Page 97 of Compromise & Consequence
“My physician wishes to give her a complete physical. I do not trust the quacks Catherine most likely hired because they told her what she wanted to hear.”
“I must return to Darcy House and inform Elizabeth that Lady Catherine has been subdued.”
“Give Elizabeth our love.”
“With much pleasure, uncle.”
Both Darcy and Richard removed themselves from the room and the earl signaled his men to bind Lady Catherine and begin the journey to his estate in Derbyshire, Wyndhaven Castle, where his eldest sister would live out her days in confinement, hopefully not drugged all the time, but he would not know howthat would go until they arrived.
Darcy and Richard slipped out the back gate by the mews and taking the lanes between the back of grand estates made their way to where Darcy’s driver waited with a non-descript carriage.
“Are you coping, Darcy?” Richard asked once the carriage was underway. They would take Darcy home first and then his cousin would continue to Lady Catherine’s townhouse. “I will admit I was taken aback over her hatred of Elizabeth, even knowing the plans she’d set in motion.”
Darcy pinched the bridge of his nose in an attempt to stave off a tension headache.
“Since father died, over six years ago, I have repeatedly told her I would not marry Anne. She made both our lives miserable by regurgitating that myth every time I was in her presence, and seemed to have no qualms over taking the life of a woman she has never met.” He shook his head and looked out the window. “I will never understand how she could be related to my mother and your father. She is so different.”
“At least we found out about her plans before implementation. I give Collins credit for letting us know. He seemed as though he were completely under the thrall of our aunt.”
“I will never acknowledge her as my aunt. She is Lady de Bourgh to me and has no connection to my family in any form. Not any longer.”
“Father will have his hands full with her at Wyndhaven. There are fortified rooms from medieval times and hidden tunnels from the times of Queen Mary’s reign of terror on those not of the Catholic faith. Aunt… Lady de Bourgh will be comfortable but highly dissatisfied with not being able to order everyone to obey her commands.”
“I have no sympathy for her plight. At least she is alive which is something she did not wish on my wife.”
“We are here,” Richard said and the carriage rolled to a stop at the back of Darcy House. “I will see you tomorrow at the designated spot.”
“Is Bennet here with the decoy?”
“He dropped the lad and Jane off this morning at the Gardiners on their way to Bath.”
“Bath!”
“He is keeping the missus distracted so gossip will not filter out of Meryton.”
“It seems strategic and tactical intelligence runs in the Bennet family.”
“That it does.” Richard paused before closing the carriage door. “Do you think Jane is capable of planning something like this?”
“I guess you will find out on your wedding night.”
“Speaking of wedding nights, and I apologize now for the way I barged in on you and your lovely wife, how are things between you and Elizabeth?”
Darcy knew his cheeks heated and felt like a schoolboy caught kissing his very first girl.
“Things are progressing. I believe she no longer hates me.”
“I would hope not unless that is the spice you need to make the marriage bed interesting.”
“I will thank you for not speaking of our intimate relations in such a cavalier manner. Remember, the boot could soon be on the other foot and I might begin to look into your romance with my sister by marriage.”
“Come down off your high horse. I am very glad you andElizabeth have declared a truce. By the by, when Jane and I marry, I would like you to stand with me.”
“You do not wish your brother to have the honor?”
“You are more my brother than Ashton, and I also am keeping Jane away from my reprobate of a brother until after the wedding. I swear, if he catches even a glimpse of her, he will haul her off to Gretna Green, willing or not. He is to be kept in the dark about all this until it is too late.”
“You realize Jane will be at your parent’s house for Elizabeth’s presentation ball. Ash will meet her then.”
