Mr. Darcy's Forbidden Love-kindle (16 page)

The mention of wealth brought to mind Mr. Darcy, and Elizabeth’s heart ached with the memory of the night spent in his arms. Under her breath she whispered, “I vowed only to marry for the deepest love.”

Unfortunately, Mrs. Gardiner heard and chided, “That is the substance of fairytales, and it is not realistic or sensible. Most people learn to care for their spouse once they are married, not before. The idea of marrying for love is clearly something this new generation has embraced. My advice to you is to forget such nonsense.”

Elizabeth turned so that her aunt could not see the tears that welled up. Noting her niece’s sad mien, Madeline Gardiner said no more. She and Edward had long blamed Thomas Bennet for leaving his daughters with inadequate dowries, an unchecked mother and undisciplined siblings. His failures now threatened the very future of them all, as they would likely be called upon to help Fanny and the girls if Thomas died, and that would strain their own limited resources. Thus, they considered it their duty to instruct Lizzy and Jane in the ways of proper society and pray that this training would be sufficient to secure them a decent offer of marriage.

As she continued to monitor her niece out of the corner of her eye, she prayed that Lizzy’s penchant to chart her own course would be tempered by the knowledge that she must obey the rules of society if she was to be of any benefit to her sisters—especially Jane who held so much promise.

I shall speak of it again tomorrow and emphasize the benefit to Jane. Better to let her reflect on all that I have said.

~~~*~~~

Darcy House
William’s Study

Charles Bingley, doing a very good impersonation of his host, paced the floors of the study while running his hands through his thick red curls. Every so often however, he would stop to gesture wildly, a mannerism he did not share with his friend and mentor.

“Well, I for one, think that Mr. Carter is exactly right! In light of the background information on the ship’s captain and the West Indies port captain, he believes there is reason to think the vessels may have been diverted to another port, the merchandise sold and the profits stolen. Thus, I have authorized him to expand the investigation to prove his theory.”

William turned from pouring two glasses of brandy to hand one to Charles, mainly to stop his pacing, as he was tired of following his progress. “So the captain, this fellow Grier, is a cousin of the port captain?”

“It seems that is the case and the port captain has recently mysteriously disappeared as well.”

“Then Carter believes both ships presumed lost at sea were stolen?”

Charles took the offered drink. “Both!”

“What will you do in the meantime for merchandise?”

“I have sufficient goods for now. I shall simply use different routes, as I have other ships and other sources of spices, coffee, silks and fruit—howbeit, they are more expensive. I am off to Liverpool tomorrow to check on my warehouse and talk with my man there. While trying to distance myself from trade, I feel I may have relegated too much responsibility to others who are less capable and neglected my own interests. It is time I took charge again, at least until I can find someone astute enough to whom I may assign the daily operations of the business.”

“And you still do not want a loan?”

“Darcy, I appreciate that you are my silent partner and have loaned me the money to expand several times, but I do not wish to borrow more money until I am sure of what is happening. Do not despair, as I shall not think twice about asking if I see the need.”

William could not but smile. “I am proud that you have come to this conclusion without my advice. While trying to raise your position in society is a noble quest, still you must be practical, as your fortune is nonetheless still vested in trade.”

“It was not entirely without your advice. After all, you recommended I talk with Mr. Lowell, who put me in touch with Mr. Carter.”

“That was nothing.”

“In any event, I appreciate it.”

“How does all of this affect your relationship with
the angel
?”

Charles’ face fell. “In hindsight, I am afraid that in my haste to get to London I may not have handled that well at all.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was so upset when I got your letter that I left Netherfield forthwith, not taking the time to explain to Jane—Miss Bennet—why I had to depart. Caroline offered to write a letter of explanation and I approved. In hindsight, I cannot help but feel that she might have been disappointed in my manner of leaving.”

“Then write her a letter.”

“You know I cannot.”

“Then write to Mr. Bennet. Tell him a bit of your current situation, and he will no doubt pass it along to his daughter. Surely she will understand that you had to leave Meryton without delay.”

Charles seemed to consider that suggestion before murmuring softly, “I do not know if I shall have anything to offer her, or any woman, if I cannot find the source of my losses and recover the goods. I will not, in good conscience, court someone when I do not know what my future holds.”

“Charles, I—”

Bingley held up a hand. “You have helped me a great deal, Darcy, but I have to do this on my own.”

His friend had come a long way in the last few years, and William knew that he must continue to let him make his own decisions. But, knowing first-hand the agony of loving someone lost to you, he needed to warn his friend.

“Bingley, if you love Miss Bennet, do not wait too long to secure her.”

“I do not intend to. I will make her an offer as soon as I have something to offer besides my name.”

William nodded, finishing his drink silently. 

If only I could offer Elizabeth my name.

~~~*~~~

London
Bingley’s Townhouse
The next day
Dining Room

Caroline was angry quite often these days, and had Louisa known this quarrel was transpiring in the dining room, she would have waited until later to break her fast. For once, she was pleased that Bertram was still sleeping off his overindulgence, as he dearly hated Caroline’s diatribes. And lately he complained constantly about them.

“Really, Charles! Must you be the one to go to Liverpool? Can you not send one of your underlings from the warehouse here?” Caroline huffed and stomped about the room, as their brother ate in preparation for his journey.

“If you do not stay in London, then I shall miss the most prestigious balls and parties. Will you leave me bereft of every notable soirée that London has to offer while you gallivant all over England on a witch hunt?”

Bingley stood abruptly, making his chair tilt back precariously, and threw his serviette on the table forcefully. “What you mean is that without me, Darcy’s friends will not invite you! You could have ample society while I take care of business, only you think yourself above them.”

“They are all tradesmen! Not a one of them has aspirations of bettering themselves as we do!”

“As
you
do! And thus far, your aspirations have only hurt you, dear sister!”

“How ill-mannered! And I thought that you had my best interests at heart. After all, how am I to make a decent match without being included among the best of society?”

Charles laughed mirthlessly. “Make a match? How indeed! You have chased Darcy these many years, to the exclusion of every other man, and he still would not have you if you were the only woman on earth.”

“Do not be so certain, Charles. If he divorces, it will be over Gisela Darcy’s dead body! I imagine she will resist strenuously, and it will be quite the scandal. Some, maybe most, will undoubtedly
cut
the illustrious Mr. Darcy after such a breach of decorum, and he may be very grateful for my steadfast devotion. No doubt he will then see me in a different light!”

Bingley heaved an audible sigh, declaring, “I assure you that Darcy already sees who you are, Caroline, and that is why he is not interested.” With those words he quit the room.

Caroline looked to Louisa, who had quietly taken a seat during their exchange.

“Charles is such a dullard!”

Louisa cautioned her. “I advise you not to talk ill of our brother. After all, it is to his credit that you live well!”

“And you as well!” Caroline huffed. “Without Charles, I dare say you would not be able to maintain your standard of living. Not with Hurst’s disdain for actually doing anything constructive!”

Louisa rolled her eyes. “Attacking my husband will not help you. I know only too well his shortcomings and I agree. However, if you continue to push Charles, I fear that he shall rid himself of you at some point—perhaps making good on his threat to send you to live with Aunt Harrison in Scarborough. And I shall not plead your case if he does. When I have in the past, it only served to make him angry at me. So be forewarned!”

Caroline cocked her head as if studying her sister. “When I am Mrs. Darcy of Pemberley, I shall remember your disloyalty.”

Louisa stifled a laugh. “If you are ever Mrs. Darcy, I shall just have to rely on my connection to Charles to recommend me to Mr. Darcy.” 

With those few words, Louisa resumed eating as Caroline flounced from the room, slamming the door soundly behind. After her sister’s departure, Louisa began to recall just when her sister had become so missish and concluded that it was after Mr. Darcy befriended their brother at Cambridge. Caroline had instantly been attracted to the handsome Mr. Darcy and had set her cap for him.

I cannot fault her there. Even I thought him the most handsome man of my acquaintance!

Nevertheless, Louisa was not so foolish as to think she had a chance with the Master of Pemberley and had accepted Mr. Hurst’s offer shortly thereafter. With Caroline, however, that was not the case. For years she had used Charles’ connection to Mr. Darcy at every opportunity—putting all of them in his company whenever possible.

You are a fool, Caroline, to think that man would ever have you!

Just then the door opened and Mrs. Wiggins entered. Seeing Louisa, she nodded and moved to the sideboard to ensure that nothing needed her attention. While Mrs. Wiggins rearranged the dishes and stirred about behind her, Louisa’s thoughts returned to her family. Charles was changing and she wondered why Caroline had not recognized that fact. Their brother was becoming his own man, and once married, he would certainly no longer be the easily managed brother of the past.

The implications were daunting. She was terribly disappointed in Mr. Hurst and did not relish spending time alone with him. Furthermore, it was obvious that they could not keep their present standard of living without imposing on Charles for a good part of the year. Suddenly, with that knowledge, her appetite disappeared and sighing with resignation, she took leave of the room as well.

~~~*~~~

London
Matlock House
Edward Fitzwilliam’s Study

The two men stood facing each other not unlike combatants in a ring. The Earl of Matlock, an older version of Richard with sandy hair and brown eyes, had not called his second son to his home for quite some time—not since their last argument months ago. 

“Have you seen this?”

Picking up a tabloid from the corner of his desk, the Earl of Matlock threw it in his son’s direction. Catching it in mid-air, Richard dutifully perused the days-old paper to find whatever was annoying his father and found it under the gossip section. It was a veiled reference to Gisela Darcy’s behaviour at the Satterfield’s ball.

“My nephew is too obstinate for his own good. First, he refuses my request that he marry Anne. Then he marries this… this widow without warning or explanation, escorts her to her own townhouse and makes a show of leaving her there. The whole of London is aware of this!”  The Earl of Matlock took a deep draw from his cigar and blew the smoke into the air. “And his dogged refusal to live with that woman has resulted in more fodder for the gossip sheets than a divorce would ever cause!”

  Richard shrugged. “Darcy is not concerned with what society thinks, Father. He feels he has done his part in suppressing family scandals by marrying that harridan to keep George Darcy’s secret. But he was betrayed in the worst way! She was never with child.”

“My sister should never have married that untitled buffoon. I told Anne that he was not good enough for her, but she would not listen to me. NO ONE listens to me, not even you!”

“And what is my fault? I have given up every woman that I have fancied because you did not approve of her lineage or her dowry was not large enough. Is that not sufficient to earn your good will?”

“Do not be impertinent, Richard! It is no one’s fault that you are the second son.” Edward Fitzwilliam bellowed. “The point is that Evelyn has been furiously working to suppress one scandal after another since Fitzwilliam married that harlot! And yet Mrs. Darcy flaunted Attenborough in public at the Satterfield’s ball.  No this madness must stop! I shall demand that Darcy consult a solicitor about a divorce immediately!”

“That is not your decision to make, Father,” Richard declared. “If you had not championed Aunt Catherine’s plans to make him marry Anne, perhaps he would not have married Gisela without your knowledge or approval.”  Though he knew that was not the case, Richard could not help but taunt his father with the fiasco that resulted from his attempts to control Darcy.

“Just remember, young man, that your allowance can also be affected by your attitude.”

“And how long will you remind me of that?” Richard came to his feet as his face reddened. “I am a decorated officer in His Majesty’s service, not a boy! And if need be, I will survive on my salary and my inheritance from Grandmother.  I am as tired of being threatened as Darcy. He is his own man, and he can damn well do as he pleases and, in addition, I think it is time I did so too.”

With those words, Richard headed to the door. His father was shocked into silence as he exited the room and slammed the door behind him. Just outside, his mother stood waiting. She held a finger to her lips as a sign of silence, before she took his hand and led him to her office down the hall. Once they were inside, the door closed and locked, she motioned her youngest son to sit. She then took the seat behind her small desk and studied him earnestly.