Rawlings sat up in his chair. “I do not understand. How does her mother figure into this?”
Darcy took another deep breath. “Once I appeared, Miss Elizabeth left quickly, but I stayed to question Blake about his intentions. No, that is not true. I challenged him to think about what he was doing. I even revealed that Miss Elizabeth had lost her dowry.”
“But how does this prove your belief that the Bennets were fortune hunters? Did Miss Elizabeth say something that made you think she was after his title?”
“No, not at all. And I confirmed my suspicions that Mrs. Bennet pushed her daughters on rich men.” ”
“How could interrupting Blake and Miss Elizabeth do that?”
After moving to his chair, Darcy dropped in it and leaned forward, both arms resting on his legs. He gazed at his fingers while he fiddled with his hands. “On the balcony Blake faced me with his back to the ballroom. I was positioned in such a way that I could see the door from the corner of my eye. What happened next proved my beliefs about the greedy, opportunistic Bennets.” He sighed.
“Hardly. You never held a good opinion of them before. But go on.” Rawlings settled back in his chair, sipped his drink, and scoffed at Darcy’s glare.
“Mrs. Bennet opened the door as we were talking. At that time, I…” He jumped up, gulped his brandy, and moved to the fireplace, where he stirred the fire with a poker with force. He did this for a few moments, sighed, and turned to face Rawlings. “I was reminding Blake of his financial troubles by emphasizing his father’s calamitous state of affairs. Upon hearing this, Mrs. Bennet left abruptly, believing Blake to be penniless. After she left, Blake disclosed how he was well situated financially. He could easily afford a wife and family.”
“I do not see how this makes Mrs. Bennet a mercenary?”
“Blake waited for Miss Elizabeth the next day. She never appeared.”
“Perhaps there was a problem. She may have been ill.”
“Blake thought so too. After waiting hours, he became concerned and set off for Longbourn. Mrs. Bennet informed him that Miss Elizabeth had left for London with the expressed intention of avoiding him.”
“That does not seem possible, even for her, but even if it is true, you still have not satisfactorily explained to me how this makes Mrs. Bennet mercenary?”
After throwing the poker into the stand, Darcy plopped into his chair and crossed his arms. “Do you not understand?” He glared at Rawlings’s shrug. “Mrs. Bennet believed Blake to be poor, and no longer a preferable match for Miss Elizabeth. She must have insisted somehow that her daughter not marry him. You must have noticed Mrs. Bennet pushing Miss Elizabeth on Blake at every opportunity. You cannot deny that. He was no longer sufficient for marriage to her daughter. That is why I believe she is purely mercenary.”
“But how did you learn of this?”
“Blake told me the whole story one night, when I had accused him of horrible goings-on. I am fortunate he did not call me out. Of course, I would have chosen pistols if he had.”
“Did he not seek her out in London? You both returned to town early.”
“No, he did not. He believed Miss Elizabeth ran away from him. He did not care to discuss it.”
Rawlings sat still. Darcy listened to the fire flickering and crackling in the stilled room. It was several moments before Rawlings spoke.
“I doubt the truth is known regarding the whereabouts of Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I most definitely think she would have rejected Blake herself. She would not have run away. She is not a simpering lady! Furthermore, I suspect her mother was merely trying to protect her daughter from poverty.” Rawlings blinked his eyes before flashing Darcu a cold stare. “I believe you thought this out as well.” Rising from his chair, he raised his body to its full height. “You did not challenge Blake’s understanding at all, did you?”
Darcy dropped his head, “I tried, but Blake did not want any arguments. He was decisive when he stated he had broken all connections with her. I… suppose I could have insisted futher, but I…”
“I am surprised by Blake, but I know full well why you offered no objections. By remaining quiet, you saved her from marriage to him. Well, now Blake has removed himself from consideration, are you planning to pursue her?”
Darcy rose again, this time retreating to the window. Placing one arm against the frame, he traced an imaginary figure on the glass. “I think of her often. Honestly, I do not live a single day without wondering where she is or what she is doing. I can smell lavender regardless of the flower in a vase. Her fine eyes appear before me every night before I fall asleep, and are smiling at me when I wake. I have tried hard to focus on business. Still, I cannot shake her image from my mind. I miss hearing the sound of her voice.
“So are you?”
“What?”
“Planning to pursue her, now?”
“No! I do not plan to seek her out. I will not.” His voice trailed off, “I cannot.”
Rawlings leaned forward. “Is it the low connections or the lack of fortune? You are not in want of either.”
Darcy turned back towards Rawlings. “She would not be accepted by the Ton, or more importantly, by my family. Georgiana’s future will depend heavily upon who I connect myself to.”
“Bah! Do not use your sister as the excuse. Even Bingley refused to consider Miss Bingley’s in his decision. What exactly is it you seek in a wife that Miss Elizabeth does not offer?”
“All I want is a respected person to guide Georgiana and bring the Darcy name honor. Increasing my holdings is an important consideration, as well.”
“You mean to say forty thousand pounds would be acceptable as a reason for connecting yourself to a woman for life? If so, my friend, you are a fool, and in light of your confession, perhaps I was as well.” Rawlings stomped to the sideboard.
Darcy sat stone faced.
Rawlings poured another brandy. “I should have let you be saddled with Margaret. You would then have a different opinion of the beautiful, witty Miss Elizabeth. Of course, if you married Margaret then you would have to worship Elizabeth in secret. Oh, pardon me. You worship her in that manner now. Do not be a fool. You have a chance to achieve your greatest desire.”
“Saddled? Was it so horrid?”
“Yes, it was. The events of four years ago are seared on my brain and I think of them with hatred.”
“I have always wondered how Logan discovered her plan.”
“I do not know. He does not reveal his sources. I never told you that the ball, supposedly to reward my graduation from Cambridge, had been arranged to ensnare you. Do not look so shocked. My family is one of those good connections to which you are always referring.”
Darcy gripped the chair’s arms. “Your family wanted to ensnare me in a trap with Miss Stevens? I do not understand.”
“I never wished to reveal it to you, but now I think I must in order to save you from yourself. Let me enlighten you. My brother, the real mastermind behind the plan, convinced my father to hold the ball. I should have known immediately Thomas had a deceitful purpose. When has he ever shared any of father’s attention with me?”
Darcy was about to speak when Rawlings jumped up and sent him a disapproval look. He carried his brandy with him as he paced around the room.
“Logan sent word during the later that evening. I had not deemed anything amiss they gave you a room in the family quarters. I was so pleased to be shown such attention that I overlooked several danger signs.” Rawlings paused, careful not to gulp his drink. “Logan sent word to me during the ball—and he was specific—you were the target of a compromise. I sent word to switch all your belongings into my room and a few of my personal possessions into yours.
“Your brother planned this? Why did you think it was him?”
“Him and Margaret. Their entire plan crystallized in my mind upon receiving Logan’s note. I had observed her cuddling up to you and all the time sending sly smiles back to Thomas.”
“I al
ways felt you and he were more like relatives than neighbors since you visited your grandfather’s estate so often. Damn, we played together when we were young, although thinking back on it, your brother and Richmond teamed up against us. I cannot believe this.”
“Logan had barely completed making the switch when my brother escorted our dear little Margaret to your room. Of course, neither of them knew it was now my room.”
“Nor did I. Why did you not tell me that night?”
“I was mindful you were confused, but we had to act fast. I had little time to explain. What happened that night, I shall never forget. I entered… ”
Rawlings dropped into his chair, leaned back, crossed his leg, grabbed the chair arms, and stared blankly to no place in particular. “I entered a darkened room—no fire in the fireplace, no candles lit and the drapes shut out any evening light—I felt secure in my own plan. In fact, it was so dark, I could not see my hand when I closed the door behind me. She demanded I not light a candle, or she would ruin me forever by screaming loudly. I did as she said, all the while smiling at the wench. I had my own plan. She forced me, although it did not take much effort, to remove my clothing. You understand, I allowed her to do these things. Logan was prepared to stop the fiasco upon my word, but I allowed her to continue beyond what was necessary for a compromishing situation.”
“But why? Why would you do such a thing?”
“I had my own agenda. I am a second son. You do not understand what life is like for one not born an heir. My choices were the army, the navy, or the clergy, and none held my interest. Perhaps I was not as spoiled as my brother was, or even as you had been, but I did live as leisurely life, which dissipated the moment I graduated. I had finished my studies at Cambridge so my father expected me to move on with my life. I had planned to join the army, but when Logan sent word about Margaret’s plan to entrap you, I set into motion a way for me to continue this gentleman's life.”
Rawlings gulped his brandy. “From the second I entered the room, I realized my scheme would work. We are the same height and weight and since we both favored wearing black at the balls, we dressed similarly that night. My straight hair was a problem, yours is too damn curly. I used my hands to tossle my hair. I was sweating—I have never compromised a lady before—so I hoped there woud be a few ringlets. I believed the blackness of the room would conceal my eye color. Otherwise, she would not know my true identity. We do look like brothers, as everyone has teased.”
“How far, Rawlings, how far?”
“As far as you can imagine. I took her in my bed. I wanted no dispute. She was totally compromised. Once I had finished, I shouted for Logan, who brought another servant in the room carrying enough candles to light up Almack’s. It was entertaining when, Margaret saw my green eyes and instantly realized with whom she had bedded. She screamed, of course, and, therein aggravated her problem. My brother charged in the room dragging her father with him. I only assume he had a pretense for being nearby. He expected you to be mostly undressed and her in a torn gown. She could still pretend to be untouched that way. But, I must say she had not been timid about the act nor was she inexperienced. She did things no lady should even know.”
“I suspect there was a scene? I only wished I had known. Rawlings, I have a way to protect myself. This has been tried before, and my man is well trained to handle such things.”
“Bah! Logan had found your man drugged and unconscious. They were determined to succeed, regardless of the risks, and my brother would not allow anyone to stand in her way.”
Darcy sighed. “I did piece together a little of what happened the next morning. I assumed she schemed to entrap me. I should have never switched rooms. The guilt has hung heavy on my heart. But why did you not tell me later?”
“I did not wish you to think ill of me or my family. It was that duty and obligation you always worry about. So, I preferred you confused than knowing the truth.
“I felt used somehow although I could not identify how and I was angry at being kept in the dark. Why did you keep your distance?”
“I could not avoid the guilt I carried. It was my family, Darcy, who tried to compromise you. I could not look at you. I could not look at myself in the mirror for years. The invitation to Netherfield Park was my chance to regain your friendship.
“I am truly sorry you felt that way, but why did you not just reveal what they were up to?”
Rawlings’s voice cracked. “The true question is, why did I compromise her? I needed the money, the lifestyle, but mostly I needed to move on with my life. I believed upending my brother’s scheme was my best recourse.” He paused, staring at his hands, his head hung low.
“But you could have found another bride, someone more suitable. You did not have to do this.”
“Bah! You show your ignorance when you say that. You do not realize how the ladies react once they discover a gentleman is not the heir. You have never seen the way their expressions change, and believe me when I say the transformation is quick and decisive. Unless a second son is a man of means in his own right, the ladies swiftly excuse themselves, not caring if their actions are impolite. My mother did leave me with a small house and a little fortune, but not enough to build a gentleman’s life on. I needed more, or so I thought. You…”
Darcy raised his brows.
“What I am about to say is not meant to inflict further guilt but to save you from a wretched existence. When she screamed, she had no other choice. She had to marry me. Can you imagine her shock? She believed the entire time she was in your room, engaging in inappropriate activities, which she seemed to enjoy greatly. She assumed she would soon be the Mistress of Pemberley. Instead, she ended up married to a second son with little money and no estate. Of course, my father had to pay for the indiscretion. In addition to purchasing my townhouse at Cavendish Square, he provided a yearly stipend to ensure Miss Nobody Stevens would not suffer financially, although without our little tête-à-tête she would have not married any better.”
“Were you able to forge a life together?”
“Life? Well it was one atypical for men of our status. I took my marital rights during the first several months. She laid on the bed, fully dressed, motionless while I did my best to create an heir. She took her joy by shouting your name at my climax. After two months, the situation changed.”
“Oh?”
“I found the door between our chambers bolted and nailed shut. I assumed I had achieved a successful coupling and created an heir. I no longer needed to cross the threshold into her room and I was not sorry for it. But the goddess of fate had not finished with me yet. An heir was not to be. She lost the babe. She unbolted the door a month later, but I never returned. Not once in the remaining three years she lived. I lost all desire for a child if it meant having to join with her again. Instead, I spent my evenings at taverns and pubs.”
“Ah. Now I understand your skill at skittles.”
Rawlings chuckled. “Yes, but I had not played Quoits often enough to beat Bingley or Kent. If I had, the stallion would have been mine!”
“I assume your drinking habits changed then as well?”
“I suspected you noticed. Well, yes. I refused to drink alone, so I had my drinks either at the tavern or in my bedchambers. Several times, Logan drank with me at my insistence, of course. He spoke of his heartbreak too. I presume he made it up just to ease my mind.”
“But I heard your wife died in childbirth. I must have misunderstood.”
“No, you did not. Margaret did die giving birth to a son and my brother mourned for months.”
Chapter Nine
“Gerald!” Lord Wolverly called out as he moved up the gangway, taking long strides with every step. The tall masts of the Lively rose above the other ships, and with its 114-foot length, had made it easy for him to locate the ship that would take his son across the ocean.
The Confrontation Page 13