With My Whole Heart Forever

by Wendi Sotis

  “Lizzy!” Ana exclaimed. “It is as if all the ladies in the place saw my brother dance with you and decided to conspire against him.”

  Elizabeth shook her head. “They — or at least their mothers — would know he would recognise their machinations, and it could make him think badly of them. I believe something else is afoot here.”

  They watched as Mr. Darcy danced with the angel. Elizabeth noticed his spine was even stiffer than before, and he made absolutely no attempt at conversing with the lady. He returned her to her mother, then with the slightest of bows, turned on his heel and came to sit with his sister and Elizabeth.

  When a couple came to the table to speak to Ana, Elizabeth leaned towards Mr. Darcy and said, “I believe someone must have a similar mask to yours, sir, and is asking ladies to dance.”

  He shook his head. “I had that same suspicion, but I have not seen anyone.”

  Should she say what she was thinking? She decided it might be imperative that she did. “Perhaps it was the person who arranged for that boy to alert him of your return, sir.”

  He startled, obviously surprised she noticed the boy, but then nodded. “You are observant, Miss Bennet. I was thinking the same thing. The man responsible must have left before I stepped into the ballroom.”

  “You have someone particular in mind?”

  He nodded. “I do. What you suggest is something he would do, simply to make me uncomfortable. But it could not have been accomplished if this was not a masque.” He looked at Ana with a stern expression.

  Surely, he did not think Ana arranged this?

  “Miss Darcy is just as surprised at all of this as you are, sir.”

  He closed his eyes and sighed. When he opened them again, he was much more calm. “Are you a mind reader, Miss Bennet? You seem to know my thoughts before I realise I was thinking them.”

  She smiled. “No, sir. But I am told I am good at reading people. I have made it a hobby of mine.”

  “You are good at it, or at least you are so when it comes to me.”

  A movement in the periphery attracted her attention. She looked in that direction and saw yet another lady, one with rabbit ears sewn onto her mask, staring at her host.

  “If you trust my instincts, Mr. Darcy, and do not wish to dance again, I suggest you make yourself scarce.” She glanced at the lady once again to hint at where he should look. “I believe your mischief-maker has arranged for you to dance the entire evening.”

  “I must stay and protect my sister.”

  “Does this man have designs against her?”

  He stared at her for a few seconds. “As I said before, it seems his major goal in life is to make me miserable.”

  It was apparent there was much more to the story, but he did not wish to tell her. She could not blame him; they had only just met. In fact, she was surprised he told her as much as he had.

  She said, “If you remain at the ball, you will be on the dance floor, not with your sister. I will stay close to Ana and make certain she is safe. If you would like, we will join the Johnstons at their table so we will not be alone.”

  The rabbit-lady started to make her way towards them.

  “It is against all reason that I should trust you, Miss Bennet, but I do.” Mr. Darcy stood. “I agree. I will see to it that a discreet search of the grounds is made at once. If I can accuse of him of nothing else, he is trespassing.”

  Elizabeth rose as well.

  He continued, speaking quickly, “However, you must know that this man could pose a threat to Ana’s well-being if he can get close to her. Please make certain she is never left alone. And I do not want her to suspect that he is here.”

  Elizabeth promised his sister would be well cared for.

  Mr. Darcy excused Ana from the couple who were conversing with her and whispered something in his sister’s ear. Ana met Elizabeth’s gaze. Elizabeth glanced at the rabbit-lady, who was rapidly approaching. Ana looked in that direction, then nodded.

  Without a backward glance, Mr. Darcy dashed as swiftly as a gentleman could, without seeming suspicious, towards the exit near the Johnstons’ table, in the opposite direction from the lady who was about to claim the next half-hour of his time.

  The lady quickly changed directions in pursuit. Mr. Darcy stopped briefly to say a few words to Mr. Johnston and hastened out the door.

  Elizabeth almost laughed at the spectacle made by the stallion’s escape from the rabbit, though she realised others who did not know as much as she did would probably not recognise what had just taken place.

  When the lady approached Ana, the latter said her brother was feeling unwell and had to leave the ball. Quite the frown appeared on the part of rabbit-lady’s face not covered by her mask. Elizabeth watched her return to the crowd of people she had come from and speak to them. Judging by the young ladies’ expressions, apparently, many of them would be disappointed this evening.

  Mr. Darcy’s mischief-maker had been busy!

  A few minutes later, Ana seemed content to be sitting with her new supper companions. Through conversation, Elizabeth learned her friend visited most of the Darcys’ tenants regularly. The Johnstons adored her. It was a great relief to Elizabeth that Ana also enjoyed the Johnstons’ company.

  After the meal, some of the guests began to leave. The Johnstons made it known they would return home soon, as well. Elizabeth asked Ana where the facilities were located, and she was told there was a small room designated for the ladies’ comfort. However, one was required to walk outside to get to it. Her aunt offered to accompany her, and Elizabeth accepted. Mrs. Johnston moved to sit next to Ana.

  On their return to the others, just outside the door, Mr. Darcy approached, nodded to her aunt, and said, “May I speak to you for a moment?”

  From where Elizabeth was standing, her table was within clear view. She turned to her aunt and said, “I will join you shortly.”

  Aunt Madeline glanced at Mr. Darcy then at Elizabeth. Elizabeth nodded slightly.

  “I will be just over here,” Aunt Madeline said, then she moved towards the door.

  Once Aunt Madeline was a few steps away, Elizabeth said, “I am surprised you still don your mask, sir.”

  He shrugged. “I enjoy wearing my mask.”

  Elizabeth furrowed her brows. Earlier, he seemed relieved to remove it. There was also something different about his voice than she heard previously, though she could not puzzle out in what way it changed.

  She dismissed the thought. “Mr. Darcy, have you discovered something about the prankster that you need to discuss with me?”

  At first, he seemed taken aback, but then he smiled. “Not at all, my lovely Miss Butterfly, I have merely longed to return to your presence. Shall we take a stroll down the lane to the gardens?”

  She blinked. Why would Mr. Darcy request to walk with her alone when earlier he was so careful of her reputation, making sure that his sister accompanied them as they walked to the house to visit the library?

  He had also made her promise to stay with his sister. Now he asked her to abandon Ana?

  Something was not right.

  She shook her head. “I thank you, sir, but it would be more appropriate if we spoke here, with my aunt present.”

  “As you wish.” His alcohol-laced breath filled the space between them.

  Had he indulged so heartily since he left the ball that it clouded his judgement? Perhaps her good opinion of the man had been formed too hastily.

  He glanced at Aunt Madeline, and when he again met Elizabeth’s gaze, a flash of anger sparked briefly in his eyes.

  She stepped back, but he moved forward, closer than before. He took her hand and bowed over it; however, he did not let go as propriety demanded. Instead, he held on tightly as he peeked in the direction of the doorway as if distracted.

  Earlier, she felt safe in his presence, but now, his behaviour distressed her. No, he was frightening her.

  Elizabeth turned to see what caught his interest. Her aunt
stood several feet away looking inside the building, most likely watching the dancing. The only table she could see from here was the Johnstons’, and none of them were looking at the door.

  His hold on her hand suddenly became almost painful.

  In a voice she did not recognise, he leaned in closer to whisper, “He asked you to dance, a rare occurrence. You are now part of the plan.”

  As she pulled away, she saw his eyes were crazed!

  Elizabeth gasped with realization. This man might be dressed the same as Ana’s brother had been — he might have a similar build and be able to imitate his voice enough to pass as the gentleman — but this was not Mr. Darcy!

  Instinct took over. Every muscle in Elizabeth’s body tensed, ready to react to anything he might do.

  Attempting to pull her hand away from him, she shifted towards her aunt.

  His hand shot up to grab her forearm. He tugged hard.

  Pulled off balance, Elizabeth stumbled into him, then quickly righted herself. The scent he wore was not the one she admired when she danced with Mr. Darcy earlier, confirming her revelation. So strong was the odor, it irritated her nose. Panic prevented a sneeze. She tried to back away, but the man’s grip tightened. He drew her closer.

  With as much force as she could muster, she stomped his foot.

  The action distracted him long enough that she wrenched her arm free from his grasp.

  He snarled a curse at her as she hurried away from him.

  “Aunt!” Elizabeth cried out as she moved quickly away from the man.

  Aunt Madeline turned towards her.

  As Elizabeth ran the last few steps, Aunt Madeline’s eyes widened. “Lizzy, what is wrong?”

  Elizabeth caught her aunt’s hand and stepped toward the entryway, glancing behind her.

  The man was a safe distance away now, near the corner of the building, facing them.

  He shouted, his rage growing with every word, “All that he wants and all that he has will become mine.”

  The man limped away into the darkness.

  CHAPTER 12

  Aunt Madeline quickly ushered Elizabeth inside. One look at the two of them and her uncle rose to meet them a few feet from their table.

  “What is it?” Uncle Edward whispered.

  “A man accosted me just outside and delayed our return,” Elizabeth said quietly, gesturing towards the door. “He was dressed like Mr. Darcy and even made his voice sound like his to trick me.”

  Uncle Edward’s eyebrows shot up high on his forehead.

  Aunt Madeline exclaimed. “How could this happen at Pemberley? And I was standing nearby—”

  “He made certain you were looking in the other direction before he acted, Aunt.”

  “I must admit that I thought it was Mr. Darcy, too,” Aunt Madeline said to her husband, then turned to Elizabeth. “I was trying to give you a bit of privacy.”

  “Please do not fret. If you had not convinced me to wear boots, this might have ended worse than it has. Stomping that man’s foot with a slipper would not have been as effective in distracting him long enough to make an escape.”

  A couple Elizabeth recognised as friends of the Johnston family approached, nodded a greeting to her and her relations, and passed by to speak to Mrs. Johnston and Ana.

  Elizabeth waited until they were no longer close enough to hear her. “Please, Aunt, Uncle, let us not speak of this again until later. I do not wish to frighten Miss Darcy.”

  “Do you not think the others should know this man is lurking about?” Uncle Edward said. “What if he detains someone else?”

  Aunt Madeline laid a hand on her husband’s arm. “We must think of Lizzy’s reputation, Edward.”

  Uncle Edward pressed his lips together.

  Elizabeth shook her head. “I understand your line of thinking, Uncle, and I do agree that Mr. Darcy must be informed. However, I do not think this man will bother anyone else this evening. The man mentioned he had seen me dancing with Mr. Darcy, and that is why he chose me.”

  “Other ladies danced with Mr. Darcy, as well,” Aunt Madeline said.

  “But Mr. Darcy did not request to dance with them — this imposter did.”

  She sighed at their puzzled expressions.

  How to explain?

  “When we returned from the library at the manor house, Mr. Darcy knew someone was here causing mischief for him since these other ladies claimed he signed their dance cards when he had not. He seemed to know exactly who had done this and suspected the man’s aim was to cause Mr. Darcy himself some discomfort and leave. Besides, Mr. Darcy made it quite clear that he did not want his sister made aware that his man was present this evening.”

  “Lizzy, we can shield Miss Darcy from finding out this happened, but we must tell Mr. Darcy at once,” Uncle Edward said. “We will escort Miss Darcy to the manor house, and I will apprise the master of this incident immediately.”

  Elizabeth closed her eyes for a moment. She nodded. “You are correct; he must be made aware that this man continues to trespass. However, I believe I must be the one to speak with him, sir.”

  Her uncle nodded.

  Especially since he confided in me that Ana may be in danger.

  Since the Johnstons had to rise early the next morning and Ana made it clear that her brother would insist Elizabeth and her uncle could use one of the Darcy carriages to return home, Mr. Johnston stopped to let them off as the cart made the turn near the front of the manor house.

  “Thank you, Simons,” Ana said to the enormous footman who opened the door. She then turned to Elizabeth and Uncle Edward, “Please, come in. I am certain my brother will wish to thank you.”

  The focal point of the entry hall was a magnificent marble staircase. On the walls hung beautiful paintings. Elizabeth recognised some landscapes that were depictions of the area surrounding Pemberley. Along one wall, there were several elegant chairs.

  Elizabeth took advantage of a huge mirror that hung on the wall to her left to adjust her windblown appearance.

  Mr. Darcy approached from a hallway to the right of the staircase, and Elizabeth was struck again by how handsome he was. He was one of the tallest men she knew, and he carried himself in a way that confidence and consequence radiated from his very being.

  He bowed to the ladies. When he shook her uncle’s hand, Uncle Edward said something that Elizabeth could not hear.

  A muscle in Mr. Darcy’s cheek twitched, and his brow furrowed slightly. He nodded to her uncle and turned to his sister and smiled. “Did you enjoy the ball, Dove?”

  “Oh, yes. It was so much fun trying to figure out who everyone was. The music was wonderful, and I loved to watch the dancing. Everyone I spoke to said they had a marvellous time.”

  He pressed his palm to his sister’s cheek. “I am glad, but you look exhausted. Why do you not head up to bed? I must have a word with Mr. Gardiner before he leaves.”

  Ana turned to Elizabeth. “I will see you tomorrow, Lizzy?”

  Elizabeth had obtained permission from her aunt and uncle earlier, but she met her uncle’s gaze once more and waited for him to nod. She smiled. “Yes. I am looking forward to it.”

  Ana made her goodnights, including a kiss to her brother’s cheek, and made her way down the corridor through which Mr. Darcy had entered.

  Mr. Darcy asked the footman to have a carriage readied to return them to the Johnstons’ farmhouse when their business was done, then he turned back to them. “Will you follow me to my study, please?”

  He led the way up one flight of the grand marble staircase and past several doors before opening one of them. After gesturing for Elizabeth and her uncle to take a seat before an intricately carved oak desk, he sat behind it.

  During the walk to his study, the words Gardiner had said to him in the entry hall repeated in his mind. It caused his heart to pound even more furiously than it had every time he had been in the company of Miss Bennet this evening, but for quite a different reason.

  “My
niece and I must speak to you immediately about a most serious matter.”

  He never should have left the ball. After all his sister had already endured, she was just beginning to recover. If something happened to Ana again, he would never forgive himself.

  As he settled behind his desk, he was pleased his tone did not betray his emotional state as he asked, “How can I help you, Mr. Gardiner?”

  Gardiner nodded to his niece.

  Miss Bennet spoke. “Actually, it is I who needs to speak with you, Mr. Darcy. I fear the man who you felt was attempting to cause trouble this evening may still be on your property.”

  “Why do you suspect he remains? Against the spirit of the evening, I asked several of my staff to discreetly search the immediate grounds for the man, to no avail.”

  If the trespasser had been anyone else, Darcy would have been quite confident he was truly gone, but Wickham… having grown up on the estate, Wickham knew hiding places that his staff may not have checked. His stomach churned.

  Miss Bennet shook her head. “He must have evaded them, sir. A man dressed the same as you were, including the mask, approached me. He was about your height and wore his hair similar to yours. He made a fairly good attempt of imitating your voice, as well, though I noticed a difference. I assumed you were upset about something, and that is why you wished to speak to me.”

  Anger at his former childhood friend exploded in his chest at the thought of Wickham’s gall.

  Miss Bennet continued, “It is no wonder all those ladies were convinced it was you who signed their dance cards. I, too, did not doubt that the man I spoke to was you — at least not until his behaviour proved otherwise.”

  Darcy’s imagination went wild, picturing what behaviour she could be referring to. He could sit still no longer. He stood so quickly, he almost knocked over his heavy chair. “Did he approach Georgiana?”

  She cocked her head slightly to the side. “Is that Ana’s Christian name?”

  He nodded impatiently.

  “No, sir, he did not go near your sister.”

  He let out the breath he had been holding.