Elizabeth felt sick at the thought of them together alone. Even if they were only talking. She could not stand to greet the shining young lady. He had said he had made a mistake when he asked to marry Lady Margaret. But he still belonged to her.
Mrs. Gardiner did stand, and both women curtsied at Darcy’s introduction. Lady Margaret’s curtsy was so graceful and pretty. She had a fuller bosom, and her clothes were exceptionally fine. Did Darcy really think he had made a mistake?
Lady Margaret said in her pleasant tones, “Mrs. Gardiner? I have heard nothing of you.”
She even had a lovely voice.
“Her niece is a neighbor of Mr. Bingley’s. His estate in Hertfordshire.” Darcy looked towards Elizabeth, who forced herself to stand, though she continued to stare at Lady Margaret as she tottered forward.
“Oh.” Lady Margaret said with pique, “I see that meeting a neighbor of your friend in the morning was a matter of extreme urgency.”
Georgiana exclaimed, “Lizzy is such a dear friend of mine, I begged and begged Fitzwilliam to stay and hear us play.”
“Your friend?” Lady Margaret swallowed and said to Elizabeth, “It is quite surprising she took to you so quickly. Georgiana in general never performs with anyone else.”
“Lizzy is wonderful. We are going to be like sisters.”
A flash of pain came and then left Lady Margaret’s face.
Darcy ceaselessly glanced between them. His lips were pressed tightly together, and his entire manner showed awkwardness and unhappiness.
“Do say. What are your connections? Is your estate well located?”
Elizabeth flushed with shame.
Mrs. Gardiner replied, “Miss Elizabeth’s father died many years ago, and the estate was entailed to a distant cousin. I fear our position is quite modest compared to yours.”
“Oh. No matter.” She seized Mr. Darcy’s arm and smiled. “My Mr. Darcy is kind to everyone, no matter what their station.”
Darcy went completely stiff at her touch. His blue eyes stared at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth looked at Lady Margaret. “He is always so kind. You live a charmed life. I understand you are the daughter of an earl.”
Lady Margaret nodded.
“And you have forty thousand as a dowry. Such a great sum. No one would hesitate to marry you or think you are not worth speaking to, or cut you because of your relations. I imagine all of your family is quite respectable. Are they not?”
The girl’s blue eyes were widening as Elizabeth’s tone rose and sharpened. She brought her hand encased in a perfect kid glove in front of her delicate lips.
Elizabeth almost shrieked. “Your sister never married a blacksmith! Your mother never called you worthless because you refused to be a rich man’s mistress. You are so happy in everything.”
Elizabeth could not look towards Darcy and ran from the room.
Chapter 22
Elizabeth had left the door open. Darcy stared between the gaping view of the hallway and Lady Margaret. His fiancée was pressing the back of her knuckles against her mouth.
Darcy ran after Elizabeth.
She was still in the entry hall, sobbing against one of the marble pilasters. But the instant she saw him she flung her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly.
“I’ll become your mistress. I will. I was a fool to refuse you in November. Such a fool. I love you so, I’ll do anything. I do not care anymore.”
“Lizzy—”
Mrs. Gardiner seized her niece by the wrist and jerked her away, saying, “She is only distraught due to her sister’s actions. I beg you, by all that is sacred, by whatever affection you have felt for my niece, please do not abuse her present weakness.”
Elizabeth tried to pull away from her aunt, but then her eye fixed on something behind Darcy, and she gave up struggling.
Darcy exclaimed, “Wait!”
Mrs. Gardiner ignored him and her fast strides dragged them both out Darcy’s door. In an instant they were gone, the heavy oak door of his entrance swung shut behind the last image of Elizabeth’s fluttering skirts.
Darcy looked back towards the drawing room. Lady Margaret stood framed by the hallway. Her mouth formed a perfect O. Georgiana stood behind her with a crooked smile.
Darcy took a deep breath. He had decided to end the engagement to Lady Margaret when he saw them in the same room together. It made him feel disgusting and dishonorable and less of a gentleman. But the alternative of letting Elizabeth go or betraying Lady Margaret was far worse. He just hoped Radnor didn’t demand the opportunity to shoot him through.
Looking at the white face of the woman he had asked to marry, Darcy felt sick as he prepared to break her heart. “My Lady, I have used you abominably, but it is absolutely impossible for me to marry you.”
Georgiana grinned, “Shall you marry Lizzy?”
“Since November.” Lady Margaret’s gaze bounced between the door, the chandelier, one of the paintings on the wall and Darcy. “You…you made an indecent request to her in November.”
“I did.”
“All this time… When you asked me to marry you…were you in love with her?”
“It was terribly wrong of me and—”
Lady Margaret collapsed onto one of the brown leather chairs along the wall with a long shuddering sigh. “I am so relieved. My explanations for why you have treated me so coldly were so much worse, and far more fantastical. I thought there was something terribly amiss that I had unknowingly done. But now I understand.”
Darcy blinked. This was not how he had expected her to react.
He said, “I cannot ask for forgiveness as I do not deserve any and—”
“Yes, yes. You behaved abominably. You really did.” Lady Margaret giggled in relief. “I fancied myself in love with you, and you could not stand to be touched. I expected to at least be kissed. Lord! If you had no care for me, why did you ask me to marry you?”
Darcy rubbed at his face and forehead. “I was behaving selfishly and—”
“No, none of that. I know men mostly do not keep their vows. But I thought you were better than that.”
“I would have kept them if I married you. It is why I cannot.”
“That is not a sweet sentiment.”
Georgiana chirpily said, “I think it is.”
Lady Margaret exclaimed, “Why? Tell me honest, I deserve to know.”
Darcy sat down on a chair on the opposite side of the hall, facing Lady Margaret. Georgiana grinned widely and hopped onto her own chair. “Georgie, go. Write a note to summon Radnor and Matlock. I need to have this out with Radnor.”
“But—”
“Go!”
Georgiana stood and said in an offended tone, “Oh, if you insist.”
Darcy rubbed at his forehead. Now that Lady Margaret wasn’t heartbroken, his deepest worry was that Radnor would kill him as he sent shot after shot at Darcy during a duel. Radnor would be the challenger, so Darcy could demand they do it from a long distance, and Lord Radnor was only a decent shot.
Lady Margaret saw Darcy’s nervousness, “I doubt Papa will call you out. After all you’ve taken no liberties with me.”
Darcy grunted.
“Why did you ask me to marry you?”
“I had decided not to offer for you, then I realized I was in love with Miss Elizabeth and I foolishly panicked. I decided I needed to do something to ensure I could never marry her. Richard had got me very drunk, and I was not thinking clearly. He was absolutely insistent that I marry you, and I offered the next morning before I had any opportunity to think soberly about it.”
“You looked quite pale that morning. I thought it was nerves. I found the idea that you were nervous so fetching. But you weren’t at all, were you.” Lady Margaret frowned at picked at the sleeve of her dress. “She appeared genteel. Distraught, and she stared at me so, but genteel.”
“She is unexceptional, but her family circumstances are shockingly scandalous.”
“Yes,
she said as much.” Suddenly Lady Margaret laughed shakily. “You did very wrong. And even knowing everything was wrong, I would have married you. It was obviously foolish of me. But you…”
“I do not deserve your forgiveness.”
“I dare say you do not.”
Georgiana walked back in. “Runners have been sent off. I want to know too. Why did you decide to offer for Grettie?”
“Do not call me that. You are not my friend, and never have been. I’ve seen how you’ve smiled the entire time. Darcy at least has the good nature to be terribly ashamed of himself.”
“It is as much your fault—”
Darcy interrupted her, “Georgiana Darcy. One word, one word against Margaret, and you shall be sent to the country for the rest of the season.”
“But then I wouldn’t be here when you marry Lizzy.”
“Exactly.”
“You are no fun.”
Georgiana sat down with a pout.
Lady Margaret said, “I liked you very much. Everyone said it would be such a great match, and you are so tall and handsome, and you were so charming until that week when everyone was telling me that we should make a match of it. Then you frowned while pretending to flirt. I knew even when I accepted you something was wrong. Mama shall be terribly angry.”
“Yes. Rightfully so.”
Some minutes later Radnor and Matlock, who had been at a club together, arrived. Radnor looked between his daughter and Darcy. Despite his jovial features and plump stomach, Radnor glared menacingly at Darcy. “What is this about you jilting my daughter?”
Radnor then glanced at the calm face of his daughter and, seeing her not in the least devastated, exclaimed, “Georgie, is this some prank of yours?”
Darcy said solemnly to Radnor. “I know it is deeply ungentlemanly, but I must end my engagement to your daughter.”
Radnor stared back at him. Darcy felt spurts of nerves as he held the man’s gaze.
“What is this about? What is wrong with my girl? You are not a man to act so lightly. I’ll hear you out before I demand satisfaction.”
“There is nothing amiss with Lady Margaret. She is an exemplary woman. I am entirely at fault. I am in love with a different woman, and it is impossible for me to marry anyone but her.”
Radnor screwed his face into a scowl. “In love you say. Of course you are.”
“I shall pay any sum you ask as compensation for the breach of promise, and…if you demand it, I will meet you.”
Matlock exclaimed, “There shall be no talk of dueling. Do not be absurd.”
“Let’s not be so hasty,” Radnor snarled at Darcy. “What liberties have you taken with my Greta?”
“Do not be tiresome, Papa.” Lady Margaret laid her hand on her father’s arm and pushed him to sit down. “He has not even kissed me. Never even tried. I knew something was dreadfully wrong. But the situation is like Pamela.”
Georgiana exclaimed, “It is not!”
“It very much is. You see Darcy asked her to be his mistress last year, and she refused, and now he is desperately in love and plans to marry her.”
“Good God!” Matlock looked at his nephew aghast. “You did fall in love with a tavern wench.”
Lady Margaret giggled. “It is not that bad. She is an almost presentable little thing. Though under the circumstances I could hardly tell much of her. I do wish Darcy had not involved me in the whole matter, but he is dreadfully ashamed, and I am just so relieved that I shall not need to marry him any longer.”
Darcy watched Radnor’s face. His scowl relaxed, and he said, “Never even kissed her, eh. What a deuced bit of nonsense. If you were sure you had made a mistake, you should have told us sooner. Remember, I knew your father. It is no surprise you will throw everything over for a woman. I’ve always half suspected that that hunting accident so soon after Lady Anne died was…” Radnor looked at the suddenly closed off expressions on Matlock and Darcy’s faces. “Oh. So that is how it was.”
Matlock bashed his fist against the armrest of his chair several times. “Yes. That is how it was. So dash it, Darcy, how bad is she.”
“Miss Elizabeth’s father was a respectable man but the estate was entailed to a distant cousin. She is completely penniless and lives off the charity of her uncles, one of whom is a Cit, whose house shows every sign of respectability and success. Her other uncle is a minor country lawyer who is the most odious man I have ever lost a handful of pounds to.”
Matlock grimaced. “A Cit, eh? That is not all. You’d not have made all this fuss if there wasn’t more.”
“Her youngest sister married a local blacksmith after being found with child. Her oldest sister ran away to be the mistress of Mr. Bingley, two days ago. That, I think, is the worst of it. Though I dislike her mother as much as her uncle.”
Matlock and Radnor exchanged a long look. Radnor said, “Just like his father.”
Matlock nodded.
Darcy said, “Radnor, I know I treated your family abominably and with a complete absence of honor. Is there anything I might do to lessen my guilt?”
“Just like your father.” Radnor scratched at his head. “Deuced if I know. You are going to be a complete joke, and I would just look greedy if I took your money.”
Darcy opened his mouth again.
“Don’t keep apologizing. We all know you’ve made a god awful display of yourself and that you should have behaved better.”
Darcy looked at Lord Matlock. “I know I have disappointed you greatly. You always told me to not let myself get carried away with a woman and—”
“Disappointed me?” Matlock rubbed at his nose. “I am not disappointed.”
“But—”
“You should have known your mind before you attached Margaret, but you never throw away fortunes at gaming tables or get into any serious scrapes, you’ve earned a pass for one such matter.”
Radnor grunted again and exclaimed, “It will be a deuced mess. They’ll talk more about you, but they will talk about Grettie a great deal too.”
“Papa, that does not signify. I am not going to let you and Mama arrange my next match. I think Georgie is right when she says I should think seriously myself about such matters.” She then turned to Georgiana, “Though I insist that is likely the only matter you are right on.”
Georgiana shrugged, clearly unbothered by Lady Margaret’s dislike.
Radnor asked Matlock, “Can Susan break the news to my wife? It was their scheme, but she will blame me for everything.”
Matlock magnanimously tilted his head. “Certainly. We will return to Matlock House to inform her and then skip out to the club until we’ve heard everyone has calmed. Probably in a week. Susan will be in high dudgeon herself. Damned good thing that they keep all women off the premises.”
Lady Margaret looked a little pale at the prospect of facing her mother and aunt, but she stood up when her father ordered her to follow him out.
Matlock said, “I’ll follow you in a bit. If you want to tell your sister instead of me, I won’t be bothered.”
Radnor pointed at Darcy, “Your nephew, not mine.”
“Quite right.” Matlock grabbed Darcy’s arm. “I will have a word in private with you before you call on your lady-love.”
His uncle forcefully led Darcy deeper into the house. The look on Matlock’s face was grim.
Despite their differences, in many ways Matlock was Darcy’s hero.
When they got to the corridor which led behind the house where the carriage yard and stables were, Matlock opened the door and called to Darcy’s groom and coachmen, who were seated around a small round table playing cards, “Have the carriage prepared for Darcy.”
He closed the door again and stared hard at Darcy. “I am not disappointed, and I do not care if you marry a Cit or a bargirl, or whatever this Elizabeth is. It isn’t ideal, but nothing is. But by God, you will swear to never do what your father did.”
Darcy nodded.
“Listen, she might d
ie young. By Jove, I hope that never happens. I hope she lives past seventy and is healthy the entire time. But, I will have you swear that if she dies, you will cling to your friends and live on.”
Darcy was deeply touched by his uncle’s concern and the realization that Matlock would not oppose the marriage. With a surge of emotion, he embraced his uncle. “I would never do what you fear. You taught me to live each moment to the fullest. With Elizabeth I will do that, but if misfortune strikes…there would still be beauty in each moment. I could never betray you and her in that way.”
“I have taught you so well, have I?” His uncle’s voice was gruff, and his eyes were suddenly shiny.
Darcy felt tears sitting in the back of his eyes. “You have.”
Matlock squeezed his forearms. “I’ll still have you swear it. Aloud.”
“I swear by my love for Elizabeth, and my love for you, I swear that no matter what happens in the future I will cling to my friends and my family and live on for the memory of those whom I have loved.”
“Well then.” Matlock cleared his throat. “Well then, I think you had best be off. I look forward to meeting your girl.”
During the drive to Gracechurch Street, Darcy decided that unexpectedly the day was going fabulously. All that remained was to convince Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner to let him see Elizabeth.
It was an hour past noon when Darcy arrived in front of the Gardiners’ house. The shops and warehouses in Cheapside were a buzzing hive of activity, and Mr. Gardiner would probably still be at his business. But while there was something formidable about Elizabeth’s uncle, facing her aunt was just as frightening a prospect.
Darcy stepped out of his carriage and looked around. A line of long trees with bare branches stood shading the road and the houses. The wind howled through the streets, making Darcy shiver a little despite the warmth of his heavy greatcoat. The sun was occluded by the thick London smog.
What if they had sent Elizabeth back to Hertfordshire, or executed some other scheme to keep her away from him? Darcy was not worried for more than a delay. Once they were convinced his intentions were truly honorable, Elizabeth would be allowed to meet him. He firmly banged the knocker against its brass plate.
A Dishonorable Offer Page 28