Perfidy & Promises

by Abbey North

  He looked troubled despite her confident tone. “I feel I must warn you she is likely here to interfere. No doubt, my aunt has heard certain rumors about…us, and she is likely here to try to prevent any advancement.”

  Lizzy smiled at him, still feeling a touch concerned, but she was mostly as confident as she sounded when she said, “I do not intimidate easily, Fitzwilliam, and while your aunt is a fearsome lady, I am not overly concerned.”

  She had expected him to be relieved, but he continued to frown. “Do not underestimate her, Lizzy. She is ruthless, particularly when it comes to getting what she desires. She is unlikely to accept I will not marry Anne until either the day Anne or I marry someone else. Even then, it would not surprise me if she tried to scheme against my spouse or Anne’s.”

  Lizzy shook her head. “Surely, even Lady Catherine would have to admit she had been bested at that point?”

  He still seemed uncertain. “I would like to believe that, but the lady does like to get her way.”

  Lizzy didn’t dismiss his warning, but she wasn’t as concerned about it as he was. Once she had decided her own mind, she knew she would stick with that. She was already leaning toward falling in love with Fitzwilliam, and if the proper environment existed to lead her all the way down that path, Lady Catherine would be an obstacle in her way, but she wouldn’t be enough to deter Lizzy when she decided what she wanted to do.

  Lizzy was part of the welcoming group waiting when Lady Catherine’s carriage pulled up the long drive of Pemberley. The Fitzwilliam family crest was on the door, though Lizzy would have expected it to be Lewis de Bourgh’s instead. Perhaps Lady Catherine had changed it after her husband’s death to remind everyone she was the daughter of an Earl.

  Lizzy was startled to see a familiar face when the driver got down, and she realized Carlos was the one driving the carriage. She nodded to him subtly when their gazes locked, and he gave her an equally subtle nod before hurrying to the carriage to open the door for Lady Catherine, who exited first. Anne came next, and Lizzy didn’t miss the extra careful way Carlos handed her down, hand on her elbow for a moment longer than necessary before she stepped away from him, and he closed the carriage door to return to his perch and drive it to the carriage house.

  “What an assembly,” said Lady Catherine. The tone wasn’t flattering, particularly when her gaze settled on Lizzy for a moment longer than required. There was clear dislike in her expression, and Lizzy trembled slightly under the force of it, understanding perhaps a little better now why Fitzwilliam was so apprehensive on her behalf.

  Lizzy was able to escape shortly enough after a brief greeting with all of them, and she invited Anne to walk with her when the other woman complained her back was twinging from the long carriage ride. They skipped tea in favor of the walk, crossing the beautiful grounds of Pemberley arm in arm as they discussed inconsequential matters until they were out of the hearing range of everyone assembled in front of the house.

  “How are you?” asked Lizzy as soon as it was safe to do so. “Has Mr. Collins made any further overtures to demand money?”

  Anne grinned. “Indeed, he has not. In fact, the few times I have been forced to interact with him, he is eager to keep his gaze on the ground, and his face flushes. He starts to sweat, and thrice now, his poor wife has thought he must be suffering from some ailment.”

  Lizzy laughed along with Anne, not begrudging the other woman some pleasure in her cousin’s reaction. The man had blackmailed her, after all, so who could blame her? “I am relieved to hear that. Fitzwilliam issued some threats I have no doubt will haunt Mr. Collins every time he thinks of them for the rest of his life.”

  Anne surprised her by flopping down onto the grass. “You must tell me all about it. We did not have a chance to fully discuss the matter after you and Fitzwilliam settled it at Rosings Park.”

  Happily, Lizzy joined her on the grass, relaying the scene of the confrontation with Mr. Collins. She had practically memorized Fitzwilliam’s words, since she’d been so impressed by his ability to cow the other man, and she related them with relish now.

  Anne hung on every word, clearly enraptured, and they both agreed Fitzwilliam was a formidable man when crossed. “It is a good thing he likes you,” said Anne in a teasing tone.

  Lizzy stiffened, uncomfortable at the acknowledgment. Of course, she hadn’t shared Mr. Darcy had offered that bumbling proposal shortly after their confrontation with Mr. Collins, and she doubted Anne had any special knowledge of the event. No doubt, Fitzwilliam was eager to keep the incident to himself, and Lizzy hadn’t told anyone besides Jane. “We have developed a good working relationship together,” she said primly. “He has a great mind for solving intrigues, and I have appreciated his assistance.”

  Anne clearly wasn’t buying it. She snickered. “Of course, that is all there is to it,” she said with gentle mocking.

  Lizzy took it in stride, nodding. “Of course.”

  Anne leaned back then, staring up at the sky. “I am growing frustrated. I suspect my mother is aware I have been sneaking out, though I do not think she knows why. She insisted on rearranging my wing of the house, and Mrs. Jenkinson’s quarters are much closer to mine now. You cannot believe how relieved I was when she chose to take a trip to see her sister instead of coming along with us. I do adore the old dear, but she is complicating the situation and denying me happiness. All at my mother’s behest.”

  Anne sounded so miserable that Lizzy couldn’t help reaching out to squeeze her hand in a comforting fashion as she laid down beside her. “We must do something to remedy that. I am certain there must be a building currently not in use on Pemberley lands. I suggest we find it, and then I shall deliver a note to Carlos for you to ensure there is no witness to you visiting him during the day. You can arrange a meeting time with him, and I will escort you there and then walk back with you afterward. In the meantime, I shall occupy myself by doing other things.”

  Anne beamed, clearly excited at the possibility. “You would do that?”

  “Of course, I would. I suggest we resume our walk and find a suitable location for your assignation.”

  Anne bounded to her feet, apparently able to overcome the twinging in her back with the advent of their goal, and Lizzy stood up to join her. It took almost an hour to find a suitable building, but they discovered a cottage that appeared uninhabited.

  Mr. Darcy must be between tenants at the moment, but it could not have been long, for there was only a slightly disused air about it, and though the bedsheets were musty, and there was a little dust on everything, it was not so neglected that it would prove to be too great a barrier to overcome for Anne’s purposes.

  They returned to the house, whispering together before parting in the foyer as Anne promised to write the note immediately and get it to Lizzy within an hour, so she could arrange a visit to the stables to deliver it. As promised, it was in Lizzy’s hands less than thirty minutes later, and she went for yet another walk, this one taking her deliberately to the stables.

  Carlos was there, but he was in the company of an older man Lizzy soon learned was Alfred Terrence, the stablemaster. He had a calm and competent air about him, and Lizzy could understand why the horses seemed to like him so well.

  He offered to saddle one of Darcy’s horses for her, but Lizzy demurred, sharing regretfully that she wasn’t much of a horsewoman. When he was preoccupied for a moment, she slipped the note to Carlos and carried on with her walk, soon returning to the house. She felt no need to wait for a reply, for she was certain Carlos would find a way to excuse himself to meet Anne at the rendezvous point the next morning.

  The next day, assured Anne was in good hands with Carlos, Lizzy left them at the cottage and began to wander the grounds of Pemberley. The walk she’d taken with Anne yesterday had allowed her to learn some of its wonders, but they had been more focused on the task of finding a suitable meeting spot for an assignation than appreciating the natural marvels around them. Lizzy lost hers
elf in the magnificence of the landscape as she walked along, issuing a sigh of regret that Longbourn wasn’t quite this lovely.

  She was preoccupied with her thoughts, so she didn’t see Lady Catherine until she had already rounded the curve of the path and noticed the older woman waiting there. Her heart skipped a beat as she wondered if Lady Catherine was looking for her daughter.

  The idea of the daunting woman finding Anne in flagrante delicto with her groom almost made Elizabeth’s blood run cold. Forcing a cheerful smile, she approached Lady Catherine, hoping to divert her from that direction. “Good morning, Lady Catherine. It is an excellent time for a walk.”

  The older woman sniffed. “It is only through being apprised that you often wake at such an ungodly hour to meander the grounds like a common waif has roused me from my bed and set me on this course.”

  Lizzy wasn’t certain if she should be relieved that Catherine wasn’t looking for Anne, or if she should be alarmed that she was apparently the older woman’s quarry. She decided she could feel both, though she strove to keep her expression pleasant. “How flattering. I cannot imagine for what reason you would seek me out, but shall we walk?”

  After a moment, Lady Catherine fell into step beside her, and Lizzy pointedly turned from the direction of the cottage, keeping up her original trajectory to bring Catherine as far away from it as possible. “Was there something you wished to discuss, Lady Catherine?”

  “Your family is the most disagreeable sort.”

  Lizzy’s shoulders stiffened slightly, but she made no comment.

  “Your mother has frightful manners, and the man I sent to look into your family tells me you are all eccentric. Your father can barely be bothered to leave his library, and he clearly failed to ensure your mother raised you properly.”

  “My father is a kind and wonderful man, and he values books more than he does the silly notions of the ton.” Lizzy could handle much but criticizing Thomas Bennet wouldn’t stand.

  “Such impertinence. Yet my man also turned up the information that you and Jane Bennet are tolerably well behaved and appear to be the best of the lot from the Bennet family. Mr. Collins holds Miss Jane in high opinion, though he is more ambivalent about you.”

  “That is hardly surprising, since I rejected his proposal three years ago.” Lizzy made no attempt to hide the annoyance in her tone.

  The lady stumbled for a moment, clearly shocked by the idea. “Mr. Collins deigned to ask for your hand, and you refused him? What foolishness.”

  “I did not love him, and it is obvious Charlotte makes a far better wife for Mr. Collins than I ever could.”

  There was actually a hint of affection on Lady Catherine’s face for moment as she nodded. “I cannot disagree with that. Mrs. Collins is a biddable woman, and she enhances Mr. Collins’s happiness.”

  “Then we are agreed. I made the best decision.” Lizzy strove to sound cheerful, though she feared she sounded mindless more than anything.

  Lady Catherine was apparently not finished with the topic. “I have heard of some of your scandalous behavior.”

  Lizzy frowned. “What scandalous behavior would that be, Lady Catherine?” For the most part, Lizzy was a paragon of propriety. Or, she gave every appearance of being anyway.

  “Mucking about in the countryside in pursuit of a thief. Constable Walters was happy to tell my man all about your shameful behavior, and the way you insisted on inserting yourself into his investigation.”

  Lizzy laughed. “Constable Walters is hardly a good judge of character, and he could not find his hat with his hand.” She remembered the phrase Mr. Cravvy had used and borrowed liberally. “I had the audacity to suggest he should actually do his job, and therefore, the man considers me a hoyden.”

  Lady Catherine sniffed. “Truthfully, I do not care about the petty dramas that plague Longbourn and Meryton. What matters to me is the most disturbing rumor I have heard.”

  Lizzy was certain she knew what was coming, since Lady Catherine had gone to all the effort to send someone to investigate Lizzy and her family, and she had inserted herself into the Pemberley party during Lizzy’s visit. Still, she refused to make it easy for Lady Catherine. “Rumors do fly all the time, so perhaps you could elucidate?”

  “I am referring to the perfectly ridiculous idea that my nephew, Anne’s betrothed, is planning to offer for your hand.”

  Lizzy spared her a small smile. “It does sound utterly ridiculous, does it not?”

  Lady Catherine didn’t appear assuaged by her words. “I could hardly credit the idea.”

  “Yet here you are, prepared to intercede to keep it from happening. I suppose you must have given it at least a small amount of credit.”

  The lady sneered. “Of course not. I am simply here to ensure you do not try to act on such rumors and encourage a tendre that does not exist.”

  “I am well aware of what might or might not exist, Lady Catherine, and I assure you, I do not require you to tell me how I should behave, or what I should believe.”

  “You are such a sharp-tongued harridan. It is a wonder anyone could come up with the fiction of you being involved with Fitzwilliam to start with.”

  “I did find him rather helpful in solving the theft at Meryton, along with other matters we have investigated.” Lizzy had no intention of revealing Anne’s extortion, or Georgiana’s abduction, but if Catherine pressed her, she would be happy to tell her all about the murderer they had stopped in London, but unfortunately not before he claimed more victims.

  The woman looked like she might be close to apoplexy. “Such audacious lies. You should be ashamed of yourself. Even someone as low-born and common as you, with no proper upbringing, must know how improper it is to spread untruths.”

  “I find this conversation tiresome, Lady Catherine. If you have a point, I would like you to get to it. Otherwise, I shall wish you a good day and part.”

  “Has Fitzwilliam asked for your hand in marriage?”

  Lizzy had no intention of discussing her private business with the woman, especially revealing the proposal that had occurred at Hunsford. She found herself oddly protective of Fitzwilliam too, aware how his aunt would take the news, and how it might alter her opinion of Fitzwilliam. “You yourself have already declared the idea preposterous, so how could you bear it any weight?”

  That seemed to satisfy the woman, and she nodded. “That is as I suspected. Gossips do like to hear the sound of their own voices, and they do not care if they are relaying the truth.”

  Lizzy felt it prudent not to answer.

  Lady Catherine apparently didn’t realize or care that Lizzy hadn’t made a response. “I wish to secure your promise that if my nephew were ever to do something so ridiculous, you would immediately reject his offer.”

  “It is as ludicrous to make promises about future events that might never occur as it is to speculate about them to start with.”

  The woman frowned. “Do you promise?”

  “Allow me to reassure you, Lady Catherine, that I know my own mind and will make my own decision if such an impossible situation occurred.”

  Her lips pursed with disapproval. “I should hardly be surprised, for you must be a grasping social climber just like your sister, who has latched herself onto the tradesman, Bingley. Still, I had hoped you had some modicum of decency, and you would not attempt to try to lure away an engaged man.”

  “Certainly, if Mr. Darcy is engaged to Miss Anne, it would be highly unlikely he would ever propose to start with? Do you not agree?”

  The woman’s eyes darted around, and she looked uncomfortable for a moment. “It is not yet a formally announced betrothal. It is more of an understanding.”

  Lizzy arched her brow. “Oh, how do you mean?” she asked politely, phrasing it as though she only had academic curiosity.

  Lady Catherine shifted slightly, perhaps unconsciously revealing her discomfort with the topic. “His mother and I used to plan for our children to be joined from the time th
ey were both in leading strings. It is only a matter of formality now.”

  “I suppose Fitzwilliam and Anne would agree?”

  Lady Catherine seemed annoyed, and Lizzy couldn’t decide if it was because she dared challenge the woman even subtly, or because she’d use the first name of both Anne and Fitzwilliam without apology.

  “It is understood by all parties involved. Now, I ask you again, will you maintain honor as a proper woman should and decline any sort of involvement with my nephew should he offer? I suppose you would make a tolerable mistress, but you could never be his wife.”

  Lizzy blinked, uncertain how to respond. “You have no objection if I were Mr. Darcy’s mistress while he was married to your daughter?”

  Catherine sneered. “I am certain my nephew could do better even for a bit of muslin, but that is the way of marriage. My daughter will be practical enough to understand that. Do you promise me you will decline any offer of marriage from Mr. Darcy Fitzwilliam?”

  Lizzy straightened her shoulders. “I shall not make a promise to you about anything, Lady Catherine. All I promise to do is follow my heart. Now if you shall excuse me, I intend to enjoy my walk in solitude.” Without waiting for a reply, she turned and veered to the right, departing from the path in the hopes Lady Catherine wouldn’t risk damaging her slippers by following.

  Her gamble paid off, for the woman didn’t bother to follow her, and Lizzy took a wide circle around the property, making her way back to the cottage more than an hour later. She wasn’t certain if she should knock on the door, but she did clear her throat outside loudly, and the door opened moments later with Anne appearing.

  She looked as impeccably dressed as she had before, but her cheeks were flushed with color, and there was a pleased sparkle in her eye that Lizzy couldn’t help envying. It was obvious spending time with her lover had reinvigorated her, and Lizzy found herself thinking more of Fitzwilliam than usual as she and Anne returned to the house.