Page 145 of Obligation and Redemption
“Forgive me. I am just outraged that anyone could be so cruel to my charitable and generous brother. He gave up all of his hopes, for her, and then she treats him this way. How dare she!” Georgiana began to pace, a trait reminiscent of her brother. “What can I do? How can I help him?”
“He will likely be angry at first and then perhaps saddened as anyone of Darcy’s kind nature might be, but when he is ready for comfort, you need to be there for him, for we are likely to be at Matlock House.
As much as I enjoy your company, I cannot bear to be in this house a moment longer with the memory of that imposter in our midst.”
Georgiana continued to pace, considering what she might do to assist her brother in this altogether horrible affair.
She knew Elizabeth would one day regret her decision to leave with Wickham, for she knew him to be a selfish and deceptive man, only interested in how he might use her for money and whatever else men of his ilk wanted.
She just hoped that her brother would not fall for any duplicity on Elizabeth’s part when it came to it.
After the enlightening conversation, Lady Susan claimed she needed solitude for some beauty rest before preparing for dinner, so Georgiana left her alone.
She went into her own sitting room and called for a substitute lady’s maid to help her change out of her travel clothes.
When the maid arrived, Georgiana said, “I do not believe I have seen you before. How long have you been employed by my brother?”
“I arrived shortly after the new Mrs. Darcy married Mr. Darcy. I serve her.”
“I see,” said Georgiana coolly. She knew that oftentimes, loyalties were formed between the servant and master, or in this case mistress. “So, do you believe that my brother’s wife has left for good?”
“I hope she will be found soon. I cannot imagine what has happened to her, and I begin to fear for her. ”
“I am sure that she is safe enough. What is your name?”
“Janette, Ma’am.”
“You will be my lady’s maid until my own arrives. Help me change.”
And so, Janette continued her duties, but employed on another.
She had served many ladies in the past, but Janette had never enjoyed the peace and comfort that she had while with Mrs. Darcy.
The young woman before her held the usual air of privilege that was missing in her mistress, and she suspected that the young Miss Darcy was likely predisposed to think ill of her new sister.
She had clearly been relegated to her relations all these months; and Janette, like everyone else, knew the scandal concerning Darcy’s marriage.
That was old news as far as she was concerned, however.
Janette had only known Mrs. Darcy to be a kind mistress who had been good for Pemberley and good for her husband, as she saw it.
But she suspected that his younger sister might see things differently, especially in light of the new rumours related to Mrs. Darcy’s absence.
Janette completed her new duties and was given direction concerning Miss Darcy’s expectations.
TWO HOURS AFTER THEIR DEPARTURE, Darcy and Clark returned as twilight set in. They had canvassed the entire area where Clark had last seen Elizabeth, and there was no evidence of anyone’s having been there. When they entered the house, Darcy saw that Langston had also just returned.
“Darcy, you are home. I was told that you had arrived a few hours ago. I guess you know about your wife.”
“I know that she is missing. Come into my study and tell me everything.” Langston followed his cousin, and going straight to the sideboard, poured each of them a brandy. Handing a glass to Darcy, he walked over and sat down upon one of the chairs by the fire.
“Come sit with me, Darcy, and I will tell you what I know.” When Darcy had seated himself and taken a few sips of his liquid, Langston began, “Mrs. Darcy is with Wickham.” Darcy looked up sharply at him, a pained look upon his countenance.
“They went south, so that is where we have been looking, but I have no hope of finding her. She wanted to leave with him. I heard her laughing as she walked away.”
“That cannot be! Even if she had wanted to leave with Wickham, she would not have laughed while you were injured.”
“Oh, Darcy! Don’t be so na?ve! She is a tart who has been using you for your money.
I tried to be kind to her, but she did nothing but spurn my friendship.
She probably planned the clandestine meeting with the help of that footman, Clark.
No wonder he was reluctant to leave me with Elizabeth.
He was probably assisting her in her rendezvous with the blackguard after enjoying his own.
I wouldn’t trust the man. Check the Darcy jewellery collection to ensure nothing is missing because I would wager she took the lot and made her escape. ”
Hearing his cousin say such vicious words about his wife gave Darcy a sickening feeling in his gut.
Could any of this be true? No, this sounds nothing like her!
But do I really know her? Could she in fact have taken advantage of my accident in Hertfordshire and planned to steal from me all along?
I would rather have given her half my fortune than go through this.
And then there was Clark. Could Darcy’s trusted employee have been deceiving him as well?
“Darcy, I am leaving in the morning. I suggest you dissolve the marriage as quickly as possible. You cannot salvage it, and you need to move on. You have already given up on Lady Annette; perhaps you can soon find another woman of pristine character, one from your own set, not the daughter of a poor gentleman. You have noble blood in you and must act like it in order to salvage your family.”
Darcy had no response, for at this moment his heart was breaking in two. He loved Elizabeth. He knew that now with all the certainty that one could have in a situation such as this. He downed his drink and stood up to pour another. “Will you leave before breakfast?”
“At first light. Poor Susan has had to deal with Mrs. Darcy’s rude overtures and now her disappearance. I need to get her to Matlock.”
“I will see you off then, but as for tonight, I am exhausted. I really must have time to myself. Georgiana is here and will attend you and Lady Susan at dinner.”
“Darcy, I am sorry about all of this, but your family warned you.”
Darcy stayed in his study for a while longer.
He sat in the leather chair by the fire, looking at its twin, the one Elizabeth preferred.
He imaged her scintillating eyes, teasing him with raised brow and upturned full lips.
He was a puppy, lost when she looked at him that way.
How many times did he want to kiss her pouty mouth but was stopped by her melodious laugh when he seemed to forget that his words had just been turned against him – as she had yet again shown her intellectual prowess catching him off-guard in his adolescent musings.
What had become of Fitzwilliam Darcy? How did this woman of little consequence take so much control over his sensibilities?
Even now, she affected him physically as he meditated on her fine attributes.
He stood up to walk around the room trying to shake his reflections.
Now was not the time to get sentimental.
His duty to his family demanded a clear head.
Two piles of mail had been left on his desk, one with only four pieces and the other with at least two dozen.
Darcy carelessly picked up the smaller of the two stacks tapping them upon his desk as he considered Langston’s words.
Darcy felt the full weight of Elizabeth’s disappearance and peril, whether she was with Wickham or alone in the wilds.
He glanced down to the papers in his hands and realised that he was holding Elizabeth’s mail.
Apparently, since her disappearance, his staff had decided to bring her correspondence to him rather than her own study.
He mindlessly flipped through the letters but was arrested by an all too familiar script.
Wickham! Darcy stared down at the sealed parchment before him, familiar resentment and fury welling up inside.
He broke the seal without thought for preserving his wife’s privacy and opened the page to read what Wickham had written to his wife.
The brevity of the note in no way diminished its significance .
April 13, 1811
London
My Dearest Elizabeth,
How I have longed to see you once again, to hold you in my arms. I am finding it more and more difficult to bear the separation that has been imposed upon us.
Your sister may have told you that I have left my place in the militia and hope to find a situation that will better suit my education as a gentleman, with the wish that we can finally be together, if only on occasion.
London holds many possibilities for me. I am much encouraged and hopeful for support – that perhaps even Darcy will one day see how I can play a positive role in his future. Do not give in to despair.
I know you did not wish that I write you, but knowing Darcy was away, I thought it to be safe.
I find that I cannot stay away from memories of us together.
I continue to see your beautiful face in my mind’s eye and only hope that you remember me the same way.
Thank you for getting word to me about your condition.
I realise that I might not have the freedom to claim you and the baby as my own, but that can in no way diminish my affection. Please write to me soon through Lydia.
With loving remembrance of our brief time together,
George Wickham