The Phantom of Pemberley

by Regina Jeffers

  “We have not discussed Mr. Wickham’s treachery with my sister,” Elizabeth barely whispered. “It will break Lyddie’s heart when she knows the truth.”

  Darcy squeezed her hand, telling Elizabeth they would see this through together. “I have written to Mr. Bennet,” he continued the tale. “I have told him the truth, but have asked him to conceal it from the rest of the family. He will propose a trip to Pemberley under the guise of celebrating Elizabeth’s upcoming confinement. When the Bennets arrive, we will explain the events to everyone. Mrs. Wickham will benefit from her mother’s ministrations, and it will allow the news to trickle into Meryton and not be bemoaned loudly by Mrs. Bennet’s nervous nature. As Mr.Wickham has a less-than-stellar reputation among Meryton’s residents, few in Hertfordshire will find our explanation lacking. In fact, many will expect some such perfidy. I have no fear of the locals learning of the whole truth by their usual methods of Mr. and Mrs. Collins and the Lucases. Lady Catherine will repeat what I tell her because Anne’s reputation is intrinsically entangled in Wickham’s story.”

  “How do we explain Harwood?” Worth asked. “Can we leave Miss de Bourgh’s ruination out of the story?”

  Darcy recognized the man’s concern: Worth would make Anne his wife, and a man protects his family. “It will be quite an exaggeration, but we shall say that both Lawson and Lucinda discovered Wickham disguised in the Pemberley livery, and he killed them so that he would not be found out. Unfortunately, with Harwood, a complete prevarication will be necessary. We have stated that, as a friend of my cousin, Harwood saw Anne and Mrs. Jenkinson to Pemberley when he realized that the storm delayed Mr. Worth. Like the others, Harwood discovered Wickham in the house, and he lost his life defending our home against an unknown intruder.”

  “You are making the man into a glorified hero!” Stafford remarked.

  “It was part of our agreement with the lieutenant’s wife. Mrs. Harwood will go to the West Indies if her husband’s name is not defamed by his involvement in this matter. Plus, it will save Anne’s reputation, making my aunt more willing to repeat our version of the truth.”

  “Mr. Darcy has made arrangements to send Lydia to his cousin Wilhelmina outside Edinburgh to spend her time in mourning. It is very kind of Fitzwilliam to shield Lydia from the brouhaha surrounding her husband’s duplicity.” Elizabeth looked lovingly at Darcy. Despite being in company, she caressed his cheek.

  Darcy continued,“I have sent for my friend Charles Bingley. He and Mrs. Bingley can accompany Mrs. Wickham north. I hate to ask them to travel in winter, but I will not hear of Elizabeth journeying so far in her condition.”

  “As Mr. Bingley is one of the most amiable men I know, I doubt he will refuse your request, Fitzwilliam,” Georgiana offered.

  “And my sister Jane can attend to Lydia upon the journey,” Elizabeth added. “If Lydia is far away from the gossipmongers, she can return to England a grieving widow of a man who did not deserve her. Maybe if we are fortunate, Lydia will become more aware of her obligations to her family.”

  Darcy thought Elizabeth wished for the world. In reality, he hoped his wife’s youngest sister would choose to stay in Scotland and would find herself a man to keep her in line and out of his sight for a very long time. “I have to ask, Stafford, if we can count on Miss Donnel to keep our confidences?” Darcy hated to broach the subject, but as the lady prepared to leave Pemberley the next day, he needed to know. Miss Donnel had no vested interest in the situation. Neither did Stafford, for that matter, but he had proved himself a true friend.

  Cathleen’s leaving still bothered Adam profoundly, although he fundamentally knew that she was not the woman for him.With the Darcys, he had observed perfection in a marriage, and he did not think he could settle for simply a physical attraction. He desired Cathleen, but they had little in common beyond that: She did not challenge him intellectually, nor did she demand that he be a better person. Cathleen accepted his foibles, and that was not what he required in a wife. He needed a woman more in Mrs. Darcy’s mode—a woman who would, through determination and her own independence, make their dreams come true. “Miss Donnel is very discreet. Not a word of this will escape her lips.” He turned to Worth. “I have asked Nigel to squire Cathleen to her uncle’s home and to oversee her welfare for the next couple of months—until she is settled.”

  “We will leave tomorrow after Mrs. Jenkinson’s service. Mr. Darcy has graciously offered us the use of his small coach and a competent driver. I cannot neglect my practice any longer, and I have other legal matters I need to address.”They all assumed Worth meant his own fortune. Having it defined exactly would make his request of Lady Catherine for Anne’s hand more likely to be received positively by Her Ladyship.

  Edward stood to end the conversation. “I, too, must return home and offer my parents an explanation of what has happened here. It might be best, Darcy, if I see Her Ladyship and Anne to Matlock while the Bennets are at Pemberley. It will give Lady Catherine time to perfect her story before she returns to Kent and the very nosy Mr. Collins.”

  “Send word if Anne wishes to spend the spring at Pemberley, and I shall have one of my maids travel with her,” Darcy said.

  “I am sure the earl can manage a carriage and a chaperone when my cousin is ready to return.” Edward straightened his jacket. “Would you care to spend a few days with us, Lord Stafford? I imagine my brother Charles would enjoy your company.”

  Stafford laughed lightly. “And I can corroborate your story.”

  “Exactly.” Edward bowed to the room. “Georgiana, might you join me in the music room. It has been too long since I have heard you play.” He reached out his hand to her.

  Darcy winced when his sister placed her hand in his, but he said nothing, silently accepting what he could not change.

  “I have matters to settle with Cathleen.” Stafford no longer concealed their relationship.

  Elizabeth nodded her understanding.“It has been an honor to have Miss Donnel among us,Your Lordship.You will tell her so for me.”

  “Cathleen will be pleased to hear it. Now, if you will excuse me, Mrs. Darcy.” He stood and offered a bow.“I will see you at supper.”

  Nigel Worth followed suit. “I suppose that is my cue as well. I wish to spend some time with Miss de Bourgh. She is upset with the prospect of saying her farewells to Mrs. Jenkinson on the morrow.”

  Darcy accepted Worth’s excuse with graciousness. “Of course, Worth.”

  Within moments, only he and Elizabeth remained in the room. A long sigh escaped as soon as the silence hit them. “We survived,” he said softly.

  “More than survived, my Husband. We prevailed.” Elizabeth placed her head on his shoulder and rested against his warmth. “Fitzwilliam,” she whispered. “I am so sorry to have brought such devastation to Pemberley. If you wish me to leave with my parents, I will understand.”

  Darcy placed his good arm about her shoulder. “Elizabeth, if you ever leave me, I would finance an army and come after you.”

  She smiled secretly. “You would have no need of an army, Fitzwilliam. Simply tell me I am forgiven.”

  “You have no need of my absolution, my Dear. It was my association with Mr. Wickham which provoked his descent. And it was my interference which aligned your family with him. I should seek your forgiveness.”

  “Then we are bound to each other by necessity,” she teased.

  “By love,” he corrected. Darcy lifted her chin with his fingertips and kissed her intimately.

  Elizabeth turned into his embrace, losing herself in his kiss. She lingered only inches from his lips. “And Doctor Miller said what about your recovery?” she murmured breathily.

  “Not a word about that.” He smiled. “Of course, I did not specifically ask.” His own voice took on husky overtones. “Miller might have forbidden us, and I would not have it.”

  “Should we retire to our rooms for a rest?” Elizabeth boldly offered.

  Darcy kissed the tip of her uptur
ned nose.“I can think of nothing I need more.”

  They rose together and headed for the main staircase, arms shamelessly wrapped around each other’s waists.

  “Fitzwilliam,” she asked as they climbed the steps together, “would you mind if I asked Kitty to stay with us when my parents return to Hertfordshire? I find I miss my family dearly, and Jane and I agree that in society superior to what she has generally known we can assure Kitty’s improvement. She is not of so ungovernable a temper as Lydia, and with proper attention and management, Kitty might thrive. I could use her help during my confinement, and she might be company for Georgiana’s forays into local society.”

  “All are legitimate reasons for bringing your sister to stay with us,” he teased, “but would you like to tell me what other contrivances you have in mind? I really despise being omitted from your machinations.”

  “Fitzwilliam Darcy,” she tried to sound offended, but Elizabeth’s mischievous smile spoke volumes. “You judge me harshly, sir.”

  A feigned look of chastisement crossed his face. “Do I now?”

  She paused on the steps, trying to look in his eyes without bursting into laughter, but her control suffered when he waggled his eyebrows in a purposeful tease. “Oh, you win.” Elizabeth sighed in exasperation.“I noted how you sent the new vicar at Kympton a generous, although anonymous, donation to cover the recent damages to his church.” She caught his arm to continue their climb. “And I was thinking that Mr. Spencer is a promising member of the Pemberley family and—.”

  “And Mr. Spencer is unmarried.” Darcy finished the sentence for her.

  Elizabeth presented him with a brilliant smile. “And Mr. Spencer is unmarried. Do you not think Kitty might suit him?”

  Darcy laughed—a deep baritone rumbling. “We will introduce your sister to Mr. Spencer and see what happens, but we will put no pressure on the man. I would not wish for him to think his wooing your sister was part of the agreement resulting in the living I recently bestowed upon the man.”

  “Of course not.” Elizabeth opened the door and pulled on Darcy’s hand to follow. “I would never put Mr. Spencer or Kitty in such a position.”

  “Mrs. Darcy,” he let her lead him to the bed, “I would place a bet at White’s that you have already planned your sister’s wedding right down to the dress and flowers.”

  Elizabeth began to unbutton Darcy’s jacket and waistcoat. “You know me too well, my Husband.” She giggled as she released the knot of his cravat. “In fact, I planned everyone’s wedding but my own.”

  “Yet, yours was the most important, my Love.”

  She slipped her fingers under his shirt and stroked his chest. “It was, for it gave me pure happiness. I am truly the happiest creature in the world.” She went on tiptoes to kiss him enticingly. “Perhaps other people have said so before, but not one with such justice. I am happier even than Jane; she only smiles. I laugh.”

  Within moments they were in the throes of intimacy, wrapped in the pleasures of love. “Will they?” Elizabeth asked as she settled in his arms. “Will people believe our version of what happened at Pemberley?”

  Darcy adjusted his arm around her, trying not to make any move that would tear open the stitches across his back.“I hope any doubts others might have will go away in time,” he said, trying to sound confident.

  “And if they do not? What if the rumors linger?”

  “Then I suppose we will go down in local lore: Bungay has its Black Shuck; Cornwall, the Well of St. Keyne; Somerset, the Witch of Wookey; and Cheshire,The Red Rider of Bramhall Hall.We will be known for the house populated by shadow people—the home of the Phantom of Pemberley.”

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  WHAT THE MAJORITY OF the world once called “multiple personalities” is now known as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), a complicated and sometimes difficult to diagnose psychological illness. The second half of the 20th century saw public attention cast upon the disease through books and movies: The Three Faces of Eve and Sybil. But, in reality, DID has been documented for over 200 years. The American Psychiatric Association in The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (or DSM-III, 1980) defines multiple personality disorder as “the existence within the individual of two or more distinct personalities, each of which is dominant at a particular time. The personality that is dominant at any particular time determines the individual’s behaviors. Each individual personality is complex and integrated with its own unique behavior patterns and social relationships.”

  Case studies vary greatly. Some DID patients possess personalities of a different sex, race, or age. One might find the “multiple” speaking in a different accent or language, writing with a different hand, or possessing different mannerisms and ways of walking.There is the “host” identity, the one who generally seeks help for the problem, and then there are the personalities, which have specific and limited roles depending on the individual’s past experiences. Most experts believe the severity and the chronic effects of the trauma the person experienced determines how many personalities appear. Also, the individual’s age and degree of vulnerability at the time of the trauma show in the “alter egos” created. It is assumed by many in the field that there are five basic alters: the host who denies the existence of the other personalities; the defenseless child; the one who blames everyone else for the pain he has suffered; the strong, angry defender; and the amicable, pleasant personality. However, there can be infinite variations of these “characters.”

  Besides defining these types, medical experts agree that how the personalities function falls in the realm of certain behavior patterns: those which express painful emotions, those which desire skills they lack, and those with “unspoken” sexual needs. Sometimes, the personality makes only a single appearance, and sometimes he/she can be the dominant force, taking over the individual’s consciousness. Generally, the “alters” are not aware of one another, but it is not uncommon for the multiples to possess a co-consciousness—an acquaintance, of sorts. In such cases, the personalities are integrated and fused into a single being.

  Evidence of multiple personalities has a long history. Cases of demonic possessions and shaman images can more easily be explained if one considers the possibility of multiple personalities as a reality. In the early 1500s, Paracelsus (Auroleus Phillipus Theostratus Bombastus von Hoheheim), a Renaissance physician, alchemist, and botanist, documented an account of a woman whose “alter” stole her money. However, in the 18th century, DID, as a mental condition, was recorded in more detailed accounts. In 1791, Eberhardt Gmeline wrote of a twenty-year-old woman in Stuttgart, Germany, who became a French aristocrat as her alter. As the “French woman,” the girl spoke perfect French and remembered everything the “German woman” said or did. However, as the “German,” the girl remembered nothing of her “French” personality.

  Benjamin Rush, who is considered the “Father of American Psychiatry,” documented many early cases. Incidentally, Rush, the chief surgeon of the Continental Army, was the only man to sign both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. Rush believed there was a disconnect between the two hemispheres of the brain, causing the “doubles.”

  The most influential of the cases of the time period of this book is that of Mary Reynolds. Dr. Samuel Latham Mitchel first published his findings on Mary’s case in Medical Repository in 1816. Reynolds is believed to be the first person officially diagnosed (1810) with multiple personalities. Mitchel took much of his information for the case from Mary and her relatives, the Reverend Dr. John V. Reynolds and his brother William Reynolds.

  Born in England in 1785, Mary moved to Meadville, Pennsylvania, when she was four years of age. Reportedly, she came from a strongly religious family, and she was often described as melancholy and shy. No incidents occurred until Mary turned nineteen. Then, for six weeks, she became deaf and blind. Three months later, she awoke from an extended overnight sleep (some eighteen to twenty hours) to know nothin
g of her surroundings or her previous life. However, within a few weeks, she could again read, do calculations, and write, although it was said that her penmanship had changed dramatically. This “new Mary” was described as “boisterous” and “fond of company,” as well as being a “nature lover.” After five weeks of this alter, she took another long sleep, awakening to her former self and possessing no knowledge of the person she had been. This altering back and forth between the melancholy Mary and the mirthful Mary continued until Reynolds was in her mid thirties. Then, the alterations stopped, and Reynolds became the “alter” personality until her death at age sixty-one.

  DID is sometimes referred to as “a child’s post-traumatic stress syndrome.” Severe discipline, sexual abuse, or traumatic confrontations with death or the unexplained can manifest itself into individuals who retreat into an “alter personality,” one who can either absorb or deal with the trauma.

  Hopefully, with better screening and diagnostic instruments, the future will bring continued growth and understanding to the treatment of this disorder. DSM-III’s creation of a separate category for the dissociative disorders gave legitimacy for the condition. A number of landmark publications in the 1980s devoted special issues to a discussion of multiple personalities. In 1994, DSM-IV set a primary criterion, which a patient must meet to be diagnosed with DID. Increased interest in the field remains strong, and distinguishing DID from other psychological illnesses remains the goal.