by Kate Speck
Mrs. Allens waved her handkerchief in vexation, “I have told Sammy that he is making a terrible mistake but he will not hear of it, Madeline. She has bewitched him, I tell you. I wish Steven were here so he could have stopped his elder brother from making an awful mistake. I did not think Caroline Bingley so terrible in the beginning but ever since Sammy received word of his inheritance and is burning through his father’s fortune, he has grown arrogant and only wants more wealth. He was not happy to be a solicitor’s son with a bleak future re while his brother went off to become a curate and has a wonderful family, and since gaining some new friends this year, he has made several bad choices that will haunt him for the rest of his life. He goes out drinking into the wee hours of the morning and he bound himself to that... that hussy after only two weeks. He proposed against my wishes and I...” she whispered into Mrs. Gardiner’s ears, “thought I heard them anticipating their vows in broad daylight today.” She spoke in a normal tone. “They were making all kinds of noises and I am certain she already has him on a tight leash. I dread what kind of marriage they will have.”
Madeline Gardiner growled, “So that is her plan. She strolls in like she owns the place and believes herself above my niece because she is engaged and is confident her betrothed will not abandon her. Well, do you think he will remain with her when Lady Suffolk disgraces her? Perhaps with a babe high in her belly and her large dowry, he just might.”
“Well, I plan on staying here in town instead of moving to his new home in Cumberland. I cannot imagine living in the same house with that shrew.” Mrs. Allens declared. “I cannot apologise to Lizzy enough. I saw her briefly before her dance with Edward and I told her I do not understand how anyone could confuse Lizzy with the Bennells. Lady Matlock was very clear that the scandal took place some five years ago and that the Bennells were from Herefordshire, not Hertfordshire. From what you have written to me, the event actually took place ten years ago and Lizzy would have been only nine or ten years old and living with the Kingstons!”
Mrs. Gardiner stiffened, “Wait, I do not understand, Harriet. Caroline Bingley told her brother that you told her of the rumour and that it had been passed from Miss Grantley who heard from Miss Pope. You did not tell her of the gossip?”
Mrs. Allens clenched her teeth and fumed. “She has placed the blame on me? That hateful woman. I am going to give her the cut direct and she will never be invited into my home again.” She grabbed her friend’s hand and looked her in the eyes, “Madeline, I was calling on Mrs. Grantley when Caroline Bingley called on Miss Grantley at the same time. All of us heard the same thing from Miss Pope, that the Bennells of Herefordshire were the family in shame and Lizzy or Bennets or Hertfordshire was never mentioned. It was no mistake on anyone’s part but her own concoction of lies because she was bitter about Mr. Darcy courting your niece. I had nothing to do with spreading the gossip and I did not repeat such a thing because it was coarse to speak of the Bennells when it had nothing to do with me. Lady Matlock may have mentioned it but I understand it was because she was concerned for Miss Darcy. All the blame lies entirely on Caroline Bingley!”
“Thank you for telling me, Harriet,” Mrs. Gardiner squeezed her friend’s hand. “I will share all I have learned with Mr. Darcy and Lizzy as well as Lady Matlock and Lady Suffolk. Lady Suffolk is her godmother and she will not be pleased.” She saw Mrs. Allens’ mouth agape in surprise. “Very few know of the connection and she will be most eager to know that we have only one head of a snake to cut off. If Miss Grantley has kept her mouth closed after Miss Bingley spun her tales, she will be safe; otherwise she will be given the same treatment as that shrew. I will explain your innocence in all of this. Please excuse me.”
Madeline Gardiner quickly walked over to Elizabeth and Mr. Gardiner who were finishing their set. Darcy, who had seen the interaction, also strode to them and after a quick explanation, the countesses were informed on the latest findings and they stood together to begin their assailment.
Chapter 13
“William, you must calm. I have never seen you so irritable and you are scaring me.” Elizabeth rubbed his arm as they walked to the refreshment table. “Your dashing cousin was supposed to dance this set with me but I see he is speaking with Mr. Peel. That charming gentleman is a very determined young man. He will make a great leader someday.”
Darcy growled under his breath, “I did not realise you wished for his attentions. I will be sure to tell him of your interest. Who else do you find charming? You have not had enough suitors pursuing you and perhaps you are seeing better options now?”
Elizabeth laughed, believing that Darcy must have been teasing her but when she turned her eyes and saw that he was stiff and huffing in fury, she stopped her steps and pulled his arm. “Are you being serious? What is the matter with you? Do you truly believe I am searching for another suitor?”
“We have not been courting long, Elizabeth, and I know I am awful company. With your connections, you could do so much better. I thought of myself a good catch but everyone has been telling me how you should have aimed higher.” He let out a gruff.
“Ha! Perhaps I still can!” Elizabeth quipped. “Your manners are becoming intolerable; I hope you know this, William! What am I to do with you?”
Darcy reddened, “You do not have to do anything with me; I am not a child! I will not stay here and listen…”
“Darcy! It is time.” Lady Matlock commanded, interrupting their disagreement.
Darcy sternly turned to his aunt and they walked toward Caroline Bingley who was standing with Mr. Allens.
“Milady,” Caroline curtseyed deeply, “it is such a pleasure to see you at Kensington Park. The Christmas Ball is just as I had expected and I have never seen such splendour, and the decorations are most exquisite!”
Lady Matlock looked down her nose, “I do not know how an interloper got into this ball since Lady Suffolk assures me that you were not invited, young lady. Have we been introduced?”
Caroline blushed in embarrassment, “But of course! I am Caroline Bingley, Lady Matlock. We met several times at balls and Mr. Darcy’s dinner parties. I am Charles Bingley’s sister.”
“Oh? I thought his sister was married; Hurst? You are not Mrs. Hurst?” Lady Matlock mocked the shrew.
“No, madam. I am recently betrothed to Mr. Allens.” Caroline answered demurely.
Lady Matlock turned and spoke to Allens, “Oh, I know your mother well. I believe she is speaking with Lady Suffolk right now. Her ladyship is telling your mother all about her goddaughter and trying to find the source of the gossip that Miss Elizabeth was mistress to her godfather, Lord Suffolk, or her uncle, Mr. Kingston. You do not suppose anyone you know could be the originator of such nonsense, do you?”
Samuel Allens’ face immediately paled. He spluttered, “I… I do not… that is, I would have never…”
“Samuel! You told me that Eliza was a whore!” Caroline began to shriek, “You and Geo…”
Mr. Allens covered Caroline’s mouth with his hand immediately to cease her speech while the others gasped.
“Miss Bingley!” Lady Matlock shouted, “How dare you?!”
“Mrs. Allens has revealed all,” Lady Suffolk quickly approached with the lady, “that you had begun those lies and that you were warned.” A crowd began to gather around then with the commotion. “You lied about the disgrace of the Bennets, who had nothing to do with a scandal from ten years ago, and you began lying to everyone about my goddaughter being dissolute. Mrs. Gardiner has already spoken with Miss Grantley and we know the blame lies entirely on you!”
“Do you have anything you wish to say to me?” Elizabeth inquired the bitter woman who was barely standing up.
“I… I…” Caroline muttered, but seeing the woman who had slapped her before and wishing her dead, she spit out, “You think you are so much better than me, Eliza! I wish you had been shot in the heart. Why did you have to survive?!” Caroline raised her hand to strike Elizabeth but was stopp
ed when Darcy grabbed her forearm.
“I should kill you for such a speech…” Darcy threatened and strengthened his grip.
Caroline cried out in pain and Bingley rushed to his friend’s side to placate him. “Darcy, I know you are angry but this is not the place. Leave her to me. She will be banished to the north and will not cause trouble again. You must let go.”
Caroline whimpered louder as Darcy squeezed harder.
“William,” Elizabeth stood in front of him, “I do not feel well and need some fresh air. Will you escort me to the balcony? I need you to step out with me. Please, William,” she pleaded.
Darcy, seeing Elizabeth’s face in front of him and realising that he was physically hurting Miss Bingley, immediately let go and walked away with Elizabeth on his arm.
Richard Fitzwilliam stood in front of Miss Bingley now and directly commanded Samuel Allens. “Get your fiancée under control and leave immediately. Everyone here knows what she has done and she will be shunned. Whether you jilt her and her £20,000 or marry her by special license and take her to Cumberland, I care not, but she will never show her face in society again.” He quietly hissed, “I have my eyes on you, Allens. I know you had something to do with your cousin’s death.”
Mr. Allens’ face turned pale as a sheet before he grabbed his fiancée’s arm and rushed out.
Lady Suffolk shouted, “And do not come back!” She turned to Mrs. Allens, who was standing next to her, “Do not worry, Mrs. Allens. I do not hold you accountable for your son’s poor choices or that woman he will marry. Call in two days and we will speak again.” She leaned and kissed her cheeks to show everyone that the mother was innocent of any wrongdoings.
Mrs. Allens thanked the countess and left to chastise her son and future daughter-in-law. She would never see Miss Bingley again and if she could convince Samuel to break off the engagement, she planned on leaving town as soon as it could be arranged.
~*~
“It is over, William. Caroline Bingley will be banished and the rumours will die down quickly. All the blame is on her but with her ladyship’s approval, Mr. Bingley and Mrs. Allens will be safe. I know you were protecting me but you were so frightening.” Elizabeth attempted to assuage Darcy and was concerned that he was still brooding in his ire.
Darcy leaned over the balcony and looked down to the gardens. “I have not slept since Friday, Elizabeth. I have dozed here and there but there has been so much to do and I…” he roughly rubbed his face. “I was about to strike a woman at a ball. I have never lost control like this before. I cannot believe I could be so reckless.”
Elizabeth blew out a long breath, “I had once thought of you being ill-tempered and I was correct! Your mode of defending me was done so harshly and had you behaved in a more gentlemanlike manner, I would not have had to step in to pull you away from that harridan. I am perfectly capable of protecting myself and I would have liked to have stayed to see the look on her face when she was outcasted from society, William. I hope you will allow me to have a word in edgewise in the future. I cannot imagine what you were thinking…”
“Me? I did it for you! It is my duty to protect you. Do you not know I did everything for you?” Darcy exclaimed. “How could you accuse me of being ill-tempered with such a woman? I know I was angry but I would die for you! I would kill for you!”
Elizabeth huffed, “Hmph! I had thought you might be a murderer at one time and all the evidence pointed to your complicity in those River murders but I saw you as a good man and thought better of you. Perhaps you are a killer after all.” She lifted her face and looked at him in impertinence, only to see the pain on his face. “Oh, William, I… I did not mean it. I am only outraged with Caroli…”
Darcy bowed, “I wish you good evening. I am not good company and I will take my leave. I… I am sorry for my lack of restraint. It will not happen again. Goodbye.” He took off without a look back.
“William!” Elizabeth attempted to run after him but his long legs were no match. “What have I done?” She could not understand how much they had argued this night and if he would terminate the courtship now. Tears rose to her eyes and she wrapped her arms around herself.
She stood outside for another few minutes before realising that she was freezing in the cold December weather and returned inside.
“Aunt Madeline,” Elizabeth softly whispered, “I am not feeling well and I wish to go home. Now, aunt.”
Mrs. Gardiner saw the tears in her niece’s eyes and after having witnessed Darcy storming off and leaving Kensington Park, she knew they must have argued. “Of course, Lizzy. I will have your uncle take you home right now. What of Jane, though?” She asked.
“If you will stay and ask Mr. Bingley to deliver you and Jane home, I will leave now. Please, aunt. I will wait for uncle in the foyer.” She rapidly walked out of the ballroom.
Elizabeth retrieved her cloak and waited for her uncle and the carriage. Lady Matlock suddenly exited the ballroom and hugged her. “Madeline has told me that you were not feeling well. Oh, I hope you will be well soon and that it is not from your infection prior. These illnesses can linger and I have told Darcy several times to make sure he takes care of his wrist as well. My poor Fluffy bit him the other day when she was teething and he had bled all over the rug. Oh, my dear Lizzy, take great care that you do not become ill.” She kissed Elizabeth’s cheek. “Get some rest. Lady Suffolk sends her wishes and will check on you tomorrow. She is stuck with the Duke of Hamilton and he will not cease his speech.” She winked and returned to the ball.
Oh, no! What have I done? To blurt out so indelicately that I thought him a killer... I should have found out more about his bite before I allowed my imagination to run wild. I have lost him. He will not wish to have anything to do with me now. She began to cry again. His good opinion, once lost, is lost forever, Georgiana once told me.
Her uncle approached and gathered Elizabeth in his arms. “I am sorry, Lizzy. Madeline told me you and Mr. Darcy has a dispute. I know everything will be all right. He will call on you tomorrow and it will all be sorted.”
Elizabeth sobbed in full force now while her uncle helped her into the carriage for privacy. “I hope so, uncle. I may have lost a good man due to my prejudice against him because I could not see him beyond his pride from the beginning. I was so wrong, uncle. He is the most caring man I have met and I chased him away because I could not hold my tongue.”
“He will come to you tomorrow, Lizzy. It will all be well.” Edward Gardiner rubbed her back and returned to Gracechurch Street so she could rest for the night.
~*~
Darcy slowly opened his eyes and groaned. His head was piercing and he felt nauseous from overindulging after his return from the Christmas Ball. He had drunk half the bottle of whatever was in the decanter and had fallen into deep sleep.
He sat up to assess his surroundings. He was in his bed and it was still dark. The fireplace was lit and although the air was warm, he felt a chill in his bones that something was not right. After rising to refresh himself and wiping his face with a towel, he called out for his valet.
“Wilkins,” he quietly spoke to his valet after a drink of water, “it must be quite early but I am in need of some headache powders and a large mug of ale. Wake me up at eight o’clock so I can prepare for a call at the Gardiners. I need to grovel at my lady’s feet for forgiveness. I am afraid I made an arse of myself at the ball and I do not know how I will make amends.” He closed his eyes recollecting Elizabeth’s eyes flashing in anger.
“But, sir,” the valet stammered, “it is nearly eight o’clock now. You wish to call tonight?”
“Tonight?” Darcy blurted, “it is night and not morning? What day is it today?”
The valet nodded, “It is Thursday night, sir. You arrived from the ball after one o’clock and Mr. Mason found you asleep in your study. Matthews and I brought you up and I would guess you have slept for sixteen or seventeen hours, Mr. Darcy. Miss Darcy asked about you several time
s but she was assured that you were sleeping deeply and she had wished for a repast to be prepared for you as soon as you awoke. Do you wish for supper, sir?”
“Supper?! Good lord, I have missed the entire day?” Darcy rubbed his face. “Oh, no! What must she think? I cannot believe it. I hope she does not think I have abandoned her.” He stood and paced now. “I do not wish for supper, Wilkins, just the ale and the headache powder.” He looked into the fire. “Oh, Wilkins,” he called once more, “thank you. I needed the rest more than I thought.” He nodded to his faithful valet of fifteen years.
Wilkins bowed, “But of course, sir. I will return shortly.” He left his master in front of the fireplace.
“Oh, Elizabeth,” Darcy lamented while he covered his eyes with his hand, “how you have discovered my secret I do not know. You know me better than anyone. Please forgive me, my love.”
~*~
Darcy entered Gardiner House with hope in his heart. He had practiced his speech several times throughout the night and had his mother’s ring prepared so he could propose properly today. He tapped his pocket where the precious ring was kept and repeated his words of apology in his head when he was bid to enter.
He bowed to Mrs. Gardiner and sat down in the parlour.
“How do you do, Mr. Darcy? You appear quite... distraught.” Mrs. Gardiner began.
Darcy nodded, “I have had a very long week, madam. I had many businesses since our dinner at Darcy House and I am afraid I had spoken some... harsh words to Miss Elizabeth at the ball. I had wanted to call on her immediately but I...” he coloured, “I missed my opportunity the entire day yesterday. May I speak with her? I wish to apologise and ask for a private audience.”
“I am afraid you cannot, sir. She...” Mrs. Gardiner was interrupted.
“But I must see her, madam! I know she must be angry with me but I must be allowed to make amends!” Darcy shouted, as he began to rise.