by Leenie Brown
Richard handed his hat and coat to Harrison, the Matlocks’ butler, and slipped into his mother’s sitting room to greet her.
Lady Matlock held him close for a moment. “I am happy to see you safely returned to me. Will you be staying?” She took a seat on a settee and motioned for him to join her.
“I have no choice. I do not wish to impose on Darcy or Rycroft as they are settling in with their wives.”
“There is BayLeafe,” his mother said softly. BayLeafe was the small estate just outside of town which was part of the inheritance that should come to him through his mother should his father see fit to give it him.
He shook his head at her offering.
“Your father is in quite a state what with both of your cousins marrying outside of what is proper.” She reached up and brushed his hair back from his forehead. “He is not all bad, you know. He has been good to me. He is just set in his ways.”
“Do you love him?” Richard’s voice was soft.
“I suppose I do,” she replied. “It is possible to become friends and then more even when you begin as near strangers.” She took his hand. “I cannot say I have never wished for more or for another, for I did at first, but now, I cannot imagine my life in any other way.”
Richard nodded and placed the small folded drawing in her hand. “You would have liked her,” he said as she unfolded the paper. Where his father blustered, his mother spoke softly. Where his father was arrogant, she demonstrated grace and humility. They were in many ways as opposed as darkness and light.
She lay the drawing on her lap, a hand resting on her heart. “It is very well done. Who is she?”
He shook his head and took the paper from her lap. “It matters not, for it shall never be.” He rose and went to the window. “She has neither wealth nor significant connections beyond our family.”
Lady Matlock came to stand near him. “She is connected to our family?”
He nodded. “Her sisters are the new Mrs. Darcy and Lady Rycroft.” He turned toward her. “And that is not the worst of it. A third sister is the new Mrs. Bingley.” He watched her struggle with how to accept this information. He knew she loved him and would wish him only to be happy, but she also held to some of the same ideas regarding marriage as her husband. It was not only his father who wished him to make a good match. He tucked the paper in his pocket. “As I said, it matters not, for it shall never be. My heart is of little importance.”
Raised voices could be heard from somewhere down the hall.
“Your aunt Catherine is here,” his mother said in answer to his questioning look. “Anne is with her but has taken to her room, whether it is due to ill health or a need to avoid her mother, I am uncertain.”
Just then, Lady Catherine stomped into the sitting room. “He is as unreasonable as ever!”
“I am not being unreasonable. You are being daft. To accept such connections into the family without some censure? And after he did not marry Anne as we had planned?” Lord Matlock threw his hands up as if unable to fathom the thoughts.
“It would be better for Anne to marry someone with higher connections,” said Lady Catherine, “a peer or the son of a peer.” Her eyes came to rest on Richard. “Even a second son would do.”
A sly smile spread slowly across Lord Matlock’s face. “That is an idea. It would keep all the land holding within the family.” He clapped his hands together and rubbed them back and forth. “I shall have my solicitor draw up the arrangement. Shall we have the wedding in two months? I do think that would give enough time to find him a replacement with his unit and ready the necessary items for the release of his inheritance, but I will have to defer to my solicitor and man of business for advice before we finalize the date.” He leveled a hard glare at Richard. “Any objection shall be met with a significant, if not permanent breach. Do I make myself clear?”
Richard shook his head in disbelief. “I am no more to you than that?”
“On the contrary,” said his father, “you are of great significance, and that is why your future must be secured. Were something to ever happen to your brother, you would need to secure the title with an appropriate heir, one with an acceptable lineage.”
Richard’s jaw clenched. “So I am a well-bred horse in your stable then, whose only expectation is to sire the next prize stallion. And if I do not, I, like that horse, shall be turned out to work alongside the other workhorses on the estate.”
His father’s eyes narrowed. “Not on my estates.” His voice held more than a little warning.
Richard stepped closer and pulled himself up to his full height, which was two inches taller than his father. “And if you turn me out and something happens to my brother, then where will your precious title fall? Ah, yes, to your brother.” The comment caused the reaction he desired. His father took a step back and his face paled slightly. “Two weeks,” Richard said. “I ask two weeks to consider your offer, sir.”
“What is there to consider?” said Lady Catherine.
“The value of my life,” Richard snarled. He moved toward the door, but his mother’s hand on his arm forestalled him.
“I will see you again?” Her eyes were filled with fear.
“At least once more,” he murmured as he kissed her cheek before leaving the room and instructing that his things be readied for a journey.
Chapter 2
Richard paused for a moment on the steps of Darcy House before lifting the knocker and allowing it to fall. Footmen waited at the carriage ready to divest the equipage of his belongings as soon as instructed to do so.
“The master and mistress have just arrived. If you will wait here a moment, I shall see if they are home to callers.” Daniels held the door open for Richard to enter.
“I do not need to speak with them,” said Richard casting a glance over his shoulder to the carriage that waited on the street. “I need only to know if I might store my things here until I have a place where they might be sent.”
Daniels raised an eyebrow slightly. “If you will wait, the master will see you directly.”
Richard sighed. He had hoped that Daniels would simply allow him to leave his things and be gone. He had little desire to speak with anyone. He wandered into the sitting room and took a seat near the window where he could appreciate best the weak winter light before it faded to shadows. He had been seated only a moment when Darcy, followed by Elizabeth, entered the room with what seemed to him to be more haste than necessary. He sighed again and slowly rose to his feet.
“Why must you store your things at Darcy House?” said Darcy, ignoring the normal pleasantries of greeting.
“I have nowhere else to put them at present,” replied Richard. “I shall send for them as soon as I have lodgings.”
Darcy motioned to the chair from which Richard had just risen, and Richard obediently sat. It would do him no good to offend the cousin from whom he wished to obtain help.
Darcy unbuttoned his coat before sitting and leaning toward Richard. “The full story, if you will.”
Richard scrubbed his face with his hands, settled back in his chair, and related the events that had lead to his departure from home.
“Where will you stay?” asked Darcy.
“Not here,” Richard replied, hearing the softness of his cousin’s question and knowing that it indicated Darcy’s next comments would be to suggest that Richard stay at Darcy House. “It must be somewhere he cannot find me. I must be completely free from him for a fortnight.” He blew out a breath. “And it must be what I could afford should I refuse his offer.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I must see what my life will be and if I can abide it.” He smiled wryly at Darcy. “So, you may not assist me aside from storing my things until I am able to keep them myself.”
“Daniels has a sister who works for someone who rents rooms to respectable gentlemen.” Both Darcy and Richard looked at Elizabeth in surprise. “I like to know about my servants’ families,” she explained. “We could ask him for the a
ddress, and if he knows whether there are any rooms available at this moment. If he does not, he may have recommendations.” She smiled at Richard. “You are my family, and as such, I will care for you as far as you will allow me.”
He ducked his head slightly, hoping to keep from her the effect that such comforting words had upon him. “I thank you, Mrs. Darcy.”
“Elizabeth,” she corrected. “Or Lizzy, if you prefer.” She rose and gave his shoulder a soft pat. “I will inquire of Daniels while you men discuss whatever might remain to be discussed.”
Richard dropped his head into his hands. “I cannot marry her, Darcy. I simply cannot.”
“Because she is Anne? Or because your heart belongs to another?”
“Both,” came the muffled reply.
Darcy leaned back in his chair and allowed his cousin a few moments to collect himself.
Richard drew his sleeve across his eyes before raising his head and smiling sheepishly at Darcy.
“You shall stay the night.” There was no question to Darcy’s tone, and his countenance, though sympathetic, brooked no objections. “You may visit this establishment today, and then, if they are agreeable, you may take up residence there tomorrow or whatever day is mutually agreed upon.” He leaned forward again. “You are always welcome here.”
Richard nodded. “But I must make my own way. What kind of man lives on the charity of another when he is able bodied?”
Darcy slapped Richard’s knee. “Just know that I am here.” He chuckled. “And if Elizabeth should discover that you have fallen into need and not informed me, I shall leave you to explain yourself.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
Richard stood before number eight Bartlett’s Buildings and checked the slip of paper in his hand once again to make sure he had arrived where he was supposed to be. It was a tidy little lane of houses, well-cared for, and quite respectable looking. He raised his hand, rapped on the door and waited. There was a shuffling inside, and then a friendly looking man opened the door.
“Come in. Come in,” he said. “Much too chilly today to be introducing oneself on the street.
Richard thanked him and stepped inside. “I am Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam,” he began. “I was given your address by my cousin’s butler. He believed you might have accommodations for rent?” He took a quick sweeping glance around the hall where he stood. It, like the outside of the home, was tidy and well-cared-for.
The gentleman chuckled. “My, my. I must be garnering a significant reputation if butlers are passing on my name.” He motioned for Richard to follow him into a small sitting room off to the right. “Mrs. Wood, this is Colonel Fitzwilliam. Colonel, my wife.” He introduced Richard to a pleasant looking lady who sat near a window stitching.
“A pleasure to meet you, madam,” Richard said with a bow.
“The colonel said he is in need of accommodations.” Mr. Wood motioned to a chair for Richard before taking a seat himself. “Was given my name by a butler.” He turned to Richard. “Your cousin’s butler, was it?”
“Yes. Mr. Daniels.”
“Daniels is the butler or the cousin?” Mr. Wood had leaned back comfortably in his chair and propped his feet on a stool.
“The butler.”
“Oh,” said Mrs. Wood, placing her stitching on the table and becoming quite interested in the gentleman who had entered their house, “he must be Mrs. Letts brother. He works for Mr. Darcy. Is Mr. Darcy your cousin?”
Richard hesitated a moment before admitting the relationship.
“Oh, do not fear, the cost of the room will not increase,” she said with a grin. “The connection only makes me most delighted to think you might take our room. It can be difficult to judge the quality of a tenant without knowing some of their connections.” Her eyes grew wide. “Fitzwilliam! Oh, my! You are Lord Matlock’s son!”
“For the moment, yes.” He looked to Mr. Wood, who had yet to ask a single question of him. “I find that my father and I do not see things in the same way. I may only need the room for a fortnight, or I may need it for a longer period of time.”
Mr. Wood nodded thoughtfully. “Career choice or bride choice?” he questioned.
“A bit of both, I am afraid. I would like to pursue a career in woodcraft and marry where I chose, but my father would see me marry an heiress and become the manager of an estate or be perfectly idle.”
“There is a duty in securing a title, I suppose.” Mr. Wood cocked his head to the side. “Although I should think that is more your brother’s responsibility than yours.” He pulled his hands from his pockets and clapped them on the arm of his chair, lowering his feet from the stool at the same time. “Come,” he said as he rose, “I will show you the apartment, and we can discuss the particulars.”
Richard followed him from the room.
“Has he chosen a bride for you already?”
“He has.”
Mr. Wood opened a door to the left of the hallway. “We dine here. There are two others besides you who live with us.”
Richard popped his head into the dining room and took a look about. It was well furnished with a large table and a handsome sideboard along one wall.
Mr. Wood continued to open doors here and there and pointed to items that might interest Richard as he spoke. “My father may not have been an earl, but it sounds as if he was as set in his ways as yours. Sent me packing when I refused to marry his partner’s daughter, he did, and then gave my inheritance to my younger brother, who was willing to marry the girl.” He chuckled wryly. “My brother was the reason I refused to marry her.” He stopped halfway up the second flight of stairs and turned to look at Richard. “He was in love with Fiona. It did not seem right to marry the lady my brother loved.” He shrugged. “However, I would not have married her even if he had not been besotted with her, for I had already fallen in love with my Beatrice, and a man should not be separated from his love, even if it is costly.” Again he tipped his head to the side as he looked at Richard before continuing on up the stairs. “You’ve not already lost your heart, have you?”
“I may have.”
They had reached the top of the stairs, and Mr. Wood searched through his ring of keys as they walked to the end of the narrow hallway. “Then, you may stay for as long as you like, and should you find yourself able to offer for the young lady, I may be of assistance in finding an affordable living arrangement. One that is comfortable and conducive to raising a family.” He pushed open the door to the room. “It is not large, but it is comfortable and stays warm without too much need of a fire in the winter. The window allows for some breeze in the summer, but I’ll not lie, it can be a bit stifling at times come July and August.”
Mr. Wood was indeed correct; the apartment was not large. There was a small sitting area with three chairs and a table pushed to one side, and then there was a bedroom and dressing room. Both were not large, but they were adequate. “I have a man,” said Richard.
“There is a place for him in the servants’ quarters, and he may dine with them.” Mr. Wood motioned to the bell pull. “He will be the only one to answer, but a maid will be assigned to clean and collect laundry, and Mrs. Letts, our housekeeper, can be of assistance with whatever else you may need.”
Richard turned a full circle and looked at the apartment once again. It was not what he was used to, but it was acceptable, comfortable even. He nodded and smiled at Mr. Wood. “If the price is agreeable, I will take it.”
“Excellent.” A smile split his face. “I have an agreement in my study.” He turned the key in the lock. “You said you like to work with wood. What kind of things do you make?”
“Boxes are my favourite, but I have also made some furniture.” Richard replied as they descended the stairs.
“What kinds of boxes?”
“I have made a variety. My cousin has one in his study for his pen and ink as well as a tray for collecting correspondence, and most recently, I designed a box for holding jewels for his wife.”
Mr. Wood stopped short on the stairs. “I had forgotten that Mr. Darcy just got married recently.” A cat that Richard had not seen until now brushed past his legs. “That is Sally,” said Mr. Wood. “She is a good cat, but she’s known to upset a teacup now and then. Nearly caused a catastrophe last week when I was copying some papers.” He had begun walking again and glanced over his shoulder. “I do some clerking for a solicitor,” he explained.
Richard laughed and shook his head as he wondered what the odds were of this being the same cat which had delayed Rycroft’s return to Netherfield. “Were they marriage papers, by any chance?”
“Aye, they were.”
“For Lord Rycroft?” Richard asked.
“It is not for me to say,” said Mr. Wood.
“Of course, forgive me. It is just that my cousin was delayed by marriage papers that had to be recopied due to an unfortunate incident involving a cat and tea.”
Mr. Wood chuckled. “I would not say that Sally is that particular cat, but I also would not say she is not. However,” he scooped up Sally before opening the door to his study and then sat her back down and closed the door quickly, “she is no longer allowed in my study.” He winked at Richard. “Especially when there is tea.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
“Was it acceptable?” asked Elizabeth as Richard was removing his hat and coat in the entry.
“It was. Thank you, Daniels.”
The butler only nodded in response though there seemed to be a very pleased look in his eyes.
“You must tell me all about it.” Elizabeth slipped her arm through his and led him to the sitting room. “And then, I believe our workshop has missed your presence.” She tipped her head and looked up at him with a smile. “It would appreciate a visit from you as often as you would care to call on it.”
He chuckled as he took a seat near his cousin. “I shall do my best not to neglect it, but I do not wish to be anywhere my father might think to find me, for I have no desire to endure his arguments. I need to arrive at a conclusion on my own.”
“I cannot promise that I will not give you my opinion,” said Darcy, setting aside his book.