Page 55 of Lord Lonbourn's Daughter
“She wrote that Mr Wickham was a little short of funds at present but would soon come into a great fortune. A gentleman owed him some coin, but until he received it, her fortune must be paid out.”
“I have read the note, and by the wording, it would seem that Lydia is already married to Mr Wickham. I cannot be certain. My Lydia is an unreliable correspondent at best. The good news is that she does not seem displeased but in need of entertainment. I have a man standing guard, and he followed the urchin but lost him around Covent Garden.”
“Not far from St Giles…” Mr Darcy mused.
“No, but by my man’s description, I believe he either disappeared into one of the houses or continued east towards the city. My men are searching for him, but the colonel has more men at his disposal, and they are better trained than mine. Would you aid us, Colonel Fitzwilliam?”
“Certainly, Lord Longbourn, but I am rather curious as to what Lady Jane has decided to do.”
The colonel fixed his eyes on Jane, who met his searching gaze with steady calmness.
“We agreed upon that question yesterday, Colonel Fitzwilliam.”
“There has been no change of heart?” the colonel enquired.
“None whatsoever,” Jane said, blushing.
“What?” Elizabeth enquired inelegantly.
“Colonel Fitzwilliam proposed to me last night. I am engaged to be married,” Jane revealed to everyone’s astonishment.
“Richard, you cannot offer your hand to a lady who is already engaged,” Mr Darcy admonished, clearly aghast.
“I could not, but as Mr Bingley has yet to propose, I, rather impulsively, made my sentiments known and was gratified with a favourable answer. We may as well have the banns read. I am in no immediate rush, but a wedding shortly after the third banns would suffice.”
“What about Mr Bingley?” Mr Darcy asked, his voice ladled with venom.
“I thought after our discussions last night I would act on my own behalf before the decision was made for me. That it coincided with the blackguard Wickham’s demand is just a fortunate circumstance. My mind was made up, long before your old steward’s son tried to meddle.”
“The scandal will be substantial, but what about the settlement papers?”
“Mr Bingley seems to have forgotten about that while he was busy flitting around town gossiping. No papers have been signed as of yet.”
Mr Darcy sighed and ran his hand down his face. Elizabeth was immediately at his side and laid a comforting hand on his shoulder.
“I believe the quidnuncs will be satisfied if I parade my new bride about town as though nothing untoward has happened. No formal announcement has been made from Bennet House, which contradicts Mr Bingley’s blather. You should join us showing your own felicity, but I suggest we avoid notice until the first reading of the banns. That should be sufficient time for you to recover fully from your wounds. At the moment, you are a remarkable sight…
“We shall attend some sort of event. Vauxhall, the theatre, or a ball. If you come with us, as you are known to be Mr Bingley’s particular friend, people in general will have too much sense to censure the houses of Matlock, Longbourn, and Darcy. Mr Bingley is of next to no importance in superior society. Not as a man—I am not trying to disparage him as a gentleman—but he is a scatter-brain.”
Elizabeth warned the colonel and her father not to overtax Mr Darcy before she left the gentlemen to quarrel amongst themselves. Mary escorted Kitty home while Elizabeth begged Jane to stay with her for a little while, and they moved to her chamber.
“Jane, are you certain you want to reject Mr Bingley for Colonel Fitzwilliam?”
“Why, do you not like the colonel?” Jane enquired.
“Of course I like the colonel, but I thought you were halfway in love with Mr Bingley. Besides, I cannot help but feel sorry for him. He will be heartbroken.”
“Tell me, Lizzy. If you had been given the opportunity to marry someone you were in love with instead of being forced by a criminal to wed Mr Darcy, would you not have leapt at the opportunity and detached yourself? I admit that the days when the colonel escorted us around town with Lady Matlock were infinitely more pleasurable than the days when Lord Matlock or the viscount escorted us. Not that I do not appreciate Lord Matlock or the viscount, but Richard has touched my heart. I enjoyed Mr Bingley’s company—he is an amiable gentleman—but I crave the presence of the colonel. I would have married Mr Bingley to save Miss Darcy, and I would have been content, but it is meaningless to continue now that she has been found. I should have the opportunity to choose, should I not?”
“Yes… Yes, you should. I am sorry for questioning your decision, Jane. It is not my place to do so.”
Jane embraced her sister and left for Bennet House. Mr Bingley was expected to visit, and there was an unpleasant conversation to be had.
Elizabeth was left to retrospection following her sister’s question. If she could erase the last week, begin with a clean sheet, unattached in her maidenly innocence, would she change her fate and unshackle herself from Mr Darcy? No, she would not…
#
For the second time in two days, angry voices carried through the wall from Mr Darcy’s study. This time, Elizabeth did what she should have done the first time. She squared her shoulders, lifted her chin, and walked into the lion’s den.
