In the Wilds of Derbyshire

by Jann Rowland

  “Of course, I will. But I shall not cease my attempts to discover what has happened to my wife.”

  “Nor would I expect you to.”

  They sat in silence for several moments, and Bingley resumed sipping his previously forgotten drink. For his part, Darcy did not know what to think. His primary goal was to ensure that Elizabeth was protected and suffered as little as possible, but he understood Bingley’s wishes as well. It was a difficult situation, indeed.

  “I presume your earlier words concerning Caroline were also with respect to your engagement to Lizzy,” said Bingley at last.

  “You are aware of her hopes with respect to me,” replied Darcy. “Now that slight hope which might have existed for her must be extinguished. While I sympathize with her disappointment, she has been told repeatedly that I will not consider offering for her.

  “She was not even tolerable this morning, Bingley,” continued Darcy, speaking quietly. “Her behavior toward Elizabeth bordered on hateful, and I would not see a guest in my home treated so poorly, even were she not my fiancée.”

  “It has always been thus,” replied Bingley, “but I do not disagree with you. I will speak to Caroline and warn her to curb her tongue. I suppose if all else fails I can send her to my aunt in Scarborough. She will not like it, but as she cannot go to the Hursts, it is the only place left for her.” Bingley paused and grinned. “The threat of it might be enough to tame her, as long as she believes me to be in earnest. To be banished from Pemberley would be a blow to her vanity she would never tolerate.”

  “Then go to it.”

  In the end, the friends spent some hours together in the study, speaking of nothing of consequence. It was good to have Bingley back, Darcy reflected. Bingley was his closest friend for a reason, and Darcy would not wish to give him up.

  Chapter XXVII

  Though Colonel Fitzwilliam might have wished to be at Pemberley to witness the scene which had played out there, he was absent, having decided to call on Lady Emily. Thus, when Miss Bennet and Miss Drummond were stepping out of the carriage on the steps of Pemberley, Fitzwilliam was riding down the drive toward the house at Teasdale Manor.

  He dismounted in front of the house, passed his horse off to the care of a groom, and mounted the steps. The door was opened a few moments after he rapped on it by the butler, who was familiar with him by that time.

  “I am sorry, Colonel,” said Gates, “but Lady Emily is not home this morning. She is calling on some friends.”

  “I see,” said Fitzwilliam.

  “But the earl has indicated a desire to speak with you. May I lead you to him?”

  Fitzwilliam was of two minds about the earl’s wish, but he readily agreed and was led into the house. As he walked behind Gates, Fitzwilliam thought of what had brought him to this house. It was, unfortunately, a mystery, even to Fitzwilliam, and something he knew he would never be able to explain to anyone else. He had interfered with Lady Emily’s attempts to hinder Darcy and Miss Bennet’s courtship, but he had seen her several times since. Often, he had simply served as a willing ear, giving the woman support as she determined her own reasons for her actions, while at times they had spoken of many different subjects.

  But why did he do it? Was it for the joy of her company? In fact, he found that he did enjoy speaking with Lady Emily. She was intelligent and articulate, and she was certainly attractive. Or was it simply the fact that he felt sorry for the woman? He did not think so, though it was possible. Whatever it was, he was now on his way to meet with her father, who would likely wish to know what his purpose was, and unfortunately, Fitzwilliam did not think he could answer the question with any confidence.

  Though he might have expected to be led to the earl’s study, it was to the sitting-room Fitzwilliam was directed, and when they entered, the earl looked up from where he was sitting on a chair, a letter held in his hand.

  “Ah, Colonel Fitzwilliam,” said the earl, rising at his entrance. “I thought you might visit us today. Please, have a seat.”

  Fitzwilliam did as he was bid, waiting while the earl ordered some refreshments. When the butler left, the earl settled back onto his chair, studying him in a manner Fitzwilliam did not quite like.

  “It seems to me you have been here several times in the past days,” said the earl after a moment.

  “I have,” replied Fitzwilliam, though he was determined not to give anything away until the man asked.

  “A man might wonder if a single man who visits so often possesses intentions toward his daughter.”

  “I assure you I have only honorable intentions,” said Fitzwilliam.

  The earl looked at him for a moment before he looked away. “You do not need to fear anything from me, Fitzwilliam. I am aware of your character, and I have no suspicion of anything underhanded. I would, however, wish to fully understand your motivation for coming here. My daughter, as you know, recently suffered a disappointment with your cousin, though I do not know to what extent she wished for his attentions as she will not tell me. I do not think she was overly affected, but she is still recovering, and I am protective of her.”

  “I understand your concern,” said Fitzwilliam, speaking with great care, as he did not wish the earl to misconstrue his words. “I find . . .” He stopped, uncertain of what to say. When he saw the other man watching him carefully, Fitzwilliam sighed and put out his hands. “I believe you are aware that initially, my intentions were to obstruct your daughter’s machinations with respect to Darcy and Miss Bennet.”

  “Oh?” asked the earl, though the knowing glint in his eye suggested this was not surprising.

  “I knew of Darcy’s interest in Miss Bennet, indeed, long before Darcy himself was even aware of it. I could also see Lady Emily fixed on him, and I determined that she would not keep Darcy from the object of his affections.”

  The earl laughed. “A loyal man! There are few traits which would garner my approval more quickly than loyalty. I am curious, however—your cousin has been, by all accounts, a target on the marriage mart for some time. I would have thought he would be able to handle his own concerns.”

  “He usually is. But for some reason, he was blinded by Lady Emily’s behavior and had no real indication that she wished for his attentions. He is adept at spotting a fortune hunter, but Lady Emily is not in need of a fortune.”

  “And why did you not tell him before?”

  “Because I was not certain myself,” replied Fitzwilliam honestly. “At first, I had only suspicions, and by the time those were confirmed, I chose to distract her away from him by means of engaging myself.”

  The earl gave him a steady look. “It seems to me, sir, that your decision suggests you wished to be in her company rather than simply wishing to keep her away from your cousin.”

  It was a possibility Fitzwilliam had not considered. This line of questioning had made him a little nervous—the earl could have charged that Fitzwilliam had made her ultimate humiliation worse by not telling Darcy, and Fitzwilliam could not have denied the possibility. It was another interpretation of his behavior that he had not even thought of himself.

  “Fitzwilliam,” said the earl, “I do not hold your failure to inform your cousin against you.” The earl paused and chuckled. “I know my daughter. She is headstrong and stubborn, and she possesses more than a little of her mother’s haughtiness. For all this, she is a good woman, loyal—like yourself—clever, confident, and I believe she is not at all ill-favored.”

  “No, sir,” replied Fitzwilliam quietly. “Quite the opposite, in fact.”

  “I am not surprised you would feel so,” murmured the earl. Then he spoke again in his usual tone. “What I am trying to say is she is not a perfect woman, by any means—of this, I am aware. But there are many things in her favor for a man looking for a wife, and as she will be mother to my heir, there are many who wish to win her hand.”

  “Yet she remains unmarried,” said Fitzwilliam.

&nbs
p; The earl only shook his head. “She has not favored any of the men who have vied for her hand, and I have not attempted to persuade her. We have an agreement, she and I: she knows that she must marry and bear children and has accepted that duty, but she does not wish for me to push anyone on her or choose her husband. I have agreed to allow her the power of choice, and in return she has agreed that she will marry, and she will do it soon.”

  A gravity settled over Fitzwilliam. “Do you think this is what prompted her to set her sights on Darcy?”

  “I do not know.” The earl paused, and when he spoke again, he was contemplative. “It is possible, though I cannot say for certain. Your cousin is an excellent man, and she has known him all her life. As I said before, I do not think her heart was in any way engaged with Darcy, but I am certain she thought she knew enough of him to know he would be a good husband and father of her children, regardless of whether he was emotionally attached to her.”

  “I am certain he would,” replied Fitzwilliam. “But Darcy has always wished to make a love match. You knew his parents, and you know how they felt about each other.”

  “It was the same as what I had with her mother,” replied the earl, subdued and thoughtful. “But Emily does not remember her mother, and though she knows of our felicity, she never experienced what it was like to live in a home with parents who were devoted to each other. Thus, though I believe she would like to find such a connection, I do not think she would repine if she could only find a good man who would care for her.”

  Fitzwilliam paused to consider what he was being told. It was clear the earl wished to move his daughter’s search for a suitor along if he possibly could, and the way the conversation had proceeded, he was thinking of Fitzwilliam himself as a potential suitor. What Fitzwilliam was unable to fathom at that moment was whether he wished to be considered for the role. He did esteem the woman, but he was uncertain if he could love her. He and Darcy had been close all their lives, and when they were young, it had been Darcy who had looked to emulate Fitzwilliam, who was the elder. But more as they aged and Fitzwilliam came to see what a fine man his cousin had become, their roles had reversed, and one of the things he wished for was what his cousin would have with Miss Bennet. He was not certain if he could find that with Lady Emily.

  “Let us speak of your situation, Fitzwilliam,” said the earl, capturing his attention once again. “From the standpoint of nothing more than eligibility, I believe you and my daughter would make a good match. You are the son of an earl and she is the daughter of one, so your positions in society are equal. Furthermore, though I know you are independent, your life as the father of a future earl would be one of much greater consequence than your current estate would support. I understand it yields about three thousand five hundred pounds?”

  “Closer to four thousand,” said Fitzwilliam, wondering at the earl’s good information. “Darcy and I have talked about purchasing more land, with him investing in my estate and being paid back over time from the extra yields.”

  “A prudent plan,” said the earl. “With the funds of the earldom, however, you would not need to partner with Darcy—you could do it with some of the moneys my estates yield.”

  “I could never—”

  “Of course, you could,” said the earl, interrupting him. “You and Emily, if you marry, may live on the estate in the future when my grandson assumes his birthright, and I would wish for my daughter to be as comfortable as possible in that eventuality. There is also the possibility of a second son to consider.

  “Now, I do not support this simply in terms of financial and societal considerations, though they are important. I do believe, however, that you may be compatible. I believe you could have the same felicity as my wife and I shared, and I wish that for my daughter. If that is the case, then there is no other consideration as important.”

  Fitzwilliam paused, considering all his options. “With all due respect, I am not certain Lady Emily and I would develop that level of affection. I have been thinking on it of late, but the question remains unanswered, and I would not wish to lead her on.”

  The earl nodded, approval written on his brow. “I appreciate that. I am not suggesting a formal courtship or an engagement, but if you were to continue to call on her, perhaps with greater frequency than you have thitherto done, I believe the question would resolve itself quickly, either yea or nay. What say you?”

  There was only one response to make. “Then I will call on her with your permission.”

  “Excellent! To that end, will you join us for dinner Tuesday next?”

  “I would be delighted, sir.”

  That settled, the earl invited Fitzwilliam to a game of chess, and they sat down to it with a will. They were on their third game much later in the morning when Lady Emily returned. She seemed more annoyed than surprised that he was sitting with her father and had been most of the morning, but a look passed between father and daughter and she relaxed. The message had been received. Fitzwilliam thought she would still require reassurance that his interest in her was not predicated on pecuniary advantages, but that was something he could ensure she knew as he continued to call on her.

  Though he had come thither without truly understanding the reason for it, Fitzwilliam now had a sense of purpose, which helped clarify matters. He still did not know how it would end, but he thought the woman estimable and worthy of his attention. As the earl said, it would all work out.

  When Fitzwilliam returned to Pemberley and joined Darcy and Bingley in the study, they had already been there for several hours. Bingley greeted the new arrival expansively, but Darcy just watched him, wondering at Fitzwilliam’s absence. He was certain that Fitzwilliam had gone to visit Lady Emily, but he was not yet able to fathom his purpose. Darcy was still annoyed with the woman, but the hot edge of his anger had cooled, and he was able to look at the matter objectively. Fitzwilliam had, by his own admission, engaged the woman to distract her from Darcy, but had that purpose turned to an interest in her? Darcy did not know, but he meant to discover it.

  “Have you two been hiding in here from the ladies all day?” asked Fitzwilliam as he poured himself a glass of Darcy’s brandy. He took his glass and sat on the sofa near the two chairs Darcy and Bingley were using.

  “You have two sisters, I understand,” said Bingley.

  “Indeed, I do. But if you are suggesting they do not cause as much trouble as yours, I should inform you that my sisters and I have experienced some rather fantastic arguments. Charity, in particular, is known to be short-tempered and selfish. You would be surprised at how vindictive she can be.”

  “But I doubt she is purposefully cruel,” replied Bingley. “Mine often is, and after her performance this morning, neither Darcy nor I had any desire to be in her company.”

  “She does not appreciate Miss Bennet’s charms?” asked Fitzwilliam, highly amused.

  “Water and hot oil,” replied Bingley. “She was not best pleased to learn that Lizzy has become such an intimate of Georgiana’s.”

  “Then . . .” Fitzwilliam paused, looking at Darcy, and he felt obliged to answer.

  “Bingley knows. Mrs. Bingley and Miss Bingley have not been informed.”

  Fitzwilliam’s raised eyebrow spoke volumes. “Miss Bennet did not inform her sister of her engagement? Is the situation between them that poor?”

  “My wife has . . . changed with respect to her family since our marriage,” said Bingley. “At present, I do not know the reason for it. Lizzy has, unfortunately, little reason to trust Jane at present.”

  “I knew there was some trouble there, but I did not know the extent of it,” replied Fitzwilliam. He seemed to think his words to be inadequate, and Darcy could not disagree. But as none of them knew what to say, he could not fault his cousin.

  “We are to go to Kingsdown on Tuesday next for dinner,” said Darcy, wishing to change the subject. “You are invited, of course.”

  “Ah, but that evening th
e Earl of Chesterfield has invited me to dine with them. I am afraid I shall be forced to decline.”

  “Truly?” asked Darcy, now more than ever intent upon learning of his cousin’s intentions.

  Fitzwilliam only nodded and sipped his drink. “I visited this morning. We spoke for some time, and the invitation was extended.”

  “That is unfortunate,” said Bingley, unaware of the import of what Fitzwilliam was telling them. “The company, I have no doubt, will be excellent. Then again, with Caroline and Elizabeth in attendance together, it might be best that you are absent. You do tend to throw fuel on the fire, old boy.”

  A bark of laughter met Bingley’s tease. “Someone must take on the responsibility. It would be dull otherwise.”

  “If you had Caroline for a sister, you would agree a little dullness is more than welcome.”

  Unsure, Darcy looked at his friend, wondering at his behavior. Though Bingley had made comments concerning his sister in the past, he had rarely been as critical of her as he was now.

  Bingley apparently saw Darcy’s look, and he waved him off with an un-Bingley-like burst of irritation. “She has been difficult to tolerate of late, Darcy. From her objections to my wife, to her continuous arrogance toward Lizzy, to her constant complaints on the way to Pemberley, as if it was not the place in the world she most wished to go.”

  The smile Bingley flashed at his last point was returned by Darcy’s grimace. But Bingley was not finished his teasing.

  “Are you certain you do not wish to take her off my hands, old man? I would be willing to augment her dowry if you would.”

  “I am an engaged man, Bingley,” replied Darcy.

  “Ah, the man hides behind his engagement, which has not yet even been announced. I had high hopes for you, Darcy.” Bingley’s eyes swung lazily to Fitzwilliam, but before he could speak, Fitzwilliam demurred.

  “I am sorry, Bingley, but you could augment her dowry with your entire fortune and I would still refuse.”