Darcy's Temptation (30 page)

Darcy descended the staircase as quietly as he could. Of late, Miss Donnelly made a point of disappearing when he approached a room. Today, he wanted the opportunity to finally face her. The door to the study stood ajar, but Darcy recognized the two figures that occupied the room.

His first inclination told him to enter immediately, but his instinct told him to hold back. So, he stood near the open door and listened to their exchange.

“What happened to the cleric?” Mr. Lansing demanded as he paced back and forth.

Miss Donnelly looked frustrated. She unconsciously removed her gloves and then replaced them, pulling the kid covering on
one finger at a time.“I sent the pretentious ass away.”

“But why?” Darcy was surprised at the familiarity with which Lansing addressed his mistress.

“He knew Frederick's real identity,” she confided at last.

Lansing stopped in front of Miss Donnelly and took up a dominant position.“That was a costly mistake.”

“How was I to know his cousin was married to the man?” Miss Donnelly nearly whined.

Darcy listened carefully. Obviously, they spoke of him, but he possessed no memory of the clergyman he met several days ago nor did he know anything of a wife.

Miss Donnelly pressed down the seam along each finger of the right glove with the other hand. “The plan fell apart at that point.”

“The plan fell apart when he threw you out of his bedroom,” Lansing accused.

Miss Donnelly began to sob.“I made a mess of everything.” She covered her face with her hands, indicating her remorse.

Lansing moved in closer and placed his arm leisurely around her shoulders. “There is no need for tears,” he began and then cleared his throat before speaking again.“We may still fix this.”

“But how?” Miss Donnelly buried her face into his shoulder for comfort.

Her behavior appalled Darcy.The man was the steward for the estate; he clearly overstepped his bounds, and Miss Donnelly accepted his attentions willingly. However, even though Darcy disapproved, he did nothing because such actions on the part of Miss Donnelly could easily be justified as grounds for terminating their engagement if she chose to make an issue of it. Although Darcy knew their relationship was a sham, he still had trouble delineating what was real and what was not.

“Miss Donnelly, you must by now realize my regard for you,” Mr. Lansing tried to assure her. “We both know you had your heart set on marrying a fine gentleman, but the codicil your parents placed on the inheritance simply says you must marry. It does not stipulate to whom. If you will consider it, I would offer myself as an alternative.”

Miss Donnelly raised her face to look squarely at Mr. Lansing.“Are you sure that will work?”

“We may have your solicitor review the document, but I read it.We could take over the estate together and run it as we should.” Lansing took the woman's gloved hand in his.

“Would we then get the monetary settlement?” she asked unbelievingly.

“I am persuaded as such,” Lansing told her. “So, will you accept my offer?”

“It seems I have no other choice; it would, therefore, be my honor,” she whispered. Lansing took her in his arms, carefully making a point not to touch her skin on skin.

At this point, Darcy made his entrance, capturing their tender moment forever in their minds. “It seems you, Madam, chose to leave my affections behind.” Darcy's voice boomed through the room.

Miss Donnelly looked aghast, but Mr. Lansing did not release his hold on her. The man found his voice first. “Miss Donnelly did nothing wrong. You must realize there was a mistake made on your behalf.”

“A mistake?” Darcy accused.“A mistake, Sir, is a result of an accident—something unplanned—you and Miss Donnelly planned to deceive. Did you not? I heard you say as much a few moments ago.”

“I never meant to hurt you.” Miss Donnelly turned to Darcy, her tear-stained face showing some regret, but Darcy wondered whether it came from a result of the pain she caused him or from the fact her plan failed miserably.

“You lied to me.” Darcy stepped closer to emphasize the point. “You said my name was Frederick Donnelly.What is it in reality?”

Lansing helped the lady to a seat before she answered. Her voice quivered with emotion.“Your name is Fitzwilliam Darcy.”

Darcy demanded,“How do we know each other?”

“We met in London at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Hurst about a year ago,” she explained. Lansing sat beside her and took Miss Donnelly's hand in his.

“I remember no one by the name of Hurst.”

“I did not know who you were when we found you on the road—only after we brought you here. We spoke often at the party so I remembered you. That part makes sense—unfortunately, the rest does not. I need to marry to secure an inheritance. Your memory loss made it so easy to exaggerate the truth. Foolishly, I thought you would not deny me, even if your memory returned—you would owe me a debt.” By now, the words were peppered with Miss Donnelly's sobs.

Darcy had her where he wanted her; Miss Donnelly openly admitted her guilt.“What else do you know of my real family?” Darcy's authoritative nature required Miss Donnelly respond truthfully.When he took that resolve, few could deny him.

“Actually, Sir, very little—we met only the one time. You are from somewhere in Derbyshire.”

“And who was the clergyman?” Darcy cut in.

She looked around nervously. “I met Sir William Lucas,” Miss Donnelly began.

“You mentioned him before,” Darcy interrupted again.

Miss Donnelly swallowed hard. “Sir William Lucas comes from Hertfordshire; the clergyman Mr. Collins is Sir William's son by marriage. Mr. Collins claims you are married to his cousin.”

“I find that fact hard to believe; even if I am not your cousin, obviously, I am of higher rank than that insipid man I
met in your study the other day,” Darcy reasoned.“How could I be married to someone in his family?”

“We cannot answer that question, Sir.” Having been silent too long, Lansing joined the conversation.

“Cannot or will not answer?” Darcy insisted.

“Cannot,” Lansing reaffirmed. “It was happenstance Mr. Collins ended up here.There is little else we can tell you.”

“And—my accident—what of it?” Darcy took a dominant position in front of the mantelpiece.

“The coach was ransacked—your things scattered about the grounds. Miss Donnelly ordered us to save what we could, but most things of value were taken before we arrived,” Lansing recited.“Your driver and postilion were dead, and you were left bleeding. Evidently, you were struck several times. Plus, you hit your head on a large rock.” Darcy actually had a flash of memory of a blond gentleman snarling down from horseback at him. Unconsciously, he nodded with the words.

“Anything else?”

“Nothing of merit,” Miss Donnelly interjected.

“Then where does that leave us in the situation you created here?” Darcy's anger returned.

Mr. Lansing would not be intimidated by the tone of Darcy's voice. “It seems prudent we help you to get on your way as soon as possible. We will arrange for the coach to take you into the village. You may stay at the inn until the next coach to London leaves day after tomorrow. Appropriate passage from there would be easily arranged.”

“You plan to send me off to London without my knowing any more than what you have told me?” Darcy looked on in disbelief.

Lansing wanted to be rid of the stranger so he could advance his own plans with Miss Donnelly. “How else might we be of service to you, Sir? You can only find your way if you leave here. Perhaps someone in Derbyshire will recognize you.”

“So I am just to roam around Derbyshire until someone recognizes me? That is not much of a plan, now is it, Sir?”

“We could contact Mr. Collins for more information or even Sir William Lucas,” Miss Donnelly reasoned.

Darcy began to pace.“I suppose that is a start.”

Miss Donnelly got up and moved to the desk. “It seems reasonable,” she started, “to compensate you for the pain we caused you, Mr. Darcy.”

“In other words, you wish me to not call the constable,” Darcy said sarcastically.

“The constable will not solve your problem,” Lansing added quickly. “Miss Donnelly saved your life, Sir; if not for her, you would be dead by now. Do not forget you owe her that much forgiveness.”

Darcy chuckled lightly. “I shall permit Miss Donnelly to continue here at Darling Hall; however, my forgiveness is not likely to come.”

“Mr. Darcy, I wronged you. I can only hope you will find your real family soon.You know your name and from where you come; your search cannot be that difficult.You are a well-known gentleman in London. This task cannot be as bothersome as you portray it to be.” Miss Donnelly took control once more. “A Bow Street runner could bring you the information you seek within a day.”

Lansing jumped at the chance. “It seems a hundred pounds is ample compensation to allow you to find your way home.”

“I was thinking more like two hundred pounds,” Darcy countered.

Lansing wanted to barter, but Miss Donnelly cut him off by readily agreeing to the two hundred pounds. Removing the payment from the safe, she added, “I will have Conrad pack your things; the coach will be ready to take you into the village in an hour.” With those words, she dismissed Darcy. Miss Donnelly spent all the energy and time she would with her
failed attempt at marriage. Mr. Lansing awaited her, and she wanted to move on. She went through what was expected of her in the form of regret, but the lady was not of the nature to dwell on her mistakes; she was a woman of action.

Handing Darcy the funds, she walked over to Lansing and took his arm while saying, “We have things to discuss, Sir.” They left the room immediately.

Darcy stood in disbelief.“It figures,” he said sarcastically. He looked at the money in his hand and then laughed out loud.“I guess I am to Derbyshire.”

Colonel Fitzwilliam found rooms for himself, Bingley, and Georgiana at the inn in Brigg and then he secured directions to the estate owned by Miss Donnelly. Once they unpacked and settled in, the three of them would find out what Miss Donnelly knew of Darcy.

“I am so nervous,” Georgiana told the two men. “I cannot imagine my brother staying away from Pemberley on purpose.”

“Mrs. Collins's letter held elements of incredulity. Why would Darcy not respond to seeing Mr. Collins? It makes little sense,” Bingley added.

They took tea in the inn as the stable harnessed fresh horses for their journey to Darling Hall. “My cousin cannot be in a good way. Darcy could not pledge himself to Miss Donnelly; Mr. Collins must be mistaken.” Colonel Fitzwilliam shifted his weight uncomfortably.

Bingley stood. “I think I will check on the progress of the coach; I will return in a few minutes.” He made his traveling partners a quick bow and left the inn.

“I am sure news of Darcy and this Donnelly woman does not sit well with Mr. Bingley,” the colonel thought out loud. “With his wife being Elizabeth's sister, he must have trouble
considering Darcy might abandon Elizabeth. Bingley would be forced to face Darcy as a matter of honor.”

Georgiana gasped, “Edward, you cannot think as such about Fitzwilliam; he adores Elizabeth!”

“I agree, Georgiana, but something bizarre is happening here. If Darcy is healthy, why has he not returned home? Could he consider Elizabeth's connections to be a detriment after all?”

Georgiana began to sob. “Please do not say such things. How can you say you love Anne and think Fitzwilliam does not love Elizabeth? True love must exist in this world.”

“I am sorry, Georgiana.” Concerned his words upset his cousin, the colonel took her hand in his.“Of course, there must be a different explanation. There is too much chaos of late for any of us to think clearly. Darcy loves Elizabeth as I love Anne.”

Jane Austen,
Emma
, 1815