Darcy's Temptation (24 page)

 

 

Brisk footsteps brought her to a waking state once again, and Elizabeth had just straightened her dress when Lady Catherine strode confidently into the room. Elizabeth staggered to her feet and made a quick curtsy to the elderly woman. “Lady Catherine,” she spoke haltingly.

“Miss Bennet,” Lady Catherine snapped.

Elizabeth set her jaw line. “Lady Catherine, my name is Elizabeth Darcy, and I insist you call me as such, or we can end this conversation before it starts.”

Lady Catherine turned and walked over to a seat.“May I?” She indicated the chair.

“Certainly.” Elizabeth gestured toward the chair. She already dealt with one crisis today; dealing with Lady Catherine on top of everything else could be more than she could handle. Elizabeth smoothed the front of her dress before taking a seat herself.

“I will come to my point quickly.” Lady Catherine kept a prim and proper attitude. “My nephew met with a tragic act, and although his body has not been found, he has been gone nearly a month, and he has not returned home. We must assume he is no longer alive.” Elizabeth tried to interrupt—to
protest—Darcy's aunt's words, but a raise of Lady Catherine's hand indicated she was not through. “I understand from my daughter, who should be Fitzwilliam's rightful wife, you are with child.”

“My husband told you at Matlock I am with child. Our baby is due in July.” Elizabeth knew not where this conversation led.

“You told my nephew you expect a child in July, but I know better. I have proof
this child
you carry will come in June because it is not my nephew's heir, but is instead the offspring of a militia officer.You, Miss Bennet, are no better than your youngest sister.”

Elizabeth gasped. “Lady Catherine, how can you say such lies? The child belongs to Fitzwilliam Darcy!”

“You may sway the opinion of others, but I am onto you. You will leave this house immediately, or I will expose your deceit to the world,” Lady Catherine demanded.

Upon hearing the commotion, Georgiana entered the room. Seeing Elizabeth's distress, she rushed forward and stood by her, taking her sister's hand. “Lady Catherine, what are you doing here?” Georgiana's voice cracked with emotion.

“I come, my dearest niece, to restore this property to a true Darcy, to you.”

Georgiana shook her head in disbelief. “Lady Catherine, even if my brother never returns to us, he left a jointure for Pemberley in Elizabeth's name. Fitzwilliam wanted Elizabeth to be here. His plan for this estate revolved around Elizabeth and his child.”

Lady Catherine offered her cut.“That is precisely my point, Georgiana. The child does not belong to Fitzwilliam. It is the bastard child of a militia officer; I heard rumors of such from Mr. Collins.”

Georgiana flushed with anger and then squeezed Elizabeth's hand. “Aunt, I will not tolerate such lies about my sister in this house.You would never speak as such if my brother were here.”

Lady Catherine continued as if everyone agreed with her.“I will send the Colonel to take over the estate.As your guardian, he will run it until you come of age, and then it will be yours.”

“Lady Catherine.” Georgiana steadied her voice as she stared vehemently at her mother's eldest sister.“That would be a futile effort. Even if you successfully forced Elizabeth from this estate, when I came of age I would deed it back to her. I plan to marry and move away from this land. Pemberley belongs to Elizabeth.That is what Fitzwilliam wanted, and that will be my resolution. Now, if there is nothing else, I will ask you to take your lies and leave this house! It belongs to Elizabeth and to me, and neither of us cares to welcome you here again! Good day, Madam.”

With Georgiana's help, Elizabeth rose to her feet; she and Georgiana locked arms and exited the room. They never looked back, but they heard servants scrambling as Lady Catherine scattered them in her wake.

 

The emotional day played havoc with both women. They entered the music room although neither of them planned to play. They held each other tightly, while tears came to them again. “Oh, Elizabeth, I am so sorry you suffer at my family's hand.”

Elizabeth used her knuckles to force the tears from her face. “It is my family as well; Mr. Collins is my cousin. It just proves what Kitty feared—people in Meryton still speak poorly of our family even after your brother bought Lydia her respectability. How could Mr. Collins repeat such lies?”

“Mr. Collins says what my aunt wants to hear.Would it not be a miserable existence to depend on another's favor as such?” Georgiana reasoned.

“You have the same kind of goodness as my dearest Jane.” Elizabeth squeezed Georgiana's hand. “However, I feel no sympathy for the man. He deserves all the groveling, which is
forced upon him by your aunt.” Elizabeth led Georgiana to adjoining chairs.“Can you fathom what Lady Catherine said?”

“If she were successful, Lady Catherine would be able to alleviate two of her vexations. She would drive you from Pemberley, and she would separate Anne and Edward by sending him here to be my guardian.”

Elizabeth nearly laughed. “Lady Catherine is a pathetic creature, although I admit to loathing when she comes near me. Thank you for defending me against her. After my early confrontation with Mr. Jefferson about the crops, I had little left to fend off Lady Catherine's attack.”

“Although I wish with all my heart my brother would return, I am glad he did not witness what just happened. I am sure he would have done our aunt bodily harm.” Georgiana fought back her laughter. “Could you not see my brother physically removing Lady Catherine from the room?”

“In Matlock, Fitzwilliam restrained his contempt for Lady Catherine's accusations.” Elizabeth, too, found humor in the images. “However, in the
comfort
of his own home, I doubt if restraint would be a word in his vocabulary.” Elizabeth took Georgiana's hand once again. “You have become quite the force with which to face; your brother would be happy you finally found your voice.”

“Do you believe so, Elizabeth?” Georgiana seemed timid once again.

“Fitzwilliam's dream for you was to move past your disastrous encounter with George Wickham and to become a strong, confident woman. He is a man who believes women cannot be treated as chattel—they have a voice to which men must sometimes listen.Your brother dreams of giving you a life in which you are valued as a person—not as property. That is why he went to Hull—to secure your future. He would be so proud of you.”

Jane Austen,
Mansfield Park
, 1814

Fitzwilliam Darcy continued to recover from his wounds. A slight limp remained, but his strength returned. His tall, muscular physique once again filled out his waistcoat and breeches. A handsome man, Darcy's presence filled a room. Along with his return physically came a more pronounced haughty manner. “Should we not consider an invitation for dinner for some of our neighbors or at least the local cleric?” Darcy asked as he and Miss Donnelly sat down to dinner.

“I prefer not to associate with my neighbors.” Miss Donnelly spoke without guarding her words.

Darcy looked incredulous.“Not associate with your neighbors? I understand a desire for solitude, but one cannot ignore society's demands for proper behavior!”

Miss Donnelly rued her words. She did not want Darcy to mix with others from the community until after their marriage.Too many people knew her family and their relatives. Her ancestors were in the area for three generations. At Darling Hall, she could control what information he learned about his past, but she could not be sure of what others might say to him. “Many of my neighbors possess country manners. Do not expect the local gentry to offer much toward polite society.” Miss Donnelly took a smug demeanor.

“Pardon me, Madam, what did you say?” Darcy shook his head as her words interlaced with the shadows of his memory.

“Is something the matter, Frederick?”

“Not exactly—I am afraid your words seemed familiar in their phrasing.” Darcy's countenance twisted in the effort to remember.

“Shall I call for Conrad to come to assist you, Sir?”

“No—no, I am fine.” The color returned to his face. “I apologize if I startled you.” He shook his head to clear the last vestiges of the memory. “We were speaking of country manners. I concur—country manners are greatly lacking in a sense of decorum and can often be viewed as vulgar. Yet, we must persevere if we are to establish ourselves in the community.”

“But Frederick,” she started to protest.

“No, Madam,” Darcy stopped her short. “I will not hear of it. We will become the standard bearers of fine society in this area. I am a Lord's son and will act as such.”

“Frederick, do you not think we should at least wait until after we are wed?” Miss Donnelly tried to delay his wishes.

“Again, I hear your concern, but we cannot hide. Although our being in the same household is unusual, I think people need to see we hold ourselves to a higher standard. It will keep the local tongues from wagging, and we must officially announce our engagement. I suggest within the fortnight.”

Miss Donnelly knew from the tone of Darcy's voice and his manner of speaking she would not be able to change his mind. She would need another diversion. She did not answer Darcy but simply lowered her eyes and nodded in affirmation.

“Then it is settled. You will take care of the invitations tomorrow. Shall I speak to the household staff?”

“No, Frederick, I shall handle it,” she mumbled.

“Very good, Madam.” He stood to take his leave so he politely took her hand. “I thought I suggested you dispense with wearing gloves when we are within our own home.”

She stammered,“I would prefer not to do so.”

“It is not a choice,” Darcy demanded, pulling one of the gloves from her hand.

“No, please do not do that,” Miss Donnelly's voice rose in volume as she tried to push his hands away.

Darcy forcibly caught her wrist. “Miss Donnelly, this is unacceptable. No woman of the
ton
wears gloves all the time. If you are to be my wife, you will do what I tell you to do.” He jerked the glove from her and pulled her hand to his mouth to kiss the back of it. Miss Donnelly gasped with horror.“Was that so terrible?” he smirked.

Miss Donnelly looked at the ungloved hand, which Darcy still held in his two hands. “I . . . I am sorry,” she mumbled. Then she dislodged her hand from his, gathered her skirt, and ran toward her rooms. She screamed for the servants to bring her hot water immediately.

Darcy stepped into the hallway, watching the woman retreat. Her absurdity brought a smile to his face. “There goes my blushing bride,” he chuckled.

 

Elizabeth Donnelly forced her hands into the water once again.“Bring me another bar of soap,” she ordered the maid.

“But Miss Donnelly,” the maid protested,“your hand bleeds from so much hot water and soap already.”

“Do as I tell you,” she shrieked.

The maid ran from the room. “Yes, Miss Donnelly; right away, Ma'am.”

 

Darcy made his way to his chambers.“Good evening, Conrad,” he addressed the servant as the man scrambled to remove Darcy's boots.“It seems I upset Miss Donnelly.”