Darcy jumped off the bed, threw open the drapes and began to pace the carpet. No one dared speak and interrupt his thoughts. He halted and strode back to the bed. ‘I have considered what you said, my love, and at first thought it unlikely this was the cause. There have obviously been other pregnancies in the family over the past century but no mention of problems from the East Wing.
‘Then I remembered that neither of us were born here, but in London. When Mama was expecting you, Georgiana, she told me no Darcy children had been born at Pemberley for generations. The family tradition was to move to Town and not return until the infant was a few months old.’
Kitty tumbled from the bed dragging her friend with her. She stared at Darcy with horror. ‘Do you think that as soon as the family knew a baby was expected unpleasantness would begin, so they immediately left for London? Is there any way of checking family records to prove this to be the case?’
‘I believe that would be possible. Perhaps you girls would make this your task? I shall get my man of affairs to find the records you require.’
His expression changed and he punched his fist into his hand. ‘I know for a certainty there have been other women in an interesting condition staying here, but there have never been any problems of this kind. I believe the advent of a Darcy child is what perturbs the spirits. I think it would be best if we removed to London immediately.’
‘Fitzwilliam, we cannot go until after Twelfth Night. The invitations have already been sent for the New Year ball and to the house guests joining us. Surely doing so would mean having to come up with a suitable explanation. I am sure you have no wish to advertise the fact that Pemberley is haunted.’
He shook his head vehemently. ‘I don’t give a damn what anyone thinks, I shall not have my family put at risk.’
‘If Mr King is able to intervene, then could we not stay at least until the spring?’ Georgiana asked quietly.
He looked as if he was going to refuse outright, but then reconsidered. ‘I am sure the family must have tried something similar at some point, but obviously with no success. However, as he’s coming here later I shall take him into our confidence and see what he can do. I shall make my decision after that.’
Lizzy smiled at him and immediately his expression softened and he no longer looked so formidable. ‘I think, my love, if he can contain these spirits, push them back from our side of the house, then that will be sufficient for us to enjoy our first Christmas here. If we moved to the downstairs apartment we should not be obliged to come anywhere near the East Wing.' She glanced at the far wall. ‘Our rooms are closest to the ghosts are they not? What do you think?’
‘I think it an excellent idea and I shall set things in motion immediately. Those rooms have not been occupied since my father moved there after my mother’s demise. As soon as they are prepared we shall relocate.’ He stared in turn at each of them assessing their composure. Satisfied by what he saw he smiled. ‘Next summer I shall have the East Wing demolished and all the rubble taken elsewhere. I cannot imagine why this has not already been done.’
He gestured towards the door and Kitty and Georgiana embraced Lizzy and hurried off. Once secure in their own rooms, and sure no servant was in earshot, they were able to discuss what had happened.
‘I shall never go on the gallery again, Kitty, in future we will always take the oak stairs. I am surprised that no member of staff is aware there is something unpleasant living next door. Usually they are the first to gossip about anything that happens here.’
‘Perhaps these are very particular ghosts and they only show themselves to gentry.’ Her feeble attempt at humour did nothing to alleviate their concerns. ‘I suppose we might as well change, it will give us something to do and take our minds off what is stalking this family.’
*
As Adam would be returning late he decided it would be unwise to ride as the weather could turn nasty. He sent word to the stable yard for his carriage to be made ready and then faced the perplexing problem of what to wear. He had been invited to remain for dinner and no doubt the family would change into their evening finery – he could hardly take his evening rig and valet with him – so must either appear overdressed for a game of billiards or underdressed for dinner. For the first time since he had left the army he regretted that he could no longer wear his uniform.
He settled for a dark blue jacket, grey silk waistcoat, breeches and Hessians. He added a diamond pin in his impeccably tied neckcloth, gave himself a cursory glance in the glass, and picked up his caped coat, hat and gloves and headed for the front of the house.
A footman opened the door and bowed him out, his carriage was waiting in the turning circle. The coachman and the groom were on the box, the two horses stamping impatiently eager to be off. He waved a second footman away and jumped into the carriage without letting down the steps.
The carriage rocked and then the horses moved away smoothly. The facilities at Pemberley were excellent, his cattle and men would be well taken care of in his absence. He had informed the coachman he would not be returning until dark and had been pleased to note that the lanterns were already in place on each corner of the coach.
He settled onto the squabs and let his mind drift over the extraordinary events of the past week. First there had been a carriage accident and then a haunting. No, more than that – something powerful and daemonic had snatched Miss Bennet and he was at a loss to know how to deal with it.
As he had been about to depart a sudden impulse had caused him to pick up the gold cross he wore in church and slip it into his waistcoat pocket. There was something evil lurking in that beautiful house and he was determined to root it out.
Chapter Eleven
The Great Hall, which also was the ballroom, was so large one’s voice echoed when one spoke. By common consent it had been decided that it would be safest to congregate in chambers that did not connect to the East Wing. This meant that in future the music room and the Great Staircase would not be in use.
‘I am having the pianoforte and the harp moved in here, girls,’ Darcy told them. ‘For some reason I felt obliged to explain my decisions to Peterson and Ingram. I told them they would be needed here when we entertained and that you two wish to become accustomed to playing in a larger space.’
Who was more shocked by his admission that he had told a falsehood, Kitty was hard put to say. Georgiana was aghast and put her hand over her mouth, Bingley and Jane exchanged glances but Lizzy laughed out loud.
‘Well, Fitzwilliam, you could hardly tell them the truth. If the staff were to get wind of the fact that this place is haunted, not by benevolent spirits either, they would leave en masse and where would we be then?’
Bingley ran his fingers through his hair making him look like an untidy schoolboy. ‘Ghosts at Pemberley? If Jane and I had been aware of this I don’t think we would have come. I’ve not had the misfortune to encounter such a thing, and I’m in no hurry to do so now.’
Jane took his hand. ‘If what Darcy says is correct then they have been in residence for generations and nothing untoward has happened to anyone living here. Why should we be in any danger now?’
The Bingleys had not been told the whole, they knew nothing of her near fatal experience. Darcy had thought it better to keep this knowledge to themselves and neither had he informed them that Lizzy was increasing.
‘We are hoping King will be able to placate the spirits, keep them in their own abode until I can have the building razed next year.’ Darcy, sounded, as always, in full command of the situation but Kitty detected a hitherto unseen nervousness in his demeanour. She was certain this was because his beloved wife was at risk – as well as his sister. She doubted he would care one way or another if anything happened to her, apart from the fact it would upset both Georgiana and Lizzy.
This was a lowering thought and she pushed it to the back of her mind. Her behaviour last year had been enough to give him a dislike of her, and she didn’t blame him one jot. However, s
he hoped he would come to view her differently as the weeks passed. She was certainly seeing a better side to his character and found him just a little more approachable than he had been before.
Papa was coming to stay in February; she wished he could come immediately – although they had not been close, (Lizzy and Jane were his favourites), they had become better friends in recent weeks and he would know immediately how to deal with this situation.
Even with the cavernous grate filled with an enormous fire the extremities of the hall were too cold for comfort. The six of them huddled in front of the fire, marooned in a sea of polished boards and the occasional island of chairs and sofas.
‘This is beyond ridiculous. I refuse to remain in here any longer. We shall remove to the drawing room, it will be warmer and more comfortable there.’ Darcy snapped his fingers and the lurking footman scurried over. ‘Have Mr King conducted to the drawing room when he arrives.’
Lizzy glided up beside him. ‘The doors between the music room and the staircase have been closed, if we also keep the communicating door from the drawing room shut, we shall be perfectly safe. We will be installed in the downstairs apartment by this evening, and Jane, Bingley and the girls intend to use the oak staircase and not go anywhere near the gallery. You must relax, my love, nothing untoward will occur.’
They all trooped behind Lizzy and Darcy down the central passageway, through the library to arrive at the drawing room. Kitty was somewhat out of breath, walking about this place was the same as taking a long walk in the countryside. It was certainly as cold away from the fires. Living somewhere so grand was all very well, but she would be much more comfortable in a smaller establishment which did not require a map to get from one chamber to another.
Jane settled on a chaise longue and Bingley flopped down beside her. Darcy escorted Lizzy to a comfortable padded armchair, hovered by her until she was seated, and then resumed his restless pacing. She and Georgiana stationed themselves at a cluster of small tables and chairs a respectful distance from their elders and betters.
‘I have never seen my brother so unsettled, Kitty, even when he and Lizzy were apart and he was so miserable, he was still in command. I don’t like to see him so upset.’
‘I think it makes him seem more human, before this I had thought him a godlike figure, not susceptible to everyday emotions and worries. Since I’ve been here I have seen a different side to him and like him much better. I am sure he is unsettled because of Lizzy’s condition – I expect in some ways he is blaming himself for not having looked into the family history more thoroughly before bringing her here.’
Her friend did not seem especially reassured by this remark. Kitty was silent for a few moments and then tried again. ‘Darcy has been head of this household for years, he runs the vast estate impeccably, and neither gambles nor drinks to excess. He is respected and admired by all who know him.
‘However, there is not a man in the kingdom who would not be perturbed at having to deal with the supernatural. Indeed, I don’t believe any of us thought ghosts were real until now.’
‘You are right, of course, but it does not make me any less anxious – not just on his behalf but on all of ours. We are prisoners in our own house, hiding from these things, Pemberley no longer seems a happy place.’
A footman appeared in the doorway. ‘Mr King is here to see you, sir, he’s waiting in the vestibule.’
Darcy was not impressed by this information. ‘Bring him here immediately. He is expected.’
The unfortunate servant paled at the rebuke and Kitty could hear him running to retrieve the missing guest. Perhaps Darcy had not changed so much after all. She looked around the room and observed that all the occupants were silent, watching the door, as eager as she was for King to arrive.
A shiver of apprehension trickled down her spine. What if he could not drive these ghosts back into the depths of the East Wing where they could do no harm? What if his intervention made matters worse? She pushed another more alarming thought away. For some reason she was terrified he might suffer the same fate as her and there would be no one to bring him back.
She turned to Georgiana. ‘Do you think your brother is going to explain everything to Mr King right here or will he take him somewhere private?’
This question was answered for her when the gentleman himself strode in through the open door. He bowed. ‘Good afternoon, I hope I have not kept you waiting.’ His friendly smile faded as he looked at each of them. ‘There is something wrong. I believe I know what is troubling you all.’ He came fully into the room and waited for the ever-present footmen to close the door behind him before he continued. ‘You have ghosts at Pemberley and they are not of the benign sort either.’
Darcy seemed unsurprised by his announcement. ‘Exactly right, sir, and your knowledge makes what I’m going to say to you so much easier.’ He then told King the gruesome story and the repercussions that had followed it throughout the years. He omitted nothing, even his plans to demolish the East Wing next year.
He reached the crucial part. ‘After what happened first to Kitty, and then to both the girls and Lizzy, I am of the opinion something urgent needs to be done before we are driven from our home. Can you exorcise them? Your prayers vanquished them once and I am hoping they can do the same again.’
‘I am afraid driving away satanic infestations might not be as simple as you think, Darcy. I have been doing some research over the past few days and have come to the firm conclusion that spirits only remain in this world if they have unfinished business. In order to send them on their way we must somehow discover what they want and fulfil these wishes.’
His extraordinary suggestion hung in the air and even Darcy was speechless. Lizzy recovered first. ‘Are you suggesting that someone must go into the East Wing?’
‘Out of the question,’ Darcy snapped. ‘Far too dangerous.’
King seemed unbothered by this reaction. ‘I shall go in, I will endeavour to discover what it is they want.’
‘I think I know what that is,’ Kitty said. She quailed under the combined stare of the three gentlemen, but was determined to speak her mind. ‘I believe they want revenge for their deaths. Although these men were bad, they were not murderers and I think it was wrong that the villagers remained unpunished for their crimes.’ She had jumped to her feet in order to deliver the speech, but now her legs refused to hold her upright and she collapsed onto her chair.
Being the centre of attention was not pleasant, but she stiffened her spine and raised her head expecting to see condemnation on the faces of those in the room. Instead Darcy was looking at her with what could only be described as admiration.
‘Devil take it! I believe Kitty is right. Though I’m damned if I know how we can put matters right more than a century since the murders took place here.’
She was not sure what shocked her most – that he admired her or his profanity.
‘Fitzwilliam, kindly moderate your language,’ Lizzy said firmly and Kitty approved of her reprimand. Then her sister continued. ‘If you and Mr King wish to use barrack-room language then I suggest you go elsewhere for poor Kitty is about to have a fit of the vapours after hearing such words in our drawing room.’
Darcy raised an eyebrow and his lips twitched, King smiled quite openly. If there was one thing Kitty did not like it was being a figure of fun. In her opinion gentlemen did not use bad language in the presence of a lady.
With what she hoped was elegance and grace, she rose to her feet and nodded regally. ‘I have a megrim and shall return to my apartment. I shall not be joining you for dinner.’ Before they could protest she spun and made her way to the exit and slipped out through the door. She paused outside in the passageway expecting to hear protests, the patter of feet as Georgiana raced after her, but the doors remained closed behind her. Her departure was obviously of no account to anybody there.
Her eyes filled and she walked blindly in what she hoped was the correct direction for the oak stai
rcase. The usual bevy of footmen were, just when she could do with one, nowhere to be seen. She was not famous for her sense of direction and, after wandering for a considerable time down freezing passageways, she was still no nearer to finding her destination.
Surely she should be somewhere in the vicinity of the second stone passage – the one that led to the oak stairs. She turned left and right and all she saw were closed doors, she peered into each room as she went past but there were not any she recognised. There was a miscellany of anterooms, sitting rooms, sewing rooms and various storerooms but none were any of the main reception rooms that she sought.
Then she was struck by what she hoped was a solution to her problem. The next chamber she came across that she considered could be used by the family, she would enter and search thoroughly for a bell-strap to pull. She would remain there until a member of staff came to find her and then they could guide her in the right direction.
She eventually discovered what she was seeking and hurried inside, already thoroughly chilled from her sojourn in the freezing passageways. There was, of course, no fire lit, but at least the chamber was free of drafts. She was delighted to observe there was one laid in the grate so all she needed to discover was a tinderbox with which to light the kindling.
The room was a small office of some sort, a desk and two chairs occupied the centre, two padded armchairs stood on either side of the fireplace and a handsome bookcase and sideboard occupied the far wall. The sideboard was the obvious place to search and she was immediately rewarded by finding a tinderbox. Having lit fires many times before, she had no difficulty in igniting the fluff in the box, transferring the flame to a candle and then pushing this into the fire.
Until the room was warm she could not concentrate on anything else. Her teeth were chattering and her fingers clumsy and she wished she had brought her cashmere shawl with her. Even with her long-sleeved cambric gown with a high neck and spencer she was still chilled to the marrow.
The Ghosts at Pemberley Page 10