Page 35 of A Letter in the Wind (Mayhem and Scandal Collection #1)

Darcy rushed through his ablutions and skipped breakfast with Georgiana the following morning. Despite Ingalls’ taunt the day before, Darcy was determined to arrive at Gracechurch Street as soon as decent…and did not care too much if he came before they were awake. He had waited long enough to have Elizabeth in his arms again.

He did not know precisely what he would say. There was much to explain and discuss. He did not trust that his family had told him everything regarding their behaviour toward his wife. He only knew two things: he loved Elizabeth, and she was hurting.

Darcy paced in the hall while the carriage was readied. He meditated on the morning reading. In Luke 9, Jesus had given his disciples all power and authority to cast out devils, cure the sick, and preach. They took nothing with them. God was teaching Darcy how he needed nothing but the Lord.

In Bethsaida, after hearing about John the Baptist’s death, Jesus fed a multitude with just five loaves and two fish. Of course, Darcy knew that many intellectuals no longer believed in these miracles. They denied Jesus’ power and believed that God did not care enough about mankind. Darcy had seen differently. Nothing but the Lord could keep him through all the foulness of his family legacy. Was that not a miracle?

Once in his coach, Darcy quietly prayed. “If you can feed the multitude with a broken heart, then take what I have, Lord. You have always used what people have offered to give, whether it was the boy with five loaves and two fish or an ox goad. Take the little ability that I have and magnify it for your good. You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God. All things are possible. Amen.”

Hoping to avoid traffic congestion in certain parts of the city, Darcy requested an alternate route to Gracechurch Street. Despite his hopes, the carriage moved slowly through Fleet Street. It had begun to rain heavily, and the throngs of pedestrians dashed around looking for shelter. Finally, nearly two hours after he had set out, he arrived at the Gardiners’ residence.

The maid who answered the door offered to show him to the drawing room, but as he was drenched from the rain, he chose to stay in the hallway.

“I must speak with Mrs Darcy,” he said.

Astonishingly, the desperate demand did not even rankle his pride. Oh, the girl probably knew some version of the truth. All of the servants here probably did. He did not doubt it was the same at his home. What other reason would a newly married woman have to be at a relative’s house for several days and nights when everyone was well, and her husband was merely across the city? Why should he care what they thought?

“I am afraid that Mrs Darcy—”

Darcy interrupted her. “Tell her I will wait here until she is willing to speak with me.”

A door opened from the hallway, and Darcy’s heart leapt, hoping it was his wife. Instead, Mrs Gardiner appeared.

“I thought I heard the door, Molly.” Mrs Gardiner’s attention turned toward Darcy, and she smiled. “Mr Darcy, do come in.”

“Thank you, but I will stay here. I am rather wet and do not hope to remain for long.”

Mrs Gardiner dismissed the maid before approaching him. “Lizzy is not here.” Her smile grew. “She went home.”

Darcy immediately turned. He would go to Longbourn, then. He was willing to go to the ends of the Earth.

“To Park Lane,” Mrs Gardiner called just before Darcy’s hand reached the doorknob.

“Pardon me?” Darcy whirled around to face his wife’s aunt.

“Elizabeth left nearly an hour ago. She ought to be near to your house by now.”

Darcy assessed the woman. He was uncertain what she knew, but it seemed she wanted to give him hope. “She…she wanted to come back to me?”

Mrs Gardiner grinned and nodded. “I am sure you have much to say to one another, but she was adamant about returning to you.”

Air left Darcy’s lungs on a whoosh. He grabbed the wall to keep himself upright. “Thank you!”

“Mr Darcy!” Mrs Gardiner called again before he could reach the door. At his hesitation, she continued. “We advised her to follow the Strand until Haymarket and then go west on Piccadilly. There seems to be less traffic that way, especially in bad weather. It might get you home just a little bit faster.”

Darcy willed the rain to cease and the traffic to clear as he urged his coach back to his house. Elizabeth was home. No, Elizabeth was his home. Soon, everything would be right, and they would never be separated again. Despite Mrs Gardiner’s suggestions, traffic moved slowly. Around Charing Cross, the carriage stopped moving.

“What is it, Jeffries?” Darcy called from the window.

“There was a carriage accident. It looks bad.”

Darcy sank into the squabs. He prayed for whoever the poor soul was and their family. Then, he asked for patience. This was part of God’s answer to Darcy’s prayer. All would be well. Finally, they started moving slowly again. Unexpectedly, Jeffries pulled to the side and banged on the window. Darcy opened the door to hear what the coachman had to say.

“I beg your pardon, sir, but a woman out there looks like Mrs Darcy.”

“Where?” Darcy opened the door further to see better, a challenging task given the rain.

Jeffries pointed toward a tangle of carriages and a mass of people. “Over there.”

Darcy’s heart was in his throat as he jumped from the conveyance. “Lord, let her be well.”

Jogging over to the area, he came to a stop. There was a woman with a figure and posture that he would know anywhere. She assisted someone to their feet, applying a handkerchief to their forehead. He approached close enough to hear the conversation but did not interrupt them.

“God bless you, ma’am,” the older lady said. “There is my son, I will be well now.”

“Are you certain?” Elizabeth asked.

“Indeed! Go on ahead,” the woman urged. “You are kind to interrupt your trip to me.”

“I do need to hurry, but if you need any assistance—”

Darcy could hear the concern in her voice.

“Thank you, but no. I am in good hands.” The woman motioned to Elizabeth to leave. Then, a man brushed past Darcy and embraced the older woman.

Elizabeth turned and almost ran right into Darcy. He caught her by the elbows.

“Hello, Elizabeth.” His hungry eyes immediately looked her over. She appeared unscathed. “Thank God you are safe.”

“William,” she murmured. Tears sprang to her eyes. “What are you doing here?”

Darcy smiled a little. Perhaps having such a light heart with the chaos around them was impolite, but no one appeared seriously injured. “I could ask you the same question.”

“My hackney got caught in the accident. There was hardly any damage to the equipage, and I am quite well. I wanted to offer my assistance.”

“That does not surprise me. You have always been a very caring individual. Now, why were you in a hackney? Where were you going?”

She reached for his hand. “I am so sorry.”

Darcy squeezed her hand and led her back to their coach. After handing her up and taking the seat beside her, he declared, “I am taking you home.” He pulled her into his embrace. Elizabeth sagged against him, and everything seemed perfect. Well, everything except her tears.

“Do not cry, my love,” he murmured into her hair.

His endearment brought on more tears. “How can you still love me? How can you forgive me?”

He gently lifted her head from his shoulder and raised her chin with his thumb. Then, he withdrew his handkerchief and gently wiped away every tear. He replaced each streak with a tender kiss.

“You never meant to hurt me. I do not know everything that passed, but I know that my family scared you. Even if you had intentionally wounded me, I would forgive you. Seeing you in any distress has always brought me acute agony. I would obey if you said you never desired to see me again. I would do anything I could to make you happy.”

She met his lips then. After they had found relief from their fears and emotions, she pulled back. “I do not deserve your affection. I have felt unworthy of love my whole life, but for things I had never done. I resented it. In some ways, I felt vastly superior to others. Now, I see that I am not. I am given to flights of fancy and emotion just as much as Lydia. I am thoughtless and cruel. I—”

Darcy silenced her with a finger to his lips. “You are loved and cherished without condition. You are my wife and my heart.” He touched his forehead to hers. “I should have done more to protect you from my family. I did not realise how truly terrible and dangerous they were until yesterday. There is much to tell you but it can wait. I should have gone after you or begged you to stay. Can you forgive me? I can only say that I was terrified.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “So was I. Thankfully, I have had a realisation. I can be free of all that hurt me in the past—I am free now. I do not want it to taint our love. True, genuine love is not earned or dependent on our good deeds. I know now that God has always loved me, and I am no longer afraid that no one else can.”

“I have had the same inspiration. We are not doomed to repeat our parents’ mistakes or live under their harmful teaching.”

“I love you,” Elizabeth said as she caressed his cheek. “It goes beyond what I thought love was—beyond anything a human can explain. I will face anything with you by my side.”

He reciprocated her caress. “My darling, lovely Elizabeth. I know it is difficult to believe that I love you and always shall. I have said so many times that such a thing did not exist, but you have taught me otherwise. Because of you, I can now understand the depth of real love.”

Elizabeth took a shuddery breath. “Such a love cannot come from me.”

Darcy took her hand in his. “That is correct. It is love divine, but are we not to be the vessels of Christ? Trust, then, in that. Where my love may fail, His never will.”

“I trust you,” she said before kissing him again.

When they reached the house, Darcy helped her out. Her hand trembled in his.

“What will they think of me?”

“It does not matter. If anyone is unkind or gossips, they shall be sacked. Surely, you do not care for the opinion of every person on this planet.”

“That is true,” she acknowledged.

“Good. Then, you will not be too embarrassed when I do this,” he said before sweeping her into his arms.

“William!” Elizabeth squealed in laughter.

Then, right there on the street with neighbours passing by, he kissed her. “I do not care who knows that I adore you. I will never hide my love and passion for you again.”

Elizabeth kissed him back before resting her head on his shoulder. He carried her up the stairs and into the house.

“Do you remember the time I threatened to throw you over my shoulder if you did not come walk with me?”

Elizabeth giggled. “Yes. Then, I admonished you and said you ought to carry me into the house.”

Darcy waggled his brows at her. “Well, one matter accomplished. Time for the next!” He set her down just long enough to lift her up, his arms tight around her legs. At first, she resisted but then slumped over his shoulder.

“William!” She squealed in laughter. “What are you doing? You cannot intend to carry me all the way up the stairs, can you?”

He grinned and chuckled. How had he ever resisted her or showing how he really felt? Darcy looked forward to such playful behaviour with her for the rest of his days. At the landing, Georgiana peeked her head out of the drawing room.

“William, what are you—” Georgiana gasped. “Elizabeth! Are you well—brother, you are not—”

Elizabeth laughed. “I am absolutely splendid, Georgie. Your brother was just helping me up the stairs. He shall set me down now.”

“Will I?” He asked. Turning to his sister, he said, “You must become accustomed to such frivolous displays, my dear. Now, forgive us, but we have much to talk about in our chambers.”

“Oh,” Georgiana said.

She appeared confused to Darcy, but he did not desire to speak with his sister at the moment. “We will see you at dinner, Georgie.” Darcy turned from her and continued down the hall, Elizabeth slung over his shoulder and giggling like a maniac.

“Welcome home, Elizabeth,” Georgiana called from the doorway.

A moment later, Darcy heard rapid notes on the pianoforte in a celebratory anthem.

Finally, he arrived at Elizabeth’s chamber. He set her down, kissed her soundly, and kicked the door shut all in one swift motion. Just after it closed with a soft thud, Elizabeth wrapped her arms around Darcy’s neck.

“Now, I am home,” she whispered.

His heart soared.