Darcy and Elizabeth--A Most Unlikely Couple

by Brenda J. Webb

  “I imagine she is as relieved as I am that my sister has left Pemberley. Perhaps now she will be able to visit my brother and convince him to do his duty.”

  “His duty?”

  Recalling that she had said nothing to Florence about Susan’s child and her brother, Georgiana lied. “Yes. As long as we have been neighbours, Brother is duty bound to forgive and forget whatever has made him angry and allow Lady Susan to visit me again at Pemberley.”

  Though she seemed sceptical that that was what Georgiana had meant by duty, Florence said, “I see your point. Perhaps you will be able to broker a truce between them.”

  “I hope so, for that would be what is best for Pemberley.”

  WILLIAM’S STUDY

  As Richard entered his cousin’s study, he expected to see William sitting behind his desk. Instead, he found him standing at the windows overlooking the rose garden planted by his mother. Each of his hands gripped the side of a window frame while his head hung wearily.

  “Seeing you like this only reinforces what I feared.”

  Startled, William straightened, quickly looking over his shoulder. Rolling his eyes at the sight of his cousin, he replied, “I do not wish to discuss this now, Richard. Otherwise, I would have asked you to join me.”

  “Better we discuss it now. You tend to let things fester.”

  William turned back to the window, so Richard continued. “Is there more to your wife’s departure than meets the eye? I have not had the chance to talk to you since learning last night that Mrs. Darcy was leaving. So tell me, did you and she have another argument?”

  William tilted his head towards the open door—a sign that he wanted the door closed. After he had done so, Richard found his cousin sitting behind his desk twisting his signet ring absently. Taking the chair in front of the desk, he waited for that to stop so that the discussion could begin. At length, it did.

  “Elizabeth and I have had no arguments, no disagreements for that matter, since your reproof. I have tried to be very kind and considerate toward her since you pointed out the error of my ways. And, to be truthful, I have come to care deeply for her.”

  “I believe you.”

  “Before she left, I asked her outright if she was angry with me and she denied it. However, I cannot say for certain that there is nothing more to Elizabeth’s departure than her aunt’s illness. My intuition tells me something is wrong, though I am at a loss as to what that might be.”

  “What of Georgiana? Could she have said or done something to hurt her?”

  “It is strange that you mention that, for Georgiana and I had an argument late yesterday regarding Elizabeth. However, I do not believe she knows anything about it. She had retired already, and Aunt Olivia assured me that she talked to Elizabeth, and the only reason she is going to London is to comfort her aunt. So I have no reason to refute that.”

  “What did you and Georgiana argue over?”

  “For one thing, she accused me of being the father of Susan’s child.”

  “Good Lord! Is she totally mad?”

  “Apparently Lady Susan showed her a portrait of the boy and he looks just like me; thus, she was easily convinced. Besides, Georgiana is satisfied that I am a liar, and Andrew and Susan are saints.”

  “She is in for a rude awakening. Have I not told you all these years that Susan and Andrew are more than friends! If her son looks like you, he also looks like Andrew, and we both know that he is not yours!”

  “Which is precisely what I told her!” William declared.

  All the while he spoke, he searched the pockets of his coat and eventually brought out a paper, which he unfolded and studied.

  “This is a nude drawing, purportedly of Elizabeth, that Georgiana had in her possession. She boasted that Andrew bought it at a shop in London to keep my wife from disgracing the family.”

  “A lie if I ever heard one!”

  “My sentiments exactly! Of course, Georgiana was livid when I said as much. Unsurprisingly, this drawing is so vile that I cannot bear to let even you look at it.”

  “Let me guess. It is a charcoal of a naked woman lying on a chaise, and it leaves nothing to the imagination.”

  William’s forehead crinkled. “How did you know?”

  “You may not remember, but when you first regained your senses, I began telling you about some of the things that had transpired since you first met Elizabeth—like the fire at Richmond.”

  “I do remember your mentioning the fire and the injury to my ankle.”

  “After the fire, Coleridge discovered that Andrew had an art studio in Town. Apparently, he has a talent for drawing nudes and was selling them to the men of the ton in order to pay his expenses. The drawings Coleridge found included several prominent women and a stack that looked as though they were finished except for the addition of a face. You wrote that you were going to keep them as evidence of his depravity in case you had to take him to court. If you look, you may find them in the satchel you always carry between here and London. If not, they may still be in your study in Town.”

  William immediately went to the door of a small closet and opened it. He extracted a large, leather satchel. Inside it were several rolled up canvases lying atop numerous business papers.

  “I remember now!” William exclaimed. “Mr. Coleridge found that Andrew had leased a room over Poindexter’s tailor shop, but still owed him months of rent. Thus, he paid off the rent in exchange for cleaning out the contents.”

  “Exactly! Poindexter was his landlord! Thank God, you are beginning to recall the past few months!”

  William began eagerly sifting through the drawings. “There is no earthly way that Elizabeth posed in this manner, nor do I believe that the others did either. I should have run that blackguard through the last time I saw him.”

  “If I have my way, he will answer to you soon. I have not said much lately, but the search for Andrew and Wickham is ongoing and has been narrowed to Derbyshire now. They are evidently in hiding.”

  “Even if my sight has not returned to normal, I can still best him with the sword if necessary.”

  “The time will come. Just be patient,” Richard advised. Then he smiled. “I am most pleased, though, that you had confidence in your wife’s character, despite Georgiana’s testimony.”

  “Even if you, my aunt, and my uncle had not vouched for Elizabeth’s character, I had already realised that she is a lady in every respect.”

  “As opposed to those who carry the title but do not deserve it?”

  “Precisely!”

  “I have to wonder,” Richard added, “how Georgiana came to possess one of these drawings. When could she have gotten it from Andrew, unless he has been at Monthaven?”

  “I am sure that Andrew has been there at some point since leaving London. In any case, I intend to forbid Georgiana from going to Monthaven ever again and to confront our old friend about her lies as soon as I can arrange a meeting. Would you accompany me as a witness?”

  “I will, and I think you are wise to take me along. I would not put anything past Lady Susan if you arrive alone.” Then Richard grew more solemn. “My Lord, Darcy, what did Georgiana think to gain by making these accusations?”

  William sank despondently back into his desk chair. “She wants to drive Elizabeth away from me... away from Pemberley. She wishes to see me miserable.”

  Richard’s brows knit. “Though Mrs. Darcy denied hearing the argument to our aunt, it is still possible that she did.”

  “I know. That is why I feel very uneasy about her leaving.”

  “Naturally, with her aunt so ill, you could not torture her with the fact that Georgiana is determined to destroy her character as well as your marriage.”

  “With all she has gone through of late, I could not subject her to more grief at this point. I shall tell her one day, but perhaps it is best that she is in London while I deal with Georgiana.”

  “And what will you do with Georgiana?”

  “I wis
h to offer my sister a choice—either she can reside with your parents, if they concur, or at my estate in Scotland, under the supervision of Mrs. Donaldson, until she is one and twenty. At that point, I will arrange for her to marry a gentleman of good character. I did want to hear your opinion first, though.”

  “Mrs. Donaldson! Now, there is a woman who can keep a young woman in line. I remember when she supervised my cousin, Lady Louise, years ago. She was the only one able to rein in her foolishness.”

  “I tried to get her to supervise Georgiana after Lady Louise’s marriage, but she was caring for her elderly parents. Later, after her parents passed, I employed her to run Dunston Manor. She has done an excellent job, and I feel certain she would agree to supervise Georgiana if I ask.”

  “I cannot disagree, Darcy. Mrs. Donaldson would do a credible job. Besides, Georgiana would be so far removed from the city that she would practically be living in a convent.”

  “Yes. Dunston is miles from any large cities. That is one reason I have kept it all these years. I love its solitude.”

  “You would.” Richard chuckled. “Well, given those choices, I believe Georgiana will most likely agree to reside with my parents. Father knows how to take control of a headstrong girl, if it is needed. Believe me when I say he will be a lot stricter with her than you have been.”

  “It breaks my heart that it has come to this, but I cannot picture Georgiana ever being a sister to Elizabeth, for she no longer cares to be one to me.”

  “No, she does not. And you deserve happiness with a family of your own. Georgiana has made her choice and must live with it.”

  “I am pleased to hear that we are of the same opinion. Now, let us hope she accepts her fate without further drama.”

  “When do you plan to confront her?”

  “Tomorrow.”

  IN THE COACH

  Elizabeth had worried until the minute the coach pulled away from Pemberley that she might be found out. Well aware that though she might have convinced everyone else to believe her lie, Aunt Olivia was not so easily persuaded. Her aunt had an uncanny ability to read between her words and had come to her bedroom after dinner the evening before to make sure that there was no other motive behind her decision to go.

  Aunt Olivia had specifically asked if she had told William about the baby, which precipitated yet another lie—that Richard had stayed so long in William’s room that she had retired without seeing him and that she had decided not to mention the baby unless he brought it up. Though Elizabeth loathed being untruthful to the woman she trusted above all others, she had resolutely held to both lies until she was able to leave.

  Now that the coach was underway, however, Elizabeth had begun to relax and was having a pleasant conversation with Mr. Bingley. They talked cheerily for about a half-hour regarding Jane, and she rejoiced to note how effortlessly Bingley brightened at the mention of his fiancée. It was plain that he was truly in love with her sister, and for a brief time, Elizabeth envied Jane more than she could ever have imagined. Truth be known, she sorely missed the man who would forever reside in her heart and soul—the only man she would ever love.

  “Mrs. Darcy?” Bingley’s voice broke through her thoughts.

  “Call me Elizabeth, please, for we will soon be family.”

  “If you will call me Charles.”

  “Agreed.” She smiled.

  “May I ask, since you have been with him continually, what you think of Darcy’s progress? Even I could see improvement in his health in the short time I was a guest, but I cannot judge his memory, for I did not pry as to what he remembered, lest it cause him distress. So I ask you, do you believe his memory will gradually return as Mr. Camryn and Mr. Graham say?”

  Elizabeth braced herself at the mention of her husband’s name. “It pains me to say that, in my opinion, his memory has not improved—at least his memories of me have not.”

  Bingley was silent for a time before he replied. “I am so very sorry. I can imagine how awful it would be if suddenly Jane did not remember me.”

  “It is hard, Charles, very hard.” Wishing to change the subject, she noticed that the maid was now fast asleep on the other end of the seat where she sat. Nodding in her direction, Elizabeth said, “I think I will follow Betsey’s example and try to rest. After all, it is another two hours until we stop to change horses, is it not?”

  “Yes, it is about that long. Rest, and I will wake you when we get to the post inn.”

  Elizabeth smiled at her future brother, then leaned into the corner of the seat and closed her eyes. In only a few short minutes, she was asleep, too, for she had gotten little rest the night before.

  AT PEMBERLEY

  As soon as William and Richard retired to William’s study, Joseph Fitzwilliam began to escort his wife up the stairs. Very attune to Olivia’s moods, he was certain that she had more on her mind than Elizabeth’s departure.

  “I can see that you are disturbed, Livy. What are you thinking?”

  “I cannot dismiss this niggling feeling that Elizabeth has not been completely truthful about her reason for going to London; however, having no evidence to the contrary, I could do naught but offer her my support. Now that she has departed, though, I am determined to know the truth. I will write directly to Madeline Gardiner to enquire about her health.”

  “Will Elizabeth not be hurt when she finds out?”

  “Why should she? Madeline and I are friends, and friends enquire about one another, especially when one has been reported ill.”

  “This is true. In any event, will a letter not take too long to reach London and then receive a reply? Especially if you believe something is wrong?”

  “I will pay to have it delivered by express, without letting either of my nephews be the wiser. Mrs. Reynolds will help me, of that I am certain.”

  “You two amaze me when it comes to keeping our dear niece and nephew from harm.”

  “And you are no different,” she teased. “Now, let us go directly to our rooms. I shall write a short note and give it to Mrs. Reynolds while our nephews are yet occupied.”

  Later, with missive firmly in hand, she went in search of the housekeeper. If she was fortunate, Mrs. Reynolds could dispatch a footman to the post office in Lambton without drawing any notice, and an express rider could be sent to Town immediately. He might even pass the Darcy coach on the road today.

  Perhaps I shall know the truth not long after Elizabeth reaches Town.

  With that thought in mind, she stepped up her pace.

  Chapter 44

  On the road to London

  That same day

  A light mist had begun to fall by the time the Darcys’ coach was an hour outside of Lambton. Within another half-hour, it began to rain in earnest, though the rain was not accompanied by thunder or lightning. The drivers and footmen accepted the weather with their usual forbearance, since the greatcoats provided by their employer kept them from getting soaked to the bone. Meanwhile, inside the vehicle, the occupants were completely unaware of the dull, grey fog that now blanketed everything outside, for each was nearly asleep, including Mr. Bingley.

  It was the two on horseback, following the coach at a distance, who were most unfortunate. Having left Monthaven at a furious pace to catch up with Darcys’ coach, neither George Wickham nor Andrew Darcy had the opportunity to retrieve their greatcoats from the cabin. Both were now soaking wet and miserable.

  “I cannot believe that you insisted we leave straightaway. I shall be lucky if I do not catch my death of cold,” Andrew grumbled, keeping his voice low for fear of being overheard by those ahead. “If I had had time to think, I would certainly have insisted on taking my greatcoat.”

  “Stop complaining!” George hissed angrily. “What is suffering a little rain when it means a fortune will soon be ours? Besides, there was no time to dawdle, since we only learned this morning that Mrs. Darcy was leaving.”

  “But we did not even have time to locate Pate and Duke.”

>   “That is just as well. With my plan, we will not need them. With fewer people involved, our share will be greater.”

  “Do you still plan to drug all the Darcy servants before they retire?”

  “I do—servants and gentry alike,” Wickham replied, patting his coat. “I have the laudanum here in my pocket, and I know a pretty little wench who works at the inn the Darcys patronise. With a little flattery and a few coins, she will lace the servants’ ale and Mrs. Darcy’s and Bingley’s tea. Then it will be only a matter of absconding with Darcy’s wife after the inn settles down for the night. By the time anyone wakes, we shall be long gone.”

  “Easier said than done, I fear.”

  “Trust me. With the stairs at the rear of every floor, we shall be able to kidnap her with no one the wiser.”

  Suddenly, the sounds of the driver of the coach shouting for the horses to stop pierced the foggy landscape. Startled, George motioned for Andrew to follow as he darted into the trees on the side of the road.

  Andrew whispered anxiously, “Have they noticed us?”

  George craned his neck to see around a tree. “I do not think so. It appears there is something blocking the road.”

  Andrew stood in his stirrups to see over a limb that blocked his view. “Deuce take it! Now we shall have to sit here in the rain until they continue. I was right! I shall catch my death of cold!”

  Andrew had no more gotten the words out of his mouth when something totally unexpected transpired that kept him and Wickham rooted to the spot, speechless.

  ABOARD DARCY’S COACH

  Dark clouds and rain had reduced visibility dramatically, causing the driver of the coach not to see the wagon that lay across the road ahead until he was almost upon it. Briefly, he considered going to the left, but noted that two huge barrels lying on their sides now occupied that portion of the road. Therefore, having no choice, he summoned all his strength to stop the horses before they ploughed into the object blocking their way. He was successful; however, the momentum caused the dozing maid to grab hold of a hanging strap, while Elizabeth pitched toward Bingley. He barely had time to reach out in order to keep her from falling onto him.