Page 6 of Lizzie’s Spirit
“So I went at her behest to the Court of Chancery at St. Albans and proceeded to eject a family from their ancestral home for no better reason than the husband suffered an apoplexy—but was still living—and there was no heir, but five daughters and the lady running the estate. The law was on Collins’s side, but the right lay with the family. ”
Darcy, unable to remain still, walked to the tall windows that lit the room; then, reluctantly, turned back to his father.
“No, sir! I find I can no longer support what supposes to dispense equity but creates inequity instead. This was but one example from the civil courts. But in the criminal courts, is it justice to hang a woman who wished to join her husband, who had been transported to New South Wales? To facilitate this end, she stole a cheap handkerchief but was hanged instead of being transported, as an example . Of what? I do not know.”
He pressed his lips together in a slight grimace. “I’ve been thinking long and hard about these issues. Such that I find myself in a corrupt pit—from which I must escape.”
His father remained silent. It was clear his son was struggling with serious issues of honour, self-respect, and integrity.
“I believe in the rule of law; that English law is the most refined in the world—as Blackstone says, ‘ the birthright of all English subjects ’.
“But the Court of Chancery is in decline. The Lord Chancellor, Lord Eldon, is openly referred to as Lord Endless because he seems unwilling to come to final decisions; he procrastinates endlessly. We barristers are at the tail end of this sorry business, and by the time we argue cases in court, any fairness or equitable outcome has largely disappeared through the disbursement of egregious fees to clerks, solicitors, and corrupt masters. I no longer see myself as an honourable man when I’m tarred with the brush of being a Chancery lawyer .
“To cut to the chase, I’ve accepted a position as deputy judge-advocate for the colony of New South Wales. We sail in just over a fortnight’s time.”
“You leave England on so little notice!” His father slumped in his chair; he stared bewilderedly at his son. Was there anything he could do to prevent this madness?
“Are you mad? Have you the pox, or has the mercury affected your mind?”
“No, sir—‘tis not madness, but more an awakening—I hardly knew myself until now.” Darcy could scarcely look to his father.
“My apologies, sir. The vessel has a sailing schedule to which I must adhere. I had been contemplating the move for some time, but the last case precipitated my intent. The appointment is for five years; whether it will be extended or not is unknown at this time.”
Darcy’s father sprang to his feet, sweeping up his glass and draining it.
“There must be some other course of action? I can increase your allowance, then you need not seek employment in the law. Frederick will support me in this. Surely, if you find the law so distasteful, anything is better than the dangerous trip to New Holland. And to live in a penal town—what disgrace!”
Cloud shadows temporarily dimmed the light in the room; Darcy could barely see the anger in his father’s face. “I’m sorry, sir, but I am determined.”
“As I am flummoxed. To throw away our place in society, that an earl’s nephew would take up such a role.”
“The judge-advocate is third to the governor, after the lieutenant governor. Colonel Macquarie has been appointed governor and takes over from Commodore Bligh, who, apparently, has been made prisoner by some rebels. As the judge-advocate’s deputy, there will be much to do to restore order in the colony. ”
“But what of your duty here—to Frederick, to Georgiana, to me?”
“These are indeed misfortunes. I spoke of my inclination to Frederick some months past. He understands that as a younger son, I’ve only a passing duty to Pemberley, which is his to manage and preserve.
Perhaps my true lament is leaving Georgiana.
At twelve years, what a sprite she is! And I’ll not see her develop into the fine young lady she’ll become from the beautiful child she is now.
But she has both you and Frederick to guide her—that is enough.
“I understand Frederick is at Pemberley, but is Georgiana yet in London? I would gladly see her before I leave.”
To George Darcy, his son’s decision to leave English society, to leave his family, to leave his heritage, and to sail across the known world to a place of felons, forgers, and rebels against the English Crown was absurd, against all the principles by which he had been raised.
But Fitzwilliam possessed that stubborn Darcy pride, and his father knew that once made, this decision could not be undone.
He should move on as best he could: I must contain my pride in order to sustain his .
“Georgiana is with the Fitzwilliams at Matlock House. I will have her come to a family dinner here tonight if that suits.”
***
The dinner was all one could expect from such an occasion.
Initially, Georgiana was delighted to attend a family dinner with just her father and her brother, William, as she called him.
The food, as usual, was delightful, and both her father and brother seemed determined to include her in every conversation.
Following the meal, they retired to the family parlour, where a fire was burning brightly, taking the chill off the evening air.
Darcy decanted a glass of port for himself and their father, while Georgiana carefully poured hot water from the urn into a fine silver teapot.
After she filled her cup and added fresh cream to her taste, Darcy turned to her,
“Dearest sweetling, there’s no gentle way to tell you. I’m leaving England and journeying to the colony of Sydney in New South Wales, having accepted a commission under Governor Macquarie.”
He paused, watching Georgiana’s face, which had been suffused with contentment a few moments before, gradually crumple, tears welling in her eyes.
She stared at him, uncomprehending what he said.
Suddenly, she flung her arms around him, crying, “You cannot leave, William. You shall not; I’ll not let you! ”
She gasped and, rather shocked, expostulated, “Is it me? Have I let you down? Oh, please tell me what I should do so you can stay—I’ll do anything. How have I so grieved and offended you?”
“Poppet, it’s nothing to do with you. If it were only you, I would stay here in London.
How do I explain? I’m tired, Georgiana. You are still in the schoolroom and, I suspect, looking forward to the day when you can leave your studies behind.
I have been studying for the past eleven years, almost as long as you have been living. Can you imagine it?
“When you were two years old, I attended boarding school, then university, then my articles as a lawyer, and these past three years practising as a barrister and gaining my doctorate. There has been no break from study—I have been a scholar almost all my life.”
Georgiana sat back. She grasped her handkerchief in her hands, twisting it within her fingers.
Her face lit up with hope: “Frederick took a tour. You could go on your tour now: Paris, Barcelona, Venice…” Her voice faltered, and tears once again rimmed her eyes.
“But, of course, you cannot—the Corsican tyrant. Oh, how I hate that evil man. And now Richard has gone back to Portugal. Am I to lose both my brother and cousin?”
She continued frantically twisting her handkerchief, now sodden with her tears.
Hope lightened her face. “You must marry, William. With a wife, you need not leave England. You can attend balls and parties, and have so joyful a time you need not dwell on your cares and worries. Cousin Felicity is so delightful, and her gowns are so elegant; you would be proud to have her on your arm. She dances exquisitely, so light on her feet.”
Georgiana looked hopefully at Darcy, her sweet face furrowed with fear that her suggestions, her trying to find a solution, would come to naught. Darcy’s heart broke. Nothing could relieve her anguish.
“I’m but two and twenty. That is too young to marry, too young to raise a family, and to provide for my children as proper for a gentleman.
Felicity is sixteen, not even out in society.
Could she fulfil the duties of the wife of a barrister, to entertain my clients who may be tradesmen or duke?
She may enjoy many accomplishments, from netting purses to speaking French, but she’s inexperienced in the world.
I’m very fond of her, but even if she were two years older and had her first season, it would not be a propitious match.
“Georgie, dearest, my leaving is not a problem you can solve. Your ideas are wise; I do not belittle them. Indeed, I could have taken a tour during the Treaty of Amiens, but I was too young, only sixteen, still at university. Frederick took his opportunity but almost became trapped in Paris. I wish it were possible to turn back the clock.”
Darcy cradled his little sister in his arms. When he glanced up, he saw his father looking at the pair with great compassion, but the die was cast. Fitzwilliam was to leave England, leave them, and journey to New Holland, ten thousand miles away.
“I shall return, little one,” said Darcy softly, stroking his sister’s hair, “and when I return I’ll bring all manner of strange animals back with me: perhaps a kangaroo or emu, or even a platypus if there really is such a creature with a duck’s bill and beaver’s tail!”
Later that evening, Darcy and his father bid farewell to Georgiana on the steps to the House; Darcy assisted her and her governess into the coach, which was to return them to Matlock House.
“Will she ever forgive me?”
“Time will explain,” replied his father, turning into the house and making his way to the library.
“Will you join me?”