“Elizabeth Bennet, I will not stand here and listen to your pleading any longer.” Mr Gardiner replied. “You are vital to all of us. We love you dearly, and will not give you over to a man who wishes to murder you, simply due to his own behavior bringing him disgrace. This is a tragedy, but it is not your fault. You did not point a gun at Miss Bingley and pull the trigger. Nor did you ask that monster to beat you.”
“Please, dearest, listen to your uncle. Let us go clean you up. Then you can go to your aunt and sisters.” Darcy began to move Elizabeth towards the door and into the hallway.
~~ ** ~~ Darcy waited in the hall, outside Elizabeth’s door, until she returned to him, clean and dressed in a fresh gown. She was quiet, and did not raise her eyes to him.
The pair made their way to the drawing room where the others had gathered. "Lizzy." Jane declared the moment she saw her sister entering the room. Elizabeth made her way to her sister’s wheeled chair, dropping to the floor and placing her head on Jane’s lap.
“Jane, I am so scared. Too many people have been harmed because of me.”
“Mr Bingley told me you feel you should go to Armstrong, to protect the rest of us.” “He is correct. I cannot imagine how I would feel if it had been you or any of our family and dear friends. It would be best if I turned myself over to that evil man, so that he will leave the rest of you alone.”
Jane took hold of her sister’s chin and turned it to face her. “Elizabeth, you have never been a foolish person. Stop and think of what has happened. Even if Mr Armstrong were to get ahold of you, do you truly think he will stop there? Do you truly believe Charles will be safe? He humiliated the man by rescuing you. Charles is in as much danger as you. And Mr Darcy and his cousin have stayed loyal to you and Charles. They publically humiliated that man in the theater lobby. Do you believe they will escape his wrath? No. This situation is not about you alone. Mr Armstrong is not the sort of man who would allow anyone on his list to go unpunished.”
Elizabeth was so surprised at her elder sister’s words, she did not realize that Jane had called Mr Bingley by his Christian name. She had never heard Jane speak so forcefully. “B…B…But, I thought…”
“You thought this was only about you. Mr Armstrong is not single minded in his wrath. He has many on his list. We must do everything possible to keep ourselves safe while the men do all that is possible to find a way to put an end to his reign of terror.” Jane said gently. “If you were to be killed, do you honestly believe Mr Darcy would allow it to go unavenged? He loves you dearly. Do not forget that. A love match is dear and special, and should be treated as such.”
“I know, Jane. And I do cherish William. If something were to happen to him, especially on my account, I would be devastated.” Elizabeth said, fear clearly written in her expression.
“Then take my advice. Do not think of leaving this house until it is safe to do so. Do not think of turning yourself over to Mr Armstrong, as it will not resolve any of the problem. And please, put Mr Darcy at ease. He is frightened that you will attempt to run away from here, in a foolish attempt to protect him. Make certain he knows that you love him and cherish him.”
“When did you become so wise, Jane?” Elizabeth chuckled. “Not long after I received a proposal from Mr Bingley. I had a chat with our beloved aunt, who enlightened me on how I was undervaluing his love for me by not accepting his view of what our life could be. Our aunt is quite intelligent.”
“Jane, are you telling me that you and Mr Bingley are engaged?” Elizabeth’s smile grew. Jane blushed deeply as she nodded her head. “Charles and I have spoken, at length, of the future. Though I will most likely never be able to walk again, Mr Johnston has stated there is improvement in my overall health. I know I was being a fussy child when I did not cooperate with the routine that was developed for me, but I am now grateful for all that was done for me.”
“This is wonderful news. I am so pleased for you, Jane.” “And I am pleased to know you have a man who loves you, Lizzy. You deserve so much joy in your life.” Jane said as she embraced her favorite sister. “And if I decide to accept Charles, it is nice to be marrying two close friends. They will not argue about spending a lot of time together in the years to come.”
Elizabeth chuckled. “I love you, Jane. Our guardian angel was watching over us that night on the road. Losing our parents and Lydia was hard, but, if I had lost you as well, I doubt I would have been able to survive.”
“And our guardian angel has been watching over you as well. I am so grateful.”
~~ ** ~~ “I had a clear shot, and I took it. I waited for the entire day, and when it finally came, there was another lady in the room. They were struggling. I know the bullet struck one of them, I am just not certain which of the ladies was shot.”
“You incompetent fool. I have paid you
handsomely for your services. You guaranteed that I would not regret hiring you, as you are one of the best rifleman in England, outside the military. But I am regretting ever making any deal with you. Now Darcy and his cousin will tighten up their security measures. This was one of the few chances we had, as it was the only room we could access that whore from the trees. I have tried to find a way into the townhouses on either side of Darcy’s, but one is away from Town and the other has no desire to lower himself to allow a tradesman into his home as a guest.” Armstrong was furious. “Lord Matlock has left Town, traveling to Rosings Park, to visit with his sister. Lady Catherine de Bourgh would have no hesitation in marching into Darcy House and throwing that band of rubbish out on the street. The Gardiners, Bennets, and even Charles Bingley, would all be fair game within a moment of that lady’s arrival.”
“Would she not already know of her nephews consorting with such people? Her brother is Lord Matlock, and he would most likely have told him.”
“No, Lord Matlock has spent too much time in a bottle of late. From what I understand, he has been drunk the majority of the time since the last time I was there. Who knows of what he has bothered to inform his sister as to what has happened.”
“What if you were to send her an anonymous letter, as a concerned neighbor of her nephew? Inform her of what was being said about Town and the danger in which Darcy was involved. If I am not mistaken, Lady Catherine has boasted, for many years, of her daughter’s engagement to Darcy. This scandal would touch her daughter.”
“Sam, you are a bit wiser than I gave you credit. I shall write to Lady Catherine, and wait to see what the lady does. Yes, she might just be the way for us to gain access to our goal.”
~~ ** ~~ Lucy Armstrong entered the shop of Madame La Roche, wishing to place an order for some new gowns. One of the clerks seemed agitated and excused herself to find her employer. Madame La Roche came from the back room quickly. “Miss Armstrong, we had not expected you to come here so soon.”
“I am preparing a wardrobe to wear while I visit my aunt and cousins. There will be a few balls while I am visiting and I thought some new gowns would be necessary.”
“W…W…Well, I am afraid…well, we have far more, yes, far more work, than expected at this time. It would be best if you were to find a different modiste, one who would have the time to fulfill your order.”
“Madame La Roche, I have come to you exclusively for several years now. I am shocked at such treatment from you.” Miss Armstrong was flummoxed by the behavior of the lady speaking to her.
“I know you have, Miss Armstrong. It has come to my attention…well, the situation in Town, and Miss Darcy is an extremely good client. I could not offend the Darcys by catering to you. The Darcy family connections to those in upper society are far greater than anything you have.”
Tears were welling up in the young lady’s eyes. “My father is the innocent in this matter concerning the young lady who was my companion. You cannot possibly hold such lies against my father, or me. Why would you believe the word of a servant who attempted to seduce my father?”
Mrs Hillyard had entered the shop and ove
rheard the conversation. The lady knew the Darcys well, as her son had attended the university with Fitzwilliam Darcy. She was appalled by the naïve young lady in front of her, and the position in which she was placing the modiste. “Miss Armstrong, this matter with your former companion is not the first time your father has been accused of such behavior with young ladies who are employed in your household. Have you never wondered why so many of your maids have had to be replaced? Have you never wondered why some of your school mates will not come to your home? It is because of your father. It is time you learned the truth. Your father even approached Miss
Worthington, your former friend. When she refused, your father forced himself on her, leaving his seed inside her. Mr Worthington sent his daughter to Scotland, to her aunt’s home, where she gave birth to your half-sister, only six months ago. From what I have heard, you have three other siblings, two boys and another girl. All of whom were abandoned by your father, sent to live in the gutters. Can you now understand why no one would wish to have you in their establishment? Though I am sure your father will retaliate against me for how I have spoken with you, I felt it was high time you knew the truth.”
Miss Armstrong was shocked and confused. Could these accusations be true? Could her father have taken her friend, forced her to endure such behavior? Could her beloved father have…have…raped her best friend? Did she really have siblings who were sired by her father, then cast off as unworthy?
Thinking of the current situation, was her father lying to her? Did he attempt to rape Miss Elizabeth? Had Mr Bingley rescued her from the same fate as Miss Worthington suffered? So many questions darted about inside her mind.
I should leave for my aunt’s home immediately. There is so much to think over, I need time to sort out all I have been told. Father will deny what Mrs Hillyard just informed me, but she is well known in society as a lady of strong character and who knows many people. I will need to find a convincing reason to tell Father. He would keep me here if he knew my reason for leaving. But I need time to sort through everything, and attempt to find the truth of the matter. I know my aunt is not fond of Father, she felt her sister, my mother, could have married better than Father. She would be able to assist me in finding the information I need to refute or accept my father’s behavior.
~~~~~~~ ** ~~~~~~~
Chapter 12 “Ahh, Mr Darcy, it is always a pleasure to visit Darcy House.” “Mr Allen, thank you for coming on such short notice. I hope you were able to put together everything I requested, without too much of a burden.” Darcy stood from his chair behind his desk and shook the hand of his solicitor.
“Not a problem, Mr Darcy. It has been slow the past fortnight, so I had plenty of time to take care of your requests. I must say, I was quite pleased to hear your news. You must be quite anxious to have all the paperwork finished, so you can move forward into becoming a husband.”
A chuckle escaped Darcy. “I cannot wait until the young lady is officially my wife. The news will need to be kept quiet for a while longer, though.”
“I understand. I have heard the rumors surrounding your friend and the young lady, their dealings with Armstrong. That man is outrageous in his behavior.” Noticing Darcy’s uplifted eyebrow, Mr Allen continued. “Forgive me, sir, but I have had dealings with some of his victims. Mr Worthington brought Mr Armstrong to my attention, after the beast had forced himself on Miss Worthington. Mr Armstrong has bastard children he has left to fend for themselves, from the manner in which he treats young ladies. Now that the truth of his behavior is well known, Armstrong is being looked at much differently. Rather than having fun at the club, with Armstrong bragging of his latest conquest, many of the men he had been friends with are shunning him. They are coming to realize that if the man can behave so with Miss Elizabeth Bennet, the daughter of a gentleman, their own daughters and nieces are in danger. Some of the men have daughters who were friends with Miss Armstrong. Most have now refused to allow their ladies to associate with the poor girl.”
“I feel for the girl, for she did not ask to be born to such a father.” Darcy stated, as he looked over the papers before him. “From what I have been told by my fiancé, Miss Armstrong is a sweet natured young lady who is extremely naïve, especially when it comes to her father.”
“It would be difficult to think of one’s father being such a monster.” Mr Allen said in a sad voice. “But it is time to talk of pleasant things, and your marriage is the most pleasant topic I can imagine. There will be many hearts broken with you off the market, my niece’s being one of them. You have kept the matchmaking mammas on their toes for many years now.”
“And they kept me on my toes, trying to avoid them.” Darcy laughed. “But I am pleased to be marrying Elizabeth, as she is perfect for me.”
“When will the two of you marry?” Mr Allen inquired. “Soon. We have not set a definite day, with all that has been happening. With Miss Bingley’s death yesterday, there have been a great many issues with which to contend.”
“Please give Mr Bingley my regrets for his family’s loss. Have you learned anything of whom took the shot?”
Darcy shook his head. “My cousin is looking into the matter, as he is certain the man was military trained. To make such a shot took an expert.”
“If only it could be proved that Armstrong was behind it. There are many who would like to see him pay for his crimes.”
“And I am at the top of that list.” Darcy stood and moved to pull the cord, signaling for a servant to come to the study. When the footman arrived, Darcy sent him to find Mr Gardiner and Elizabeth. “Might I offer you some refreshments?”
Mr Allen nodded his head, and Darcy poured a glass of brandy for him. Only a few minutes passed before Mr Gardiner knocked on the door and was told to enter. “Mr Gardiner, please, join us. This is Mr Allen, my solicitor. Mr Allen, this is Elizabeth’s uncle, Mr Edward Gardiner. I guess I should say he will soon be my uncle as well.” Darcy smiled at the thought.
Not long after introductions were made, Elizabeth arrived at the study. “Ah, here is my fiancé. Elizabeth, this is Mr Allen, my solicitor. He just brought papers for us to sign. He has the marriage contract, as well as our special license.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr Allen. And I might add, thank you for your assistance during the unusual circumstances we are experiencing.”
“Miss Bennet, I have known Mr Darcy all of his life. When he sent word as to what he needed, it brought a smile to my lips. We have wished for a young lady to win his heart. My wife is anxious to meet you, as she has always been fond of William.”
“Once we are free of this situation, we will make certain to invite you and your wife to dine with us.” Elizabeth noted her fiancé was smiling happily at her. It was clear that he found her to be a perfect Mistress of Darcy House.
The papers were reviewed, with both Mr Gardiner and Elizabeth shocked at the settlement Darcy had made for his wife. “William, forty thousand pounds is far too generous to settle on me, especially seeing as I bring nothing to the marriage. I have no dowry or connections.”
“I told you, dearest, your connections to your uncle and his business knowledge is perfect. I need no more than that. And I have no need for a dowry from you.”
“But you have also set up dowries for my sisters in the sum of ten thousand each. This is all far too much. And the pin money you have set for me is far grander than I need.”
“Mr Allen, can you see why I love this woman? You can testify that she is not a fortune hunter.” Darcy turned his attention back to his betrothed. “Elizabeth, when I was at Netherfield, I know many of the people thought me to be worth ten thousand per annum. What they did not know is that ten thousand is the approximate income from Pemberley alone. With the annual income from my other three estates, and my business holdings, my annual worth is closer to between thirty and thirty five thousand.”
Elizabeth’s eyes bulged at the news. “You must be one of the wealthiest men in England. How am I ever to
fit in with such grandeur?”
“My dear, have no fear. I do not enjoy society. Mr Allen can attest to that. I have hidden from the matchmaking mammas and their daughters for many years, and rarely attend any society functions unless I cannot avoid it.”
Mr Allen laughed. “He speaks the truth. I cannot remember the last ball or large dinner party he has attended. If Darcy had his druthers, he would remain at Pemberley and never come to Town.”
“I could find great pleasure, after all I have heard of Pemberley. I am a country girl, and have always loved nature.” Elizabeth replied, laughing.
~~ ** ~~ Lord Bentley was going through some papers in his study. There had been something niggling at the back of his mind, ever since he learned of Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Something was teasing him, a vague memory which refused to make its way to the surface.
A knock pulled his attention to the study’s door. “Yes.” He called out. His butler stood at the door, opening it far enough to step into the room.
“Sir, there is a Mr Sheridan here to speak with you.”
“Ah, yes, show him in.” Mr Jacob Sheridan had been an investigator for Bow Street Runners for several years. His father was a clergyman in Yorkshire, and had hoped Jacob would follow in his footsteps, but it was not to be. His mind was sharp and questioning, with a keen memory, which made him ideal to investigations. And, fortunately for his clients, Jacob Sheridan was an honorable man. This made him highly valued by those of society who required his services.
“Mr Sheridan, I pray that you come bearing good news.” “I believe it will be good news to you, Lord Bentley.” Mr Sheridan sat down in the chair Lord Bentley had motioned to. “I traced the lineage of the Bennet family, as you requested. Miss Elizabeth Bennet is the second eldest child of Mr Thomas Bennet. He was the son of Alfred Bennet, son of Robert. Robert’s last name was changed when he was twenty years of age, a year prior to his marriage. Evidently, there had been a disagreement in the family and he turned away from the family.”
Saving Elizabeth Bennet Page 13
