Darcy's Temptation (60 page)

“Elizabeth,” he choked with emotions, “I must see this through, or I will never be able to forgive myself.” Darcy moved to sit on the edge of her bed. “If something would happen,” he began but could not finish his thoughts.

Elizabeth opened herself to Darcy, and he snuggled into the crest of his wife's arms, resting his head on her now-ample chest. “We will be strong; it is our destiny to be together.” Elizabeth lightly kissed the side of Darcy's face. “Have faith in your dreams, my Love—have faith in our destiny. Making the most of every moment is the single most important lesson of my life.”

“Do you have faith in us, Lizzy? Can our dreams come true?” Darcy caressed the side of her face. “In less than a year, we have lived a lifetime. I lost so many of our memories; I cannot lose this memory, too.” Darcy returned his attention to his wife's neckline.

Elizabeth could not answer him; all she could do was hold him.The realization of how much her husband lost made her ashamed of the fact she planned to deprive him of the gift of their child. Had she been successful, Darcy's natural tendency for self-censure would have left him devastated. It amazed her how little she learned about misjudging him. Back at Hunsford, when he first proposed, Elizabeth judged him to be vain and prideful. Later, she discovered Darcy to be honorable—to be the best man of her acquaintance. So, how had she thought Darcy would not treat her honorably? He lost part of his memory, but he did not lose the man he always was. Elizabeth wondered if she would ever deserve him.

They spent a couple of hours settling doubts which plagued both of them. Although they did not share a “marriage” bed, intimacy prevailed—both emotionally and physically. Elizabeth and Darcy pledged their devotion to one another. Darcy resolved to make a better life for his wife; Elizabeth resolved to recognize her husband's true worth.

When Darcy returned to his sister's letter, satisfaction could be seen on his face.

Darcy's hand shook when he read the letter and a curse escaped his lips.“What craziness is this?”

“Of what do you speak, my Love?” Elizabeth reacted to his agitation.

“Read it yourself.” He handed her the letter as he strode to the nearby window.

Elizabeth looked at Darcy worriedly.“Will you go after her?”

“My sister is with Mr. Harrison by now; she knew she would be at Hines Park before I received this missive.” Darcy did not turn around, and Elizabeth wondered if he now regretted not going after his sister instead of staying with her. She wondered whether this, too, might come between them.

“We must trust Georgiana; she will not allow something to happen of an inappropriate nature,” Elizabeth began to reason out loud. “If your sister went to Hines Park, she must truly believe Mr. Harrison needs her. The worst, which could happen, is the man asks for her hand two months earlier than we anticipated. Mr. Harrison loves Georgiana, and he is an honorable man.”

Darcy turned to look back at his wife. “Believe it or not, I accepted the inevitability of my sister's regard for Mr. Harrison some time ago. I cannot say I approve of her decision, but it is Georgiana's decision. I just wish she did not risk her reputation once again.”

“Do you regret not going to London?” Elizabeth bit her bottom lip, assuming Darcy would blame her for what now happened to Georgiana.

Darcy, seeing her distress, returned to her side. “Elizabeth, you are my life. I helped raise Georgiana; I taught her our parents' values. Even if I were in London or Georgiana were here, she would find a way to be with Mr. Harrison. He is her destiny as you are mine.”

“Do you truly believe what you profess, Fitzwilliam?” Elizabeth lightly touched his arm.

Darcy kept his serious look, but he softened his tone.“I am concerned with what drove my sister to such a decision, and I wish she was more specific as to why censure of Mr. Harrison was a new issue.”

Elizabeth interrupted. “Did you not say Mr. Harrison was to accept an appointment as a Parliamentary Minister? That must be her reference to Harrison's
future political position
.”

“At the moment my qualms with Georgiana's decision lie in the question in what Mr. Harrison is involved. I cannot believe Georgiana would risk everything for a romantic tryst; it is not in her character no matter how much her affection for the man increased.” Darcy shook his head in disbelief.

Elizabeth took his hand in hers.“Of course, Georgiana would never disgrace the family name by committing an indiscretion.”

“Then why did she make the trip to Hines Park?” Darcy could not clear his thinking.

“Fitzwilliam, I think you should go to Dove Dale,” Elizabeth said with determination.

“Elizabeth, I just said I would not leave you,” Darcy assured her. Looking at her, at last, it dawned on Darcy Elizabeth feared he blamed her. “Elizabeth, I cannot control my sister; if she is safe, I have no other wish.”

“I still think you should consider going to find Georgiana. Mr. Harrison's estate is only a few hours away; you could ride Cerberus, and then we could be satisfied of Georgiana's intent. If you go and return in the same day, I am sure I could muster the energy to entertain myself in your absence.” Elizabeth tried to act as if she, too, had not considered how precarious her own position might be. She shifted her concern to Georgiana's well-being.

“It is too late to ride today.” Darcy began to consider the possibility.

“At dawn.” Elizabeth stroked his chin as he looked away, deep in thought.

“Are you sure, my Elizabeth?” Darcy argued with himself over to whom he owed his allegiance.

“Fitzwilliam, I insist. Georgiana is my sister, too; I wish no harm to come to her.You must go, my Love.” Elizabeth pushed
herself up in the bed. “I would blame myself forever if she came to harm.”

Darcy moved quickly to take Elizabeth in his arms.“Thank you, my Love.” He caressed her cheek as he clutched her head to his chest.

 

Unfortunately, the dawn postponed Darcy's leaving as it brought a torrent of rain and wind. Sheets of precipitation blanketed the windowpanes, blurring the view, and the wind rushed down chimney flues. Branches and saplings bent with the force. Darcy paced from room to room, waiting for the storm to lessen, but it raged on for hours.When the end could be safely determined, the clearing of the skies brought additional agitation. Darcy, like a caged animal, needed to act.

“It is too dangerous, Fitzwilliam,” Elizabeth reasoned. “Although on Cerberus you would not have the problems of a carriage ride, many roads must be covered in water or washed away completely. I will not have you risk your own life. This child needs you. I am distressed about Georgiana, but the thoughts of losing you are unacceptable.”

“I know you speak the truth, but I am so worried about Georgiana. I feel there is something not right with all this.” Darcy looked out the window again, hoping the conditions miraculously changed.

“I am sure the weather keeps my sister from us.” Elizabeth anxiously watched his silhouette.

“I pray you are right.” Darcy wanted to will his sister to safety. He said no more, but Elizabeth knew Darcy would not stop until it was clear for him to go to find Georgiana. Elizabeth had another reason for not wanting Darcy to leave—the discomfort she felt the night she nearly delivered the baby returned.

When the attack came, Chadwick Harrison did not expect it. The warning told of a public outcry at the borough's assemblage, but none came, and Harrison assumed the entail to be wrong. He should have recognized the subtle changes as his carriage approached his estate house, but Harrison was daydreaming of Georgiana Darcy, an event that occurred several times a day—actually, all day, most days. Going up the main steps, Harrison reacted too late to stop his attackers when they came. Before he could reach the door, Captain Rutherford appeared on its threshold; beside him, Rutherford's companion, a grimy-looking slug of a man, stood, a bloody sword in his hand.

“You are late,” the man looked on gleefully.

Harrison froze momentarily, but as a flash of intent crossed the man's face, Harrison caught an empty pot, using it as a shield to deflect the blade. He turned to make his escape, but Rutherford's men surrounded him, grabbing his arms and pinning him back against the door. Harrison struggled, trying to assess the situation, but more men forced him to finally succumb.

Rutherford motioned for the men to take him inside, and before he could calculate the danger in which he found himself, they chained Harrison to a supporting post in a back sitting room. Rutherford held back until Harrison was secured; then he strode forward. Scowling scornfully, he said, “Did you think we forgot about you, Harrison?”

“I am unforgettable, am I not, Captain?” Harrison tried to look as if everything were normal.

The captain found nothing amusing, and Harrison's words infuriated him more. A backhand blow rocked Harrison's sensibilities, as well as split his lip.

Harrison licked the blood away. “What is wrong, Rutherford,” he continued his teasing tone,“no sense of humor?”

Rutherford's lips suddenly curled. He snarled, “I will be laughing soon, Harrison. When you are dead, I will be consumed
with laughter.” The captain walked away, taking up a position in front of the windows.

Harrison spoke calmly,“Do you not realize, Captain, even if you manage to kill me, it will not stop the belief in freedom for all God's children?”

“I will manage to kill you, Mr. Harrison.” Rutherford poured himself a drink.“It will be an elegantly slow death.You will be our example.”

“I am insignificant. No one will care about my fate.” Harrison hoped to buy time until he could figure out his escape. “May I ask about my household staff?”

“A few unfortunates chose to fight on your behalf and have met a suitable fate for their loyalty.The others are locked in the kitchen larder or one of the other storage areas.They will not be harmed.” Rutherford sat in a nearby chair.

Harrison dropped his eyes. The blood on the mercenary's sword was one of his staff members. “Do not hurt them; I will do what you wish.”

“Whether we hurt them or not, you
will do
what we wish.” Rutherford's voice lowered, as if he spoke evil. The captain nodded imperceptively, and the slimy man's fist locked onto Harrison's jaw.

 

The beatings continued for what seemed like hours. Harrison's face was bruised and bleeding, and more than once his mouth filled with blood.A cat-and-nine-tails took flesh from his back, but nothing changed. Rutherford made no demands; the captain simply enjoyed the process of killing a man.

The dawn brought Harrison a bit of a reprieve. A powerful storm tore through the area, and Rutherford's men bemoaned how the wind and rain delayed their plans to kill Harrison and all his staff. Harrison heard them, but he reached a point where he no longer cared for his own life, only his staff members mattered. He hung from the post; his arms stretched above him.At
first, he stood; now, he truly clung, waiting for death to come.