by Wells, Linda
“And I thought that I loved Helen.” He said softly. Darcy did not hear him. “Son. I realize that it is useless to tell you to lock this up in your breast forever. You will tell her, but if she feels for you half of what you display for her, I know that she will understand. Would you not do the same for her?”
He thought of how many times he imagined Stewart with her, even though he knew that man had never done any more than kiss her hand. “Yes, but the man would be dead.”
Lady Matlock reappeared. “Catherine is with Anne. I told her that you wanted to speak with her before she leaves. She asked that you meet in a half-hour. Perhaps we can go eat a little something before then, you look as if you could use some solid food.” She gently stroked his brow and smiled. “You need your strength.”
“She feels no remorse, does she?” Lord Matlock asked.
“She expressed no emotion.” She took Darcy’s hand. “Come dear.”
“I could not hold anything down.” He whispered. “You go ahead.”
“No. Up you go.” Lord Matlock stuck his hand under his arm and dragged him upright. “I will not have you fainting when you need to vent your anger.” They walked off to the dining room, and under the unrelenting attention of his relatives, Darcy forced down a small meal. Foster appeared and bowed.
“Sir, Lady Catherine awaits your pleasure in the blue room.”
“My pleasure.” Darcy stood and threw his napkin down. “That is laughable.” He was up and on his way, the others scrambled to follow. They entered the drawing room and Lady Matlock closed the door. Lady Catherine was ensconced in the largest chair, her hands folded and her chin up, prepared for battle. Darcy did not hesitate. “What was in your mind, Aunt? Bringing your deranged daughter into my home? Clearly you have known of her delusions for years, and hid them from the family. Are you as ill as she? Must we find an asylum to hold you both?”
“How dare you address me this way!” She snapped.
“I will address you any way I wish. I want an explanation, and I want it now!” Darcy bellowed.
“He is not alone, Catherine. What has happened to your daughter, and why would you try to foist her onto Darcy? What was your plan in bringing her here?” Lord Matlock glowered down at his sister. “And none of this imperious manner, Catherine. I will not have it.”
Catherine looked from one face to another. “I understand that Mrs. Jenkinson has betrayed my trust.”
“Mrs. Jenkinson is a loyal servant and if she finds herself without a position by your hand, I will be sure that all she has said of Anne is broadcast throughout society.” Lord Matlock declared.
“You would not!”
“No, but nor would you dismiss her because she knows too much. I told you to drop the posturing!”
“Enough of this dancing!” Darcy began to pace. “What is wrong with her?”
Lady Catherine shot a look at her glowering brother and backed down. “Anne suffered from very high fevers as a girl, and nearly died. She contracted rheumatic fever, and was bled many times to relieve her temperature, and eventually the treatment worked. She recovered, but it seems that the days she spent in that state affected her mind somehow. At first her physician thought that her fanciful thoughts would disappear as she continued to recover, and they did somewhat. She had to relearn some skills, but was never able to play the pianoforte again. The fever reappeared from time to time, making her weaker and weaker.” She sighed and glanced at Darcy. “Then my sister died. I had mentioned to her what a fine thing it would be to see you cousins marry, and she said that she would not force such a thing on you. She had an arranged marriage, but had been fortunate to fall in love with her husband, and hoped for the same for her children. I waited a few years after she died and brought the subject up with your father. You see by then I knew that Anne was too weak to marry and be a wife to any man, and suspected she would not survive childbirth.”
“Then why would you wish to foist her on me? Why would you encourage her to believe such a thing?”
“Anne looked forward to coming out and attending the balls, all of the things a young girl wants. I knew that I could not hold her back from those thoughts, but also knew that I could not put her out either. I told her that she would not do those things because she was promised to you.” She spoke stiffly and Darcy went to stand and stare into the fireplace. “She had another fever and when she recovered, she seemed fine most of the time, except when the subject of her marriage to you came up. She began to speak of how you were deeply in love with her, and asked why you did not come to her. I explained that you were both too young, which satisfied for a while, but then you came of age, and her demands became more impatient, but she would rationalize that you were on your tour, and then that you were preparing Pemberley for her. I had other physicians examine her and was told that she was suffering from Old Maid’s Insanity, and was told to give her the laudanum whenever you would visit, to prevent her from pursuing or harassing you.”
“That gambit failed.” Lord Matlock glanced at Darcy who remained at the mantle. “So am I to understand that you were incapable of convincing her that Darcy would not marry her, or did you placate her to good behaviour by encouraging the delusion to grow?”
“I thought he would agree.” Lady Catherine cringed when Darcy’s furious countenance appeared inches before her face.
“YOU THOUGHT I WOULD AGREE TO MARRY AN INSANE WOMAN?” He growled. “I would give up my life, my heritage, have no heir, destroy my name … for what reason, Madam?”
She drew herself up in the face of his fury. “My plan was that you would marry her. No other man would marry her, she cannot provide a child, but I did not wish to put her away in an asylum, and certainly I did not wish for the family name to be sullied …”
“WHAT OF MY FAMILY?” He demanded. “I need an heir, I need …a wife.” He stalked away before his hands closed around her neck.
“My plan was for you to marry, and she would remain at Rosings. You could take a mistress and raise her children as your heirs.”
“YOUR PLAN?” He spun around. “And what of my plans? Children of a mistress are illegitimate, Aunt. What of that? And what of my desires for marriage? What exactly is my motivation for accepting YOUR delusion?”
“You would have Rosings.” She said simply.
“I do not want it.” He spat. “I never have, and I assure you, I would sooner see it burned than ever set foot in there again.”
“All I wished for was to protect my daughter, do you not understand?” Lady Catherine pled. “When I am gone, who will look after her? If she married someone else, he would have her locked away somewhere before the ink on the marriage contracts was dry. The estate would stay in the family, Darcy! Surely that is worthwhile? Marry her and take up this Bennet girl as your mistress. You will grow tired of her one day and you will be free to take up another …”
“HOW DARE YOU SPEAK OF HER SO CALLOUSLY?” He returned to stand over her.
“You have already compromised Anne. She was in your bed.” Lady Catherine said quietly.
Lord Matlock had been watching the volley in silence, but this he could not ignore. “I hope very much that you did not tinker with Anne’s medication so that she would awaken and act upon her delusion, Catherine.” He saw her catch his eye and look away. “You did, you brought her here specifically to attack Darcy.”
“I wondered why you did not rise when you heard the commotion.” Darcy said softly. “The rest of the house knew. Thank God Georgiana is staying at Matlock House.”
“I had no control over her.” Lady Catherine sniffed and looked at her rings.
“Then why did you insist that Mrs. Jenkinson sleep in the servant’s quarters instead of in the room adjacent to Anne?” He asked. “Why did you mention loudly when I took my leave of you that I had assumed residence in the master’s chambers? Why me, Aunt?” Darcy continued. “Why not promote Richard? He could keep a family secret, he has no estate, why me?”
“Because
he still has both parents alive to battle.” Lord Matlock said as he watched his sister stare at him blankly. “She thought that you were weak, Darcy.”
“Well she is wrong.” Darcy returned to stand before her. “I want you out of my home immediately. I cut all ties with the House of de Bourgh.”
“You cannot do that!”
“And what is to stop me?”
“I will inform your lover of your behaviour with Anne.” She said triumphantly.
Darcy laughed hollowly. “No Aunt, I will do that myself, and if Miss Elizabeth Bennet is the woman I believe her to be, she will give me the benefit of her forgiveness.” He began to leave and returned. “You sneer at my love for Miss Elizabeth. That tells me that you did all of this for your benefit, and not out of love for your daughter. You were protecting yourself, not her. I did not believe that I could feel any more disgust for you, but somehow I managed. Goodbye, Aunt.” He glanced at his uncle and left the room.
Lord Matlock watched his unmoving sister for a few moments. “What will become of Rosings if Anne dies without marrying?”
“It will go to the next male in the de Bourgh line. A cousin of my husband’s.” She spoke stiffly.
“Richard may have entertained the idea. He has really no expectations to marry, which has always brought me great sorrow. He is so hardened about life; he might have been willing to be husband in name only, something that Darcy could never have entertained. You chose the wrong nephew to promote, but then you started this long ago, before she was so ill. You did this so you could keep Rosings for yourself, not for love of your daughter.” Lord Matlock turned and left, leaving the women alone.
“How could you hurt Darcy this way?” Lady Matlock seethed. “His engagement is public knowledge; it will not be broken without justifiable legal action by her family. You expected Miss Elizabeth to give up the respect of being a married woman to become his mistress? You know full well that a woman coming to a man’s bed is not compromised, just a fool. Darcy has been happy for the first time in years … I have nothing else to say to you.” She rose and walked out to find her husband.
Foster appeared in the doorway. “Your carriage is prepared madam, and Miss de Bourgh is waiting for you within.” He stood aside and waited expectantly.
Lady Catherine looked to him then noticed the two large footmen standing by his side. She rose and adjusted her shawl, and without a word, exited Darcy House forever.
“SHE IS GONE, DARCY.” Lady Matlock reported from the doorway. “The coach is on its way somewhere.”
“Well then, I will be on my way as well.” He stood and held out his hand to his uncle. “I thank you for all that you have done today; I appreciate it more than I can say.”
Lord Matlock took his hand and held it. “Where are you going?”
“To Elizabeth.” He said simply. “I need to …learn my fate.”
“We will come with you.” Lady Matlock walked over to embrace him. “You should not face this alone, and I think that Miss Elizabeth will need to hear what I have to say.”
“And what is that?” He swallowed hard.
“That is between women.” She smiled and taking his arm, led him out to the waiting carriage.
Elizabeth had received Darcy’s note that he would be unable to visit, and while she chastised herself for worrying, she could not shake the feeling of foreboding, and the surety that it was somehow related to the visit by his relatives. Jane had not spoken to her since their argument, and her aunt was clearly unhappy with her niece for her behaviour. The walls of the small house seemed to be closing in, and Elizabeth begged for permission to walk alone in the park. Mrs. Gardiner refused that, but allowed her to take a maid along. It was while she was gone that the Darcy carriage arrived.
“This is quite a surprise, sir. We had not expected to see you today.” Mrs. Gardiner welcomed him, but she did not miss the signs of exhaustion and distress. The serious expressions of his relatives confirmed that something terrible had happened.
“I am surprised to find myself here as well madam, however my business ended abruptly and I need to discuss something of great importance with Miss Elizabeth. May I see her, please?” He shifted back and forth, and clenched his hands in an effort to stop from ripping off his strangling cravat.
“She felt a need to walk, sir. She is in the park with the maid.” Darcy’s eyes shot to the front window. “She only just left.”
“Is your husband at home, madam?” Lord Matlock asked.
“Yes, he is working in his study, shall I call for him?”
“No, I would like to speak to him there, if I may. Darcy, will you join us?” He looked at his nephew staring through the window with raised brows. “I think that this is the proper course, Son.”
Lady Matlock touched his arm. “I will speak to Mrs. Gardiner, and then perhaps she will join me for a stroll in the park.”
“You will speak to her first?” Darcy whispered.
“I think it would be best, do you not?” She smiled and squeezed his hand.
“I do not know anymore, I just want to be sure that she still …accepts me.”
“When we return, I am sure that Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner will grant you permission to speak with her for as long as is necessary.” She looked at Mrs. Gardiner and the women exchanged information with a look.
“I do not know what this concerns as yet, but I gather it is of some distressing subject. If conversation is needed for you to resolve the situation, I am certain that my husband will approve.” She saw Darcy’s relief and led him and his uncle to her husband’s study, announced them, and returned to the drawing room. Dropping formality she took a seat. “What is this all about?”
“It is a tale of deceit and tragedy, Mrs. Gardiner, and two young people in love are caught in the middle.” She glanced at the open door. Mrs. Gardiner noticed and went to close it immediately. The ladies sat down and in a very quiet voice, Lady Matlock delivered the news.
In the study, Mr. Gardiner sat behind his desk, his fingers templed beneath his chin as he listened to Lord Matlock first tell of Anne’s illness and history, and then Darcy spoke of what happened the night before. His eyes widened when Darcy left out no detail, baring his torture to the man who could end his engagement without cause. Lord Matlock listened in stunned fascination and noticed Mr. Gardiner had seen his reaction.
“I assume this is the first time you have heard the particulars, sir?”
“Yes, and I understand why my nephew held them back at first. No wonder you are so distressed, Darcy. This is far worse than I imagined.”
“You showed a great deal of level-headedness, talking your way through her delusion. I am impressed with you. I wonder if I could have done it with such finesse.”
“There was no finesse, sir. I was scared witless.” Darcy sighed. “I will understand if you feel I am unworthy of …” He could not continue.
“Do not be ridiculous. This is not your fault. If anything it shows your love for my niece.”
Darcy raised his eyes to ask silently for an explanation. “Well Son, you were speaking her name when you were holding your cousin. Who was in your thoughts all that time? Who has been your primary concern since the incident happened? Who could you not wait to see and confess this to?” He smiled and nodded. “You love her so much that you would risk losing her to tell the truth. You trust her to love you just as deeply. I believe that she does.”
Drawing a deep breath he squeezed his eyes shut. “Thank you, sir.”
“Indeed, I could not have said it better.” Lord Matlock let out his own breath. “I could have said that no man in his right mind would turn you away as the husband for his niece, but I have a feeling Gardiner, that you would not hesitate if you were convinced of his unworthiness.”
He smiled. “That is true.”
The elder men laughed as Darcy remained silent. Lord Matlock cocked a brow at Darcy. “I believe that the detail you just delivered is not necessary to impart to Miss Elizabeth.”
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“I agree. Keep in mind that my niece remains innocent, despite your regular attempts to expand her education, sir. She does not need to know everything. She will be hurt enough by the essentials.”
“Then what do I tell her?”
“Give her the version you told your aunt, that is shocking enough,” Lord Matlock advised. “See how that goes over, but one of you having nightmares about the event is enough. She does not need to have the vision of the man she loves …well, you know.”
“And when it is over Darcy, you may comfort her however she allows …within reason.” He smiled but saw that this young man was incapable of frivolity, which made his respect for him grow. “She is a stubborn girl, Darcy. You may have to work at this.”
“May I go to her now?” He stood. “I cannot bear to delay longer.”
“Of course.” Darcy was up and gone from the room before another word could be said. “He is quite a young man.” Mr. Gardiner said as he poured Lord Matlock some port. “I can think of few who would be upset at such an event, or who would not have taken advantage.”
“It makes me see daily where I failed my sons.” Lord Matlock said thoughtfully. “I doubt that my eldest would have done so well at that age if I had died.”
“Is it too late to teach him?” Mr. Gardiner asked. His companion sipped the very fine wine and raised his brow, then sat comfortably in his chair.
“Tell me about this business of yours.”
“Thinking of investing?” Mr. Gardiner smiled. “Mr. Darcy already has.” The men laughed and settled in to wait for whatever came next.
Darcy passed the drawing room on his way to the door and Lady Matlock, hearing his boots, rushed to call him back. He looked at her impatiently. “I am going to see her.”
“In the park?” She shook her head and took his arm. “No, she does not want this news from you in so public a place. You wait here and Mrs. Gardiner and I will fetch her.”
“Aunt, I know what I want to say.”
“Good for you. So do we.” She kissed his cheek and smiled. “Let us do this for you, dear.”
