Page 33 of A Letter in the Wind (Mayhem and Scandal Collection #1)

The butler at Fitzwilliam House startled when he opened the door to Darcy and Richard. Surprisingly, an unspoken conversation passed between the servant and the soldier. Immediately and without words, they were shown into the study and told to await the earl. A cold chill ran up Darcy’s spine. He had always hated this room, and the reason for his present errand added to the feeling.

“Do not let him unnerve you,” Richard said just before the door swung open and the imperious gentleman entered.

“Well?” Lord Fitzwilliam said expectantly. “I do not have much time to sit around. I am needed this morning at the Lords.”

As an earl, he served in the House of Lords, which was in session until mid-June. Not too long ago, Lord Fitzwilliam was the most powerful man in England. He had lost some of his clout as he had aged, but he had lost none of his money. He was currently reckoned the wealthiest individual in the kingdom. He used his power and wealth to intimidate people, and if that did not work, then the “footmen” he employed did the rest.

“I will be direct, then.” Darcy laid the cuff link on the earl’s desk. “I found this in my study this morning. It was discovered after Richard and I noticed the furniture had been slightly altered.” Darcy placed his hands on his uncle’s desk and looked him square in the eye. “You know that no one has disturbed a thing in that room in years. Richard says that you lost a cuff link yesterday. Were you at my house? Did you accost Elizabeth?”

The earl shrugged. “Why do you question me? Ask your wife. Or your servants.” He paused and sneered. “Or is no one loyal to you?”

Darcy raised a brow, refusing to be baited. “Perhaps I only ask as a courtesy.”

The earl snorted. “Then you are a fool. What difference would it make if I had called on the house while you were out?”

Darcy clenched his hand into a fist and was about to bang it on the desk in frustration but an unnatural calm swept over him. His body relaxed, and his voice sounded tranquil. “I have more loyalty than you could dream. Unlike with you, people are my friends because they genuinely appreciate me, not because they fear me.”

“Then, you do not understand what real power is.” The earl laughed in Darcy’s face.

“Power without the love of Christ is satanic…but then you already know that; do you not?”

Lord Fitzwilliam’s face darkened. “I will not listen to baseless accusations. Richard, how dare you be a part of this!” The earl now looked past Darcy to his son.

Richard stepped forward. “Given your activities, I am sure you have known about the investigation I am conducting for a long time. I told Darcy everything, Father. We have come to cut the head off the snake.”

Fire snapped in the elder man’s eyes but was quickly replaced with a steely gaze. He motioned to the chairs near his fire. “You never excelled at Greek mythology, son, but I bet Darcy recalls the story of Hydra.”

Darcy nearly replied with the facts: Hydra was a mythological beast. If his head was cut off, two more grew in its place. His uncle referenced that another would emerge even if they could prove he was the head of this organisation. Something within Darcy held him back. Suddenly, a thought occurred to him that Richard had not expressed. If they wanted to really destroy this club, they needed confessions. Evidence would be flimsy, and the members had connections in government and the court to make conviction difficult.

“No, I do not remember any of that stuff.” Darcy shrugged. “I hated learning about pagan religions. I cannot understand your reference.”

Lord Fitzwilliam pinched the bridge of his nose. “You two spoil the fun in everything. My nephew the saint and my son the archangel.” He dropped his hand. “Be out with it.”

Ah, so his uncle preferred to toy with his prey. What had he said or done to Elizabeth?

“I have lived for this day,” Richard said determinedly. “As it is a family affair, let us bring them all in here.”

His lordship motioned for Richard to proceed, so he pulled the cord and requested that her ladyship, the viscount, and his wife be requested in the study. Richard’s mother and brother appeared a few minutes later, but not his sister-in-law.

“You will have to excuse Lavinia,” James said. “She is out.”

“I will lay the facts out,” Richard said. “My colleagues and I know that each of you participates in an organisation known as Ichabod. What was only recently determined is that Father is the head. Do you want to tell me again about Hydra, sir?”

“How dare you,” Lady Fitzwilliam cried. “You would turn on your family?”

“Should I feel extreme loyalty to people who display no affection or respect for others—or even their immediate family?”

From down the hall, they heard the front door open and close. Darcy heard Lavinia laughing, and then there were the deep tones of a masculine voice. In a moment, they were shown in.

“Ah, Darcy,” Robert Ingalls said before smiling. “I had hoped you would be here for this moment.”

“What moment is that?” Darcy asked.

“The downfall of the house Fitzwilliam.” Ingalls approached Darcy and said in a voice of deep hatred and malevolence. “I have already seen to the ruin of your family. I thought I would have to do something to ensure unhappiness with your wife, but it seems your loving family already took care of that. They know all about manipulating others, after all.”

“Ingalls, be quiet,” James hissed.

“No!” He roared. “I have waited decades for this! I have waited and plotted as my father before me.”

“Do you know the history?” He asked Richard, who shook his head. “Then, allow me to give you a lesson.” He cleared his throat. “Ichabod Ingalls was a rakehell of the highest order. He came from generations of infidels who rejected the Church and morality but, through shrewd interests, amassed wealth. Ichabod was cunning. He realised that if he could play the part that Society wanted on the outside, he would achieve true power. For years, the Ichabod family manipulated kings and politics, even deftly transitioning from supporting James II and his Catholic brother to a sudden “spiritual transformation” and supporting William and Mary. Behind the scenes, he hosted wild parties with every immorality conceivable.

“He made many friends along the way. There were other men and women, too, who had similar appetites. They craved carnal pursuits. But some threatened their freedom to enjoy life. Therefore, he created a club for like-minded individuals. By corralling support and centralising power, the Order of Ichabod became self-sustaining. Many impressionable young girls desired fame, fortune, or love. They were willing to leave home and God for the promise of any of them. Of course, if they came unwillingly, that did not matter at all. Organisations such as the Hellfire Club were pale imitations of my ancestor’s genius.

“For generations, all was well until Lady Anne Fitzwilliam caught my father’s eye. Although the Fitzwilliam family was a member of the Ichabod club, over the years, a rivalry developed. They often came close to taking control from the Ingalls line. Thanks to your harlot of a mother, they finally did. The lovers were not permitted to marry, but that did not stop her. She seduced my father and distracted him. He was a fool and allowed the Fitzwilliams too much power. The current earl masterminded a coup. Father claimed all that mattered was Lady Anne’s love.” Ingalls glared menacingly at the earl. “I hardly care if my parents were faithful to one another. Your family has humiliated mine. Therefore, you will pay. But, first, my lord, have you explained to your nephew how you manipulated your sister and drove her to insanity?”

Darcy refused to be lured. He did not trust anything either one of them said.

At the earl’s silence, Ingalls jeered. “Shall I tell him, then?” He let out a hollow laugh. “Sweet Lavinia has told me how they used your mother, Darcy. And I know they planned to do the same to your wife.”

Now, Darcy could not contain the emotion surging in him. He would do whatever was necessary to keep Elizabeth safe from these scoundrels, even if it meant leaving the country or sending her away.

Richard spoke. “It would be better if you explained it, Father. Do not give Ingalls the satisfaction. Beware that I know the full details, so do not leave anything out.”

Lord Fitzwilliam had grown pale as Ingalls spoke, but his arrogance rallied. “Darcy, all of this could have been avoided if you had just married Anne. The false life that the family presented to the public versus in our recreation weighed on your mother. Our Puritan step-mother was constantly sermonising while we grew up. Anne believed all the nonsense about Hell, and it terrified her. She was fond of wine laced with laudanum to ease the guilt. We ensured she had a constant supply. She craved it all the more during pregnancy, but we soon learned how detrimental that was. The doctors became sure it contributed to her many losses. The guilt continued to rack her. She believed she was being punished. Of course, the only consolation she found was in her glass and the arms of her devoted lover. At first, your father was tolerant…until she became more deranged. The laudanum affected her health and her mind in ways we had not anticipated. She did not seem as capable of handling it as our ancestors were. There was an…episode…”

“Father,” Richard said sternly. “Tell him. He has spent his life fearing that he will go mad like she did. I know now that you always wanted to use that to your advantage, but you must see that you cannot control him.”

The earl held up a hand. “Very well. My sister would sometimes act strangely after childbirth. You were too young to remember, but you had a brother who lived for a few days. Anne began to believe that harm would come to the baby and would not let it out of her sight. She did not sleep. One night, your father added sleeping powder to her wine. After she fell asleep, the servant moved the baby to the nursery.” He paused, and something that might have been regret flitted across his face. “They found her in the middle of the night holding the babe. She said she woke to his cries, but it was not her baby. It was an imposter, and she…” The earl visibly swallowed. When he spoke, it was in a strangled voice. “She believed the child she held had done something with her baby. Her husband and the nurse tried to explain there was no imposter. An infant could not harm another. They finally separated her from the child, but they had been too late…”

He let out a sigh and looked truly remorseful for a moment. “In the morning, she came to herself. After that, she felt guiltier than ever. Of course, we hid the truth and said the infant died in his sleep. Even so, we could not conceal that she was insensible. The physicians said that temporary madness sometimes struck mothers. She would be prone to it with other births, but she promised it would never occur again. She took care not to fall pregnant often after that. The few times she did conceive, she could not carry the baby to term. Until Georgiana…”

Darcy’s blood chilled. For several minutes, he struggled to breathe and fought to keep his stomach in order. He said a silent prayer of thanks that Georgiana survived the attack. He finally managed to choke out, “Father told her that he would have her sent away if ‘it’ ever happened again. I always wondered what ‘it’ was. Now, I know.”

The earl solemnly nodded.

Darcy demanded to hear all of it. There would be no more secrets. “What of the cuff link? I saw one that day. Father never moved anything after Mother left, and I kept it the same way. Despite this, the room was frequently cleaned. It would have been cleaned the very day she was taken away. There was debris from the fight, and she knocked things over on the way out. You were there to take her away after you had ruined her life.” Darcy seethed in rage. He spoke through a clenched jaw. “What I have in my hand fell recently, not years ago. What did you say to my wife?”

James laughed. “We made her see reason. She has her own ghosts and scandals that can do nothing but bring you misery. Since she loves you, getting her to agree to “save” you from herself was easy.”

“Elizabeth is a fighter. She would not shrink willingly.” Darcy stood up and loomed over his cousin. “Why was the furniture moved? What did you do to her?” Had they violated his wife?

Richard pulled him back. “I do not think they initiated her…if that is your fear.”

“It had better not be,” Darcy called back. “Or I will take you to the courts and expose everything.”

“I have a better idea,” Ingalls interrupted. He pulled a packet of papers from his coat pocket. “Here is all the proof that you need that Lord John Fitzwilliam is the head of a devious club involved in sedition and treason.”

“Son,” Lord Fitzwilliam said seriously to Richard. “I never took any part in treason or sedition. It was just carnal enjoyment. We do not dabble in those sorts of things.”

“You are a politician, as are many of the members of Ichabod,” Richard countered. “Tell the truth about Elizabeth, and I might be lenient.” He opened Ingalls’ papers, his eyes widening at what he saw. He stared at his family and then Ingalls. “If even half of this is true, you all disgust me.”

“We are not as awful as you think,” Lord Fitzwilliam pleaded. “We intimidated her. We merely moved the furniture so we could speak quietly without servants overhearing. You are too suspicious for your own good, Darcy.”

“Clearly, I am not.” He glared at his uncle. “And what was decided? What made her leave?”

“You should ask her,” the earl said. “Since you and Richard are intent on sending us to our deaths, then you will get no help from me. Surely, if we are out of the way, that will mend things.” He paused, and his brows lowered. He looked malevolently at his nephew. “Or will it? Beware the Hydra. You will never be free from this. It is your family and your past. There is time to divorce her and marry Anne.”

“Why do you push Anne on Darcy so much? I thought it was just a figment of Lady Catherine’s imagination,” Richard said.

Ingalls chuckled. “She was an eager wench. Perhaps like her namesake? Your uncle did try his best to blackmail me into marrying her, but I could not be caught. Now, you will have Ingalls’ blood on both sides of the family.”

Loud footsteps were heard in the hall. Richard’s eyes flew to the door. The butler entered, followed by several strong men.

Ingalls held up his hands. “You did not need to order so many, Richard. Lavinia and I are innocent. Your papers prove that.”

Men had surrounded the others, but Lord Fitzwilliam jerked his arms away. “Just a moment, I have some proof myself.” He presented a packet to his younger son.

Richard briefly read the documents. He glanced up at his father and brother. “I would say that I am sorry, James, but you will reap what you have sown. If it is any consolation, I will find a way to prove Father was the head after all.”

Lady Fitzwilliam finally spoke. “No! John, what have you done?”

“Saving our skin and offering a sacrifice.”

His wife hysterically sobbed. It startled Darcy to see the woman display such emotion. She had never appeared maternal to him. Seeing his uncle sacrifice his son twisted Darcy’s stomach. But then, James was not innocent. Richard jerked his head, and the men began to take James and Lady Fitzwilliam out of the room.

“You better hope I hang, Father,” James vowed. “If I ever have the chance, I will be guilty of worse crimes than are listed on that paper. Although, I suppose patricide has the same penalty.”

Lord Fitzwilliam watched with a wicked gleam in his eye but remained silent.

“Wait!” Darcy cried. He approached the viscount. “Tell me what was said to Elizabeth. I will use what influence I have on your case.”

James spoke animatedly. “We made a plan. She would leave in the middle of the night, and we found a man to claim he had previously married her. They would say the whole thing was just a plot to humiliate you and take money. There would be a speedy annulment.”

“Why did she leave in broad daylight, then?”

James shook his head. “I do not know. If I were her, I would have run from you as fast as possible—even if I did not have her fears of inadequacy. Father was merciless in exposing her greatest weakness.” He glanced at his wife, wrapped in Ingalls’ arms and looking at him adoringly. “You are well rid of her, Darcy.”

When Darcy did not reply, the men handling James dragged him forward.

“Who?” Darcy asked just before they reached the door. “Who is the man?”

Ingalls laughed from his corner. “I can answer that. Away with him!”

The men did not wait to hear anything else. Darcy was unsure he could believe anything Ingalls said, but no matter how shocking it was, he would put nothing past his family. He looked at the other man expectantly.

Ingalls grinned. “George Wickham, of course.”