Goodly Creatures: A Pride and Prejudice Deviation (15 page)

Mr Darcy sought out Miss Elizabeth and her uncle in the solarium. As he entered, he overheard the two talking about what would be needed to build such a room. Darcy silently seethed that she was so certain of her success wresting money from them that she was already planning what she would do with her bounty. What a ridiculous extravagance. Miss Elizabeth obviously had no financial sense, but it did seem strange that Mr Gardiner was sharing her enthusiasm. He had appeared to be a particularly savvy tradesman.

Elizabeth and Mr Gardiner followed Mr Darcy back to the study. Anne was waiting for them with an apprehensive look on her face. She and Darcy had agreed that he would present their proposal.

Darcy donned his most serious and haughty mask and said, “Miss Elizabeth, we would like to present an alternative proposition. My wife and I would like to substitute ourselves for the Gardiners and raise this child as our own. He or she would have all the advantages we can provide. Just as with your plan, this baby would appear to the outside world as ours. We are prepared to compensate you twenty thousand pounds and put pressure on our cousin to contribute an additional three thousand pounds.” His eyes shifted from hers to her uncle’s. “We will ensure complete secrecy. It would not be in any of our interests to have our plot known beyond ourselves.”

Elizabeth felt a surge of fury run through her body at Mr Darcy’s words. For the first time that day, she could not keep her face from displaying her emotions. How dare he think she would sell this child to them? She had come in righteousness to demand her due in return for silence about the vicious and dishonourable behaviour of their family. Now this proud man was standing here, casually proposing that she give them what had been conceived so brutally. She could tell by his stony demeanour that he cared nothing about what she had endured; and he and his disreputable wife only thought of solving their need for an heir by giving her a measly twenty thousand pounds. Who did they think she was that she would allow this innocent and helpless child to be raised in a nest of vipers?

Elizabeth reined her features back to a placid countenance before she spoke. However, she was unsuccessful in keeping the anger from her eyes. “Your proposal is quite out of the question. You are not worthy of raising this child. I miscalculated. I thought you to be reasonable; and would see the justice of paying me, but obviously I was wrong. If you are not willing to give me six thousand pounds, my uncle and I will be on our way. I hope I can at least expect you to be honourable enough to keep silent about my disgrace at the hands of your cousin.” Elizabeth noticed that her uncle appeared to think she was being too abrupt. Mr Darcy looked first confused and then angry, and Mrs Darcy seemed about to collapse.

Anne Darcy had desperation in her eyes as she captured Elizabeth’s hand. “Please do not reject our proposal so quickly. I know there are many things that need to be said to explain why you should accept. Please, Mr Gardiner, go with my husband. Leave me with Miss Elizabeth. I have things I must tell her… things I should have told her long ago.”

The two men left Anne and Elizabeth in Mr Darcy’s study. Mr Gardiner gave Elizabeth a final glance that advised her to listen and not act precipitously as he departed.

With a nod to her uncle, Lizzy agreed it was prudent to allow her betrayer a private audience but did not think there was anything she could possibly say that would persuade her to give her this baby. Perhaps, her uncle was correct and she had acted hastily. Her indulgence of Mrs Darcy might at least keep the communication open for receiving payment for her silence.

Anne twisted her handkerchief and looked forlorn as she began speaking. “Elizabeth, I want to apologize.”

Elizabeth stiffened at the use of her Christian name. She had given her permission, but was amazed she assumed she was still allowed despite her treachery.

Anne saw her reaction and started again. “Miss Elizabeth, I want to apologize. I did not know what my cousin intended. He said he wanted a private audience to inform you of his admiration. While there could never be anything between you, he believed your knowing of a viscount’s high regard would give you confidence.”

A twinge of guilt flitted across Lizzy’s countenance. Could her pride have contributed to Mrs Darcy’s unbelievable naiveté? No, absolutely not! She forced her face into a look of utter contempt, as she shook her head in disbelief at Mrs Darcy’s words.

Anne saw both the fleeting doubt and the hardening of resolve in her listener’s face and adjusted her tone to pleading. “Miss Elizabeth, I know I should have been more discerning in acquiescing to my cousin’s request. Please forgive me; I am not experienced in the ways of the world. As you know, my mother never permitted me to have friends or come out in society. For a second, Anne’s animosity toward her mother took precedence over her mission to gain the baby. “I believe Her Ladyship feared I might excel at things she had never bothered to learn. My cousins and Mrs Jenkinson—a much older woman hired by my mother to watch me—were my only companions when I was growing up. Spending time with Fitzwilliam, Edmund and his brother Richard and their parents was the highlight of my sheltered life. The two summers I spent at Pemberley were a most magical time.”

Lizzy stared intently at Anne as she continued her pitiful explanation, but refused to allow her face to betray her again.

Anne hoped her tale was having an effect, but she was not yet certain. “I went from my mother’s home to my husband’s. This winter, Mr Darcy agreed to come to town with me, but he rarely has time for visiting acquaintances. He says he is busy, but I believe he feels ill at ease in London society. Lord Wolfbridge volunteered to help me become more comfortable and take my rightful place within the
ton.
I have no experience with precisely how rakes behave, though Fitzwilliam did confide some rumours he had heard about our cousin—as well as a number of other well placed members of the highest circles. Mr Darcy disparaged such behaviour, but I never knew exactly what to make of his disclosures. My husband seemed to be saying that most men at the top of our society felt they were entitled to break the rules. All I knew for certain was that Fitzwilliam disapproved, but since Lord Wolfbridge was always charming toward me… I preferred to enjoy his company without censure.”

When Anne’s justification for her ignorance came to an end, Lizzy looked her straight in the eye and said, “Mrs Darcy, I find your account oddly touching, but I think it a lie.”

Anne looked at the ground while she struggled to figure out how to persuade this young woman she was not totally dishonourable and could be trusted with her baby. Convincing Miss Elizabeth to relinquish this child was proving difficult. That was still her main objective, and she must remain calm and keep her eyes on that prize. As the mother of the heir of Pemberley, Anne Darcy would gain status and prestige. She would cease being the mousy wife of an indifferent husband who rarely had time for her. The key to unlocking Miss Elizabeth’s heart must begin by proving to her Fitzwilliam was a good man—and very different from so many others of his class.

Elizabeth looked stern as she began making her speech. “Mrs Darcy, I say you did not tell the truth because even if you believed your cousin, you cannot expect me to accept that you do not know the rules of propriety with regard men and women. Men at the top may have liberty to act as wanton as they desire, but the same is not true of women… particularly young ladies of my station. It was totally improper to allow me to be alone with Lord Wolfbridge… even if all he had done was talk to me and tell me of his admiration.” Lizzy rolled her eyes and sneered at the absurdity of Mrs Darcy’s contention. “Being alone in his presence was enough to compromise me. If a servant had come in while we were alone together, we would have been gossiped about, and my reputation would have been in tatters. I have four sisters, and my father’s estate is entailed. Unlike you, we are not wealthy. Scandal would severely diminish my sisters’ chances of marrying; and without secure marriages, they would face reduced circumstances, possibly even poverty, when my father dies.”

Elizabeth noticed that Anne had looked back up, and thought she might have been crying, but she was unmoved. She had shed enough tears to float one of Lord Nelson’s frigates in the past three months. She continued berating her, “Mrs Darcy, my uncle had some investigations done; and he tells me you brought a great deal of wealth to your marriage, and I know you must have a very generous allowance. You have opportunities I will never have. Once you were out of your mother’s house, you could have hired your own masters, made as many friends as you desired, and if nothing else… you could have read books about proper behaviour as my sister Mary has done. Your husband is guardian to his sister. Surely he must know about propriety and could have answered your questions. Did you ask him if I should be left alone with Lord Wolfbridge?”

Anne was momentarily frightened at the mention of her husband, but then realized it was the direction their conversation must take. “No, I did not ask him. He did not know much about our friendship, and did not know you were visiting that day. I once told him I hoped you and I could become friends; but he knew none of the particulars. My impression was that he preferred not to talk of you. He would be very angry with me if he knew what I had done. I do not want to lose his favourable, albeit, indifferent opinion. He is the opposite of Lord Wolfbridge. He takes honour and obligations very seriously and is much like his father was—a good man.”

Anne sat down and put her head in her hands. For several minutes there was silence. Finally, she spoke again. “I know you think I would not be a fit mother; and you would possibly be correct if I were to raise the child by myself. I am not alone though, and Mr Darcy would be an excellent father, just as he is a loving and caring guardian to his sister. May I tell you about Mr Darcy?”

Lizzy nodded and sat down in anticipation of Mrs Darcy’s tale. Her anger toward Mr Darcy had subsided. She still thought his arrogant manner as he proposed buying her child unforgiveable; but for some reason, she had a desire to know about him. From the moment they had conversed at the theatre, she had felt some unknown emotion for him. It was more than thinking him handsome, but she could not discern what it was. Mrs Darcy had said he preferred not to know of her. She knew not what to make of that and felt strangely bothered by the statement. Perhaps, Anne’s tale would help her sketch his character.

12 A TALE OF TWO FAMILIES

“My mother’s sister, Lady Anne, was my husband’s mother, and Lord Elderton was their brother. The Fitzwilliams are an arrogant group, with a few exceptions. Lady Anne was an exception, as is Lord Wolfbridge’s brother, Richard. Lady Anne was always publicly loyal toward her siblings; but I overheard my mother say that in private her sister voiced her disapproval quite often. She spent her youth reading, becoming proficient on the pianoforte, learning to sing and diligently applying herself to becoming an accomplished young lady.”

Anne could not keep her face from becoming distorted by contempt. “My mother thought those things unimportant. She decided she did not have to apply herself because she would be desirable as a marriage partner because of her appearance, her dowry and her position. She now loves to tell everyone how she could have been supremely accomplished, but circumstances did not allow for that. What she should say is she was arrogant and indolent.”

Anne schooled her face back from scorn to vague misgivings as she continued. “I do not want to give you the impression that Lady Anne was not proud of her family. She was, and she had been my mother’s constant companion when they were young. As they grew older, they drifted apart because they wanted different things. Lady Anne wanted a loving faithful husband and children, my mother wanted prestige and wealth, and their brother felt he was entitled to just about anything he desired. My mother says that she and her sister had heard stories about my uncle that suggested he was not always honourable when it came to the ladies. Lady Anne disapproved of her brother’s behaviour toward women, but it was not the way in their family to talk about his actions outside.”

Anne pointed to a painting of a beautiful young woman dressed in the style of thirty years before that hung facing her husband’s desk. “That is she. My grandfather had this portrait and one of my mother painted just before they were presented at court. The artist was George Romney, and it certainly captures her beauty. I prefer the painting of Mr and Mrs Darcy and a five year-old Fitzwilliam by Gainsborough that hangs in the portrait gallery at Pemberley. The three of them look so happy, and Gainsborough even included their dog, a beautiful spaniel that Fitzwilliam named Puck because he was so mischievous.”

Anne smiled at the painting for a few seconds and then turned to Elizabeth. “Mr Darcy asked Lady Anne four times before she agreed to marry him. She was set against him because her brother wanted them to wed. Lord Elderton desired to marry Mr Darcy’s sister, Cassandra—primarily because she had a dowry of thirty thousand pounds. In order to accomplish his goal, he promoted a marriage between his sister and Mr Darcy. The Darcy family, though untitled, were quite wealthy. The Fitzwilliams’ wealth had been diminishing with each generation; unlike my husband’s family whose fortunes had been increasing.”