Page 14 of Losing Lizzy

It had taken longer for them to depart Queenborough than Elizabeth would have liked—not that she was anticipating their upcoming confrontation with Lady Catherine de Bourgh, but because of the total devastation marking Fitzwilliam Darcy’s countenance. The time he had spent with the magistrate laying out the charges against Townsend had taken an obvious toll upon him. Mr. Darcy had set himself the task of discovering who had betrayed him and who had stolen away his child. Now, it would be necessary for him to divorce himself from all those he had once trusted. His world had gotten smaller, and she knew he had executed all this for her.

As they looked on while the gentleman bid his farewells to the magistrate and his men, Sheffield whispered, “The master’s whole life has been turned upon its head. Only you can restore his strength—his will to continue on.”

“Yet, will he not view what we did as another betrayal?” she pleaded.

Sheffield shrugged his response. “I am certain Mr. Darcy will be surprised at the depth of details we performed, but, beyond his shock, I believe he will know relief. We always knew some day we would be asked to explain ourselves.” He kissed her forehead in affection. “I will take Lizzy Anne with me. I have a small bag of lemon sugars in my pocket. She and I will read a book and enjoy our ride. Please let me know if you wish me to make an explanation to Mr. Darcy. After all, our escapades were my ideas.”

Therefore, Elizabeth had asked Jasper to retrieve the small leather satchel from her trunk before they set off for Higham. “How long before we reach Rosings Park?” she asked Mr. Farrin as he handed her into Mr. Darcy’s carriage. The gentleman himself had personally carried their daughter to Sheffield’s carriage, making certain both their child and Sheffield had enough blankets and warm bricks to make their journey comfortable.

“About three hours, ma’am. A bit over twenty miles, but the roads are generally good in that part of Kent so perhaps sooner.”

She nodded her gratitude, but she wondered if she would survive three hours in the same carriage as Mr. Darcy. She had yet to permit him a kiss or anything more than the comfort of his embrace during all this madness. There was still so much to say to him. So much to explain. For just a moment, she panicked and slid across the seat to disembark, choosing to ride with Sheffield, but. before she could reach for the door latch, Mr. Darcy crawled into the coach and tapped on the roof to signal for Mr. Farrin to begin their journey. Jasper closed the door and climbed up on the box, and they were rolling out of the inn yard.

“Elizabeth Anne presented me three kisses before she settled in beside Mr. Sheffield,” he said proudly. “She called me ‘Papa’ again.”

Elizabeth smiled knowingly. “What did you promise her?”

He grinned largely. “It is our secret. She made me swear not to tell her mama.”

“You plan to spoil our child,” she accused.

“Please do not make me promise not to shower her with a few pleasures she might have done without because I was not there. I missed too much of her life, Elizabeth. I can never have those moments.”

She reached across the coach to squeeze his knee. “No reason exists for you to purchase her love, William. Lizzy shall simply be happy to have you in her life.”

He turned his head to look out the window. “Will she?” he asked, and she noted the tears that had formed in his eyes. “Before I came to Brighton, Elizabeth Anne remained safe.”

She said softly. “I imagine Lizzy will be a bit more frightened of strangers than usual, but she is young and quite intelligent. I am certain she will outgrow this mishap. We must simply be vigilant and assist in her healing.”

“I am not speaking only of what Townsend executed against her. We can show her how the law has sent Townsend away, and he will never harm her again. Of what I speak is how my presence in her life changes her from the beloved child of a lieutenant in the British Royal Navy to the by-blow of a wealthy man. In many ways, I have ruined her chances for a future that will not bring her shame. Perhaps I should go away again. I cannot bear to think I have brought harm to her.”

The tears escaped his eyes then, and he buried his face in his hands. “Why did we not wait for our vows?”

“Because we were in love, and we were both too certain of how our consequence would prevail.”

He did not look up when he said, “I still love you, but perhaps I should leave you with Sheffield. Disappear from your life.”

“Mr. Darcy,” she said in sharp tones. “If you were foolish enough to make good on your threat, then Lady Catherine will have won. Her scheme would know success. She will have separated us, which always has been her purpose. Even if you would finally agree to marry your cousin, my lie will have been exposed. It is not as if Lizzy and I can return to Brighton and continue to be ‘Dartmores.’ Moreover, my doing so would not be fair to Mr. Sheffield. He is a man built for a family, one of his own, not one borrowed from another. Is that what you wish for a man who served you for nearly twenty years? Is that what you want for me and your daughter?”

“You know it is not,” he argued, wiping away his tears. “If I had my wish, I would make you my wife as quickly as the law would allow our joining, but doing so would not protect Elizabeth Anne. She was born out of wedlock. My wealth will protect her to some extent, but not completely. I struck Townsend today because he called our Lizzy a ‘bastard.’ I fear I cannot strike every man who does so, for there will be many.”

His words had touched her heart almost as deeply as had his promises of affection. What she was about to tell him would either make or break their relationship. “What if we possessed a means to legitimatize Lizzy’s birth?” she asked, fully demanding his attention.

“Tell me. Anything. I will do anything. No matter the cost,” he assured. He sat forward in interest.

“There will be no financial cost, per se; yet, there will be a cost to you and me,” she stated. “We will spend our lives, theoretically, living in sin, and we will require the assistance of your sister and my father, as well as my Aunt and Uncle Gardiner.”

His features changed from confusion to true interest. “Perhaps you should tell me what you have in mind.”

She dug in the satchel resting on the seat beside her and withdrew two rolled documents. “Let us begin with these.” She handed them over and waited until he had read each of them. Elizabeth had never been so nervous in her life. Would he agree to what she offered?

“Are these forgeries?” he asked.

“Not exactly,” she responded.

He kept both papers upon his lap and leaned back into his seat as if seeing her for the first time. “Then you must explain further.”

Elizabeth swallowed her concerns, meeting his steady gaze with one of her own. “It all started when my father thought to press Mr. Sheffield into marrying me. It was then that I told your former servant I suspected I was with child. By that time, I had missed my monthlies twice, and my Scottish relatives had refused to take me in in my condition, but they had suggested in their letter to Mr. Bennet that if we could bring the father of the child up to snuff, they would be glad to stand as witnesses to our joining in Scotland.”

“I am listening,” he said, again looking closer at the pages resting upon his knees. “If I am not mistaken, this is Sheffield’s script, is it not? He taught me to mimic his style of writing. When I was young, I could use both hands equally for throwing a ball or eating or writing, although, like Mr. Collins, I showed a slight preference for my left. Father and Sheffield decided it would be best if I developed my right hand for writing letters of importance so as not to leave ink smears on legal papers. Smears that later could be misconstrued as changes in the document. How many times I traced my name on the paper where Sheffield had written it out for me, I do not care to fathom. Traced whole phrases and sentences also. Soon his penmanship and mine were very much the same, except I never quite manage the swirl on the ‘F’ in ‘Fitzwilliam.’”

She confirmed his suspicions with a nod of her head. “In the beginning, we, meaning my father and Mr. Sheffield and I, considered some sort of marriage by proxy; Mr. Sheffield and I even thought to travel to the Continent for such a marriage, but, even if we could have found a means to prove you alive and in agreement to our joining, England does not recognize a marriage by proxy as valid under the church law. Both parties must be able to say whether he or she agrees to the marriage. In a proxy marriage, that cannot happen.”

“No one marries by proxy except our kings and queens,” he grumbled.

“Yes. As neither of us can claim such aspirations, another means was required.” She presented him a smile. “Mr. Sheffield has learned both about investments and manipulation at your hands. He meant to protect our child, especially if I had carried the heir to Pemberley. He said you would want your son to have Pemberley and without proof of marriage before his birth, our child could have no claim on his proper inheritance. Moreover, if our child had been a boy, then I could remain with him in your home, as his guardian, and no one could displace either him or me. Mr. Sheffield and I agreed we would only place a claim on Pemberley if the child was a boy. What we executed in your name, Fitzwilliam, was to protect your son, if we had been so blessed. Instead, we—you and I—can use it to protect our daughter.”

* * *

When they stepped down before Rosings Park, he was still a bit dumbfounded by what Elizabeth had shared, but as Elizabeth had essentially agreed to spend her life with him when she chose to share the documents with him, his heart had been properly fortified by the idea. He was quite proud of how she had gone to great lengths to protect the child they had created.

“I am certain Miss Lizzy would enjoy a bit of exercise. If you would not mind, Sheffield, mayhap Elizabeth Anne would enjoy the garden,” he suggested. “If it becomes too cold, you could probably beg a cup of tea from Lady Catherine’s cook. She will recognize you as my valet.”

“I believe I would also enjoy a stretch of the leg. Come along, Lizzy Anne.”

Darcy watched them walk away. “Into the lion’s den,” he said as he offered Elizabeth his arm.

“As long as we are not to be the sacrifice,” Elizabeth said with a weak smile, but he could tell by the tightness of her features, she was not so brave as she would like.

Darcy released the knocker and waited for Lady Catherine’s butler to respond.

“Mr. Darcy. Miss Bennet,” the man said. “I was unaware of your expected arrival, sir.” He glanced to the two carriages. “Should I send someone to unload your trunks and prepare rooms?”

“That will not be necessary,” Darcy said, as he stepped past the man. “We shan’t be staying. I simply require a few moments with my aunt.”

“Her ladyship is in her favorite drawing room. Should I announce you?”

Darcy smiled. He knew Lady Catherine’s butler would likely lose his position if he did not provide her ladyship with some form of warning, but Darcy wished the element of surprise. “The most I can offer you, Mr. Charles, is to follow a few steps behind you down the hall. If she asks, which I doubt she will after our business is done, tell her ladyship I refused to wait.”

Mr. Charles swallowed hard. “As you wish, sir.”

Darcy kept Elizabeth close as they followed the butler up the stairs and down the hall. “Breathe,” he whispered in her ear. “Within the hour all will be well.”

“An hour?” she questioned nervously just as Mr. Charles opened the door to the drawing room and announced them.

Darcy tugged her through the door so Mr. Charles could close it behind them and make his quick exit. Anne and Mrs. Jenkinson rose to their feet, but Lady Catherine simply glared at him where she sat in her favorite chair, lording her will over the room.

“How dare you bring that woman into my house!” her ladyship accused. “And after what you still owe your cousin!”

Darcy’s eyes settled on Anne. “I apologize, Cousin,” he said blandly. “I did not realize you still held hopes of an offer of my hand. After all, I have been from England for nearly four years.”

Anne shot a quick glance to her mother before responding, “I am simply happy for your return, Darcy.” His cousin seemed to sense something had changed, for she presented a look filled with unspoken questions. If he had his way, she would be free of Lady Catherine’s autocratic rule soon. “We all thought you dead, especially after your footman was found in the Thames. It is most joyous to discover otherwise. We were pleased to hear the news from Uncle Matlock.”

“I am glad you welcome my return, but your mother could have told you years ago that I remained alive. After all, she paid my captors to keep me from England,” he accused.

Anne gasped, “Mother, tell me this is not true!”

“Naturally, it is not true,” Lady Catherine declared with her customary authority. “Just a twitch of Darcy’s mind, likely an assumption learned from Miss Elizabeth Bennet. ”

Darcy tightened his hand resting upon Elizabeth’s, warning her not to respond. “Odd that,” he said with more calm than he felt. Before this time, he had never considered striking a woman, but, if his aunt were a man, he would gladly challenge her ladyship to a duel, or, at least, a round of bare-knuckle sport, just for the pleasure of seeing her suffer. Or, better yet, permit the same degradation as he had suffered on the pirate ship. “Moreover, I have forwarded the confessions of both Mr. Harwood and Mr. Townsend to my agent in London. Both men are likely secured and imprisoned in the Capital by now. Each man has implicated you in the abduction of my daughter.” He had sent word to Tunbridge Wells to inform the magistrate there of Harwood’s part in Elizabeth Anne’s kidnapping and had asked that Harwood be transported to London for necessary confinement. Although he had not personally spoken his threats to Harwood, he was certain the man, like Townsend, would see the benefit of transportation as punishment over hanging for his crimes.

“You have a daughter, Darcy?” Anne asked in continued bewilderment.

He brought Elizabeth’s gloved hand to his lips for a brief show of affection. “Elizabeth has presented me a replica of my paternal grandmother, Emilia Darcy. My daughter’s ancestry cannot be denied.” It was very important to him to claim Elizabeth Anne publicly before family.

“Your bastard!” Lady Catherine hissed.

He leveled a deathly glare on his aunt. “Beware, your ladyship. The last person who used that term in reference to my child is missing several teeth.”

“You would not strike a woman!” Lady Catherine declared in confidence.

“Would I not?” he asked with a tilt of his head as if considering doing just that. “Amusing, only a moment ago I was wondering how well you would do with a cat-o’-nine-tails. Would you care to view how the scars appear when they are healed? ”

“Do not be vacuous, Darcy,” she warned.

“No. I think you should view what your schemes exacted upon your sister’s son.” He began removing his coat, cravat, and waistcoat, handing them to Elizabeth as the room looked on. He noted how Mrs. Jenkinson hid her eyes behind her hands, but he was surprised to note that Anne appeared braver than he had expected. More curious than he expected. He continued to speak as he undressed. “You paid men to press me into service upon a ship that sailed under a variety of flags, looting and stealing from others.” At length, he tugged his shirt free from his breeches.

“That is enough, Darcy!” Lady Catherine ordered. “Whatever point you wish to make can be made with words, not physical displays of your person!”

“I have just begun, Aunt. Do you not wish to know how your money was put to good use? You wanted me humbled, and, believe me, the captain and the first mate attempted to do just that.” He caught the ends of his shirt and raised it to his waist. “By the way, did I forget to mention that three of the men you paid to remove me from my duty to Elizabeth are currently in the custody of the British government? They have been most cooperative. Much more cooperative than I was when I was aboard The Lost Sparro w .” He jerked his shirt over his head and turned to allow his aunt to view what he had suffered at her hands. He heard Anne squeal in distress and noted Mrs. Jenkinson attending to his cousin, but he did not move. His eyes were on Elizabeth. “My sin—the one I executed to merit this punishment, was to love a remarkable woman. A woman who has answered all my prayers. You see, Aunt, the men you hired could take chunks of the skin off my back, but they could not stop my heart from loving Elizabeth Bennet.” He returned his shirt to its proper place and reached for his waistcoat. “You arranged for your own kin to suffer such punishments because you wish to control everything within your reach.”

“I never meant—” she began, but there was no real regret upon her countenance, which only enflamed him further.

He turned to his cousin. “I love you, Anne, but I could never love you as a man should love his wife—not as my father loved my mother. Not as Sir Lewis loved Lady Catherine. The differences in the marriages of our parents were how the Fitzwilliam sisters reciprocated. Where Lady Anne Fitzwilliam was satisfied to be a simple ‘Mrs. Darcy,’ Lady Catherine Fitzwilliam was never giving enough to be a mere ‘Lady de Bourgh.’ She is too consumed with her own consequence.”

“How dare you?” Lady Catherine growled. “What do you know of my marriage?”

“More than you care to learn. My father warned me against trusting you, but I foolishly did not take his advice. And while we are on the subject of marriage, I will ask the same of you: What do you know of my marriage?”

Lady Catherine snarled, “So you finally married Miss Elizabeth. Is that what you came to tell me? You married the trollop?”

Darcy charged at her, his hand ready strike. “That is twice in the last quarter hour that you have defamed my family.”

“I shall have you arrested for threatening me,” his aunt dared to say.

“Please summon the local sheriff. Even better, I will instruct Mr. Charles to do it for you.” He was nose-to-nose with his aunt. “I believe the magistrate will be interested in my accusations against you. As you said earlier, I possess ‘physical’ proof of my afflictions. He will also wish to hear the confessions of those arrested previously. Personally, I doubt, even for you, that any local form of the law will go against the word of the British Royal Navy.”

“What is it you want, Darcy?” she huffed.

“Two things,” he pressed his hand against her shoulder, pining her to the chair and forcing her to listen to what he had to say. “First, ask me what you should know of my marriage.”

He had to present his aunt credit: Her ladyship did not flinch. “You wish to tell me something you deem important, so be about it and then leave my house forever.”

He did not release her. Instead, he loomed over her. “ Allow me to share a tale of two people who have suffered at your hands and only because you meant to inflict your will over them. My story begins the August before my supposed nuptials in November of 1812 when Miss Elizabeth Bennet and her relations visited Pemberley. Actually, my tale begins earlier when I was here for my annual visit to Rosings and learned that the most enchanting creature I had ever come to know was also in residence at Hunsford Cottage. You did not know then, but I will bring you up to snuff now, that I proposed to Elizabeth one evening at Hunsford.” He smiled at Elizabeth. “The lady held some legitimate complaints regarding my actions, but I let her know I would do anything to win her regard.” He was not speaking an untruth: He had confessed everything in his letter to her, and it did, eventually, change her truth of his character. “I will not bore you with all the details, but, let us say, I prevailed, and was accepted. I convinced my lady to agree to a mad dash to Scotland before she could change her mind.” He turned back to his aunt. “We were already married when you began your campaign to separate us.”

“I do not believe you.” His aunt’s confidence had slipped a notch, but he knew he would be required to be ruthless in order to know her confession.

“Would you hold the wedding certificate where her ladyship might view the date and our signatures, Mrs. Darcy?”

Elizabeth placed his coat and cravat over the back of a chair, removed one of the certificates from the satchel and unrolled it. She carried it to where his aunt sat. “Your ladyship,” Elizabeth said sweetly. “Please note the date 1 August 1812 and your nephew’s signature along with mine.”

“This cannot be. Surely this is some sort of gambit you practice,” she argued.

“There can be no dispute. The marriage is recorded in the church records of that year,” he countered.

It was satisfying to watch his aunt’s eyes widen in recognition. “Then why, if you were already married, did you agree to marry in Hertfordshire?” she demanded.

Darcy took up the response. “When we returned from Scotland, there was a message from Elizabeth’s elder sister reporting Miss Lydia’s elopement with Mr. Wickham. We made a quick decision. I would hunt the couple down, for I held knowledge of Wickham’s haunts. It would be my employment to force my former school chum to marry Miss Lydia so as to save the remainder of Elizabeth’s sisters. Two elopements would have spelled disaster for my new relations. Therefore, Elizabeth returned to Hertfordshire, and I went searching for the wayward couple. Naturally, we had to allow time for the Wickhams to make their appearance in Hertfordshire and depart for Northumberland before I made my return to Longbourn. Initially, we thought simply to make the announcement of our marriage, but so many things remained contingent upon a public acknowledgement of our joining, we agreed to a second marriage.”

Elizabeth rolled the certificate and returned it to its leather case. “Do you not recall, your ladyship, my responses when we argued in the garden at Longbourn? I am certain both Miss de Bourgh and Mrs. Jenkinson recall the incident, for they awaited you in the carriage. You were set to have my agreement to deny Mr. Darcy. You asked if I was resolved to have him, and my response was, ‘I am only resolved to act in that manner which will constitute my happiness, without reference to you or any other person so wholly unconnected with me.’ I remain of that persuasion.”

“Why would Mr. Bennet agree to such a farce?” Lady Catherine questioned.

“Because he loves all his daughters,” Elizabeth continued, “and by that time I knew I was with child. What harm was there to permit others to think we married in November, rather than three months earlier. My mother would have two daughters married, and Mr. Darcy and I would have been in Derbyshire when our child was born. No one would have been the wiser.”

Darcy took up the tale. “Unfortunately, you meant to have your way—to practice your will over my life and Elizabeth’s life. You had me kidnapped off the streets of London, and, even when the captain of The Lost Sparro w wished to return me to England, you continued to pay him for his services—continued to have me detained.”

His aunt growled, “Miss Elizabeth disappeared. I could not take the chance you would return to England and seek her out. Her father refused all offers of money to finance his other daughters’ futures in order to protect the second. You say he loves ‘all’ his daughters, but he would see the three still at home living in penury rather than to tell me Miss Elizabeth’s whereabouts.”

Darcy’s smile returned. “Like me, Mr. Bennet knows quality when he views it. Elizabeth has always been his favorite.”

Elizabeth accused, “It was only when my mother mentioned Mr. Darcy’s servant that you knew where to find me.” It was Elizabeth’s turn to be angry. “You knew I would not deny Darcy if he came for me; therefore, you paid kidnappers—Townsend and Harwood—to steal away my precious child and abandon her on Deadman’s Island to die of starvation or worse. You cared not that she was but three years of age and posed no real threat to you.”

“She did pose a threat,” her ladyship countered. “Darcy would never desert his child—legitimate or otherwise. He would have expected Anne to tend another woman’s child.”

“Mother, how could you have done all this?” Anne pleaded. “Darcy, you must know none of this was my idea.”

“You are as much a victim of your mother’s acid-like whims as am I. As is Elizabeth,” he assured. He straightened then, but remained close, where he could crowd his aunt’s chair, preventing her from rising. “Now,” he said, as if someone had prompted him to continue, “for the second thing I require of you, Aunt.” She opened her mouth to object, but he ignored her, speaking over Lady Catherine’s continued objections. “You must provide me your choice of whether you wish to retire to the Continent neve r —and I repeat, neve r , to return to England again. Naturally, you will be permitted your dowager’s allowance, and, if you practice frugality, you may live out your days comfortably—”

“I shall not leave Rosings,” she insisted.

Darcy continued his speech without acknowledging her protest. “ O r ,” he emphasized, “you may take your chances with a very public trial.”

“You would not act against your mother’s only sister,” her ladyship argued.

“Certainly, I would. You acted against my best interests. Fair exchange.”

“Matlock will not tolerate your mistreatment of me and Anne.”

Darcy corrected, “You will notice, Cousin,” he said as he momentarily turned his attention to Anne, “as always, your mother places her interests before yours in her protest; yet, it is of no consequence, know that you will never receive mistreatment at my hands. Rather, I plan to free you from the ties that have held you in place for years. For all intents and purposes, I mean to see you to the inheritance that should have been yours by now. From no fault of your own, you are well past the five and twenty years required for you to inherit Rosings Park with Sir Lewis’s will. Your father loved Lady Catherine, but he was wise enough to know her nature. You are able to inherit through the original establishment of the de Bourgh baronetcy, which can pass through the female line. Such is the reason your mother thought, first, to have us marry, so she could remain at Rosings, while you would be with me at Pemberley. In my absence, she meant to tie you to Lindale, who also did not have a need for the estate, for he is to inherit Matlock’s earldom and all it entails. Most recently, she would have matched you with Fitzwilliam, until the colonel took matters into his own hands and chose to wed Georgiana instead.”

“I would not know what to do if I were placed in charge of Rosings, Darcy. I do not have the head for such matters,” Anne said softly.

“Do not worry. I propose that Fitzwilliam and my sister move in with you at Rosings. He can oversee the estate and assist you in meeting eligible men, but I insist our cousin remain in control of Rosings for a minimum of five years. Such will provide you time to discover a man who wants you for you and not for your inheritance—a man willing to wait five years to claim his control of your fortune and this estate is more likely to speak honestly of his affection for you. If you choose not to marry, Fitzwilliam will see to the estate or will employ a person to operate it for you. Such will provide the colonel time to sharpen his skills as an estate manager and place him in a better position to know success at Yadkin Hall when he assumes control of that estate, which is to be his inheritance. Naturally, I will lend a hand so all three of you will know success.”

“Fitzwilliam knows nothing of estate management,” Lady Catherine protested.

“Yet, you were willing to have him marry Anne,” Darcy countered. “I suppose you reasoned if the colonel was presented as Anne’s husband, then you could remain at Rosings Park’s helm. You simply wished to exercise your preferences over a man of little experience beyond the battlefield. You never once considered, what would have become of the two of them if you up and died suddenly. You cared not for what chaos might have ensued. In order to keep Rosings Park under your control, you would have sacrificed the future of your daughter and your nephew. Yet, I assure you, Fitzwilliam learns quickly. More importantly, he is quite amiable. He has a way with people, which will prove a nice change for Rosings’ tenants.” He shook his head in disgust. “Your world is very small, Aunt. It consists of only yourself, and I feel very sad for you.”

“Matlock,” Elizabeth said softly from her place behind him.

“Your reminder is much appreciated, Mrs. Darcy.” He enjoyed saying her name. He had waited for what felt an eternity to do so. “As to Matlock, I have not yet decided upon his ‘punishment,’ but as I have proof from a variety of bankers that his lordship has had his hand in my accounts on multiple occasions during the years of my absence, I doubt his influence will be of much use to you.”

“Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth said, “as I assume you near the conclusion of your dealings with her ladyship, I shall make certain Lizzy and Albert are well. It is a chilly day outside.”

“I shan’t be long,” he said.

“If you hold no objections, I believe I would like to introduce my daughter to Mrs. Collins. This will likely be the only time when such an opportunity will show itself, and I would despise her not knowing our daughter. When we were younger, she and I often spoke of marriage and children. Would you mind retrieving us from Hunsford Cottage?”

“If such is your wish, I will be along shortly.”

“Your ladyship. Miss de Bourgh. Mrs. Jenkinson.” Elizabeth turned to leave after her curtsey, but Anne rushed forward to join her. “Might I walk with you, Mrs. Darcy? I would enjoy meeting your daughter, as well.”

“Anne!” Lady Catherine called. “Come back this instant!”

“A walk will do me well, Mother,” his cousin called. She did not turn around to look at any of the occupants in the room. He imagined it was Anne’s first act of defiance. Instead, his cousin caught Elizabeth’s elbow, and they exited the room arm-in-arm.

“Go with her!” Lady Catherine ordered Mrs. Jenkinson, before she turned her attention back to him. “Now, what is all this nonsense of turning Rosings Park over to Anne?”

“Not nonsense, my lady,” he said as he retrieved his coat to slide his arms through the sleeves. He stepped behind the screen to return his shirt to his breeches. “You have yet to tell me which is your preferred choice: The Continent and a sensible allowance paid quarterly or the English legal system? I will expect your decision by the time I step from behind this screen.” Between the slats of the panels, he watched his aunt stand and tiptoe toward the servants’ door. “Return to your seat, my lady, or I will summon the magistrate and place the choice of a public trial in action.”

“You have lost your reason, Darcy,” she declared as she sat once again.

“I lost all rational thought when you set yourself against Mrs. Darcy and my child.” He leveled his gaze upon her as he stepped from behind the screen to face her once again. “My shirt is returned to my breeches. What is your choice, Lady de Bourgh?” His choice of words was meant as a reminder that she was a commoner—whether she was a baronet’s wife or the daughter of an earl. Only members of the peerage were considered anything beyond the gentry or the working class.

She lifted her chin regally. Even in defeat, she meant to prove him wrong. “I suppose I must choose Europe, despite the devastation left behind by the war.”

“Remember, if you return to England by any means other than in a box bearing your body, I will see you arrested and prosecuted for your crimes.” He crossed to ring the bell cord. “Also understand that your allowance must last through each quarter for which it is allotted. There will be no advances and no pleas for more.” He turned to her. “This must seem a severe punishment, but keep the image of the scars on my back with you. There are worse punishments than going without a few luxuries.” He said without emotion, “I have the agreement drawn up and the witnesses waiting below. Let us begin.”