James Withey found the woman’s body lying carelessly against the secret door to Georgiana Darcy’s room.“Another mess for my special touch,” he grumbled as he lifted the Pemberley maid to his shoulder. “His Lordship’s young vengeance is my dirty work.” He clasped the deadweight to him and picked up the lantern he had taken from the stable.
Then he made the descent to the tunnel leading to the open field south of the main house, along the turnpike road. The fertile Peak District land surrounding the Darcy holdings left the steps damp from seeping groundwater. He guarded his footfalls, the moisture and mold making each bricked landing and each set of wooden steps dangerously slippery, but he knew these tunnels like the back of his hand. As a child, he often hid here when he should have been attending to his studies. It was Pemberley’s maze that had taught him that he was a creature of the night. In these passageways, he played pirate and highwayman. He had seduced his first conquest in one of the lowest levels, a girl too afraid of spiders and the possibility of snakes to go more than a hundred feet into the tunnel.
Now, he traversed the area to rid Peter Whittington of his latest mistake.The man—a boy, really—pretended to have impeccable manners, but in James’s estimation, all the man-child truly possessed was a nasty temper and a skewed sense of morality. “Needs a good tumble in the sack,” he said aloud as he pushed aside the boarded-up opening, hidden quite effectively by a natural waterfall, now frozen solid, of course. He moved along the rock face and into the open.
A nearby copse of trees was his destination—the woman’s weight and the deep snow combined to slow his progress. He posed Lucinda against a tree. Both he and MacIves had flirted with the girl when they had openly moved about Darcy’s house. James even thought about taking his pleasure with her. “His God Almighty Lordship should have lost himself in the heat of your sweetness, my pretty, instead of crushing your lovely neck.” He reached into his pocket, brought out the silk stocking left from Peter’s foray into Mrs.Wickham’s room, and tied it tightly around the woman’s neck. “Rest well, sweet Lucy,” he said as he kissed each of her eyelids. Slowly, he rose and returned to the passage. “A few more days,” he murmured, noticing the melting snow and the accumulating slush in the crevices and ditches.“A few more days and this will be over.”
“How might I serve you, sir?” Darcy swung the door to his study wide and strode confidently into the room.
The man scrambled to his feet and offered a bow. “Mr. Darcy, I am pleased to have your acquaintance at last.” He offered his hand in greeting.
Darcy took it briefly and then gestured for the man to return to his chair. “It is rather late for a social call, sir, and I am surprised to receive anyone under the current weather conditions. I was unaware that travel was possible.”
“You know of me, Mr. Darcy?” the visitor asked cautiously.
“You have presented your card, sir, so I am aware of your name. If you ask if I am familiar with your relationship with other members of my family, I assure you, Lieutenant, there is little that transpires in the Fitzwilliam family of which I am uninformed.” Darcy sat back in his chair and tried to appear relaxed and in control.
The lieutenant took pleasure in observing Mr. Darcy. The man held a reputation as a shrewd negotiator. Harwood had spent the better part of a week learning everything possible of Darcy before he had appeared on the man’s doorstep.“Then I am to assume, Mr. Darcy, that my intended has taken refuge at Pemberley?”
Darcy’s stomach tightened. “Your intended, Lieutenant? Am I to offer my good wishes?”
“Is Anne here?” Harwood ignored Darcy’s attempt at changing the subject. “I traced Her Ladyship’s carriage to the area before I recalled your connection to the de Bourghs. I prayed Anne sought safety from the storm in your home.”
“May I ask, Lieutenant, how you managed to travel in such extreme conditions?”
Harwood allowed the diversion this time; he had anticipated having to answer such inquiries when he decided to make a Pemberley appearance. “Actually, Mr. Darcy, your part of Derbyshire took the brunt of the storm. Only the last ten to fifteen miles were treacherous. Cheshire is wet and a bit slippery, but it can be traveled by horseback, although carriage travel is still quite limited.”
The fact that this man had compromised his cousin upset Darcy. Originally, he had hoped to welcome the man to Pemberley, but the lieutenant’s flagrant disregard for Anne’s reputation made Darcy wary. Plus, Harwood called at Pemberley late at night when Darcy would have no choice but to extend an invitation to remain with them. Darcy did not like such manipulative behavior. “I see.”
Darcy made no other comment. He had found that a pause at an unexpected time would throw an opponent off balance. Tonight, the strategy worked perfectly. Harwood waited through a few strained moments before he stammered, “I-I will ask a-again, sir, if Miss de Bourgh is at Pemberley?”
“If you are truly my cousin’s fiancé, then you must be aware, Lieutenant, that Her Ladyship and I have come to a parting of the ways.”
“Anne shared no such confidences, but your cousin, the colonel, left the issue quite open to interpretation.”
Damn! Darcy had hoped to trip up the man by introducing the subject of the family feud. Although he had just met the lieutenant, the man’s sincerity did not ring true, and Darcy had learned over the years to listen to his instincts.
The officer forced a smile and asked nervously,“Am I to assume, sir, that your cousin has not taken shelter with you? If so, I must press on, and I do not wish to dally with guessing games. I will seek your cousin’s estate in Matlock instead.”
Darcy smiled enigmatically. “I am not a man who shares confidences with complete strangers. Suppose you tell me why you seek the de Bourgh party, and I shall respond accordingly.”
Harwood’s own smile faded with Darcy’s reticence. “I am unsure, Mr. Darcy, of the depth of your knowledge of my relationship with Miss de Bourgh, but I will summarize it by saying that Anne and I developed an affection for one another during my short stay at Rosings Park.When I recently left for Liverpool, I implored your cousin to accept my proposal, but instead, Miss de Bourgh accepted Lady Catherine’s estimation of me and refused my hand. Dejected, I returned to my post and my duties, but as luck would have it, Miss de Bourgh experienced a change of heart and followed me to the seaport. There, I secured lodgings for her and made inquiries regarding having the banns called. Unfortunately, while I made arrangements for the ceremony to make Miss de Bourgh my wife, your aunt arrived and removed Anne.”
“Then, if my cousin chose to leave with Her Ladyship, may I ask why you think Anne might now seek your company? It would appear that the lady spoke volumes when she agreed to accompany her mother to Kent.”
Harwood took note that Mr. Darcy still did not confirm what he knew. He had done reconnaissance before presenting himself this evening. A carriage bearing the Rosings livery rested in one of Pemberley’s stables. “We are both aware, Mr. Darcy, of Miss de Bourgh’s timidity when it comes to her mother’s approval. Any decision Anne might make under Lady Catherine’s watch is likely to be in Her Ladyship’s best interests rather than in her daughter’s.”
Darcy heard the unspoken words. “I am under the assumption that my cousin is of age, and her decisions are all her own. I am not sure, Lieutenant, that you give Anne enough credit. Or perhaps you overestimate my aunt’s influence!” Darcy knew where this conversation would lead—had known it before he entered the room. Now, he maneuvered the man into revealing his true nature.
Harwood blustered,“I assure you I offer no offense, Mr. Darcy. I realize that the de Bourghs are your family. My comments are based on personal observations only, and they may be in error, of course.”
“Of course.” Darcy twirled a pen aimlessly, giving the impression of boredom. After another pregnant pause, he turned on the man. “I return to my previous question, Lieutenant Harwood. If my cousin left of her own free will, why do you deem it necessary to chase he
r across an ice-covered Peak District?”
Harwood squirmed in his seat. “I have sought Miss de Bourgh in an honorable manner, Mr. Darcy, because many in Liverpool know of her presence at the Salty Sailor. An unmarried female in such an establishment is under close scrutiny, and despite our discretion, word of your cousin’s abrupt departure has dramatically increased the rumors. I seek Miss de Bourgh so I might renew my proposal and save the lady’s reputation.”
“Let me see if I understand you, Harwood.You played on my cousin’s vulnerability at Rosings, making her believe that you found her your perfect match. Foolishly, Anne followed you to Liverpool; at which point, you took advantage of her naïveté by finding her quarters in an unsavory establishment, where you openly called upon her, making sure others were aware of your clandestine relationship. Now, you feign a concern for extricating Anne from a situation of your own design. Something along those lines, Lieutenant?”
Harwood sprang to his feet. “I have never—”
“Of course, you have, Harwood.” Darcy’s mouth turned up at the corners. “Now, have a seat and let us be honest with each other.” Darcy gestured to the chair Harwood had just vacated.
Fuming, Harwood sat. He would play out the hand he had been dealt. “Then Anne is at Pemberley?” he repeated.
“My cousin dwells under my protection, Lieutenant Harwood.” Darcy did no more than raise one eyebrow, betraying no emotions.
“Then I am to present myself to you, Mr. Darcy, instead of Her Ladyship.”
“We return to your second proposal. Am I correct, Lieutenant? As my aunt has no knowledge of the first, I am unsure which you mean.”
Harwood sat up straight, attempting to convey honesty and dependability. “I am willing to marry Miss de Bourgh and give her the protection of my name, if that is what you mean, Mr. Darcy.”
“And willing to accept Anne’s very substantial dowry in return?” Darcy poured himself a brandy. Uncharacteristically, he did not offer one to Harwood—a direct cut.
“A man expects his wife to bring something to the marriage,” Harwood asserted.
Darcy thought of Elizabeth and her settlement of a thousand pounds. “What if all the lady has to offer is her ardor?”
“That is ridiculous, Mr. Darcy. I am well aware of Miss de Bourgh’s financial situation.”
Darcy had expected nothing less from the man who sat before him. He felt sorry for his cousin—sorry that Anne had once had so little self-confidence that she had become involved with such a cad—also sorry that he had not protected her. He did not know how just yet, but he would disentangle his cousin from this sham of a marriage proposal. “And if my cousin chooses to weather the rumors and refuses your kind offer?”
“Why would Miss de Bourgh consider such insanity? Once a woman loses her good name, she is not likely to find an honorable man.”
Darcy smiled before asking, “And you are an honorable man, Lieutenant?”
“I am, Mr. Darcy.”
Darcy rose slowly to his feet. “It is late, Harwood. I will offer you a bed for the evening, and you may present yourself to my cousin in the morning.” He moved to the bell cord. “I assume that will be acceptable, sir.”
“That is most generous of you,Mr.Darcy,under the circumstances.”
Mr. Baldwin arrived immediately. “You rang, Mr. Darcy.”
“Yes, Mr. Baldwin. The lieutenant will join us for the evening. A room on this level seems appropriate.”
Baldwin knew Darcy always placed his most disagreeable guests on the second level of the house.“I will see to it personally, Mr. Darcy.”
“And send Lucas to me.” He nodded slightly. “We must see to the lieutenant’s mount.”
With a smug look of triumph, Harwood followed the butler from the room. Darcy returned to his desk.Within moments, Lucas was at his door. “You sent for me, sir?”
Darcy motioned the man forward.“For this evening, I need you to attend to Lieutenant Harwood’s horse. I wish the gentleman to believe that he is secure in what he hopes to achieve at Pemberley.”
The footman did not understand, but he agreed with what his employer told him.
“More important, Lucas, I need you to take a message to my cousin at Matlock. I am reluctant to send you out in this weather, but this is urgent. I will finish writing instructions to Colonel Fitzwilliam for you to deliver.The lieutenant informs me that this part of Derbyshire suffered the hardest with the storm. He claims Cheshire is already recovering, but as you are heading in the opposite direction, I am afraid the going may be quite rough. I need my cousin’s insights, but not at the risk of your life.Take no undue chances. I will provide you funds with which to take shelter, if necessary.”
“Matlock is usually a three-hour ride, sir. Even with the weather, I should succeed in no more than double that time. I will not fail you, Mr. Darcy.”
“I am most grateful, Lucas. Be ready to ride at first light.”
“As you wish, Mr. Darcy.”
Elizabeth followed her sister up the main staircase, exhausted by the day and by the chaos of late. She wanted to announce to Georgiana and to Lydia and to Jane and her parents, and even to Lady Catherine, that she carried Darcy’s child. She wanted to tell Mrs. Reynolds and Mrs. Jennings and Darcy’s cottagers—tell the world that she bore the heir to Pemberley and to accept their good wishes and to go back to the way it had been before the ice storm—before the phantom of Pemberley had become a reality.
She wondered what Lieutenant Harwood would do to the happiness she had observed on Miss de Bourgh’s face this evening. Elizabeth almost wished that Darcy’s aunt would refuse the apology he had demanded and that Lady Catherine would take her leave in the morning. It would be easier to handle Harwood and Anne without the benefit of Her Ladyship’s temper.
“I will see you in the morning, Lyddie.” Elizabeth found the day’s earlier excitement had quickly dissipated. She wondered if her sudden tiredness had anything to do with the baby. Darcy was correct; she needed to think of her child first. No more corsets and no more overexerting herself—and no more hiding her happiness.
Elizabeth had just reached for the bedchamber door handle when the sound of her sister’s scream sent an icy dagger through Elizabeth’s heart. Instantly, she was on the run. Seconds later, she burst through Lydia’s door. Screaming at the top of her lungs, her sister stood in the room’s center. Elizabeth caught Lydia around the waist and pulled her away from an unknown danger, dragging Lydia toward the dressing room.
The impact of her sister nearly knocking her to the floor stopped Lydia’s screams but not her anger. She fought Elizabeth to return to the bedchamber—to right the wrong. Catching Elizabeth’s arm, Lydia whipped her older sister from her, driving Elizabeth face first into an interior wall and sending her stumbling backward. That was when her foot caught in the fringed edge of a Persian-inspired carpet. Elizabeth crashed to the floor with a breath-stealing thud.
Craving his wife’s company, Darcy left his study behind, dreading telling Elizabeth about the perfidy Harwood had brought into their home. If he ever rid himself of his current guests, he would, he swore, bar Pemberley’s doors to any but his immediate family. In the future, he would pay others to offer charity to anyone coming uninvited to Pemberley.
His foot touched the first step leading to the private quarters just as the initial scream rang out clearly from the chamber suites. Immediately, he bolted up the stairs, followed closely by Murray and Lucas. Taking the steps two and three at a time, he heard the second round of screams begin as he gained the main hallway. Thankfully, the screams were not Elizabeth’s or Georgiana’s. Who is screaming? Why? Turning to the left, Darcy saw the open door and lunged toward the sound of a tussle. He burst through the passage to see Elizabeth’s arms flailing in the air as she crashed to the floor. Before he could reach her, she went limp.
“Damn!” he cursed as he shoved Lydia Wickham out of the way, trying to reach his wife. “If you have hurt her,” he began a threat,
but a gasp of air took him to his knees beside Elizabeth. “Lizzy,” he cooed as he cradled her in his arms. “Elizabeth, please.” Her eyes opened slowly, but when she smiled at him, Darcy clutched her to him. “Thank God,” he whispered as he kissed her forehead and brushed the hair from her face. “Let me take you to your room.”
“Lydia,” she choked out.
Darcy shot a quick glance at Murray, who motioned that he had found nothing amiss in the room. “I will have you settled, and then I will see what troubles Mrs. Wickham.” He lifted her from the floor and turned toward the open door. “Murray,” he ordered, “ask Mrs. Reynolds to come to Mrs. Darcy’s rooms.”
“Yes, Mr. Darcy.”
Elizabeth buried her face in his chest. “Fitzwilliam, this is not necessary.”
Darcy paused in the doorway, shifting her in his arms to maneuver her through the opening. He saw them all—summoned by Mrs.Wickham’s screams—all his guests and family, but he made the declaration just the same. “Elizabeth, it is necessary. You carry our child, and I will take no more chances with your life.”
“Elizabeth!” Georgiana exhaled her name as she touched her sister’s arm.
“Come sit with me, Georgiana,” Elizabeth declared as Darcy carried her to her room.The others trailed along behind him as if he were Hamelin’s piper and they the village children.
Striding into her familiar chamber, Darcy lowered Elizabeth gently to the bed. “Rest, my Love, while I see to the latest crisis.”
“Do not be long,” she whispered as she caressed his cheek.
“Stay with her, Georgiana, until I return. Your sister is not to rise from that bed, no matter how much she protests.” Darcy would brook no argument. Elizabeth’s eyebrow rose in amusement.
The Phantom of Pemberley Page 23