“Oh, yes. It is not the first time this has happened in the theatre. Most do not stay long once they discover it is hard work. Jasper is perhaps unique for both the prominence of your family and the depth of his talent. That makes it a knotty problem.”
Lady Matlock sighed. “Mrs. MacLean, may I ask you a very frank question about his position?”
“Your ladyship, I am a theatrical. You may ask me anything you wish.”
“How long can Jasper expect to have a position at the theatre here?”
“Why, as long as he likes! He is an excellent draw, and Siddons is very pleased with his work. Normally an actor with his talent could expect to move to Drury Lane soon, but Jasper knows he would benefit from more seasoning here. Siddons and I both cut our teeth at Drury Lane, and we have been working with Jasper to pass on our training.”
Lady Matlock nodded. “That will help.”
Aunt Emmeline said, “From that, I must ask you a very frank question in return. Do you intend to stand in the way of Jasper’s acting?”
The countess tipped her head to one side as if debating how to answer. “I have no desire to deprive him of what he loves, but it cannot be hidden forever. I could weather the scandal, but it would be more difficult for my husband and our other children. The timing is poor, with my daughter newly engaged, the government on shaky footing, and what will certainly be some scandal about Darcy’s wedding. Once Frederica is wed next year, it becomes a matter of my husband’s position. Of course, the current government may have fallen by then, or even by next week, so that may not matter.”
“What if you did not hide it?” Aunt Emmeline asked. “Not now, but later, when he has more training. Invite everyone you know to his performances. Hold a recital where Jasper and Sarah Siddons perform scenes together. Walter Scott is already fond of Jasper. He could introduce Jasper to London as his protégé. Show everyone how proud you are of him, and I would wager there will not only be no scandal, but that he will be the toast of the town.”
Lady Matlock tapped her forefingers together thoughtfully. “There may be something to that. Still, it will be difficult to convince society we are proud that our son is an actor.”
“Not just any actor,” declared Aunt Emmeline. “The finest young actor of his generation, whose name will be remembered when we are long gone.” She lowered her voice. “Do not underestimate the appeal to ladies of a handsome, brilliantly talented actor, especially given his breeding. They will flock to him in droves and fight for the honor of having him attend their social gatherings – but not if you are ashamed of him.”
“I will consider it. If he can avoid entanglements with actresses, it will be easier.”
“Your ladyship, Jasper lives to act,” said Elizabeth. “I have not seen him look twice at any woman. Apart from Miss Ramsay, that is, who is five years of age and madly in love with him.”
Darcy added, “He is a very different man now than the London ne’er-do-well.”
“There is still one problem ahead,” said Aunt Emmeline. “Jasper is going to hate being famous. He enjoyed his anonymity here, and he is already uncomfortable when someone recognizes him on the street and praises him. I have no solution for that, though. He cannot act as well as he does and remain unknown.”
Lady Matlock’s eyelids drooped. “Jasper, I fear, is unaccustomed to praise from strangers.”
“He will have to learn to accept it, for he will receive a great deal of it. Lizzy, her ladyship might be interested in seeing Jasper’s scrapbook. More properly I should call it the scrapbook that Lizzy has been keeping for Jasper, since he never took the time to do it for himself.”
Elizabeth fetched a large journal. “It contains the broadsheets for his plays and such notices as have appeared in the paper. His first review is my favorite.” She opened the book and struck a declamatory pose. “‘Tonight a new shining star has appeared in the bright firmament over the Theatre Royal when Mr. Fitzpatrick, who has provided consistently creditable performances in numerous minor roles, stepped into the role of Henry V, bringing such transcendence to his character as to convince all the audience that the great Lancastrian king himself strode across our humble stage; and every gentleman in the audience was ready, nay, eager to charge after him unto the breached wall of besieged Harfleur.’ That is just the first sentence. The second is even longer and more laudatory.” She handed the journal to Lady Matlock with a smile.
JASPER FINALLY ARRIVED an hour or so later, standing tall but with an unreadable expression. “This is quite a surprise,” he said.
“That was my fault,” said Lady Matlock. “I went to some trouble to arrive with no warning, but it was Darcy I meant to take by surprise, not you. I had no idea you were here.”
“No, it was my fault,” said Elizabeth. “Once I learned she was here, I realized it would be very hard to keep your presence a secret. If she was going to discover your secret anyway, I wanted her to know what a fine actor you are first.”
“I am not blaming anyone. But I am also not going to stop acting.” He raised his chin defiantly.
“I am not asking you to stop acting,” said his mother gently.
Jasper looked taken aback. “You aren’t?”
She shook her head. “Not if it makes you happy. It might be best if it could stay a secret for another year or two, but I see no reason you cannot continue as you are.”
“You don’t?” Jasper’s dazed look turned dark. “But Father will. He’ll stop me.”
“Pray give me a chance to speak to your father before you give up on him. He will be arriving here in a few days, and I believe I can bring him around.”
Jasper straightened into his King Harry posture. “No. I prefer to tell him myself.”
“Are you certain?” Lady Matlock asked.
“I am a grown man. I love and respect both of you, but he has no power over me in any way that matters. If he disowns me, so be it. If he causes me to lose my position at this theatre, I will find another one beyond his reach. I do not care about being an earl’s son nor about wealth. I am an actor, and I cannot be anything else. Nothing he can say will change my resolve.”
“Bravo!” cried Aunt Emmeline. “Your ladyship, your son has played many roles, and in playing them, they have become part of him. He knows what it is to be a doomed lover in Verona, and what it is to be a king. And a king outranks an earl.”
Darcy stared at his cousin in astonishment. Jasper had always allowed his mother to protect him from the worst of his father’s anger. But the changes this year had made in him went far deeper than blacking his own boots.
And it was not just Jasper. All of them had changed. A year ago, Darcy had been horrified by the degradation that marrying Elizabeth would bring. Now he could not be prouder of his wife, and he scorned the society that had taught him to look down on people like the Bennets. He was more comfortable with the theatricals, tradesmen, and Highlanders than he had ever been with London society. He was perfectly happy to allow Georgiana to forgo a Season and a grand marriage. Richard had finally admitted his own secret marriage and was going to return to India as he had always wanted. Elizabeth had changed, too, learning to stand up for herself and claim the life she wanted. Perhaps there truly was something magical about Scotland. Each of them had found their way here on their own, and all of them had been changed by it.
Lady Matlock studied her son, apparently seeing that change for the first time. “You are correct. You no longer need my protection, and I am proud of you for it. But perhaps you need not choose between your family and your acting. You underestimate me if you think I will simply accept anyone’s dictum that you cannot be both a Fitzwilliam and an actor.”
Jasper’s unwontedly sober mien broke into a grin. “If anyone can accomplish the impossible, it is you. But this is indeed impossible. And I am happy as Jasper Fitzpatrick.”
“You may remain as Jasper Fitzpatrick, but do not burn your bridges to Jasper Fitzwilliam quite yet. I do not wish to lose my son.”<
br />
“Yes, mama,” Jasper said with an excess of patience. “Lizzy, is something wrong?”
Elizabeth started awake. “Forgive me. I must have dozed off. I do not know why I have been so tired of late.”
It was true. She had been difficult to rouse the last few mornings despite taking naps in the afternoon. Darcy had thought nothing of it, but falling asleep at a social gathering was completely unlike Elizabeth. Something must be wrong.
Lady Matlock turned to Aunt Emmeline. “How long have they been married?”
“Long enough. Almost two months,” said Aunt Emmeline pointedly.
What could cause excessive sleepiness? Surely Elizabeth could not be developing consumption! God could not be so cruel. “I will send for a doctor first thing in the morning,” he said, intending to brook no argument.
“Because I am sleepy?” Elizabeth looked amused. “He will laugh at you.”
“Your wife does not need to see a doctor,” said Lady Matlock. “She needs to talk to her aunt.”
The two older women smiled at each other smugly.
Jasper said, “You should go to bed, Lizzy. I have far too many lines to learn tomorrow, and I need you to be well-rested.”
TWO DAYS LATER, DARCY eyed Jasper as they stood outside the Customs House for their first meeting with Lord Matlock. His cousin had refused Darcy’s offer to borrow his valet to spruce up his clothing and shine his boots, saying that Jasper Fitzpatrick had no business trying to dress like Jasper Fitzwilliam. At Matlock House, he would have been sent around to the servant’s entrance.
As if Lord Matlock was not going to have enough to object to already when Jasper told him about his acting! At least his fury with Jasper was likely to divert his attention from Elizabeth, whose pale face showed her dread of this first meeting. Only Mrs. MacLean looked completely at ease.
The butler led them through the marble entrance hall to a large parlor filled with a dozen or so fashionably dressed people.
Darcy stopped short. This was supposed to be Jasper’s opportunity to confess to Lord Matlock. What had his aunt been thinking to have strangers at this meeting? Good God, this was going to be a disaster.
Lady Matlock came forward to meet them. “I am so delighted you are here!” She turned to the crowd. “Pray permit me to present to you the reason that brought us here: my nephew, Mr. Darcy, and his new bride. We are so pleased to welcome Mrs. Darcy to our family, especially as she has Scottish connections! I hope you will all attend the ball we are giving in their honor. I also have the pleasure of presenting Mrs. Darcy’s aunt, Mrs. MacLean, and an old friend of ours, Mr. Fitzpatrick, both of the Theatre Royal, Edinburgh. My dear friends, we are most honored today to have with us Lord Granton, the Lord President of the Court of Session.” As she proceeded to introduce the rest of her guests, the names of the various Scottish notables slipped past Darcy as soon as they had been mentioned. He was too aware of Lord Matlock scowling at them like Vesuvius about to erupt.
“Mr. Fitzpatrick! As I live and breathe!” Lord Granton pumped Jasper’s hand enthusiastically. “And Mrs. MacLean. This is an honor, a great honor. Lady Matlock, you told us you were inviting family members, not our theatrical royalty!”
“To us they are family, of one sort and another,” said Lady Matlock graciously. “Mr. Fitzpatrick went to school with our boys and practically grew up at Matlock House. I had never seen him perform until Mr. and Mrs. Darcy invited me to your delightful Theatre Royal, and I am still all astonishment that the boy who climbed the tallest tree at Matlock could magically transform into Romeo!”
“Well, you have stolen a march on me, your ladyship. I am a great patron of our theatre, and when I heard you and his lordship were coming, I asked for a special performance of Lovers’ Vows for you to attend so you could see our fine actors. And here you have known our Mr. Fitzpatrick all his life, and Mrs. MacLean is your in-law!” He shook his head in amused disbelief.
His elegantly dressed wife held her hand out to Jasper. “I feel as if I should curtsey to the floor and call you King Harry.”
“You honor me,” said Jasper, his face white as a sheet.
It was a good thing all eyes were on Jasper and Mrs. MacLean, since otherwise they might have noticed that Lord Matlock looked on the verge of apoplexy.
“I had not expected anyone here to know our guests,” said Lady Matlock, evincing an air of well-bred surprise. “I knew my dear husband would want to see Jasper and meet Mrs. MacLean, and since they are performing in the evening, this was the only time they could come. How charming that so many of you know them!”
Lord Granton chuckled. “We know of them, but this is a particular privilege because Mr. Fitzpatrick never accepts invitations to social events. My wife has a veritable collection of notes of apology from him saying he is too busy learning his roles to take time for entertainment.”
Darcy resisted the temptation to stare at Jasper. His cousin’s acting had earned him invitations from the most powerful man in Scotland?
Mrs. MacLean turned up her palms. “You must forgive poor Mr. Fitzpatrick. He is dreadfully shy, poor boy, and only comes to life on stage.” She clapped her hands, as if suddenly struck by a delightful idea. “I know! You must recite for the company, dear boy!”
“Recite?” Jasper asked in disbelief, as if she had asked him to sprout wings and fly around the room.
“Oh, yes, if you please!” cried Lord Granton. “It would be such a treat for us.”
Jasper opened his mouth and closed it, like a fish out of water, and then seemed to collect himself. He strode over to a footman and conferred with him briefly.
A few minutes later, the guests had moved to one side of the room. On the other, Jasper, holding an old cavalry saber one of the servants had managed to locate, transformed into King Harry, his motions quick and decisive. His voice echoed as he cried, “Once more unto the breach, dear friends!”
He finished the speech with a lithe leap onto a loveseat. With one foot perched on the back as if he were scaling the ruined walls of Harfleur, he held the saber high. “The game’s afoot! Follow your spirit, and upon this charge cry ‘God for Harry, England, and Saint George!’”
He held the pose as his audience applauded enthusiastically. His sword still in the air, he turned slowly to face his father and made a slight inclination of his head, a king acknowledging his subject. Then he lowered the sword and suddenly became Jasper once more.
Everyone in the room gathered around him, heaping him with praise. Everyone except Lord Matlock, of course. Mrs. MacLean was solicited to recite as well, and obliged with Lady Macbeth’s monologue. Afterwards Lord Matlock lumbered over to them. “Acting, is it?” he said.
Jasper straightened. “Yes, sir,” he said calmly. “It is my calling.”
“You must tell me all about it later.” It was the public voice of the Lord Chancellor, not Jasper’s father. That must be why Lady Matlock had arranged this spectacle. Lord Matlock would not allow himself to rise into a fury in public.
Now Mrs. MacLean began to exert herself to charm Lord Matlock. Apparently no blood was going to be shed today. That was a relief.
AFTER HALF AN HOUR, Lady Matlock approached Darcy and Elizabeth. “I am so glad you joined us, my dears.”
“I thank you for inviting us. It has been most illuminating and diverting.” Elizabeth was only just beginning to believe they would all survive the visit. And now that it was all but over, it even seemed slightly amusing.
“I am glad you have enjoyed it. Darcy, pray take your lovely wife to the small sitting room. The footman will show you the way. There is someone who wishes to speak with you there.”
Darcy bowed. “I am at your service, madam.”
Outside the drawing room, Elizabeth asked, “Dare I inquire what that was about?”
Darcy’s stern expression broke into a smile. “Richard, or I miss my guess. He must have arrived later than the others, and my aunt would not have trusted him to play the proper role in her
little drama.”
“I suppose not, if she is accustomed to him fighting with Jasper. Their new alliance may be an even greater surprise to them than our marriage was.”
His eyes lit with warmth that made her wish they could be alone. He nodded to the footman who opened the door and announced, “Mr. and Mrs. Darcy.”
The room was filled with familiar faces. All the blood rushed to Elizabeth’s feet. Her father. Her sister Jane. Bingley. And, yes, Colonel Fitzwilliam. Then Jane’s arms closed around her.
“Oh, Lizzy! I am so glad...” Jane’s voice broke as her shoulders began to shake.
“Jane, dearest, do not cry, I beg you, or I will start to as well!” The ready tears were filling her eyes.
Jane’s tremulous smile lit up her face. “My dearest Lizzy! But how is it that you are married to Mr. Darcy? His letter to Bingley said you were marrying an actor.”
“Oh, that.” Elizabeth glanced at Darcy, who was shaking the hand of a nervous-looking Bingley. “I had forgotten completely about that. It was a bit of calculated misdirection. There was nothing to it. But what brings you all the way to Scotland?”
“Lord Matlock, of course,” grumbled Mr. Bennet without taking a moment for a greeting. “He sent the good colonel to force me to come to his blasted ball, and Jane, fearing for my sanity if I were trapped in a carriage for week with your mother, volunteered to accompany me in her place.”
Of course he had not come to Edinburgh voluntarily. Why would she have thought that even for a minute?
Elizabeth could not avoid looking at him forever. Was he shorter than she remembered? The year since she had left had not been kind to him. There were new lines around his eyes and his cheeks sagged in a way they had not before.
He had hurt her, had thrown her away as if she were no more than a worn-out nightshirt, and never bothered to write. But he was still the father who had laughed with her, teased her, and given her his favorite books to read.
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