His uncle took his wife’s hand. “I do as well, dear. Though she has absolved us of blame, I wish I had listened to Mother much earlier. I did not want to rile Catherine, and I had no knowledge she was part of the problem.”
“Anne was never healthy, even when she was a child,” said Richard in a reassuring tone. “Our interference may not have helped.”
“Now you are trying to absolve us,” said Aunt Elinor. “We should be allowed some guilt over this, son. We should not have cowered away from the subject just because Catherine is a tyrant.”
Uncle Henry shook his head as if to clear it. “Enough! Darcy, follow me.”
The evident self-reproach Uncle Henry harboured was obvious in his demeanour; his downcast spirit, the sadness in his eyes, all were proof of the weight upon his shoulders. However, Darcy was not without fault in the matter, either. He could not regret Elizabeth, but if he had wed Anne, perhaps…
“You can end those thoughts you are having straight away, son,” his uncle interrupted as they climbed the stairs. “Even had you married her, Anne still might not have survived. As Richard said, she suffered from fevers or maladies with great frequency, and if Catherine was the cause or exacerbated it, then the damage was already done.”
“Then perhaps you should not bear so much guilt either.” He could not witness his uncle’s reaction, but he should not have the culpability of Anne’s demise. “As you said, the damage could have already been done.”
Uncle Henry shook his head, adamant in his view. “Mother has campaigned for Anne’s removal since Lewis de Bourgh died. My father feared dissolving what little relationship remained with his eldest daughter, and I… well, as I said earlier, I did not want to deal with her diatribe.” His uncle stopped before a door and took care to open it quietly.
The room was large, yet sweltering, due to the fire roaring in the grate. Anne’s companion was reading aloud from her seat at the bedside, but the lighting was too dim for him to make out the figure in the bed, so Darcy stepped closer.
“Pardon the interruption,” said Uncle Henry, “but your Cousin Darcy has come to see you, Anne.”
“Fitzwilliam?” came a small voice from the bed.
He forced himself to move even closer, though it took all his restraint not to retreat. How pale and thin Anne had become; she was so small in comparison to her bed and the bedcovers! Mrs. Jenkinson stood to offer him her chair, and he braced himself as he took the seat. His hand enclosed her cool, damp fingers.
The corners of her lips twitched and she swallowed. “Do not be so shocked. I am certain I have appeared worse.”
“I am sorry,” he stammered.
She sighed and gave his hand a weak squeeze. “Oh Fitzwilliam, do not be sorry. I have heard those words too much the past few days from Uncle Henry, Aunt Elinor, Grandmamma.”
A glance back showed his uncle had left the room. Anne was too fatigued for entertaining more than one visitor at a time.
“We all want the best for you.” He covered their hands with his free one. The words were honest; all anyone in their family had ever wanted was her happiness.
A weak smile took form upon her lips. “I know. Aunt Elinor and I have conversed often since Uncle Henry brought me here. She told me the story of how you met your wife.”
Those first memories of Elizabeth always brought him such happiness, even if it had been an emotional day. “Aunt Elinor met her the day after me.”
She gazed upon him with concern. “You took quite a risk in marrying a complete stranger rather than forcing me into a marriage neither of us wanted.”
“At the time, it seemed necessary for both Elizabeth and me.”
“Have the issues with her family been resolved?”
He shook his head. “We have been unable to locate the uncle who was the cause of her problems.”
“Hopefully, he is unable to cause more mischief.”
As she studied his face for a moment, his eyes were drawn to hers. They were still bright, intelligent, caring; her mind was untouched by her illness, unlike the rest of her ravaged body. “Grandmamma believes you and Elizabeth have found love. Is this true?”
Heat suffused his face. “You are quite demanding for information.”
“When you agreed to wed Elizabeth, you may have sacrificed your happiness because you thought you would save me. I only wished for reassurance of your felicity.” Her voice showed the strain of their visit as it became weaker. It did not seem to take much to tire her.
“Elizabeth and I both are happy, Anne.”
She smiled, and though it was not much of a smile, the gesture was as genuine and as full as her health could manage.
“Elizabeth is easy to love, and she professes to love me from time to time.”
She chuckled, and he restrained his surprise. The sound did not resemble one he was accustomed to hearing, but after a moment of alarm, he leaned forward to press a kiss to her hair.
“Do not let Mama see you do that. She would contact everyone she knows to obtain your divorce.” Anne’s eyes betrayed her mischievousness, and he let out a bark of laughter. Her eyes fluttered a bit, and they dropped closed as she fell asleep.
Mrs. Jenkinson stepped beside him. “She pushes herself to converse with everyone until she is simply too fatigued, but she confided she would change none of it. These moments with her family are precious to her.”
He observed his cousin as she slept. “Is she always so weak?
“She had been awake for over an hour when you entered, so she had already used what little strength she still possesses. If you would like to spend time with her again, I will send word when she awakens.
With a nod, he rose and turned to face his cousin’s long-time companion, who bore the dark circles under her eyes from the fatigue and strain of the last months. How difficult it must have been to care for Anne under the tight rule of Lady Catherine!
He took Mrs. Jenkinson’s hand from where it rested on the chair and encased it between his own. “I would like to thank you for your care of Anne. If you require a letter of reference for your next position, I would be pleased to pen one.”
She appeared flustered, but by no means displeased. “Thank you, Mr. Darcy. Your uncle and grandmother have also made similar offers, and I am grateful since Lady Catherine was quite angry with my desertion.” With tears in her eyes, she gazed over to the frail figure in the bed, removing her hand from his to tuck a bit of the bedclothes in place. “I have cared for her since she was four. I started as her governess. Did you know?”
“No, I was not aware she had been in your care for so long.”
She folded her arms around herself. “My husband disappeared about three years after we were wed. It was somewhat of a scandal in the small village where I grew up as the daughter of the local clergyman. When my husband did not return, my husband’s brother claimed the small estate, and I sought employment as I could not bear to remain where I was pitied.”
Her gaze returned to him, and he did his best to offer her a warm smile. She wiped her cheeks with her handkerchief and moved past him to the seat where she could resume her vigil. “Miss de Bourgh became the daughter I was not allowed. I wish I could have done more for her.”
Her voice was soft, but he heard her clear as a bell. Everyone harboured some guilt over Anne’s life and eventual passing.
“I believe you did all you could. Lady Catherine would have released you from service had you challenged her too strenuously, and then you would have been unable to help Anne at all. Her mother would have, no doubt, employed someone more biddable to her wishes.”
Mrs. Jenkinson nodded, and he excused himself to return to his family in the drawing room. His foot had no more than stepped through the door when he heard the loud, familiar sound of a walking stick as it struck the floor.
“YOU!”
Chapter 18
Darcy’s eyes lit upon Lady Catherine, who stood in the midst of his uncle’s family, giving him a murderous glare
.
Uncle Henry regarded his sister with great caution. “Catherine, you will not abuse my nephew in my home. If you wish to see Anne, you will not start the tirade you have no doubt fantasised about since you learned of his marriage.”
“Uncle, Anne was asleep when I left. Mrs. Jenkinson indicated she would send word when she awakened.”
“You have visited Anne?” Lady Catherine spat out with venom. “You did not care enough to make her your wife, so why would you wish to see her now?—unless it was to ensure your inheritance of Rosings.”
“Lady Cath…”
“You filthy, greedy Old Mr. Grim! Waiting for her to die so you can claim Rosings and her money! You should be ashamed of yourself!”
He suppressed a growl as he stepped further into the room. “Neither Anne nor I wished to marry one another. I was doing her a favour.”
“A favour? By making her a laughingstock of society?”
His restraint worked to rein in the anger threatening to bubble to the surface. “Anne does not care of the gossip. Why should you? She never wished to wed anyone and asking her to produce an heir would have been a death sentence. Your demands, madam, were both unfair and unfeeling.”
The imperious lady sniffed. “My daughter would have been mistress of Pemberley and Rosings. Few would have rivalled her standing.”
He was rueful as he shook his head. “For how long? If our betrothal and marriage could have extended her life, which is doubtful, how long would she have lived? Her constitution was never hardy.”
“You would have lived at Rosings,” she demanded.
He was courting a tirade, but he would not dissemble. “No, I would never reside where I must deal with you. You are not the master of me, and I would not wish to spend every day evicting you from the master’s study.”
Aunt Elinor bit her lip to avoid laughing while his uncle’s eyebrows rose up his forehead.
Lady Catherine’s nostrils flared and her lips tightened to a thin line. “You have come every Easter to check the books and to confer with the steward; I have never done more than offer my frank advice.”
He took a deep breath and exhaled in another attempt to remain calm. “Yes, for which you have told me quite often you are celebrated. You must also remember when I would tell you that I planned to walk the estate. Your housekeeper and butler knew what I was about and allowed me back inside through the kitchens. I would then use the servants’ hallways to reach the study, where I would lock the door.”
Uncle Henry was shaking in silent mirth, until he released an accidental snort, which garnered his sister’s attention.
“So, I see you take his side in this matter, too?” Her voice was still strident as well as indignant. “You are just as soft as my father was.”
Uncle Henry began chuckling again in response, this time, out loud. “Thank you. I take it as a great compliment to be compared to Father.”
“I will not remain only to be made a fool! Have someone show me to Anne’s chambers. I wish to have a word with her.”
“No one will wake Anne,” Aunt Elinor stated firmly.
“You will not keep me from my daughter!”
“We will do what is best for Anne’s health,” interrupted Uncle Henry before she could utter another word. “You may have done irreparable harm with the treatments you subjected her to before we took her from your care, and despite the physician’s prognosis, we are still praying for her recovery.”
“You may be, but he is not!” She pointed her walking stick towards Darcy.
He saw no point in dragging out any argument with her, so he remained quiet. Hopefully, Uncle Henry would show her the door soon!
His uncle stepped forward and pushed the bottom of her walking stick down towards the floor. “Catherine, you are welcome to call to see if Anne is awake and wants to see you, but you will not abuse anyone under my roof.”
“If Anne wants to see me?” She screeched in tones he had never heard before. “Why would my daughter be unwilling to see me?”
Aunt Elinor closed her eyes and sighed while Uncle Henry motioned his footmen forward. “I will be as frank as you are celebrated to be. Anne has not expressed any desire to receive you, and has voiced her relief at your absence. In the future, we will take Anne’s wishes into account before we bow to yours. She will live for no one but herself from this day forward.”
“You will not exclude me from my daughter’s life!”
Uncle Henry nodded and his men stepped to either side of Lady Catherine. With a swift bow, he gestured towards the door. “On second thought, we will send word if Anne indicates she is receptive to your visit. We do not want her rest disturbed when she is in such dire need of it.” Lady Catherine’s mouth opened to speak, but his uncle never gave her a chance. “Maxwell, Dennis, please show Lady Catherine to the door.”
The two footmen revealed their experience with Lady Catherine when each reached out to take an arm. She whipped away from both men as she turned on her heel. “I can find my own way out.”
The footmen followed her to the doors of the sitting room where she turned towards her brother one last time. “I plan to consult a solicitor and will not remain silent until my daughter is returned to my care.”
With a shake of his head, his uncle stepped forward until just out of striking distance of her cane. “Sir Lewis de Bourgh named me Anne’s guardian in his will, and you are a woman. It is improbable you will do naught but bring speculation to your own parenting abilities by making this public knowledge; however, if you insist in the endeavour, I wish you luck.”
Lady Catherine’s face became pinched as she listened to every word. She made to open her mouth a few times as though she had thought of a response, but in the end, she strode from the door.
The front door soon slammed shut, and the sound reverberated through the house, indicating she had reached the hall on her own.
“I never thought she would leave,” said Aunt Elinor, breaking the silence.
Darcy made his way to a chair and took a seat. “She was here for a while, then?”
Aunt Elinor rolled her eyes as she resumed her spot on the couch. “She arrived not long after you left to visit Anne, so we did our best to delay her. We were about to send Grace to see if Anne even wanted to speak to her mother and hoped to give the two of you more time.”
“I appreciate your consideration.”
“Did you speak of Rosings?” asked Uncle Henry.
“No, we did not have long before she became too fatigued. She desired to know about my marriage to Elizabeth. After the tales she was told of our betrothal, I believe she wished to ensure I am happy.”
Grace wiped a tear from her eye with a sniff. “She asked what we know of you and your wife, and your life together. She was concerned you may have sacrificed your happiness for her sake.”
“I supposed matters could have ended so, but Elizabeth and I have found ourselves content with our situation.”
Every one turned at the sound of Richard’s heavy snort. “You make it sound as if you merely like her. The two of you are so besotted. I am amazed a moon-calf expression is not permanently etched upon your face.”
Huntley laughed and slapped his brother on the back. “I am glad you are here to tell us the truth of the matter.”
He was insulted at his cousin’s assertion. “We are not without decorum.”
Richard lifted his eyebrows. “The two of you touch a mite more than is acceptable in public, but no, you do not grossly breach propriety.” The smirk on Richard’s lips told him any indication his cousin would side with him had disappeared. “However, the two of you were on occasion unable to be found during the day, often retired early, and sometimes even remained abed late.”
Uncle Henry grinned. “I am pleased to hear it, son. I knew Lizzy would be good for you.”
“And since Darcy has not mentioned it, she has proven herself to be an accomplished rider.”
His proud expression could not be helped as he
nodded. “My wife is quite competent on horseback.”
“You are praising a woman’s riding abilities, brother,” asked Huntley, surprised. “I do not believe I have ever heard you compliment a woman on their horsemanship—not even Grace.”
Richard turned to his sister. “Forgive me, Grace, but Lizzy gets along well in the saddle.”
With a giggle, Grace shook her head. “She must be exceptional for my exacting brother to praise her.”
“Richard joined me and Elizabeth once,” clarified Darcy, “but a few days later, Elizabeth, whilst riding, had an encounter with an adder.” He proceeded to tell the story, his face brimming with pride when he spoke of how Elizabeth managed to stay seated for as long as she did.
Huntley’s eyebrows rose. “I have never understood how women remain in the saddle when a horse gives them trouble. I remember when Grace was learning, and she dared me to ride side saddle.”
“She did not!” exclaimed Richard. “Where was I for this? I would have wagered a great deal of money that your rear would hit the dirt.”
“I think you were visiting Darcy at Pemberley.” Grace smirked at her brother’s embarrassed expression. “And, he did indeed fall off.”
With a bark of laughter, Richard shifted to the edge of his seat. “I would also wager that was when he ceased to tease you about riding side saddle?”
“There was that,” she said with the same mischievous grin. “I believe the final straw was when I slipped a few garden snakes into his bed.” They all knew of Huntley’s fear of snakes, and a few snorts with some laughter were heard about the room.
Aunt Elinor tilted forward with an amazed look upon her face. “Why was I never told of this?”
“It was after Richard’s return, and he helped me get rid of them,” grimaced Huntley. “He only agreed to be of aid if I swore not to tell on Grace.”
His aunt’s finger raised to her three children. “I trust no more snakes will come into my houses.”
An Unwavering Trust Page 28