by Abbey North
Surprised by the surreal turn of events, Lizzy put her arm through his. “How do you know the location?”
“I had occasion to read the entire letter over your shoulder. I suspect that must have been an older letter? This is not the first time, is it?”
She was startled by his perception, but she nodded as they walked. “This is the second such letter in two months, per Anne. The first promised to maintain discretion with the one payment, but apparently, our blackmailer is greedy.”
“From my understanding, that is the way of all blackmailers, is it not? They slowly bleed their victims rather than draining them dry in one strike.”
Lizzy shrugged. “I cannot say for certain, for I have never been extorted. How about you, Mr. Darcy?” she asked in a saccharine tone.
“I have done nothing worthy of blackmail, Miss Bennet.” He sounded amused rather than offended by the question.
Lizzy started to say something more, but Darcy put his finger to his lips and said quietly, “We must be quiet from here. There are not many places to hide, and he will surely come soon.”
She nodded her understanding while she snuffed out the candle, and they took a position near an arbor covered with roses. It provided some cover from the viewpoint of the bench but would still allow them a close enough glimpse that they could hopefully identify the man who was blackmailing Anne.
Mr. Darcy had had the good sense to dress in black too, so they blended in well with the scenery, especially since they weren’t exchanging any words. Though they weren’t speaking, Lizzy was hyperaware of his presence behind her, his arm brushing against hers. All she had to do was take a step back and to the right, and she could be leaning against him.
It was a strange thought, and she had no idea from where it had emerged as she struggled to stifle the idea. It had to be because of that vexing kiss he had thrust upon her. She couldn’t deny part of it had been a pleasurable experience, but that it came from Fitzwilliam Darcy was something she could hardly bear. She could only explain the moment as insanity brought about by their shared anger.
Though he had been the one to instigate the kiss, she couldn’t pretend she had tried to push him away. In fact, for a moment, she’d eagerly pulled him forward until regaining control and stepping back. She shook her head now at the thought, wondering that she could have behaved so wantonly and surprised she’d managed to stifle deep thought about it until now.
It was an unfortunate time to be dissecting the situation, and she tried to bring herself back to the present, focusing on the need to identify the blackmailer. If only he weren’t so blasted close, with his scent permeating her, wrapping around her in a comfortable fashion that was both soothing and aggravating in a way she couldn’t explain.
Realizing she was thinking about him again, and struggling to recall the taste of his mouth, she shook her head at her silliness. This distraction wouldn’t do.
He put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently, as though asking about her health. Perhaps he’d seen the wild headshaking and thought she was ill. She could hardly fault him for that assumption, and she resolved to keep herself still.
They didn’t have to wait long, which helped the task of keeping her mind from Darcy and that shocking kiss. Mr. Collins appeared in front of them moments later. Lizzy couldn’t see his face, but she recognized his form, not to mention his familiar tricorn hat that was out of style.
She felt a little disappointment that he would do such a thing, but she wasn’t terribly surprised. The shipment of marble and orders of expensive tea from India suddenly made a lot more sense, and she doubted they were gifts bestowed by Lady Catherine. More likely, they were tributes paid by Miss Anne to keep her secret.
Darcy stiffened, clearly intent on approaching Mr. Collins, and Lizzy put her hand on his chest to stop him. He froze and looked down at her when she shook her head. She didn’t speak until Mr. Collins had retrieved the small packet wrapped in oilskin and stuffed it into his coat before slinking off. Once he was out of hearing range, she said, “I believe we should confront him tomorrow in the light of day.”
“I have half a mind to deal with him right now.” There was a fierce anger about Darcy, revealing just how protective he was of Anne. For the first time, Lizzy wondered if he actually planned to marry his cousin, but she couldn’t reconcile that with his plans to ask for Caroline Bingley.
More likely, he just cared for Anne, who he seemed to regard more like a sister than a potential fiancée. She was relieved by that, but there was no relief for knowing he was going to marry Caroline Bingley.
She refused to wonder why it bothered her to imagine him marrying someone. She told herself it was simply because it was Caroline Bingley, and she would feel pity for any man who intended to tether himself to that woman. There was nothing more to it, and certainly nothing related to that impetuous kiss. She refused to contemplate otherwise.
After a moment, his shoulders sagged slightly, and he loosened his stiff posture. “I shall defer to your suggestion, but we will be speaking to him tomorrow. This cannot stand.”
Lizzy nodded frantically. “I quite agree, Mr. Darcy.”
“I shall escort you back to the rectory.” When Lizzy opened her mouth to object, he sent her a warning glance. “Do not argue with me about this, Miss Bennet. I will be sure you return safely to Hunsford Rectory, or you can sleep at Rosings Park. I am certain you would like to make an explanation for that in the morning?”
She glared at him, but she submitted to his chivalrous instincts, though it was wrapped in the implied threat. “Very well, Mr. Darcy. I am quite capable of walking across the grounds by myself, but if you insist, you may accompany me.”
“Nothing would give me more pleasure,” he said in a tone filled with rancor.
Lizzy almost snorted and then giggled at the juxtaposition of his words versus his tone. Knowing he was doing so grudgingly allowed her to accept his gallant offer, and she put her arm through his again as they walked across Rosings Park and back to the rectory. She was inside and in her room moments later, doing her best to focus on the outcome of the investigation and not think at all about Mr. Darcy’s kiss, or their interactions since.
7
Fitzwilliam wanted show up at the rectory the moment he woke, but he knew he had to wait for a better time. He spent the day pacing and distracting himself with conversation first with Richard, and then with Anne. He found her in the music room, but she sat in front of the harp without playing it.
As he drew nearer, she stirred herself and looked at him. She gave him a smile, but she was clearly uneasy. No doubt, she was still consumed with worry about the person blackmailing her.
Darcy stood near the chair beside her. “May I sit down?” At her nod, he took it and turned the chair to face her. “I must speak with you bluntly, Anne.”
Her shoulders went back, and she seemed to be bracing herself. “Yes, Fitzwilliam?”
“I know about the situation.”
She scowled, and then she looked angry. “Did Miss Bennet reveal it to you? I thought I had her utmost discretion.”
He lifted a hand, compelled to defend Lizzy both because it was the right thing to do, and for reasons he couldn’t quite express. “I came upon her as she was reading the letter out on the grounds, and I confess, I saw the contents over her shoulder. She did not reveal to me who the victim was. It was my own observations that allowed me to guess. As it were, we watched for the blackmailer last night, and we have identified him.”
Her mouth dropped open, and she gasped. “Will he ruin me, Fitzwilliam?”
He straightened his shoulders in a determined fashion. “I do not believe he will have the chance. He is in a precarious position, and I intend to remind him of that when I confront him today. Your troubles should be over with the man.”
“Who is it?” asked Anne. Her lips trembled for a moment. “It is not Carlos, is it?” She seemed weak as she asked the question.
He reached out and sque
ezed her hand in a restful fashion. “It is not. Once the matter is resolved, I will reveal everything to you, or I shall allow Miss Bennet to do so. I simply wanted to put your mind at ease.”
She nodded, and then bit her lip. “You are not going to tell Mama?”
He shook his head. “It is not my place to tell her. I do wish you could find a way that did not require sneaking around and putting yourself at risk, but I also understand why you are reluctant to confide in Aunt Catherine. She is likely to take the news poorly.”
Anne giggled then, a carefree sound likely generated by relief. “That is undeniably an understatement.”
After having lunch with Anne and Richard, since Lady Catherine had chosen to take a tray in her room, he went for a walk around Rosings Park. When finally enough time had passed, he headed toward Hunsford Rectory, intent on confronting Collins and ending his extortion campaign against his cousin.
Miss Charlotte appeared surprised to see him back for a second day in a row, but there was definitely a hint of interest in her gaze as she made a show of leaving Lizzy and Fitzwilliam alone for a short time to ensure the housekeeper was brewing the right blend of tea for the day. As soon as they were alone, he moved from the chair to sit beside her on the settee so they could have a more intimate conversation. “How do you propose to do this?”
“I have given the matter consideration, and I think we should approach him together. He is in his garden, so after we have tea with Charlotte, perhaps I can suggest showing you Mr. Collins’s new marble, and we could take a walk there?”
He nodded. “I intend to be harsh with the man.” He said that as a warning to her, wanting her to prepare herself. “I will have no mercy.”
Lizzy nodded, and she didn’t seem bothered by that, though she did say, “Please remember he knows Miss Anne’s secret though. We are in the superior position, but he has a level of power.”
He was grim as he acknowledged that with a nod. “I shall be disabusing him of that belief, I assure you, Lizzy.”
She stiffened slightly at the use of her sobriquet, but she didn’t rebuke him. Instead, she gave him a small smile. “It seems whenever we are together, some type of crime must follow. We simply have to stop meeting this way, Mr. Darcy.”
He let his lips relax into a slight smile, though his shoulders remained stiff with tension at the forthcoming confrontation. “I do believe that would not be nearly as much fun, though I suppose it is the safer course of action.”
“It is quite fun to undertake the challenge of solving mysteries,” said Lizzy with a hint of surprise in her voice. “I did not expect to enjoy such a thing, or to have some skill for it. It is hardly a ladylike achievement though. It is nothing akin to knowing all the modern languages and being able to sketch every impression before me.”
He flushed, suspecting she was poking some fun at him over the conversation they’d had in Netherfield’s library with Miss Bingley, where Lizzy had expressed her doubt that any woman could exist who might match all of Fitzwilliam’s exacting standards. He had the crazy impulse to tell her he had met just such a woman, but he kept the impulse in check. He was no less committed to the course of action he’d chosen earlier, before mistakenly believing she was being blackmailed and getting sidetracked, but they had to deal with this unpleasant business first.
Charlotte returned then, and they enjoyed a cup of tea, though he was antsy and trying his best not to appear impatient. When he finished a second tea cake, Lizzy set aside her cup and saucer and said, “Mr. Collins has had a marvelous shipment of marble straight from Italy. He is using it to make a walkway in his garden. Would you like to see it, Mr. Darcy?”
He feigned an interest. “Italian marble does sound delightful. I would be happy for you to escort me.” Realizing it would be rude not to invite Charlotte, he said, “Will you join us, Mrs. Collins?”
Charlotte reacted in the way he’d hoped. She laughed and waved a hand. “No, but please go ahead. I have heard enough about the marble in the preceding days, and it is about time for my afternoon nap. I hope you find it as enthralling as Mr. Collins. He does talk incessantly about it.” There was a note of affectionate endurance in her tone as she said that.
Darcy stood up, waiting for Lizzy to get to her feet and then Charlotte. They stood as Charlotte walked out of the sitting room, and Mrs. Tesch came to retrieve the tray before they left the house and walked around the back to the garden, where Mr. Collins was seriously working.
Being the soft sort of man he was, Fitzwilliam was surprised to see he was doing most of the work himself. Perhaps he wanted to make the blackmail funds stretch as far as possible. The thought filled him with cold anger.
8
Lizzy could feel Mr. Darcy stiffening beside her, and without thought, she reached out and squeezed his hand in a comforting fashion, hoping to distract him from the surge of anger she could feel seething in him. Almost as soon as she touched him, she immediately let go. Though she’d been wearing a glove, as had he, she swore she could feel his skin against her own, and it left her unsettled as they approached Mr. Collins.
He was on his knees, but as they got closer, he lumbered to his feet and lifted a hand in greeting. “Mr. Darcy, how delightful to see you. Have you come to admire the marble?”
“I have come to see what my cousin’s funds paid for,” said Darcy in a cold tone.
Lizzy almost grinned at the way Mr. Collins paled. “The… Pardon?”
“You can drop all pretense, Mr. Collins. We know you have been blackmailing poor Miss Anne,” said Lizzy, making her voice thick with shame. “I am appalled a relative of mine could behave in such a fashion.”
Mr. Collins reached into his pocket for a handkerchief and used it to wipe his brow, which was suddenly sweating copiously. “I do not know what you are talking about, Cousin Eliza.”
Darcy loomed closer. “We saw you last night, Mr. Collins. My cousin confided in Lizzy, and Lizzy offered to help her find the person extorting her. We recognized you when you picked up the money. I am certain if I search the rectory, I will find at least the oilskin, and likely some of the banknotes remaining. Surely, you have not had time to spend them all yet?”
Mr. Collins started to tremble, and he wiped ineffectually at his face as sweat poured off him. “You do not understand, Mr. Darcy. She is engaged with the groom. The groom! It is shameful business, and she is to be your wife. Should you not be dealing with the matter of Anne’s treachery rather than my asking for a token to maintain silence?”
“The amount you requested both times is hardly a token,” said Lizzy in a scolding voice. “You have caused the lady much grief as she struggled to figure out how she could meet your demands on a continuing basis. You must know this will end now, Mr. Collins. If I hear from Miss Anne that you are continuing demands for payment, I will tell Charlotte, and I will also reveal the news to everyone in Meryton. When you become the proprietor of Longbourn, I assure you it will be a most uncomfortable experience for you if everyone in the community knows the cut of your character.”
He trembled again, looking like he might weep. “Please do not do that, Cousin. I simply wanted some creature comforts. The salary of a vicar does not go far enough to cover those things.”
“So you would blackmail a helpless young woman to see to your comforts?” Darcy sounded furious. “I should destroy you right now, Collins. All it would take is revealing to my aunt your actions, and she would withdraw her patronage.”
Mr. Collins’s spine stiffened. “That would require revealing Miss Anne’s betrayal of your betrothal, Mr. Darcy. I cannot imagine you would be eager to do such a thing.”
With a grunt, Fitzwilliam stepped closer, grasping Mr. Collins by the front of his shirt. “I tell you now, I will not be blackmailed, and I will not allow it to continue for Anne. She is not and never has been my fiancée. Nor will she ever be.”
“Mr. Darcy is about to become engaged to Miss Bingley,” said Lizzy. “Whatever Lady de Bourgh wishes to ha
ppen will not be occurring, and you will not use that as a tool of negotiation. You will cease all blackmail attempts immediately.”
Darcy stiffened at her words, and he shot her a surprised look before returning his attention to Mr. Collins. “I assure you, if I have to reveal the situation, I will. I can help protect Anne from Lady Catherine’s anger, but I would do nothing to shield you. You shall be out of the rectory and in disgrace. You will find it impossible to find another position, and you will have to scrape by a living until the day Mr. Bennet passes away. In that time, I shall dedicate myself to ensuring his continued good health and long life. I will also assist him by hiring a team of solicitors who might help him challenge the entailment.”
“B…but Charlotte, and the baby? What about them?”
Darcy glared at him. “They should not be my concern, but I would never allow them to suffer. I cannot imagine Mrs. Collins is so attached to you that she would refuse the offer of a small cottage at Pemberley to be free of you, Mr. Collins.”
Even as Mr. Collins trembled under the force of his cold anger, a surge of admiration went through Lizzy. She’d had threats to offer as well, and while she could’ve made his life uncomfortable, Darcy had the power to truly destroy it. She couldn’t help admiring that.
“I promise I shall not mention the subject to Miss Anne again. I do not need to return the money, do I? I have expenses.”
Lizzy was disgusted by Mr. Collins, and Darcy appeared to be the same, but he released his hold and shoved the man back lightly, putting distance between them without causing Mr. Collins to fall to the ground.
“You may keep the payments you have collected, but they are the only ones. Do you understand me, Mr. Collins? From this day forward, it will slip your mind completely that Anne has found happiness with someone you consider beneath her. I assure you, if and when the relationship is revealed, she will have my full support to be with her groom, and anyone who stands in her way would not like to feel my wrath. Are we agreed?”