As he exhaled a sigh of relief, he felt uncertain still that his meaning had been properly professed. To make sure he added, “I am sure you understand that our union must result in an heir to Pemberley.” He did not look at her as he spoke this declaration, showing great concentration on the path they were following.
After what seemed like an eternity, Anne finally responded. “As you have spoken so honestly of your feelings, I will try to do likewise, Fitzwilliam. Even though my mother has often spoken of a marriage between us, I have always believed that it would never occur. I knew you did not possess feelings of love or passion for me, feelings I assumed you would require before entering the marriage state. I have always held you in high regard, and I do have affection for you. To protect my own heart, I have never allowed myself to feel anything beyond that.”
She could not look into his eyes as she spoke these words, afraid she had already revealed too much of her feelings. She took a deep breath and continued, “I am not so naïve as to believe that you could ever truly love me, but a marriage of mutual respect and affection would not be objectionable to me. I believe that I could do honour to the title of Mistress of Pemberley, and I am willing to take on all the responsibilities that go along with that title.”
With this last statement, she did look directly into Darcy’s eyes so he could make no mistake of its meaning. None was perceived.
Darcy had never heard his cousin speak so earnestly before, and, at that moment, he admired her immensely. He was also relieved that he would not have to pretend feelings he did not possess. They both knew she spoke the truth. He did not desire her as a husband should desire a wife, but many couples had gone on to sustain enduring marriages where no such amorous feelings existed.
Darcy turned to look at Anne directly. Her soft auburn curls framed her delicate face. Her eyes, which had always reminded him of the colour of emeralds, looked up at him in anticipation. He took her hand in his and looked into those trusting eyes. “Would you then do me the great honour of becoming my wife?”
“Yes, Fitzwilliam, I will.”
Darcy lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it softly. They stood and looked at each other for a moment before Darcy said, “I guess I’d better go speak to my aunt.”
Anne smiled. “I hardly think there’s much chance she will not give her blessing, Fitzwilliam.”
“Yes, I dare say, I think we are safe on that matter.”
~*~
Since the entailment of Longbourn, Mrs. Bennet and her three youngest daughters were somewhat uncomfortably settled in a small cottage on the outskirts of Meryton. The only saving grace was its easy walking distance from her sister, Mrs. Philips. With the Militia encamped in town, Kitty and Lydia were quite pleased to be so close to their aunt. Mrs. Philips loved company; when her nieces visited, she would also invite Mr. Denny and Mr. Wickham, along with some of the other officers, for an evening of supper and cards and sometimes dancing.
Lydia, the liveliest of the Bennet girls, now had free reign over her mother, who had always favoured her youngest daughter. When Colonel Foster’s wife invited Lydia, as her particular friend, to accompany them to Brighton for the summer, Mrs. Bennet practically swooned at the thought of her Lydia being in such esteemed company.
Jane had written her mother to express her opinion against Lydia going to Brighton, reminding her of Lydia’s careless and imprudent manner. But Mrs. Bennet had argued that Lydia was a young woman who should have the opportunity to socialize and that she would be well chaperoned by Colonel Foster and his wife. And hadn’t Lydia suffered enough, wearing black for six months after her father’s death? Now that her long period of mourning was well over, what better way to re-enter society than a trip to Brighton?
Even though they could ill afford it, Mrs. Bennet acquiesced to Lydia’s request, or rather demand, that she be allowed to purchase new clothes for the trip. After all, there would be balls to attend, and she wanted to make a great impression on the officers. Kitty could not contain her grief at learning of her sister’s invitation to Brighton and almost convinced her mother that they should all go to Brighton for the summer.
“If Lizzy had accepted Mr. Collins’s proposal, we would all be going to Brighton,” exclaimed Mrs. Bennet. “When I think of that selfish, thoughtless girl! We could all be back at Longbourn right now instead of that artful Charlotte Lucas taking my place as Mistress.
“Oh well, if the Collinses can enjoy themselves settled in someone else’s estate, so be it. I know I could never be happy living on an estate that was entailed away from its rightful owners! Lydia will go to Brighton with the Fosters for the summer and meet the officers. At least one of my daughters will not throw away a chance to marry well.”
CHAPTER THREE
The carriage’s wheel bounced in and out of a rather large hole, shaking it quite thoroughly, waking Elizabeth with a startle. She looked out the window in an effort to determine her whereabouts, but only an unfamiliar landscape greeted her. They were no longer in the city, but rather in a more bucolic setting. Removing her bonnet, she placed it on the seat beside her. When she had lived at Longbourn, a day like this would have pleased her very much. She would have gone on a ramble and explored the woods beyond her home. Such simple joys were now in her past.
The carriage turned onto a gravel road and slowed its pace. They must be getting close she thought. She picked up her bonnet but did not put it on. It was just too hot. The carriage stopped in front of a manor house, small, though somewhat larger than Longbourn. A footman immediately opened the carriage door and helped her out.
Elizabeth looked up at the house, her heart beating loudly in her chest. There certainly was no turning back now. She at least had to go through with the interview. What that would be like, she could not even begin to imagine. It was of little matter; she would find out soon enough.
A young woman led Elizabeth down the hallway and motioned towards the door. Elizabeth stepped into the room, which seemed rather dim, considering it was early afternoon. All the curtains were drawn tightly. In the middle of the room, a small table held only a single candle, next to which sat a single chair.
She could vaguely make out the older woman who sat at the far end of the room, behind a large desk. The desk, too, held only one solitary candle.
Elizabeth hesitantly walked toward the middle of the room; her eyes having difficulty adjusting to the lack of light.
“Please, take a seat, dear,” the woman offered.
“Thank you,” replied Elizabeth as she eyed the uncomfortable looking wooden chair. Elizabeth was extremely nervous, though the woman had a kind face and spoke in a gentle voice.
“Would you tell me a little about yourself?” asked the woman.
“I was informed I would not need to reveal any personal information.”
“I’m afraid such an intimate situation requires some personal details, though your identity is not one of them,” stated the woman. “Are you fully aware of the position for which you are being interviewed?”
“Mr. Gallagher briefly explained what would be expected of me.”
“You look full young to be contemplating such an endeavour,” observed the woman.
“I am almost two and twenty; old enough to make my own decisions.”
The older woman silently eyed her for a few moments.
“Have you any health impediments?” she asked.
“No, aside from the normal childhood ailments, I have never been ill.”
“What of your parents and siblings, do they also enjoy good health?”
“My father died about a year ago, but the rest of my family is alive and well.”
“What of mental impediments? Do any members of your family suffer from such a malady?”
If it wasn’t for her state of unease, Elizabeth might have found that particular inquiry almost humorous, for it was certainly subject to conjecture. Her mother suffered from many nervous conditions.
“Not to my knowledge,”
was the best she could offer.
Elizabeth heard whispering and, for the first time, realized that there was someone else in the room. She looked slightly to the left of the woman and saw a silk screen that was completely devoid of light. Someone was sitting behind the screen, and, although she could not see them, they obviously could see her.
After the whispering stopped, the woman asked her to stand. Elizabeth rose from the chair and stared directly into the woman’s eyes. She then turned her gaze slightly to the left towards the source of the whispering voice. Imagining that she was staring directly at whoever was behind the screen, she raised her chin in an act of defiance.
Elizabeth was then asked to turn around and then finally to sit again. She complied with all that was asked. She was so nervous that she was starting to get lightheaded. She was also starting to get angry.
Again the woman conferred with the mystery person behind the screen. “Is there not some other more conventional way you might obtain the money you require?”
“No, there is not,” replied Elizabeth.
“No relatives from whom you might borrow? Or perhaps some young gentleman who might offer for you and resolve your financial situation?”
Elizabeth’s mind immediately went to Mr. Collins. She knew her mother still had not forgiven her for rejecting his offer of marriage. When he had proposed that day, Elizabeth had been adamant in her refusal. She was grateful that Jane had left for London on the previous day with her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. She knew if Mr. Collins had met Jane first, she most likely would have been his first choice, as Jane was five times as pretty as the rest of the Bennet sisters. She knew, too, that Jane would have acquiesced in order to save her family.
“If borrowing the money I required was a possibility, I would not be here. And despite my situation, I have vowed never to marry if I cannot do so for love.”
Again, the whispering began. However, this time Elizabeth could discern that it was a male voice coming from behind the screen. The anger she had been suppressing began to rise in her chest.
“Does the gentleman suffer an impediment, a defect of speech perhaps, that prohibits him from speaking to me himself?” asked Elizabeth, trying to keep her voice as even as possible.
Taken somewhat by surprise at the young woman’s impertinence, the older woman said, “I’m sorry, but you cannot know the identity of the gentleman. This situation is of a very personal and confidential nature. If a mutual agreement is reached, a future meeting time and place will be arranged. Of course, he must have your word that you will not disclose any of the details of this arrangement to anyone.”
“I am not asking that he make himself known to me, only that I be allowed the opportunity to hear his voice.”
“To what purpose, my dear?”
Before Elizabeth could reply, the gentleman spoke. His voice was deep, yet softer than she had expected. “I have no objection to speaking with you directly, if that is your wish; though I cannot perceive what hearing my voice would reveal to you.”
“I believe the sound of a person’s voice and their manner of speaking can be quite telling, sir.”
The room was silent for a moment. Then the gentleman asked, “Can you tell me for what reason you require this money?”
“Just as you, sir, do not wish to have certain personal information disclosed to others, I, too, wish to keep the particulars of my situation private. I will only say that it is a personal family matter that must be acted upon quickly if it is to be resolved in a satisfactory manner.”
The gentleman again whispered something to the older woman who nodded her head. The gentleman then asked, “Is this something you have done before?”
“No, never, sir!” came Lizzy’s immediate reply.
The silence this time went on longer than the last. He stared at her from behind the screen. She sat uncomfortably in the straight back wooden chair. After several moments, the silence was broken as the gentleman finally spoke. “Do we have an agreement then?”
Elizabeth looked down at her hands in her lap and replied in an almost inaudible voice.
“Yes.”
~*~
Elizabeth was told to wait in the adjoining room. After a quarter of an hour, the older woman joined her. She explained to Elizabeth the particulars of the arrangement that would take place in less than a fortnight. A carriage would again be sent for her, and she would be travelling to a small village in Scotland, where all accommodations would be made for her. Elizabeth was surprised by the destination but was told that it was of the utmost importance that they travel to a location where no one would know either the gentleman or herself.
She then offered Elizabeth some food and refreshments. Elizabeth was hardly up to eating as she doubted she would be able to hold anything down. She did agree to a cup of tea, however, and sipped it slowly.
The woman stared at Elizabeth for a long moment, and then gently put her hand on Elizabeth’s arm. “It must be indeed a heavy burden you carry, my dear. To do such an unselfish act for your family is most admirable.” They looked into each other’s eyes. Elizabeth’s unshed tears were her only reply.
Elizabeth was soon again riding in the carriage back to London. At least the sun had now begun to lower in the sky, and the heat was dissipating. She then realized that she had left her bonnet on the small table in the room she had just occupied. It was of little consequence.
Her mind was reeling with all that had just occurred. Her hands were slightly shaking, and her heart was racing. Had she really agreed to do this?
She remembered the older woman’s last words. It was almost as if the woman could read her mind. Elizabeth knew why she was doing this. She was doing it to save her family from scandal. She had let them down before, but now she could make it up to them. Even if her mother never forgave her, she would do this for her sisters. They deserved to have a chance at happiness.
True, the esteem in which the family was held had been somewhat diminished upon her father’s death due to the entailment, but they were still a respectable family. Her sisters’ prospects for marriage may not have been grand to begin with but, still, they could be expected to make well-regarded matches. This scandal that threatened would make it certain that no decent gentleman would associate himself with any of them.
Of course, the irony of her situation was apparent. In order to save her family from a prodigious scandal, she was about to involve herself in an even more salacious situation should the particulars ever become known.
For herself, Elizabeth did not care what calamity might befall her. Indeed, her refusal of Mr. Collins confirmed her conviction that she would rather remain single forever than to marry without love. After this episode, she knew she would be unfit for any gentleman to marry. Even if the truth was never discovered, Elizabeth would be obligated to inform any suitor of her past. No, it was not for her own future happiness that she was entering into such an agreement. It was for her sisters. If she could secure their happiness, she would be content.
For this reason, Elizabeth quite agreed that the precautions being taken to ensure concealment of this arrangement were well warranted. The gentleman would never know her name, and she would never know his. All future communication would be conducted through the gentleman’s attorney, Mr. Gallagher, who would be the only person to know Elizabeth’s identity.
However, she was more than curious about the gentleman. She wondered what circumstances might warrant his seeking such a situation. She wondered if he was married, the very thought increasing her unease. Perhaps the less she thought of the situation, the better. If she were to think about the situation at all, she preferred to think of herself as doing an unselfish act for another. Yes, if one looked upon it in a prudential light, she was doing a very noble thing.
Most difficult for Elizabeth was recognizing she would have to conceal the truth from Jane. She had never lied to Jane before. Knowing Jane’s goodness, Elizabeth was in a small way relieved that she would not have to divulg
e the details of her arrangement. Not that she felt Jane would judge her harshly, but because she did not wish to burden Jane with this knowledge. The less Jane knew of this whole affair, the better.
CHAPTER FOUR
Darcy stood outside Anne’s bed chamber with a worried look. He had sent for the doctor as soon as she had collapsed. They had been walking in the gardens, enjoying the beautiful June morning when it happened. He had watched her face drain of all colour, and then she had fainted. Barely catching her before her body reached the ground, he had gathered her in his arms and hurriedly climbed the stairs. But it wasn’t until he had placed her on the bed that he noticed the blood.
As his housekeeper, Mrs. Reynolds, waited downstairs for the doctor’s arrival, Darcy went to Anne’s side and took her hand. She looked so pale. She was unresponsive to his voice, and her eyes remained closed.
When the doctor arrived, he was shown immediately to Anne’s room. “Where is Dr. Chisholm?” Darcy asked as he eyed the unfamiliar gentleman and took a protective stance in front of Anne’s unconscious body.
“I am Dr. Adams, Mr. Darcy. I have been Anne’s doctor since she was a child; surely you have heard your Aunt Catherine speak of me.”
“Yes… yes, of course. What has brought you to Derbyshire, Dr. Adams?”
“It was just by luck that I happened to be in Lambton conferring with Dr. Chisholm on another patient when your note arrived,” replied the doctor as he attempted to approach Anne’s bedside.
Darcy seemed reluctant at first to relinquish his position but then nodded his acceptance and stepped aside.
Noting Darcy’s tentativeness, the doctor tried to alleviate his worry. “I understand your concern, but I assure you Dr. Chisholm was in complete agreement that I should be the one to heed your summons. If it will help put your mind at ease, Mr. Darcy, you are welcome to stay while I examine your wife.”
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