan, another marriage would be made. Mr. Wickham chose his responsibilities to Miss Sloane and his creditors over Miss Lydia.
“If you can discover something of Captain Vaughan to claim to affection,” Elizabeth persuaded, “you will be married to a hero from the war, a man well renown among England’s elite. Moreover, the captain will not require a large dowry from Papa. Your share of Mama’s allowance, along with what Mr. Darcy is willing to provide you will settle the situation with the captain.”
Elizabeth’s words brought Darcy from his recollections.
“If you hold no objections, I would send for Mrs. Bennet. My mother will recognize the advantage of a captain of the Royal Navy, who won prize money for his service, over Mr. Wickham, who is embroiled in debt. Mrs. Bennet holds great sway over Lydia’s opinions; she will make my sister see reason.”
Darcy shared, “I wrote to your father to explain what we negotiated on your sister’s behalf. I asked him to join us in London. Mr. Sloane planned to send an express to Vaughan’s father this very evening. Hopefully, the captain will make an appearance by the start of next week. It would be best to permit Vaughan and Miss Lydia an acquaintance away from the eyes of your Meryton neighbors. Mayhap we will be fortunate to disguise the truth of the matter, especially if something goes awry.”
“With my parents’ presence in London, we should retreat to Uncle Gardiner’s house. It is too much for you to entertain the entire Bennet family.” Elizabeth suggested, but Darcy noted how her eyes refused to meet his.
“I would entertain all of Hertfordshire if doing so would keep you under my roof,” Darcy said in earnest as he moved to kneel before her. “Tell me you wish to remain with me, Elizabeth.”
Darcy brought her hand to his lips, but instead of brushing his lips across the back of it, he turned Elizabeth’s hand over to place a kiss upon the pulse point on her wrist. A hitch in her breathing served as Darcy’s reward.
Elizabeth Bennet's Excellent Adventure: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary Page 18
