“Be still my heart,” he teased.Then he took Elizabeth’s face in his hands and kissed her passionately. He lay next to her and began to unlace the ribbons of Elizabeth’s dress. “We are such stuff as dreams are made of,” 1 Darcy whispered in her ear.
“Dreams are the true interpreters of our inclinations.”2 Elizabeth laced her fingers into Darcy’s thick hair and pulled his mouth to hers.“I hope, Sir, to make our dreams come true.” With that, she explored his mouth with hers.
The passion came sweet and unbridled. For a while, they slept in each other’s arms, legs untangled. Darcy’s breath came relaxed and even against Elizabeth’s cheek. She felt the pleasure of his warmth and reached out to stroke his chest. “My Husband?” Elizabeth kissed the indentation of his neck.
“Again?” Darcy teasingly asked as he rolled toward Elizabeth and scooped her into his arms.
“That is what happens when you give me yourself without restrictions.” Elizabeth now kissed his chin line and earlobe. “Umm, you are delicious,” she laughed gently in his ear. “Again,” she said, as if a command.
“Yes, my dearest Elizabeth,” Darcy pulled her hips to his body.“With you, my dear, love is a symbol of eternity. It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end.”3 Their kiss became more passionate; he deepened it and increased Elizabeth’s desire. “Lizzy,” he began.
“Finally, you call me Lizzy,” she teased again.
Elizabeth sat in Darcy’s study, making a list of supplies she and Georgiana would take to the homes of the tenants. They sectioned off the property so they could efficiently visit an area every few days. If the weather became a problem, the ladies could vary the section, traveling the better roads in the carriage. The list completed, Elizabeth sat back, leisurely lounging in Darcy’s chair. She liked working at his desk, touching her husband’s things and smelling the hint of his favorite scent, strongly masculine in every way. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, letting the hint of a smile cross her lips.
“Are we still dancing, my Love?” Darcy’s resonant voice asked.
Elizabeth kept her eyes closed while offering him her signature smile. “My Husband, have you not heard the best things happen in the middle of a dance; a person can do things naturally he would not do elsewhere?” Elizabeth opened her eyes to find Darcy standing directly in front of her. She stood and slid her arms around his waist. As she moved in closer, Elizabeth whispered, “Dancing, in your case, can lead to romance.”
Darcy bent to kiss her lips lightly. “You, my Love, are so tempting. Keep dreaming, my Elizabeth; I find your dreams very inviting.”
“What brings you here, Sir? I thought you rode out this afternoon.” Elizabeth ran her hands up the muscles of his back.
He led her to a nearby chair.“I have news I need to discuss with you, Mrs. Darcy.”
“Is something the matter, Fitzwilliam?” Elizabeth noted the seriousness in his voice.
“I have some initial information on Captain Rutherford.”
“What of him?” Elizabeth reacted to Darcy’s tight-lipped manner.“Should we be concerned?”
“I am still unsure of Captain Rutherford, but his father is a vocal force in Leeds. I received a response to my inquiries. It seems some of the Earl’s tenants threatened to leave him because of their poor conditions.”
“Lady Pennington swears the estate is very profitable,” Elizabeth protested.
“If the profits are made at the distress of others, I am concerned. I would not want Georgiana in such a place.” Darcy played with the ring on Elizabeth’s hand. “It is reported the Earl had a man whipped to death for poaching a deer on the estate. Can you imagine our sweet, sensitive Georgiana in such a situation?”
“Do you remember her punishment for Mr. Jenkins’s crime? What a contrast in judgment!”
“The captain associated with more radical factions at Oxford,” Darcy continued.“The Earl owns lands in sugar cane, and the captain’s uncle is quite influential in Dutch interests in the West Indies.”
“That still tells us nothing about whether the captain is likely to be a danger to Mr. Harrison or to our family.” Elizabeth shifted her weight to move into Darcy’s embrace. Something told her instinctively things were not right, and only his embrace could ease her concern.
Darcy tightened his embrace of Elizabeth. “That is the quagmire, my Love. I feel I must go to Hull to find out for myself about what dangers the captain presents.”
“Fitzwilliam, no,” she gasped as she pushed herself away from him far enough to see his face.
“Elizabeth, I must know if Georgiana is in danger.” His voice demanded she agree.
“How long will you be gone, my Love?” Elizabeth said at last; she fought back the tears.
“I asked Hannah More to meet with me, and she agreed.” Darcy stroked Elizabeth’s arm and kissed her forehead.
“Are you familiar with Miss More?”
“My father met Miss More on several occasions. The first time I was a mere child; she was a guest at Sir Charles and Lady Margaret Middleton’s home in Kent. Lady Catherine arranged the introductions. I believe that is where Miss More met Thomas Clarkson. When I was nearly seven Miss More and Mr. Wilberforce holidayed in the Peak District. They planned the early abolition movement during that trip. My father met with them twice; he chose not to be actively involved in their campaign although he never openly supported slavery.”
Elizabeth grasped at straws. “Why can Miss More not come here?”
“She is nearly seven and sixty years of age, and her health is poor. Miss More cannot come to me; I must travel to Hull. She promised to answer all my questions.” Darcy knew Elizabeth worried about such a separation.
“Can you not send Mr. Howard?” Tears flowed down her cheeks.
“Elizabeth, you know that is not possible.” Darcy lifted her chin to kiss her mouth.“I do not wish to go, but I must protect my sister.”
Elizabeth fought back the tears. “How will I sleep without your arms around me?” she asked him innocently.
“How may I survive without you nestled close to me?” Darcy answered her.
“When will you leave?” Elizabeth reluctantly accepted his need to protect Georgiana.
He said quietly,“Tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow,” Elizabeth whispered as her tears returned once again.
CHAPTER 7
“Silly things do cease to be silly if they are done
by sensible people in an impudent way.”
Jane Austen, Emma, 1815
The morning Darcy left for Hull, Elizabeth grieved before his carriage even departed Pemberley’s grounds. Against propriety, she embraced him in the courtyard while he waited for his luggage to be secured. He clutched her to him, and Elizabeth rested her head on his chest. He stroked her hair and whispered endearments as he supervised the proceedings. “Elizabeth,” he encouraged her to withdraw,“I must leave, my Love.”
Elizabeth knew her very public display of affection would be the talk of the servant quarters this evening, but feeling bereft of Darcy’s warmth before he even left the grounds, she cared not. “Fitzwilliam, please do not go,” she pleaded.
“There is nothing of which to worry,” Darcy cautioned her. “I stay with Lord and Lady Pennington in Nottingham this evening. Perhaps they may tell me more about Captain Rutherford than we already know. I travel to Hull tomorrow. I swear to be home within the week,” he reassured her.
“But Fitzwilliam,” she began, “do you not feel it, too? Surely if I feel it, you do also. Something is amiss.” Elizabeth’s words held her fears.
Darcy reached out and caressed her cheek and then lightly kissed her lips. “It pleases me you will so miss me, my dearest Elizabeth.”
“How may I survive without you? It is not fair; you make me depend so dearly upon you, and then you leave me, Sir.” Elizabeth nearly pouted.
“I shall think of you every moment, my Love. I cannot imagine my life w
ithout you as my wife. I shall hurry back to once again be in your arms.” Darcy lifted her chin and lightly brushed her lips with his.Then he quickly got in the carriage, rapped on the roof with his walking cane, and left.
Yet, he could not leave without looking back at her, standing in the circular carriageway, tears streaming down her face. Darcy ached at having to leave. He spent nearly a year earning Elizabeth’s love and leaving her side, even for a few days, seemed an incomprehensible act.
Elizabeth watched the retreating coach. The distance between them increased by the second until only silence remained. Reluctantly, she turned toward Pemberley, finally entering the foyer. “He is gone,” she said to Georgiana when they met in the drawing room.
“Fitzwilliam will return soon. He loves you, Elizabeth; my brother will not tarry in Hull.” Georgiana smiled at seeing Elizabeth so distraught.
“I know I am being foolish, Georgiana, but I feel I may never see Fitzwilliam again.” Elizabeth sat down in Darcy’s favorite chair, touching the arms of it as the emptiness overtook her heart.“Please be safe, Fitzwilliam,” she whispered.
Darcy spent the night at Lord and Lady Pennington’s estate. “We are pleased you are back so soon, Fitzwilliam,” Lady Pennington told him over dinner. “Why do you travel to Hull tomorrow?”
“I have important business.”
“What kind of business could take you from your bride so soon?” His Lordship asked in an amused manner.
“May I be discreet?”
“Of course,” Lord Pennington said quickly and then dismissed the servants in the room.
Darcy waited patiently until only they remained.“I travel to Hull because it came to my attention your former guest Captain Rutherford has on more than one occasion questioned my sister regarding our family’s interest in Mr. Harrison. Harrison believes the captain to be a dangerous individual.”
Lady Pennington gasped,“This cannot be, Fitzwilliam!”
“I hope you are correct, Lady Margaret. Yet, I must find out what others know of the captain. If he simply opposes Mr. Harrison’s views, I want to know. If the captain has more aggressive ideas, I must be aware of those also.”
“How is Mr. Harrison a factor in Georgiana’s future?” Lady Margaret asked.
“Harrison spent nearly a month at Pemberley learning how to run Hines Park. He expressed an interest in Georgiana, but Mrs. Darcy insisted the man wait until after Georgiana’s next birthday to openly express his intentions. Elizabeth feared we knew too little of him.”
“Your wife is very astute,” Lord Pennington remarked, and Darcy nodded in agreement.
Darcy returned to his retelling. “Mr. Harrison has very strong beliefs about the slave trade; he sold off his father’s holdings in the Americas because of his beliefs. Although I am not so politically inclined, I admire Mr. Harrison for his fortitude and his integrity. Yet, I do not wish to place my sister in danger.”
“Then you believe Georgiana returns Mr. Harrison’s interest?” Lady Pennington inquired.
“Elizabeth believes as such, and she has Georgiana’s confidences. They are quite close.”
“Then we, too, will make ourselves more aware of Captain Rutherford’s associates,” Lord Pennington stated.
Darcy asked,“Then you know little of him?”
“An acquaintance from Leeds recommended the captain, with the understanding he was also familiar to Edward,” Lady Margaret shared. “We know his father, although not well. He has a reputation for being quite ruthless; we were pleasantly surprised to find the son to be so amiable.”
“The apple does not fall far from the tree,” Darcy said with a degree of irony.“Could the captain’s appearance be a façade?”
Lord Pennington answered,“Anything is possible.”
“May I ask your Lordship if you think of anything of which I should be aware, you will send word to me at Pemberley?”
“Then you will not return here after you leave Hull?” Lady Margaret asked.
“Under the circumstances, I believe it best if I go to Leeds to ascertain what I can of the captain and his father the Earl,” Darcy mused.
Lord Pennington agreed thoroughly,“You are correct, my boy.”
The evening finished with the three of them sharing every conversation they had with Captain Rutherford. Darcy departed early the next morning for Hull, concerned more than ever with his sister’s safety and the mystery surrounding the “amiable” Captain Rutherford.
North of Hemswell, Darcy’s coach came to an abrupt halt along an isolated stretch of road. At first, he knew not what happened, but as Darcy opened the coach door, a long gun greeted him, and he immediately knew the precarious position in which he found himself. His coachman and a postilion stood with their hands raised as three armed men moved them gingerly away from the coach.
“There be no killin’ if ye do what we say,” one of the men called out. Another of the men began to rummage for valuables and weapons found upon the coach, tossing trunks along side of the road.
“Take what you want, but leave my men alone,” Darcy ordered the man holding the gun on them.
“Ye stand back,” the man ordered and leveled a gun at Darcy’s face.
Darcy stepped back, allowing the man access to the coach. The belongings could be replaced; a man’s life could not. Once the robbers took what they wanted from the coach, they motioned for Darcy to move off toward the woods.
Darcy demanded,“You have what you want. Leave us alone.”
“We think ye oughter be askin’ for mercy,” the man laughed.
Darcy realized quickly the robbery might not be the whole purpose of this detainment. He edged back; in the past he might take a chance, but with Elizabeth and the baby in his life, he took a more cautious approach. “What else do you need from me?” he asked softly.
The man asserted,“Ye be askin’ too many questions.”
“Questions about what?” Darcy began to look around, trying to determine what should be his next course of action.
The third man warned,“Aye’m not done w’ye.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Darcy saw the coachman take a step to the side; he tried to warn the man with a nod of his head, but it was too late.The coachman lunged at the shortest of the attackers, and the melee began. The postilion died instantly, a bullet to his head. Darcy saw it, although he had no time to focus on the act, for he struggled with two of the men. The blows came hard and fast; Darcy fought valiantly, but the men’s combined strength proved too much for him.
As if in slow motion, Darcy felt the robber’s fist strike him under the chin. His jaw jammed shut, and the blood spurted from Darcy’s mouth as he bit his own tongue.The blow spun his head around, forcing him to turn awkwardly in place; losing his balance, he found himself falling backwards. When his head hit the rock, the pain immediately came, and the blood gushed from the gash. He tried desperately to raise his body from where it lay, but try as he may, all Darcy could do was to roll to his side.
He saw the men shoot the coachman and climb onto their horses to retreat, but he could make no sense of what else happened.A fourth well-dressed man bent over him.“You will not need these items.” The man hissed as he took Darcy’s walking stick and diamond stickpin. “Nor this.” The man ripped the ring bearing the family crest from Darcy’s finger.
“No,” Darcy moaned loudly, trying to resist the man’s thievery.
Then the filcher strode to the horse awaiting him. Mounting, he looked back at Darcy lying on the ground and tipped his hat to him.The man’s blond, tight curls glistening in the late afternoon was all Darcy could decipher; riding tall in the saddle, the man took the lead. The rest became a haze, and Darcy lay without moving. “Elizabeth,” he whispered as his eyes closed—“my dearest Elizabeth.”
When the Donnelly coach came upon what was left of Darcy’s chaise and four, Darcy had lain along the road for nearly twenty hours. He moved very little, the blow to his head keeping him from being mobile. He expected
to die there along this deserted path on more than one occasion during those first few hours, but somehow he maintained his hold on life.
“Miss Donnelly,” the steward said, coming to the window of the stopped coach, knocking on the window with a gloved hand.
“Yes, Mr. Lansing.”The lady turned to her faithful aide.
“Madam, evidently there was a robbery.”
The lady gasped,“Is anyone hurt?” She could see the clothing strewn on the ground.
“Two people are dead, Madam, but Walton reports they found a gentleman. He is injured, obviously losing a substantial amount of blood.”
“Should I attempt to go to him?” The woman looked uneasy at this possibility.
“Madam,” Lansing began again, “the scene is too much—far too much for a lady of your delicate nature—a lady such as yourself should not be exposed to such sights.”
“What must we do, Mr. Lansing? I must perform my charitable duty; we cannot leave the gentleman to die. Should we not bring the man to safety?”
The man seemed relieved his mistress made the suggestion first. “Walton and a footman could wrap the gentleman in a blanket, but that would mean placing him on the floor of the coach. Would that be acceptable, Madam? We could leave the window of the coach open. It might be a bit uncomfortable, but otherwise the gentleman could pay with his life.” Mr. Lansing knew his mistress’s preoccupation with cleanliness.
“Of course, Mr. Lansing.” She took a handkerchief from the sleeve of her dress.“I will be able to endure what is necessary to save the man’s life.” Her hand shook and her lip quivered with the thought of the man’s dirty body lying within the coach.
Mr. Lansing handed her a bottle of smelling salts. “In case you are feeling poorly, Madam.”
“Bring the gentleman to the coach. Also, retrieve as many of his belongings as seem appropriate,” she ordered at last.
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