“I suppose I am,” Madeline said thoughtfully, “but it is something completely beyond my control.”
“I know, dear. That is why I offered to ease your mind. Now, I think it is time we left. I must return to the warehouse.”
As they rose to leave, Edward Gardiner noted that the man who favoured Darcy was just entering the shop owned by the tailor, Mr. Poindexter. Pondering the probability of two men looking so similar without being related, he pushed the thought from his mind when his wife reached out for his arm.
ON THE ROAD TO PEMBERLEY
Stag and Boar Inn
Rain of biblical proportions was still falling outside the inn as Colonel Fitzwilliam observed it all through the large front windows. He was beginning to wonder if the structure was high enough to avoid the flood sure to follow, as water was spilling over the banks of a nearby stream. If the rain continued to fall at the same pace, he was certain that water would come under the front door in less than an hour. Uneasy, he went in search of the innkeeper to enquire if he had sacks of sand with which to reinforce the thresholds. After all, most establishments located near water were used to flooding during the rainy season and kept them on hand for just such events.
While Richard was seeking to prevent a disaster, Elizabeth was praying about how to repair a catastrophe of her own. Grateful that Mrs. O’Reilly had been in her room and not a witness to her set down, she had spent the hours since her quarrel with Colonel Fitzwilliam staring numbly out the window of her bedroom. Immediately upon hearing his blistering defence of William, a voice deep inside affirmed that he was telling the truth, and since then she had been oppressed by a deep melancholy.
Perhaps , she reflected, it was your voice, Lord, finally penetrating my stubborn heart.
Now all she could do was ask Him for wisdom, for she was certain that only He could repair what she had destroyed. Still, no matter how hard she prayed, she had no peace and no viable solution came to mind.
Perhaps you are angry with me, too. And who could blame you, Lord, for I was quick to condemn the husband you sent—the one I vowed to love, honour and obey only a week past . Tears welled in her eyes and began to slide slowly down her cheek. Just because he was domineering, I was eager to believe the worst about him. Angrily, she wiped the tears away with the back of her hand. Why cry, Lizzy? After all, you were not the one disparaged.
Once more the truth overwhelmed her. William had never been guilty. Before this morning she thought him completely lacking in compassion and principles. Now it was plain that it was she who lacked these attributes. And just as when her beloved Grandmother Bennet had passed away, she found herself mourning a loss. Only this time, she had lost something intangible and irreplaceable—her husband’s esteem.
A knock at the door penetrated her thoughts, and numbly she answered it. Colonel Fitzwilliam stood without and, for a moment she considered closing it, though only because she felt she had suffered as much pain as she could handle in one day. Nevertheless, she opened it wide before silently resuming her place at the window.
The colonel walked in the room hesitantly and said nothing. This caused Elizabeth to glance sideways at him, noting that he did not seem as angry as earlier.
“Mrs. Darcy,” he finally began, clearing his throat self-consciously. “I wish to apologise.”
Elizabeth’s brows furrowed as she turned to him but did not reply.
“Not for telling you the truth, but for the manner in which I spoke to you. Fitzwilliam is a true gentleman and would never sanction any man speaking to a lady in that manner, especially not his wife. For that, I am sincerely ashamed. Forgive me. I shall apologise to him, as well, when I see him next. I suppose if I must blame my actions on any one thing, it is that I have always held a deep regard for my cousin. While I consider myself a gentleman, his commitment to doing what is decent and proper far exceeds my own and, to be truthful, any man of my acquaintance. He abhors deceit of any kind, and to hear him accused of the unkindest deceit, that of ruining women and fathering... ” Richard paused to gain control. “By the one person he cares the most—”
Elizabeth broke in, her voice almost too low to be heard. “I understand completely. It is I who should apologise to you and to my husband, Colonel. In fact, allow me to apologise now for thinking you would support Fitzwilliam had he compromised those women, or that you would ever have conspired to hide the facts.”
Richard eyed her warily, uncertain that she could have been so easily swayed by his argument of that morning. “Your apology is accepted, though I never felt like the offended party.”
“You are too kind. Please believe that I realise to whom I owe the sincerest of apologies, even if he no longer wishes to hear it.”
“I know it is not my place to say, but I do wish my cousin to have felicity in his marriage, for he has had far too little happiness throughout his life. So, if I may be so blunt, you would do well to ask questions instead of believing everything you hear. For if you had bothered to ask, you would know that my cousin is likely the most honourable man in the whole of England, and you are fortunate that he chose you to be his wife.”
“I believe you,” she said sombrely. “Colonel, I realise that you have no reason to think well of me. I do not think well of myself just now, however, I shall be eternally grateful that you were truthful with me. All that is left is to pray that Fitzwilliam will let me make amends and that I can be the wife that he deserves.”
With a curt nod, he departed, and an unsteady truce settled between them.
Chapter 19
London
Matlock House
The next day
Georgiana’s maid, Florence, had been positioned from birth to be a valuable source of the latest gossip in London. Her aunt, being a sought-after lady’s maid, was a confidant of every lady’s maid of any significance in Town. So, as a matter of course, because Florence was family, she was taken into the confidence of her aunt’s friends, which meant that she, too, was well-positioned to find out anything one wished to know. Thus, when she overheard her mistress and Lady Susan speculating about the current state of Mr. Darcy’s marriage, Florence was eager to be of service. Her motivation? Her mistress was very generous when she was in a good mood, buying new gowns and passing still-lovely gowns to her. The result was that she was one of the best-clothed servants in Town.
Having gone to the baker’s shop early that morning to learn what she could, as Florence approached Matlock House with a small box of biscuits as a decoy, she looked about to be sure no one had followed. Lady Matlock frowned on the practice of any servant passing along gossip, sure that such a servant would divulge the secrets of her own household just as easily. And she was correct. Florence was not above passing along what she overheard as a sign of good faith. In the event she needed a favour—such as today—she had merely to mention parts of the Matlocks’ private conversations, especially those about the viscount’s dissipation, in order to attain her goal.
As she slipped into the house and up the back stairs to Georgiana’s sitting room, Florence let out a sigh of relief at not having been seen. Once inside the room, she set the biscuits on a table and hurried to the bedroom door, knocking and praying that her mistress answered. When there was no response, she quietly turned the knob and peeked inside to find Miss Darcy missing. A glance to the balcony was equally disappointing. Suddenly, however, the sitting room door opened, and Georgiana entered into the room, followed by one of the Matlocks’ maids.
“Florence! I wondered where you were! No one seemed to know,” Miss Darcy said, obviously annoyed. “I asked my aunt to borrow a maid, as I needed someone to style my hair. You know that I cannot brush it out myself.”
This was true, for Georgiana’s hair was thick, and only a good brushing every morning could keep it manageable. Nonetheless, Florence felt certain that her absence would be forgiven once her mistress knew the circumstances.
“I hoped to return before you awakened. I went to the baker’s s
hop to purchase some of those biscuits you favour, as you had eaten the last of them.”
At Georgiana’s puzzled look, she tilted her head meaningfully in the direction of the other maid. Instantly, Miss Darcy knew what she wanted and dismissed the Matlocks’ servant. Only after the woman closed the door soundly, did Florence continue.
“I overheard you tell Lady Susan that you wished to know the present status of your brother’s marriage. If there is gossip to share or you wish to enquire about certain situations, the lady’s maids patronize the bakery the first thing in the morning. That is where I was.”
Georgiana’s face lit up, recalling what Florence had shared previously about the camaraderie of the women in her occupation. Pulling her towards the window seat, they both sat down.
“Tell me. Have you any news regarding my brother? I fear not, for his servants are trained not to gossip.”
“Well, Mr. Darcy’s regular servants are well-known for being tight-lipped.”
Georgiana nodded her agreement. “However, there is a new upstairs maid at Darcy House who likes to talk, and she shares everything with a maid who works for Lady Appleton. That maid is sister to Lady Thornton’s lady’s maid, who happens to be a good friend of mine.”
“So, what have you learned?”
“Your brother was injured the day after the ball, which postponed his return to his country estate.”
Georgiana’s eye went wide. “Injured? I was not notified, nor was my aunt or uncle, so surely it was not serious.”
“He is rumoured to have a severely swollen ankle. Apparently it did not require a surgeon, but he must spend several weeks off his feet. However, what happened the next day caused a new round of gossip.”
“Pray tell!”
“Well, the very next day, Mrs. Darcy, accompanied only by her personal maid, boarded a coach for Derbyshire. Rumour is that it was escorted by your cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, who was on his way to York in service to General Lassiter.”
“Brother sent his wife to Pemberley but stayed behind?”
“If the rumours are true, he did. Is that not very unusual? Especially for a newly married man?”
For a long moment Georgiana seemed deep in thought, and then she began to smile like a Cheshire cat.
“You are pleased with the information?”
Georgiana wiped the smile from her face. “I am satisfied that you were able to learn things that my brother would never share with me. He does not want anyone worrying over him so, of course, he would not send word of his injury. As a result of your information, I shall make it a point to go to Darcy House today and see how he is faring.” Rising, she walked towards her bedroom door. “Come. Let us look through my closet and choose which gown I will wear and perhaps find a few that you might like. After all, I have five new gowns that should arrive next week, and I barely have space as it is.”
Now it was time for Florence to smile, and she did as she followed her mistress to the closet.
DARCY HOUSE
William’s study
Later that morning
Sitting behind his desk, howbeit sideways with his foot propped on a stool, William tried to ignore the pain that radiated from his ankle and focus on the stack of correspondence sitting before him. He had sprained his ankle before, but it had not prepared him for his present agony—for the burns he suffered along with the swelling caused his leg to ache constantly. Yet, stoically he refused to be medicated, handling the results of his injuries with his usual tenacity by turning his attention to a property dispute between two of Pemberley’s tenants, as explained in a letter from his steward, Mr. Sturgis.
Most of his tenants were decent, hard-working men, and he seldom had to preside over contentious misunderstandings. But this problem presented a special conundrum, for both men seemed to be in the right, according to the maps each offered as evidence of their claim. Well aware that some of the tenants’ ancestors had farmed Pemberley’s acreage for centuries, William was equally aware that many of the original parcels’ boundaries overlapped a bit on the maps. Both men were profitable farmers, and Pemberley benefited from their diligent handling of the land. Because he did not wish either to suffer a hardship, he decided to give each of the men half the disputed land, adding a section from one of his adjoining pastures to each farmer’s plot to make up for what each must forfeit. Writing his instructions on the bottom of the letter from Sturgis, he folded the paper and added it to a pile that he had already resolved and picked up another letter.
Just then there came a knock at the door. Irritated at being interrupted when he had expressly told Mr. Barnes he did not want to be disturbed, he called out testily, “Come!”
Instead of Barnes entering, however, his sister walked into the room. At once William steeled himself. Nothing good had come of their talks lately.
Georgiana saw the distrust in William’s eyes, but pretended not to notice. “I heard that you were injured and just had to see your condition for myself.”
“I suppose I should be amazed my business has spread through London so quickly,” William replied, throwing the paper in his hand on his desk. “But I am not. Gossip travels faster than the plague these days.”
“If not for gossip, I would never have known you were hurt. I do not think even Aunt and Uncle know, for they have said nothing to me.”
“I am well enough, as you can see. I saw no need to alarm you or them.”
Georgiana walked over to take a good look at William’s ankle. Though it was covered in bandages, bruises and swelling far exceeded the covered part, which spoke of the seriousness of the injury.
Making a face, she asked, “What happened?”
“You have heard me mention the estate I purchased in Richmond.”
“I do remember that you purchased one.”
Since Georgiana did not know about the women and children who resided there as a result of Andrew’s debauchery, William was vague. “There was a fire at the estate, and a building was destroyed. I was going through the rubble when a charred wall fell and a beam landed on my ankle.”
“It looks ghastly, but I am sure that Mr. Graham was summoned, so you must be receiving the best available care.”
“I am.”
“Then I shall not worry dreadfully over you, which is fortuitous, for I must return to Matlock House before Aunt Evelyn finds that I am missing. She acts as though I am a small child whenever she learns I have gone out with only my maid.” She hesitated. “Nonetheless, I should greet my new sister before I go. Would you send for her, please?”
William was not fooled. “If you have heard about my injury, I am sure you know that Elizabeth is not here.”
“Truthfully, I did hear that she had left for Pemberley with Richard, but I was no more certain of the truth of that rumour than I was of your injury.”
“Richard had to travel to York, and he graciously agreed to escort Elizabeth to Pemberley. Her relations are to be in Lambton next week—her Aunt Gardiner being from there—and she wanted to host them at Pemberley. I felt there was no reason to delay her plans just because I could not travel. As soon as I am able, I shall join her.”
Seemingly unconvinced by his explanation, Georgiana said dryly, “I would have thought she would insist on staying to see to your health.”
“I insisted that she go.”
Her expression resembled a cat that had just cornered a mouse. “I see.”
“Now, I have a question for you.” The satisfied look left Georgiana’s face. “Why did you send me a note during the ball asking me to meet you in the gazebo? As it turned out, Lady Susan was waiting when I arrived, not you.”
“I felt ill after dinner and took the night air in hopes of recovering. When that did not suffice, I sent the note to you via a footman and waited at the gazebo, as I wished to say goodnight before I retired. However, you were so long in coming that I finally went to look for you. I was not aware that Lady Susan was even in the garden.”
William was not
swayed. “From what she said, the note was to lure me there.”
“I have no knowledge of that, though she could have overheard my exchange with the footman. When I left her in the dining room, she had drunk too much wine, likely a result of her unhappiness with your marriage. So I do not think she was herself after dinner, nor would she remember anything correctly.”
William looked as though he thought she was lying. Colouring, Georgiana quickly added, “Susan still cares for you, and I am certain that when she learns you are injured, she will rush right over to see you.”
“She will not be welcomed or admitted.”
“You cannot mean that! She is our friend.”
“After what she did at the ball, I no longer consider her a friend.” Georgiana opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off. “And if you continue to pretend not to know anything about it, you will lose all integrity with me.” With that, William groaned as he moved his leg in an attempt to get some small relief. “Keep to your present course, Georgiana, and I assure you that you will regret it. Now, if you will excuse me, I have estate work to finish.”
Although she was angry at his dismissal, Georgiana was determined to do as Lady Susan asked, so she pasted on a smile and ignored his warning. “Always the dutiful master,” she said facetiously.
Intent on leaving, she hesitated at the door. “Even if we do not always agree, I do care about your welfare. So I shall come by every day or so to assess your progress, and I instructed Barnes to keep me informed. When you are well enough to return to Pemberley, I have decided to go with you so that I may get better acquainted with my new sister.”
Flashing a false smile, she went out the door, leaving it wide open.
WILLIAM RUBBED HIS eyes wearily. Weighed down by the myriad of estate issues regarding Pemberley, he had managed to forget his disastrous marriage for a short while. However, Georgiana’s visit had served to plunge him back into the maelstrom and, as his thoughts flew to what had transpired between him and Elizabeth, his father’s voice spoke as clear as day.
Darcy and Elizabeth--A Most Unlikely Couple Page 31
