Page 12

AND THEN THERE WERE TWO

T he absence of Fitzwilliam went unnoticed by the area. Darcy’s courtship with Elizabeth once more became the hot topic of conversation. However, vicious rumours about Elizabeth and Darcy began circulating after the early departure from Lucas Lodge. Georgiana’s behaviour appeared to get worse rather than better as she refused all guidance that Elizabeth and Catherine tried to give her. For a month, Darcy and Elizabeth struggled both with Georgiana and the rumours. At the end of the month, Darcy and Elizabeth sat down with Catherine to discuss everything.

“Kitty, I am sorry. My cousin’s sudden departure has caused us all to be involved in a scandal that I had wished to avoid,” Darcy began.

“None of us knew where this would lead,” Catherine assured him. “It was fun to see the confusion. I had no idea the confusion would lead to you and Lizzy being assumed to be so scandalous,” Catherine told him.

“Do you know how bad the rumours run?” Darcy asked.

Catherine shook her head. “They won’t tell me, well… Lydia tells me some of it. When I enter a room, they change the subject.”

Elizabeth sighed. “Do you know when Christopher is going to return?”

“I do not. Apparently, there were questions about his behaviour here. The army has been asking him many questions over the past month. His letters have not been cheerful. I don’t know how bad it is, but there is something wrong,” Darcy informed them.

“What?!” Catherine exclaimed. “Should we go to London to keep him company?”

Darcy raised an eyebrow at Catherine. “I am not sure,” he told her.

Elizabeth shook her head. “I am sure that you didn’t ask for us to get together today, just for this.”

“I did not. I am worried about Georgiana. She is still struggling and seems to be getting worse,” Darcy admitted.

“I agree,” Elizabeth said. “I think she has been worse since Lydia and Wickham announced that they were to marry tomorrow.”

“That was always going to be difficult for her.” Darcy wrinkled his forehead in confusion and began twisting his signet ring. “I don’t know what Wickham is thinking. It was only a few months ago that he was asking for Georgiana’s hand in marriage.”

“None of us know what either of them is thinking. They’re rushing into this, but Lydia won’t listen. She’s as stubborn as Georgiana,” Elizabeth observed.

“Talking about Georgiana’s stubbornness, I do not know what else to do for her.” Darcy threw up his hands in mock surrender. “The rumours surrounding us are not helping her attitude.”

Elizabeth shrugged. “I do not know. Do you have any aunts or uncles you could ask for advice?”

Darcy’s face momentarily brightened and then a storm crossed his face. “I have only two living aunts. My father’s sisters and his brother’s wives have all passed on. My mother’s sister and her brother’s wife are both still alive. I don’t know if either of them will help us. My aunt, Lady Matlock, would have cut my mother off completely if she could. She hated that my mother, an earl’s daughter, married my father who was a mere gentleman. As for my other aunt who is still living, she’s the one who wants me to marry her daughter. Lady Catherine de Bourgh is a woman of fixed opinions and one who will brook no opposition.”

“She sounds like the perfect person to ask for help from then,” Catherine interjected.

“I don’t want to abandon Georgiana,” Darcy argued.

“Can you not write to her for advice?” Elizabeth suggested.

Darcy shook his head. “No way!”

Elizabeth arched her eyebrow, silently asking him why.

“I have no idea how she will react when….” He swallowed. He had no idea how to continue.

Catherine giggled.

“Elizabeth, I have been thinking of asking this question for a while. Is it too early?” He glared at Catherine whose giggles became more intense. “Catherine Bennet, please stop that ridiculous giggling. I need to ask your sister a serious question.”

Catherine laughed harder than ever. “I’m sorry,” she gasped through her laughter. “Excuse me, I think I know what you wish to ask her and will leave you alone.”

Elizabeth blushed at her sister’s behaviour. “Kitty, please! Don’t be so indiscreet.”

Catherine blushed and looked down. “I did not intend to be indiscreet. I will give you both some privacy. I have an idea for Georgie, but it depends on the answer you give to Fitz. I was laughing, partially because I had been expecting Fitz to ask this question and partially from relief because if I am right then the answer to the Georgiana problem has been right in front of us all along. I will explain when I return and Fitz has the answer I know you will give him, Lizzy.” With that, Catherine stood up and was about to leave, when impetuously she kissed Darcy on the cheek. “I think I’m going to like having a new brother,” she whispered into his ear.

Darcy grinned as he watched her flee the room. He turned to Elizabeth who sat next to him on the sofa in the Longbourn drawing room, face aflame. “I wish Georgie was a little more like Kitty.”

“Why? Kitty just embarrassed us both!” Elizabeth exclaimed.

Darcy’s grin widened. “True, but she behaved with more discretion than Georgiana would have done. Georgiana would have just told me to my face that not only am I a hypocrite for denying her happiness and then grabbing my own, but how little she liked my choice etc. Kitty has guessed my question, however.” His smile dropped and nerves overtook him. “Liz, I. I don’t know how to explain what I am asking. I know that the rumours are foul and we are innocent of what we have been accused of. What I am going to ask you, could give credence to those rumours. I… I have fallen deeply in love with you already and despite everything I believe I would be asking you this question soon anyway. Will you marry me, Liz?”

Elizabeth took his hand in her own. “I love you, Fitz. Yes, I will marry you!”

The broadest smile spread across Darcy’s face as he leant down and passionately kissed Elizabeth. Pulling back, he promised her, “I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve you, but I will spend the rest of our lives proving my love. I am sorry our courtship has been marred by rumour and my sister’s bad behaviour.”

“We will get through it, Fitz. I wouldn’t be surprised if she wasn’t fuelling those rumours… but let’s not spoil the moment by discussing your sister. We have a wedding to plan and first you need to go and ask my father for his blessing.” She pulled him in for another kiss before they reluctantly parted. “Once you have papa’s blessing, then I shall tell mama.”

Darcy stood up. “I shall go and talk to him now. Go and find out Kitty’s plan.” With that, they parted.

* * *

E lizabeth shook her head at Darcy. They had known each other for just over a month and were likely rushing headlong into things, but it could not be helped. They knew they were in love and with the vile rumours, marrying earlier rather than later was the only sensible way to go forward. There was little chance for them all to erase the rumours completely, especially as in the colonel’s absence the three of them had been secluded together many times to discuss and strategize over Georgiana’s behaviour. Elizabeth stood in the doorway of the drawing room and watched Darcy slip into her father’s study and sucked in her breath. With the rumours that were circulating, she did not expect her father to deny their marriage. However, just as Darcy disappeared into the study, Elizabeth glimpsed Fitzwilliam striding down the pathway to Longbourn.

Grabbing her pelisse, Elizabeth slipped out of the front door and hurried out to meet Fitzwilliam. “Come with me,” she muttered quietly guiding him out of the open paths and onto a secluded path that was overgrown, ran parallel to the driveway, and led to a side door straight into the drawing room.

Once in the drawing room, Elizabeth filled him in on the past month – including the fact that she and Darcy had just gotten engaged.

Fitzwilliam let out a low whistle. “No wonder Georgiana was in high dudgeon when I arrived at Netherfield. So Wickham has abandoned her completely then?”

“I do not know. I only know that he and Lydia declared their intention to marry three weeks ago. I believe Wickham has paid for an ordinary license,” Elizabeth informed him. “We have had to resort to banning Georgiana from attending all social events for the moment and thus leaving her alone at Netherfield. Even when attending church, Fitz tells me she is flirting with everyone. Kitty has a plan, but what that plan is I do not know.”

“And Fitz has already proposed? I knew that was coming. His letters have been increasingly annoying in that he has used his letters to me to work through the few concerns he had about the match. Do not be alarmed, those concerns were nothing serious. He also withheld anything to do with Kitty. You said she has a plan. Would you kindly ask her to come through here and tell us what her plan is?” Fitzwilliam asked.

Elizabeth stood up and went to summon her sister. However, Fitzwilliam grabbed her wrist lightly and stopped her egress.

“Congratulations! I know Fitz loves you very much. Don’t tell Kitty I’m here, I want to see her reaction to seeing me,” Fitzwilliam requested.

Elizabeth nodded and then slipped out of the drawing room.

The parlour was noisy and its occupants were full of excitement. Wickham and Lydia sat together in the centre revelling in the attention of Mrs Bennet and Mary who were both busily trying to work through all the last-minute details of the wedding. Jane sat to one side laughing at her mother and sister, while quietly conversing with Bingley. Elizabeth’s eyes roved the room desperately trying to find Catherine and her heart felt as though it had stopped when she spotted the sister she was seeking. Thinking herself to have a moment unobserved, Catherine’s face showed a dejection that she had carefully hidden from everyone. Elizabeth quietly slipped across the room and whispered in Catherine’s ear, “Darcy and I have come to an understanding and wish to hear your plan. Come to the drawing room.”

Mutely, Catherine stood up and followed her sister back to the drawing room.

Elizabeth held back in the doorway of the drawing room as her sister went in to take her seat. Elizabeth was nervous. Darcy’s conference with her father was taking longer than it should have been. It did not take very long before the door of the study opened slightly.

“Mr Darcy, you have insulted my girls long enough! I do believe that Elizabeth is your preference, but I will not be agreeing to this engagement until you can prove to me that you have not been leading Kitty on! I want to see you and your cousin side by side before I believe that you are as serious about Elizabeth as you should be!” Mr Bennet declared.

Darcy stormed out of the study not long afterwards, his face a picture of distress. “I love only Elizabeth! I promise you, sir, I will not give her up.”

Elizabeth motioned for him to join her in the drawing room once more, earning herself a kiss in the process. “I heard my father’s refusal,” she softly whispered.

“I will tell you more in a minute,” he answered. “At the moment, Kitty looks like she could kill us rather than be overjoyed for us.”

Catherine looked in the direction of the door and saw Darcy with his arm around Elizabeth’s waist as he softly closed the door behind them. Dejectedly she said, “Lizzy has accepted you then.”

Darcy grinned. “Yes, she has. It is time for Fitzwilliam and I to be seen at the same place at the same time.”

Elizabeth leant her head on his shoulder. “I want to hear Kitty’s plan for Georgiana.”

“Well….” Catherine stopped as movement caught her eye and Fitzwilliam stepped out from behind the heavy velvet curtains. “Christopher!” She exclaimed, throwing herself out of her chair and rushing towards him.

Elizabeth giggled. “If papa sees you two like that, then we will never have papa’s blessing to marry.”

Fitzwilliam opened his arms and enveloped Catherine in a hug. “I’ve missed you, Kitty,” he admitted as the two quickly separated.

Catherine blushed. “I’ve missed you too.”

The two couples took their seats and soon Catherine outlined the plan she had. “It is a simple plan,” she explained. “Fitz and Lizzy are going to marry soon. Christopher and I also need time to court each other.” She blushed. “I’m sorry, I’m making assumptions, Christopher. Anyway, the point is I’ve seen the results of trying to court and restrain Georgiana’s behaviour. Do not deny it. I have seen both of you not only embarrassed by Georgiana, but there have been times when she has not been watched as closely as she should have been because of your distraction. I could not say much as I was not officially even courting Christopher. However, I have kept my eyes and ears open. The rumours of Fitz being involved with both Lizzy and myself would not have been so very vile if we had not needed to meet together and discuss Georgiana. The rumours will only get worse once Fitz and Lizzy marry if the four of us have to keep on meeting like this, while Christopher and I are courting. Therefore, there is only one way forward. Fitz, you said you did not wish to write to your aunt. Very well. You and Lizzy will arrive at your aunt’s home, with Georgiana and her companion. You will explain the situation and that you are seeking time alone with your wife as well as your aunt’s help with Georgiana. Christopher, you will go with them and explain the situation as it is right now. Once your aunt agrees to help Georgiana, then Christopher will come back here and be seen courting me, while Fitz and Lizzy will go on a short wedding tour. By the time you return, Christopher can be established as being a separate person to Fitz and the filthy surmises that the neighbourhood has made will hopefully be put to rest.”

“Your plan has merit. However, we should be seen together tonight. Put the ruse behind us once and for all,” Darcy emphatically insisted. “Our behaviour has brought harm to the reputations of Elizabeth and Kitty. It is time to end this.”

“Let’s have one last night of the ruse,” Catherine declared. “Nobody knows Christopher has returned. I want just one night I can enjoy his company without worrying about what other people think.”

“I understand, but remember that is going to feed into the problem,” Darcy warned.

“We will both attend Lydia’s wedding tomorrow, Fitz. I’m happy to let Catherine have her way tonight,” Fitzwilliam argued. “One more night shouldn’t be too problematic.”

Darcy grinned. “Very well. One more night. You need to go and congratulate Wickham and Lydia.”

* * *

F itzwilliam shook his head as he stood up and went through to the parlour with Kitty. The plan was a good one and he was determined that they would carry it out.

“Ah, Fitzwilliam, there you are. I began to think that you, Lizzy, and Kitty were never going to join us. Whatever could have been so important that it has kept you away from us for so long I will never know, however, it is nearly time for dinner,” Mrs Bennet informed the room.

Fitzwilliam groaned. One of them would be missing dinner. He sighed. He had news that he needed to impart to Kitty, but he could not with so many eyes on them. It would have to wait.

Mrs Bennet did not wait for him to say anything. “Lydia, my love, you have done so well. A handsome husband at just fifteen! You will be the talk of the neighbourhood, in the best possible way. Not like your sisters. I do not know what Lizzy and Kitty have been doing with Fitzwilliam.”

“Exactly what we have told you, mama,” Catherine angrily interrupted. “Fitz has asked Lizzy and me to aid him with Georgiana. He is courting Lizzy and therefore desires to have her input and ideas. He has asked for mine because I am close to Georgiana’s age.”

Fitzwilliam did not say anything, but rather sat and observed. He was not sure if he should be pretending to be his cousin or if he could be himself. They had agreed to one last night of the ruse.

“Whatever it is that you two have been doing with Fitzwilliam has opened both yourselves and the family to some very nasty rumours. How we will recover I have no idea,” Mrs Bennet lamented.

“The neighbours will move on and find something and someone else to talk about. We will become yesterday’s gossip. Hardly anyone recalls now that Aunt Phillips was caught in an embarrassing situation two years ago or that the eldest Lucas boy eloped with the niece of Mrs Long last year,” Lydia argued, almost countering her argument.

“At least one of my girls is doing things decently,” Mrs Bennet declared.

“That’s not fair, mama!” Catherine almost yelled. “Lizzy and I have done nothing wrong. I am expecting papa to tell us soon that Lizzy is engaged.”

“Then you will be disappointed, Kitty,” Mr Bennet told her as he strode into the parlour. “Yes, Fitzwilliam has proposed and your sister accepted him. For myself, I do not trust him. He is playing around with both Lizzy and yourself.”

“That is not true!” Fitzwilliam growled “I know that you cannot tell my cousin apart from myself. Look closely and there are enough ways to separate us. You choose not to observe and therefore do not know whether you are speaking to Fitzwilliam Darcy or Christopher Fitzwilliam. It is true that in every way that matters, my cousin and I look alike. However, the differences are in our bearing, the scars and marks on our bodies — true most are hidden by our clothing, but not all. Also, it is in our gait. One of us has been in the army for many years and has a slight limp after a musket ball caught his shin at the Battle of Maida. The other broke his right pinkie many years ago. There are enough ways that you could easily tell us apart. Fitz’s butler and other servants know which of us is which. Christopher’s commanding officers were never fooled. Even Elizabeth and Kitty were not fooled. The first time Christopher met Kitty she picked up that he was not Fitz, who you had all met first. Most people cannot be bothered to look closely and until Fitz and I met your daughters it had been fun seeing the confusion on people’s faces as they were never sure of who they were speaking to. Trust me when I say that Elizabeth would not tolerate Christopher dallying with her, any more than Kitty would tolerate Fitzwilliam dallying with her. From the first day, they saw us both together, they have known which of us is which and Elizabeth put very strict limits on our behaviour.”

“A pretty speech, but it will not aid your cause,” Mr Bennet snapped. “I have had enough of your nonsense. I am aware that you have been introduced to us by two different names. I have not seen this mysterious cousin of yours in the same room with you at the same time. I do not believe that there are two different men who look so much alike. Cousins do not look identical. I believe that you are the same man, taking advantage of Elizabeth and Kitty. I do not know what your game is, but I do know that my girls have been hurt by your nonsense and my family’s reputation severely damaged. I gave you three months to decide between the girls and you came to me earlier to request Elizabeth’s hand in marriage. In proof of your instability and delusions, I came through and found that you are sitting next to Kitty and looking all too comfortable in her company. I want to see you and your cousin standing side by side before I believe that you are anything other than a cad and libertine!”

“Mr Bennet,” Wickham spoke up. “I grew up with the Darcys, my father being the steward of their vast estates. I can attest to what Christopher has just told you is true. There are rare cases of cousins looking like twins and Fitz and Christopher are such a pair of cousins. Even their mothers could barely tell them apart when they were little. I was the cause of Fitz breaking his pinkie finger. We had been riding Pemberley and learning from our fathers the way that estates worked. I made a stupid, childish, suggestion for Fitz to hold the reins tighter than we had been taught and to wind them around his hand tightly. Taking the dare, Fitz had done just that, but the horse panicked as the reins tightened. The horse proved stronger than Fitz and the reigns snapped the middle bone of his pinkie in two. Fitz has never been able to wear a signet ring on that finger since. As for Christopher, I lost touch with him for a few years. However, he has scars on his left earlobe from where the lash caught him in the wrong place as well as scars on his back from the lash. Christopher’s speech is slightly rougher and his voice fractionally higher. He also narrows his eyes slightly whereas Fitz does not. Fitz also has a mole on his right hand between his thumb and forefinger. Both rightfully have an antipathy for me. Christopher is more relaxed in society than Fitz is. Christopher is also shorter tempered.”

A slight growl escaped Fitzwilliam as Wickham had exposed how to tell the two cousins apart.

“How do I know that you are not involved in this delusion somehow?” Mr Bennet asked. “Which one is sitting in my parlour right now?”

Wickham grinned. “That is Colonel Christopher Fitzwilliam, the younger son of the Earl of Matlock. His signet ring is on his right pinkie finger. He is in love with Kitty and he has fresh lash marks on his neck, that his cravat is failing to hide.”

Fitzwilliam outright glared at Wickham.

“Oh no! What happened at Horse Guards? Are you well?” Catherine exclaimed. “Why did I not notice the marks on your neck?”

Fitzwilliam softened. “Kitty, do not worry about me. I am no stranger to the lash. It was not so hard to endure. I will be well.”

Catherine shook her head. “I was too excited to see you, to notice.”

Fitzwilliam placed his hand under Kitty’s chin and gently turned her face up to look into his. “Catherine Felicity Bennet, I love you. That you were excited to see me is not wrong. I have news, but I would rather impart that news later in private. Kitty, say you will marry me.”

“Yes…” Catherine exclaimed.

“ABSOLUTELY NOT!” Mr Bennet roared. “I have had enough. You will leave my daughters alone.”

Elizabeth stood in the doorway and took in the scene. Darcy had stepped outside the drawing room doors, to take a few minutes to breathe before he would switch places with Fitzwilliam. “Papa,” she said entering the room. “Christopher only came back a little while ago. I am pleased for him and Kitty. Congratulations, Christopher, Kitty.”

“So where is Mr Darcy?” Mr Bennet asked.

Elizabeth blushed. “He’s outside taking a much-needed breath of fresh air after your treatment of him earlier.”

“My treatment was better than he deserved!” Mr Bennet yelled.

“No, papa,” Elizabeth argued. “You have not taken pains to get to know Fitz or Christopher.” She turned to Fitzwilliam. “I hope that your journey back to Netherfield was good and that Horse Guards have proved everything to be false.”

Fitzwilliam shifted and adjusted his cravat slightly. The truth was that his neck and back itched like crazy from the cuts that were healing. His leg wound had been bothering him for days as well. “Thank you, Elizabeth. The journey was uneventful. I am glad to be back where I can aid my ward.”

“A strange way to talk about your sister,” Mr Bennet snorted.

“She is my cousin, not my sister,” Fitzwilliam snapped. “I am not Fitz!”

“Again, I will believe that when I see the two of you standing side by side,” Mr Bennet stated.

Elizabeth shook her head. Darcy was right it was time to end the charade. “I will go and get Fitz,” she quietly stated and left the parlour to go in search of him.

Fitzwilliam was incensed at his treatment. He glared out at the deep inky blackness of the late autumn night. “You will see us together tomorrow at the wedding. I apologise that you have become so confused. We should have been together in the same room before now, except that I had been recalled to Horse Guards to answer some nasty rumours about my behaviour. Rumours that were vile and cruel. I have my freedom only because of three conditions, one of which concerns Kitty.”

* * *

D arcy angrily strode the Longbourn gardens. He was engaged to the woman he loved. Things should have been easier. Yet, vile rumour and innuendo, along with his sister’s disgusting behaviour had placed him in a situation where his suit had been denied by Elizabeth’s father and the Darcy family’s reputation lay in tatters. He should go back to Netherfield. He began to feel as though he should never have come to Hertfordshire. Standing far back he looked into the parlour windows. It was not a happy scene that he saw in front of him as it should have been. True to form, Bingley appeared to be oblivious to everything around him as he and Jane conversed to the side, ignoring everything else. Wickham and Lydia did not look like they were deeply in love. That there was some sentiment there he could not doubt, but it did not seem to have much depth to it. Strangely, there was more genuine sentiment between Catherine and Fitzwilliam.

Darcy sighed. Whether Wickham married Georgiana or Lydia, he was on track to be the brother-in-law of a man who was his inferior in every way. However, Darcy doubted that there was much more sentiment between his sister and Wickham than what he observed. How had it come to this? A servant’s son being more acceptable than the scion of one of the wealthiest families of the land? That only the mother was a fortune hunter could not be denied. Yet… how had he and Fitzwilliam gone so wrong? Darcy wondered what was being said as he turned and strode towards the small wilderness that lay on the property. He stopped and looked around him. He should be safe there. It was not so far from the main house that he could be a target for thieves and robbers. He would simply sit down and think over his behaviour. Mr Bennet had given him much to ponder.

Darcy admitted that his behaviour towards Elizabeth had bordered on indiscreet. His excuse was that he hated the way Mrs Bennet crowed over their relationship and had pushed the limits of behaviour because of it. However, they had still been respectful of each other and their company. It was the almost daily private conversations that he, Elizabeth, and Catherine had needed to have to deal with his sister. He was at a loss how to control Georgiana and get her behaviour under control. That had been the root of all of their problems! Georgiana. He wondered if she was not around or if she had been better behaved what his life would be. He knew he would still court Elizabeth, but would he have courted Elizabeth properly? His heart whispered that he would. He knew that the ruse between himself and his cousin had also played a part in the way things had gone.

He sank on the cold stone bench and placed his head in his hands. It had all gone wrong! Until now he and his cousin had always found it so amusing that no one bothered to see the differences between them and their swapping places had always been innocent. Most people had laughed when the ruse was discovered. So it had not even crossed his mind that it would have such serious consequences for their reputations. However not only had it caused serious problems, but he now found himself in a completely impossible situation. The worst was that he had always considered himself to be an honourable man. He had kept himself away from any taint of scandal — until he had met Elizabeth! How Elizabeth had become his downfall, Darcy did not know. Yet, she and Catherine were the downfall of both him and his cousin. He took a deep breath and tried to relax as he lay back. The problem was that for the first time, he was in the middle of the situation and not an impartial observer. He found it difficult to know where he had gone wrong and rather than explain himself, Mr Bennet had simply refused to listen to Darcy’s request and ejected Darcy from the study.

Worried about his sister and at a loss as to how to solve his situation, Darcy found himself hopelessly lost in self-castigation and feeling foolish at not quite knowing what to do. He closed his eyes and tried to envision life without Elizabeth. It was impossible! Every single time she invaded his dreams. She was essential to his happiness and his very existence. A life without her was bleak indeed. Darcy shook his head as he opened his eyes and sat up. It was no good. He simply had to make her his wife. He loved her too much to do anything else! He sat up and watched the house. Where was she right then? Did she need him? Did she love him as much as he loved her? Darcy stood up and was about to walk back towards the house, a new determination in his mind. He and Fitzwilliam had agreed that they would continue the ruse for one more night. However, Elizabeth and Catherine were getting hurt. It was time to end the ruse.

As he headed around the back of the house towards the drawing room doors where he should have been waiting, the sound of the carriage on the cobblestones drew Darcy’s attention. He must have fallen asleep in the folly and not realised it. He had stayed hidden in the darkness too long. He had a long, dangerous, and lonely walk back to Netherfield. While he could defend himself tolerably well, he had no proper training to do so and was a prime target as a rich man one step removed from the nobility.

An idea struck him and he snuck inside the darkened room, just moments before the maids entered it to clean up. Their incessant talking and giggling about the family and the events of the evening gave Darcy a small amount of pain. He was tired of the ruse and the constant switching places with Fitzwilliam. They had already hurt Elizabeth and Catherine with their silly ruse and now if he did not do something drastic, he could lose his betrothed. His conversation with her father had left him shaken to the core. It was time for his cousin and him to lay their ruse to rest. It was time for them to show the whole of Meryton that they were two different men, who had both fallen in love with one of the Bennet girls. He promised himself that they would do so at Lydia’s wedding tomorrow afternoon.

Before that, he had to find a way to pass the night comfortably without getting caught. He heard the younger girls giggling about Lydia’s wedding, as they passed towards the parlour. Darcy shook his head. He had to get out of here. The maids were not paying enough attention to their work, so he managed to slip past them and made his way through darkened rooms until he found the servants’ stairs by accident. Perfect. He slipped up those stairs and found himself in a long passageway. Seven closed doors faced him. He watched, unseen as Mrs Bennet and Mr Bennet stepped into two rooms at the furthest end of the landing. Perfect. Knowing which were their rooms, Darcy could begin to estimate his way forward. He crept along in the shadows and saw two maids standing outside the next two rooms.

“You will have it easiest,” one of the maids said. “Miss Elizabeth is much more independent than any of her other sisters.”

“Yes,” the second maid giggled. “The hour being late, I know she will not wish to have a bath. Tonight is Miss Jane and Miss Lydia’s turn. Do you think they will both wish to bathe?”

“I have no doubt. Especially Miss Jane. She always wants to bathe after they have entertained,” the first maid said. “And I know Miss Lydia is going to demand fresh water to bathe too.”

The second maid began to open the door to Elizabeth’s room and then closed it again. “I almost forgot. Miss Elizabeth had a fresh order of her favourite scent arrive today. I was supposed to put it in her room, but Mrs Hill needed me to do something and I forgot.” She hurried away down the hallway to get the order and Darcy saw his chance. As soon as the first maid entered Jane’s room, he knew he had his way clear. Confidently, he slipped forward and into Elizabeth’s room. He blinked and then slipped behind the dressing screen, so as not to be caught by anyone. He listened as Elizabeth said goodnight to her sisters and then turned and made her way over to the bed. He was about to leave his hiding place when the door opened and someone came in.

“Sarah, will you help me remove my dress and corset please?” Elizabeth asked.

Darcy almost peeked over the screen but he could not risk the maid seeing him, not yet. So he waited and listened as the maid helped Elizabeth to change into her nightwear. He held his breath, in case one of them would come around the screen, but since neither of them did, he was secure. For now, he was safe. The maid, Sarah, left the room. Darcy heard Elizabeth move around the room. Quietly he slipped out from behind the screen. “Turn around, Elizabeth, and do not scream,” he whispered.

He saw Elizabeth give a small jerk of shock and then a frisson of delight run down her back before she turned around. “What are you doing here?” she hissed under her breath. “If you are caught, I do not know what my parents will do. Do you think that causing a scandal will win my father over?”

“Elizabeth, I love you. Your father objects that he does not believe I am serious about you because he has never seen me in the same room as Fitzwilliam. He does not believe that we are two different people. I will not lose you. I cannot. I promise I will be good. I only need somewhere to sleep tonight. Tomorrow I will make sure that the ruse with Fitzwilliam and I comes to an end. It has to do so.”

Elizabeth nodded. “I understand, but you cannot be caught! You must leave before anyone else is around.”

Darcy agreed and stripped down to just his shirt and breeches. They suddenly felt shy around each other. Silently they climbed into the bed that only just fitted two. Darcy drew Elizabeth into his arms and kissed the top of her head.