by Wells, Linda
“So he will hang.” Darcy murmured.
“Most likely.”
“Another trial.” His anger flared. “And likely this time there will be plenty of interested onlookers.”
“No doubt.” Lord Matlock said sympathetically. “Although, perhaps he will simply be automatically condemned to death for the escape and attack. He received mercy the first time with the sentence of transportation. I have friends at the King’s Bench; perhaps this can be handled quickly.”
“I would appreciate it, Uncle Henry. I am afraid that if I were to face him in court again, I would be hard pressed to remain seated and civil.” Darcy’s fingers began twisting his ring. “I would look at him and see that stain of blood spreading over Elizabeth’s gown.” He let go and pounded his fist on the desk. “Damn him!!”
“Darcy …”
“Do not tell me to calm, Uncle.” He growled. “He tried to kill my family.”
“And he will swing for it.” De Bourgh said steadily. “You do not help your family with your fury. He will not escape this trip, Darcy. Focus on something else.”
Fitzwilliam stood and began to pace. “What I want to know is what happened between the escape and him appearing in your garden. Who was this dead man identified as Wickham? Obviously he was murdered and his features obliterated, but time passed between the escape and him turning up here. Who harboured him? Who fed and clothed him? I doubt that he had a shilling on him, so it had to be a friend.”
“I cannot imagine who would be his friend.” Lord Matlock said as he watched Fitzwilliam pass again.
“Mrs. Younge.” Darcy looked up to Fitzwilliam. “She cared for him. Perhaps she lied to the man who made inquiries for me.”
“Is she still at that school?” He straightened his uniform. “I’ll be off, then.”
“What are you doing?” Lord Matlock demanded.
“I am going to see what she knows, and see her in irons and hanging beside him if she is complicit.” He growled. “At the least I will see her dismissed.”
“Richard …” Darcy bit his lip. “I will come with you.”
“You will do no such thing.” Lord Matlock ordered. “There is a room full of women down the hall who will have my head if I let you leave this house. Richard, you go, de Bourgh … Keep his temper under control.”
“Yes, sir.” De Bourgh stood and glanced at Fitzwilliam. “I believe that I can do that.”
Laughter filtered down the hallway and the men’s activity ceased. Darcy looked to the door and visibly deflated. “Perhaps … I think that the ladies would be very displeased if you were to leave now.” Fitzwilliam’s fiery expression died. “It has been so good for Elizabeth, having all of her sisters around her. Jane is fiercely protective of her, I hardly recognize her from the woman I knew before. Georgiana and Mary are never far away. I almost have to fight to be by her side.”
“Why do I think that they will gladly give up their seats for you?” Lord Matlock smiled and relaxed a little.
“Fitzwilliam!” Elizabeth’s voice called. “Fitzwilliam, hurry!”
Alarmed, Darcy was up and out the door, closely followed by the other men. He arrived at the music room; and worriedly searching, spotted Elizabeth on the floor. “Lizzy!” Rushing to her side, he stopped, confused, as she turned to beam at him. “Lizzy?”
“Look, Will!” Excitedly she grabbed his hand and pulled him to kneel beside her. “Go ahead Mary, put her in position.” They watched as Mary carefully picked up Rosalie and placed her on her belly. “Watch.” Elizabeth whispered and squeezed his hand.
“What …”
“Shhh!”
Rosalie pushed up shakily and looked around with wide eyes, blew a succession of bubbles, then dropping to lie down again, very slowly rolled over to her back. Cheers erupted and she squealed in response. Darcy laughed and scooped her up in his arms.
“What a brilliant girl you are!” He kissed her and she laughed. “Well done, my girl! You amaze me!” He kissed and hugged her, then turned to kiss Elizabeth. “Is this what all the laughter was about?”
“Well the laughter was from watching her trying to tip over, I called when she finally managed it.” She rubbed the baby’s back. “You witnessed her second success.” They kissed again, and rested their foreheads together.
“Ahem.” Lord Matlock cleared his throat. “Do you two have any sense of decorum?”
“What a silly question.” Elizabeth smiled and looked into Darcy’s eyes. “Does he know us at all?”
“Obviously not.” Rosalie squealed and he let her down from his shoulder, standing her on her feet while holding on. “There you go dear, a new perspective.” She bounced, and the family laughed.
Fitzwilliam sat down next to Evangeline and slid his arm around her waist. She rested her head on his shoulder and together they touched her growing belly. “Darcy on the floor with his baby.” He chuckled. “What a sight he is.”
“I was just imagining you doing the same.” Eva smiled up at him and he blushed. “So no ribbing him.”
“Oh dear, I am sorry but I cannot possibly stop.” He kissed her cheek. “Darcy! What wonder will this child perform next?”
“I could not say.” He laughed when she squealed again. “Aunt Helen, you should know.”
Smiling sadly she shook her head. “No Darcy, I would not. My children were left to the care of the staff at Matlock at that age. We were here.” She looked up when Lord Matlock sat down beside her. “We missed moments such as these.”
“We were told of them, though, and were invited to the nursery to observe when we were home.” He sighed. “Well, we did what was expected.” They watched Darcy put Rosalie back on her belly and immediately she rolled over again. “Look out, Son. Soon she will be crawling.”
“I look forward to it.” He laughed to see her staring in fascination at her hands. “All of it.”
“Do you need help rising, Miss Mary?” De Bourgh offered her his hand.
“I am afraid that my leg is sleeping.” She grimaced when he pulled her up, then stumbled into him as she felt the pins and needles of her renewed circulation. “Oh! I am sorry!”
He laughed and looked down at her. “It is quite all right.” Their gazes held for several moments and the sound of the family’s happy conversation seemingly disappeared. “You are returning to Longbourn?”
The spell was broken and Mary startled. “No … I mean yes, to pick up my things, and then I will go to Pemberley.”
“Well, I might have accompanied my brother on his visit to Miss Lucas, but now I will stay at home.” De Bourgh helped her to take a seat.
“Oh.” Mary turned to look at him. “Why?”
He laughed and sat back in his chair. “Because the prettiest rose in Hertfordshire will be missing.”
Mary’s eyes widened as a blush travelled up her neck to the roots of her hair. “Teasing is rude.”
“I agree. Do you think of me as rude?”
“No.”
“Then it was a compliment, Miss Mary.” He patted her hand and noticed Jane was watching them. “Miss Bennet, have you settled your wedding date?”
“No sir, my coming here interrupted our planning.” She looked to the sofa where Darcy sat with Rosalie in his lap and Elizabeth leaning on his shoulder. Georgiana sat on her other side. “Lizzy, do you know your travel plans yet?”
“No, but I suppose that we could leave at any time. I will feel the same whether I am in a carriage or on a sofa. What do you think, Fitzwilliam?”
“I …we have some business to address before we depart.” He watched as her brow creased and he kissed the wrinkles. “Perhaps in a week or two.”
“So long?”
He nodded and before he could say more, Foster appeared. “Mr. Bennet and the Gardiners, sir.”
“This has become a party.” Lord Matlock laughed as they stood to greet the guests.
“Well, it is good to see everyone smiling so.” Mrs. Gardiner took a seat and looked to Rosali
e. “I believe that we know the source.”
“Endless entertainment.” Mr. Gardiner bent to chuck Rosalie’s chin before sitting. Mr. Bennet stood quietly near the doorway.
“Will you not come in, Papa?” Elizabeth asked.
“Yes, of course, but I would like to speak with you and Mr. Darcy privately if I may.” His eyes were on his granddaughter.
“Of course.” Elizabeth turned to Georgiana. “Will you take Rosa for us?”
“Oh yes!” She beamed and happily accepted her.
Darcy helped Elizabeth up and they led the way down the hallway to his study. Mr. Bennet took a chair and Darcy closed the door, then went to stand behind Elizabeth’s chair. “What can we do for you, sir?”
He looked at his hands then back up to see how Darcy’s were protectively resting on Elizabeth’s shoulders, and how she had lifted her free hand to hold his. “Jane and I will depart for Longbourn in the morning.”
“Yes, she told me that. I am sorry to see her go, we …we have seemingly found our friendship again this past week.” She looked up to see Darcy nod. “It is as if her finding love has made her understand us at last.”
Mr. Bennet smiled at that. “I agree, she and Lucas are in love. I was hoping that she would accept him. And I want to thank you both for giving her the opportunity to love whoever she wished.”
“Sir, Mr. Lucas always would have been a fine choice for her and would have undoubtedly made his interest known to her eventually.”
“Very well, Mr. Darcy, I will not give you any more credit than you desire.” He chuckled then became serious. “Sir, I understand that your sister, Miss Darcy, will return for another year of schooling.”
“Yes.” Darcy felt Elizabeth squeeze his hand.
“I was … Would it be possible to send Kitty to this school with her? I know that she needs to be separated from Lydia if she is to derive any benefit from the experience. I would like to see her improve as Mary clearly has.” He sighed and looked back at his hands. “And …when the year is over, if you wish and she desires it, she may go to Pemberley to live with you.”
The Darcys exchanged glances. “Papa, I know that Kitty once expressed a desire to come to live at Pemberley, but that was because she was afraid Mama would centre her ire on her with Mary gone.”
“Well I have not allowed that to happen, however, I believe that she is in some danger from your mother’s machinations. I lost my temper with her when she learned of your condition.”
“You told me.” Elizabeth said softly.
“I did?” He said with a surprise.
“You thought that I was asleep.” His eyes opened wide and she smiled.
“Mr. Bennet, if I had been there, I would have had a difficult time remaining civil.” Darcy said quietly. “But despite my opinion of my mother-in-law, I hope that you know I would never shirk my responsibilities to my wife’s family. It would dishonour my Elizabeth to do anything else.”
“Thank you, Fitzwilliam.” She whispered and he kissed her hand. “What happened that you did not tell me before, Papa?”
“That fool Collins has come to Meryton, and I made the mistake of telling your mother that he will eventually be Longbourn’s heir. And that she should start grovelling to him.” Darcy groaned. “I know, it was a tactical error. Well, she is going to be matchmaking in earnest, and I am grateful that Mary is with you. I simply wish to protect Kitty, as well.”
“What of Lydia?” Elizabeth asked.
He laughed softly. “I think that it might do her some good to be married to a preacher.”
“Papa!”
“I am sorry, Lizzy, but I do not think that any amount of schooling will change Lydia. If she does not find her man in a red coat, I think she could do far worse than to marry the heir of Longbourn. And your mother would have her favourite by her side until she dies.”
“May I point out that none of your girls can marry without your consent?”
“Yes, Mr. Darcy, I realize that. But I also know that I can only resist the sound of my wife’s voice for so long. Lydia is too young to marry, that is in her favour, and I will send her to school this autumn. I simply see more potential in Kitty and …well perhaps Miss Darcy would like the companionship.”
“It would make me happier to have Georgiana there with a sister.” Darcy mused.
“And she would be the experienced one; she would be teaching Kitty and looking after her.” Elizabeth added.
“So you think that it could be a good experience in responsibility for her?”
“I do.” They looked at each other and Darcy smiled. “I will speak to Georgiana.”
“Thank you.” Mr. Bennet sighed and sat back. “I know that my efforts at schooling have been poor, I am glad to give her this opportunity. Miss Darcy is a credit to your family, sir.”
“Well, hopefully you will say the same of all of your daughters, one day.” Darcy straightened. “And sir, perhaps when you next visit London, you will stay here.”
Mr. Bennet’s eyes widened and he looked to Elizabeth who was smiling up at her husband. “Thank you, sir. Please know that you are certainly welcome to stay at Longbourn.”
“I …thank you, sir, however …”
“No, no. I will not suggest it again.” He smiled. “I assume this is not a universal invitation.”
“No sir, it is not.”
“Will you be attending Jane’s wedding?”
Silence ruled the room. “That decision is yet to be made, sir.”
“ROBERT!” Maria Lucas said urgently.
Lucas handed the reins of his horse to the groom and turned to face his little sister. “My goodness, what has you ladies in such a flutter?”
Lydia giggled and pointed to the house. “Mama and Lady Lucas are arguing. We can hear them from the window.”
“I said that we should not be listening.” Kitty announced.
“Oh you never want to have fun!” Lydia stuck her tongue out at her.
“Miss Kitty is correct, it is rude to eavesdrop.” Robert said sternly. “Surely there is some occupation that is more worthy of your time? Where is Charlotte?”
“She is helping in the kitchen.” Maria said guiltily. “She said that I could entertain Lydia and Kitty.”
“Then go find something else to do.”
“They are arguing about your wedding.” Lydia said in a sly voice. “And all of the parties they will have to celebrate your engagement.”
Lucas’s eyes closed and he spoke tonelessly. “Are they.”
“Perhaps you should …”
“Miss Lydia, my and your sister’s affairs are none of your business. Maria, see to your guests.” Lucas strode into the house and paused, he could hear the nerve rattling tones of Mrs. Bennet against the lower, less strident notes of his mother coming from the drawing room. He turned to his father’s study, where he found him sleeping in his chair. “Father.”
Snorting and coughing, Sir William startled awake and sat up. “Really Son, you should not sneak up on a man in that way!”
“Forgive me sir, I wished for your aid.”
Sir William’s brow furrowed. “What is it?”
“Mother and Mrs. Bennet are arguing over my wedding.”
Laughing, he removed his glasses and started to polish them. “Surely that is no surprise?”
“Would you please do something about it?” Lucas demanded. “Jane is not here to voice her opinion, but I do not wish to be dragged through endless parties to satisfy our mothers.”
“Mrs. Bennet was denied this with Eliza’s wedding. I am sure that she will not relinquish the opportunity for Jane.” He placed the glasses back on his nose. “What is wrong with a little celebration?”
“Little is not a word that either woman understands.” Lucas paced the room and stopped to stare out of the window, and caught sight of Lydia creeping to stand outside of the drawing room window and signalling Maria and Kitty to join her. They were not moving. He sighed. “Father they will listen
to you.”
“No they will not. They are going to try and outdo each other in every way, and why not? This is joyous event! Why Meryton is abuzz with the news of your engagement. Such happy news! And more than one long face on the ladies of the neighbourhood who lost their opportunity with you.” He winked at him knowingly. “Ah Son, you could have had any lady of London, but here you chose Miss Jane Bennet.”
Lucas ignored his delusion and focussed on the problem. “Father, we want a simple wedding.”
“Well Son, I think that you will have to resign yourselves to the wedding of the century.” He stood and clapped his back. “All you have to do is smile. Jane can teach you to do that!”
“NOW THIS IS FOR YOU.” Elizabeth nodded to Millie and she carried in a large blue box to set beside the ladies seated on Jane’s bed, and then left the room. “Do not fight me. Just accept it.”
“What have you done, Lizzy?” Jane smiled and lifting the lid, set it down on the floor. “oh.”
“I thought that the blue was just the shade of your eyes. I am so glad that I got to give it to you in person before you left, instead of sending it to Longbourn.” Elizabeth smiled a little and Jane leaned over to kiss her cheek. “Perhaps not under these circumstances.”
“No.” Jane’s eyes grew bright and Elizabeth shook her head.
“Do not get me started.” She pushed the box to her. “Come on, look!” Jane pulled out the beautiful silk gown and held it up against her body. “And there are matching slippers, too.” She held up the shoes. “Try it on!”
“Oh Lizzy, I cannot …”
“What did I say? Let me give you this before you are married and claim that you must live within your budget. I know that Mr. Lucas will love to see you in this.”
“He will.” Jane sighed and sat on the bed. “Oh Lizzy, he is such a good man.”