Page 48 of Leave Her Wild
Though the magistrate thought a public hanging was worthy justice for Mr. Wickham’s various offenses, many of which came to light during the trial, Lord Matlock had insisted on transportation instead, for a public hanging would have brought more notoriety to Darcy’s marriage to Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Naturally, gossip had been leaked out about how Elizabeth had tended him during his recovery. All the “ton” wasnot surprised Miss Jane Bennet had abandoned him in favor of her sister.
The rumors in Hertfordshire were harder to quash than those in London, but his and Elizabeth’s brief appearance at the Bingley’s wedding had silenced many, for, obviously, Elizabeth was not yet increasing. “Some people live for their gossip,” his wife had said when he grumbled about the rumors.
Fueling much of the “talk” was the fact Mrs. Bennet had chosen to accompany Lydia to Scotland before she could witness Jane’s marriage to Mr. Bingley. Mrs. Wickham established residence in Scotland and was to remain there for six months and then seek a divorce from Mr. Wickham, all of which seemed an ideal solution, for, otherwise, the girl would forever be married to a man who had been transported for his numerous crimes.
“I cannot permit Lydia to travel and live alone in the wilds of Scotland,” Mrs. Bennet had declared, and so Mr. Bennet had reluctantly relented to his wife’s request.
In typical Bennet irony, the gentleman told Darcy, “I know my choice is not likely the most intelligent one I have made, but I will have Longbourn to myself—or I should say, Kitty and I will be treated to peace and quiet,” Mr. Bennet had argued.
Elizabeth had explained to Darcy when he inquired of her father’s true meaning, “Kitty wishes to remain at Longbourn. Captain Baggett, the captain who lost his hand in Spain and is part of the militia, has begun to call on her, and it is rumored Baggett is being considered for a position with the Home Office. If he earns the position, they could live in London, and Kitty could open her own modiste. Lady Matlock has promised to promote my sister’s creations to all of her ladyship’s friends.”
“Soon your father will be all alone at the estate,” Darcy had warned.
“Maybe I should leave Poochie with Papa,” his wife had suggested, but, in the end, Mr. Bennet had sent the dog with them to Derbyshire.
“There are more birds for her to chase in Derbyshire,” Bennet had told his favorite daughter, “and I am not accustomed to rising so early as you to take my walks nor do my old legs any longer tolerate the path up Oakham Mount.”
Little had Darcy known the truth of his words about all of them abandoning Mr. Bennet. After the six months and official divorce was issued to Lydia Wickham, they all had expected Mrs. Bennet, and, likely, Lydia also, to return to Hertfordshire, but neither did and there was no word from mother or daughter to explain why they had tarried up north. Finally, at Elizabeth’s insistence and worry over her mother’s safety in Edinburgh, Darcy had sent two men to Scotland to learn something of both women’s fate. The men had returned with news that Mrs. Bennet had sought her own divorce, and a month after Lydia Wickham was granted a reprieve from her marriage, so was Mrs. Frances Bennet.
Elizabeth and Mary had been dumbfounded and wanted to travel to Scotland to verify the information, but both Darcy and Samuel Ericks had refused their leaving.
“The journey would be too difficult for you, Mary, as well as for Mrs. Darcy,” Ericks had reasoned with his new wife. “You are carrying our first child, and Elizabeth likewise for Mr. Darcy, who is further along than are you. If Mrs. Bennet wanted you to know of her actions, she would have written to you. Your mother is well aware of her choices and their effect upon the Bennet family. She knows your directions, for she has asked for money from you twice already since we were married. I am not happy to support her and Lydia when we are expecting a child of our own.”
“But Papa will be heart-broken,” Mary had argued as she and Elizabeth had sat together, holding hands and fisting their handkerchiefs in sorrow and worry.
“Will he?” Darcy had suggested. “I know you both love your mother, but Mrs. Bennet has not acted with any more sense than has Mrs. Wickham. With a different husband, she has the opportunity for a small cottage when the man passes. Perhaps more. Forbye, if she stays in Scotland, she can remain near Mrs. Wickham, who you have both said was always her favorite and the one most like her in personality.”
“They are truly of a similar temperament,” Mary admitted reluctantly.
“But Papa . . .” Elizabeth had protested. “With all of us gone, he and mama were to spend their final years together.”
“Your father is not an old man,” Mr. Ericks suggested. “He could marry another and produce an heir for Longbourn.”
“A young child in his fifties!” Elizabeth had protested in alarm. “He would have grandchildren older than his own child!”
Yet, the more Ericks and Darcy spoke of the possibility, the more Elizabeth and Mary came to see the advantage to all involved.
“What is it, Mr. Pollis?” Darcy asked as the man hustled across the field between the furrowed rows of fresh turned earth.
“It be the mistress, sir. Mrs. Reynolds say it be time fer me to fetch ye.”
“Mrs. Reynolds?” Darcy asked. Elizabeth was not due to take to her bed for another month. His wife had known a difficult time in carrying their first child, mainly because she was accustomed to long walks about the estate, but her bulk had her very much restricted to the house. Darcy turned to toss his gloves to Mr. Macy. “You will see the sulfur is completed.”
“Aye, sir!” Macy called back. “We all offer prayers for the mistress, sir.”
Darcy barely heard the man’s words, for he was running to reach his horse, which was eating the grass along the edge of the field. “Come, Thor,” he told the grey stallion. “Your mistress requires us at the estate!” The springer spaniel, which had been watching Darcy’s progress in the field and had been made to wait so he was not traipsing through the sulfur powder and getting it on his fur, followed at a distance but stayed apace of Darcy’s progress.
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“Did you send a message to Mrs. Ericks?” Elizabeth asked.
“Jasper took a horse into the village, Mistress, to inform your sister. Your sister sent word that she will come as quickly as Mr. Ericks returns from his calls on the parish.” Mrs. Reynolds assisted in balancing Elizabeth’s wobbly steps.
“Mr. Darcy shall be angry that you permitted him to go to the fields this morning,” Hannah warned. Elizabeth had liked the girl so well she had hired her as her lady’s maid and brought her to Pemberley. Hannah’s family, who owned a large inn on the outskirts of Lambton, had been quite thrilled to have their daughter and sister return to Derbyshire and be part of Pemberley’s household.
“He cannot stay long angry with me,” Elizabeth declared as she again made her way down the long hall of the family wing. “I carry his child.”
Elizabeth had been uncomfortable most of the night, but she had said nothing to her husband, for the midwife had told her that she still had nearly another month to go before delivering the child. Moreover, she worried excessively that she would disappoint her sweet William by presenting him with a daughter. Though he said repeatedly all he wished for was a healthy baby, Elizabeth knew he worried excessively over the fate of Pemberley.
