Page 28 of Pemberley's Imposter
“Someone else would have noticed, eventually,” the colonel replied scornfully, but Mr Darcy could not be moved.
This was news to Elizabeth. Neither Mr Bingley nor Mr Darcy had ever mentioned any heroic deed. But it did much to explain the deep friendship between the gentlemen despite the discrepancy in their characters. Her curiosity had been piqued, and she could not help but enquire about it.
“When did Mr Bingley save your life?”
“Please excuse me. I have some pressing estate matters to address.”
Mr Darcy rose abruptly, walked briskly out of the room, and left Elizabeth’s mind reeling about why he would not answer such a simple question.
Chapter 10 The Wrong End of the Stick
Elizabeth’s gratitude for allowing her relations to visit prompted her to offer Mr Darcy the only service she could extend. Tentatively, she knocked on the door to his study, and a firm voice bade her enter.
Pemberley’s master looked up from his ledger when she approached his desk. He quickly schooled the surprise on his countenance into an emotionless expression. His eyes were so cold that Elizabeth’s courage threatened to falter.
“I have come to enquire whether you wish for me to resume my duties?”
Mr Darcy’s brows shot up towards his hairline, and Elizabeth immediately realised her mistake.
“I still have much to learn, but if Mrs Reynolds would not mind teaching me, I am certain I could be of use,” Elizabeth added helplessly. The interview was not unfolding quite as she had expected.
“No.”
Mr Darcy lowered his head and resumed adding up the numbers in his ledger. He offered no explanation for his harsh rejection, nor did he bother to dismiss her from his study.
Crestfallen, she left him to his tasks while she was not allowed to perform hers. Perhaps he wanted Mrs Fitzwilliam to run his house, despite the fact that she was a guest. Or was she? Elizabeth had heard no mention of a departure date, nor had they named any estate as their own. She could not abide even contemplating the colonel as a permanent resident of Pemberley. In her mind, there had to be an end to this awkwardness, although it hitherto had yet to be expressed.
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As soon as the door closed behind his wife, Darcy strode to the window. He had thought Elizabeth was offering herself to him. An abundance of rebukes had immediately risen in his mind, and he had readied himself to teach her a lesson.
Sharing his bed with his wife was in every way repugnant to him. She had let herself be kissed and fondled by his closest relation, obviously enjoying the treatment. The image was forever engraved in his mind.
Annoyed, stunned, horrified.
The aftermath was less distinct; time had blurred his memories of her, apart from the time after their reunion.
Darcy should not have brought her home; he blamed the impulse of that moment on a lapse of sanity. He could not be responsible for depriving his daughter of growing up with her mother. Georgiana’s experiences had taught him the importance of maternal affection, and his own feelings must naturally come second to those under his protection.
Darcy tried to revert his thoughts back to the task before him, but heavy footsteps were approaching. The door opened without a knock; it could only be his cousin.
“I am sorry to intrude, but I have disturbing news that cannot wait,” the colonel related from the threshold.
“You should enter and close the door, then.” Darcy sighed and pushed the ledger out of the way.
“I have a friend, a colonel in the regiment stationed in Newcastle. I received a letter from him this morning stating that Wickham has left his post without leave. He had been granted time off but failed to report back for duty a couple of days ago. I am concerned about Georgiana should she accidentally run into him.”
Dread immediately descended as it had every time the scoundrel was mentioned.
“Did the letter give you any clue as to where he has gone?”
“No, his wife is still in Newcastle, allegedly with no idea of her husband’s whereabouts, or so she has declared to Colonel Norton.”
“I shall notify my servants, but there is nothing for him here now that Georgiana has married. He has no grounds for extortion since you already know about Ramsgate. If he has left his post, it is because his creditors are hunting him,” Darcy reasoned with his cousin.
“I hope you are right, but he has always come to you when he has found himself in a tight spot financially.”
Which was true. Darcy still received the occasional letter begging him for funds, but he had begun burning those after he sent Mrs Darcy away.
