by Kate Speck
After a few minutes of speaking with Jane and Georgiana, Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst joined the group and Elizabeth stood, declaring that she desired a walk in the gardens alone, having no wish to remain in the same room as Miss Bingley. That shrewish woman was still giving her the evil eye and after Mr. Darcy’s engagement was announced, Miss Bingley’s civility had all but disappeared towards the woman who had everything she had desired in life. Elizabeth avoided Caroline Bingley as much as possible and stepped outside for a reprieve from wedding planning to take in the fresh air.
She walked towards the hedgerow and recalled being in Mr. Darcy’s arms behind the tall plants while Jane had been ill at Netherfield. She smiled to herself, remembering that as much as she had been determined to dislike him, that she had found Mr. Darcy intelligent and attractive and she had begun to love him even then. She was lost in thought when she heard several men’s voices behind the tall hedges, and out of curiosity, she headed towards the sound to catch a glimpse of what was happening.
Elizabeth was stunned to find Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley, along with Colonel Fitzwilliam, heading to a small cottage that was fully covered in ivy. Except for the windows, the house was camouflaged as if part of the gardens and could easily be overlooked. She saw the three men enter the house then close the door, and she quietly walked towards it to stand near one of the window panes where she could see movement in the house but it was too dark inside to see anything else. She heard the men speak through the open window and listened.
“...else knew of Georgiana’s return to Pemberley, Richard? I had told no one but your parents after I left Windsor Castle and even the Prince Regent was not privy to my plans. Elizabeth had thought that Wickham would be chasing after my sister somehow and I still do not understand how she knew, but how did Wickham find out? Only you, your parents, and I knew about Georgiana returning to Pemberley.” She heard Mr. Darcy shout, “Leigh, have you been able to get more from Wickham? Who is his source? Someone has to be pulling his strings, since he does not have the brains to plan the assassination alone. He is only a puppet and I had thought the spy network responsible but there is someone else who is funding the scheme. Torture it out of him, if need be!”
Elizabeth was astonished to hear Mr. Darcy speak so brutally of abusing someone and gasped loudly. Realising that the cottage within was suddenly silent, she ran back to Netherfield and locked herself in the large bedroom that Jane had given her. She panted for breath and after her heartbeats finally calmed after a few minutes, she opened her journal to ask Anne on what to do next, when there were knocks on her door. Closing her diary abruptly and walking to see who needed her, she unlocked the door and opened it slightly to see Mr. Darcy standing tall with a stoic expression and his fists closed.
“What has happened, Mr. Darcy? What can I do for you?” She asked nervously. “I am only resting a little before dinner.”
Mr. Darcy entered her rooms without a word and closed the door behind him. He glared down at her and continued to stare at her without speaking.
Elizabeth became fearful of the imposing man before her and slowly began to walk backwards, not understanding what he was thinking or what he would do to her.
Mr. Darcy slowly approached her, and after she stopped when her back was against the windows, he lifted both hands to cradle her jaw and neck. He leaned down to her temple and inhaled her scent from her face then trailed his nose along her cheek and chin. He turned his attention to her lips and kissed her mouth fervently, his insistent tongue diving inside her and drawing her body close to his. He proceeded to grip her buttocks to raise her up, opening her knees to pin her against the wall between two windows and pulled up her skirts as her legs wrapped around his hips. He ground his heated body against hers and snarled, “I would make you my wife in body right here, right now, Elizabeth. I want you more than anything I have ever wanted in my life.” He exposed her bosoms with one hand and mouthed her breasts one at a time. “I would forgive you anything if you will be mine.”
Elizabeth could do naught but moan loudly as he seduced her with his kisses and his mesmerising voice. She had been told of the marriage bed by her mother the evening before Jane’s wedding but never thought a man’s touch could be so tantalising. She nodded her head rapidly to agree to whatever he wished, when he dropped her to her feet without warning and turned himself away from her.
Elizabeth stood for several seconds, her hair dishevelled and her chest uncovered, until she came to her senses and fixed her clothing and began to pat down her hair. She had nearly given away her virtue and if he had continued, she would have gladly given him anything he wanted to take.
“How did you know about Georgiana, Elizabeth?” Mr. Darcy slowly faced her again with dark eyes and spoke. “I have not yet found the answer to that missing piece of the puzzle, and my life, these past ten years, has been dedicated to solving mysteries and I want the truth. How did you know Wickham would chase after my sister to Pemberley when no one knew of it? I know you were listening to my conversation at the cottage where Wickham is being kept. I saw you spying on me once again and you are in the thick of it all. Did you purposefully befriend my sister in Ramsgate so that you could chase me to seduce me? I allowed no one near me since my prior disappointment but I could not help but be drawn to you and I would have given you everything you wanted. Who hired you? Who is behind the assassination attempt on the Prime Minister?” He drew near her again with moist eyes, “Do you love me? Can you love me at least a little?”
“I know nothing about any assassination attempt!” Elizabeth replied in bewilderment. “How could you doubt me? How could you accuse me of being a traitor?!”
Mr. Darcy gently cradled Elizabeth’s head with both hands as he trapped her body against the wall again, “Do you love me? If you are willing to leave everything behind, I will do the same to take you to Scotland and we can hideaway and be at peace while this chaos passes us by. I will run away with you and I will save you. We can go to the colonies and start a new life together if you wish. I will abandon everything I have for you. I love you.”
Elizabeth gathered her courage and wrapped her arms around Mr. Darcy’s waist as she looked him into his eyes, “I love you, William. I would never ask you to betray our country and have you believe that I am a traitor. I truly know nothing about any assassination attempts and I am innocent. It was only curiosity that led me to follow you to that cottage and I should have announced myself but I swear to you that I had no knowledge of Wickham’s captivity within it or what else is going on here on Netherfield’s lands. Please believe me when I tell you that I truly love you and Georgiana is dear to me and I never wish either of you harm. I will tell you all I know, my love. I came into possession of a diar...”
Before she could complete her words, Mr. Darcy kissed her feverishly and lifted her up in his arms by her bottom again. He began to carry her to the bed when they both heard the rushing sounds of a carriage approaching the front courtyard from Elizabeth’s window. Mr. Darcy looked down to see the vehicle and cursed, “Blasted! What is she doing here?”
Elizabeth saw a grandiose barouche that she had not seen before as Mr. Darcy lowered her to her feet.
“I will deal with Lady Catherine, Elizabeth,” he breathed as he tenderly kissed her lips once more. “I love you and I will never let any harm come to you. We have more to speak of but it will have to wait. As long as you will take this temperamental man before you, I will give you everything within my power.” He stroked her hair, “I have been a brute and I am sorry. You will need to fix your appearance before returning downstairs. I love you. I love you, most ardently.”
“I know, and I love you, too.” Elizabeth beamed. “You have not injured me but give me a few minutes. I am certain she must have heard of our betrothal from Charlotte and is here to demand that you jilt me for her daughter. I could not imagine you jilting anyone, as honourable as you are.”
Mr. Darcy coloured, “You and I will need to speak further and hav
e everything out in the open but we must wait. See you soon, my love.”
He left her room quickly to run downstairs to meet his aunt as her bellows could be heard, and Elizabeth walked to her desk to open up her journal.
I am going to tell him everything, Anne. No more secrets. Elizabeth wrote down in the diary.
Within a moment, the black ink pooled and replied to her, Beware the visitors, and then the ink disappeared quickly.
Elizabeth could not understand the warning but catching herself in the looking glass, she realised that her hair was completely tousled and her dress was severely wrinkled. Walking to her closet, she donned one of her simple dresses and headed down the stairs to face Lady Catherine after putting up her hair into a neat bun.
Chapter 24
“...WILL NOT!” Elizabeth heard Lady Catherine’s screeching. “HOW DARE YOU GET YOURSELF ENGAGED TO THAT... THAT HUSSY?!”
She arrived at the sitting room to see Lady Catherine standing up and flailing her arms frantically in anger, while Miss de Bourgh and her companion sat quietly on the couch and Mr. Darcy calmly stood by the fireplace. Colonel Fitzwilliam had joined them and was sitting down with a large smirk on his face.
“Miss Bennet, thank you for joining us.” Mr. Darcy commented as soon as she entered. He walked over to her and gathered her arm around his and faced his aunt. “Lady Catherine, my betrothed, you remember her, do you not?” He led Elizabeth to a seat near Colonel Fitzwilliam and faced the elderly woman. “You and I already had words about my affections for the best lady I know who will be my wife in two weeks.” He straightened his form, “Nothing, and I mean nothing, will deter me from marrying her. Anne has no wish to marry and certainly not to me. She is perfectly capable of making her own choices as the heiress of Rosings and I have already made my choice.”
“But the oracle!” Lady Catherine countered. “You are destined to marry Anne and your mother and I planned the union since you were in your cradles. It is fate, and that woman,” she pointed to Elizabeth, “is wrong for you, just like that other chit that you got yourself engaged to when you were but twenty years old. You came to your senses before and you will do so again to marry my daughter. You know you must marry Anne.”
Elizabeth sat with her mouth agape hearing that Mr. Darcy had actually been engaged to another woman before her and that it was not just a rumour. She wondered if there was truth to her jest of abandoning his first betrothed but was more curious about the oracle.
“What oracle? What had been said?” She asked Mr. Darcy who was rubbing his eyes in frustration by the fireplace. She turned to Colonel Fitzwilliam, “Please tell me. I wish to know.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam shook his head, “It was some nonsense spewed by the town witch. Darcy took it to heart for a while but I never believed in it. We choose our own destiny and no one can force their will on us and certainly no fortune teller will make him go against his wishes since Darcy is his own man.”
Lady Catherine countered, “It was not nonsense but the prophecy of a wise old woman who could foretell the future. She said at his birth that Darcy’s fate lay in the hands of a lady with his mother’s namesake and that he will be in his wife’s service for the rest of his life.” She glared at her nephew, “Anne is destined for you but you refuse to see it. Anne Chapman was a nobody and you thought yourself in love with that foolish girl and she caused nothing but trouble. Obtain a special license and marry my daughter immediately and no one will remember this trollop.”
“Enough, Lady Catherine.” Darcy quietly rumbled as he drew closer and stood over his aunt with fire in his eyes. “You are the only one speaking nonsense and I will not listen to one more word. Do not dare speak ill of my betrothed again to incur my wrath. You named your daughter Anne after hearing what was said about me and it makes no difference what was foretold. I make my own choices and I choose Elizabeth. I will always choose Elizabeth.” He sighed deeply as everyone in the room heard thunder and then a downpour of rain outside. “It seems you will have to stay here longer and Bingley will host you until the weather abates, but you will cease your ranting or else I will have you tossed out immediately.” He turned and commanded to the colonel, “Richard, alert Bingley and Mrs. Bingley of our situation and I will remove to the library. I only wish the cottage was vacant but alas, we must suffer Lady Catherine’s presence in the main house.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam chuckled as he departed to see to his relatives’ comfort. Mr. Darcy held Elizabeth’s hand as they began to walk out of the room and asked, “I have yet to send the engagement announcement to the papers, aunt. How did you learn of my engagement? Through Mrs. Collins? I had hoped she would be more discreet than to gossip about Elizabeth and me.”
Lady Catherine plopped down onto a seat and waved her hand in irritation, “I received a letter from Harold about the engagement, Darcy. You know I write to your uncle often and he always tells me everything, even if his wife is tight-lipped and will not say anything at all. He went on and on and wrote how much he liked your young lady and I came here directly to make my sentiments known to you.”
Mr. Darcy frowned, “How frequently do you write him? Does he always write to you?”
“I hear from him at least weekly. He knows better than to cross me and keeps me informed of whatever news he hears. He gossips like a girl but tells me all I need to know.” Lady Catherine declared without looking up while she rested her head in her hand in exhaustion.
~*~
Elizabeth could do naught but follow her betrothed as he rapidly led her out of the sitting room with his jaw tightly closed and could hear his angry breaths. He walked her to the library and shut the door behind him.
“And to think I accused you,” he began indignantly, “when my uncle is likely the one who told his sister of my plans to take Georgiana to Pemberley!” He ran his fingers through his hair, “I did not think... I frightened you and I... I could have... Oh, my love, how can I make amends? I am so sorry that I thought you part of the conspiracy to hurt my family. I cannot apologise enough!” He was on both knees and wrapped his arms around her waist with his head buried in her abdomen. “I was angry with you and accused you of seducing me and thought you a spy. Will you forgive me? Will you pardon this insufferable, arrogant man who does not deserve your mercy?”
Elizabeth gently stroked his hair, “Of course, I forgive you. You did not know and you said it yourself that you had been always surrounded by puzzles to solve, and you and I are both curious creatures. William.” She touched his face to look into his eyes, “Will you tell me about the other woman? This Anne Chapman? That letter you carry, is that for the same woman?”
Mr. Darcy got up from his position and looked down at her for a moment before walking over to the window to stare at the rain outside. After another interminable minute, he finally spoke as he faced her. “Would you have guessed that I thought of ending my own life while I lay in bed after my injury, when the Royal Doctors told me that even though I had recovered from the infection, that I would likely never walk again and to prepare myself for life in a chair? My own physician was more optimistic and told me that if I had the strength to get myself out of bed, if I could endure the pain to stop taking laudanum to exercise my leg for hours daily and find the hope to live for something, that I could recover and have a full life. I did not believe him and lay in my despair to wish for death for many days, but then I received your note with your shoelace and it had brought hope in my heart and a smile to my face.”
He pulled out Elizabeth’s handkerchief from his waistcoat pocket and unwrapped it to show her the letter and the shoestring safely guarded within. He kissed it and returned it to his pocket. “Seeing that you had wished me by your side, with hope arising within my heart, that I could get myself out of bed, that I could endure any amount of pain to return to you, I worked hard for three months and did everything I was told so that I could recover. I still have a slight limp but I am recovered because of you. You saved my life and how does one re
pay such a debt? I never considered myself owing anything to anyone before meeting you, Elizabeth, but I will be forever dedicated to being at your service for the rest of my life. The prophecy will be as I interpret it and the part of my service to my wife will be true.”
He shook his head and looked out to the storming weather again, “I believed myself in love with a woman named Anne in my youth, believing that it was my fate to be with her. Very few knew of the oracle by the time I was twenty but she had been a childhood friend for many years and like Mr. Lucas, I foolishly believed that Anne Chapman was my destiny and I proposed to her during my last year at university. I had envisioned marrying the woman who was born for me and continuing my work at the Home Office as a great operative, to have my adventures and achievements and to have everything I wanted in my perfectly content life.” He reached into his pocket and drew out the old letter addressed to Anne and walked to Elizabeth to place it in her hands. “I should have burned it long ago but it was an old habit to continue carrying it. You may open it to read it and then I will dispose of it. I had written the letter over seven years ago and it is time for me to let it go; to leave my past behind and to look forward to my future with you.” He stepped back to give her a chance to read his old letter.
Elizabeth turned the folded paper to see the wax seal again. “I still have your stamp, William. I need to return it to you soon.” She broke the seal and opened the letter.