Page 55 of The Next Mrs Bennet

C ome Monday morning, Elizabeth was feeling rather melancholic. She had been ecstatic to see her family and friends, even if she had been unable to acknowledge them as such at the church.

The cause of her sadness was knowing that for as long as he was alive, she would have to keep a distance between herself and those she loved best in the world.

Yes, Jane and Aunt Maddie would be seeing her once a week, but it was covert and they would have to be so very circumspect to guard against word of the subterfuge reaching the heinous old man in London.

It was nothing she would ever say to Jane and the rest of her family and friends, but in a way, it was cruel seeing them but not being able to be free in her interactions with them. She openly admitted it was her own suggestion they join her in Derbyshire, all they had done was advance the date of their arrival. That knowledge did not lighten the burden she felt in knowing that she could not be free in her interactions with those she loved most as long as she was tied to him . For their own protection, Elizabeth would have to keep her distance from her loved ones.

She had married a monster to protect Jane and she would not allow anything to redound on Jane, their younger sisters, or any of her other loved ones.

That morning she felt nauseous as she had for some time now, but at least she had not vomited. Loretta had her ginger tea and two slices of dry toast ready for her as soon as she was dressed.

Elizabeth sat at the table in the sitting room looking out over the lake. It was a vista which usually brought cheer to her, but not today. For so long she had put up a brave front, even convincing herself her life could be far worse. The truth was she was enslaved to the worst man she had ever met, or could imagine. She believed it was cliché to call every bad man evil, but in the man she had been coerced to marry Elizabeth believed he was in fact, pure evil. The devil incarnate.

She remembered when she had asked him why he chose her, both in front of Mr. Bennet and when he had revealed his plan to give her a choice, her or Jane, he had said he had his reasons. To date, he had not told her what they were, and she doubted he ever would.

The more she thought about her lot, the more the sadness crushed her soul. Elizabeth could not understand what she had ever done to offend God that He would see fit to punish her to this degree.

Acknowledging she might never know His plan, her faith was as strong as it ever was, but she wished she knew why she had been chosen to suffer so.

Despite her inclination to sit and cry in her chambers, she decided to go for a walk. She drank most of her tea and consumed only one slice of toast. Elizabeth made for her bedchamber, removed her slippers, and laced up her sturdy half boots.

Plastering a smile on her face, she turned to her maid who was working on tidying the implements on the dressing table. “Loretta, please have John and Brian informed I intend to walk out soon,” Elizabeth requested. “I will meet them at the front entrance in ten minutes or so.”

Jennings could tell Her Grace was upset about something, but unless the mistress confided in her, it was not her place to ask.

She curtsied to the Duchess and exited the chambers to convey the request to the guards. When she spoke to them she debated whether she should mention her suspicion about Her Grace being maudlin, but she decided against sharing anything so personal with the two huge men. On her way back to the master apartments the maid passed her mistress on the stairs. Jennings did not miss the put-on smile displayed for her as soon as Her Grace had seen her coming up the stairs towards her.

She hoped the mistress would feel more like herself again soon. The Duchess was the kindest and nicest person she had ever worked for, hence Jennings hated to see the sadness she detected in Her Grace’s eyes.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

“Well Wickham, have you succeeded where your predecessor failed me?” the Duke demanded.

The man who used to procure what Hertfordshire wanted as far as married women went, had failed in his charge to bring Lady Jersey to him. He hoped Wickham was more resourceful. It would be a pity if he had to pay for him to be dispatched, but if he failed, he would join the others who had not done what he needed.

“I have charmed her lady’s maid…” Wickham began.

“What care I about her lady’s maid?” the Duke returned derisively.

“As such, I know Lady Jersey will be at home alone after church. Her husband will be away from Jersey House for at least four hours. I can have the maid suggest a walk to her Ladyship,” Wickham related.

The Duke’s face twisted in an evil smile. “No! Much better would be to take her in his house, on his bed,” Hertfordshire decided gleefully. “You will use this maid to ensure there are no footmen in my way when I enter the house and that Sarah De Melville will be in her husband’s bedchamber when I arrive.”

This would be a perfect revenge for the ages. Not only would he bed her, but in the hated man’s own bed. It would break Jersey’s spirit and he would never say a word publicly or call him out because it would unleash a scandal to dwarf all scandals.

If things went according to plan, as he was sure they would, Hertfordshire could see the ultimate ending would be Jersey taking his own life over the despondency of failing to protect his wife.

It was a great pity the man had an heir, otherwise he may have ended the line.

Wickham showed no emotion as he watched his master revel in his planned revenge. He would have to make sure that everything went according to plan otherwise his life would be forfeit.

“There will be a large bonus in this for you when I have taken my vengeance,” the Duke promised his man.

“If I am to make sure you will be unmolested at Jersey House some funds will be needed to bribe the footmen. The maid will not have the kind of influence we need. That means the men who fail in their duties will be sacked. They will need enough so they will be able to leave without a character and live well,” Wickham stated thoughtfully.

“How much do you need?” Hertfordshire enquired.

“I would estimate at least two thousand pounds,” Wickham responded.

The Duke rang for his secretary. “Prepare a bank draft in Wickham’s favour in the amount of four thousand pounds for me to sign,” he commanded. “Also a letter to my banker to verify I have authorised him to withdraw banknotes for the amount.” He waved the man away.

“It is far more than I will need, Your Grace,” Wickham informed his master.

“Rather you have more, than not enough. I will need a complete accounting of how you expended the funds and any balance is to be returned to me,” Hertfordshire ordered. “You know what will happen if I even suspect you are cheating me out of a single penny, do you not?”

“That is not something I would ever do, Your Grace.” Wickham bowed to show his deference.

Hertfordshire waved the man away. He was confident in his power to make anyone fearful enough never to cross him.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

The three cousins allowed their horses their heads as they easily jumped the boundary fence between Pemberley and Castlemere.

As the youngest of the group, William at four and twenty, was beyond the age where his parents needed to know where he was at all times. Hence they had not enquired as to where he and his cousins were riding to that morning.

In addition, his mother would not have thought to ask as she was too busy preparing for the Portnoys and Barringtons, who would arrive on Wednesday.

From the fence it was a little less than two miles to the eastern bank of the lake, and a place to fish, which had always been generous in surrendering the residents of the lake to be caught on previous fishing expeditions. The cousins looked forward to providing the fish course for dinner that evening.

With a little more than a mile to go, they slowed their horses down to a canter, then a trot, and eventually a walk. They all loved their stallions too much to gallop for the miles they had without allowing them to cool down correctly.

The cousins dismounted close to the shore of the lake. All three horses were trained to the extent they did not need to be secured to something to stop them wandering away.

Leaving their horses munching the long grasses growing around the lake and with an unlimited supply of water when they wanted it, the two Fitzwilliams and a Darcy removed their fishing rods which had been secured to the one side of their saddles. Next they removed the rest of what they needed from their saddlebags. Each man also had a canvass bag with him to hold the bounty he expected to catch.

Being rather competitive, they had elected separate bags to be able to tell who caught the most.

While his cousins were attaching their reels to their rods, William walked along the bank to the south for a little distance. He was trying to remember the spot which had yielded many fish when he had fished here on his last visit almost a year past. As he wanted to win, he had said nothing to his cousins.

He walked a little towards the south and then William froze. Then he listened again. He could have sworn he heard someone crying. Just when he convinced himself it was his imagination, he heard someone blow their nose.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Elizabeth had begged John and Brian’s indulgence to allow her a big distance ahead of them. She knew she needed to release her pent up emotions and did not want to explain why she was crying to her guards, or anyone who worked for him .

They crossed the stone and two wooden bridges over the river and streams which ran out of the lake at its narrow, southern end. The two huge men agreed to remain there as long as they could see her.

She walked on the path which ran next to the shore of the lake until she was a few hundred yards distant from her guards. Elizabeth found a relatively flat boulder and sat on it with her back to the two men.

Once she was assured of her relative privacy, she allowed the floodgates to open. She regulated the shaking of her shoulders not wanting John and Brian to guess what she was doing.

Once she had cried all she needed, Elizabeth blew her nose, rather noisily. When in company she would give a dainty wipe of that organ, never emulate a trumpet as she had now. Before she could react, the most handsome man she had ever beheld entered her field of vision walking along the bank of the lake from the north.

“Who gives you the right to be on the Duke’s land?” William demanded. It was a young lady, not much more than a girl, sitting alone unescorted so he was sure she did not belong here. He did not pay attention to the quality of her dress.

The two guards started to run towards Her Grace as soon as they saw the man approach her.

“Just who do you think you are? I am a resident of this estate while you are trespassing!” Elizabeth spat back with anger. She was standing now, her fists balled up at her sides while figuratively fire was shooting from her eyes.

It was at that moment he saw the beauty before him, the finest eyes of any colour he had ever beheld. Before he could respond, Andrew and Richard arrived at his side, and it was then he saw the giant men bearing down on them.

“Excuse me madam, has my younger cousin inserted his hessian into his mouth again?” Andrew enquired.

“If you call asking me what I am doing at an estate where I am legally a resident, then yes, I suppose he has,” Elizabeth replied with only slightly less asperity.

Just then the guards reach Her Grace. “Your Grace,” Biggs called out as he looked at the three men malevolently. “Are you well?”

When he heard the manner in which she was addressed, William felt so small he would have crawled under the nearest pebble had he been able to. The shame burnt deeply.

“Well done William, I think you just insulted the mistress of this estate, the Duchess of Hertfordshire,” Richard interjected.

“I am well John. If you and Brian remain close by, I am certain we can determine who is, and is not, authorised to be here.” Elizabeth turned to the slightly taller of the two sandy blond men. “As you have ascertained who I am, will you share who you are, including your rude cousin and what your purpose is here.”

William was about to defend himself but he decided discretion was the better part of valour, and there was no defence for his behaviour, which had been rude in the extreme. If the young duchess unleashed her men, he would be pummelled to a pulp.

Elizabeth arched her eyebrow as she waited for a response.

“Your Grace, please allow me to apologise for my cousin, at times he speaks before he engages his vast intellect.” Elizabeth inclined her head. “I am Lord Andrew Fitzwilliam, Viscount Hilldale. Next to me is my brother, the Honourable Captain Richard Fitzwilliam, and our cousin who misspoke is Master Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley, the estate which borders yours to the east.”

“If that is the case, my housekeeper has informed me my late father-in-law authorised members of your family to fish here, which I assume was your purpose today.” All three men nodded. “Permission which the current duke has never rescinded. As long as no one insults me or anyone who is employed here.” Elizabeth looked at the dark haired one pointedly, “then I will not change the permission you have to visit the lake.”

“You are most magnanimous, Your Grace,” William bowed to the emerald green-eyed beauty before him. “Please accept my abject apologies for my ungentlemanlike conduct. As a visitor here myself, I had no justification to question your presence.”

It was easy to see the handsome man was entirely sincere. As such, there was only one thing Elizabeth could do. “I pardon you unreservedly, Master Darcy.” She turned to her two guards who had visibly relaxed seeing their mistress was not in any sort of danger. “You may give us a little space, but not as far away as I had requested you wait before.”

“Aye, Your Grace,” Johns responded for the two men. “We will wait some twenty yards away.”

Once the two men had retreated, William looked into the beautiful eyes deeply. “If I am not too forward, Your Grace, are you well?” he asked.

Elizabeth was about to deny she was anything but well when she realised it was the sound of her crying which had more than likely brought Master Darcy to her.

“If you would like to unburden yourself, Your Grace,” William offered. “My cousins and I will be the souls of discretion and there are times when a problem shared is one halved.”

Elizabeth looked from man to man and saw nothing but compassion reflected in their eyes. She did not know why, but she instinctively knew she could trust them. What the young man, Darcy, said about unburdening herself rang true. Until this moment she did not realise how much she needed to do so.

“How much time do you have?” she enquired.

“As much as you need, Your Grace,” Andrew stated for all three.

“It is a long story,” Elizabeth related as she sat back down on her boulder. “It all begins one night in April of last year at the assembly in the town near the estate where I grew up…”

When she was done, all three men’s eyes were suspiciously moist. “You love your sister so deeply you married a man you detest to protect…Jane?” Andrew verified in wonder.

Before the Duchess responded, William needed to make another amends. “Please pardon me once again. When I heard the Duke of Hertfordshire had found another wife, I made the assumption she—you—were a social climber and fortune hunter. I could not have been more wrong if I had attempted to do so. The bravery and nobility of sacrificing your own comfort and happiness to protect your sister, is beyond anything I have ever heard of in my life.”

“As I told my aunt, I always swore to marry for the deepest love, and I did so, for the love of Janey,” Elizabeth stated wistfully.

“And your parents…” Richard began before he was cut off by an angry retort.

“Mr. and Mrs. Bennet are not my parents, I have none!” Elizabeth barked.

“Bennet,” Andrew repeated, “Do you have a younger sister Miss Mary?”

“Yes, I do, how would you know that?” Elizabeth puzzled.

“My goodness, it is my day for apologies,” William stated. “He then proceeded to tell the Duchess about the meeting in Hyde Park and his ill-advised accusations.

A tinkling laugh, like a glass bell being rung, issued forth from Her Grace.

“Mary may be slower to forgive, but I am sure Jane will forgive you, if she has not already,” Elizabeth stated.

“He apologised to your sisters right away, Your Grace, and they forgave him, Miss Mary too,” Andrew related.

“And I was there to see our William’s performance, it was a few days before my regiment departed for the Peninsula,” Richard revealed.

“You have been candid with us, Your Grace, may we be the same with you?” Andrew requested.

Elizabeth inclined her head in permission.

“It may sound fantastical, but I felt a connection with Miss Bennet and have been seeking her out since then. I saw her in Lambton the day we three arrived from my estate,” Andrew reported.

“Your Grace, do we have your leave to talk to our parents about what you have revealed?” William questioned. “They have no more love for your husband than you or we do and they may have an idea how to affect a meeting between you, your family, and friends away from prying eyes.”

The chance of seeing her loved ones and being able to be open with them was too great an attraction to Elizabeth. “You may. I would like nothing more than to see them openly.”

“If that be the case, we need to return to Pemberley. One of us, or one of our parents will be in touch, Your Grace,” William stated.

The three men bowed and then made for where they had left their horses. Elizabeth turned and walked towards where her guards waited and as soon as she passed them, they fell in behind her as she struck out towards the mansion.