Page 9 of Losing Lizzy

A firm knocking below woke Darcy, but by the time he eased Elizabeth from his embrace so she might continue to rest upon their daughter’s mattress and pulled a shirt on to descend the steps into the shop below, the messenger had departed, leaving Mr. Sheffield holding a sealed, folded-over piece of paper.

“A message for you, sir.” He extended the note in Darcy’s direction with a grin. “I paid the fellow the shilling you offered.”

Darcy smiled upon his former servant. “I will see you reimbursed fully.”

“I had no doubt, sir. Is Elizabeth well this morning?”

Irrational as the feeling was, Darcy knew a bit of jealousy, for Sheffield had been granted a familiarity with Elizabeth that Darcy had been denied. “She was still asleep when I came below, but I am certain she will rise soon, despite being awake half the night.” Not wishing to answer questions on where he and she had slept, he asked, “How is your health?”

“Still a bit weak, but the fever has been gone for more than a day. I am prepared to assist you as required, sir.”

Darcy accepted the man’s continued loyalty with a gracious nod of his head. “You have proven yourself time and time again in a manner even those with titles felt below them. You protected my family when I could not. I am forever in your debt.”

Sheffield bowed stiffly. “It was what you would have expected of me, and Elizabeth and the child have provided me a family, something an upper servant in a fine house does not consider possible.”

“What of Mrs. Harris?” Darcy asked. “I understand you two are courting. You could still claim a wife and familial connections, if that is your wish.”

Sheffield shrugged. “I would not call our sharing the occasional meal courting, although I am certain others would.” His former valet paused in that manner that always told Darcy a decision had been made by the gentleman. “Two things are apparent: Mrs. Harris is not much of a reader, and I wish to continue owning a bookstore and enjoying a variety of books. Secondly, I would never have placed Lizzy Anne with the lady. She never had children of her own and has often expressed the opinion that children should never be heard, nor rarely seen.”

Although he did not comment on Mr. Sheffield’s admission, Darcy easily recognized Mr. Sheffield’s objections. Darcy had fallen in love with Elizabeth because she was well read and could converse on a variety of subjects. As to his former valet, Darcy suspected Mr. Sheffield had read half, if not more, of Pemberley’s extensive library. “A woman with a mind for more than tea service and house calls is difficult to discover.”

“But worth the search,” Sheffield said. “Such is something I learned from serving you, sir. Thank you for demonstrating what was important in these trying times and for bringing Miss Elizabeth Bennet into my life at a time when I most required such an enchanting creature to make sense of my world.”

Darcy was uncertain how to respond to Sheffield’s declaration. He cleared his throat to say, “I should see to this message.” He was certain of one thing: If he could convince Elizabeth to marry him, it would be essential to keep Albert Sheffield in Elizabeth’s and Elizabeth Anne’s lives. It would be a crime to separate the trio completely, and, moreover, Darcy would admit he, too, had missed Sheffield’s ready advice. “By the way, I asked Mr. Farrin to bring breakfast to us from the inn. I did not want Elizabeth thinking she should tend to our needs. Come join us when you are dressed.”

When Darcy returned to the rooms above, Elizabeth was just coming out of their daughter’s room. God help him! Despite the dark circles marking the area under her eyes, she was absolutely stunning. “Was there news?” she asked in hopeful tones.

“Yes, a message.” He sat in a nearby chair and broke the crude dab of wax and unfolded the single page.

“What does it say?” Elizabeth demanded.

Darcy was not certain he could resist slamming his fist into the nearest wall. “Read it for yourself.”

Elizabeth snatched the paper from his fingers. She read aloud, “Dont knows if it heps, but Townsend speak of’en of returnin’ soon to Kent. Say his benafactor live there. ” She turned to him. “Kent, as in where Lady Catherine resides.”

Elizabeth swayed in place, and Darcy scrambled to assist her to a seat. Shakily, she said, “Her ladyship warned me against pursuing a relationship with you when she called on me at Longbourn. She said I should never expect her to recede, going so far as to say she would not make herself scarce—would never go away—until I gave her the assurances she required.” Her lips trembled and tears filled her eyes. “Lady Catherine declared my ambitions would never be gratified. She said I would depend upon her carrying her point. Oh, William, could it be so?”

Darcy would not tell her of his suspicions that his aunt had been involved in his abduction. “We must figure this out together. We already know Lady Catherine has again called upon Longbourn.” He suggested, “We should dress before Mr. Farrin brings us breakfast.” He placed a finger against her lips when she thought to object to eating in such a time. “Then w e can decide how to proceed.”

She nodded crisply, rose, and started around him, but he caught her arm to pull her into his body. Lifting her chin with two fingers where he might look down into the eyes that had enchanted him long before he knew up from down, he said, “I made you a promise last evening, and my resolve has not altered. Elizabeth Anne will soon be in your arms again.”

Tears spilled out of her eyes. “I pray so.”

He released her then but did not move until she closed the door behind her. “If my aunt is at fault in this matter, there is nowhere she can flee where I will not hunt her down and have my justice.”

* * *

Elizabeth stood looking about her room, feeling more vulnerable than she could remember since discovering she was carrying William’s child. The room, which had been her private haven for the last three years, now felt as if she stood upon foreign soil.

Tucked away in William’s arms last night, she had purchased the idea that at dawn Lizzy would be returned to her, but her worst fears had again reared its head. It had been so easy to believe all would be well, for she had hungered for someone to step in and right her world. Although she wished him well, the knowledge Mr. Sheffield would likely marry Mrs. Harris had had her, of late, wondering what the future held for her and Lizzy.

There was always something about Fitzwilliam Darcy that had spoken of his surety. Even when she did not approve of him, Elizabeth would have named him the most capable—most confident—man of her acquaintance. Naturally, he had filled her with a certainty that he would bring about her dearest prayer.

Heaving a deep sigh of regret, she dashed away her tears with the heels of her hands. “Whatever it takes, Elizabeth Anne, your mother is coming after you. I shall not rest until you are safe.”

* * *

Darcy dressed quickly, not wanting Elizabeth to be alone with her fears. Although she might think otherwise, he knew her strengths and her weaknesses. She had withstood Lady Catherine’s attack, and now Elizabeth was second-guessing how her temper had caused their child pain. Even after they recovered their daughter, and he held no doubt they would know success, just not as quickly as either of them would like—Elizabeth would never forgive herself for bringing on Lady Catherine’s ire.

When he returned to the family area below, Mr. Sheffield was setting out the items Mr. Farrin had brought over from the inn. “I took the liberty of brewing tea. The tea pot is on the platter.”

“You are quite handy,” Darcy remarked as he poured himself a cup of tea.

“I always was,” Sheffield responded with a smile.

“I know, and I was constantly appreciative of your care,” Darcy said in all honesty, “but never so much as when I was forced to go weeks without a bath or a change of clothes.”

“For what it is worth, sir, despite the so-called truth Lord Matlock shared with those at Darcy House, I never lost hope for your return.”

The mention of his uncle had Darcy asking, “Could you explain what occurred at Darcy House when you arrived after the overturned wedding?”

Sheffield shot a quick glance up the stairs toward Elizabeth’s quarters, before lowering his voice. “We did not arrive until very late in the day of what would have been your wedding. The house was at sixes and sevens, especially as Mr. Thacker had been dismissed by then. Lord Matlock had taken up residence in your study. He kept insisting you had been killed upon the docks, but I was suspicious because you had written to me from London and explained you might be an extra day or two in the City, for you had been charged with checking on a shipment in which both you and his lordship had invested.

“According to the information you shared in your instructions to me as to what you wished to wear for the ceremony and when you were expected to return, Lord Matlock could not attend the shipment because the earl was in Derbyshire at the time. Supposedly, there had been a fire at the stables. His note to you said he would not be able to attend your wedding because of his duty to his estate. However, his lordship was in London when the colonel, Miss Darcy, and I arrived.

“Certainly, a man could travel from Derbyshire to London in two days, if he pressed his horses and the weather held, but it appeared odd to me as how Lord Matlock knew of your attack so swiftly. Would not it have taken an express from London to Derbyshire a full day, more likely two, to reach him with the news? And then there was a brief comment by Lady Matlock to the colonel, upon our arrival, of how her husband had overseen the search for and possible recovery of your body. A man cannot be in two places at once. I was asked for my resignation when your uncle discovered via the new butler that I had begun to express such opinions below stairs.”

“It is as I suspected. I, too, have wondered about the tale that was repeated to me by Colonel Fitzwilliam and Lady Matlock.” His ears noted Elizabeth’s soft tread on the stairs. With a slight shake of his head he warned Sheffield not to speak his suspicions before Elizabeth. “Mr. Farrin and Jasper will return in a few minutes,” he told her when she joined them in the kitchen. “We will set a course for Kent once we have eaten our breakfast. I assume you wish to accompany me.”

“Most assuredly.”

“Kent?” Sheffield asked with a lift of his brow.

Elizabeth explained, “The note from earlier said Townsend might be in Kent.”

“Did it say where? Kent is not a small shire,” Sheffield cautioned.

“We will stop at all the coaching inns until we discover someone who has seen Townsend and our child.”

“Do we have a choice?” she remarked as she collapsed into a nearby chair and buried her face in her hands. Yet, before he could comfort her, a loud knocking came at the main door to the shop.

“I will see to it, sir,” Sheffield said with a nod to where Elizabeth had succumbed to tears again. “Likely Mr. Farrin returning.”

With Sheffield’s exit, Darcy knelt before her and awkwardly wrapped his arms about Elizabeth. “I know, darling. This is too daunting after all you have endured. ”

“I have not seen my father—my sisters—or mama in nearly four years,” she sobbed. “They do not even know of Lizzy’s birth, and my parents could lose their grandchild before they even meet her.”

He tightened his grip about her to tug her deeper into his embrace. “None of us will lose Elizabeth Anne. I know, at this moment, this feels impossible, but neither of us will rest—no matter how long it takes to bring our child home to you.”

“You will not leave me until this is done well?”

“Not even then,” he promised.

He rose when he heard Sheffield closing and locking the main door. Sheffield entered carrying a second message. “Another possible lead, I hope.”

Darcy reached for it, but Sheffield shook off Darcy’s hand. “This one is addressed to ‘Mrs. Dartmore.’”

Elizabeth looked up expectantly. “For me?” She struggled to her feet to take the note from Sheffield. She reached for a knife on the table to break the seal.

Darcy waited in uneasy anticipation as she read the page and blanched white. “What does it say, Elizabeth?” Her hands began to shake, and he again brought her into his embrace. Removing the note from her fingers, he handed it off to Sheffield. Over her shoulder he watched as his former valet read the note, Sheffield’s features taking on a thunderous expression. As Elizabeth sobbed into Darcy’s shoulder, Sheffield held the note aloft where Darcy could read it.

Mrs. Dartmore, although we both know such is not your real name. Should I not say, Miss Elizabeth Bennet? If you wish the return of the child who bears your name and that of a fictitious father, you will send Mr. Darcy on his way. Turn him aside, not just for this day, but for all the days to come. Otherwise, this child will be placed with a family far away, and you will never see her again. If Mr. Darcy again seeks your company after your child is returned, everyone will shun the lot of you. You will be exposed as a fraud and the child as a bastard. I will be watching for Mr. Darcy’s departure .

Darcy attempted not to stiffen in anger, but the emotion coursed through his veins, nevertheless. “Let us gather where we might discuss this turn of events.”

“What is there to discuss?” she hiccupped between gulps of air.

He turned her toward the table. “We will sit. You will eat before you become ill, and you, Mr. Sheffield, and I will decide how best to proceed.”

“How may I think of food when Lizzy Anne is in danger? I am not—”

“Hungry,” he finished her protest. “However, you require your strength. You will be of no use to Elizabeth Anne, to yourself, or to me, if you collapse. Eat for your daughter,” he instructed as he shoved her into a chair and placed a slice of toast before her on the plate. Taking up the knife he added butter and conserves. Meanwhile, Mr. Sheffield placed a cup of tea before her. “Just a few bites, love,” Darcy coaxed.

“Drink your tea, Elizabeth,” Sheffield instructed. “You require your wits about you.”

“I have my wits about me!” she huffed.