Saving Elizabeth Bennet

by Melanie Schertz

“But you are Lord Matlock’s son. He will need you now.” “He will despise me now. It would shock me if he has not already sent for his solicitor to have me disowned completely. No, with my brother’s death, I am no longer welcome in the family.”

  “I have seen enough here. Let us make our way to Darcy House.” Lord Bentley suggested.

  ~~ ** ~~ Arriving at his cousin’s home, Colonel Fitzwilliam discovered two messages for him. The first was from his mother, informing him of his brother’s death and begging him to come to their home as soon as he could. The second message was from his father. It confirmed what Richard knew his father would say.

  Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam. You are hereby informed of the death of your brother, Anthony, my sole heir. He was murdered, and I am certain you know why. I have informed my staff that you and your cousins are not welcome in my homes. You have been disinherited and I refuse to have any further contact with you. Darcy made his choice, to choose a harlot over family, so he may live the rest of his days with no notice from me, your mother, or even my sister, Lady Catherine. Please pass along this information to your cousins. This is the final contact I intend to have with any of you. Lord Matlock, Henry Fitzwilliam

  “Richard, you are returned.” Darcy said as he came down the stairs. “Mr Jarvis stated there were messages delivered for you, from Matlock House.”

  “I just read them. You should read this one from your uncle.” Richard handed the letter from his father to Darcy. Darcy’s jaw nearly struck the floor at Lord Matlock’s words.

  Looking at his cousin, Darcy could not find the words to apologize to him. After several moments, Darcy was finally able to speak. “Forgive me, Richard. I should never have gotten you involved in this situation.”

  “You did nothing to drag me into this mess. I volunteered my assistance, especially after meeting Miss Elizabeth. Anthony was the one gambling, destroying his inheritance and dragging our father down with him. Armstrong was the one who committed the wrongs which have brought so much pain. Miss Elizabeth is an innocent young lady and deserves my protection over my brother. Anthony is responsible for his own death, he made the choice to continue to go to Armstrong’s establishments. I had no intention to sacrifice the life of an innocent young lady, just so my brother could continue his distrustful way of living. I am a colonel in his majesty’s service. To turn my back on Miss Elizabeth would be tantamount to my allowing the French to invade England. Even now, after learning of my brother’s death, I cannot imagine having done any differently than we did. The people we are protecting are decent, kind, and worthy of my protection.”

  “You have been disinherited. You should be the next in line to the title and property.” Richard laughed bitterly. “There is nothing left, Darce. My brother has destroyed the estate and the family holdings. I am not losing anything. My mother wishes me to come to her, but she will have to accept her husband’s dictates. You and Georgiana have always been dear to me. I do not regret my decision. I have never understood Anthony, you know that. You have always been closer to me, more of a brother to me.”

  Clapping a hand on his cousin’s shoulder, Darcy nodded. “You have always been a man of honor, Richard. Far more than the earl and viscount. I am proud to have you as my family, as I have always thought of you as a brother, rather than a cousin.”

  Richard nodded his head. “We should speak to Georgiana and inform the others as well. How do you think Miss Elizabeth will react to the news?”

  “She will most likely blame herself, though it is not her fault.” Darcy replied.

  ~~ ** ~~ The Gardiners and Bennets were gathered in the drawing room with Bingley and Georgiana when Colonel Fitzwilliam and Darcy entered the room. Georgiana could sense immediately that something had happened. She crossed the room and wrapped her arms around her brother. “What is wrong?”

  “Everyone, we have some news to share with all of you. We received news that Colonel Fitzwilliam’s brother, Anthony, was found murdered.”

  Gasps could be heard throughout the room. Elizabeth shook her head and stood, walking towards the door of the drawing room. Darcy took hold of her arm, attempting to stop her. She flinched

  involuntarily from the grip of his hand. Though it was not painful, the memories of another man’s vise like grip made her recoil. “My fault.” She stated through her clenched jaw. “No more deaths.”

  “You cannot believe that turning yourself over to Armstrong will protect anyone. Besides, Anthony’s death was not your fault. He was a gambler, frequenting Armstrong’s establishment. He owed the monster a very steep amount, enough to ruin Lord Matlock and force him to sell his property or allow his heir to be placed in debtor’s prison. No matter what happened with you, Anthony caused his own demise.”

  “William is correct, Miss Elizabeth. My father knew of the danger of allowing my brother to continue his carefree lifestyle, gambling away the bulk of the family investments. If my father does not lose Matlock, I will be amazed.”

  “When are you going to see your parents, Richard?” Georgiana asked. “William and I should go with you.”

  “We are not welcome at Matlock House, Georgiana.” Colonel Fitzwilliam replied. “Due to my not siding with my father and brother, I have been officially disowned. I would not be allowed to enter the townhouse. Hopefully, my mother will send my belongings here.”

  Tears were flowing from Elizabeth’s eyes. Shaking her head, she pulled free from Darcy and ran from the room. Georgiana held her brother in place. “She needs some time, William. Last night was horrifying, and now this. She is frightened. I should not tell you, but it is best I do. Elizabeth has nightmares, of being in Armstrong’s study, of the beating, and even of what could have happened. Allow her some time to gather her thoughts.”

  “We need to keep watch, so she does not do anything foolish. Elizabeth is the sort who would sacrifice herself rather than allow anyone else to be harmed.” Darcy said, as he wrapped his arms around his sister.

  Mrs Gardiner rose from her chair. “I will see to Lizzy.”

  ~~ ** ~~ Not waiting to knock on the door of her niece’s room, Mrs Gardiner entered to find her niece lying across her bed. She walked to the bed and sat down beside Elizabeth’s form. Patting her niece on the back, Mrs Gardiner said not a word until Elizabeth had cried herself dry.

  “Lizzy, you are not to blame. Mr Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam do not blame you for the death of the colonel’s brother. The man led a life which placed himself in jeopardy, visiting such establishments, and behaving recklessly. Your uncle told me that most gambling establishments are in unsavory areas of Town, and there are many people who would rob and kill a young man of wealth. We have no certainty that Mr Armstrong was involved in the matter at all. Though we all believe he was, there is no proof. It could be a coincidence that it happened.”

  “So tired of living like this.” Elizabeth felt some pain as she spoke through her teeth. She was clinching her jaw tightly.

  “Like what?” Mrs Gardiner asked. “Fear, danger everywhere. All because of me. Mr Armstrong is evil. He will not stop. Who will he harm next?”

  “We are not willing to hand you over to him. All that stands against evil triumphing is good people doing what is right and just. We are now all together, in this lovely house, and safe. I know how frightened we have all been for you, and now we are together. Jane is improving, and she is finally allowing herself to enjoy Mr Bingley’s attentions. Mary and Kitty are well, and both are pleased to be here with you. Mr Darcy has a garden in the back of the house, which is safe and secure, where we can enjoy the fresh air and sunshine each day. And there is a wonderful library with so many books, which will keep you satisfied. Georgiana and Mary have already discussed music with each other. It is also my belief that Colonel Fitzwilliam will need all of us to be his family now. He did not approve of his brother’s behavior, but it was still his brother. With his father disowning him, it is important he knows that we all care about him and accept him as a part of our family.”r />
  “What will happen?” “I am not sure, my dear Lizzy. We will take each day as it comes. All I know for certain is, we are here, together, and you had a guardian angel watching over you last night. How else would word have come, alerting the men to come to rescue you, and send word for us to move in the middle of the night? Someone sent an angel to watch over all of us. Now, go into your dressing room and wash your face. Your eyes are swollen and red from crying. It is nearly time for luncheon, so we will return to the rest of our extended family.”

  Elizabeth nodded her head. She went to the dressing room, wetting the corner of a towel in the cool water from the pitcher. Dabbing the cool, wet cloth on her eyes, she felt the puffiness receding.

  Looking into the peer glass, Elizabeth noticed some of her hair had come from under her wrappings holding her jaw in place. There were still a few weeks until she was free from the bandaging, but she was more than ready for the strips of cloth to be gone. Carefully, she unwound her head, tossing the cloth on the vanity table. She moved her jaw slightly, finding the pain to be tolerable.

  Leaving the bandages on the vanity, Elizabeth pulled her hair back and pinned it into a simple bun at the back of her head. Running her fingers down her gown, she brushed away some of the wrinkles from when she was lying on the bed.

  Entering the bedchambers, Elizabeth surprised her aunt. “Lizzy, you are supposed to leave the bandages on for at least another fortnight, if not three weeks.”

  “No more. I am tired of them. My jaw is tender, but not as bad as it was.” “If you injure yourself further, you will have no one but yourself to blame.” Mrs Gardiner said as she walked over to her niece, wrapping her in a motherly embrace. “I love you, Elizabeth. All of us care deeply for you. We would all be distraught if we lost you. Keep that in mind, and do not ever speak of sacrificing yourself to Mr Armstrong. That sort of man would kill you, and then punish the rest of us to set an example.”

  “I love you, Aunt Helen. Thank you, so much. To be honest, so much has happened in such a short time. I miss Mamma and Papa, and Lydia too. I am pleased to see Jane improving, though I wish she had never been made to suffer. And then I was beaten, and forced to stay away from all of you for weeks.”

  “I will be here for you, always and forever. You have not had a chance to truly mourn your parents and Lydia. With your removal before their funeral, and the care you gave Jane, you had no time to mourn properly. Then you took employment, and could not grieve when with Miss Armstrong. Remember, your parents are with you, in your heart and your memories. Draw from their strength and the love they shared with you.”

  Elizabeth nodded her head against her aunt’s shoulder. “I know, Aunt Helen. But I must also separate myself from the family soon. I will not allow the taint of impropriety which I must now bear to touch your family or my sisters. I cannot allow all of you to be ruined alongside of me.”

  “I know society deems you as ruined, but I do not agree with how society thinks. You did nothing wrong. You were defending yourself. If you had not, and had allowed him to behave in a vile way towards you, I would have been very disappointed in you. But your courage rose and fought valiantly.”

  “Why is it that society overlooks the behavior of the men in perpetrating such acts, yet scorn the ladies who are the victims? It is not fair.”

  “My dear Lizzy, I have often wondered that same question. You have no notion of how many times I wish I had a red hot poker to teach some men a very long lasting lesson.”

  Elizabeth’s eyes lowered towards her hands, wringing in front of her. “Aunt, I dream of what happened. Some nights, I wake with a start, soaked with perspiration, full of fear and anxiety. When Mr Darcy took hold of my arm, my first thought was to strike him to release his grasp on my arm, afraid of being beaten. I know Mr Darcy would not strike me, but my first reaction was fear of being struck.

  “It is not uncommon, Elizabeth. You are still recovering from something which was vicious and violent. There is nothing wrong with your body and mind returning to that survival instinct which is part of you. Perhaps you should speak with Mr Darcy, explain to him why you tensed when he took hold of your arm.”

  “I cannot imagine speaking of such to him.” Elizabeth blushed. Mrs Gardiner smiled. “Lizzy, the man cares for you. And I am certain he would do anything for you, even listen to your concerns and fears. Do not hold them inside you, letting them fester. By giving voice to your feelings, and moving forward with life, you take away any power Mr Armstrong has over you. What is your favorite saying? Remember the past only as it brings you pleasure. Do not give that beast any further hold of you, Lizzy. Speak with Mr Darcy.”

  “I will think on your suggestion, Aunt Helen. I cannot promise any more than that.” Elizabeth gave a weak smile to her aunt.

  ~~ ** ~~ Armstrong was furious. He had received confirmation that the Gardiners and their nieces were all securely established inside Darcy House. With Darcy’s security measures, Armstrong knew the townhouse would be a veritable fortress. The death of Anthony Fitzwilliam had not caused Colonel Fitzwilliam and Darcy to abandon their defense of Elizabeth Bennet, in fact, their efforts appeared to have increased. It became public knowledge, within days of the murder, that Lord Matlock had disowned his younger son and nephew. The funeral for his heir was held in private, with only a few close friends allowed.

  Since the funeral, Lord Matlock had isolated himself in his townhouse. Word from his staff claimed that the earl was well into his cups most of the time. Lady Matlock had fled to return to their estate, wishing to be alone, as she was angry with her husband for his behavior. She had had Richard’s belongings packed up and sent to Darcy House, disobeying her husband’s demand to burn everything which had been Richard’s.

  Nearly a month had gone by and Armstrong was no closer to a resolution to the matter. Whenever he was in public, there were whispers and fingers pointed in his direction. Armstrong was strong enough to endure such behavior, but his daughter was being ignored and even shunned. Lucy was dear to him, and he would protect her in any way possible. Each day which went by with his daughter being treated as a leper, the angrier Armstrong grew.

  I will no longer be satisfied with punishing Elizabeth Bennet, I must punish Bingley as well. If he had refrained from forcing his way into my study, removing Elizabeth Bennet from my grasp, there would have been no problems. But now, now I am a laughing stock. My daughter is being punished due to her former companion’s behavior. The whore should have just submitted to me. It is all her fault. And she must be using her charms and allurement to make Fitzwilliam and Darcy defend her so, forgetting their family obligations. They must have been gifted with her delights to be so enamored.

  Gardiner, he is nobody of importance. He is an insect, needing to be squashed. His family would have been simple enough to deal with, if not for the aid of Darcy and his cousin. Now, with them all concentrated in one location, how am I to exact my revenge? I must have my revenge.

  ~~ ** ~~ Each day that went by, Bingley was able to spend more time with Jane. She had finally accepted the measures Mr Johnston had insisted upon to improve her health and make her stronger. Realizing that Bingley truly had feelings for her, feelings which looked past her disability, improved her outlook on life.

  After breaking their fast each morning, with the rest of their party, Bingley would push Jane in a wheeled chair around the gardens, when the weather permitted. It was clear they cared for each other, and Darcy realized he was wrong to have been part of separating them when Bingley was at Netherfield.

  Elizabeth spent many hours reading in the library or the music room. The temptation of Darcy House’s library was far too great for her to withstand, and she enjoyed the vast selection that was now available to her. She was also pleased to spend time with Darcy, as he devoted many hours a day to her.

  One day, towards the end of the first week, Darcy took Elizabeth on a tour of the house. On the main level were mostly the public rooms, the ballroom, a formal dining ro
om, a breakfast room, the kitchen, a drawing room which was far too formal for Darcy’s tastes, as he preferred the comfort of the second floor drawing room. The first floor was furnished more ornate, and Darcy spoke of his desire to have the rooms renovated one day soon.

  “I prefer how Pemberley feels now, after I had it remodeled. The public rooms there were decorated similar to these, due to my mother’s tastes. These chairs are so uncomfortable, there is no point in sitting on them.”

  Elizabeth was surprised with his declaration, though it brought a smile to her face. When they reached the second floor, the more personal touch of the master was clear to see. The chairs in the drawing room and music room were quality, but far more comfortable, amply padded and no sharp edges. These rooms called out a welcome to those who entered. There was a family wing located on the north end of the townhouse’s second floor. Not far away was the library, a large portion of the second floor. Off to the south of the library was the Master’s study. Near the music room was the Mistress’ study. Most of the third floor was guest rooms and the nursery. Along the hall near the library were family portraits hanging on the walls.

  It was clear to see where Darcy had garnered his looks. He appeared to be as tall of his father had been, with curly black hair and dark, piercing eyes. With the same chin and nose, the same shape of his face, Elizabeth was certain it would have been difficult to know which were which if they had placed the painting of Gerald Darcy side by side with one of Fitzwilliam Darcy at the same age. The portrait showed his father with a cold expression on his face, making him seem proud and heartless. Moving forward to the portrait of Darcy’s mother, Elizabeth was surprised to see a similar look upon her expression. How could these people appear to be so heartless, when their son is just the opposite? Of course, Mr Darcy gives all the appearance of cruelty and pride, yet shows such a different side in private. I am pleased to see how wrong I was with regards to him, but, now, my heart breaks for how sad his childhood must have been.