Through the Window 2

by Mary Jane Ballew

  “Yes, I have no doubt that Captain Hathaway would recognize Wickham,” Darcy said as he considered what his brother-in-law might be doing in London.

  Richard drank his port, then said, “Maines said he saw Wickham again just last night at the Dark Horse Inn.”

  “Why would Wickham come all this way and not go to Longbourn to see his wife?” Charles asked him.

  Darcy finished his brandy, “I can well imagine why,” he said with disgust in his voice. “He was either here to gamble, or spend time with someone that he did not wish his wife to know about.”

  Richard leaned forward in his chair. “I believe the latter is the reason. Maines said he saw Wickham with Lady Michelle DuVernay, the young wife to Lord Avery DuVernay,” Richard told him.

  “Who is Lord DuVernay?” Darcy asked him. “I do not recall hearing the name before?”

  “Lord DuVernay is a very wealthy man who, like many others, did not want to remain in Paris after Bonaparte took over. They both escaped from France and came here to London. From what Maines told me, Lord DuVernay still has connections to those who hold positions of power in France and the crown has used him to gather any information they can to help defeat Napoleon.”

  Darcy narrowed his eyes, “I wonder, does Lord DuVernay know that his wife is meeting with the likes of Wickham?” he commented sarcastically.

  Richard drank his port, “If it was truly Wickham meeting with Lady DuVernay, do you think it is possible that he was telling Lydia the truth about spying for Colonel Wellington?” he asked hardly able to believe it.

  “I think it more likely that Wickham is having a dalliance with the Lady in question. You did say she is younger than her husband and that they were seen together at an Inn.” Darcy commented.

  Richard nodded his head, “I believe she is younger than her husband, yes.”

  “Should we inform Mr. Bennet of Wickham’s appearance here in London?” Charles asked him. “He has a right to know what Wickham is up to. Mr. Bennet should know how abominably Wickham is treating poor Lydia at such a time. Good grief, she is having his child! The man’s actions are beyond the pale!” he said as he put out his cigar and finished his ale.

  Darcy thought it over, “I am not sure that we should say anything to Mr. Bennet just yet. Sadly, there is nothing that can be done even if he did know. Wickham is a rake, we all know this to be true. That he is off with another woman while his wife is with child is not surprising,” he told him.

  Richard leaned back in his chair. “Lieutenant Maines did say that it is possible Wickham may have met Lady DuVernay while he was in the north. The lady has a sister who lives in Newcastle that she goes to visit from time to time.”

  Darcy shook his head, “Perhaps you should ask around, see what else you can learn about the Lady DuVernay,” he told him. “I have never known Wickham to take such a risk as meeting with a married woman who is so widely known. Even for him, this is somewhat surprising.”

  “I will do my best to see what I can learn,” Richard told him. “I believe Hathaway will be of use to us; he knows Wickham from our days together at Pemberley. He knows the kind of man he is. And he will have the added advantage of being able to make inquiries without alerting Wickham that we are checking on him.”

  “Will you call on Hathaway soon?” Darcy asked him.

  “I can call on him tomorrow if you like,” Richard told him. “Maines made mention that they are both staying at the Dark Horse Inn. I will send a note at once asking him to meet with me tomorrow.”

  “I think that a very good idea,” Darcy told him.

  Jonathan watched as his father led Mary back towards the house. He could hear Mary and her sisters laughing as his father told her stories about Jonathan when he was a young boy. He took his mother’s arm in his, and he walked back towards the house with her. “I must say, I am astonished by how at ease my father is this afternoon. I hardly know the man; he is so very different from who he has always been. Tell me, Mama, did you threaten him with some chastisement if he did not behave himself?”

  Mrs. Godwin shook her head, “I did no such thing,” she scolded him for saying so. She looked at her husband and smiled, “If, as you say, your father is different, then I believe I know the reason.”

  “You must tell me what it is,” Jonathan encouraged her.

  Mrs. Godwin smiled as she looked up at her son. “Can you not guess why he is so very different, Jonathan?”

  He shook his head, “Truly; I cannot. I am astounded by this change in him. He is so very agreeable. Why, I believe Miss Bennet considers him charming?” he laughed just a little.

  Mrs. Godwin sighed, “I believe he is happy to know you have found someone whom you love and can share your life with,” she began to say. “But I am sure there is another motive at work here as well.”

  Jonathan arched his brow, “Tell me then, Mama, what it is, for I know not what to make of this extraordinary change in his manner and speech.”

  Mrs. Godwin stopped for a moment and turned to look at her son. “Oh my dear Jonathan, I think perhaps it is time that I share something with you,” she told him. “A secret that I pray will help you better understand why this news of your marrying would bring such a change to your father’s heart and much joy to my own.”

  Jonathan furrowed his brow, “You sound very serious all of the sudden,” he commented. “What is it? What do you wish to tell me?”

  She hesitated for just a moment as her face grew anxious. “It is something that happened so long ago now that it almost seems another life to me,” she began to say as tears formed in her eyes. “After you were born and before Thomas came along, your father and I had the most beautiful, precious little baby girl the world has ever known.”

  Jonathan’s eyes narrowed. “A sister?” he said hardly able to believe it.

  Mrs. Godwin nodded her head as she sniffled in and pulled her handkerchief from her sleeve. “She was a beautiful little thing, with silky, soft brown curls atop her head, beautiful blue eyes, and chubby little pink cheeks,” she said as she remembered the little babe she had lost.

  Jonathan did not miss the sorrow in her voice, “What happened to her, Mama?” he asked softly.

  Mrs. Godwin began walking again with Jonathan. “No one really knows how she died,” she said as the memory of it came back to her. “Not even the doctor could explain to us what had happened,” she began to say. “Her name was Sophia; your father always loved that name. Sophia was no more than three months old when I placed her in her cradle for the night to sleep. Everything seemed just as it always was. I nursed her and rocked her to sleep, but in the morning when I went to get her, something was terribly wrong. Her little lifeless body lay there before me, and I knew she was gone,” she said as she struggled with her emotions.

  “I am so sorry, Mama, I had no idea that you and father suffered such a loss,” he told her.

  She gently dabbed at the tears in her eyes with her handkerchief, “It is all right, Jonathan,” she assured him. “I have made peace with the loss a long time ago. The pain is there; it comes back to haunt me from time to time, but not so bad as it once was,” she sniffled in and swallowed to keep her voice from breaking. “I will admit, there has been a void in my life, and I think in your father’s life as well. Losing our little angel was so difficult for us both to come to terms with.”

  Why did you not tell me before now about Sophia?” Jonathan asked her.

  “There never seemed to be a right time to do so. And in truth, it has never been easy for me to talk about. I suppose in some ways, I blamed myself, although your father would not hear of it. He has always been so supportive and strong for my sake through it all,” Mrs. Godwin said sadly. She took in a deep breath and sniffled in again. “I am only telling you now so you might better understand the change in your father and do not doubt his sincere desire to mend the rift between you. I know the two of you have had your differences, but I truly believe he wants to make things right between you. He i
nformed me after the two of you last talked that he intended to leave Pembroke to you and Mary. He wants this to one day be your home as it should be.”

  Jonathan did not know what to say, “I am astonished by this change of heart on his part,” he told her.

  Mrs. Godwin smiled, “Jonathan, your father is a proud man, but I believe now that you have brought Mary into our lives, that hole in both our hearts might finally be filled. After meeting Mary, I am sure of it. She is a very special sort of girl, and in many ways, she is exactly the best possible choice for you. I believe Mary will be the daughter your father was never allowed to dote on,” she said as she looked back over at her husband. “And if you should have a daughter someday, well I think your father will be very pleased.”

  Jonathan smiled as he struggled to keep his own emotions in check. “Mama, God does work in such strange ways,” he told her. “For I think knowing you and father will go a long way to help to fill a hole in Mary’s heart as well.”

  Mrs. Godwin patted her son's hand, “She is a very lovely girl, Jonathan. I find I like her very much. She is a bit reserved, but I think I can draw her out of herself,” she said with a sparkle in her eye.

  Jonathan leaned over and kissed his mother on the cheek, “I know you can, Mama, you have such a way about you.”

  It was late by the time Elizabeth returned to Windham house. After saying goodnight to both her sisters, she made her way up to her room to find William waiting for her. “I hope you have not been waiting too long for me?” she said as she came into the room.

  Darcy looked up from his book and smiled, “I trust by the smile on your face that things went well with Mr. and Mrs. Godwin,” he commented.

  Elizabeth smiled, “Things went very well, actually,” she told him. “In fact, I believe Admiral Godwin was very taken with Mary; he chatted with her as if they were old friends. I have never seen my sister so at ease before. And Mr. Godwin was so agreeable and so very amiable with Mary. I can see it in his eyes; when he looks at Mary, he already sees a daughter. Mary will be very happy, I think,” she said as she walked over and knelt in front of his chair. She looked into his eyes and smiled. “I missed you tonight, Mr. Darcy.”

  Darcy looked into her beautiful, brown eyes and saw the desire there, “Did you indeed, Mrs. Darcy?”

  She nodded her head as she reached up and began caressing his cheek, “In fact, I missed you so much that I could think of little else except coming home and showing you how very much I love and adore you,” she said in a rather seductive voice.

  Darcy set his book aside and helped her up as he himself stood up, “Well, by all means then, you must show me,” he encouraged her.

  Elizabeth smiled as she reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, “Well, first I must change out of my gown,” she said as she gently kissed him on the mouth. “I was wondering though; would you like to help me, or shall I go and ring for Genevieve?” she whispered softly.

  Darcy shook his head as he lifted her into his arms, “I believe I can manage very well,” he said as he carried her over to their bed.

  Chapter Four

  Elizabeth opened her eyes to find her husband looking down at her. “You look very well rested,” she commented. “Did you sleep well?”

  Darcy smiled, “I slept very well,” he assured her. “How could I do otherwise after such a splendid welcome you gave me when you returned home last night?”

  Elizabeth blushed a little, “Perhaps I was a bit too brazen, I think,” she said suddenly feeling rather self-conscious.

  Darcy played with her hair, “No Elizabeth, you were perfectly wonderful,” he assured her. “You have nothing to feel embarrassed about. The feelings you expressed and the passion you demonstrated was perfectly natural between us. I would not have you any other way.”

  She smiled, “Thank you for saying so, William,” she said as she kissed him, then laid her head down upon his shoulder. She thought about her own mother and father’s marriage. She considered how detached and unfeeling they always were with one another. Elizabeth thought about the discussion her mother had with her just before her wedding. Mrs. Bennet described the role of wife as one of duty and acquiescence. She thought about her own matrimonial experience thus far, and she realized just how empty her parents’ marriage truly was. Of course, her mother would see the relationship she had with Elizabeth’s father as a duty that must be complied with. There was no love or true passion between her parents, only obligation. She considered her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner’s marriage as a better example of what marriage should be, or that of Mr. and Mrs. Godwin’s. “I must say, as I watched Admiral Godwin with his wife, I found myself thinking how very blessed they are. I believe he loves her very dearly, he was so attentive to her and took such care with her the whole evening.”

  “Has Mrs. Godwin improved much, or is she still very ill?” Darcy asked.

  Elizabeth smiled, “I believe she is better,” she laughed a little, “Or perhaps it is as Mrs. Godwin said and the talk of her poor health has been grossly exaggerated,” she repeated the older lady’s words.

  “Sounds as if you enjoyed Mrs. Godwin’s company,” he commented.

  Elizabeth nodded her head. “I did enjoy her company very much. She is very amiable, and I think Mary will do very well with the Godwins. I am very happy for my sister. Mrs. Godwin will help keep Mary from being too serious.”

  “You make her sound quite delightful. I look forward to meeting her,” Darcy said.

  Elizabeth sat up suddenly and said, “That brings to mind; why did you not tell me we are to dine with your Aunt and Uncle Fitzwilliam tonight?” she asked him, pretending to be upset. “I felt perfectly silly when Mrs. Godwin remarked that we would all be together again soon when we dine with your aunt and uncle, and I knew nothing about it.”

  Darcy’s eyes narrowed. “I was not aware that my aunt was acquainted with Admiral Godwin and Mrs. Godwin.”

  Elizabeth shook her head and arched her brow, “That is not the point,” she told him. “You did not tell me we are to go to meet your aunt and uncle.”

  “You are quite right, it was very remiss of me not to tell you,” he admitted. “My only excuse for being so thoughtless is that I am still not accustomed to consulting with another before I accept an invitation. When I accepted, I had it in mind that if you had plans, you would have informed me of them, so I took it upon myself to accept for us and then forgot all about it.”

  Elizabeth wrapped her arms around his neck and furrowed her brow, “A capital offense to be sure, Mr. Darcy,” she scolded him. “You will have to make it up to me.”

  “How shall I do that?” he asked her. “Buy you a new hat, or perhaps, a new gown?”

  Elizabeth smiled mischievously and shook her head no, “I had quite another thought in mind…” she said softly as she leaned up and kissed him.

  Darcy pulled her closer just as a knock came to the door. Elizabeth moved away from him as Darcy got up and put on his robe. He went to the door and opened it. “Yes, what is it?”

  “I beg your pardon, sir, but this letter came for you,” Howard told him. “I would not have disturbed you this morning, but the gentleman said the letter was from your aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. He insisted that I deliver the letter to you at once without delay. He said it was of the utmost importance.”

  Darcy took the letter and nodded his head. “Thank you, Howard,” he said before closing the door and walking back over to the bed. “My Aunt Catherine has written to me,” he told Elizabeth.

  “What does she say?” she asked him.

  Darcy opened the letter and read it over. “She has written to inform me that she is in town and that she wishes to see Georgiana and me along with my cousin Richard, but that she has no desire to see you.”

  Elizabeth smiled as she got up and pulled on her robe. “I wonder; does she mean to slight me in some way by not inviting me to call upon her?” she laughed. “She will be sadly disappointed to find that I am not in t
he least bit upset that she does not wish to have me call upon her. In fact, I feel quite the opposite.”

  Darcy sighed, “Elizabeth, this is no laughing matter,” he informed her. “She has purposely gone out of her way to insult you. It cannot go on. I will not have her mistreating you.”

  Elizabeth walked over and wrapped her arms around him, “Lady Catherine cannot harm me. What can she do that will hurt me?” she asked him. “As long as I have you, I am very happy.”

  Darcy did his best to be patient with Elizabeth so that she might understand the gravity of the situation. “As happy as I am to hear you speak such sentiment, there is a great deal she can do to make life more difficult for you while we are here. She knows a great many people, and she could use her influence to see to it that you are not invited to any social engagements.”

  Elizabeth chewed her lip and arched her brow, “I am not sure what can be done, William. I do not think she will change her mind about me anytime soon and I do not plan to go and grovel before her as my cousin does, so she will bestow some kindness on me.”