He tugged Elizabeth to his side, her proximity providing support while he faced the uncertainty ahead. “You have always been fond of ultimatums, so here is mine to you.” His father clenched his jaw, but remained silent, which surprised Darcy. “I have been advised that Pemberley is entailed, and it is impossible for you to pass over me as heir. So, my ultimatum is if you persist in your attempts to discredit my wife, I will see Pemberley sold to my friend Bingley, or, if he is not in need of an estate, some other tradesman, for whatever funds he has available to him.”
His grandmother giggled, and they all turned to stare at her in astonishment. With a smirk, she looked to George Darcy. “You were adamant Caroline Bingley would never be mistress of Pemberley. I would wager she would be delighted to be labelled spinster in the hopes her brother becomes master of Pemberley.”
Darcy shook his own head as he heard Elizabeth’s laughter. The sound helped soothe his anger as well as his soul.
The elder Darcy stepped forward, furious. “You would defy your father in this manner? Your mother would be ashamed of you.”
Darcy pinned him once again, but this time with an appalled gaze. “My father took me fishing and riding. He was strict, but he read to me as I sat on his knee. That man died the night my mother passed from this earth. The man, who stands before me, is no more than a simulacrum of the gentleman I once knew.”
At a minimum, his father should have vented his anger with the son’s revelation, but the man’s eyes were more bewildered and hurt before indifference and a flash of ire masked the emotion. No further threats were issued, no angry retort voiced. He merely straightened his coat with a firm tug to the bottom, and strode out of the door.
With a collective exhale, the room relaxed at the sound of the front door closing, and Darcy grasped his wife by the shoulders, so she faced him. “I asked you to wait for me in our rooms, Elizabeth.”
“I remained on the stairs due to my apprehension. When I heard Grandmamma’s raised voice, I hurried to come to your aid. I presume he had documents to ruin me in some fashion, but I could not allow you to harm your own father.”
His grip on her arms loosened as he drew her into his embrace. “I was attempting to protect you.”
“I do not think your father would have harmed Lizzy,” interjected his grandmother. “He may have blustered and badgered as we saw today, but he would not have injured her.”
“I could not take such a risk.” His palms cupped Elizabeth’s cheeks. “I cannot lose you.”
She placed her hands over his. “Regardless of what your father does or what society thinks, I would not leave. If he somehow brought an end to our marriage by law, I would know—we would know—it was a lie.”
His grandmother gave a small snort and shook her head. “He would cause quite the scandal, but I imagine people would begin to question the validity of the marriage license when no husband appeared to claim his wife.”
With a sigh, he entwined his fingers with hers as he brought their hands between them. “The date on the license was exactly one week after the carriage accident.”
Elizabeth’s eyebrows lifted. “I was not even conscious. I could not have been wed to anyone in my condition at the time.”
“I doubt he knows the dates of the accident well enough to have taken it into consideration.” His anxiety gradually ebbed as they spoke of the encounter. The discourse with Elizabeth in regards to the license gave him the confidence he required to put it behind him. “The wedding would have occurred in Wiltshire, too.”
“So I was feverish and bedridden in Hertfordshire whilst I was being wed in Wiltshire? I must be quite accomplished to perform such a feat.”
“Lizzy, you should not make light of it,” the dowager scolded with amusement.
“I must, Grandmamma, else I will cry. The thought of him nullifying our marriage frightens me, and I can imagine how much it would pain me if my father were the one to attempt it.”
Despite the company of his grandmother, Darcy wished to be alone with his wife. “If you have no objections, Grandmamma, I believe it is time for us to retire.”
If she was amused or upset, she gave no indication, but his grandmother was almost impossible to shock. “Of course, I have no objections. I am certain you would much rather be alone after the events of this evening.”
“Thank you.” He gave his wife’s hands a tug, and led her to their chambers.
He did not wish for interruption. In fact, he did not wish for Elizabeth to leave his side; therefore, Hattie was promptly dismissed for the night, and they aided one another as they prepared for bed. With a passion brought on by the fears of the evening, Darcy wasted no time in affirming Elizabeth was his, not releasing her even as they slumbered. She remained in his embrace for the entirety of the night.
The dowager was seated at the head of the table when Elizabeth entered the dining room the next morning. She was exhausted, but the modiste’s appointment would not be cancelled due to her fatigue.
Fitzwilliam’s grandmother was cheerful as she greeted her. “Good morning, Lizzy.”
“Good morning.” She took her seat and selected some toast off a tray on the table while the dowager poured her tea.
“Is your stomach upset?”
“I am a tad queasy, but such instances are rare, and toast is an effective cure.”
The elder lady gave her a reassuring pat of the hand. “You are fortunate. I was bilious the first few months I carried Henry. Some days, I felt as though I could keep nothing down.”
The knocker on the front door sounded and the dowager’s expression became animated. “Right on time.”
“You were expecting someone?”
Hobbes soon opened the door to let in a young lady, and Elizabeth stood. The visitor was dressed well in expensive clothes, but what drew her notice were the girl’s looks. The chestnut brown hair and blue eyes were familiar.
“Georgiana?” she asked.
Georgiana beamed and stepped forward. “Hello, Lizzy! I hope you do not mind, but Grandmamma invited me to join you shopping.”
“No, I do not mind at all; I just had not expected you.” She walked around the table to come face to face with the young girl to whom she had been corresponding. “Grandmamma has been sly and not said a word.”
The dowager gave a lift of her lips. “I was unsure if she would make it. After last night, I was even more doubtful.”
“I did not want to miss today. I have been so looking forward to it.”
“Have you eaten, dear?” interjected her grandmother. “Elizabeth had just come down to break her fast. She will need to eat soon if we are to make our appointment.”
She led her new sister to the seat beside her. “I am so glad you have come, but I do not wish you to be in trouble with your father.”
Georgiana situated herself as a cup of tea was placed before her. “Oh, he left at sunrise this morning. He was rather eager to return to Pemberley.” She placed a muffin on her plate and glanced to her grandmother. “Papa was furious last night upon his return to the house. I was sure he was to come here, but he refused to speak of what occurred.”
The dowager peered towards Elizabeth, her face mirroring her sense of wariness. They had no wish to ruin Georgiana’s vision of her father. “I believe no one has any desire to revisit last night.”
The elder lady nodded. “I apologise, but I feel it is best that you do not know, Georgiana.”
The girl placed her hands in her lap and stared down at them. “It is not as if I do not have some idea of his schemes from the servants. I am aware that he wished to nullify your marriage to my brother in some manner, which I believe did not go as planned.”
“It did not.” Elizabeth covered her sister’s hands with her own.
Georgiana lifted her head to regard her with a sorrowful expression. “In truth, he is really a loving father, yet I cannot understand why he behaves as he does. Last night, a man came late after he returned, and I heard them speaking in P
apa’s study.”
“You should not eavesdrop,” scolded her grandmother.
“I know, but I was worried about what he had done.” A tear dropped to her cheek and trickled down to her chin where Elizabeth skimmed it away with her fingers.
“He was unable to do any harm. Please do not fret.”
“I assumed his plan had not met with success. He told the man he would no longer require his services. The man asked about money Papa owed him, and I believe he was paid. I hid in the music room when he departed.” Her voice lowered, and she eyed them with uncertainty. “He was not a gentleman.”
Was this man the forger, and what else had Mr. Darcy planned if the falsified marriage license had not worked? At least, his schemes appeared to have been abandoned with her husband’s threat.
The wary grandmother appraised her granddaughter. “Georgiana, what have you told Mrs. Younge about today?”
“She knows I am going shopping with you, but she will not tell Papa.”
How could she be certain? Elizabeth noted the concern of the dowager as she turned to Georgiana. “How do you know?”
The young lady wore a smile that hinted of mischief. “Mrs. Younge no longer sees her family since she became my companion and has indicated she would keep my secrets if I wished to spend time with you. She rode with me here, but when the carriage pulled around to the stable, she walked down the street to find a hackney carriage. Her plans for today are to visit with an old friend.”
It was odd that her governess was so ready to keep secrets from her employer. Hopefully, Georgiana would not find herself in trouble with her father.
Before she could be questioned further, Georgiana clasped her hands together. “I do not wish to speak of Papa anymore today. We are to go shopping, and you know that I dearly love to shop.” She glanced between her grandmother and her new sister. “Where are we going and what are we to purchase?” The glow that alit her face coaxed Elizabeth to smile.
“We will visit the drapers and then take our purchases to Madame Lebrun. Lizzy also requires alterations on several gowns.” The dowager glanced to Elizabeth. “I would not alter them all, my dear, just those you will require for now.”
Georgiana grinned. “Good; Mrs. Younge and Papa both agreed that I require a few new gowns. I have quite outgrown my last. My maid had to add trim to the bottom of a few because they had become so short.”
“Then we shall all have a gown made today,” replied the dowager. “Lizzy, you should speak with Madame Lebrun, so she can plan your future gowns accordingly.”
Her new sister gave her an eager glance after a sip of her tea. “Do you plan to attend a ball or the theatre whilst in town?”
Elizabeth turned to Georgiana. “I am not certain of any balls, but we may go to the theatre. Why do you ask?”
“Well, Aunt Elinor always tells Madame Lebrun if she has a ball to attend, so she can help her select the best fashion plates.”
“Oh.” A small grin tugged at her lips. How could she hide this from Georgiana? The poor girl was relegated to listening at doors and relying on gossip to hear news of her father’s wishes and family’s activities. The tidings of a new niece or nephew from a letter or from the London gossip mill would not do. “We have not told many people yet, because it is too soon to know for certain, but your brother and I believe you will become an aunt sometime in April.”
“Really!” Georgiana turned to her grandmother as the older woman gave a chuckle. “That would mean that you shall become a great grandmamma.” Her forehead crinkled and she took pause. “But you do not seem surprised.”
“Dear, they did not have to tell me because I suspected as soon as Lizzy walked through the door.”
“Is this why you are required to have your gowns altered?” Georgiana’s hands reached out to clasp hers. “And why you are ordering new ones?”
She laughed in delight at the girl’s enthusiasm. “Yes, some portions of my bodices have grown a bit snug for my taste, and I will require new gowns in a few months.”
“You will also require a few items for winter,” interjected the dowager.
With a quirk of her lips, she took a quick glance towards the elder lady. “I am certain I will.”
Georgiana clapped her hands. “I am so excited—I am going to be an aunt! I hope I will be able to see him or her whilst they are still a babe.” Her eyes suddenly widened and she grasped Elizabeth’s hands once more. “You could come to Ramsgate during the summer! Papa says that once I am fifteen, he will allow me to go to the coast with Mrs. Younge!”
“You should be in school.” The dowager placed her utensils down on her plate with a dissatisfied expression.
“Papa says it is not necessary since he can hire whatever governesses and masters I require.” Georgiana turned back, missing the roll of her grandmother’s eyes. “Perhaps Grandmamma could come, too. We could spend the summer together at the seaside!”
She nodded as she acknowledged both the grandmother and her granddaughter. “We will have to mention it to Fitzwilliam and see what he says. Please let us know if your father continues to plan this for you, and I am certain your brother will do what he can to meet you there.” Fitzwilliam would wish to go, if for no other reason than to keep a watchful eye on his sister.
“Of course!” exclaimed Georgiana. “I know Papa plans to accompany me for my birthday in June, but he says he will pass no more than a few days at Ramsgate with me before his return to London.”
“Ladies, if you are finished with your breakfast,” interrupted the dowager. “We should depart, else we will not make it to Madame Lebrun’s on time.”
Much to his disappointment, Elizabeth was gone when Darcy opened his eyes, but upon peering at the clock, he understood why; she would have already left with his grandmother.
The morning’s planned activities would include a visit to his Uncle’s to ascertain Anne’s condition. Because her daughter had been removed from her care, Lady Catherine was not expected to be in attendance, but he almost wished she would make an appearance. Sooner or later, he would have to deal with her, and why not be done with it!
As he was shown into the family drawing room, Aunt Elinor leapt to her feet to embrace him. “Fitzwilliam, we are so happy to see you. You do look well. How is Lizzy?”
He took great pleasure in her inquiry after his wife. “Elizabeth is fine, thank you. She is shopping with Grandmamma.”
“Oh, I wish mother had informed me. Grace and I would have enjoyed joining them.”
“Hello Fitzwilliam,” said Grace, who stood just behind her mother.
Uncle Henry followed by both his sons, entered the room, striding over to greet him.
“Darcy! We wondered when you would venture to town.” Richard stepped forward, the last to shake his hand.
“Georgiana arrived last week, and we timed our arrival with when she suspected my father would depart.”
Huntley chuckled in amusement. “So, the two of you have conspired to visit with one another behind your father’s back. I have always admired my little cousin, and this makes me even prouder of her.”
“You are proud of her for defying her father?” questioned Grace. “She is but fourteen years old since early June! You would not be pleased if your child committed the same sin.”
Huntley shook his head as he took a seat. “No, dear sister, but she is not my daughter. Uncle George is erroneous in this instance, as well. I am proud of her for not blindly following her father’s dictates in this situation.”
“She favours her mother,” added Uncle Henry. “She is a caring, loving soul, and she cannot bear to be separated from a family member with whom she is so close.”
Richard laughed and pointed at Darcy. “I remember when I found you in the nursery playing dolls with her. She must have been five and you were seventeen. You were horrified at me discovering your secret, but I soon learned not to tell a soul.”
Grace wore a puzzled expression as she tilted forward in order to see
her brother. “Why? What happened?”
“I teased him once—once—and he thrashed me for it.” Huntley and Uncle Henry guffawed as Richard reddened. “I had not realised how he had grown since the last time we had fought.”
“I remember that summer,” snickered Huntley. “He blackened your eye, but you told mother and father you had been hit in the face by a tree branch whilst riding.”
The humour of the memory elicited a grin as he sat in a chair near the fire. “I believe you could beat me with rather little trouble these days, Richard. Do not let that one loss vex you.”
Richard took a place on the sofa. “I have not, cousin. I admit it nagged at me when I was younger. I had fantasies of revenging myself upon you for that one defeat. Eventually, I decided one loss in seventeen years could go without being avenged.”
Grace chuckled and rolled her eyes. “You are too kind, brother.”
Uncle Henry’s amusement subsided, and his air became serious. “I would imagine you are here because you heard of Anne.”
“Yes, my father paid us a call last night and Anne’s condition was… well, discussed.”
“The visit did not go well.” Uncle Henry’s definitive look told him it was a statement and not a question.
“I would like to ask your advice later, if you have the time?”
“Yes, of course,” his uncle replied. “Would you care to visit with Anne?”
He was taken aback by the offer. The possibility she might not have been well enough for visitors or that Lady Catherine might be around to prevent it had been a concern. “Yes, I would. Do you think she can tolerate company? I would not wish to cause her undue fatigue.”
“Not much can be done now,” commented Grace in a remorseful tone. “She is too weak to last much longer.”
Aunt Elinor stood and took a place beside her husband. “She is resigned to it and wants nothing other than to enjoy what time she has left. I am thankful Henry acted to remove her from Catherine, and wish we had done it a long time ago.”
An Unwavering Trust Page 27