Blackmailing Lizzy

by Abbey North

  She couldn’t possibly be speaking of him. Fitzwilliam knew that, but there was still a faint stirring of hope in his breast. “You have resolved to never marry then?”

  She nodded.

  He frowned. “Were I to make an offer for your hand, due to the scandalous nature of my behavior this evening…?”

  She pressed her lips together for a moment, looking pained. “I should be forced to say no under such circumstances, Mr. Darcy.”

  Disappointment filled him, and it seemed to confirm that she was definitely not speaking of him. Had she been, she surely would have seized on the chance to marry him when he offered. “Was he George Wickham?” He couldn’t help the angry note in his tone as he said the other man’s name.

  Her eyes widened, and she blushed for a moment. “I confess I was a silly girl about Wickham for a while, but an anonymous letter arrived at Longbourn after my return from Hunsford. It was most illuminating.” She eyed him with a hint of suspicion. “I know not who sent it, and it seemed to have what I assumed were bitter allegations against Mr. Wickham—until it came out he had overextended himself with creditors in Meryton, and Mr. King challenged him to a duel when he learned Wickham was trying to lure his niece to elope after Mr. King had forbidden the match.”

  Fitzwilliam’s eyes widened at the information. “Did Wickham lose the duel?”

  She nodded. “I was rather surprised he showed up at all, to be honest, but he lost. Mr. King put a ball in his shoulder, and a few of his friends remaining in the militia, including Mr. Denny, helped get him to London. I had heard a few years ago that he was working on a ship to pay for passage to the Colonies, but I do not know for certain. I had no interest in confirming that for myself. I was simply glad to have him gone from Meryton, especially since he had been far too inappropriate with Lydia, who has no common sense and little concern for her reputation. She does not understand it is as brittle as it is beautiful.”

  He felt a surge of satisfaction, glad he had sent the letter. At the time he had gone to Hunsford to propose to her, it had been one of the issues he’d planned to address, to explain himself when he knew she thought he had injured Mr. Wickham. There had been no opportunity after the argument, so he’d decided the next best course was to send her an anonymous letter.

  By that point, he had accepted he was unlikely to be able to propose to her, and it was far less likely she would accept if he managed to do so, but he could not in good conscience allow her to maintain a good opinion of a scoundrel like George Wickham. He had written the letter and dispatched it posthaste.

  “Would you happen to know the source of that letter, Mr. Darcy?”

  He gave her a smile. “I assumed if it came addressed from me, you would throw it away unread.”

  Lizzy laughed slightly. “I suppose that is a valid fear. I appreciate you warning me though. I take it your dear sister Georgiana was the young lady in question that he tried to seduce into an elopement before he did the same to Miss King?”

  Darcy’s mouth tightened. “The very same. Georgiana has recovered from it by now, and she seems to be quite fond of the new vicar for Pemberley. I suspect we shall be announcing their engagement within months.”

  She looked relieved. “I am most pleased to hear that. She is a dear girl, and she did not deserve Wickham’s treatment. I am most thankful you were able to stop the elopement before it occurred.”

  Fitzwilliam made no attempt to hide his happiness. “As was I, Lizzy.”

  She flinched at the familiar utterance of her nickname, but she did not tell him to avoid its use. She licked her lips. “I suppose I should return to my room then, Mr. Darcy. This has been quite a day, full of twists and turns I did not expect.”

  He put out a hand, touching her shoulder through the blanket. “I apologize once more for allowing the misconception to occur and continue. I am dreadfully shamed you would consider me the same kind of man as Mr. Dixon.”

  She smiled, and she seemed to bear him no ill will. “I do not think you are nearly as unpleasant as Mr. Dixon, Mr. Darcy. You will notice I chose what I thought was the better option—to share your bed instead of being forced to share his life.”

  He nodded, feeling a strange ache in his chest. He was preferable in her eyes to a rake, but how tepid were her emotions for him? He was the lesser of two evils, but still a degree of evil she’d contemplated. He shook his head. “I find it most dissatisfying you would think I am better, but only marginally so, than Mr. Dixon. I feel I must offer for your hand, Miss Bennet. It is the only proper course in this situation.”

  Lizzy’s lips parted in a gasp, but she seemed to be composing herself. “I would never want a proposal given out of obligation, Mr. Darcy. I thank you for your consideration, but as nothing too untoward happened, there is likely to be no consequence for this evening. I would appreciate your discretion far more than sacrificing yourself on the altar of propriety.”

  Her words were cool and tight, and she didn’t wait for a response. She tossed back his blanket and slid out of bed on the other side, hurrying around to retrieve her nightdress and slip it on. Her night rail quickly followed, and he stood up from the bed. “I apologize again. I have offended you.”

  She nodded jerkily she tightened the ties on her night rail. “Good evening, Mr. Darcy.” She rushed out.

  He intercepted the door before it could slam behind her, closing it quietly and engaging the lock. He leaned against the door for a long moment, trying to comprehend what had happened.

  She’d come to his room to offer herself to prevent the far less desired outcome of having to marry Mr. Dixon. Lizzy had been warm and willing in his arms, ready to give him full access to her body, and for a moment, he castigated himself as a fool for having declined such an amazing offer. It was unlikely to ever come again.

  He sighed with regret, but he had done the right thing. At least as right as he could be in the situation after having partially compromised her. He couldn’t help remembering the look of pleasure on her face, and the way her sheath had contracted around his fingers. He moaned as he imagined it was his member inside her instead of his digits, feeling his groin harden all over again. What he wouldn’t give to have her with him then, but the evening’s events had clearly destroyed all chance of that.

  4

  Fitzwilliam didn’t miss the giggling look Kitty shot him the next morning, and he wondered at it. When Lizzy joined the breakfast party moments later, he said, “Good morning, Miss Bennet.”

  Lizzy replied, “Good morning, Mr. Darcy,” in a starched tone, and Kitty giggled again. That earned her a death glare from her sister, and it left Fitzwilliam completely confused.

  He did his best to eavesdrop on the sisters’ conversation during breakfast, but they were too far away at the end of the table to allow him to comfortably do so without being obvious. Instead, he kept his gaze on Mr. Dixon, who was staring at both the sisters with a gaze similar to a wolf eyeing a herd of sheep.

  It made him uneasy, and he determined he would spend the rest of the day shadowing Mr. Dixon to stymie any further efforts to force any woman into a compromising position with him. As it was, he could barely resist the urge to call out the man for his dastardly deeds.

  The party broke up, everyone going separate ways after breakfast. Darcy waited a few minutes for Mr. Dixon to stroll out of the breakfast room before following him. The man went out to the lawn, soon joining Kitty.

  He couldn’t get close enough to hear what they were saying without making it noticeable he was following and keeping an eye on the man, but whatever Kitty said, amid sharp giggles, seemed to interest Mr. Dixon. He touched Kitty too freely on the arm, and when his hand accidentally grazed the young woman’s breast, Darcy walked forward, prepared to intercede. Before he could, Kitty said something else, giggled, and walked away.

  He held back, waiting to see if Mr. Dixon had noticed him nearby, but the other man was too busy staring after Kitty. In a lewd fashion, he adjusted the front of his breeches
, and Darcy grimaced with distaste. The man was absolutely appalling, and though he did not wish to interfere with Bertram’s business, he thought it prudent that his friend should know what kind of character the man possessed.

  He made his way back to the house to find Bertram, only to learn his friend had gone fishing. As an avid fisherman, Fitzwilliam allowed himself to be swayed by the temptation, certain Dixon could do little harm during the daytime, especially with Lizzy determined to avoid him. Most likely, Lizzy would be looking out for Kitty as well, so he thought he could spare a short time to fish and have a chance to strike up a conversation with Bertram.

  He managed to do it all in under an hour and catch a fish along with it. He tossed it into the basket being guarded by one of the steward’s young sons and ruffled the boy’s hair as he walked by. Bertram had been shocked by his revelations, and he’d promised to carefully examine Mr. Dixon’s character and past before deciding whether they would stay in business together. It was clear Bertram had no intention of inviting the man back to more social events after the weekend.

  Feeling better about the situation now that he was certain he’d scuttled at least one of Mr. Dixon’s prospects for seducing fine young women in the ton, he returned to the house. He found Kitty and Jane on the lawn talking under a parasol, and he approached as he looked around. “Have you seen Lizzy… Miss Bennet?” he hastily amended. What a foolish lapse on his part.

  Jane’s eyes had widened, and she seemed intrigued.

  If Kitty were surprised by the lapse in decorum, she didn’t show it. Instead, she giggled. “I do believe she mentioned lying down. Apparently, she slept poorly last night.” Kitty shot him a look that seemed to be saying more than one thing, though he didn’t try to decipher what. He had an uneasy feeling, but he didn’t think it was strictly from Kitty’s words.

  “I can fetch a servant to ask after her or check on her myself,” said Jane.

  Fitzwilliam nodded, pretending he was fine with that. He departed from them and disappeared into the house, waiting a moment before he walked up the stairs.

  He did not know which room was Lizzy’s for certain, but there were only three with doors closed. A quick look inside revealed no one in the others, so he returned to examine each of the three in turn. One was locked, but another was not, and he opened that door but found nothing. At the third door, he heard a cry, and it was locked, so he knocked more firmly. “Lizzy, is that you?”

  “Help me, Fitz…” The words disappeared before she could finish saying his name.

  He tried the door more forcefully, but the lock remained firmly in place. It was a solid, well-built piece of craftsmanship, and it took him kicking against the frame three times before the door finally splintered inward.

  He found a distressing sight when he entered. Mr. Dixon was holding Lizzy, and though he wasn’t actively moving, it was clear he’d been trying to press her onto the bed. She was clearly fighting to escape, and Fitzwilliam rushed across the room.

  As he reached them, Dixon held up his hands and stepped back. “There is no need to be territorial, Mr. Darcy. I was simply seeing if she would give me a taste of what she gave you last night.”

  Fitzwilliam scowled. “To what do you refer?”

  “Miss Kitty revealed Lizzy crept back into the room after leaving when she thought Kitty was asleep. Kitty was speculative on who she spent her time with, at first pouting to ensure it was not me. I had to assure her most ardently that my passion is for her and not her older sister. She had no inkling, but I took a guess. You are the only other unaccompanied male guest, and so it seemed likely you were the one who received Lizzy’s passions. I only want her to share them with me as well to maintain silence.”

  “Whatever lies you are spewing shall not pass your lips again.” With those words, Fitzwilliam had to clench his hands into fists to avoid punching him. There was etiquette to follow. “I challenge you.”

  “What?” asked Dixon, looking aghast.

  “Do not be ridiculous, Mr. Darcy. You shall do no such thing,” said Lizzy at the same time.

  He looked away from Dixon. “I cannot let him impugn your honor.”

  She crossed her arms and glared at him. “My honor is hardly worth your life, Mr. Darcy.”

  He couldn’t help his anger stirring higher. “You do me a disservice to discredit my skills, Miss Bennet. I shall thank you to keep your opinion of them to yourself.”

  “And I shall thank you keep your noble, self-sacrificing gestures to yourself as well, Darcy.” She practically screeched the words at him, clearly pushed beyond her endurance. “You are so noble, and so willing to sacrifice something important just because society demands it. You are most infuriating.”

  “I am looking out for your welfare, Lizzy.” He realized he was shouting as well, and they were glaring daggers at each other when he heard feet coming up the stairs. In seconds, more guests than could be expected to maintain silence stood in the doorway, and he was forced to explain, realizing Lizzy had no desire to marry Dixon or himself. That pained him, but he could scarcely maneuver her into a situation where she was forced to become his wife, even if that were what he wanted. He couldn’t disregard her wishes on the matter.

  He turned to face his hosts, who stood closest. “Mr. Dixon was assaulting your guest. I have challenged him to a duel at sunrise. I suggest he be watched closely this evening to prevent him from attempting further molestation of your unmarried female guests.” He was cold and stiff with the words as he brushed past them all, unable to deal with the fallout at the moment.

  It felt horrible to leave Lizzy to do so, but his actions would protect her honor while alerting the others to the danger Dixon posed. Lizzy was likely to receive sympathy rather than condemnation, and he needed time to calm down. Seeing how Dixon had been trying to force her, along with trying to blackmail her, left him enraged.

  She’d thought him capable of equally low actions. Lizzy had believed he was trying to blackmail her for pleasure to buy his silence. Yet Dixon had been the one to try that tactic. When he acted to protect her, she’d gotten angry with him.

  He couldn’t pretend to understand her thoughts on the matter, or to comprehend why she was irate with him. She was as infuriating as ever. Despite that, he still ached for her and was determined to stand up for her honor and face Dixon at dawn.

  5

  Fitzwilliam rose with the dawn, dressing quickly and having his valet check his pistol. He was surprised by a knock shortly thereafter, finding Charles on the other side. “Bingley, what are you doing here?”

  “I assumed I would be your second, Darcy.”

  He frowned. “I do not believe I should allow that, as Miss Jane would be most incensed. She is expecting, and if you were to—”

  Bingley looked unconcerned. “I do not anticipate I will have to take an active role. Honestly, man, I do not expect Dixon to show at all. He strikes me as the cravenly sort.”

  Darcy had considered that as well, and he found the idea disappointing. How he would love to shoot the other man. He didn’t necessarily have to fatally wound him to teach him a lesson about respect and proper behavior.

  A short time later, they walked out of the house and across the lawn, which was still glistening with dew. Bertram had suggested a site the previous evening, and though Dixon had still been trying to talk his way out of the confrontation, Fitzwilliam had paid his attempts no mind. He was resolved on this course of honor.

  When he arrived now, he was startled to find Lizzy standing there. She wore silk slippers that had soaked through from the damp grass, and she was shivering despite her spencer coat. He frowned at her as he slipped off his jacket. “Whatever are you doing here, Miss Bennet?”

  She glared at him, though she didn’t turn away from the jacket he offered her. “I am here to see the outcome of this folly, Mr. Darcy. It occurred to me that perhaps I should be witness to your death, since it is on my behalf after all,” she said tartly as she glared at him.


  Bingley choked then, and Darcy glared at his friend, who was clearly covering a laugh. “It occurs to me that perhaps you should be more grateful. I am doing this for your honor and to prevent your ruin. We both know the last thing you wish to do is marry Mr. Dixon or…” He trailed off, and her eyes widened as she caught his meaning.

  She shifted on her feet. “If I were to change my mind about that, Mr. Darcy, would you withdraw your challenge to Mr. Dixon?”

  His eyes widened at the offer, and he contemplated it for an instant before shaking his head. “I am afraid I cannot accept under those terms, Miss Bennet. This must be done. Your honor and mine are at stake.”

  With a sound of frustration, she threw up her hands in the air and marched a few feet away. “Very well. Do not get yourself killed before I can deal with you though, Mr. Darcy.”

  She was visibly angry with him, but he found himself grinning instead. She clearly cared about his welfare, and though he didn’t know if that boded well for any possibility of a future, it was a start. She was also offering to marry him if he would stop the duel. Did she have an inkling of how he felt about her? She must have to make such a daring offer, but his course was set, and he was resolute.

  They waited for several minutes before Darcy started to pace. It soon became obvious Dixon had no intention of turning up, and it was rather anticlimactic when one of the footmen from the house came running toward them to deliver a message from Bertram.

  “Mr. Hennessey requests I tell you Mr. Dixon slipped away sometime overnight. His belongings are gone, as is his horse. He is clearly too afraid to face you, Mr. Darcy.” The young lad broke into a grin of admiration for a moment before remembering himself and regaining control of his expression. “The coward has fled.”

  Darcy confessed to disappointment, having looked forward to inflicting a measure of pain on the other man, though he hadn’t intended to kill him. With a sigh of regret, he returned the pistol he’d held in his hand to the box Bingley held open for him, the partner of the dueling set remaining undisturbed on the velvet bed.