In the Wilds of Derbyshire Read online

  The matter having been brought back to his mind, the earl pulled the bell and summoned his butler to have the search called off. His butler, however, responded that it had already been done, based on the intelligence Darcy had given him.

  “Good man, Gates,” said Lord Chesterfield when his butler had departed. Then he addressed Darcy and Fitzwilliam again. “You may be assured that this matter is not closed. I am ashamed of my daughter’s behavior, and though she is too old to put across my knee, I cannot countenance such behavior. I have also informed my drivers that regardless of their mistress’s instructions, no one riding in one of my carriages will ever be left on the side of the road again.”

  Lady Emily once again flushed at her father’s words, but she did not say anything, seeming to understand there was nothing she could say. While the revelations they had heard since they arrived mollified Darcy a little—he had expected to arrive to a woman completely unmoved by the distress in which she had left a young woman who had never done her any harm—he still wished for nothing more than to be gone from this place.

  “There appears to have been certain . . . expectations held by your daughter, Lord Chesterfield, and I feel I must address them now.”

  The look the earl bestowed on Darcy was unreadable, but he had already turned to Lady Emily. “It appears you have harbored some hope for a union with me, Lady Emily, which may, in part, have led to today’s unpleasantness. Let me state unequivocally so there is no misunderstanding: that which you desire will never be. While I am sensible of the advantages you would bring as a wife, there will be no alliance between Pemberley and Teasdale. I apologize if this brings you pain, but I believe it is best that it be clearly understood.”

  Though Lady Emily appeared annoyed with Darcy’s declaration, he could detect no hint of sorrow he would expect to see in a woman rejected by a man from whom she wished to receive a proposal. Whatever the lady’s reasons had been, he was almost certain they had been dispassionate. In the end, she replied with dignity.

  “I understand, Mr. Darcy.”

  “Then I shall depart,” said Darcy, not wishing to stay there any longer.

  “Darcy,” called the earl as he stepped out of the room. “A moment of your time, if you will.”

  Darcy assented and as he waited for the older gentleman to approach, he could feel the weight of the earl studying him.

  “May I assume the reason you will not pursue my daughter is due to Miss Bennet?”

  “That is not the only reason,” said Darcy. “I have never considered Lady Emily as a possible bride. I believe in essentials we are too much alike, and though I understand the benefits of marrying her, I do not care for her the way a man should a woman he is considering making his bride.”

  “It is likely for the best, though I would have liked to have you as a son-in-law.” Earl Chesterfield paused for a moment, then he continued: “I assume you have thought of the repercussions of an alliance with Miss Bennet?”

  Darcy was about to respond angrily when the earl shook his head. “I mean no slight against the lady. She seems to be an intelligent, estimable sort of girl, and I know no ill of her. But from what I have heard, her portion is small and her connections are insignificant. Your father, God rest his soul, was one of my closest friends, and I would be serving his memory ill if I did not attempt to advise you in this matter, one which will be the most important decision of your life. I know you are too young to remember the countess, but she was my other half, Darcy, and I was devastated when I lost her, much as your father was when Lady Anne passed. I would not wish for anything less than what I or your father shared with our wives for you, and I know your father and mother would have felt the same way.”

  “Thank you, sir,” said Darcy, the irritation fading away. There was no reason to deny his interest now, not with the earl who had often counselled him in his father’s stead. “I know my parents would have come to love Miss Bennet, even though they would not have been happy with her situation. But her worth is above the price of any of my worldly possessions. I am wealthy enough to make her lack of dowry insignificant, and I have more connections to repulsive members of society than I know what to do with.”

  The earl barked with laughter and shook his head. “I have no doubt you do. I cannot blame you for wishing to find a wife untainted by that cesspool. I wish you the best of it. I hope, in time, all will be forgiven, and we may resume our previous closeness.”

  Darcy nodded. “I hope so too, sir. But it will depend on your daughter’s good behavior and on Miss Bennet’s generosity. Since I have no doubt of the latter, and I hope the former has learned her lesson, we should be able come to some accommodation.”

  “Then go to it, son. You may count on my support.”

  With a word of thanks and a shaken hand, Darcy turned to depart. Soon he was on his horse, cantering back toward Pemberley. He was not certain why Fitzwilliam had chosen to stay with Lady Emily, but he was certain his cousin would return before long. For now, he wished to return to his estate.

  “You are fortunate no harm came to Miss Bennet,” said Fitzwilliam when his cousin and the earl left the room.

  Though the lady’s lips tightened to a thin line, she did not respond, angering him all that much more.

  “What were you thinking?” demanded he. “How could you possibly have taken leave of your senses sufficient to leave a young lady to shift for herself in such circumstances? I would say your father taught you better, but it should be obvious that such an action cannot be considered; I should not have thought anyone needed to be told.”

  Lady Emily mumbled something, but Fitzwilliam was not about to allow her escape with such a non-reply.

  “I am sorry, Lady Emily, but I could not hear you. May I request that you repeat yourself?”

  “I said, I believe I was not thinking at all,” replied Lady Emily finally, turning a glare upon him.

  “That much is evident, madam, but it does not excuse your actions.”

  “I did not claim it did.”

  Fitzwilliam nodded curtly. “At least you see that clearly. Why did you do it?”

  “The woman made me angry!” cried she. “I did not even stop to consider my actions. I merely wished her out of my sight as quickly as possible.”

  “And what could she have said that was so offensive that you decided to abandon her?”

  Though it was clear Lady Emily would prefer not to answer, she looked away and replied, and though her voice was soft, it was easy for Fitzwilliam to hear. “She all but declared her interest in Mr. Darcy. I became angry because I knew in my heart that she was correct. She had beaten me and I knew it.”

  Surprised that she would confess as much, Fitzwilliam said: “If you will pardon my saying so, Lady Emily, though I noticed your interest in Darcy from the beginning, I did not witness any great endeavor from yourself to turn his attention to you. Your efforts appeared lukewarm to me.”

  “I cannot explain it,” replied Lady Emily. “I have always esteemed him—who would not? I thought . . . He never paid any attention to any young woman until Miss Bennet arrived, and then she—a woman he has known less than two months—appeared and drew all his attention. I will own that it . . . offended me.”

  “Lady Emily,” said Fitzwilliam, “it is clear to me that your downfall has been jealousy. It is not laudable, but you are not the first.”

  “I suppose it is,” replied the lady with a sigh.

  “You owe her an apology. She deserves that much from you, even if you do not ever intend to speak with her again.”

  “Of course, she does.”

  Fitzwilliam turned to see the earl had stepped into the room, and though he had not spoken, Fitzwilliam had the impression he had been there for some time.

  “The apology will be offered tomorrow. We should both be grateful that Miss Bennet has not chosen to embarrass us. Is that not correct, Emily?”

  “It is, Father,” said Lady Emily softly
. Fitzwilliam had never seen her so humble as she was now.

  “Darcy has departed?” asked Fitzwilliam.

  “He has.”

  “Then I shall take my leave. I hope we shall meet again under better circumstances.”

  “You may depend on it. Thank you for coming and speaking to me of this matter, Fitzwilliam. You and your cousin are welcome at Teasdale Manor at any time, and if what I suspect should come to pass, Miss Bennet is welcome to come too.”

  Fitzwilliam bowed and departed, leaving the disgraced woman with her father. He was content—Darcy had secured the woman who would make him happy in life, and he could wish for no greater boon for his cousin. But though he would have preferred to forget about it, Fitzwilliam found the situation with Lady Emily spinning about, collecting his thoughts as it careened through his mind. She would escape any public censure, but it would be some time before relations were easy between Pemberley and Teasdale Manor. Why that should bother him, Fitzwilliam did not quite know.

  Chapter XXIII

  It was much later that evening when Elizabeth had the opportunity to once again speak with her uncle. Upon returning to Kingsdown, she had left them, though unwillingly, given the wonder of her new understanding with the gentleman. The chief of the afternoon had been spent resting in her room, and though she had slept a little, most of it was spent in contemplation of all that had happened that eventful day. With Olivia at Pemberley for the night, Elizabeth felt little desire for company.

  Furthermore, after she did emerge from her room, she noted Mr. Drummond’s barely concealed distraction and evident annoyance, and expecting it to be a result of Lady Emily’s actions toward herself, she allowed him time with his own thoughts. Dinner was a quiet affair, more so than usual, with Olivia’s absence and her uncle’s distraction. The younger children were as they ever were—Elizabeth did sit with Leah and take her sister’s place as the girl’s confidant—but Mrs. Drummond and Edward both seemed to sense that something had happened. But as they had both been engaged in other activities when she had returned, they were, therefore, ignorant of the event. Elizabeth was quite happy to leave them in suspense, not wishing to discuss the matter.

  After dinner, however, that changed. Mr. Drummond shook off his prior mood and approached Elizabeth, seating himself beside her. When he spoke, it was in a quiet tone, as he understood that his wife was watching them through suspicious eyes.

  “I am happy you were returned safely to us, Lizzy.” He paused and a hint of pain seemed to come over him. “I understand the bond between your father and yourself, and I shudder to think of his reaction had something happened to you.”

  “There is no reason to think on it any further, Uncle. It is in the past. I am well.”

  “Indeed, you are. There is also reason to congratulate you, or so Mr. Darcy informs me.”

  “I should hope so,” said Elizabeth. “He was to ask for your consent.”

  “That he did. But you are aware that nothing is official until your father gives his consent.”

  “At present, perhaps,” replied Elizabeth. She grinned at him. “You forget that I shall be one and twenty next month and of age. Mr. Darcy will not journey to Hertfordshire until I am to return home, so at that time, if Papa withholds his consent, I may ignore his dictates.”

  Her uncle laughed. “I confess I had forgotten it. Not that I could imagine your father denying you anything you desired or refusing a man such as Mr. Darcy. I believe he will be content with your happiness, though he might regret losing you from his home.”

  “I see you are well acquainted with my father’s ways.”

  “Indeed, I am.”

  Mr. Drummond paused and darted a look around the room. Edward had taken up a book and the three younger children were playing some game on the floor. Mrs. Drummond, however, was watching them while chewing her lower lip in thought. She was too far distant to hear their whispered words, however, so Elizabeth did not care for the woman’s scrutiny.

  “Mr. Darcy mentioned your desire to keep your engagement from Jane’s knowledge.” Elizabeth nodded, sudden emotion causing her to choke up and stifling her response. “Can I also assume you wish to keep it from your aunt and the rest of my family?”

  “I will tell Olivia,” replied Elizabeth. “I cannot imagine keeping it from her, especially since Mr. Darcy means to tell Miss Darcy. But for the rest of the family, yes, I prefer they did not know. I will not be writing to Papa.”

  “Very well,” replied Mr. Drummond. “I cannot say that I blame you. I will keep your confidence.”

  “Thank you, Uncle.”

  Mr. Drummond grinned. “I am quite happy at how this has all turned out. It was in my mind that you might find a husband here, but that you have attracted Mr. Darcy’s attentions is more than I could ever have hoped for. And I am not insensible to the benefits to my family to be gained by having my niece installed as the mistress of the neighboring estate—Olivia, in particular, will have the privilege of your continuing society, which can only be to her benefit.”

  “I have been very happy to come to know her, Uncle,” said Elizabeth, feeling the embarrassment of his praise. “That I will not be leaving the neighborhood is a boon I had not thought to receive.”

  “It will occasion some sorrow at being so far distant from your family, though.”

  Elizabeth sighed. “I suppose it will. My father will find it hard. My mother will, no doubt, insist upon my introducing all my sisters to society in hopes of their catching wealthy husbands themselves. She will expect Lydia to marry nothing less than an earl!”

  “Mayhap you should turn her toward Colonel Fitzwilliam,” replied her uncle, a twinkle in his eye. “I have heard of her predilection for red coats.”

  They laughed together, and Elizabeth agreed that it was so. “But I would never impose upon poor Colonel Fitzwilliam in such a way. Surely he does not deserve my sister.”

  Their spirited discussion continued for some little time, after which her uncle excused himself to go to his study to complete some work on his books. Edward went along with him to assist, leaving Elizabeth alone with the three children and Mrs. Drummond. The woman studied her, and several times Elizabeth thought she might speak. But she held her silence until it was time for Elizabeth to take the children upstairs and see them in their beds.

  The next day, the Darcy party arrived at Kingsdown with Olivia in tow just after the family partook of their luncheon. Anticipating this visit and all which would likely transpire because of it, Elizabeth was certain to awake early that morning and complete her daily tasks so there would be no interruptions and no reason for Mrs. Drummond to insist she attend to other matters.

  When the visitors arrived, Georgiana and Olivia entered the room first, followed by the gentlemen, and it was clear from their demeanors that one had been told the news, while the other had not. Georgiana was alive with excitement, shining eyes, searching for Elizabeth, while Olivia watched her friend with evident confusion. As soon as Georgiana caught sight of her, she released a girlish laugh, disengaged from Olivia, and fairly skipped toward Elizabeth, throwing her arms around her in delight.

  “Oh, Lizzy!” said she, though in a low voice, proving she had been told of the need to be circumspect. It was, of course, ruined to a certain extent by her present behavior. “I am so happy. You shall stay in Derbyshire after all!”

  “I believe I shall, Georgiana,” replied Elizabeth. “But please be circumspect at present, for your brother has not yet sought my father’s consent.”

  “I will. But I am so happy, I could burst. Olivia is positively alive with curiosity.” Georgiana giggled. “It was so diverting watching her this morning!”

  Elizabeth directed a look over at her cousin, who was watching them, her brow furrowed in confusion. With a smile and a nod, Elizabeth mouthed “later” to her cousin. Olivia nodded and seemed to sense she should not make an issue of it at present.

  “It seems your brother
has been teasing my cousin. He should have simply informed you both!”

  “I believe he wished to give you the pleasure of it yourself.”

  As soon as he had moved into the room and while Georgiana was accosting Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy had approached Mr. Drummond and was now speaking with him intently. After a moment of this, Mr. Drummond nodded to him and thanked him, after which Mr. Darcy greeted the room and Elizabeth in particular. For a moment, Elizabeth wondered what it might be like to be able to receive Mr. Darcy as her fiancé openly, before she shook off such thoughts, knowing she would know that pleasure soon enough.

  “I have some intelligence for you,” said Mr. Darcy as soon as he had sat by her side. Mr. Drummond had welcomed his other guests into the house and invited them to sit, then had started up a conversation with Colonel Fitzwilliam, apparently knowing that Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy needed to speak unobtrusively.

  “Of Lady Emily?”

  Mr. Darcy’s countenance was overset with an expression of distaste. “I visited Teasdale Manor yesterday in Fitzwilliam’s company.”

  “Your cousin accompanied you?”

  “Indeed. It seems that he also saw Lady Emily’s behavior for what it was and took it upon himself to interfere with her actions, though I wonder why he did not inform me.”

  Elizabeth was certain she knew exactly why Colonel Fitzwilliam had not informed his cousin, but she held her tongue, as Mr. Darcy continued to speak.

  “It seems that Lady Emily did, at least, recognize the foolishness of her actions, and she returned to the road to try to locate you. By then I had already found you, and we had left the road behind. When she could not find you, she returned to her father and confessed all, leading him to launch a search for you.”