Page 141 of Obligation and Redemption
“But does he trust you? He has told me more than once that he suspects you have had liaisons with other men. In fact, he sent me here to ensure that you not engage in extramarital activities, but I do not believe that he suspected you would have designs on his servant. He would not believe your story if I told him that I saw you with my own eyes.” Then he turned to Clark and said, “Forget you saw me, and I may let you keep your post, otherwise I will be forced to divulge your clandestine rendezvous with Mrs. Darcy, and not just this one. You have walked her to her room each night since I have been here. My wife has suspected a close relationship between you two, and she has a hard time holding her tongue, but I could keep her quiet unless forced to do otherwise.”
Elizabeth took courage. She could not in good conscience force Clark into an untenable situation such as this.
Although without merit, she could see how her actions could have the appearance of impropriety, and she would not see Clark losing his position over her poor judgement.
She would hope that the viscount meant her no harm, and if he did, she would employ the skills that Clark had shared.
“Clark, I will be safe with Lord Langston. He is Mr. Darcy’s cousin, and it is true that my husband sent him for my safekeeping; he wrote me that same message days ago.
Please, go back to the house and await my return. ”
Elizabeth could see that the footman was torn as to his duties.
She took a step towards him and placed her hand on his arm.
“Truly, Clark. I will be fine. Lord Langston is Mr. Darcy’s cousin.
He can have no harmful designs on me.” She knew this to be a falsehood, but could only succeed in protecting Clark’s position if he were to leave.
Finally the young man reluctantly turned towards the house and left Mrs. Darcy to the viscount’s care.
He looked back several times to see Elizabeth and the viscount begin to walk slowly back towards the house.
This at least provided him with the comfort of knowing that they were headed home rather than further away.
He had no recourse but to hope and pray for the best.
“Elizabeth, you made the right decision. Shall we walk?”
“I prefer heading back towards the house, if that is acceptable to you.”
“By all means.” Langston set a slow pace, taking her hand and placing it securely on his arm.
After a few moments of walking in silence, Langston said, “You have done an admirable job avoiding being alone with me, but truly, I cannot account for your evasion. You are my cousin’s wife; I would not cause you real harm. ”
Elizabeth did not respond, hoping to discourage this line of talk.
“I had hoped for some privacy because I have something about which to speak with you that you might find interesting, even beneficial.” She refused to take his bait, but he continued on anyway.
“I don’t judge you for meeting up with your footman friend.
I know many men and women who enjoy the benefits of attractive servants – as long as no issue comes of the dalliance, that is.
Clark is a handsome man; no one would blame you, except perhaps your husband, but then again, he has no room to judge. ”
His words had hit their mark. Elizabeth stopped and looked up at him with anger in her eyes. “I would ask that you not suggest anything of the kind about me or my husband. What happens between us is none of your concern.”
“I only mean to help, my dear.” His words of endearment sickened her. “I just thought that in your na?veté you might be under the misunderstanding that your husband has been and will always be faithful to you.”
Elizabeth felt as though she had been punched as she considered his words and the pain they invoked within her. “You are speaking only to hurt me.”
“Can you in all honesty discount what I say? I have proof you know.” She could not speak for the quickening of her breaths. “Did your husband ever mention to you about his visit to Madame Karina’s?”
Elizabeth struggled to remember where she had seen that name.
She searched her memory and recalled that just the other day she had come across the same name on the card in her husband’s escritoire, but she would not give in to his incitements.
However, deep inside, feelings of panic began to make their assent into her consciousness.
“I only know about it because I was there with him. I believe it was at the end of January, in town. A group of us decided to go to the woman’s establishment.
She caters to gentlemen and her services are extensive.
But do not concern yourself; she is very discreet, even going so far as to assign pseudonyms to her customers.
I believe she gave Darcy the name Adonis, for she had paired him up with Aphrodite.
Fitting, I thought, since Aphrodite is the goddess who incited adultery thus bringing on the Trojan War.
If I remember correctly, the love story of Adonis and Aphrodite ends with a tragedy.
” Langston laughed at Elizabeth’s unaffected look of despair.
She could no longer hide her inner turmoil as she considered her husband’s treachery.
Elizabeth felt as though she had been struck to the core.
Oh, my God, no! No! This cannot be. How could he?
Just when I know my heart, am I to be so cruelly tortured?
She now remembered very clearly the card having the name Adonis written in a flowing and feminine script on the opposite side.
“You see the truth in what I say. He was anxious to arrive; I just wish I could have seen his face when he looked upon Aphrodite. She is a beautiful girl, looks a lot like you actually, if maybe a few years younger.”
“Enough! Say no more! Your words are poison, and I will not hear another thing you have to say!” Elizabeth attempted to pull her arm from his, but she could not make it budge. “Release me, sir.” She said this in a low voice, but the outrage was clear.
“I think not. We are not done here. If your footman can get in on some fun, surely a viscount can too.” He leered at her and grabbed her other arm holding her in a harsh grip.
“Now we can enjoy each other’s company or not.
Either way, I will find my pleasure. No one is here to stop me this time.
” He then picked her up and carried her off the path and into the trees.
Elizabeth knew her danger. Her only solace was the thought that if Lord Langston were successful in overcoming her, then she could not become with child by him, for she carried her husband’s own.
While in his grasp she could do nothing to effectively fight him.
Certainly, she kicked and screamed for help, but Clark must have been too far away to hear her for no help was to come.
Langston then stopped at a tree and pinned her against it with the weight of his large frame.
“Elizabeth, don’t fight; you cannot get away from me, and if you just try to relax, you might find that you quite enjoy it.
” She spit in his face, causing him to strike her on the side of her head before grabbing her wrists and putting them into one of his hands in a strong grip.
Then he covered her mouth with his other hand and began to speak in her ear, slowly, almost as if to soothe.
“Elizabeth, my dear, calm down. I mean you no harm. I know how to please a woman and would like to please you. Once you see how things can be, you will welcome me to your room when the family gathers together. Darcy need never know. And what could he say anyway. Has he not also broken his marriage vows at Madame Karina’s?
That was not the only time either. Let this be an occasion to be avenged of his intimacies with other women.
This is the way of the world, my darling.
You must see the possibilities for pleasure. ”
She could not believe her ears. While he spoke she thought back to her simple life at Longbourn, her peace and comfort.
What has wealth given me? What has being a part of society done for me, and what has it done for my husband?
She began to cry, treacherous tears pouring down her cheek, which only seemed to spur the man on.
Langston laughed at her, as she seemed to give up her fight.
“Yes, just relax, my Elizabeth.” He removed his hand to take off her bonnet, while still holding her wrists with the other, then he began kissing her mouth, gentle at first but then more demanding as he pushed his tongue in to explore.
While kissing her, his hand began its intimate explorations.
He started to unbutton her spencer, but in his impatience, he ripped it open, not caring at the moment how that might look on their return.
His passions took control of his better judgement as he reached his hand down her dress to find her breast. She was not fighting him and he began to think that she might be enjoying the excitement of the moment, for he certainly was.
In one swift stroke, he tore open her bodice revealing her stays.
His mouth immediately went to her milky skin as his hand then moved to pull up her dress.
He had let go of her wrists as he pulled up her dress, so he could reach for his own buttons.
He was certain now that she had given in as she put her hands on his shoulders to feel his strong muscles.