The Cumberland Plateau

by Mary K. Baxley

  As if nothing was amiss, David picked up the report he’d put together. But, as he was about to begin, Mrs. Foulkes interrupted the meeting. “Mr. Darcy, I’m very sorry to bother you, sir, but Mrs. Darcy is on the phone.”

  Fitzwilliam looked up from his notes in astonishment, glaring at his administrative assistant. His face darkened with a combination of shock and anger. “Tell Mrs. Darcy that I’m in a very important meeting. Betty, you know better than to interrupt us.”

  “Yes, sir, I do, but sir…she’s crying.”

  Fitzwilliam let out an exasperated breath. “Excuse me, gentlemen, I have to take this call, privately.”

  Once Fitzwilliam was out of sight, the board members began mumbling. “What is the meaning of this, Thomas? Can’t he even run his own household without his wife interrupting a business meeting?” Anderson asked.

  “This is absurd! Absolutely unheard of,” Marlow said.

  “Does the man kowtow to a woman?” Bennington asked.

  “This is incomprehensible!” exclaimed McPherson.

  All five mumbled and complained while Thomas raised an eyebrow and shook his head as he glanced towards the door, but it was Hilda who made the excuses. “Gentlemen, Fitzwilliam’s wife is an American, and I’m afraid she’s not accustomed to her husband’s status, but I assure you he can handle his personal life, and I’ll be his chief advisor on the conduct of his business activities. He has my backing and my money. You would be wise to follow suit.” She nodded.

  ~*~

  Fitzwilliam exited the boardroom and stalked towards his office, fuming silently with every step he took. Furious with his wife when he finally reached his phone, he snapped into the receiver. “Elizabeth, what is the meaning of this? I’m in a very important meeting with my advisors and top executives. Do you realize what it looks like having to leave a crucial meeting to take a personal call from my wife?”

  “Fitzwilliam, I need you. You haven’t called me back in days. I’m worried…worried about us, and—”

  “Elizabeth,” he interrupted, “listen to me and pay heed. I’m stretched as thin as a man can stretch without snapping. I’m fighting for our future, and I need you to be my wife—to support me. Instead, you’re pulling me down, tearing me apart. I don’t know how much more of this I can take. I’ll call you tonight.” He hung up.

  “But Fitzwilliam,” she whispered into the dial tone, “I’m pregnant…” A single tear slid down her check. Still clutching the dead phone in her hand, Elizabeth made a resolution. Tired of the arguing that resulted every time she called, she determined she would not tell him she was carrying his child. She would not use a child to hold a man who no longer cared. Elizabeth stomped her foot and fell onto their bed, crying herself to sleep.

  That night, her dreams were filled with what used to be before he went to London, only to change into the nightmare their life had now become. She dreamed he came, but not for her, but rather to take her child away. She awoke in a cold sweat.

  ~*~

  The meeting with the Pemberley Five at an end, the Darcy brothers had overcome a major hurdle. After much discussion, and with the evident support of Hilda Vanderburgh and Harvey Darcy, the group in its entirety decided to pledge their support to the brothers, but there were many details yet to be resolved.

  With Hilda’s support and that of the majority of the board of directors, it was now certain that Pemberley, PLC would remain firmly under Fitzwilliam and David Darcy’s control, and through the process, Fitzwilliam had gained a newfound appreciation and respect for his aunt. He now trusted her implicitly.

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  …I’ve always loved you—never forget that…

  Coming out of his first official Pemberley, PLC Board of Directors meeting, Fitzwilliam was elated. Preliminary voting results from the company’s emergency general meeting showed that shareholders would reelect Fitzwilliam Darcy and his brother, David, overwhelmingly. At the gathering, shareholders had lined up before microphones to express their support for the Darcy Brothers. Second quarter earnings were projected to be up, and third quarter profits looked promising. The vote was an overpowering vote of confidence. The opposition was crushed.

  “We’ve made it! It’s finally over,” Georgiana exclaimed as she hugged her brothers.

  “Yes, we made it. I’m officially CEO and Chairman of the Board. David is Vice Chairman and President of Darcy Enterprises, and you, little Sister, are President of Darcy & Winthrop Publishing of London. We still have a lot to do, but the battle is over. Next week we’ll meet again and decide on further offices, but for the time being, let’s go to dinner and celebrate. Tonight, I will sleep in my own bed at Darcy House. How about you, David?” he asked, turning to his brother. “Are you coming home tonight, or do you have a hot date with whomever it is that’s been ringing you?”

  “No.” David grinned. “I don’t have a date, and believe it or not, I have no plans for any excursions in the near future. But I am staying here for the rest of the week. Father left me a set of journals which I haven’t had time to read. I think after dinner, I will burrow away with a good bottle of wine and read.”

  Fitzwilliam laughed as they rounded the corner to his office. “You do that. Hilda and I have some business to discuss, and then I will meet you at Ledbury’s at seven. Finally, I have some good news to share with Elizabeth. I can’t wait tell her.”

  “Congratulations, Fitzwilliam,” Hilda said, catching up with them. “Your position is secure. Next week, you can begin reorganizing the London offices. What do you plan to do with your uncle? His loan is due in a few weeks.”

  “I’ve given that a lot of thought. Because of Samantha, I plan to allow him whatever allotted time he needs to repay, but I will insist he resign all of his offices, including his board position. If he, Stanley, and Wesley refuse, they will be voted out and fired. They are finished with Pemberley,” he flatly stated. “That goes for my cousins, too. They’ll receive their severance salary as per the by-laws, but I cannot and will not allow them to stay. It’s a promise I made to myself… and my father,” he murmured. “Come, Hilda, I need to talk with you. David,” he said turning to his brother, “I will see you later, and Georgiana, I’ll collect you in thirty minutes. We’ll return to Darcy House to prepare for dinner.”

  “I’ll be waiting,” Georgiana said, continuing down the hall to her office.

  Entering Fitzwilliam’s office, Hilda took a seat while he walked over to the drinks cabinet and took out a decanter of port. Pouring two glasses, he handed one to his aunt. “Hilda, I can’t tell you how relieved I am that this is finally over. I’ll ring Elizabeth tonight and tell her the good news. I know she’ll be relieved, too. Things have been tough for her, and now she can finally come home. I’ve missed her so much.”

  Hilda eyed her nephew closely. “Fitzwilliam, you and Mrs. Darcy are not getting along, are you?”

  He snorted. “That’s an understatement.” Taking a seat behind his desk, he continued. “I’ve been thinking a lot about us. I know what you and the others have said, but I should never have left her in Tennessee. Our relationship has suffered greatly over this.”

  “You could not have brought her here. I fear you would not have been able to persuade the majority of the board if she had accompanied you.”

  “I know, Aunt, I know,” Fitzwilliam said as he ran his hand over his face. “There was so much working against us, wasn’t there?”

  “Yes, I’m afraid there was.” Hilda sighed. “Her family is very different from yours. Your father was highly respected throughout all of Britain, and not only for his business skills. Your father knew how to dress his public image. It makes a strong contrast against your wife’s family. You did the right thing by leaving her in Tennessee.”

  “Yes, Elizabeth and I are from two different worlds. I do understand that, but she didn’t. However, now that this is over, I plan to put it all behind us as quickly as possible. I will introduce her to society, and God help the man
or woman who harms her in any way.”

  Sipping her wine, Hilda responded, “Your father has set the stage for her not to be accepted, and you very well may have a difficult time receiving invitations to social functions because of it. Your wife is tainted by negative publicity, and it will affect you.”

  “Oh, I’m very well aware that it was my father that has caused this. I’m also well aware of how things work with the public perception of my image, the press, and what it all means, but I’ll not have my wife disrespected. I have the money and the means to do something about it, and you can be assured that I will do just that. No one will dare to say anything publicly. I cannot control what they might think or even what they say outside of my presence, but it had better not be said in front of me or her.”

  “That’s all well and good, but what are you going to do about your wife?”

  “What do you mean what am I going to do? I am going to send for her and bring her to London.”

  Hilda eyes narrowed. “Has it occurred to you that she may not want to come? I could not help but notice how you were arguing. You had better be sure she feels as you do.”

  “Aunt,” he chortled, “I know my wife. She may not understand what I’ve been through or all it has involved, but she will come. She is my wife, and we love each other. I’m going to ring her tonight and make the arrangements. I want you and a team of advisors to go to Tennessee. Tie up all loose ends and bring her home. I’ll send a letter explaining everything. She’ll come. She loves me. That’s the one thing I’m sure of.”

  Hilda smiled. “I will do as you say. As it was with your father, your best interest is my primary concern.” She lifted her glass and arched a brow.

  While they were talking, Mrs. Foulkes interrupted them. “Mr. Darcy, Mr. Metcalf has just called. He needs to see you as soon as possible.”

  “Tell him I’ll be right there, Betty.” Turning to Hilda, he said, “Excuse me, Aunt. This will only take a minute.”

  “Don’t bother with me. I need to return to my office. I’ll see you at dinner,” she said as he left the office.

  Finally alone in her nephew’s office, Hilda seized the opportunity she’d been waiting for. Slipping over to his desk, she carefully opened his middle drawer, being cautious so as not to disturb the contents. After one quick glance at the partially closed door, she silently lifted several sheets of his personal stationery with his signature in place from the drawer. With the stationery safely secured in her legal binder, she left his office with a smile.

  Later that evening before dinner, Hilda met with her team of advisors.

  “Jones, I want you to draw up divorce arrangement papers for Fitzwilliam and his wife. Make a settlement for £7 million contingent on her not pursuing any other monetary claims against him. I want no loopholes. Should she refuse the payment, make the contract such that she cannot come back later demanding money.”

  “I will do as you say, Ms. Vanderburgh, but you cannot force her to agree. If she does not choose to do so, it will all be useless.”

  “Leave it to me, Jones. She will agree.” Hilda nodded. “The grandson of an earl should not be married to someone of lesser society, and I plan to do something about it.”

  ~*~

  At midnight, London time, Fitzwilliam called Elizabeth. “Darling, it’s over. I’ve secured the company. It’s official. I’m now in complete control.” He leaned back on his bed, resting comfortably against the soft pillows. “I am firmly CEO and Chairman with no threat hanging over us. I’m sending for you next week. My Aunt Hilda will come along with two advisors.”

  She hesitated for several seconds. “I’m not sure I will be coming to London. Too much has occurred between us. I’m not so sure I would be happy there.”

  Rising up from his bed, he declared, “Elizabeth, what are you saying?! You can’t mean that. You’re my wife. Your place is here with me.”

  “Is it? I’m no longer sure anymore. If you come for me personally, I’ll think on it.”

  “I can’t leave, Liz. I have a very important board meeting that I cannot reschedule. It’s critical that I remain in London all this week and the next. I have meetings scheduled. For me to leave on an extended visit to America would undermine the hard-earned authority I’ve won.” Pausing briefly, he realized she needed reassurance. “You mean everything to me. Have I not told you that?”

  “Not lately.”

  “Elizabeth, I know this has been very hard on you. It’s been hard on the both of us, but nothing has changed. Hold on to what we have. You’re my world. I love you, Liz, and I need you. I’ve always loved you—never forget that. Please, come to London. Your place is by my side.”

  “And what if I don’t?”

  He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Oh, you’ll come. It’s been a long time for both of us, and we need each other. You need me as much as I need you. You’ll come.”

  “You’re very confident in yourself, as per usual, and I suppose you’re still accustomed to getting your way. It seems you always get your way, be it in business or with me.”

  “Have we just entered a time warp? I believe we’ve had this conversation before.”

  “Yes, yes we have…a long time ago. You always go after what you want, and you’re used to getting it. I remember it well. I just wonder if you, as CEO, would pursue a math professor now.”

  “And you think that I wouldn’t?”

  “I have no idea. I hardly know you anymore. You’ve changed.”

  He heard her choke back tears. Rubbing his brow, he took a deep breath. “Elizabeth, please, that’s not fair. Yes, it’s true. I’ve changed, but in essentials, I’m still the same man—the man who loves you—the man who needs you. Come home, Elizabeth. Please…I need you. I want you.”

  “I don’t know. I’ll think about it.”

  “There is nothing to think about. You’re my wife, and as my wife, your place is here with me. Hilda will be in Tennessee as soon as I can arrange it. I’m going to send a letter with her. It’ll explain everything. I communicate better in writing than over the phone. When you are here, I will make it up to you. I will not be able to take off and spend time with you at first, but I will make everything up to you. We’ll take a long holiday. Perhaps to Greece or the Virgin Islands. I promise. Have everything ready to go and close the house down in one week. I’ll be expecting you.”

  “It’s too little, too late, Fitzwilliam.”

  “I don’t believe that, and neither do you. Have you forgotten what’s it’s like to be loved—to be held? We need each other, and we love each other.” Feeling the weariness finally catching up with him, he said, “I’ve got to go now and get some much-needed rest. I’ll see you next week, darling. I love you.”

  “I love you, too… I really do.”

  “That’s my girl. Goodnight, love.”

  “Goodnight.”

  ~*~

  Once they were off the phone, Elizabeth made a pot of tea to sit and think on all that had occurred over the past few months. Being the wife of Dr. Darcy, university professor, had been one thing. They had been so close, with their lives together being one of contentment, but what would it be like as the wife of Fitzwilliam A. Darcy, CEO of Pemberley, PLC? It scared her to think about it. She feared she would be very lonely, and now that she was pregnant, she no longer had herself to think about.

  An instinctive need to protect her unborn child was beginning to take form in her heart. She would meet with his aunt before deciding anything for certain, and she would also read the letter he promised to send. But in the end, her decision would be made based on logic and what was best for her and her little one.

  Chapter Forty

  …I have gone from hurt to bitterness and finally to nothingness…

  Later that night after the celebration dinner, David returned to his flat and placed a decanter of port wine on his bedside cabinet. He made himself comfortable as he piled up pillows behind him and opened the first volume of his father’s jo
urnals. Through the classically laid pages of his father’s leather-bound journal, he was transported back in time to Pemberley, when his father had been a young adult. David had to laugh aloud as his father described how he and Harvey were so rambunctious that their mother constantly complained to their father. “Andrew, if you don’t rein them in, these boys will be the death of me yet.” David sighed. He could not remember either of his grandparents. Andrew and Estelle Darcy had died when he was an infant.

  Turning the page, he continued reading. He read of laughter, of boyhood pranks played on Harvey by his father and their sister, Samantha, and about his father catching Samantha in the hayloft with her boyfriend. George beat the poor chap to a blood-spattered pulp, having intervened just in time to save his sister’s virtue.

  David sipped his port as he turned the pages, learning how close George and Harvey had been and how both had always been protective of their sister. Strange… it sounds like Fitzwilliam and me with Georgiana. If I’d caught her when she was sixteen in a hayloft with some creep, I would have beaten him to a bloody pulp, too.

  Reading on, halfway through the first volume, David began to notice a change. Harvey had brought his girlfriend home for a family dinner. David turned the page in anticipation. Was it his Aunt Susan? No! Shocked, he had to reread the passage again. Harvey had brought the beautiful Anne Winthrop home to meet his family. …My mother! My uncle went out with my mother. I don’t believe this.