by Head, Gail
“I would be most happy to hear it,” Darcy replied.
“Ahem…well, we do have instances where certain exceptions are made for an elite assembly of our patrons.”
“I see,” Darcy smiled tightly. “And how elite are these patrons? I assume they are highly valued for their contributions.”
“Oh, yes, to be sure,” Mr. Wray smiled in anticipation. “It varies, of course, depending upon the situation of the patron, but they are often as generous as, say, one hundred pounds.”
There was not the slightest change in Darcy's expression, causing Mr. Wray to wish he had named a larger sum.
“I trust you will accept my draft, Mr. Wray?”
“To be sure, Mr. Darcy; most happily! While you are fulfilling your generous contribution, I shall have Mr. Pratt retrieve the required information. What is the name of the young lady to whom you wish to speak?”
“Her name is Elizabeth Bennet.”
Mr. Wray lowered a pudgy hand onto the bell sitting on the corner of his desk, summoning the clerk from the anteroom. Immediately, the young man was at the door, holding his hands nervously in front of his chest.
“Mr. Pratt,” the governor said, “be so good as to fetch the records for Elizabeth Bennet.”
“Yes, sir, Mr. Wray; and the date?”
Mr. Wray raised a bushy eyebrow at Darcy.
“I believe she arrived sometime the middle of June,” Darcy reported.
“Very good, sir. I shall only be a moment.”
The young man then ducked back through the door, muttering Elizabeth's name to himself. In a surprisingly short time, he reappeared and whispered softly into Mr. Wray's ear, to which the portly gentleman responded with his own whisper to Mrs. Gilman. Darcy watched with growing concern as the clerk and matron left together. An even shorter time lapsed before Mrs. Gilman stepped back into the room with a frown and gave Mr. Wray a slight shake of her head.
“Well, sir,” the older man turned apprehensively toward Darcy, “it appears we have a bit of a problem.”
“What is it? Has something happened? Is she well?” Darcy asked anxiously.
“That I cannot say, Mr. Darcy. The young woman for whom you are searching is not here.”
“Not here? Do you mean she has left?”
“No, sir. I mean we have no record of her ever having been at Magdalen House at all.”
* * * *
Richard peered at Darcy from across the room, trying to make out his cousin's pensive mood. Not a single word had been uttered during their return from the excursion to Magdalen House, not even when they entered Darcy's study and shut the door.
“Are you going to tell me what the devil is going on?”
“Hmm?”
“And what has Miss Elizabeth Bennet to do with Magdalen House?”
Darcy's head jerked up at her name. “What do you mean?”
“Only that I overheard the clerk say her name as he was searching through his records. Darcy, what is all this about?”
“I am not ready to discuss the matter, Richard.”
“That much is obvious, but I think you had better. Mother will be on one of her crusades when word gets back to her where we were today. I cannot be of any help if you will not tell me anything.”
“There is nothing to tell. I will manage Lady Eleanor if news of our visit reaches her.”
“Oh, it will, I have no doubt. Lord Matlock's son and nephew taking a peek at the fair Magdalens? A nice bit of gossip for the ton. And you know how protective mother is of the family reputation. One of the few traits she shares with Aunt Catherine, I am afraid.” Richard stared at the toe of his polished boot, mentally appreciating his mother's refined approach to things compared to that of Lady Catherine, when a sudden thought shot through him. “Say, Darcy, does this business have anything to do with our visit to Rosings last spring?”
Darcy silently cursed his cousin's shrewd reasoning abilities and tried to dismiss the subject with an evasive reply. “I cannot imagine why you think it should.”
“Well, Miss Bennet was there at the same time,” Richard persisted, “and you did meet on several occasions as she was walking the grounds. You said so yourself. Hmm, now that I think about it, you were quite out of sorts the day we left – and still are as far as I can tell. Yes, I believe it is beginning to make sense!”
“It is not what you think!” Darcy snapped.
“Oh, no? Magdalen House? What should I think? Please, enlighten me, cousin.”
“Richard, it is a very long and complicated story.”
Settling into one of the leather armchairs, Richard raised his brows stubbornly. “I have all day.”
“I am asking you to let it go. This day has been difficult enough for me already.”
“That may be, but from the looks of it, I would say you have got yourself in pretty deep. It should not be too bad, though. Luckily, Miss Bennet is not known in our circles and we can quash most of the rumors easily enough. Mother will have to be told, of course; but she can arrange for you to attend an engagement or two in town. With a little effort on your part, it will only amount to a few hushed whispers and be forgotten in no time. I am certain mother can…what?” he asked when he saw Darcy's incredulous stare.
“Do you really think me so cruel…so heartless as to even consider such a scheme, if I had been the cause of her distress? But the family need not worry on my account. I tell you unequivocally, there was no impropriety.”
“Oh, really? Then what was the purpose of your little outing this afternoon? I know you too well, cousin, and I think we have few secrets between us. Miss Bennet, whose company I believe you enjoyed on several occasions, was a refreshingly delightful diversion during our visit to Rosings this year. It was a bit unusual for you, I admit, but she was very charming and I quite understand if you may have had a lapse in judgment.”
“Richard, I have done nothing to compromise Miss Bennet. Do you hear me? Nothing!”
“If that is true, then why Magdalen House?”
Darcy slumped into the chair next to Richard. “I do not have all the details. I was hoping to know more after my visit today, but they knew nothing of her. All I know at present is that she has been compromised by someone we both know very well – George Wickham.”
“The devil you say! I knew we should have taken care of him last summer when we had the chance.”
“Yes, but we did not. And I did nothing to prevent him from preying on other innocents. Now Miss Bennet is paying the price and I must do something.”
“What are you saying?” Richard sat up in sudden concern.
“I am saying that I must do what I can to make it right. That is, if I can find her. She seems to have vanished.”
“Vanished? All the better for you if she is not around. Darcy, you cannot blame yourself for Wickham's actions…or hers. It is not your business.”
“But it is. I told you it was complicated,” Darcy kept his eyes focused on Richard as he spoke. “I have a personal interest in Miss Bennet, very personal. If I am successful in finding her, I intend to offer her marriage.”
Richard stared at him in utter dismay. “Are you mad? Even if the present circumstances did not make it impossible, think of what you are saying! She has – or had – little but her charms to recommend her, and now even that is gone!”
“There was a time I would have agreed with you. In fact, I struggled for some months with her family, her connections, and her situation in general.” Darcy paused, Richard's obvious confusion bringing a cheerless smile to his lips. “Yes, she was, in my opinion, decidedly beneath my own very favorable position. And, in my arrogance and conceit, I thought I was quite above her; but I have since come to a better understanding of her character and I now find it is I who would be the fortunate one if she were to accept me.”
“Of course she would accept you, if you are foolish enough to offer!” Richard snorted derisively. “There is not a woman in all of England who would not, particularly a woman o
f her station.”
“You are wrong on that count. It pains me to say it, but I am afraid she already has.”
“What?” Richard stared, trying to follow the conversation. “She already has what?”
“Refused me. That night at Rosings when you stopped me on the stairs, I had just returned from Hunsford Cottage where I asked her to marry me, and she refused.”
“Refused you?! Impossible! How could she…what were her reasons?”
“Where shall I start?” Darcy stared dolefully into his hands. “If you will recall her comments at the piano-forte condemning my actions in Hertfordshire, you will see my behavior had decided her long before she ever got to Rosings, and rightfully so. I was proud and disagreeable – quite arrogant, actually – when we first met. In my defense, I will say that it was too soon after Georgiana's near-disaster for me to affect any pleasure at an assembly; but that was not the only fault counted against me. She had discovered my part in separating Bingley from her sister, the knowledge of which severely diminished her already low opinion of my character. And last of all, there was Wickham. He saw an opportunity to capitalize on his lies and shocking tales of abuse at my hands, and I had given her no reason to think them untrue. He manipulated her compassionate nature to gain her sympathy. I all but pushed her into his arms.”
“Even so,” Richard argued, “her natural inclinations for kindness and consideration, which I have observed first hand, tells me she was an easy target for someone like Wickham. You cannot blame yourself for that.”
“Yes, I can. I said nothing of Wickham's reputation while I was in Hertfordshire. It was only after her rejection that I wrote a letter revealing the truth. I wanted to vindicate myself by exposing his true character. Perhaps I should not have, but I went so far as to relate his attempt on Georgiana.”
“Darcy, was that wise?”
“I think you know she would never harm Georgiana. I wanted her to comprehend the grave danger of his company; but I fear it was too late.”
“It is unfortunate, and Wickham is a plague, to be sure; but you cannot possibly think to damage your own reputation and standing by some misguided notion of honor. You must consider your obligations here. If Miss Bennet had money of her own or the proper connections, that would be one thing, but she does not. More importantly, I cannot believe you would marry without some kind of affection. To marry someone who would only take you for your money is exactly what you have been avoiding for years. And from what you have just told me, she does not even like you. Take her under your protection and provide a comfortable living for her, if you must; but do not marry her. You cannot condemn yourself to such a miserable life!”
Darcy's face reflected the turmoil of his mind. “A miserable life? I would agree with you except for one thing – I love her, Richard. I have for some time. Why do you think I offered in Kent?”
“But she rejected you! You will get over it in time.”
“That is what I thought, but it has been months now and no matter what I do, the attraction grows stronger. Even Wickham's atrocity cannot drive her from my heart.”
“Think what you are saying. Think of the family. Even without this…difficulty, it would have been next to impossible; but now that she has been compromised, it is out of the question. What will you say to my parents, and Lady Catherine? What will you say to Georgiana?”
“You are well aware that I am not dependent upon the wishes of the family. I do not need permission. You will all have to accept my decision, whatever it may be. And as for Georgiana, it was she, in fact, who set me on this course.”
“She knows?!” Richard's voice rose in anger. “After all she has been through, you exposed her to this?”
“It could not be helped. She heard the rumors before I did,” Darcy explained. “Georgiana has changed, grown up, these past months, Richard. The experience we thought would destroy her last summer has made her stronger, more compassionate – and amazingly insightful. It was she who convinced me to follow my heart; and that is what I am going to do whether I have the family's support or not.”
Richard studied Darcy's passionate expression before answering. “Is there no way I can dissuade you from this ruinous path?”
“You have known me all my life. Do you honestly think you can persuade me to abandon the woman I love to a life of wretched penury?”
“I understand your feelings, I do. But would it not be better to have the scandal die down before you do anything? Give it some time. There is no hurry.”
“Actually, there is. There is a complication that requires me to find her as soon as possible.”
Richard groaned. “There is more?”
“At first, I had thought it was only a matter of her reputation and that perhaps her father had sent her away in anger; but now, I fear it is much worse.” Darcy struggled to speak the words that until now had been only intangible thoughts. He turned a grim face to the one person in the world he could trust completely. “Magdalen House has no record of her, and that can only mean one thing. Their policy is such that – ”
“They will not take in a girl who is already with child,” Richard finished for him in a flash of understanding. “Darcy, this is insane! Are you listening to me? Absolutely insane!”
“If I am too late, she will have no hope of redemption. It is imperative I find her and arrange the marriage before the child is born and beyond the protection of my name. I need your help, Richard.”
“My help – with Wickham's child!?” Richard jumped from his chair with an explosive curse. “Do you know what you are asking? Even if I were to help you, the family – Aunt Catherine, especially – would never let it stand!”
“I say again – no one has any claim on my affairs, least of all Aunt Catherine; and I have made that very clear to her,” Darcy growled as the memory of their last conversation came to mind. “I only hope Elizabeth can be persuaded to accept me. As for the child, with any luck it will be a girl, saving Pemberley for a child of my own. If it is a boy, however, I will still claim him as mine and endeavor to make him a worthy heir. Only a handful of us will ever know the truth.”
“You would marry her even though she dislikes you so much?”
“We got off to a bad start, that is true, but I believe she can be persuaded to not think so ill of me – given enough time. She is too noble to hold me in contempt forever. I have faith in her goodness and I can wait.”
“You are a bloody fool! You fail to realize that it is not just you we are talking about here. One wrong step and you will do irreversible harm to Georgiana's future, something for which I am also responsible. Her standing would be seriously impaired, if not ruined altogether by such a scurrilous connection. It is doubtful even your money and position could overcome such a scandal. You cannot expect me to be a part of that!”
“Very well, I shall not ask. You already know Georgiana's feelings on the matter. I would not risk her reputation if she did not support me.”
“Darcy! Open your eyes! This will not go away easily. Wickham will plague you into penury with blackmail and the constant threat of exposing your wife's dishonorable history.”
“I disagree. If I find her in time, it will be my word against his, which is worth very little in our circles,” Darcy countered stubbornly. “I would not be the first in our society to take advantage of a young lady's affection before marriage.”
“There would still be talk, and you know it.”
“And it will be forgot in time. There is always some new tittle-tattle to divert the gossips. Perhaps Caroline Lamb will favor us with another escapade,” he added dryly.
Richard stared hard into Darcy's eyes. “You are being a fool, Darcy, and you will drag the whole family into scandal and disgrace with you! Give Pemberley to Wickham's child? Madness fit only for Bedlam! I just pray that you come to your senses before it is too late. Elizabeth Bennet could not possibly be worth the price you will pay for this debacle!”
“Oh, she is, Richard,” Darcy met
the stare unwaveringly. “She is. I have only to find her in time.”
Chapter 18
“There has to be some mistake, Mr. Darcy,” Jane Bennet's passionate words came with more force than Darcy had ever imagined her capable of. “She may have been mistaken about Mr. Wickham's character, but as for your appalling conclusion – Lizzy would never…she could never do such a thing!”
“I apologize for speaking frankly, Miss Bennet; but we must deal with the facts if we are to have any hope of finding her; and time is too short for a greater degree of delicacy.”
Disclosing the news that Elizabeth had never been received at Magdalen House and the significant meaning behind that fact had not been a pleasant task for Darcy. Although shocking for everyone, Georgiana's response had been admirable as was Bingley's, but it was Jane's reaction that sent a pang through Darcy's heart. The look of determination now on her face was an exact copy of Elizabeth's, right down to the stubborn lift of her chin.
Seeking some distance from the painful reminder, Darcy moved to the window and lifted his teacup to his lips. It was nearly full, but the dark liquid which had been poured at the outset of the visit was now disagreeably cold. As he set his cup and saucer back onto the tray, he could see that any thoughts of refreshment were long forgotten by everyone in the room.
“It cannot be true!” Jane insisted. Her grief at the mounting evidence of Elizabeth's fallen state warred painfully with the fierce loyalty shared by the two sisters. “She would have said something to me before she left; some indication of her trouble, I am certain of it!”
“Perhaps she had not the time. Who is to say?” Darcy replied, coming to stand in front of Jane. “The best we can do for your sister now is to find her. Can you not think of anyone to whom she may have gone?”
“No! We know no one in London other than my Aunt and Uncle Gardiner; and she is not with them. There is no one else.”
“Try, Miss Bennet, try! For your father to have sent her off so willingly there must be someone!” Darcy pressed. “A distant relative or friend?”