“No!” She exclaimed, then smiled calmly. “I meant to say that I do not wish him to leave because of me. He seems to be enjoying himself. Besides, I am perfectly able to walk back to Darcy House. It is not nearly as far as I often walk in Meryton.”
Richard’s brows furrowed, and he motioned to a more secluded section of the foyer. “Perhaps we should step over here so we may talk privately.”
Glancing back to the hallway that led to the ballroom, Elizabeth’s unease seemed to grow and, for a moment, Richard thought she might bolt for the street. Instead, she conceded and they stepped away from the footmen. As soon as they were out of his hearing, he began to speak.
“Please understand that I cannot allow you to strike out on foot. London is not Meryton, and no woman is safe walking at this hour of the night, even in Grosvenor Square.”
Elizabeth looked to the front door, as though pondering the validity of his claim.
“Could you have our carriage brought round then? I can always send it back for Mr. Dar—for my husband, once I am home.”
Richard did not have time to answer, for at that very moment, William entered the foyer from the ballroom.
“Elizabeth! I have been searching everywhere for you.”
Richard knew from Darcy’s expression that he was upset and that they could best solve their problems without his interference. “If you both will excuse me, Mother is probably searching high and low for me.”
William waited until his cousin was out of sight before taking the measure of his wife. “Elizabeth, what were you and Richard discussing so seriously?”
“If you must know, a short while ago I felt unwell. I was speaking to your cousin about returning to Darcy House.”
“Should I send for a physician?”
Her lips formed a tight line. “There is no longer a need, for whatever ailed me has passed.”
William look puzzled. “So, you were going to return to Darcy House by yourself?” She nodded. “Why in heaven’s name would you not just tell me?”
“I did not wish for you to have to leave as well.”
“Nonsense! If you are ill, I want to know and to escort you home. There should be no ambiguity on that subject.”
William signalled for one of the footmen, who instantly responded and was just as quickly sent to make sure their carriage was brought to the door.
THOUGH THEY HAD NOT spoken since entering the carriage, William could tell that Elizabeth was in a dark mood. She had taken the seat across from him, and whenever the street lamps shined through the window, her cheeks looked as though they were wet. It caused his heart to go out to her.
“Forgive me if I have done anything to offend you.” She did not reply, so he continued. “I was not pleased with having to attend and I may not have acted as a gentleman should.”
Still she said nothing.
“Elizabeth, will you please tell me why you are upset? I am not very good at reading minds.”
“I am only tired. That is all.”
By then the carriage was coming to a stop in front of Darcy House and footmen began to swarm around it like ants, opening the door and lowering the steps. At the portico, the front door swung open. Mr. Barnes stood waiting. Elizabeth hurried up the steps the moment her feet hit the ground.
AFTER ELIZABETH WAS dressed in her nightgown and Mrs. O’Reilly had returned to her own quarters, there was a knock on her bedroom door. Hesitating for a moment, she went to the door, turned the key and opened it partially. William stood without in his dressing gown.
“I just wanted to remind you that we are leaving very early tomorrow for Pemberley.”
“I realise that.”
Still, William waited awkwardly. Finally, he heaved a sigh. “Again, I apologise if I did anything to upset you tonight. It was not my intent.”
Elizabeth said sharply, “I have already said that I am just tired. What more can I say? Now, if you will excuse me, I need to rest in order to rise early.”
“Yes... yes, of course. Goodnight, Elizabeth.”
The door shut soundly in his face without a similar sentiment from his wife. Dejected, William turned and entered his bedroom.
THE NEXT MORNING
The sun was full in the sky by the time Elizabeth realised that she had not risen early as was expected. According to her husband, they were to have left for Pemberley just after daylight. As she sat up in bed, she noticed that even the curtains had not been opened, which was the maids’ customary way of letting her know it was time to rise. Sliding from the bed, she ran to the door to her dressing room and opened it, only to find that the trunks that had been placed there the day before were still there.
Suddenly the door to the sitting room opened, and Mrs. O’Reilly came in. “Oh, Mrs. Darcy. You are awake.”
“Yes, I am, but I fear I have overslept. My husband must be livid. Is everyone waiting for me?”
“No ma’am. In fact, Mr. Darcy left instructions this morning that you were not to be disturbed. According to Mrs. Barnes, there was a matter of great urgency, and he left for Richmond very early this morning.”
A frown crossed Elizabeth’s face. “Richmond?”
“Yes, and as I understand it, we shall not be travelling to Pemberley until he returns.”
Just at that moment two maids appeared in the open door, one carrying a tray with tea and scones and the other with her arms full of linens.
“I hope you do not mind, but I had Cook send up tea. I know that you do not usually eat too heartily in the morning. The dining room has already been cleared in anticipation of a light luncheon if the master and Colonel Fitzwilliam should return by then.”
“What time did you say my husband left for Richmond?”
“It was still dark, Mrs. Barnes said.”
With all the possibilities of what might have happened in Richmond spinning in her head, Elizabeth sat down to eat, though later she had no recollection of what she had consumed.
AN HOUR LATER, SHE was dressed, and Mrs. O’Reilly had styled her hair. No longer needing her services, Elizabeth dismissed the maid. Her heart was set on reading in the conservatory, since it was raining, so she opened her sitting room door and peered into the hallway. Hoping to avoid all of the tumult that would ensue if the servants found out that Mrs. Darcy had left her rooms, she entered the hall and tiptoed to the stairs at the rear of the hall. This route was her best chance of getting downstairs without having to answer a thousand questions.
She made her way to the conservatory before realising that she had left her book upstairs. Undaunted, she reasoned that the library was only three doors away, and she could select another book to read. She had no more than disappeared behind the last row of bookshelves when she heard her husband and his cousin talking as they entered the room. Since she had no desire to speak to William, she looked about and spied a small opening at the end of the shelves where the sliding ladder rested when not in use. Squeezing into it, she held her breath, hoping they would not search for a book and find her.
As she listened to their banter, she realised that one of them seemed to be walking with great difficulty, perhaps using a crutch or a cane, for it scraped the floor with every step. Though full of curiosity, she dared not look.
“Sit here, Darcy.” There was the sound of a chair being moved.
“Thank you. I fear I cannot manoeuvre the staircase and we can speak privately here until Barnes returns.”
“You should have waited in the coach until they could take you directly to your bedroom.”
“Can you just imagine the scandal? Fitzwilliam Darcy being carried into his house in the middle of the day? No, better for me to walk into the house on my own two feet, such as they are.”
“You are right. The ton would have you coming home roaring drunk, the way they distort everything.” Then Richard’s voice became grave. “I thought you were going to die when the wall fell. I called out a warning, but you were not listening.”
“I was thinking of onl
y one thing.”
“I understand.” Richard replied sombrely. Then his voice grew angry. “I cannot believe that that blackguard accidentally started a fire and then ran away instead of sounding the alarm! Bloody bastard needs to hang when they find him!”
“There was only one witness who claimed that is how it happened, and I do not know the man.”
“Yes, but why would Hobson run if it were not true?”
“I cannot dwell on that now. All I can remember is that poor boy hiding under the bed, thinking he would be safe.” Elizabeth heard him take a deep, ragged breath. His voice sounded as though it cracked as he continued, “And his mother perishing as she tried to save him.”
“It is not your fault. You thought the man was reliable. After all, he had good references as a steward.”
“I cannot help but feel responsible. Mr. Hobson was supposed to see to their welfare, to keep them safe.”
“You did the best you could, Darcy. No one can blame you. In fact, you went far beyond what most men would have done. You must believe that.”
“I will always wonder if I did enough.”
“That is because you are goodhearted. Now, I must return to Bingley’s to wash this soot off and get some clean clothes. Then I shall notify the young woman’s family and arrange for the burials. That, at least, will be one thing that you will not have to handle.”
“Her parents will want her and the child buried in Lambton, of that I am certain, for our tenants have always made use of the cemetery next to the church. Do whatever is necessary and send the bills to Pemberley.”
“Of course.” Elizabeth heard footsteps going towards the door.
“Richard, I do not know what I would have done without your support throughout this entire ordeal. You not only helped me to keep this entire scandal quiet, but you have kept my spirits up. At times, the children and their mothers seemed only another burden on my shoulders. You have made it less so.”
“You know that I was only too glad to be of service.” He hesitated. “I hate to bring this up, but do you think you will be able to attend the services?”
“I suppose I shall have to leave that to Mr. Graham.”
“Yes, Barnes has sent for him. I expect he will be here at any time.”
Just then Elizabeth heard the voice of Mr. Barnes telling William that the footmen were ready. There was a lot of scuffling of feet, a few groans she attributed to the injury they mentioned and then the room went silent.
After waiting for what seemed an eternity, she chanced a peek out of her hiding place. Satisfied at seeing no one, she slipped to the end of the bookshelf. The library was empty, so she rushed to the door and peered down the hallway. It was vacant as well; thus she headed back to her room the same way she had come. Reaching the second floor, Elizabeth was just in time to see the backs of several men carrying someone into William’s dressing room. As that door slammed shut, she ran for her own door and quickly disappeared inside.
Leaning back against the door, she considered all that she had just heard and began to cry, her heart broken for those who had perished in the fire.
And to think he considered his own child merely a burden!
LATER THAT DAY
Elizabeth kept to her room the rest of the day, having a light lunch served on her balcony. She did not even bother enquiring if her husband had returned from Richmond. As upset as she was with William after the ball, she considered herself fortunate to be able to hide in her rooms, for she had worried what she would say the next time they met. However, her luck in keeping out of sight was coming to an end.
It was nearing time to come inside, for the sun was waning, when she looked up to find Mrs. Barnes standing at the door to the balcony where she still sat reading. It was obvious that the housekeeper was studying her with an entirely different expression than the friendly, welcoming one of yesterday. Her mien was formal and detached, which did not surprise Elizabeth. After all, she reasoned, the servants were loyal to her husband, not her, and it was plain that they had noticed her insensitivity with regard to his injury. Especially in light of his being carried to his room, something she would have seen or heard, or, at the least, learned from Mrs. O’Reilly.
The fact was that her lady’s maid had informed her; however, Elizabeth had shocked her by declaring that it could not have been too serious an injury if no one had bothered to notify her. That had disappointed Mrs. O’Reilly, it seems, for she had silently returned to her rooms.
“Excuse me, Mrs. Darcy, but Mr. Darcy asked that you come to his bedroom.”
Elizabeth decided to play ignorant. “Why did he send you to summon me? Could he not simply come here and talk as we normally do?”
“Are you not aware that he was injured in Richmond this morning?”
“Yes, but I assumed it was minor. Else, I would have been consulted.”
“Mr. Darcy did not wish to upset you, but he is unable to leave his bed until Mr. Graham gives him permission, so he asked that you come to him.”
“Mr. Graham is...?”
“He has been the Darcys’ physician for many years,” Mrs. Barnes said curtly.
“I see. So tell me, how serious is the injury?”
“If you will forgive me, it is his place to say, not mine.”
Elizabeth stood up. “Of course.”
She followed the elderly housekeeper across the hall to her husband’s dressing room. After Mrs. Barnes opened the door, she stepped aside to let Elizabeth enter first. The smell of sandalwood immediately assaulted her senses. That fragrance was the main ingredient in the cologne William preferred and his coats always smelled of it. She would never admit it, but she had loved the scent ever since the first time she had been close enough to him to notice it.
As she passed through the room, Elizabeth found its dark furniture very masculine and the blue and cream wallpaper striking. Entering his bedroom she found it even more impressive, for it was decorated in the same manner, but also had a recessed ceiling featuring a fresco of an Italian villa. Her eye was drawn upward, and she was still looking up when William spoke.
“Please come closer, Elizabeth.”
The housekeeper immediately left them alone and Elizabeth edged closer to the right side of the bed. He was lying with his right foot out of the covers, propped on a pillow and both ankle and foot were wrapped in bandages. Determined not to look at or enquire about his injury, Elizabeth tried to focus on his face. Instead, her eyes keep returning to the musculature of his naked chest which was covered by fine black hair. That aspect of his body was noticeable now that he wore no cravat and his shirt was open. The sight made her heart beat so fast that it thrummed in her ears, and she was silently cursing her vulnerability when he began to speak.
“As you know by now, we will not be going to Pemberley as I planned.”
“Oh? I am deeply disappointed. The Gardiners are to return to Lambton next week to retrieve their children and I assured them that I would see them there.”
“I am sorry to thwart your plans. Something occurred to prevent my being able to travel.”
“What happened?” she asked, her voice sounding oddly unsympathetic.
“You have heard me speak of Richmond.”
“Yes.”
“I have an estate there, and on the property are two houses. Last night one of them caught fire and burned to the ground.”
Her courage rose. This was her opportunity to let him know she was not ignorant of his children and she did not appreciate his cavalier attitude towards them.
“Was anyone hurt?”
“Yes.” His eyes dropped. “A woman and child lost their lives in the fire.” He nodded towards his injury. “That was how I was injured, trying to recover their bodies. I intend to make sure they are given a decent burial in Lambton.”
“How noble of you,” Elizabeth replied, forgetting all of Aunt Gardiner’s counsel. “You are in control, even in death.”
William’s brow knit in bewilderment. “
I do not have the pleasure of understanding you.”
“No, I imagine you do not, for you have no idea that you are selfish. However, from the very beginning, you took charge of my life, convincing my father that I must marry you to thwart a scandal. And you did not stop there. No, you had to control the smallest details of my life, as well. You decided when I was tired, or hungry. You would not even allow me the privilege of selecting the colour, pattern or materials for a single gown ordered from Mrs. Bouvier! They were all made by your design!”
As William looked at her with his mouth agape, she felt invigorated. It gave her reason to continue.
“More important of all, you have been most selfish in regard to those who died at Richmond. I cannot imagine losing a child,” she retorted, “but I know I would have more love for my child, even if he were illegitimate, than to ever refer to him as a burden.”
“Excuse me?”
“I was in the library, searching for a book, when I overheard you tell Colonel Fitzwilliam that you thought of your own children as burdens on your shoulders. You cannot deny it.”
Instantly, William’s eyes narrowed, and he tilted his head as though to hear her clearly. “Did you say my children?”
“Do not act innocent, for I know about them. The night the Matlocks came here to confront you, I went back downstairs to tell you that I was going to the Gardiners’ the next day; however, once downstairs, I heard you and your cousin discussing your illegitimate children in Richmond and the fact that you did not want me to know about them.”
Suddenly William began struggling to sit up, a small groan signifying his efforts. The medicine that Mr. Graham had administered earlier for his pain had not taken effect.
Biting her lip at the rebuke sure to come, Elizabeth stood her ground; for, after all, she was in the right.
William’s breath was laboured by the time he was sitting upright, and he replied through gritted teeth. “And this is your opinion of me! This is the estimation in which you hold me! I thank you for explaining it so fully. My faults, according to your calculation, are heavy indeed!”
Darcy and Elizabeth--A Most Unlikely Couple Page 28
