by Kate Speck
“I AM NOT ENGAGED TO HER!” Darcy yelled. “I have never been engaged to her.”
Elizabeth scoffed, “You just do not remember yet. She showed me your mother’s ring. She told me that you begged her to marry her and ravished her for hours. Just like you were attempting to do with me. She carried your child but lost it and she told me you would take her again as soon as you returned. Did you lay with her last night? Did you impregnate her again?” Elizabeth fumed at the thought of Darcy with that woman. She growled, “I hate you, William. Do not come near me again!”
Darcy was indignant and grabbed her arm to stop her from walking away. She turned and attempted to slap him again but he was quick this time and stopped her hand from reaching his face. “Do not, Lizzy. I am innocent.”
“I do not believe you.” She spat. After she shook her wrist from his grip, she gave him a look of disgust. “Send Georgiana to call at Longbourn but do not come. If you do, I will not acknowledge you. I wash my hands of you, Mr. Darcy. You are a seducer and I only blame myself for falling into your trap. You would have abandoned me with a child high in my belly and I would have been ruined forever. My sisters would have been ruined by association and you still would have left me for the wealthy woman with her 20,000 pounds who would be a proper mistress of Pemberley.”
“I am innocent! Please listen to…” Darcy could not make her hear him.
Elizabeth wiped her tears. “I am tired, William. We cannot go on like this. I released you before, I release you again. Please let me go and do not return.” She stormed off while Darcy stood frozen.
Darcy watched her run down the hill and disappear into the groves. He knew she was not willing to listen. He, who was innocent of her charges, could do naught but let her go and give her time to calm.
He was furious as he kicked the innocent tree as if to blame it for his suffering. “Aargh!” he screamed. “This is all Caroline Bingley’s fault!” He jumped onto Perseus and rode the opposite direction of Lizzy. He saw a pathway that he had not been before, towards what he believed was Mr. King’s estate, and rode his horse hard to work out his frustrations.
Chapter 14
After a half-hour of rough riding, Darcy slowed down his stallion and took several breaths.
It is not anyone else’s fault than my own. I rushed her and took advantage of her generosity. I touched her as only her husband should and she is furious with me because I was so ungentlemanly. What have I done? How do I make her understand that I am not engaged and never have been?
Suddenly, he heard the cry of a woman and he comprehended quickly that she was being hurt. He trotted closer to where the noise was coming from and heard the voice cry out, “No! Release me! You cannot do this!”
Then he heard a familiar voice shout out, “I will take you. I will take your virtue and marry you, Mary. I want your 10,000 pounds and you cannot stop me.”
“WICKHAM!” Darcy shouted. He saw his childhood friend’s head pop up from behind the bushes and the young lady pushed him off quickly to run towards Darcy.
Darcy recognized the young woman as Mary King, whom he had met once when calling on her uncle. Her hair was mussed but her clothing still intact. It had been cold and it was obvious that Wickham had not yet managed to get through her many layers of dress.
Darcy jumped off his horse and handed it to the young woman. “Can you ride? Can you call for help?” He spoke gently and quietly to her.
She nodded as she wiped her tears.
After helping her onto his horse to ride astride, he patted Perseus’ rear to send her off to safety.
“Wickham, I am in a great mood for some sparring today. I wish I had my foil but my fists will do.” He drew nearer Wickham who was buttoning up his falls and fixing his coat jacket.
“Well, I always could beat you, Darcy. I will be more than happy to blacken your eyes and knock some of your teeth out. You stopped me from getting my hands on Georgiana's dowry and now Mary’s. I never did get to sample that sister of yours, but I was so close to taking Mary. I heard you danced with that chit, one of the Bennet sisters. The one that berated me in Meryton in front of an audience. It is all her fault that I was not able to set up any credit in this hellhole town. I have been watching her at times and she is a delicious little thing. I heard she is penniless but I should have paid her a little more attention. I am sure she would have opened her legs to enjoy my attentions and I would have taken her again and again to ruin her, if only to make you miserable, you bastard.” He jumped at Darcy to throw the first punch.
Darcy quickly dodged his jab and landed a blow to Wickham’s shoulder. Wickham might have been able to beat him before but it was when they were children, and Darcy had been very active with his pugilist and fencing lessons for the past decade.
Darcy stepped around him and punched Wickham’s side hard, hearing a crack on his former friend’s ribs. “That is for Georgiana.” He grabbed the lieutenant’s arm with one hand and landed another hit onto that man’s stomach. “That is for every woman you injured in the past years,” and he finally closed his fist tighter and lobbed his final strike on his jaw. “That is for Lizzy.”
Wickham landed flat on his back, completely unconscious and definitively beaten.
“No one threatens my Lizzy. She is going to be my wife, you ass!” He spat on Wickham.
Darcy puffed out several breaths and stood tall. It had felt good to get some exercise after the miserable morning he had been having.
In a few minutes, he saw two riders approach with his own horse unseated.
He was surprised that Richard was arriving with Mr. King but relieved that his cousin would be able to take Wickham into custody to Colonel Forster.
“Richard, what are you doing here?” Darcy asked.
Richard dismounted quickly. “I was taking a report for Wickham’s misconducts early this morning and was calling on Mr. King, when Miss King arrived on your horse and told us what happened.” He looked at where Wickham was laying with his limbs spread out. “You took care of him already, did you now?” He laughed.
Darcy laughed as well, as he walked around and patted Perseus. “It was good to get some exercise. He thought he could beat me but he did not get near me once.” He gloated.
“Thank you for coming to my niece’s rescue, Mr. Darcy. I do not know what would have happened if you did not arrive in time.” Mr. King gratefully shook his hand. “If there is anything I can do, anything at all, do not hesitate.”
“Mr. King is also the magistrate in town. It is too bad we cannot expose Wickham for his villainy today. He could have done anything he wanted with her and suffer no consequences, but if rumor gets out that Miss King might have been compromised, she will be ruined. These rules are so archaic; it is most unfair to innocent women.” Richard criticized. He had found Miss King quite pleasant and her freckles were adorable.
Darcy commented, “Well, perhaps we can report this as conduct unbecoming an officer and have him transferred immediately. TODAY, Richard.” He grew angry once again, remembering Wickham’s words about Lizzy and the thought of his ruining countless women in his past.
Just then, Darcy saw movement from the corner of his eyes of Wickham running with a saber pointing at him. In a flash, he turned and saw Richard rush him from the side, throwing his body on top of Wickham’s to the ground. Wickham lost his grip on his sword and Richard loomed over him, landing blow after blow, as he sat on his torso.
Richard ceased his strikes when he looked down to see Wickham unconscious, with his mouth, nose, and eyes covered in blood. Richard took a deep breath and stood over him. He pulled out his own saber and in a calm precision, sliced an ‘X’ on the scoundrel’s forehead that would leave a scar to mark him like a criminal, but not deep enough to cause death.
Richard sighed, “He will never bother anyone again. Anyone who sees him will see a scoundrel and no one will ever think him handsome again.” He checked Wickham’s body for more weapons and finding none, commanded to Mr. Kin
g and Darcy, “Help me pull him up onto my horse. He will need medical care before he is transferred out of Meryton. If only I could get him to the continent and put him in front of Bony himself!”
Darcy joined Richard and Mr. King to ride to the encampment where he sent a quick note to inform Georgiana what had happened and that it would take several hours to settle the situation with Colonel Forster.
*~*~*~*~*~*
“I am so pleased to see you, Georgiana! I have missed you dearly, my friend.” Elizabeth embraced Miss Darcy. She was relieved that Mr. Darcy had acceded to her request to not make the visit and was able to relax with her young friend.
Georgiana excitedly greeted the other ladies. Mr. Bingley had escorted her and Mrs. Annesley to Longbourn and Mrs. Annesley was very pleased to see the young ladies curtsey and greet everyone properly.
While Kitty and Lydia gracefully informed Mrs. Annesley of the latest news with their mother, Mary sat near Jane and Mr. Bingley to chaperone them for the last few days before their wedding and Georgiana quietly spoke with her favorite.
“How have you been, Lizzy? Your letters seemed morose in comparison to our conversations before the Ball but I thought you would be happy to be rid of Mr. Collins’ attentions. Are you wishing you had agreed to marry him?” Georgiana started.
Elizabeth chuckled. “Not a chance, Georgiana!” The younger lady merrily giggled. “I am so glad my friend Charlotte is marrying that odious man. No matter how many compliments he gave me, he professed to fall madly in love with Charlotte and became engaged to her three days after he proposed to me.” She smiled softly, “You know I will marry only for the deepest love. Just like you promised me, Georgiana.” She held her friend’s hand and squeezed it. “And your brother, is he fully recovered?” She asked carefully.
“He has been sullen for some reason but I believe he is well now. He still has headaches at times but he has no other complaints. He says his memory comes in pieces but he will most likely never recover the whole period. He has been beyond grumpy in town but he seems to be happy to be back.” Georgiana replied.
Elizabeth sighed, “It must be due to returning to Miss Bingley’s side. Do you know if a date has been set?”
“A date for what?” Georgiana asked. “He hates Miss Bingley; why should he be happy to see her?”
Elizabeth gasped quietly. “Oh, I have forgotten again. Miss Bingley has asked me to not mention it until Mr. Darcy’s memories return, but they… they are engaged, Georgiana. Surely she must have shared it with you. She has been more than happy to mention it every time I visit her.”
“William is not engaged. What makes you think that? Miss Bingley is lying to you. How long has she been telling you of this?” Georgiana hissed loudly, drawing the attention of the others in the room.
Elizabeth spoke at a louder volume. “But of course, Georgiana. I know you wish to go outside. Mama, Mr. Bingley, if you will excuse us, my dear friend and I have many things to catch up on.”
Finally, after putting their coats on and stepping outside where they could have some privacy, Elizabeth continued, “Miss Bingley has kept it a secret and I am sorry to be the one to break her confidence, Georgiana. Your brother proposed to her after Michaelmas and after he suffered his injury, he could not remember it but he had given her your mother’s ring as a promise. They… They have become one flesh and he will have to marry her. Even if his memory does not return, he cannot abandon his honor, Georgiana.”
“That is ridiculous! He would never! You say that he is an honorable man but what honorable man would take a lady’s virtue before marriage?” Georgiana questioned.
“Georgiana,” Elizabeth attempted to placate her friend while not knowing how much to share about a man’s intentions, “I know you think your brother the best of men…”
“No, Lizzy. He would never. He is a man, I know, but he made a vow. He made a vow to Father and he would never break it.” Georgiana adamantly stated.
But he almost… well, perhaps not so far but he and I… Elizabeth’s thoughts were interrupted when a large landau entered the estate and stopped at the front door.
Georgiana gasped loudly, “Oh, no! What is she doing here?!” Georgiana ran towards the carriage and saw Lady Catherine step out.
“Aunt Catherine, what are you doing here? What has happened? Is Anne well?” Georgiana rushed to her side and embraced her.
Lady Catherine patted her niece’s back. “Hello, child. What are you doing here? We are all well. Anne remains at Rosings with Mrs. Jenkinson. I have come to speak with a Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Do you know her?”
Georgiana breathed a sigh of relief. “This is she.” She waited until Miss Elizabeth neared the carriage. “Miss Elizabeth Bennet, my aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh of Rosings.” Georgiana made the introductions.
“Georgie, please return to the house and inform the...” Lady Catherine looked at the exterior of the modest home, “inhabitants of this place of who I am. I desire a moment of Miss Bennet’s time and walk,” she looked at the garden where her niece had just exited, “in that prettyish kind of a little wilderness there.”
“But of course, aunt.” Georgiana replied. “I will go in now, Lizzy.”
Elizabeth could only nod and await what this grand lady might have to say to her.
“Miss Bennet,” her ladyship began, in an angry tone, “you ought to know that I am not to be trifled with. A report of a most alarming nature reached me two months ago and I had dismissed it as youthful frivolity, but then another letter was sent to me last month. I had been concerned but after hearing more from Mr. Collins directly yesterday and understanding your sister is to be married to Mr. Bingley, I instantly resolved on setting off for this place, that I might make my sentiments known to you.”
“And what would you like to make known to me, madam?” Elizabeth inquired.
“You do not deserve him. He is too good for you. Darcy is the most honorable and dutiful man in all of England and I am the closest family he has. He wrote to me of his heartbreak that you had refused him, most stubbornly at that, after he had begged you to marry him at Netherfield Ball. You used him most ill and denied him and I had hoped that all would be resolved soon, but when he wrote to me last month and told me that you were marrying another, I advised him to seek a better woman and to not spend one more minute on such a worthless woman.
“I was able to put one and one together after Mr. Collins explained after his interminable disclosures of everything that was going on here in Hertfordshire, and finally realized that Darcy believed you to be marrying Mr. Collins and I know that Mr. Collins is marrying a Miss Charlotte Lucas. There seems to be some confusion around who is marrying who, and you, young lady, are in the thick of it all! I do not understand how any intelligent woman could refuse my nephew.
“If only my Anne was healthy enough to marry, I would have pressed him to marry my daughter. They would have been perfect for each other; from the same noble line, with a splendid fortune on both sides. But I know that Anne would only suffer should she attempt to bear an heir, and Darcy needs a strong, intelligent wife to be able to help him manage his estate as well as bring some comfort in his lonely life. He and Georgiana have suffered too long with mercenary men and women who only seek their own gain, and I truly wish for my dearest sister’s children to find happiness.
“You do not deserve him. Why do you keep pulling on the string around his heart to make him so miserable, Miss Bennet? By what right do you make him suffer so? Is it to increase his affections? Is it to bring him misery; to force him to fall on his knees and to beg for mercy? Do you love him at least a little?” She demanded.
“OF COURSE, I LOVE HIM!” Elizabeth shouted. “I have never loved deeper nor greater and I only wish for his happiness. I am most acutely grieved. I cannot eat, I cannot sleep, and I cry every time I think of him.” Her tears began to roll down.
Elizabeth pulled out Darcy’s handkerchief and stared at it before wiping her face. “I have loved him s
ince the first day I met him. When I saw him bloodied and dazed, when he called me ‘loathsome’ and ‘hideous’, I still loved him then. I wish for nothing else than to be his wife but I cannot accept him. He is already engaged and she might be carrying his heir again. He does not remember proposing to this woman but he must do the honorable thing and marry her. His family name is so important to him and he simply does not remember.”
Lady Catherine huffed, “And who is this woman that he supposedly impregnated? What do you mean ‘his heir again’?”
Elizabeth wiped her face, “Miss Caroline Bingley. She has told me many times that they have an understanding and that he proposed to her before his accident. She has Mr. Darcy’s mother’s ring and although she lost the first baby, she is confident that…”
“Stop. Stop right there. First of all, Darcy has told me that he found you witty and intelligent but I think you must be rather stupid. Why in God’s name would you believe anything that comes out of that deceiver’s mouth? She has been a mercenary harridan from the first time she heard of Darcy’s name and has done nothing but to promote herself to be his wife. She is a lecher of the worst kind and I know for a fact that Darcy would never attach himself to that… that… hag, who would do anything for wealth and connections. She cares not one bit for Darcy himself; she only wants Pemberley and all of Darcy’s wealth.
“And anyone who knows him knows that he has made several vows at his father’s deathbed. The elder Darcy was… well, he was a bit of a prude. He liked to follow the Good Book as well as rules of society and believed in being honest and honorable. He made Darcy swear to take care of his sister, his estate Pemberley, and to remain chaste for his future wife. There is no way in God’s holy name that Darcy would break his vow for that awful woman. If he were to ever break his vows, I could see him breaking them for you, but never for Caroline Bingley.