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O nce the three criminals had been turned over to the magistrate, the celebration of Elizabeth reaching her majority was held and enjoyed by all.

Per her request, no presents were purchased for her.

She had everything she would ever want and then some, so she requested that if anyone felt they had to give her a gift, it should be something they made with their own hands.

After the meal, which had featured many of Elizabeth’s favourites, thanks to her husband and sisters sharing that information with Lady Anne, Hertfordshire approached William Darcy.

“William, would you be willing to speak to me in private?” Hertfordshire requested.

“Of course, we may use father’s study if that suits?” William responded.

Hertfordshire agreed that it was as good a place as any. They made their way to the study, and he proceeded William within. The latter closed the door after him as Hertfordshire took a seat on the settee between the floor to ceiling windows looking out across the park towards the lake.

The first thing which crossed William’s mind was that Hertfordshire had somehow divined his love for Lady Elizabeth. William hoped it was not that. He believed he had been circumspect, never displaying any outward sign of his regard.

“Are you in love with my wife?” Hertfordshire asked bluntly.

The colour drained from William’s face. “I have never done anything to dishonour your marriage,” he blurted out.

“And I am not here to accuse you of such, not at all. I have a reason to ask this question at this time. It will become clear soon enough which is why I need an honest reply to my query,” Hertfordshire assured the younger man.

William did not know where to look. “It was not consciously done,” he said quietly, his eyes on the floor.

“It was the same for me when I first had romantic feelings for Lizzy,” Hertfordshire mused as he looked off into the distance.

“I was in the middle before I realised I had begun. I am well aware how bewitching my wife can be. Please understand that unless I was certain you are an honourable, good, and Godly man, we would not be meeting on this subject.”

“Then why are we speaking of this? I thought I had been so fastidious in making sure I never showed any outward signs of my regard for Lady Elizabeth.” William shook his head.

“I have seen how you remain completely within the bounds of propriety, and never once have you crossed a line in the way you have behaved towards my wife.”

“Other than insulting her before I ever met her, that is.”

“You did do that, but you more than atoned for the errors you made and today you and Lizzy are friends. Correct me if I am in error, but you love her despite the obstacles before you and that love has nothing to do with her rank or wealth. Am I stating things accurately?”

“That is an accurate description, but where does this tend, Sir?” William was confused. Rather than angry, Hertfordshire was curious.

“If she were not married, would you pursue her?” Hertfordshire enquired.

William could not understand why the question was asked.

Lady Elizabeth was not available and would not be until…

her husband passed away! Was that the reason Hertfordshire was having this very strange conversation with him?

“That is a very strange question, to which I believe there is no good answer.”

“I am being cryptic because I am yet to speak to my wife about the future. Please trust that I have a very good reason for asking what I am. All I need is for you to answer candidly. I assure you there will be no retribution, no matter your reply.”

“In that case, yes, if she was not married to you, or married to any other, I would desire to marry her, that is if she would have me.”

“Thank you, William. I cannot tell you more at this point, other than I will be speaking to my wife about the future later today. I appreciate your answering my uncomfortable questions.” Hertfordshire felt some pains beginning, and he was aware they would get worse before they got better.

He needed to drink the elixir from the flask he carried on his person.

“I will sit for a little longer; I have much to consider.”

It was no secret he was being dismissed, so William stood, bowed, and vacated the study.

As soon as the younger man was gone and the door pulled closed, Hertfordshire doubled over in pain.

He retrieved the silver flask from the inside pocket of his jacket and took a long swig of the foul-tasting liquid.

He refused to drink laudanum, at least at this point as he needed to be compos mentis for as long as possible.

The mixture was willow bark and other herbs with pain relieving properties.

It gave some relief, but each time he used the tisane, the effects wore off faster than the previous time.

It took a few minutes before he felt the pains subside to a degree. Once feeling somewhat better, Hertfordshire stood and made his way back to the drawing room where everyone was located.

He stood at the doorpost watching his Lizzy as she sat on the floor playing with the twins while Matty was in Mary’s lap as she read to him. How he hated the thought of leaving his family, but it was not his choice. God had set his path and all he could do was walk it.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

It was close to dusk before the coaches returned to Castlemere. Knowing how much food would be on offer at Pemberley, Elizabeth had left instructions for a light dinner to be served.

After dinner, the children only lasted about halfway through the story their papa was reading to them thanks to all of the energy they had expended at the Darcys’ estate.

Matty, who normally was ready for a second story after the twins had fallen asleep, was not awake.

In fact, their eldest child had fallen asleep minutes before his sister and brother.

Thanks to everyone being tired out by the events of the day, no one remained in the drawing room past eight that night.

As much as he would have wanted to defer, or better still, not need to have, the conversation he was about to have with Lizzy, Hertfordshire knew there could be no more procrastinating. Besides, he had given her his word, and he never reneged on his word of honour.

“Will you meet me in our sitting room once you have changed into your night attire?” Hertfordshire requested as he bent down to claim his wife’s lips.

“I will, my Archy,” Elizabeth replied nervously. She was well aware that Archy had promised to reveal all to her. At the same time, she wanted and did not want to know what it was he needed to tell her. She had a terrible feeling the news was horrible.

While Lettie brushed her hair out as Elizabeth sat at the dressing table looking at herself in the mirror, she chastised herself. ‘ Do not purchase trouble. The truth is you know not what Archy wants to say, ’ Elizabeth thought.

As soon as her maid had completed her ministrations, Elizabeth made for their private sitting room.

Hertfordshire was seated on the settee in his nightshirt and robe, which was open at his chest. A tray with two cups and a pot of steaming hot chocolate had just been delivered.

He watched as she entered the room and walked towards him, her hips swaying.

She looked as lovely, if not more so, today as she had when he had first fallen in love with her.

How he hated the knowledge he was to leave her.

It was not like it was his choice to go though, was it?

Elizabeth sat next to her husband but turned to face him. “Are you finally going to tell me what it is that is causing you to lose weight and be in pain, even though you have attempted to hide that from me?” Elizabeth asked pointedly after she had poured hot chocolate for each of them.

“You know I would never go back on my word, do you not, my dearest Lizzy?”

“No, you are not that kind of man. You, Archy, are the most honourable man I have ever met. Since I have known there is aught wrong with you, not knowing and my speculation has been far worse than knowing the truth, even if that is bad news.”

“Before I go into detail my reasoning for not telling you sooner, for which my reasons may seem insufficient to you, but as long as I did not tell you I had hope.” Hertfordshire paused as he gathered his thoughts.

“Lizzy, I have been sick for more than a year now. I was hoping and praying it was not something serious, but that was a vain hope.”

“More than a year?” Elizabeth repeated, almost as if in a stupor. She had suspected something was very wrong with her beloved Archy, yet she had hoped against hope she was not seeing what she knew she was. “Why did you not tell me right away? Are we not partners in everything?”

“We are. At first I thought it was nothing, just food which did not agree with me. Hence, for many months I ignored it as only a nuisance, which is why I did not say anything to you. I was convincing myself I was not truly ill, and it would pass.”

“But, Archy, had I known I would have insisted you see as many physicians as possible to find a cure.”

“When things did not improve, I did go to see doctors, many of them.

Not one of them could cure me, and other than some older men wanting to bleed me, nothing was proposed to help me.

As you know, I will not allow anyone to use those ineffectual things like bloodletting on me.

It took a significant turn for the worse just before I went to Ireland, and while I was there, things got worse much faster than they had before.

I saw some physicians in Dublin. I reported my weight loss, the acute pains in my belly, an occasional yellow hue to my skin, and at times, blood in my waste when I sat on the chamber pot.

Based on what I was reporting, he opined it was a cancer of my belly or one or more of the organs used in digestion of food and the expulsion of the waste.