Page 16 of Losing Lizzy

They were actually in London for three full days before they departed for Hertfordshire. Before Anne arrived on that Saturday evening, Darcy had taken Fitzwilliam aside and explained the part Lady Catherine had played in Darcy’s trials, as well as the restrictions he had placed upon her.

“And you are willing to permit others knowledge of all this if her ladyship does not comply?” Fitzwilliam asked.

“I would not wish to place either Elizabeth or my child in a position of public shame, but I cannot relent. Lady Catherine’s spitefulness nearly cost me my life. It did cost me three years of memories with Elizabeth Anne and Elizabeth. What would you do if our aunt had robbed you of the memory of holding your son for the first time?”

Fitzwilliam casually sipped his brandy, but Darcy noted how his posture was no longer relaxed and there was a hardness in his tone when he spoke. “Likely more than you have executed against her ladyship.”

“Trust me, I wished to tear her apart, limb-by-limb. Yet, there were others who did not deserve the public notice a trial would have brought to our doors. Many more than my family. You. My sister. Your son and future children. Sheffield. Anne. All her ladyship’s servants. Your mother. And more than we care to consider.”

Meanwhile, Elizabeth, bless her heart, convinced Georgiana that the day he rode ahead to Pemberly and had left her with the Bingleys had been the day of their elopement—that they had been corresponding, and he knew of her traveling in the area with her aunt and uncle. Elizabeth had suggested that they had become reacquainted in Kent, and he had proposed, but she had asked for time to consider his offer.

“Did you not take notice of how distracted Mr. Darcy was after he returned from Rosings Park? My mind was certainly everywhere but on Mrs. Collins’s kind efforts to entertain me.”

“My brother did appear from sorts,” Georgiana admitted. “I thought him still angry with me for my foolishness at Ramsgate.”

“Nothing of the nature,” Elizabeth assured. “Fitzwilliam and I should not have written to each other,” Elizabeth said with a straight face, while not providing the details of how they had gone about the correspondence without anyone knowing of it, especially her father. “However, we had an ‘understanding.’ I promised him I would make my decision by the time I joined my relations in the Lake District. However, the Gardiners’ plans changed, and your brother and I were so close—. The Gardiners and I traveled to Matlock and Dovedale. My relations knew of your brother because, as you recall, my aunt lived in Lambton when she was younger, and they were aware I had spent time with Fitzwilliam in both Hertfordshire and Kent. They did not question when he called upon me in Derbyshire, and they were more than happy to permit him to escort me on an outing about the shire. Little did they know, we planned a race to the border to marry. As the day progressed, he sent them word of our impetuousness and guaranteed we would return the following day. They were not best pleased, as I was not of age to marry in England without my father’s permission, but they accepted our affection as genuine.

“Your brother wished us to meet in private, but the Bingleys had traveled with you. He and I planned to make our announcement after the day you and I shared tea. Unfortunately, on that day I received news of my sister’s elopement with Mr. Wickham. Do you not recall how nervous both Fitzwilliam and I were when we were all together with the Bingleys? It was foolish of us to postpone our announcement, but two elopements in the same family and so close together would have ruined my sisters. We knew our true wedding date, and we saw no harm in a public ceremony in order to save my family’s reputation.”

Georgiana teared up then, even more so when his sister realized how much he and Elizabeth had suffered. His sister had studied the marriage certificate they had shared with her. “Those days were so black for me. I realized William cared very much about you when he whisked me off to Lambton to take your acquaintance, but then the Bingley sisters spoke so critically of you and to you. I did not know what to think. Yet, you protected me when Miss Bingley mentioned Mr. Wickham, and I thought we could be friends. I was barely sixteen years and so ashamed of my foolishness in dealing with the man. I was thankful for your hand of friendship, but I did not think I deserved it.” She looked down at the marriage license in her lap. “This is surely William’s signature, so it must be as you say. I would know my brother’s handwriting anywhere. I recall how contrite he was when he left me with the Bingleys. Apologetic, but eager to leave. Now, I understand why.”

Obviously, Elizabeth offered no such fabrications to her relations when she called upon the Gardiners after church on Sunday. She simply pleaded for their cooperation to protect Elizabeth Anne and made them the necessary promises that she and he would marry within the next month.

Her part in setting their lives aright had been easier than his.

All he really accomplished on Sunday was to make an appearance at his club and let it be known he was interested in investing in a bookstore in London, no preferences, except he wanted it to be one where both those of the upper class and those of the working class might feel comfortable patronizing. That done, he had returned to Darcy House to learn Mr. Ruffe and Mr. Liles were waiting for him in the kitchen. Once Jasper had escorted the pair to Darcy’s study, he dispensed with their payment quickly, when he landed on an idea that just might work. With a few questions and a willing response, he employed Mr. Ruffe for a much more important job.

“You wish me to sit in a room at an inn located in Dry Drayton for a bit over three weeks?” the man asked in dismay. “My meals and my drink furnished. I’m to be known to be there, but not draw too much attention, so others will not question when you replace me there? Nothin’ personal, Mr. Darcy, but we don’t much look alike.”

Darcy assured, “Unless you do something uncalled for by becoming involved in a fight or losing your earnings in a game of cards, most people will not take note. Are you willing or not?”

Darcy made no further explanation of what he intended to do: He simply confirmed Ruffe’s duties.

“No other jobs—no murders or thievery?” Ruffe asked suspiciously.

Darcy laughed easily. “Just sit and eat and drink. I will pay the bill. Rest for a few weeks. Your absence might draw the Queenborough magistrate off your mark.” He had chosen Ruffe over Liles because Ruffe was not married and his absence from Kent would not prove a hardship for his family.

Ruffe questioned, “And you’ll see me mam has money for me brothers and sisters while I’m gone.”

Darcy assured, “Mr. Liles can deliver the money with a note from you when he returns to Kent, but I require you are in Dry Drayton today.”

* * *

On Monday, along with a magistrate from the proper part of London involved, he had called upon three different men of business and demanded a return of the funds they had illegally transferred from his accounts. He assured each that an accounting of their transactions had been provided the magistrate himself and action would be taken immediately if they did not comply. He also demanded their removal from London, and all of England. All accounts were to be reimbursed within a fortnight, and the men were to disappear off the face of England by that time or they would be arrested and prosecuted. He repeated the procedure for an associate member of Darcy’s bank. That particular gentleman was charged with bank fraud, and the bank managers were put on notice to install more stringent measures to protect their customers or face similar charges. The man was arrested on the spot before enough members of Society for the word to circulate that Darcy was back in London and exacting his revenge on those who had crossed him.

At length, he tracked his uncle down at his lordship’s club. Matlock was not best pleased to view him sliding into the seat beside the earl. “Go away, Darcy,” his lordship grumbled. “I do not wish to speak to you.”

“Such suits my purpose perfectly well,” Darcy countered. He glanced about the room and noticed a number of eyes upon them. Until now, Darcy had not ventured out much since his return to London. He had not wanted to be distracted by the questions visibly resting on the lips of many of their onlookers. “Perhaps we should take our conversation to the park across the street.” He stood then. “Join me, my lord,” he instructed. “I doubt you wish others to overhear what we must discuss.”

“The countess has already warned me of your disdain,” the earl said with a scowl.

“I am glad to hear it. Yet, her ladyship does not know my decision on how we will go forward,” Darcy countered.

“Do you mean me to accompany my sister to the Continent?”

“Ah, it is as I expected: Lady Catherine still believes someone can force me to relent. Only one person has that power over me, and as she has also been wronged by the two of you, I doubt ‘mercy’ is yet in her vocabulary.” Darcy leaned down and lowered his voice to say, “Although I cannot condone her measures, at least, I understand the bit of mania Lady Catherine practiced against me and mine. I have yet to comprehend how you became involved.”

The earl dropped his voice. “I believe the park is an excellent idea.”

Darcy motioned the servant to fetch the earl’s coat and hat. They made their way from the club to the nearby park in silence. It was only when they sat on either end of the bench located out of the way of the few pedestrians willing to encounter the frosty afternoon that the earl spoke. “Lindale has borrowed heavily from a money lender.”

“And, as usual, you made to save him from my cousin’s indolent tendencies?” Darcy was doubly thankful the colonel had rescued Georgiana from such an existence. “I suppose you initially borrowed money from Lady Catherine.” The puzzle was coming together. “Was it her ladyship’s idea for you to send me on a wild goose chase at the docks? Was that the price you paid for the loan?”

“He is my heir,” Matlock offered in excuse, but made no effort to apologize for his part in Darcy’s torment. Darcy shuttered his heart to deny his uncle mercy.

“And what type of earl will Roland be? You have failed to instill in Lindale even half the responsibility Fitzwilliam displays,” Darcy chastised.

“I could not permit my eldest son to know street justice,” the earl argued.

“I might feel some sympathy if your manipulations had assisted Lindale to a better place—had him regretting his actions, but, from what I have heard from others, he keeps two mistresses and spends the majority of his time in the gaming hells.” He shook his head in sadness. “Have you considered insisting upon Lindale living within his means? Providing him no advances on his quarter allowance?” He sighed heavily when his uncle refused to respond. “You obviously have not. Instead, you chose to rob your nephew of nearly twenty thousand pounds—rob me of the funds I, initially, had set aside for my sister’s dowry,” Darcy hissed. “You took the funds meant for Georgiana’s husband, your younger son, the one who has brought glory to the Fitzwilliam name, and presented it to Lindale, so your eldest son might continue his profligate ways and ruin everything your father and grandfather set about doing for the Fitzwilliam legacy. What have you executed to prevent the complete ruination of the earldom?”

Matlock shook his head in the negative. “My pleas are ignored.”

Darcy sighed heavily. “Then I have no choice but to demand proper payment. Perhaps if Roland views his too proud father brought low, your elder son will learn a valuable lesson.”

“I do not have twenty thousand pounds, Darcy,” the earl admitted despondently.

“I did not expect you would,” Darcy said in sadness. “Yet, such will not have me forgiving the debt. As with Lady Catherine, I am offering you but one real option: First, you sell off the unentailed properties, including your London home, and any of the smaller estates, with the exception of Yadkin Hall, which is Fitzwilliam’s inheritance and is not to be touched. Perhaps, you will be required to sell off only a few to return my twenty thousand dollars or perhaps you will be called upon to strip the earldom of its glory.”

“Where am I to live when Parliament is in session?” his uncle demanded.

“If you receive enough for your properties, perhaps you will be able to afford a fashionable home outside of Mayfair. Yet, in truth, personally, I do not care much about your consequence, my lord. Share the house Lindale employs when he is in London, that is, if the viscount can still afford it, or let rooms in your club. I doubt your countess will care much to be seen in London after word goes out through the usual circles of your being in debt to me and how I am calling in immediate payment. Many will likely begin to wonder what crime you have committed. Mayhap they will recall I went missing for nearly four years and wonder if somehow you were involved. I shan’t say a word unless my funds are not restored. If not, many will learn the truth in the newsprint in a very public trial.” Darcy fidgeted with his cane. “Just so you know, those you employed to do your dirty work have either been arrested or made to pay for their errors in judgment. That is, all except the real culprit where you are concerned: Lindale. If you are too weak to rein in your heir, you are likely to know more than the loss of your properties, your youngest son, your elder sister, and your late sister’s children.

“However, I would think a reasonable man would be capable of reading the writing on the wall, but it has been many years since you displayed that type of reason. Go home to Derbyshire, my lord. Assist your tenants to a better life. Become the type of earl your father expected you to be. Insist your heir does the same. Use your power in the House of Lords for the good of England, not to line the pockets of a few corrupt peers. Just do not expect me and mine to be a part of your future.”

Darcy stood then. “I will expect payment in full by the end of Twelfth Night, my lord. Three months. Not one day more.”

“You are certainly George Darcy’s son. I never met a harder man,” the earl said softly. “You are very much cut in his image.”

“I am also Lady Anne’s son,” Darcy said in regret. “When my father would have recognized the false face you offered me, my mother, your sister, would have pleaded with me to trust you—which I did. Yet, you forget how unforgiving Lady Anne Fitzwilliam Darcy was when people meant to harm her family. Even she would have presented you the direct cut and more for placing her family in danger. Likely, you would know a punishment worse than Lady Catherine’s.” Darcy started away but turned one last time. “Before you lose face in Society, please place your influence behind Fitzwilliam. I believe he would be an excellent member of the House of Commons and would bring back some of the glory of your family name, much more so than will Lindale. Such focus will provide the colonel the knowledge he did not lose a promising career when he married Georgiana. Fitzwilliam is built to serve and will be a credit to your family and England, where Lindale’s future and that of the earldom is questionable.”

* * *

On Wednesday morning, they departed London for Hertfordshire. They would have left on Tuesday, but there were still details of the arrests to be decided. Moreover, he had a lead on a possible investment for Sheffield. He watched in amusement as Elizabeth fidgeted on the bench across from him. It had been heavenly to sleep beside her the last few nights. It would be perfection when they could share more than a few kisses and long conversations.

“Mama ‘t-witch,” Elizabeth Anne said with a frown.

Darcy tugged the child closer to his side. “Your mother is excited. It has been a long time since your mama has seen her mama and papa.”

The child looked up at him in concern. “Her mama and papa like me?”

“They will absolutely adore you,” he assured.

Mr. Farrin maneuvered the carriage through the Longbourn gates, and Elizabeth slid to the coach’s window, released the latch, and stuck her head out the window for a better view. She glanced back to him with a smile. “I wonder if Jane has noted our approach and set up an alarm.”

“More than likely,” he said. It had been so long since he had viewed such joy on Elizabeth’s face, he was glad to have been the one that presented her this moment. “Fine eyes,” he whispered to Lizzy Anne and pointed to Elizabeth.

Lizzy giggled. “Fine eyes, Mama.”

“What a wonderful compliment,” Elizabeth said with a caress of their daughter’s cheek. Then, the carriage was slowing. He cautioned, “Permit Jasper to set down the steps. I do not want you breaking a leg to reach the ground. I will follow with our daughter.”

From somewhere near the house, he heard Miss Bennet call, “It’s Lizzy! I told you it was Lizzy! Elizabeth is home!”

His daughter tapped his arm as Jasper set the steps, and Elizabeth scrambled from the carriage. “How they know my name?” Lizzy Anne asked in disbelief. Darcy climbed down, taking in the image of Elizabeth in Jane’s arms, with the other Bennets flowing through the door. He sighed heavily: He would never know the embrace of his mother or father again, and, likely, there would be few from his newly-married sister, who would reside several days’ ride from Pemberley. “Come, little one.” He caught Elizabeth Anne in his arms. When she was situated with an arm about his neck, he said, “Mama’s sisters sometimes call her ‘Lizzy.’”

Sheffield joined him to watch the reunion. “Mayhap soon I should travel to Cumbria. It has been more than four years since I have spent time with my brothers.” Before either of them could say more, they looked up to view Miss Bennet striding toward them, and Darcy heard Sheffield’s quick intake of air. “She still possesses the face of an angel,” he said as if thinking aloud.

Darcy did not comment, but he thought: Elizabeth had the right of it.

Miss Bennet said with a smile upon her lips, “I knew you would bring her home. I told Mr. Bennet you would. Thank you for keeping her safe.” She squeezed his arm and stroked it with affection as she spoke.

Darcy nodded to Sheffield. “If you wish to express your gratitude to anyone, it should be to Mr. Sheffield. It is he who provided Elizabeth a home since she departed Longbourn. I just convinced her to return.”

Miss Bennet turned her smile on Sheffield, and his former valet blinked rapidly. Darcy knew that moment. Such had been his response to Elizabeth when he took her acquaintance at the Meryton assembly. In retrospect, he should have known then it was foolish to fight his attraction to her, for no other woman he had ever met had sent a zing of recognition through him as he had felt in that moment.

“Pardon,” Miss Bennet said a second before she embraced Mr. Sheffield. “I know we have not been properly introduced,” she said with a blush realizing she had reacted against propriety. “I am simply so full of joy, I cannot contain myself. Thank you, sir.”

Sheffield cleared his throat. “Your actions are perfectly understandable, miss—perfectly acceptable. ”

Miss Bennet looked back to Darcy, and her eyes finally fell upon Elizabeth Anne. “Oh, my,” she whispered as realization arrived. She glanced again to Sheffield, but with a shake of her head she knew Sheffield was not the child’s father. Then she smiled upon him. “And—” She blushed again. She knew immediately when Elizabeth Anne had been conceived.

He smiled upon her and relieved her from asking the obvious. “Miss Bennet, may I introduce you to your niece, Elizabeth Anne Darcy.” To his daughter, he said, “This is your mama’s sister, Jane. Your Aunt Jane.”

“Like my doll?” Lizzy Anne asked.

“Exactly.”

“Come.” Miss Bennet pulled his arm. “Everyone will want to know Elizabeth’s child.” As they started away, the lady reached a hand back to Sheffield, to include him in the gathering and the celebration, and he scrambled to come along beside her to catch Miss Bennet’s hand and place it on his arm. Darcy noted the smile the lady presented his former servant and the look of astonishment mixed with pleasure on Sheffield’s countenance. It was a beginning.

When they joined the chaos, Mrs. Bennet turned her attention to him. “Mr. Darcy, we thought you had forsaken our Lizzy.”

“Never, ma’am,” he said with a gentle smile. This woman was to be his new mother. She was nothing like the elegant Lady Anne, but God had provided him a family, at last. It was not the one he had thought to have, but it was the one he required to heal his soul. “I love your daughter to distraction,” he assured. He turned where Lizzy Anne could look upon all those gathered outside of Longbourn. His daughter appeared a bit apprehensive, for, like him, she had been raised alone, until this day only claiming Sheffield and Elizabeth, but she also appeared excited by the possibility. “Would you care to take the acquaintance of your granddaughter, ma’am?” he said to Mrs. Bennet. Darcy kissed his daughter’s cheek. “Sweetheart, this is your grandmother, your mama’s mother. ”

Lizzy Anne’s features screwed up in apparent skepticism. “A grandmama? I never had a grandmama.” He noted how Mrs. Bennet’s eyes filled with tears.

“Yes, darling,” he said softly to encourage Lizzy Anne’s cooperation. “Why do you not tell your grandmother your name?”

His daughter remained uncertain, but she said, “Lizbeth Anne Bachel Darcy.”

“Rachel?” Mrs. Bennet clutched at her chest. “My mother’s name.” She turned to where Mr. Bennet still embraced his second daughter. “Mr. Bennet! Mr. Bennet, come now. You must meet your granddaughter!”

Everyone’s head turned their way, and, quickly, he and Lizzy and Mrs. Bennet were surrounded by the Bennets. Lizzy Anne’s grip tightened about his neck. Meanwhile, Elizabeth fought her way to his side. She reached for her father’s hand, and all grew quiet. “Papa, this is your granddaughter. My and Mr. Darcy’s daughter.”

Tears formed in Mr. Bennet’s eyes. He spoke to Elizabeth, but his eyes devoured the sight of his grandchild. “I was so worried when you left Longbourn.”

“You knew Elizabeth was breeding when you permitted her to leave us?” Mrs. Bennet demanded.

Darcy had thought Mrs. Bennet would have been shocked and would demand their immediate removal from her home, but she acted as if she were appalled by the decision her husband had made: As if she were incensed by the idea of Elizabeth being forced to leave in her condition. Perhaps, Darcy had misjudged the woman as easily as she had misjudged him. She would never be what could be called a “sensible” woman, but she had one admirable quality: She was willing to fight for the welfare of her children. On that, they could agree.

Elizabeth said, “Papa saw to my safety,” she said to the gathering. “Now, may we all go inside? You each require an explanation, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Sheffield, and I could use a cup of tea, and, I imagine, my child would enjoy a cake or two, would you not, Lizzy?”

“She is a ‘Lizzy’ also?” Miss Kitty asked.

Mrs. Bennet said proudly, “The child is Elizabeth Anne Rachel Darcy.” She caught Elizabeth up in a quick embrace that appeared to embarrass both of them. “Thank you, Elizabeth, for presenting your daughter my mother’s name.”

“I wanted her to have a part of you, Mama,” Elizabeth said softly. “And a part of Darcy’s family. ‘Anne’ was the Christian name of Mr. Darcy’s mother.”

Darcy set Lizzy Anne upon her feet. She held back for a second when Mr. Bennet bent to offer the child his hand. “I am your grandpapa, and I have been waiting a lifetime to know you. Would you like to come with me and see the house where your mama grew up?”

Their child glanced up to him and Elizabeth. They both nodded their encouragement, and Lizzy Anne walked away with Mr. Bennet. All turned toward the house, and Elizabeth leaned against his side as he braced her steps to follow.

“Another Elizabeth has won your father’s heart,” Darcy said with a smile.

“We still must make our explanations as to how we married before Lizzy was conceived,” she whispered. “We must pray Mr. Bennet will cooperate.”

“As this scheme was half his idea, he has little choice.”

“Yet, at the time of the arrangement, we all thought you dead,” she reminded him. “The new reality for my father is that we will be living together under his roof, without the privilege of an actual marriage ceremony.”

Darcy glanced to where the last of the Bennets and the servants entered the house. “We will allow our daughter to soften Mr. Bennet’s heart. Now come along. They will be wondering why we tarry.”

“There will be many questions,” she reminded him. “Is this what you want?”

“I want you and my daughter. I do not believe I can be whole again until we are together as a family. As to the questions, we will answer them all,” he assured her as he placed her hand on his arm to escort her inside. “However,” he leaned closer to whisper, “there are two things you should know before we go inside.”

“And those are?” She paused on the steps leading to the threshold.

“First, like Bingley before him, Mr. Sheffield believes Miss Bennet has the look of an angel. Moreover, he blinked in pleasant surprise when your elder sister presented him with an impromptu embrace out of gratitude for tending to you.”

“Blinking is good, correct?” she asked.

“I blinked that way when my eyes fell upon you at the Meryton assembly,” he confided. “I felt as if my imagination was playing a trick on me. Thunderstruck. You had shaken my world to its core, thus, the reason I refused to dance with you. I did not know whether you were real or not.”

Her smile increased in size. “What a lovely explanation, although I am not yet certain you do not fool yourself in this matter.” Nevertheless, she went on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “And the second thing I should know?”

“Miss Bennet will be asking you questions, likely in private, which will go beyond the proof of our marriage. When I came searching for you, she reluctantly admitted to me that she had observed our leaving the Netherfield library on the evening we conceived Elizabeth Anne.”