Page 49 of Losing Lizzy
“Yes, sir.”
He grinned. “Although I could desperately use his services, Sheffield is to be treated as a guest during his stay with us.”
Mrs. Guthrie’s features displayed her surprise, but, as any good upper servant would, she nodded her understanding.
“One last thing,” he ordered. “My cousin, Miss de Bourgh, and I assume her companion, Mrs. Jenkinson, will be joining us later for an extended stay. The ladies will require rooms, as will her footman and coachman. Please apologize to Cook for upsetting her plans for supper.”
“Certainly, sir.”
“Where is my sister?”
“I believe she and Mr. Fitzwilliam are in her sitting room.”
He nodded his gratitude and started up the stairs with Elizabeth on his arm and Lizzy nestled against his shoulder.
“Sheffield,” Elizabeth called without looking around. “You may visit below stairs, but—”
“I understand, Mrs. Darcy,” Sheffield said with a laugh. “I would not dare go against your will.”
Chapter Sixteen
They were actually inLondon for three full days before they departed for Hertfordshire. Before Anne arrived on that Saturday evening, Darcy had taken Fitzwilliam aside and explained the part Lady Catherine had played in Darcy’s trials, as well as the restrictions he had placed upon her.
“And you are willing to permit others knowledge of all this if her ladyship does not comply?” Fitzwilliam asked.
“I would not wish to place either Elizabeth or my child in a position of public shame, but I cannot relent. Lady Catherine’s spitefulness nearly cost me my life. It did cost me three years of memories with Elizabeth Anne and Elizabeth. What would you do if our aunt had robbed you of the memory of holding your son for the first time?”
Fitzwilliam casually sipped his brandy, but Darcy noted how his posture was no longer relaxed and there was a hardness in his tone when he spoke. “Likely more than you have executed against her ladyship.”
“Trust me, I wished to tear her apart, limb-by-limb. Yet, there were others who did not deserve the public notice a trial would have brought to our doors. Many more than my family. You. My sister. Your son and future children. Sheffield. Anne. All her ladyship’s servants. Your mother. And more than we care to consider.”
Meanwhile, Elizabeth, bless her heart, convincedGeorgiana that the day he rode ahead to Pemberly and had left her with the Bingleys had been the day of their elopement—that they had been corresponding, and he knew of her traveling in the area with her aunt and uncle. Elizabeth had suggested that they had become reacquainted in Kent, and he had proposed, but she had asked for time to consider his offer.
“Did you not take notice of how distracted Mr. Darcy was after he returned from Rosings Park? My mind was certainly everywhere but on Mrs. Collins’s kind efforts to entertain me.”
“My brother did appear from sorts,” Georgiana admitted. “I thought him still angry with me for my foolishness at Ramsgate.”
“Nothing of the nature,” Elizabeth assured. “Fitzwilliam and I should not have written to each other,” Elizabeth said with a straight face, while not providing the details of how they had gone about the correspondence without anyone knowing of it, especially her father. “However, we had an ‘understanding.’ I promised him I would make my decision by the time I joined my relations in the Lake District. However, the Gardiners’ plans changed, and your brother and I were so close—. The Gardiners and I traveled to Matlock and Dovedale. My relations knew of your brother because, as you recall, my aunt lived in Lambton when she was younger, and they were aware I had spent time with Fitzwilliam in both Hertfordshire and Kent. They did not question when he called upon me in Derbyshire, and they were more than happy to permit him to escort me on an outing about the shire. Little did they know, we planned a race to the border to marry. As the day progressed, he sent them word of our impetuousness and guaranteed we would return the following day. They were not best pleased, as I was not of age to marry in England without my father’s permission, but they accepted our affection as genuine.
“Your brother wished us to meet in private, but the Bingleys had traveled with you. He and I planned to make our announcement after the day you and I shared tea. Unfortunately, on that day I received news of my sister’s elopement with Mr.Wickham. Do you not recall how nervous both Fitzwilliam and I were when we were all together with the Bingleys? It was foolish of us to postpone our announcement, but two elopements in the same family and so close together would have ruined my sisters. We knew our true wedding date, and we saw no harm in a public ceremony in order to save my family’s reputation.”
Georgiana teared up then, even more so when his sister realized how much he and Elizabeth had suffered. His sister had studied the marriage certificate they had shared with her. “Those days were so black for me. I realized William cared very much about you when he whisked me off to Lambton to take your acquaintance, but then the Bingley sisters spoke so critically of you and to you. I did not know what to think. Yet, you protected me when Miss Bingley mentioned Mr. Wickham, and I thought we could be friends. I was barely sixteen years and so ashamed of my foolishness in dealing with the man. I was thankful for your hand of friendship, but I did not think I deserved it.” She looked down at the marriage license in her lap. “This is surely William’s signature, so it must be as you say. I would know my brother’s handwriting anywhere. I recall how contrite he was when he left me with the Bingleys. Apologetic, but eager to leave. Now, I understand why.”
Obviously, Elizabeth offered no such fabrications to her relations when she called upon the Gardiners after church on Sunday. She simply pleaded for their cooperation to protect Elizabeth Anne and made them the necessary promises that she and he would marry within the next month.
Her part in setting their lives aright had been easier than his.
All he really accomplished on Sunday was to make an appearance at his club and let it be known he was interested in investing in a bookstore in London, no preferences, except he wanted it to be one where both those of the upper class and those of the working class might feel comfortable patronizing. That done, he had returned to Darcy House to learn Mr. Ruffe and Mr. Liles were waiting for him in the kitchen. Once Jasperhad escorted the pair to Darcy’s study, he dispensed with their payment quickly, when he landed on an idea that just might work. With a few questions and a willing response, he employed Mr. Ruffe for a much more important job.
“You wish me to sit in a room at an inn located in Dry Drayton for a bit over three weeks?” the man asked in dismay. “My meals and my drink furnished. I’m to be known to be there, but not draw too much attention, so others will not question when you replace me there? Nothin’ personal, Mr. Darcy, but we don’t much look alike.”
Darcy assured, “Unless you do something uncalled for by becoming involved in a fight or losing your earnings in a game of cards, most people will not take note. Are you willing or not?”
Darcy made no further explanation of what he intended to do: He simply confirmed Ruffe’s duties.
“No other jobs—no murders or thievery?” Ruffe asked suspiciously.
Darcy laughed easily. “Just sit and eat and drink. I will pay the bill. Rest for a few weeks. Your absence might draw the Queenborough magistrate off your mark.” He had chosen Ruffe over Liles because Ruffe was not married and his absence from Kent would not prove a hardship for his family.
