The Diary: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Page 21

  Mr. Darcy leaned his head back on the headrest as he plopped down onto a seat. “My uncle will never be told anything ever again.” He sighed, “Yes, Netherfield belongs to me at this time. I planned on sharing everything with you but we are constantly interrupted or have better things to do than converse.” He laughed as he kissed her temple after he gathered her onto his lap then he continued, “After Georgiana’s escape from Ramsgate, she told me about Mr. Gardiner and I remembered meeting him before and reacquainted myself with him. He has been a great partner in supplying His Majesty’s Army with materials needed for the war and knowing that I could trust him, he has been a valuable associate for the Home Office and secretly assisting me with my assignments using his connections. He told me about Netherfield and I thought it simpler to purchase it than to lease it due to the needed security and I had Bingley take it in his name to avoid drawing suspicion to me. I heard you resided nearby and hoped to see you and speak with you after hearing Georgiana’s many praises.” He sat up and looked at the woman who was intently listening. He grazed her fingers with his, “You had intrigued me the first moment you gave me your tongue-lashing at Percy Cottage and when you rescued me from jumping into that muddy ditch the day after I arrived here, my heart was yours then. I plan on selling Netherfield to Mr. Gardiner as soon as he is ready to retire and your relatives will always welcome you here whenever you wish to visit Hertfordshire.”

  Elizabeth shook her head in disbelief, “I cannot believe I will be marrying into such a family! I know you were extremely wealthy and Lady Catherine told me of your connections, but it is incredible and I know I am overreaching my statio...”

  Mr. Darcy kissed her lips to cease her speech then caressed her cheek, “You are a gentleman’s daughter and I am a gentleman’s son and we are equals, Elizabeth. Though I must tell you that the Prince Regent offered me an earldom and I declined it, of course; but His Highness likes to do things his own way and can be persistent. If I accept a title, you would be above Lady Catherine in status. Would you like that; to become a Lady?” He chuckled as she shook her head. “I do not wish to be politician like my uncle, to be bowing to public opinion and arguing for hours in parliament with other pompous peers over the age of fifty. I... I know... I have told you that I would quit the consultant duties but I...”

  Elizabeth tenderly stroked his lips to interrupt. “You enjoy the adventures and the excitement of working for the Home Office and would like to continue to serve our country, am I right?” She smiled, “You are no idle gentleman to sit and leisurely write your letters all day long and I would never require you to give up anything you loved, William. I would be terrified and just might run away if you become titled, since I have always been a hoyden and cannot hold my tongue in society, and as eager as I am to become Mrs. Darcy, I do not wish to be a wife who sits at home in her royal dress to sip tea and gossip with nosy neighbours. I want to do everything to be a good mistress of your homes but I also wish for exciting experiences and to travel and to meet new people. I know you are shy,” she caressed his hair, “but I enjoy balls and parties and character study. Perhaps you and I can become partners to solve crimes and mysteries all over the country. I hope you will trust me to keep your secrets and to be of assistance to you.”

  “Partners in everything, Elizabeth,” Mr. Darcy beamed brightly. “You and I will do everything together and I promise to give you as many adventures within my power. We will be together to solve mysteries and make love and raise children and make love again...”

  Elizabeth laughed, “There seems to be a lot of making love, William.”

  “Oh, yes. Constant practice is what we need.” Mr. Darcy ran his hands on her back and hips as he held her in his arms. “I cannot wait to be married. I will be dedicated to exploring every inch of your body. We will be closeted in Darcy House for a full week, I promise you that.”

  They spent the next few minutes demonstrating their devotion to each other when there was a knock at the door.

  “Always interrupted...” Elizabeth giggled and then stood up to answer the door while Mr. Darcy composed himself. “Oh, Miss Bingley! What can I do for you?”

  Miss Bingley lifted up her nose in the air, “I would like a moment of your time, Miss Bennet. In private.”

  Elizabeth nodded and shrugged her shoulders at her betrothed, not knowing what the obnoxious woman wanted. Mr. Darcy approached and nodded his head. “I will excuse myself to the breakfast room. I have a letter to read and will wait for you there before we must depart for Longbourn.” He kissed his beloved’s hand and left the room.

  Miss Bingley walked towards the middle of the drawing room then turned to glare at the petite woman. “It was you, was it not? You placed Lady Catherine in my rooms and expunged me to place me in that closet at the end of the house. Admit it. You despise me because Mr. Darcy paid attention to me first and although you stole him from me right under my nose, you are still bitter that I am better than you with all my accomplishments and will be the one to marry first. But with my fortune and friendship with those of elevated rank, I can help you succeed in the haute monde if you asked it of me. We can be of use to each other, Miss Eliza, with my introducing you to good society and your marriage to Mr. Darcy to open doors to many nobles whom I have always wished to meet. You and I are sisters, after all.”

  Elizabeth scoffed at her ridiculous statement and understood that Miss Bingley would be selfish to the last. “You are sister by law to my sister and I cannot feign to be pleased with your proposal, Miss Bingley. You are entirely wrong to believe that I am all without connection, as I have the endorsement of Lady Matlock and you forget that Georgiana Darcy will become my sister and she is perfectly capable of making introductions to her friends and their families. I would not have you disrupt Mr. Darcy’s public outings with your presence and I highly doubt your husband will be agreeable to leave Hertfordshire to exhibit in front of strangers. He never leaves, did you know?” She gibed at the crass woman, “In all of his years living here, he has never taken a holiday from his house. He dreads the filth of any place that is not his own home and keeps Robinson Manor impeccably clean. He abides by order and cleanliness after his first wife died from illness and the neighbourhood rumour is that he bathes twice and washes his hands at least twenty times daily. You are very much mistaken if you believe you will be attending grand parties in town anytime in the future.”

  Miss Bingley screeched, “You are the bane of my existence! I wish my brother never took Netherfield! I wish Mr. Darcy never met you! He should be marrying me, not you!”

  “But your brother took Netherfield because Mr. Darcy convinced him to lease it and that was because he had wished to see me,” Elizabeth retorted. “Mr. Darcy’s design to come to Hertfordshire was to know me better from the beginning. He would have never married you; he never looked at you twice.” She took a deep breath to gain her composure. “I did not order the move of your rooms but I confess it was my idea. You had insisted on displacing me but we came to the conclusion that your room was better suited for Lady Catherine. You will be gone tomorrow to become Mrs. Robinson and your trunks were already conveniently packed, so I hope you will tolerate one more night under my sister’s roof. I will be staying here another night after my calls today to be of service to Jane and I would conjecture that after tonight, you will never leave your husband’s home.”

  “I hate you!” She shrieked. “I am going to give you a good slap on that impertinent face of yours!” Miss Bingley angrily walked towards the smaller woman and raised her hand to strike her, when the door opened without a knock and Mrs. Jenkinson stepped in.

  “Oh, pardon me,” the companion announced, as she approached the ladies. “I did not realise anyone was within. I believe Mrs. Hurst wants you, Miss Bingley.” She waited until Miss Bingley rushed out in displeasure and Elizabeth could hear Mrs. Jenkinson murmur, “...fool of a chit...” under her breath.

  “Thank you for intervening.” Elizabeth laughed. “I believe
she had wished to assault me for speaking my mind and although I would have protected myself, you prevented two ladies from physically fighting and disgracing ourselves.”

  “She is no lady.” Mrs. Jenkinson huffed. “I am not surprised that she is a harridan, to be raised rotten and I blame her tradesman father entirely. I heard voices within and listened for a moment when I could tell that she sounded insane. A woman like that brings shame to all of us who strive to better ourselves and after being given everything in life, she still turned out awful and will never know happiness. My father was a poor gentleman but he made something of himself and brought up his children to be better, unlike that chit’s awful father who did well enough with his son but that shrew...” She stopped speaking for a moment.

  She then continued with a calm demeanour, “You and I are very similar, you know? I am also the second daughter of a gentleman and found a great love with a man who adored me above anything else in the world. He was related to the Earl of Liverpool but he cared naught for our difference in station or my lack of dowry. He chose me even when his family disinherited him because they disapproved of me due to a mistake I had made in my youth, but he loved me and was the best man I knew. One does not forget such a love...” She took a deep breath. “I came down to tell Lady Catherine that Miss Anne was feeling better but it seems I have missed her.”

  Elizabeth shook out of her thoughts, “Yes, she told us about Anne taking ill again and returned to her rooms. I am very sorry to hear that Anne is not feeling well. She is welcome to stay for as long as needed for her recovery.”

  Mrs. Jenkinson replied, “She should be improved by tomorrow and we are most eager to return to Kent.” She curtsied quickly, “Good morning, Miss Bennet. I will return upstairs.”

  Elizabeth nodded her head and Mrs. Jenkinson quickly left. She was glad that a physical altercation with Miss Bingley had been prevented and wondered what Mr. Darcy would have done to that woman if he had witnessed the attack.

  Elizabeth was curious to how much of the conversation with Miss Bingley that Mrs. Jenkinson heard and was pleased to be reported that Anne would soon feel better. She walked to the dining room to join Mr. Darcy to break her fast and to prepare for a long day of calls with her mother who was to flaunt her engagement to a man of £10,000 a year.

  Chapter 28

  Elizabeth sat in the carriage with Mr. Darcy, Georgiana, and Mrs. Annesley to head to Longbourn and observed her betrothed shaking his leg nervously. Georgiana was excited to spend the day with Mary and Kitty to practice on the piano and sing, and Lydia had planned a bonnet design contest between the girls so that Elizabeth could choose from the winner to wear for her wedding.

  “What has you so anxious, Mr. Darcy?” Elizabeth asked cheerfully. “We will be visiting Mr. King and my Aunt Phillips today but you are already familiar with them and I promise not to leave your side.”

  Mr. Darcy reached forward to hold her hand and spoke with concern in his eyes, “Can you promise me? Would you promise me that you will not leave me even if... Please promise me, Elizabeth.”

  “Of course, William!” Elizabeth immediately answered. “I promise to stay with you during our calls all day today. What has happened? Have you received bad news?”

  Mr. Darcy shook his head in chagrin, “Some would say good news but detrimental to me because of what you shared with me this morning, Elizabeth.” He looked outside the window to see Longbourn as the carriage stopped. “We will speak of it later. No, my dear ladies, not bad news, but rather my nerves must be frayed because of my assignment and all this wedding planning.” He put on a smile. “We shall enjoy this day and once we have some time, you and I shall speak further, Elizabeth. I look forward to seeing Mr. King again. After your father, he is one of the few gentlemen in the area who is well-versed in the modern sciences and it has been enjoyable to meet your neighbours here.”

  Elizabeth discerned that he had not wished to speak of his concerns in front of Georgiana and Mrs. Annesley so she nodded in understanding. “All will be well, William. As soon as we get through this morning, we will speak.”

  Mr. Darcy helped the ladies exit the carriage and kissed Elizabeth’s hand, “I love you. I would do everything which constitutes your happiness, Elizabeth.”

  “I know, William, and I pray you believe me when I say I would do the same.” Elizabeth smiled. “I love you.”

  They walked in arm-in-arm to make their visits and endure a long morning of drinking tea and listening to Mrs. Bennet’s excitement of having her second daughter married soon and looking forward to having rich gentlemen thrown in the paths of the rest of her daughters.

  ~*~

  After luncheon at Longbourn, Elizabeth returned to Netherfield with the Darcys and wishing to speak with her betrothed, she and Mr. Darcy walked to the garden to stroll their favourite path. They headed towards the hidden bench for privacy when they heard the soft moans of a woman. Curious to see who it could be, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth turned the corner of the hedgerows to see an officer standing with a woman in his embrace, with the front of her dress lowered and his mouth on her chest as she gripped his hair with her hands.

  Mr. Darcy immediately pulled Elizabeth back from further view and growled, “Stay here, Elizabeth.” Then he turned back to the officer and bellowed, “COLONEL!”

  Elizabeth heard the scrambling of the couple and peeked forward to see Colonel Fitzwilliam rapidly fixing his attire and Miss de Bourgh’s personal maid running back to the mansion. She watched Mr. Darcy stand tall with his knuckles turning white and wondered if he would pummel his own cousin.

  “What in bloody hell are you doing out here in public, with Anne’s maid, no less?” Mr. Darcy shouted. “Are you not supposed to be guarding Wickham with Leigh? I am mortified that Elizabeth saw...” He closed his lips tightly for a second. “You are supposed to be on duty, Colonel.”

  Colonel Fitzwilliam replied, “I am taking a short break, Darce! Leigh is perfectly capable of watching over Wickham and nothing ever happens here. Sarah and I have been friendly for as long as she has been working for Anne and she started... comforting me whenever we visit Rosings. Come, now, cousin. You may not know the ways of the world but it is how we officers get by in our dreary life as soldiers. It is just a passing amusement; no harm done.”

  Mr. Darcy growled, “Elizabeth is standing right behind the hedges and you will cease speaking, Colonel. I am Brigadier Darcy to you at this moment and you are charged with misconduct. I sent the rest of the men to London to capture the spies and only left a few men to guard Wickham and my family, and at your recommendation. Wickham should always be guarded with at least two men and you know this!”

  Elizabeth stepped towards Mr. Darcy and wrapped her arm around his while Colonel Fitzwilliam looked down abjectly at his feet with the scolding. “Let us go and check on Wickham, Mr. Darcy. I am certain the colonel is aware of his oversight and will learn from it. We are none of us perfect and can only improve ourselves by gaining wisdom from our errors.” She felt Mr. Darcy’s arm relax as he turned and they headed towards the cottage. She smiled to herself as Colonel Fitzwilliam hurriedly sprinted ahead.

  She walked into the cottage for the first time and saw that it was a quaint little house with a cosy front room and a kitchen, with what she suspected was a bedroom in the back. Colonel Fitzwilliam opened the door to where Wickham was being kept and looked inside with a loud gasp.

  “Darcy! He is gone!” He shouted as he kneeled down to inspect Lieutenant Leigh who was sprawled on the floor of the bedroom. “It looks like Leigh was knocked out with a heavy object onto his head.” He stood up and faced Mr. Darcy. “I will take full responsibility for it. It is my fault that Wickham has escaped and I will tender my resignation as soon as the bastard is found. I want to help you find him, Brigadier Darcy.”

  Mr. Darcy leaned down and examined the officer on the floor. “Elizabeth, could you please get some wet clothes for his head?” He spoke steadily. “Help me get him onto the bed, Ri
chard.”

  The two men lifted up the limp man and placed him more comfortably onto the bed and Mr. Darcy took the damp towels to wash the blood off the young officer himself. “He will come around soon.” He sighed, “It is my fault. I should have known Wickham would attempt to escape again and he took the first chance he could. I should have left more men here but I had thought to keep a low profile and that once he was gone to Brighton, that I could give up my responsibility in order to marry and leave this life behind. No; it is my fault and I will report it as such.” He rubbed his face, “Richard, alert Jameson and Wilson at the dower house and see if there is sight of Wickham in the area. He is likely long gone but we must see if there is any trace of him.”

  Colonel Fitzwilliam nodded and immediately departed. Elizabeth rubbed Mr. Darcy’s shoulder next to the bed where he had been sitting on a chair. “You will find him again, William. You have tracked him twice before and were successful both times. He will be captured and all will be well.”

  Mr. Darcy stood and kissed her hand as they walked out of the bedroom. “I had been dreading all day that I would have to tell you about this morning’s letter, which was to inform me that I have been bestowed a barony from the Prince Regent and that it had been approved by the Prime Minister. His Highness thought it a good compromise, as my ancestors are of royal blood and the title would be hereditary but without the burden of Parliamentary duties. But you told me yourself that you would run away from a title and I did not know how I could find a way to refuse the Prince, but I suppose it is a moot point now. With my failure to keep a prisoner secure under my authority, it will be recanted and I will remain only a gentleman. I cannot abide the fact that you have seen my failure, Elizabeth. You will still marry me? You will not leave me?”

  Elizabeth cradled his cheeks, “Had you never failed in anything before, William? Failures are what makes us human. When we make mistakes, when we are down and low and feel unworthy, that is when we know that we are still loved and that there is a greater purpose for our lives than to use up the air around us until we die. We must rise up and gather the courage to live with our defeat; to learn to forgive ourselves and move forward, to think of our past as its remembrance gives you pleasure and to try to not make the same mistake again.” She kissed his jaw, “You forgave your cousin easily for his error; can you not forgive yourself the same?”