Page 34 of Fitzwilliam Darcy An Honourable Man

Pemberley

The next morning

With a heavy heart, Mrs. Reynolds stood on the front portico until the coach carrying Mrs. Preston and Miss Elizabeth was completely out of sight, disappearing down the long drive and seemingly into the surrounding forest. She was well aware that Mr. Darcy would not be pleased when he learned of Elizabeth’s trip, but she had done her best, reminding her charge that the master would not want her to leave Pemberley while he was away. Nonetheless, her warning did nothing to dissuade the determined young lady.

Oddly, the housekeeper had begun to feel anxious the moment Miss Elizabeth had announced that she was going to accompany Mrs. Preston to the Ingram’s residence that morning. Something about Elizabeth’s demeanour was unsettling. Last evening she had been so excited at the prospect of a letter from Mr. Darcy that she had rushed downstairs to greet Mrs. Preston personally. In the morning, when asked if Mr. Darcy had mentioned when he might be coming home, Elizabeth had sounded oddly despondent when she had replied that he had not.

In addition, Mrs. Preston’s feigned interest in Elizabeth’s company was not in any manner believable. The housekeeper had not spent years observing the women who tried to impress Mr. Darcy without becoming quite adept at identifying the cunning ones, of which the Widow Preston was a prime example. It pained her greatly to see Elizabeth keeping company with a woman who obviously still fancied Mr. Darcy for herself.

Realising that she had been staring at nothing but the trees since the coach had travelled completely out of sight, Mrs. Reynolds steeled herself not to worry. After all, worrying never changes anything except the number of grey hairs on my head.

Turning back to the house, she noted Mr. Walker waiting at the ornate front entry, a frown evident on his face. She tried to put on a smile as she stepped over the threshold, and he closed the heavily carved door soundly behind her.

“I do not like the looks of this,” Walker offered sourly as he glanced about to make sure no other servants were within the sound of his voice.

Mrs. Reynolds met his eyes in equal disapproval. “Nor do I, but what could I do, other than to remind Miss Elizabeth of Mr. Darcy’s express instructions that she remain here until his return. At least they are only going as far as Rosewood Manor.”

“Mr. Darcy will not hold you at fault. I heard your warnings, and you tried to make her realise the danger of leaving the estate. Yet, I cannot help but feel a strange uneasiness at her accompanying that woman. There must be a reason, other than friendship, that would compel the widow to take an interest in the young miss. For my money, the old hen still fancies the master for herself.”

Mrs. Reynolds chuckled at his words before promptly sobering at the truth of them. “I am afraid that I heartily agree with your assessment. I shall not feel at ease until Miss Elizabeth is safely returned this evening.”

Then trying to put a pleasant perspective on the situation, she added, “But on the other hand, perhaps a visit with Miss Georgiana, I mean Mrs. Ingram, will cheer her. Miss Elizabeth has been in poor spirits since the master left and much the worse since Mrs. Preston’s arrival. I pray she will be back to her usual cheerful nature when she returns.”

“I trust that will be the case, as well. It pains me to see the young miss with a frown on her lovely face. Now, I suppose I should get myself busy and try not to dwell on what could happen in the few short hours she will be away.”

Exchanging wan smiles, the long-time servants turned and went in opposite directions.

Pemberley

That afternoon

In the early afternoon, a carriage carrying Evan, Georgiana and Millie Ingram pulled to a stop in front of Pemberley. As the Ingrams disembarked, they were certainly in good spirits. They had come expressly to cheer Miss Elizabeth, as seeing Millie always improved Elizabeth’s frame of mind.

Evan descended the carriage first, reaching back in to take Millie from his wife’s lap and then set her gently on the ground. While he was thus engaged, a footman assisted Georgiana from the carriage. Then each parent took one of Millie’s hands and turned to ascend the steps three abreast. Almost immediately, they encountered Mrs. Reynolds, who was already coming down the steps at a quick pace—the look on the housekeeper’s face instantly alerting them that something was amiss.

“Mr. Ingram ... Mrs. Ingram!” Mrs. Reynolds began breathlessly, looking over their heads towards the long drive as if expecting another carriage. “What a surprise to see you here. Are you escorting Miss Elizabeth back? Is she riding with Mrs. Preston?”

“Mrs. Preston?” Evan Ingram began cautiously, glancing at his wife. “Mrs. Preston is not in Derbyshire as far as we know.”

The housekeeper’s hands shook as she placed them over her heart, her face paling instantly. Stuttering now with fear, she could barely get out the words, “I ... I was led to believe she was accompanying Mrs. Preston to Rosewood Manor early this morning. Have you not seen or heard from them today?”

“No!” Georgiana exclaimed uneasily. “We came to see Elizabeth and had no idea she was not here! You say Cecile escorted her from Pemberley? When did she arrive?”

Seeing that the women’s panic was beginning to draw the attention of the servants, Evan spoke up. “Let us go inside and discuss this matter rationally.”

He scooped up Millie, and they all proceeded into the house. As they entered the foyer, Margaret, a young maid who often cared for Millie when they were at Pemberley, was coming towards them down the hall. Mrs. Reynolds motioned for her to come forward and enquired of Evan, “Would it not be best to let Margaret entertain Millie while we discuss all of this in the drawing room?”

“I believe that would be wise,” he replied, kissing Millie’s cheek before handing the child over to Margaret, who eagerly stepped forward to take her little friend.

“Go with Margaret to the conservatory, sweetheart. She will let you take some toys from the large box to play with while Mama and Papa talk with Mrs. Reynolds. You will like that.”

Millie’s eye lit up at the mention of toys, and she nodded her head in agreement. “Yes, Papa.”

Everyone followed the two as they disappeared in the direction of the conservatory then swiftly made their way towards the drawing room. Georgiana had no sooner entered the room before she addressed the housekeeper. “Tell us everything that has happened with Miss Elizabeth since last I was here.”

What followed was an account of the arrival of Mrs. Preston, including the woman’s claim of having a letter from Mr. Darcy for Elizabeth, Elizabeth’s insistence that Cecile stay the night, and her strange decision to accompany the woman to Rosewood Manor that morning.

“I had a dreadful feeling about her leaving with Mrs. Preston. I tried to dissuade her, reminding her that the master wished her to stay at Pemberley where he could be sure of her safety. However, it seemed to me that she had her mind made up. She was resolved to go regardless of what I said.”

“Do you suppose my brother said something in his letter that upset her?” Georgiana asked, her mind reeling with possibilities. “You know he has a tendency to say things in the wrong manner.”

Evan, who was too troubled to sit, interjected, “I am almost certain that there was no letter from Darcy. Frankly, I do not believe that he would send a letter to the woman he loves via my sister. I have to believe that the letter was a ruse to get to Elizabeth.”

“I had not thought of that!” Georgiana exclaimed, the truth of her husband’s observation sinking in. “Now that I think on it, my brother would never have trusted Cecile with something so close to his heart!”

Mrs Reynolds added, “I know it was not my place, but because of my unease, I took the liberty of searching Miss Elizabeth’s bedroom after she left this morning, trying to determine if she might have packed a bag.”

Georgiana brow knit anxiously. “And had she?”

“From what was left in the room, I could not make a true determination. She did not carry a bag as she left, but I suppose she could have hidden it among Mrs. Preston’s items. It appeared, if my memory serves, that there were a few gowns missing but certainly not all of her clothes.”

Mrs. Reynolds sighed heavily. “To tell the truth, I was just relieved to find so much still left in her room and wished to believe that the missing clothes were amongst the items waiting downstairs to be washed.”

“What of the little chest she loved so much?”

“I did not think of that!”

Instantly, Georgiana stood. “Let us search her rooms. Perhaps we can find some evidence to settle our minds. I know we will have to inform William, but I want to investigate every avenue before I compose a letter of this import.”

She glanced to Evan as she headed to the door. “Please come with us dear. You may notice something we do not.”

Minutes later, the three were examining the closets and drawers in Elizabeth’s rooms. Mrs. Reynolds had just located the small chest, which was sitting open on the floor, when Evan called out, “Here!” She and Georgiana hurried into the small sitting room next door to find him holding a letter aloft.

“It was propped against the lamp on that table,” he nodded towards a small reading table in the corner. “I think you should open it, Ana. Darcy will certainly understand why you felt you needed to read it.”

Georgiana nodded, taking it from his hand and reading her brother’s name in Elizabeth’s fine script. Then, after meeting the others eyes, she tore open the seal. As she read she did not comment, but grew increasingly pale. Evan pushed a chair close behind her and carefully pulled her down into the soft cushions, even as she kept reading. By the time she had finished, the room was deathly quiet.

Eventually Georgiana’s softly voiced what they all feared. “Elizabeth is gone forever—to the Americas. My ... my brother surely will die of heartache when he reads this.”

She began to sob, and Evan pulled her up from the chair and into his arms, soothing her in his tight embrace. His eyes met those of Mrs. Reynolds as he looked over his wife’s shoulder, and the tears on the housekeeper’s face caused his to well up. Still holding Ana, he reached to take one of the elderly woman’s hands as she lamented, “This is all my fault. I should never have let her go.”

Georgiana turned then to embrace Mrs. Reynolds. “No! You love her, too. You could not have known this would happen nor could you have prevented her from leaving.”

Evan wanted to reassure the women, though his mind reeled with the implications of what his sister had done and how he might reverse the damage. Almost instantly, he formed a plan.

“Ana, send a special messenger to Darcy in London. Tell him I am making preparations to go after my sister and recover Miss Elizabeth.”

Georgiana managed to speak even as she wept. “But ... but how shall we learn in which direction she was taken?”

Evan stilled for a moment. His voice as firm as his reply. “Money loosens tongues. I shall send men along all the main roads out of Derbyshire and have them question the people along the way. Someone observed a large coach leaving Lambton this morning. I pray that there was only one or, if more than one, that I follow the right coach.”

Georgiana leaned into him, resting her head on his chest. “I want you to find them, but you must promise to take an adequate number of men with you. I fear Cecile is not acting alone. Something tells me that Elizabeth’s husband,” she swallowed hard, trying not to cry. “I meant to say the count, is involved. And he would not hesitate to harm you.”

“I believe your assumptions are correct, my love. I will take men from Pemberley as well as my own, so do not be anxious.” With a quick kiss on her nose, he began to pull her towards the door. “Come, sweetheart. We must collect Millie and return home. I have much to do and a short time to accomplish it.”

He called to Mrs. Reynolds as he went out the door. “Keep Darcy informed and pray that I find Elizabeth before something dreadful happens.”

They were out the door before Mrs. Reynolds could reply, so she moved to the doorway to watch husband and wife walk swiftly down the hall and begin the stairs to the foyer. Her heart aching with grief and worry, she turned her eyes toward heaven.

Lord, please help Mr. Ingram find her, and keep him and Miss Elizabeth safe. Bring them home to us soon. Please!

On the road to Liverpool

Richard and Mr. Williamson exchanged worried glances as they listened to William’s slight snore. Both men were well aware that the young man on the other side of the carriage had a tenuous hold on his emotions, and the longer they had travelled, the worse the situation had become.

He had been the picture of control when they had left London the day before, however, today his companions noted that his voice would oftentimes break when he spoke of Elizabeth and, before he finally succumbed to sleep, he had fiddled endlessly with his gloves and his cravat. Apparently mortified that he could not regulate his feelings, William had chosen to say nothing for the last few miles, except to answer questions directed at him very briefly. His lack of conversation had led to his current state of slumber, for which they were most grateful. At least when he slept, he was not quarrelling over the slow pace of the journey or the quality of the horses.

As he watched his sleeping cousin, Richard reflected on what had transpired on the first leg of their journey yesterday evening.

Before travelling many miles, the sky had begun to turn grey as daylight faded, which was to be expected by starting out so late in the day. Up ahead, the first inn Richard had planned to utilise appeared in view.

“ Ah, our accommodations for the night! Not perfect but better than most.”

As they attained the inn and climbed out of the coach to stretch, William began to grumble. “Must we stop so soon? Surely we can travel a greater distance than this before the horses are too tired to go on.”

Richard sighed. “Yes, we might, but it would be dangerous in the dark. Do you want to risk one of the horses suffering a broken leg, perhaps stranding us along the road? Besides, I am tired, and I am sure you are, too. We shall rest here and get a very early start. Tomorrow I mean to make excellent time.”

Noting the take-charge look in Richard’s eyes, William acquiesced. There was no use in arguing with him when he assumed his colonel persona, nevertheless, he seized the opportunity to assert his control over the next day.

“ I expect to be on the road by the time dawn breaks,” he stated flatly, brooking no opposition.

“ Count on it, Cousin!” Richard laughed, turning to Mr. Williamson. “Vicar, what say you and I get some rest? I think our dear companion will probably sit up all night so as not to miss the rooster’s crow, and it shall take both of us to carry him to the coach tomorrow.”

William was not amused as he stood watching the other two enter the inn. Nonetheless, he followed soon after, determined to make sure they were back on the road as early as he intended.

~~~*~~~

William awoke with a start, looking somewhat disoriented until he laid eyes on the ones sitting across from him. He stiffened under their watch and sat up straighter, directing his gaze out the window.

“How long was I asleep? Where are we now?”

“Not nearly long enough and near Wilton, I would guess,” Richard replied light-heartedly.

“How much longer until we make Liverpool?”

“I would estimate two more days after today.”

“Blast! Cannot these horses make better time? When we get to the next inn, I expect to find much better animals awaiting us.” He slapped his gloves against the window and then accosted Richard. “You did send a man ahead to arrange for fresh horses?”

Richard reminded himself to be patient, knowing his cousin’s anger was not about him but about his worry over Elizabeth. “They are your horses, Darce. I do not think we shall find their equal in all of England. These animals were rested enough overnight to take us to the next post stop, and it is there we will change steeds.”

“I could walk faster than this carriage is moving at present!”

Richard and Mr. Williamson both tried hard to abstain, but ended up chuckling. This caused William to flush with ire, which turned into embarrassment. Richard ventured serenely, “Calm yourself, Darce. You will be of no use to Miss Elizabeth in your present state. And should you have occasion to call out Count Stefano, you realize that you would have to be in a better frame of mind.”

William’s glare faded at the truth of Richard’s words. “Forgive me. I cannot help but dwell on Elizabeth—what she must be thinking at this moment. Does she wonder why I was away so long? Perhaps she feels abandoned. And it worries me that she may not be in Liverpool as Lady Waltham directed us. Perhaps it was a ruse to keep us busy whilst they go in another direction entirely.”

“Nonsense! Lady Waltham is not brave enough to cross you and my father. She told the truth—I would wager my life on it!”

“It is not your life that is being wagered,” William said sombrely, turning to the window to hide the sting of his words.

Mr. Williamson interrupted. “It has been my experience, as a servant of God, that positive thoughts bring positive results. Let us take some time to be silent—to pray and reflect on how lovely the reunion with Lizzybet will be. We shall find her, and we shall take her home. Do not allow yourself to think any differently.”

William smiled wanly, nodding silently. The vicar was right. Thus, closing his eyes, in a short while he was reliving the last time he had held Elizabeth in his arms at Pemberley and dreaming of their reunion.

Be brave, my love. You will be back in my arms again before long.

Left to his daydreams, William was entirely unconscious of the fact that the vicar and Richard were witnesses of that very moment when Elizabeth walked across his memory. As the face that had scowled for the last two days took on a look of utter happiness, they were astounded. And sensing that they were intruding on a private moment, they each turned to stare out the nearest window.

In another coach

On the road to Liverpool

Wickham gazed out the window with great indifference, watching the changing landscape as Stefano’s voice droned in the background. Any prospect was preferable to looking into the face of that braggart—although there was no way to avoid listening to his self-important discourse.

From the way Stefano boasts, one would think he had done all the work of finding his wife’s hiding place! And if my plan works, we will be pulling off a grand coup, absconding with this woman right from underneath Darcy’s nose!

Praying that today passed more quickly than had the last two, he took comfort in knowing that he had only one more night to endure the torture of being cooped up in a room with Stefano before they reached Liverpool. He could not wait to rid himself of the company.

If we do not make Liverpool soon, I shall strangle him with my bare hands just to have some peace and quiet.

Meanwhile, Stefano continued to natter. “As soon as we arrive in Liverpool, I shall send my men to escort the women to the villa.”

Wickham looked surprised. “My associate does not know your people, and she will not willingly go with them. I told her that I would meet with her when I arrived. Would it not be preferable for me to convince them that they should await the next ship in a comfortable villa, instead of a sparse room? After all, it would look suspicious to take two women out of the inn against their will.”

The count seemed to be considering Wickham’s argument. “I suppose it would be simpler, and my Elizabeth would be less wary. She is very intelligent; nothing escapes her notice.” He stared out the window for a moment before continuing.

“In this instance, I shall defer to you, Wickham. Once we arrive in Liverpool, I shall have my men drive you to the inn. They shall pose as a postilion, driver and footman. You shall convince the women to come to the villa and after they are inside, there will be nothing Elizabeth can do to escape. She shall be mine once again!”

“And I shall have my reward and be on my way!”

Smiling knowingly, the count replied, “Yes, indeed. I imagine you shall be on your way in a short while!”

Wickham had begun lately to taunt the count with references to Darcy and Elizabeth—sweet revenge for the reprimands he had experienced at the madman’s hands. Now that they were so close to concluding their collaboration, he could not resist another barb. “I intend to head to America on the next ship. Darcy will be so focused on recovering his lady love that he shall not think of me for quite some time, I imagine.”

The count’s voice rose in anger. “Must I remind you that Elizabeth is not his ‘lady love?’ She is my wife!”

“I should not have used that term. I do not suppose they were actually making love the entire time she lived at Pemberley.”

Wickham’s heart swelled with enjoyment to see the count’s face turn bright red. “Do not EVER say such a thing in my presence again, Wickham, or you shall find yourself at the end of my sword. Do we understand each other?”

Wickham instantly wiped the smile from his face, though inside he laughed. “I am sorry. It will not happen again.”

As if I would actually be so foolish as to duel with you! A pistol would finish you off quite nicely.

Just then, the last inn they were to occupy came into view, and the coach began to slow and then came to a stop. As he stepped out of the coach and approached the ordinary country inn, Stefano’s thoughts once again flew to Elizabeth. There was no way his wife could have been interested in another man. Of that, he was certain. Straightening to his full height, he entered the establishment his head held high.

You will be back in my arms again before long, my darling wife .

~~~*~~~