by Webb, Brenda
“Bingley, if you love Miss Bennet, do not wait too long to secure her.”
“I do not intend to. I will make her an offer as soon as I have something to offer besides my name.”
William nodded, finishing his drink silently.
If only I could offer Elizabeth my name.
~~~*~~~
London
Bingley’s Townhouse
The next day
Dining Room
Caroline was angry quite often these days, and had Louisa known this quarrel was transpiring in the dining room, she would have waited until later to break her fast. For once, she was pleased that Bertram was still sleeping off his overindulgence, as he dearly hated Caroline’s diatribes. And lately he complained constantly about them.
“Really, Charles! Must you be the one to go to Liverpool? Can you not send one of your underlings from the warehouse here?” Caroline huffed and stomped about the room, as their brother ate in preparation for his journey.
“If you do not stay in London, then I shall miss the most prestigious balls and parties. Will you leave me bereft of every notable soirée that London has to offer while you gallivant all over England on a witch hunt?”
Bingley stood abruptly, making his chair tilt back precariously, and threw his serviette on the table forcefully. “What you mean is that without me, Darcy’s friends will not invite you! You could have ample society while I take care of business, only you think yourself above them.”
“They are all tradesmen! Not a one of them has aspirations of bettering themselves as we do!”
“As you do! And thus far, your aspirations have only hurt you, dear sister!”
“How ill-mannered! And I thought that you had my best interests at heart. After all, how am I to make a decent match without being included among the best of society?”
Charles laughed mirthlessly. “Make a match? How indeed! You have chased Darcy these many years, to the exclusion of every other man, and he still would not have you if you were the only woman on earth.”
“Do not be so certain, Charles. If he divorces, it will be over Gisela Darcy’s dead body! I imagine she will resist strenuously, and it will be quite the scandal. Some, maybe most, will undoubtedly cut the illustrious Mr. Darcy after such a breach of decorum, and he may be very grateful for my steadfast devotion. No doubt he will then see me in a different light!”
Bingley heaved an audible sigh, declaring, “I assure you that Darcy already sees who you are, Caroline, and that is why he is not interested.” With those words he quit the room.
Caroline looked to Louisa, who had quietly taken a seat during their exchange.
“Charles is such a dullard!”
Louisa cautioned her. “I advise you not to talk ill of our brother. After all, it is to his credit that you live well!”
“And you as well!” Caroline huffed. “Without Charles, I dare say you would not be able to maintain your standard of living. Not with Hurst’s disdain for actually doing anything constructive!”
Louisa rolled her eyes. “Attacking my husband will not help you. I know only too well his shortcomings and I agree. However, if you continue to push Charles, I fear that he shall rid himself of you at some point—perhaps making good on his threat to send you to live with Aunt Harrison in Scarborough. And I shall not plead your case if he does. When I have in the past, it only served to make him angry at me. So be forewarned!”
Caroline cocked her head as if studying her sister. “When I am Mrs. Darcy of Pemberley, I shall remember your disloyalty.”
Louisa stifled a laugh. “If you are ever Mrs. Darcy, I shall just have to rely on my connection to Charles to recommend me to Mr. Darcy.”
With those few words, Louisa resumed eating as Caroline flounced from the room, slamming the door soundly behind. After her sister’s departure, Louisa began to recall just when her sister had become so missish and concluded that it was after Mr. Darcy befriended their brother at Cambridge. Caroline had instantly been attracted to the handsome Mr. Darcy and had set her cap for him.
I cannot fault her there. Even I thought him the most handsome man of my acquaintance!
Nevertheless, Louisa was not so foolish as to think she had a chance with the Master of Pemberley and had accepted Mr. Hurst’s offer shortly thereafter. With Caroline, however, that was not the case. For years she had used Charles’ connection to Mr. Darcy at every opportunity—putting all of them in his company whenever possible.
You are a fool, Caroline, to think that man would ever have you!
Just then the door opened and Mrs. Wiggins entered. Seeing Louisa, she nodded and moved to the sideboard to ensure that nothing needed her attention. While Mrs. Wiggins rearranged the dishes and stirred about behind her, Louisa’s thoughts returned to her family. Charles was changing and she wondered why Caroline had not recognized that fact. Their brother was becoming his own man, and once married, he would certainly no longer be the easily managed brother of the past.
The implications were daunting. She was terribly disappointed in Mr. Hurst and did not relish spending time alone with him. Furthermore, it was obvious that they could not keep their present standard of living without imposing on Charles for a good part of the year. Suddenly, with that knowledge, her appetite disappeared and sighing with resignation, she took leave of the room as well.
~~~*~~~
London
Matlock House
Edward Fitzwilliam’s Study
The two men stood facing each other not unlike combatants in a ring. The Earl of Matlock, an older version of Richard with sandy hair and brown eyes, had not called his second son to his home for quite some time—not since their last argument months ago.
“Have you seen this?”
Picking up a tabloid from the corner of his desk, the Earl of Matlock threw it in his son’s direction. Catching it in mid-air, Richard dutifully perused the days-old paper to find whatever was annoying his father and found it under the gossip section. It was a veiled reference to Gisela Darcy’s behaviour at the Satterfield’s ball.
“My nephew is too obstinate for his own good. First, he refuses my request that he marry Anne. Then he marries this… this widow without warning or explanation, escorts her to her own townhouse and makes a show of leaving her there. The whole of London is aware of this!” The Earl of Matlock took a deep draw from his cigar and blew the smoke into the air. “And his dogged refusal to live with that woman has resulted in more fodder for the gossip sheets than a divorce would ever cause!”
Richard shrugged. “Darcy is not concerned with what society thinks, Father. He feels he has done his part in suppressing family scandals by marrying that harridan to keep George Darcy’s secret. But he was betrayed in the worst way! She was never with child.”
“My sister should never have married that untitled buffoon. I told Anne that he was not good enough for her, but she would not listen to me. NO ONE listens to me, not even you!”
“And what is my fault? I have given up every woman that I have fancied because you did not approve of her lineage or her dowry was not large enough. Is that not sufficient to earn your good will?”
“Do not be impertinent, Richard! It is no one’s fault that you are the second son.” Edward Fitzwilliam bellowed. “The point is that Evelyn has been furiously working to suppress one scandal after another since Fitzwilliam married that harlot! And yet Mrs. Darcy flaunted Attenborough in public at the Satterfield’s ball. No this madness must stop! I shall demand that Darcy consult a solicitor about a divorce immediately!”
“That is not your decision to make, Father,” Richard declared. “If you had not championed Aunt Catherine’s plans to make him marry Anne, perhaps he would not have married Gisela without your knowledge or approval.” Though he knew that was not the case, Richard could not help but taunt his father with the fiasco that resulted from his attempts to control Darcy.
“Just remember, young man, that your allowance can also be affected by your attitude.”
“And how long will you remind me of that?” Richard came to his feet as his face reddened. “I am a decorated officer in His Majesty’s service, not a boy! And if need be, I will survive on my salary and my inheritance from Grandmother. I am as tired of being threatened as Darcy. He is his own man, and he can damn well do as he pleases and, in addition, I think it is time I did so too.”
With those words, Richard headed to the door. His father was shocked into silence as he exited the room and slammed the door behind him. Just outside, his mother stood waiting. She held a finger to her lips as a sign of silence, before she took his hand and led him to her office down the hall. Once they were inside, the door closed and locked, she motioned her youngest son to sit. She then took the seat behind her small desk and studied him earnestly.
“Your father can be very demanding.”
Richard laughed mirthlessly. “That is an understatement.”
She smiled wanly. “I… I do not like controversy—you know that.” Richard nodded. “I have tried to keep peace among our family, even between those members of whom I am not fond.”
“Gisela?”
She nodded. “I do not wish to air our family problems for all England to see, so I have treated her with the respect that her marriage to Fitzwilliam warrants. However, she is being more and more ridiculous every day.”
“The Satterfield’s ball?”
“Yes. She arrived late with Lord Howard Attenborough, who was surprisingly sober, though Gisela was in her cups. Do you know him?”
“Earl of Wiltshire?”
“Exactly. A more pompous, self-serving man I have never met. They paraded around the ballroom, arm-in-arm like lovers! I think he enjoys flaunting it in your cousin’s face that he is sleeping with his wife. You know he could never best Fitzwilliam in any other way.” His mother began to fan herself with a piece of paper. “I was appalled, and since your father and Edgar were in the card room, I had to summon them. And you know how stubborn your father can be when he is winning. By the time Edward and Edgar appeared, Gisela and Attenborough had disappeared as quickly as they had come. It was almost as though they planned their arrival and departure precisely when your father and brother would be occupied elsewhere.”
“I would not doubt it. Gisela is no simpleton. She is calculating.”
“I have tried to give Gisela my approbation, if nothing else, since Fitzwilliam has cast her in such a bad light by his refusal to live with her, but I find that I cannot condone such behaviour.” She noted that Richard did not reply, but she understood. He had never liked William’s wife.
“I know that you and Fitzwilliam are close. Can you tell me what he plans to do about Gisela?”
“I cannot. Nor would I betray a confidence, Mother. I suggest you talk with him.”
“He will not talk to me. He resents that I recognise Gisela and invite her to family gatherings.”
“I can understand his position.”
“Richard, surely you of all people know what I face with the ton! I must keep up appearances for your sister’s sake. Alicia is still unmarried!”
Richard shrugged. “Perhaps if Father—”
“Do not say it! Your father will never allow her to marry that man!”
“I do not know what you and Father hope to accomplish by denying her the man she loves. Colonel Neilson is an excellent man and has much to recommend him, though he is a second son. ”
“Wealth marries wealth, and titled wealth at that, whenever possible—not second sons.”
“How well I know.”
Evelyn Fitzwilliam reached to take his hand. “Richard, your father and I will find a woman with a large dowry in need of connections. Be patient.”
He stood to leave. “Mother, I do not like being treated like a child any more than Darcy. I believe I have just had this conversation with Father. Now if you will excuse me.”
His mother stopped him at the door. “I am sorry that you are caught in this conundrum. It is not easy being a second son, but try to understand our position. If my mother had not left you an inheritance, I do not know how you would have survived once your father dies. Your allowance ends with him. Of course, Edgar could always decide to continue the stipend.”
“I understand completely, Mother. I am a pawn in the games of the ton, and my only worth is my name. I have no doubt that Edgar will cut me off. In any event, I believe I am going to learn how to survive without an allowance even sooner.”
With that, Richard opened the door and left the house, never looking back, though his mother followed him to the foyer with a puzzled look on her face. In the background, Richard could hear his father shouting orders to one of the servants about finding him and demanding his return.
~~~*~~~
Chapter 10
London
Holmes House
The Study
As newly promoted Colonel Steven Neilson waited in the foyer at Holmes House with his friend, he studied the other officer in meticulous detail. Observing Richard Fitzwilliam’s bearing, he smiled to recall that, with the exception of when they were training new recruits in survival techniques, he had seldom seen his colleague dressed any less smartly than at this moment. Still, regardless of Fitzwilliam’s state of dress, he considered him the epitome of an officer—someone who took his job seriously and expected the same from every officer. He was someone Neilson admired enough to emulate.
His thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the butler’s return and the invitation for both men to follow as he proceeded down a hallway. Up ahead a door opened and a tall, boyish-looking man with mischievous green eyes and sandy hair peered into the hall before stepping out with a wide grin.
“I am surprised to see you, Richard!” Lord Holmes, Viscount Moreland, proclaimed, grasping his friend’s hand and slapping him on the back. He practically pulled Richard through the door, as Neilson followed. “The last time we crossed paths, you were supervising new recruits in manoeuvres near Wales. That was over a year ago!”
“That is because you have spent the majority of your time in the service in Weymouth, relaxing by the sea while I actually had to work!” Richard teased.
“True! But what was I to do? My commanding officer would not issue an order without my assistance!” Still chuckling, he addressed the other man, “Welcome, Colonel Neilson!”
“Steven, please,” the officer replied. “After hearing the tales Richard told for the past few months of your shared adventures, I feel that you and I are old friends!”
“Steven it is! Please call me Walter,” Lord Holmes declared, shaking the man’s hand before chiding his friend. “I hope you did not tell him everything!”
“Only the respectable parts!” Richard confirmed with a chuckle. “I said nothing of the adventures we shared on leave in Brighton when I was first commissioned!”
All the men laughed heartily as Holmes motioned for his two visitors to sit. Then focusing on Richard, he challenged, “As happy as I am to see you, I must ask what brings you here today. You have not exactly been a steady visitor in the past.”
“I am here to convey my concern regarding your father. I just learned upon reaching London that his health has worsened, and he has returned to Satterfield Manor. He has been like a father to me, and I wondered if there was anything I could do to be of service to him… or to you.”
“You are too kind, but I fear there is nothing anyone can do,” Holmes murmured, his smile fading as his expression darkened. “His physician states that his heart is weakening, but he cannot say if he will succumb in another month or another year. I wanted to travel with him, but he insisted I stay here and fulfil my duties, as there is no way of knowing how long he may survive.”
The Viscount slammed his fist on the desk. “It is so hard to wait, not knowing when to go to him.” Richard moved to stand beside his friend, grasping his shoulder and squeezing it in support. Holmes’ voice was quieter as he continued, “It was difficult succeeding Harrison as the viscount
, but I cannot imagine succeeding Father.”
“How does one prepare for that?” Richard said quietly and then remembered his cousin’s similar situation. “I have no experience to draw from, but Darcy knows well what you are suffering. He could not be here today but asked me to offer his assistance. He may not be titled, but he is well acquainted with running an estate.”
“Darcy is a good friend. Tell him I am appreciative, and I will certainly consult him. By the way, I am not in the frame of mind for such an event, but nevertheless, Penelope and I are hosting a ball Saturday. She insists that we must reciprocate for all the soirées given on our behalf since our arrival. And, if Father is only going to get worse, we must do it now rather than later. I insist that both of you come, as it will be easier for me to bear. And bring that hermit Darcy. I have not seen him in ages!”
“I will try to persuade him, but you know how my cousin hates being on display. And since you,” he glanced to the other officer, “and Neilson are both aware of the circumstances, I must caution you that he will not attend if there is the least possibility that Gisela will be present. Are you aware that she is in London?”
“All of London is aware! I cannot imagine why Mrs. Darcy enjoys being the target of jokes, but emphasise to Darcy that she is not invited. I merely want to renew our friendship, especially as I will likely need his advice. Besides, we are now neighbours—I could hit his townhouse with a rock if my arm was still good and my aim true!”
“You once had the best arm among us!” Richard declared, walking back around the desk to take his seat. “Remember the time you broke the window at Matlock, and Father though it was Darcy. It was a wonder he did not turn you in and save himself the tongue lashing.”
“Darcy was always too kind for his own good. I do not think I would have been so honourable if the tables had been turned!” He grinned lopsidedly. “Your father always frightened me. He still does.”