by Wells, Linda
“No, I was having a pleasant chat with Mrs. Duncan. Shall we go speak privately in your office?”
“Oh yes.” She shot her counterpart a look and led the way to the small room she used for her bookkeeping. Elizabeth passed her and she closed the door. “Mrs. Darcy, I fear that someone has been speaking against me …”
Elizabeth held up her hand. “Mrs. Shaw, I have no interest in listening to gossip or sniping. What happens between the staff is not my business until it spills into my home. As long as my husband and family are happy, I will leave you to your own dramas, I have enough of my own to contend with.” She smoothed her skirt with her palms and clasped her hands before her. “I will simply go straight to the point. Miss Cargill indicated to Mr. Darcy that you seem to dislike her. How she managed to promote your disdain is anybody’s guess, but I suspect it has to do with the state of her health. While nobody in this home is delighted with the situation, we are supportive of her and as the head of the household staff we expect you to treat Miss Cargill with the same level of respect that you do Mr. Darcy, who, I may remind you, is your employer. Not Mr. Walker who is only a tenant, despite his airs of being the owner. He might hire the extra staff who serve while he is in residence, but you are here year ‘round at Mr. Darcy’s pleasure.”
“Yes, madam.” She looked down at the floor.
“I expect you to get along with all of the staff during this admittedly awkward time. I realize that you do not have the full complement of servants at your command, and I realize that Parker has assumed some of your duties, however he would not have had to if he did not feel the need to protect his family. Perhaps the years of absence have turned your loyalties to the Walkers, but again, I remind you, your loyalty belongs to one man only.”
“I know that, Mrs. Darcy.” She looked up and shook her head. “I am sorry if I upset Miss Cargill. May I speak frankly?”
“Certainly, I did.” Elizabeth crossed her arms over her chest and waited.
“I suppose that you know of Amy …”
“Yes, she told Miss Cargill her story.”
“Madam, I am sorry, but I was raised to keep my legs together, and to appreciate what I was given.”
“And you condemn Amy and Miss Cargill for not following your particular beliefs?”
“Surely you do not think that what they did was acceptable?” She gasped.
“No, of course not. But I am not willing to condemn them for life. Amy was saved by Mrs. Duncan. Miss Cargill, by Mr. Darcy.” Elizabeth tilted her head. “You do not believe in second chances? Mrs. Shaw, if redemption was not allowed, how many fine people would be left suffering in the world? I have made countless mistakes and I have grown from each one. Miss Cargill will be a far better woman for this, and will be able to speak with the conviction of experience when necessary. Mr. Campbell is a man of God and he is willing to help her by fetching his sister to serve as Miss Cargill’s midwife. Is he wrong or should he be exposing her to the world?”
“I …” Mrs. Shaw inclined her head. “It is your business if you care to save her, madam.”
“But you disagree?”
“What becomes of the baby?”
“Not that it is your business, but Judge and Mrs. Darcy have agreed to raise him. Did you think that we would abandon the child? This is our blood, no matter how it was conceived.”
Mrs. Shaw’s mouth gaped. “I assumed it would be found a place …”
“And so he has.” Elizabeth went to the door. “A home and a future.”
3 MAY 1812
Gracechurch Street
Dear Nephew,
I must tell you that the arrival of your last letter was met with great joy on the part of my wife. She has been desperately worried about Lizzy and her reaction to her father’s passing. I assured her that she could not have been in better hands. On behalf of her family, I thank you for caring for her. Regardless of my brother’s countless sins, he did have a special relationship with her, although at times, I wonder if the special portions were felt on her side and his emotions were ones of selfish satisfaction. In any case, bless you for loving her as she deserves.
I heard a curious story a few weeks ago and after letting it roll around in my brain for so long, I find the inexplicable need to share it with you. I stopped in a shop, not too far from home, to pick up some cigars for my clients. The tobacconist, an acquaintance of many years, inquired after my family as he always does. I made mention of our hopes to visit the Peaks and join you at Pemberley, and in the course of our conversation mentioned your name. What a surprise to see my friend recognized it from a conversation he witnessed in his shop not a week earlier. I listened, and shrugging it off said there are countless Darcys in the world and that this was surely not mine. The tobacconist really did not care who the parties were, he just thought it was a damn good story.
I’ve hemmed and hawed enough. It seems that a gentleman, a former military officer, had come to the store in search of another man. The officer implied that the sister of a man named Darcy had fallen with child and he was seeking payment of some sort. Whatever the officer said to him was threatening enough that the cur wet himself in his fear and disappeared. The officer was the girl’s cousin and carries a snuff box in the shape of a woman’s leg. I pray, with all of my heart, that this Darcy is not you, and the girl is not your sister. However, if it is, so much is explained now that has confused Mrs. Gardiner and myself.
I believe that this is the reason for your exceptional proposal to Lizzy, the stress that I have witnessed, and the actions you have taken. You are, I believe, attempting to save the lives of both mother and child by keeping this situation as private as possible. I admire your determination, Mr. Darcy, and I must say that I cannot think of a better or more loyal woman to choose as your wife to help you through this pain. Just as she has a great man to help her through her loss.
I share this with you not to incite anger with your cousin; he seemed to be on a mission of worth. I sense that you are quite alone in carrying this burden and I humbly offer my assistance, should you need it.
Sincerely,
Uncle Gardiner
“Lord, help me.” Darcy whispered and let the letter fall from his grasp to the desk. He rested his head back against the chair and stared up at the ceiling. “Of course I am the Darcy, and Richard is the colonel … and the cur was Wickham. And now the story is out. What has Richard done?”
“Good heavens, Darcy, what are you doing? Waiting for beams of heavenly light to come streaming in?” Richard laughed when he bounced into the room with his snuff box in hand.
Spotting it, Darcy was up out of his chair and across the room in the blink of an eye. He kicked the door shut and had Richard pushed back against it, his hand at his throat. “WHAT the hell were you doing speaking to Wickham? WHY were you spreading my name around as the brother of a ruined girl? WHAT was Wickham demanding from you, and WHY did you not tell me any of this?” His face was red and his teeth were bared. “I sent my reply to the man; he knew he would receive nothing from me. What were you doing? I can think of no other reason for you to contact him.”
“I would answer if I could breathe.” Richard choked out and grabbing at Darcy’s wrist, tried to break his iron grasp, then letting go, he punched Darcy in the stomach. He doubled over briefly, but in his bent position he ran headfirst at Richard and tackled him with his shoulder while slamming his fist into his cousin’s ribs. Richard was sent crashing backwards, flattening a table as a porcelain vase smashed into a dozen pieces on the hardwood floor.
Breathing heavily, Darcy pinned him down and snarled. “I am not a weakling, Cousin.”
“I know that.” He grunted, and kicking his leg up, he managed to flip Darcy over with a thud. “Neither am I.”
Bucking his hips, Darcy threw Richard off and scrambled back up. The two panting men eyed each other as they waited for someone to make a move. “Start talking.”
“Wickham did not like your response, so he went after yo
ur uncle.” Richard blurted and immediately regretted it.
Darcy stopped and stared. “Uncle Darcy? Why him of all people?”
Richard licked his lips and thought quickly. “He … knew that the judge was searching for him.”
“What did he want?”
“A commission and a payoff, in exchange for disappearing forever.”
Disbelief suffused his face, “A commission? He was willing to take a job?”
“Yes, it surprised me, as well.” He straightened and held his side. “Good God what do you have for fists? You are not wearing knuckle-dusters are you?”
Darcy ignored the comment and demanded he continue, “And?”
“And, I happened to be at Pemberley when your uncle received the demand. We decided between us to go ahead and give him what he asked for.”
“Did you now?” Darcy growled. “Without bothering to consult me you chose to reward him for impregnating my sister?”
“We thought that you had enough on your mind. By the hellfire shooting from your eyes, I take it that you disagree.” He sat on the edge of the desk and kept up his rubbing. “Since I was returning to London anyway, I was to find an appropriately miserable post and let your uncle know the cost. After I left, the judge reconsidered the plan and sent me a letter detailing his thoughts and included a letter for Wickham. I went to the place where he retrieves his post and delivered the message to fuck off.”
“I believe that I had already done that.”
“You did.” Richard smiled. “As a matter of fact, I happened to be outside of his door when he read your letter. FD. Fucking Darcy, he called you.” He laughed. “I will never forget that!”
Darcy did not join his amusement. “Obviously these are separate encounters. How many times have you come within reach of him? And why did you never once tell me? Where were you?”
Richard pulled a shard of the vase from his cravat. “You are a single-minded sot. Outside of his door. I took it upon myself to track him down, that was how I found the tobacco shop … do you really need to hear this? In the end nothing happened. I threatened, he ran, it is over.”
“It is not over! Did you demand any explanation from him? I could spend a year interrogating him, and yet all you manage is to listen outside of his door? Why did you not break it down?”
“I did, actually …” Richard said unhappily, “and he was out of the window before I took a step.”
“But you had him a second time! Were you not in the least interested in knowing why he took her? Why he did not marry her? Why … why he was at Pemberley with Christmas and did not …” He closed his eyes. “Why he left Elizabeth alone at the cliff?”
“My objective was to be rid of him. I did not think about answering your questions.” Richard felt every bit of his cousin’s pain. I did not ask because I already know the answers, my friend. He looked up from his boots to find the steely blue eyes boring into him again.
“You exposed Georgiana to the world.”
“No, I did not.” His brow creased and he asked slowly, “How did you come to know all of this?”
Darcy walked past him to the desk and picking up Mr. Gardiner’s letter, shoved it into his hand and then retreated to stand at the window. Richard read it and closed his eyes.
“That man, I treated as nothing. I hurt Elizabeth … deeply … And he offers me his help.” Darcy’s jaw worked. “Do you know how many people I trust in the world? With my greatest problems?”
“I imagine that you can count them on one hand.” Richard said softly.
“Richard … I cannot begin to tell you how angry I am. Everything that we have done, good God, for almost a year, a year of our lives has been spent with the goal of protecting Georgiana, saving her … just finding her, praying that she was not dead.” His fist slammed against the wall and he turned. “And what do you do? You stroll into a cigar store and lay out everything before this stranger. And from that letter, I have no doubt in my mind that you were in full form, scaring the shit out of Wickham. You confirmed to him Georgiana’s pregnancy.”
“The judge did …” Richard began and stopped, and nodded. “I did as well.” Darcy closed his eyes and shook his head. “Darcy …”
“It is all for nothing.” He breathed deeply and spoke bitterly. “All of the searching, the lies, the … coercion …”
“It is not for nothing! He has no reason to spread it …”
“He spread it to Mr. Gardiner! He found it amusing! Amusing!” Darcy bellowed.
“Quiet!” Richard looked at the door and hissed.
“What difference does it make? If they are not gathered outside this minute I would be shocked. We made enough noise destroying this room.” He waved his hand and let it drop to his side. “I suppose that now we must wait for the inevitable letter from your father, telling of this ridiculous rumour he heard.”
“Georgiana’s name was never spoken.”
“But Darcy was.” He snapped. “When are you going to learn that words are powerful? They can hurt just as deeply as that blade you used to wear, and the wound is more lasting.”
“It was incredibly stupid of me to speak so flippantly to him before a witness. Once started, I suffered diarrhoea of the mouth.”
“Well it certainly describes accurately what you expressed.” Darcy glared at him. “How could you presume to manage me like this?”
“I am sorry, we should have told you.” Richard felt the unrelenting stare and threw the letter on the desk. “Damn it, Darcy! Tell me that you would not have done the same thing if it was me?” Richard pointed. “You would, you know it! You would go to the ends of the earth to protect me from … anything that might threaten me. You already are! You are working on my steward, Father’s steward … how many estates do you look after? And then add on top of it Georgiana … Look at you!” Richard moved across the room and grabbed Darcy’s hand and pulled it away from his chest. “THAT is why we moved behind your back. In some small way we tried to spare you one less session of imitating your father. Elizabeth cannot do it all.”
“Elizabeth …” Darcy’s hand fell to his ring.
Richard went to the bottles of port sitting on a nearby table and poured out two glasses, put the stopper back in place and rested his palms on the surface. “Do you want complete honesty? I wanted to kill him.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Because you chose not to.” Richard turned his head to look at him. “You know without a doubt that a man twice Georgiana’s age persuaded her, took advantage of her adolescent idiocy and kept her, used her for months and left her facing a tenuous future. With that letter he sent, you had him in your grasp. If I could find him, any man that you hired for the job could have done so. But you did not. Why?”
“It is easier to give in than to stand up and say no.” Darcy met Richard’s serious gaze. “That is what started all of this. If I had said no to Georgiana, if Father had said no to Wickham …” He looked out of the window. “We would not be awaiting a midwife. Wickham’s death now would not change a thing. Nursing a grudge only kills the one who holds it.”
Richard brought him his glass and held it out to him. “So you chose to let it go.”
“I chose to live in the present. I will not forget the past.” He stared out at the drive and the road beyond. Taking a drink, he started when there was a knock at the door.
“Will?”
His eyes widened and looking around the room, he cursed under his breath. The door opened and Elizabeth entered with a plate in her hand. She took a look at him, then at Richard, and then slowly her gaze travelled the room. The plate of shortbread hit the floor when her hands went to her face. “What happened?”
“Oh Lizzy …”
Richard dove for the plate. “No, do not drop this!”
“What happened to you? I was not gone a quarter hour!” She looked at Richard accusingly. “This is your fault.”
“My fault?”
“When I left here, Fitzwilliam was
quite content.”
“Was he?” Richard grinned.
Darcy sent him a quelling look and turned to Elizabeth, “I would be glad to be made content again …”
“Do not try to distract me, Fitzwilliam Darcy!” She touched his face and ran her hand over his coat. “This is ripped!”
“Is it?” He looked down and removing the coat, held it up. “I … suppose that we should have disrobed a bit before we began.”
“Definitely. You wear your clothes far too tight. You need some give in them if you are going to be hitting someone.” Richard took a bite of shortbread and then dipped it into his wine. “mmm.”
Elizabeth snatched the biscuit away from him. “You were brawling!”
“No, you have to be drunk for that.” Darcy smiled a little.
“Are you?” She looked around at the mess. “Oh, the vase!”
“I am sorry, dear. Richard fell on it.”
Richard pointed. “He threw me onto it.”
“I did not throw you, I … manoeuvred you there.”
“That’s a creative description.” Richard held out his hand and rubbed over his ribs. “Well, I am just paying back the favour. Truce?”
Darcy met his eye and nodding, took his hand. “Truce.” Elizabeth was left hugging herself. Darcy let go of Richard and smiled a little. “You look utterly lost, dear.”
“You two are cleaning this up.” She searched her sleeves for a handkerchief and snatched the one that Darcy offered to wipe her eyes. “I do not know what is happening here, but we have the minister and his sister coming. I will not have this household in any more of an uproar than it already is. If you two cannot get along …”
“Elizabeth.” Richard smiled as she dabbed at her cheeks. “You would make Miss Kelly laugh.”
“Why?” She sniffed and feeling a tug on her hand, settled into Darcy’s arms.
“Because she grew up watching her brothers fight one minute and be friends the next.”
“Well … I have sisters …”
“Do they make up so easily?” Darcy asked softly and kissed her forehead.
“No. They hold grudges.” Richard and Darcy laughed. “But they do not destroy the furnishings. What happened here?”
