A Dangerous Courtship

by Anne Louise

  No, this trip was very different. Her prayers had been answered and Darcy had returned to her. She and Georgiana and the man would ride in Darcy’s excellent equipage and she would be among friends. There were blankets and ample pillows and warming bricks and enough room to stretch her legs. The ride was as smooth as she had ever experienced. Elizabeth was also eager to introduce Georgiana to her family and take long walks with Darcy, but she knew propriety demanded that one of her sisters or Georgiana accompany her. She had never travelled in such style as the Darcys and knew that her life would be so different if she and Darcy married.

  The return to Longbourn went well. Mr. Gardiner had written earlier to his brother suggesting that Darcy and Georgiana accompany Elizabeth and stay a few days and Mr. Bennet had agreed. The family also wanted to meet Georgiana. The snow that recently fell in town had vanished as they neared Hertfordshire and the weather was clear and dry as the coach pulled into the circular drive outside Mr. Bennet’s library. Soon the family came outside and greeted Elizabeth and her friends before all came inside.

  Almost at once, the three youngest sisters took off with Georgiana, leaving the others to talk as servants brought their things inside.

  “I am very glad to see you, Mr. Darcy. We all were quite worried when Lizzy told us the news.”

  “Mr. Bennet, you probably wish to know what happened, and I will tell you.”

  For the next few minutes they spoke in the man’s library. Darcy told his story, even telling that he wanted a second home overlooking the channel for his family and how thoughts of Georgiana and Elizabeth drove him to escape. Mr. Bennet gave him a glass of brandy and joined Darcy but asked few questions.

  “That is an experience I hope never visits this house. I suppose the inquest will be soon and the man will be tried at The Old Bailey, will he not?”

  “That is my understanding.”

  “Mr. Bennet, Mr. Gardiner had some things he asked me to bring to Longbourn since he could not come for Christmas, and suggested I come with your daughter and Georgiana as an escape from town for a couple of days. He said you had earlier agreed to our stay, so I thank you on behalf of Georgiana and myself.”

  “We are glad you have come. I know Lizzy is pleased. It seems like you see each other only when there is angst. First there was the influenza and next the kidnapping.”

  “Yes, it makes my courting her very difficult.”

  “But I have not given my approval for you and Lizzy to begin a courtship.”

  “That is true, sir, but we already are good friends. That is one of the reasons I have come.”

  “If you are asking me to approve your courting my Lizzy, you have my approval. I actually thought you might have asked me to approve of you and Lizzy becoming engaged?”

  “Of course, that is what Elizabeth and I want, but first we wanted you to approve our courtship.”

  “Is there a hurry to become engaged?”

  “But with the separation because of the distance between us, we cannot see each other as much as we wish. I barely can tolerate being away from her. If we were engaged, at least we could write to one another. It is true that we have not known each other a long time, but I do love her and I believe she feels the same about me.” “Mr. Darcy, Lizzy and Jane are the reason I have managed to stay sane all these years. Of all my children, Lizzy and I have sat in this room over the years and talked about many things. I educated her and she has a remarkable memory. The others suppose that I am playing favourites, but I have offered to teach each of my children, but they have chosen their mother to be their teacher. That was unfair to Fanny because she had four daughters to teach and I had but Lizzy. All have turned out good, but I would put my Lizzy up against any educated man in the country and she would hold her own.”

  “Mr. Bennet, it is not my desire to take away your Lizzy, but I do wish to make her my Elizabeth.”

  “Yes, I know, and I am pleased that you are courting. To get back to the kidnapping, you said the men who knocked you unconscious are dead, but I cannot fathom why they argued?”

  “Your Lizzy thinks the older man must have said something to upset the younger man and that is why the younger man killed him. I do not know the answer, but detectives are visiting the haunts those two men frequented, both in town and near Dover, so perhaps they will learn more.”

  “You have met my daughter, Jane?”

  “Yes, sir, she and Miss Elizabeth compliment one another. She has caught the eye of my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam.”

  “Jane will make some lucky man a good wife. Please tell me more of him?”

  Darcy told of his cousin and Mr. Bennet sighed.

  “This is serious business, Mr. Darcy. I have five daughters and soon my two favourites will leave this place to make a new life.”

  “If your daughter and I marry, she will visit Longbourn and your family can visit us in town or in Derbyshire. You would not be losing a daughter but gaining a son. My mother died over fifteen years ago and my father four years ago. I like your family. My uncle and your brother are friends. Mrs. Gardiner was speaking with my aunt the very night that I met Miss Elizabeth. It was the best night of my life.”

  “And your night in the gatehouse was the worst?”

  “It was the worst, but I escaped and knew that I had to see your daughter.”

  “Lizzy is knocking, Mr. Darcy. Come in Lizzy, Mr. Darcy and I were just about ready to leave.”

  “Mama wants you and Mr. Darcy to join us for tea.”

  “We will come, Lizzy, but once Mr. Darcy started to tell of his kidnapping, we each had a glass of brandy. The drink somehow fortified me to learn the details of the kidnapping.”

  The men next joined the others and soon Mr. Bennet announced that he had approved the courtship. Elizabeth’s eyes spoke of her happiness as the younger sisters giggled, including Georgiana. Next, the gifts from the Gardiners were distributed including new dresses for the remaining sisters and the smoked Smithfield ham that Mr. Gardiner brought back every Christmas. There were also various hard candies and nuts and other treats.

  After that Elizabeth and Darcy, now chaperoned by Kitty, the second youngest daughter, walked about the gardens. Happily, Kitty offered them space from being overheard.

  Elizabeth grabbed hold of her bonnet with one hand as a gust of wind had her hold onto Darcy’s arm with her other hand. “It is not so cold but whenever the wind blows it feels several degrees colder. Did you bring along your great coat, William?”

  “No, Elizabeth, but you are correct about the wind.”

  After Elizabeth asked what he and her father had discussed, Darcy told of her father’s thoughts on losing his two eldest daughters.

  “Do you mean he already thinks that your cousin and my sister might marry?”

  “It seems that is what he is thinking. Perhaps your uncle wrote to him and that is why he has this suspicion? That is a possibility, but how are things with your mother?”

  “She was very interested to learn how you escaped and worries about others who might try to do that again.”

  “Now that is something I have thought of, both at Darcy House as well as at Pemberley, but it can happen to me or Georgiana or you and any of your family. This is the first time there has been a kidnapping of any Darcy, and that is how I want to keep it. Mr. Wickham and not Mr. Woods might be the master mind behind this dastardly deed and it is possible that he thought of this act as his last act of revenge. Now I am certain he killed Mr. Stone because the man was drunk and obnoxious the night before and may have been threatened him.”

  “Yes, William, perhaps the man was too loose with his words. If he was that way, Wickham could not trust him and the only way to keep him quiet was to kill him. Did the magistrate say that his investigator would check the local taverns nearby?”

  “He did say that, Elizabeth. Mr. Adams did mention that Mr. Blackman was continuing to check on what the kidnappers did that night, so we may learn more on this later.”

  “B
ut if Mr. Wickham found that Mr. Stone had a loose tongue, then he likely felt that he had to silence him. Mr. Stone’s telling him that he might go to the authorities sealed his fate. Too bad for both men, because Mr. Stone was killed and Mr. Wickham was seen by Mr. Blackman’s men.”

  “Miss Bennet, I do not agree that it was too bad for both men. They deserved to die, and I hope to avoid the circus of a trial. Their death helps me in that regard.”

  “Yes, it is best they are dead. I did not wish to dismiss what they did to you, only to express that two men are dead, and I value life. In their case, they are dead because they were wicked and stupid.”

  “I wonder what all went through Mr. Wickham’s thoughts as the men came after him? We know that he ran to get on the nearest horse, but he must have been in much angst when he tried to ride Hercules. He hated me, Elizabeth, and must have cussed me with his last breath when Hercules threw him into the stone wall. You know, the evil part of me wishes I had seen him those last frantic moments.”

  “Thinking such thoughts does not make one a bad person. Your reaction is more normal than you might think. Most people would have the same thoughts.” “Elizabeth, you have to understand that his killing Mr. Stone would have meant more money for him and Mr. Woods, but he needed Mr. Stone if he was to keep me alive and hope to collect the ransom money.”

  “But with Mr. Stone now dead, how would Mr. Wickham have been able to hold you hostage?”

  “That is what I am saying. He could keep me there for a few days with no water, though they left me bread and gravy and water after they dragged me inside. But he would not want to confront me unless he could mock a dying man. The men who witnessed the killing said Mr. Stone wanted to kill me right away and Mr. Wickham did not. They also said that Mr. Stone was still very drunk and Mr. Wickham was not drunk when he killed him.”

  “Might Mr. Wickham have killed you later?”

  “Probably he would have starved me of water and food and watched me suffer. Later he might have tried to claim all the ransom money by killing Mr. Woods, and he would have next gone after my sister. He might then have taken advantage of her grief and easily persuaded her to marry and then claimed all the Darcy fortune.”

  “But William, he might have done these things just by killing you.”

  “That is true, but his first thought was to get money. It is likely he was very desperate and owed large gaming debts and saw kidnapping me as the best option.”

  “Then we may learn more, but whatever Mr. Wickham’s thoughts at the time, Mr. Woods was left alone to deal with the aftermath.”

  “Will he eventually tell the authorities all they want?”

  “He may very well do that, but he does not know that the others are dead. I can see him blaming the others as setting him up and saying all he was doing was passing letters back and forth. If he feels that the authorities are buying into that, we might learn more.”

  When they returned inside the three sought the warmth of the fire before Elizabeth was called away by her father after Darcy had been summoned by Georgiana.

  “How was your walk, Lizzy? It was not polite of you to bring Kitty out in such cold.”

  “It is cold, but we were not out very long. The wind made it a feel a lot colder, but we were dressed warmly.”

  “How is your friend doing? You know that he and I have talked already?”

  “Yes, Papa, he said you spoke with him earlier. I did not ask him what you spoke of.”

  Elizabeth did not tell him what she and Darcy had talked about. For a moment she wondered if her father was testing her to learn if Mr. Darcy had divulged what the two men had discussed during their private discussion.

  “But Colonel Fitzwilliam gets on well with children. Is the same true of Mr. Darcy?”

  “Papa, of course Mr. Darcy enjoys children and we have spoken of our future. We both want a large family and several grandsons.”

  “But you will be so busy running a big house and taking care of a passel of the little people.”

  “Papa, Mr. Darcy is rich and we would have all matter of help.”

  “Of course you are right, Lizzy. It almost escaped me. Your mother and I were not as fortunate.”

  “Yes, but our family was much better off than most families in England. Great wealth often comes with curses. The kidnapping is an excellent example. Pap`, why are you asking these questions?”

  “I just want to be as sure as I can about you and Jane’s future. I wish to meet the cousin, but from what you have said, I am inclined to give you both away to these men. Lord knows, the people of Meryton would welcome such news. Lizzy, take your friends to Meryton and observe the way you and Mr. Darcy are treated.”

  This was a strange talk, but one she would think of that night when she left for bed. The next day was warm and dry and the sisters and their guests walked into Meryton.

  Georgiana was surprised at the number of people who greeted her brother and Elizabeth and herself. One woman had her young daughter with her and remembered Darcy and Doctor Williams and Elizabeth caring for her. You must be very proud of your brother, Miss Darcy? He and Lizzy and Doctor Williams helped many families. Georgiana next watched as the little girl came over to hug Elizabeth and her brother.

  That experience was repeated often that morning before Elizabeth saw her Aunt Phillips. The woman was Mrs. Bennet’s sister and had just left a store.

  “Lizzy, this is quite a surprise seeing everyone.” Elizabeth then introduced Georgiana and Darcy as he bowed and the two women curtseyed.

  They did not speak long but Elizabeth’s talkative aunt, who was the local gossip, was now certain that soon her niece would be married to the most sought after bachelor in all of England. One thing was for certain, for there would be none displeased in Meryton as Darcy and Elizabeth were considered to be a hero to many.

  The remaining time went by too fast. Mrs. Bennet’s meals were delicious and Georgiana loved playing with the Bennet sisters and she and Mary played some on the pianoforte. It was cold as the coach pulled away from Longbourn as hands waved goodbye on a sunny but dry morning.

  Elizabeth watched as the coach moved out of sight, but Darcy had told her that he would see her soon. Not long after they left, Mrs. Phillips came by to visit.

  ****

  An hour after the coach arrived at Darcy House, Bingley arrived and was shown inside.

  “How was your trip, Darcy? Mrs. Pierce said you would return today.”

  “It went well. We all wanted more time together and a break from town before the inquest and trial. When Mr. Gardiner heard that we would be traveling with Elizabeth, he asked us to carry some things he had intended to bring for Christmas until the outbreak of influenza ruined their plans. Georgiana enjoyed meeting the family and getting away.”

  “Yes, after the kidnapping you all needed a respite.”

  “See, Bingley, a large family often brings much happiness. Georgiana came home with that realization. You seem quite happy and have not stopped smiling since you walked in.”

  “But Darcy, I always smile. You know me well.”

  “Then I can imagine you have met another young woman, have you not?”

  “I am glad you noticed, but I am very happy. You remember at Christmas I said that the young woman I met in the fall was chasing an earl? It turns out that was not true, the earl was actually chasing her, but she only cared for me. I learnt of this the day after the dinner celebration at your uncle’s home. You must imagine how badly I felt knowing that I did not believe her when she told me she did not like the man. She actually came to my house and we resolved everything. Darcy, she said she loves me and I cannot believe my good fortune, for she is just the kind of woman whom I will be happy to live the rest of my life with. And she is not a fortune hunter. Her grandfather was an earl and her father is wealthy.”

  “Are you to marry soon?”

  “We are thick as thieves and have seen each other every day since that meeting, and Darcy, she does want a
family. I thought she did not want a family.”

  “But you recently said you did not want children, did you not?”

  “Yes, but that was after my visit to Liverpool. Now that I am back with Miss Baxter, my feelings about having a family have changed.”

  “So Georgiana and I wish to meet her, but hopefully after this business about the kidnapping is over.”

  “Good, Darcy, I was afraid that you might have thought that Miss Jane Bennet and I were meant to be a couple?”

  “The thought crossed my mind, but I guess you and your friend were in love all the time?”

  “Yes, I tried to put away all thoughts of her that Christmas Eve when I visited. I said that I was no longer interested in her, but my heart had problems with that lie. Darcy, I have never been so happy. We are already looking at rings. That reminds me, I need to leave now, my angel is waiting. Let us get together for lunch soon at White's Gentleman’s Club?”

  “Will do, my friend,” Darcy replied, as he walked his friend to the door and watched him ride away.

  “Was that Mr. Bingley that I heard?”

  “Yes, Georgie, he had interesting news about a young woman. Do you wish to hear?”

  Minutes into Darcy’s retelling of his friend’s story, Georgiana interrupted him.

  “That is likely the reason he was not that interested in Elizabeth’s sister. He was still pining for this other woman. Well, everything seems to be working out. I expect that our cousin is still interested in Miss Jane Bennet?”

  “We will see soon enough. I have those things the Bennets asked me to deliver to the Gardiners. Shall you join me when I go there?”

  “Yes, William, I do want to see Miss Bennet and the children.”

  “Good, for I want to check my letters and rest from the ride. I probably will leave in a couple of hours, and we will take the carriage.”

  Darcy did receive a letter from Mr. Blackman, the magistrate near Dover. He wrote that investigators interviewed men who saw Mr. Wickham and Mr. Stone in a local pub that night after Darcy was locked in the gatehouse. Several men said that Mr. Stone was well into his cups, and two men overheard the man say that Wickham had raped the man’s fourteen year old niece and that she and her baby later died in childbirth. The men also heard the man say he blamed Mr. Darcy for not telling the world about Wickham’s character. The men next said the two men left late, but thought that Wickham had overheard some of what the man had said about him.