Darcy and Elizabeth--A Most Unlikely Couple

by Brenda J. Webb

  Without awaiting a reply, he flew out the door. The sounds of Richard confronting his father could easily have been heard in Hertfordshire, and it killed Elizabeth’s appetite. She sat still for a moment, wondering what she should do, but soon she decided she must hear what was being said, for, in truth, she realized she was the topic.

  By the time she gained the dining room door, the quarrel had moved into the large front parlour. Cautiously peeking into the hallway, she found no servants loitering about, as they were prone to do at Longbourn. Realising that the few candles that lit the hallway left shadowy places in which she could go undetected, Elizabeth slipped out of the dining room and edged her way towards the voices. Nearing a large palm tree in a pot by the entry to the parlour, she was pleased to see that no one had thought to close the door, thus, she had a view of who was speaking as she peeked through the opening.

  “I will not be taken to task like a schoolboy,” her husband said to an older man who favoured the colonel. William’s face was crimson, and he fairly shook with anger as his hands formed and reformed fists. Elizabeth had never seen his celebrated self-control so near to crumbling, and it was a little frightening. “I am my own man, and I have chosen the woman I wished to marry. It is settled!”

  “You have chosen to defy me. That is what you have chosen! First you refuse to marry Anne and now this!”

  A lovely older woman in an expensive gown of blue damask came forward, urging each to be calm and suggesting they lower their voices, though neither seemed to heed her counsel.

  “Darcy is right, Father!” Richard declared, though he was not visible until he walked over to stand beside William. “He is not a Fitzwilliam; he does not have to obey you!”

  “Of course, you would take his side!” the earl exclaimed, casting a disgusted look at his son. “You would defend him if he married a courtesan! In fact, I would not be surprised if she was his mistress.”

  “My wife is a gentlewoman and everything that is good and decent. You have no right to criticise someone you have never met and know absolutely nothing about!”

  “And why do I know nothing about her? If she were someone of import, I would know her. Produce her so that I can see for myself that she is not some little tart that is heavy with child!”

  “My wife will not be subjected to your vitriol on her wedding day! In fact, I do not intend to subject her to you in the future, either.”

  “What is the matter? Are you afraid she could not pass inspection?”

  As William took a step towards his uncle, Richard grabbed his arm. William nodded at his cousin and said, “You have made your feelings perfectly clear, Uncle. Now, let me be clear. You are no longer welcome—”

  “Fitzwilliam?”

  At the sound of Elizabeth’s soft voice, every head in the room turned. To his credit, after meeting her eye, the earl looked away, for he had been excessively cruel in his remarks.

  William came to his senses and rushed to shield her from his family. “Sweetheart, please go back to the dining room and wait for me there.”

  “Are you not going to introduce me? After all, this is your family, is it not?”

  “You will meet them at another time.”

  Suddenly, the elegant woman stood beside them, extending her hand. “I am your husband’s aunt. I apologise for what you may have overheard, my dear. Things are often said in anger that we do not mean.”

  Elizabeth took the hand graciously. “I have found that to be true.”

  “Lady Matlock,” William felt impelled to say, “and Aunt Eleanor, may I present my wife, Elizabeth Bennet Darcy.”

  “I am pleased to meet the woman who has captured my nephew’s heart,” Lady Matlock said as Elizabeth curtseyed. Then, putting her arm around Elizabeth’s shoulder, she ushered her around William and towards her husband. The look she directed at Lord Matlock meant that she would brook no further incivility on his part.

  “May I introduce my husband, the Earl of Matlock?”

  William’s uncle had been examining Elizabeth closely from the moment she spoke. It was quickly evident that she was gently bred and certainly not with child. For the first time in years, his face flushed with embarrassment as she stood before him now.

  “I am pleased to meet you,” Elizabeth said softly, dropping another curtsey.

  Though the earl barely nodded, he managed to murmur, “Forgive me for my harsh words. I was angry with my nephew for not doing his duty towards our family, but I should not have directed my anger towards you.”

  Elizabeth barely had time to react before Richard began pulling his father aside to speak privately. The countess, who still stood beside her, said in a lower voice, “I apologise for upsetting you on your wedding day. Please allow me to make amends. Say you will attend my ball the day after tomorrow so I may introduce you to society as my new niece. If my husband and I show our acceptance of your marriage, it shall help to gain the approval of the ton. That, of course, can only be an advantage for Fitzwilliam’s sister, Georgiana, when she comes out.”

  Elizabeth could think of no polite way to refuse. “I should like to attend.”

  William, who had moved closer in order to intervene if needed, spoke up. “None of my wife’s new gowns will be ready by then, Aunt. It would be best to postpone Mrs. Darcy’s introduction to society to a later date.”

  Elizabeth’s brows knit. Is he so ashamed of my clothes that he would rather wait until I have better?

  “I am sure that any gown Mrs. Darcy wears will be lovely, Fitzwilliam. Moreover, it is essential that the family present a united front now in order to thwart what the scandal sheets may print.”

  She turned back to Elizabeth, oblivious to William’s scowl. “The gossips love a spur-of-the-moment wedding, my dear, but if we act quickly, they will have less reason to criticise. Please say that you will come.”

  “If my husband will escort me, I shall.”

  Lady Matlock smiled. “If he will not, send me a note, and I shall have my eldest son, Edgar, come for you.”

  Unsure of what to reply to that, Elizabeth said nothing, but she was certain that William was not pleased with his aunt’s offer. The glower on his face made that plain.

  “I shall escort my wife whenever she needs an escort!” William declared.

  “Good! Then I shall expect both of you at Matlock House at seven. The ball begins at eight, and I want you to have plenty of time to meet with Georgiana beforehand.”

  Before William could object, Lady Matlock quickly joined her husband as he and Richard walked towards the foyer. That gave opportunity for him to address Elizabeth.

  “My dear, you have no idea of the level of cruelty among the women of the ton, especially if they perceive that you are not of their sphere. Do you really want to reap their attention by attending a ball in one of the gowns you brought from Hertfordshire? Why not wait until after your new gowns are finished before subjecting yourself to their inspection?”

  “Were you embarrassed by my wedding dress? For that is what I thought to wear.”

  “Certainly not! But as lovely as it is, it might appear plain next to the current fashions. I would not want you to lay yourself open to their insults—that is all.”

  Recalling her promise to her aunt, Elizabeth swallowed the retort on the tip of her tongue. “If you will excuse me, I am tired and wish to retire. Good night, Mr. Darcy.”

  With those words Elizabeth quit the room, leaving William bewildered. Mr. Darcy? What happened to calling me Will?

  He had pictured them inhabiting the library after dinner, where he intended to read some newly published poetry aloud while they shared the vintage champagne he had saved for his wedding day. Afterwards, he planned to present her with the wedding gift he had commissioned when he was in London last—a perfect strand of pearls, painstakingly chosen to match. Alas, that was not to be, for by the time William fully understood that Elizabeth was actually retiring for the night, he moved to the door only to watch her walk away. As sh
e vanished up the stairs at the rear of the hall, his dreams sank along with his heart.

  He considered going after her to clear the air, but decided against it, fearing that if he suddenly appeared at her door, she might think he was reneging on his pledge not to consummate their union until she was ready. In any case, he could not get over the feeling that he had just been dismissed.

  While lost in thought, William had not noticed that the house had gone eerily silent. Hearing footsteps, he glanced to see Richard striding towards him.

  “Thank God they are gone!” Richard said, walking past him to stick his head in the parlour and look around the room. “Where is Mrs. Darcy? I wish to apologise for Father’s insults.”

  “Elizabeth is exhausted and decided to retire. However, I am certain that she does not hold you personally responsible for what your father says or does. You owe no one an apology.”

  “Still, I want to apologise to her and to you. My parents had no right coming here today, of all days. And my father should never have said the things he did, especially in your home and within earshot of your wife. It was unconscionable.”

  “Your mother is not so much unkind as she is a hostage to the dictates of the ton.”

  “But Father can be intentionally unkind! And he went too far today.”

  “I will admit that he pushed me near to my breaking point. It is one thing to insult my intelligence, but quite another to insult Elizabeth’s character.”

  “Quite right,” Richard stated, releasing a heavy sigh. “At any rate, I think I shall follow your wife’s example and retire to Bingley’s residence now. I have no appetite after all that has happened.”

  “You are not staying here tonight?”

  “No, and I have already informed Mrs. Barnes. I am not so thick that I do not know that newlyweds need their privacy, so I am encamping at Charles’ home for a while.”

  “Bingley lent you his house?”

  “Yes. He thinks, as do I, that a newly married couple does not need a houseguest, so he offered to let me stay there before we left for London. I do not mind, as it will be nice having the house to myself and you may reach me there at any time.”

  “Very well, but let me have Cook pack you a basket in case you wish to eat later. After all, she prepared a lot of food, and someone has to eat it.”

  Richard offered a tired smile. “You have talked me into it.”

  As they headed to the kitchen, the colonel suddenly stopped as though he had remembered something important. “What of Richmond? Do you still plan to visit the children and their mothers while in Town?”

  “Yes, I am obligated to see that the children are raised in a decent home. So, I must check on the progress on the estate before returning to Pemberley. I hoped you would accompany me.”

  “I intend to, but what of your wife? Are you not going to tell her?”

  “There is no point in Elizabeth knowing anything about the situation at this point. She will find out soon enough and will be deeply disappointed, I am sure.”

  “Any decent woman would grieve to hear of illegitimate children,” Richard offered soberly.

  By then they had reached the kitchen. After entering the heavy door, it slammed shut behind them, effectively cutting off their conversation to anyone outside that room.

  “And since Elizabeth was very fond of Andrew, I know it would come as quite a shock to learn of his debauchery. I am not willing for her to be upset again so soon by a member of my family.”

  “You are a too kind-hearted, Cousin! I hope it does not come back to haunt you. I, for one, would expose that cad in a second!”

  “He will be exposed soon enough, I believe. He is running out of options and places to hide. I cannot help but wonder what happened when he got to Manchester. If he had been shot by Harrington, I think I would have heard by now.”

  “That blackguard is too slippery to be caught so easily.” Richard replied sarcastically. “I imagine he is hiding in some gutter, even as we speak.”

  “You are probably right.”

  “I know his kind well. I pursue them all over England in service to His Majesty— deserters, rebels, conspirators, ne’er-do-wells and the like. They come to a bad end.”

  Just then Mrs. Colvin came through the door from to servants’ quarters. Seeing the master and his cousin awaiting her, she smiled and bobbed a curtsey.

  “How may I be of service, sir?”

  IN A DARK CORNER OF the foyer, Elizabeth stood as still as a statue, stricken to her soul by what she had just heard and wishing she had not come back downstairs.

  Once in her bedroom, she had realised that she needed to speak to her Aunt Gardiner about her frustrations before being swept off to Pemberley, and since the Gardiners were to return to Town after the wedding, they were most likely home already. Thus, she had gone in search of William in order to tell him that she intended to visit them first thing in the morning by herself, assuring him of her intent to return before the modiste arrived at nine. Regrettably, as she neared the foyer, she overheard snippets of a conversation between her husband and his cousin that pierced her heart.

  ... visit the children and their mothers while you are in Town...

  ... obligated at least to see that the children are raised in a decent home...

  ... but what of your wife? Are you going to tell her...

  ... There is no point in Elizabeth knowing anything about the situation... She will find out soon enough and will be deeply disappointed...

  ... Any decent woman would grieve to hear of illegitimate children...

  Visualizing the faces of the illegitimate children that William was obligated to support made her stomach begin to churn. Looking about and seeing no one, Elizabeth quickly made her way back to the safety of her bedroom. Once ensconced there, she turned the key in the lock and leaned back against the door with her eyes closed. Silently she commanded, Breathe!

  Suddenly, her eyes flew open. Noting the other doors—one that led to a joint sitting room and the other to her dressing room—she ran to lock them. At last done, she lay down across the huge bed that now belonged to her. Tears refused to obey and gathered in her eyes, though Elizabeth fought to keep them from falling.

  You WILL not cry! You will make the best of the situation because you have no other choice! One thought kept running through her mind, though: What else do I not know about Mr. Darcy?

  WILLIAM AND RICHARD exited the front door and paused on the portico. Below, a carriage was waiting to take his cousin to Bingley’s residence, and William nodded to a footman who instantly leapt down to open the door.

  “So you will allow me to impose upon you again, then? Since your mother invited Elizabeth to the ball for Lady Susan, I feel I have no choice but to go, and I could use your help.”

  “You do realise that attending the ball can only create more trouble.”

  “Why do you think I want you there? Though I imagine your mother means only to quell the gossips, our presence may be a bigger disaster than anything the gossips could invoke. I cannot see any good coming from introducing Elizabeth to Lady Susan at this time.”

  “Or Georgiana, either. She cannot be happy about your marriage, and I fear what she may say or do.”

  “As do I, so you see my dilemma. I need your help to shield Elizabeth from those who would like nothing better than to tear her to shreds, even those members of my own family who have not had their chance as yet.”

  “Like Edgar, for instance, or, God forbid, Lady Catherine.”

  “Exactly. At least our aunt is not likely aware of the marriage yet, or if Collins has managed to get back to Kent, she will not be able to travel to London in time for the ball.”

  “It was not my aim to attend. I could not fancy myself being a part of anything honouring Lady Susan, but I shall attend for Mrs. Darcy’s sake.”

  “Thank you, Richard.”

  “Do you remember what I said when we were in Town last—about how entertaining it would be if you showed
up during Mother’s ball for Lady Susan with a wife?”

  “Now that you mention it, I do.”

  “Forget I ever said such a foolish thing! After tonight, I could do without any more drama.”

  “I feel the same. I shall not sleep a wink until this whole ordeal is over and we leave for Pemberley.”

  Chapter 14

  Darcy House

  Darcy’s dressing room

  The next morning

  If Mr. Martin thought it odd that Mr. Darcy spent his wedding night in his own bed, he tried not to let it show as he laid out his employer’s clothes. He had not been entirely taken aback, for last evening he had heard two maids nattering about the new Mrs. Darcy retiring early—by herself. It seemed that one of the tattlers was supposed to help the mistress undress, but she found all the mistress’ doors locked and could not rally her to open them. Upon spying him, however, both women had hurried away. He knew that it was his duty, so he intended to inform Mrs. Barnes of the gossip today.

  In the meantime, while it was yet dark Martin had entered the master’s dressing room, as was his usual custom, only to find the subsequent door to Mr. Darcy’s bedroom standing wide open. In addition, a light was emanating from within, and it drew him to the door to see if candles may have been left burning. A strong stench of liquor assaulted him immediately, causing his nose to crinkle. Still, assuming that the room was empty, he was surprised to find William asleep in the bed. Moreover, the bedclothes were dishevelled, as though he might have fought a legion of demons during the night. Pillows were scattered over every inch of carpet and the sheets no longer covered the mattress or the man. There was nothing to be done but to close the door quietly, so he did and went about his duties.

  Recalling it now as he brushed his master’s coat a little too zealously, Martin let out a ragged sigh. This is not a good omen.

  Having been George Darcy’s valet since before Fitzwilliam was born, Mr. Martin was very familiar with the son, whom he had come to admire even more than the father. So familiar, in fact, that he was acutely aware of how isolated his charge had been for much of his life, especially since his father’s death and the estrangement with his sister. Their rift was something of which the entire house was aware, though the wise never mentioned it—well, other than when he discussed it with Mr. and Mrs. Barnes. The three of them, employed the longest, knew all of the family secrets and always closed ranks to protect the master from tittle-tattle being spread amongst the other servants.