This was news indeed. She drew herself straight and fixed them with a steely gaze. ‘Mrs Wickham, you are as well aware as I am that your husband is not welcome here – indeed, madam, neither are you. This is a private party and you, Mr Rawlings, have no right to include your friends in your own invitation.’
Although she had kept her voice low, her rigid stance was beginning to draw unwelcome attention from other guests. ‘I suggest, Mrs Wickham, that you retire to your room and begin packing for you will be leaving Pemberley as soon as I have spoken to my brother.’
She turned her back on them and was at a loss as to what to do next. She could hardly interrupt Fitzwilliam whilst he was welcoming the remainder of the guests. Her heart was thumping uncomfortably and her hands were clammy – she did so dislike falling out with the person, however well-deserved.
To her delight she saw Jonathan appear in the doorway; he would know what to do to defuse the matter for she was certain both Lydia and Rawlings had already been telling their tale of woe to anyone who was prepared to listen.
She gestured to him and he understood immediately and disappeared from view. She hurried after him certain he would go to the chamber they had used last time to converse. It was as if two dozen pairs of eyes were burning into her back and this was an uncomfortable feeling.
As she’d hoped he was waiting and she wanted to throw herself into his arms but managed to restrain this immodest impulse. Until they were officially betrothed she must do nothing to draw attention to herself.
He stepped aside and she dashed past noticing that he left the door wide open so that could there be no hint of impropriety in their clandestine meeting. ‘Jonathan, Lydia and Rawlings are causing trouble and I fear that I have made things so much worse.’
‘You must tell me exactly what happened, sweetheart, but first I will explain what I did.’
When he had completed his story she nodded. ‘It is as I thought, my love, and you have done nothing anyone could take exception to. Wickham knows that he is not permitted to set foot here, so he has only himself to blame if he was manhandled. If my brother had seen him he would have fared much worse.’
‘I’m sure that is the case. However, we have poked a hornets’ nest and must do our best to calm the situation before Kitty and Adam hear of it.’ His expression was serious as he continued. ‘I fear that Mrs Bennet will take her daughter’s side, and Lady Rawlings will do the same with her son. Mr Bennet and Sir John will not cavil, but unfortunately it is not the gentlemen who gossip and cause trouble.’
The sound of voices and laughter outside indicated the last of the guests were making their way to the Great Hall. ‘We must waylay Fitzwilliam and tell him what has happened.’
‘There is no need, my dear, Sir John has already appraised us of what took place.’ Her brother, accompanied by Lizzy and the bride and groom, stepped into the anteroom.
Georgiana rushed to Kitty and took her hands. ‘I cannot tell you how sorry I am that…’
‘You have nothing to be sorry about; this whole debacle is entirely my fault. I should never have pressed for Lydia to be included in the invitation.’ Her friend looked remarkably unbothered by this distressing situation.
‘If blame is to be laid anywhere it is with Wickham himself,’ Adam said firmly. ‘And young Rawlings is not a nincompoop, he must have known his friends were not invited and so should not have brought them with him.’
‘I told Lydia that she must leave immediately – I hope I have not taken too much upon myself.’
Her brother opened his arms and she flung herself into them. He held her close for a moment and rubbed her back as if she were a small child, before releasing her. ‘Lizzy has already put matters in motion and the Bennet carriage is being put to as we speak. Now, we must join the party and ignore any innuendos. I shall speak to the senior gentlemen and Lizzy will do the same with the matrons. It is immaterial what the young ladies and gentlemen say.’
Georgiana was reassured. ‘From what I have heard Mr Rawlings is not popular, especially with the ladies. That’s hardly surprising if he has such unpleasant friends. I expect the other two were the same gentlemen who caused the unpleasantness at the party before Christmas.’
Fitzwilliam looked at Lizzy and she nodded. ‘Georgiana, I have decided to announce your betrothal immediately. We think it best that all concerned are aware that Major Brownstone was acting on my behalf as a member of the Darcy family.’
‘Kitty, are you quite sure you do not mind? I have no wish to intrude on your special day.’
‘Don’t be a goose, knowing my dearest friend is to be married will make my day even more perfect. Come along, everyone, I cannot wait to share this exciting news. Once the announcement is made the petty gossip will be forgotten.’
*
Lizzy touched Kitty’s arm indicating she wished to speak to her privately and immediately her sister released Adam’s hand and fell in beside her. ‘What is it, Lizzy? Are you unwell?’
‘No, but I fear there will be ructions from Mama. Do you think you could find Jane and Mary and get their assistance to divert a scene? Lydia has always been mama’s favourite and I am sure she will not take kindly to this supposed slight, nor will she be happy that Wickham was so rudely treated.’
‘I shall find them at once, no one will think it strange of me as the bride is supposed to circulate amongst her guests, is she not? You have more than enough to do if you are to speak to Mrs Garfield and the other ladies.’
Although Lizzy had said she was not feeling unwell, this was not entirely true as the babies were more vigourous than usual and the sensation was becoming uncomfortable. She viewed the throng of guests with dismay, trying to find anyone in such a crush was going to be difficult.
Then Fitzwilliam was beside her, his arm around her waist and his face deeply etched with concern. ‘This is too much for you, I should not have asked you to become involved in your condition. Come with me, I shall escort you to our apartment where you must rest with your feet up until you feel better.’
‘How did you know I was feeling fatigued? I told Kitty I was perfectly fine.’
His smile, despite her ever-increasing size, still made her heart beat faster. ‘I have you in my view at all times, my love, and could tell at once that you were in need of my assistance.’ He guided her through the crowd and across the flagstone passageway to the secondary stairs. The carved oak staircase was equally as impressive as the marble stairs but they were not used as much as they led directly to the guest wing and not to the main part of the house.
As soon as they were away from the noise Fitzwilliam bent and slipped his arm around her knees and scooped her up. ‘I am far too heavy for you to carry all that way, I shudder to think how much weight I have put on these past few months.’
‘A mere bagatelle, my darling. Hold tight and I shall have you in our apartment in a trice.’ He suited his actions to his words and bounded up the stairs, along several corridors until he burst into their shared apartment.
‘I have no wish to go to bed, Fitzwilliam, I shall rest on the chaise longue for a while and then rejoin you.’
He placed her tenderly on the daybed and fussed with her pillows as if he were her personal maid. When he was satisfied she was comfortable he stepped back. ‘I insist that you remain where you are until I come and see you again in a little while. You must take no risks with your health or that of our babies – Kitty and King understand the situation and will not be offended at your absence.’
‘Perhaps Jane will come up and join me here, although she is not like a beached whale, she is noticeably with child and I’m sure Bingley would be pleased if she rested as well.’
‘Excellent notion, my love, I shall also have trays sent up for you so you will not miss any of the splendid buffet. Cook has surpassed herself again and even with your meagre appetite, I’m sure there will be something you will enjoy.’
He leaned down and kissed her, his lips firm on hers and not fo
r the first time she wished she was less ungainly and they could resume the intimacies of the marriage bed.
After he left she closed her eyes and dozed but was jerked awake when her sitting room door crashed open. She sat up, her heart racing to find Lydia and her mother already inside her private sanctum without being given leave to enter.
Without preamble her sibling launched into a tirade. ‘I hope you’re satisfied, Lizzy, your husband is turning me out as if I was of no account and not his sister. You have ruined this day for me and your family. We are leaving immediately and Mary and Papa are coming too.’
Before Lizzy could frame a suitably crushing reply, her mother chimed in. ‘A viper in my bosom! You are an unnatural daughter and I shall no longer call you a member of this family. To think I was pleased to have Mr Darcy as my son – he has not changed one iota. He is proud and disdainful and you are prejudiced against Lydia and her dearest Wickham.’
Mama had not bothered to lower her voice and her strident tones brought both her personal maid and her chambermaid running into the room. This would not do. Lizzy was the chatelaine of Pemberley and would not be spoken to in this way by anyone – even her own mother.
‘I have heard quite enough, thank you, from both of you. Lydia, you are well aware why neither you nor Wickham are welcome here or at Longbourn. Mr Darcy only allowed you to come here because Kitty wanted all her family to see her marry.’ Slowly she pushed herself to her feet and faced her accusers. ‘Your bags are already being packed, Lydia, and if you wish to leave as well, Mama, then so be it. However, Mary and Papa are remaining with us.’
‘They will not wish to do so once they hear how poorly you have treated me,’ Lydia shrieked.
Her mother was incoherent with anger but finally managed to vent her spleen. ‘You are coming between a man and his wife, Mrs Darcy, and that is against the church and common decency. Lydia and I shall go, be very sure we will never return here even if you beg us to. Do not be surprised if Mr Collins hears about this and decides to evict us. You will have made us homeless as well as separating Mr Bennet from myself.’
This whole debacle was becoming tiresome but Lizzy could see no way of ending it unless she was as uncivil as her sister and her mother. Then Fitzwilliam appeared his face a mask of fury.
‘Remove yourself from my private apartment, madam. Your carriage is waiting and your trunks are already inside. You will leave my house this instant. Do I make myself clear?’
Both Lydia and her mother visibly shrunk at his tone. Without a further remark they turned and fled and Lizzy’s legs gave way beneath her. This time her husband was not fast enough to catch her and she collapsed in an ungainly heap on the carpet.
‘God dammit to hell! Here, darling, let me help you up. If I had known those two termagants would accost you here I would never have left you alone.’ He put his arm around her waist and gently raised her to her feet.
‘I have no wish to retire, my love, I shall remain on the daybed. If it was not so distressing, I would find the situation amusing. It is like something out of a Gothic romance – you casting the villains out into the cold in so dramatic a fashion.’
Once she was comfortably settled, and her feet resting on a cushion, he pulled up a chair and sat beside her. ‘I spoke to Mary and Mr Bennet and they wish to remain here and not be associated with this incident. You will be relieved to know that things are comfortable again downstairs. Sir John has sent his wife and his son away and this was sufficient to quash the rumours and gossip. I intend to announce Georgiana’s engagement after everyone has eaten their fill.’
‘I should like to come down for that, in fact, now I know Lydia and the unpleasant Rawlings boy have gone I feel much better. I am sorry that my mother behaved so appallingly, she will not be welcome here again.’
He took her hands and raised them to his lips and gently kissed her knuckles. ‘She is your mother, sweetheart, you must not cut her off entirely. She will be our babies’ grandmother, although not ideal, she is the only one they will have.’
Lizzy looked at him with surprise. ‘Are you saying you would be prepared to have her back after what she has said and done this morning?’
He nodded. ‘Of course I would, but I will be guided by you. Until you are ready to see her again she will remain at Longbourn. However, Mrs Wickham is another matter – she shall not visit Pemberley under any circumstances.’
As he spoke she knew in her heart that she would never see her youngest sister again, and although sad at the prospect, she could not help but feel relieved. Lydia had always been out of step with her sisters, behaving like a member of the demi-monde, and after she married Wickham she had no chance of improving her character.
*
Georgiana noticed Sir John speaking to his wife and son very sternly and then the two of them slunk off – no sooner had this happened than the atmosphere in the room improved. ‘Have you seen Mrs Bennet or Lydia, Jonathan? I shall not be sanguine until I’m sure they are not down here causing trouble for Kitty and Adam.’
From his high vantage point he gazed over the heads of the guests and shook his head. ‘No, they appear to have gone. Just a moment, I see that your butler is talking most urgently to Darcy.’
‘I hope Lizzy is not unwell, Peterson looks most concerned. Do you think we should follow and see if we can be of assistance?’
‘No, Darcy doesn’t look worried but furious. Best to leave him to it. Shall we circulate, my love, I have yet to meet all your friends and acquaintances?’
They spent a pleasant half an hour together and then the doors to the music room were flung open and the guests surged forward. The food at Pemberley was legendary and all wished to be the first to try the lobster patties, white soup, fricassee of chicken and other delicacies.
‘I think I would prefer to wait for a while before eating, Jonathan, there are far too many people queueing at the buffet table.’ Sufficient tables and chairs had been laid out, with the best crystalware and silver cutlery, to accommodate everybody. No one would be obliged to stand about with a plate in one hand and a glass in the other today.
‘Shall we take a stroll until we can go in, Georgiana? I am becoming somewhat overheated and it is cold enough out there to restore my composure.’
She giggled at the thought that a soldier could become overheated and uncomfortable for this was normally the prerogative of the young ladies. ‘I should enjoy that, my love, and I have no wish for you to suffer from a fit of the vapours.’
‘Saucy minx! We have much to discuss before the announcement is made later, for one, do you wish to replicate today for our own nuptials or did you have something else in mind?’
‘I thought a garden party would be perfect, we can still be married in this chapel, but we can have our wedding breakfast in the garden.’
They had reached the marble staircase when two cloaked figures began their descent. Georgiana saw that it was Mrs Bennet and Lydia Wickham. She tried to retreat before they saw her, but she was too late.
Chapter Eleven
Fortunately the vast entrance hall was empty of guests apart from themselves, Mrs Wickham and Mrs Bennet. Of course, there were the usual sprinkling of footmen standing to attention by the walls and doors, but these did not count. Jonathan had his arm around Georgiana’s waist and moved her smartly in behind him. Attack was always better than retreat, in his opinion.
‘Mrs Bennet, Mrs Wickham, your carriage is waiting outside. I suggest that you do not keep the horses standing.’
The redoubtable matron flushed and lowered her eyes, one foe vanquished, but he thought the younger woman would be harder to defeat. He fixed her with his fiercest parade ground stare, daring her to speak. She sailed past them without uttering a word and he thought his beloved was safe from verbal abuse. Then Mrs Wickham paused at the front door and turned.
The girl’s eyes were as hard as granite and she looked ten years older than her actual age. He was too far away to prevent whatever filth she in
tended to spew. He braced himself and wished Georgiana was elsewhere.
‘I give you fair warning, Miss Darcy, that you will live to regret your actions today. Wickham and I will have our revenge – be very sure of that.’
Chasing after the wretched woman would only exacerbate the situation, the damage was done, Georgiana was ashen-faced and close to tears. Thank God the only people present had been staff, and they were loyal to their backbone to the Darcy family and not a word of what had passed would be discussed anywhere – even between themselves.
‘Sweetheart, you must take no notice of that shrew, she has no other weapons to use against you but empty threats. She has been publicly humiliated and cast from the house, small wonder she is bitter and wishes to hurt you as she has been hurt herself.’
‘I pray that you are correct, but did you see her face? I have never seen such hatred and shall not be easy until I’m certain she and Wickham have left the neighbourhood.’ She sniffed inelegantly and he delved into his inside pocket and handed her his handkerchief.
‘They will return to Longbourn, after all they have Mrs Bennet with them and she has no acquaintances in the area as they do. By tomorrow they will be away from here and you can be happy again. Now, I believe the crush at the buffet table has eased somewhat and we can find ourselves something to eat.’
Once they had filled their plates from the delicious offerings, he led her to the table at which Jane and Bingley were seated. He was pleased to see that Georgiana was now restored to high spirits and had apparently already forgotten the spiteful remarks of Mrs Wickham.
He had said that there was no substance to the threats, but the Wickhams made powerful enemies. In his opinion they were amoral and would not hesitate to hurt his lovely girl if they got the opportunity.
Bingley touched his elbow. ‘My word, Brownstone, your face would curdle milk. What ails you, my friend?’
Jonathan shook off his disquiet and smiled broadly. ‘Nothing at all to worry about, no doubt you will hear all about the fracas when we are just family again.’
A Scandal at Pemberley Page 9
