Mr. Darcy's Bite (12 page)

Darcy sat across from Josiah MacGregor in a dark study in a dark house with candles casting shadows on wood-paneled walls lined with swords and muskets and the heads of a hundred red deer that reminded a hungry Darcy of how much he liked the taste of venison. It wasn't as good as caribou, but he definitely preferred it to squirrel or vole. But first to the business at hand.

When he had arrived at the Underhill estate, he was pleased to learn that both Teddy and Rupert had been released by the laird, but the estate manager had suggested that Darcy visit MacGregor in order to extinguish any lingering doubts about what the gamekeeper had seen in the woods. The next day, after hearing the whole of the story from Teddy and Mr. Underhill, including the alias he was to use, Mr. Darcy, who was to be addressed as Mr. Williams, set out to pay a call on the laird.

Darcy came prepared, and shortly after introductions were made, he suggested to MacGregor that there was no misunderstanding so great that it could not be resolved over a jar of whisky, and Mercer produced two glasses and a bottle of Scotch.

Because of heavy taxes imposed on the distilleries by the Board of Excise, most of the whisky produced in Scotland was illegally made, and Darcy, like most visitors and residents of Scotland, knew someone who could procure a few bottles of the spirits for the right price. A believer in free enterprise and minimal taxes on commodities, Darcy supported a private distillery near Jedburgh.

“I was in Scotland last summer in the company of a gentleman who had a private reserve of some spirits that are, shall we say, locally distilled, and he presented me with a few bottles to take home. This is the last of it,” Darcy said as he poured the amber liquid into the glasses, and before the last drop splashed into the glass, MacGregor's hand was reaching for it.

“Mr. Williams, I am honored ta have such a fine gentleman in ma home,” MacGregor began, “and it's unfortunate how ye came ta be here. There be no hard feelings on ma part, but as I telt Underhill tame and tame again, if he'd get rid a those big black dogs of his, ma servants wouldn't be havering aboot seein' wolves on tha property.”

“That is good advice, sir. However, being partial to black dogs myself, I understand why Underhill wishes to keep them, but I will agree with you that they can look like wolves, which is probably part of their attraction.”

“I dunna want ta give anybody tha wrong idea that I'm claimin' to be injured in ane way,” MacGregor continued. When he had seen the expensive carriage with its matched pair of black stallions pull up to the front entrance, he had checked his shirt to see if there was any food left on it from the morning meal, and although he knew nothing about Mr. Williams, he recognized a gentleman when he saw one. The laird assumed that the crazed boy must be the son of someone important if his kin had sent a man of such quality to recover him, and he did not want to have some high and mighty from the South making his life miserable because their son had taken to crawling around on all fours on his property.

“But 'tis an odd business aw the same,” MacGregor continued. “Aroon here, we're nat used ta someone loupin' naked in tha woods in freezing weather. We hae more sense than to do somethin' like that, and when tha laddie come into the house, I had ta put him in front a tha fire a'cause he was chilled to tha bone. Thomas, his man, took me aside and said that tha man was cracked,” he said, tapping his temple. “I could tell by the way he blethered that he were a gentleman, but I didnae believe him for a minute when he said his da was a prince. But, I'll tell ye, he really thinks he
is
the bairn of a prince.”

“Don't we all,” Darcy said, and MacGregor thought that was so funny, he nearly choked on his drink.

“Another thing. Tha laddie knew he done wrong and was goin' to be skelped for it 'cause he started wailin' and sayin' tha he was goin' to be sent to Amerikay near the Hudson which, if I got my bearin's reet, is where the ships make port ta drop their wares in the city of New York. Now, I've n'er been ta Amerikay, sir, but the way he wa' carryin' ain, you'd think he was bein' sent ta tha North Pole. It cannae be that bad a place.”

“As Thomas indicated, the gentleman suffers from a mental impairment,” Darcy explained. “He has difficulty distinguishing between what is real and what is not. However, he has concerned parents who would be embarrassed if this episode became known. But I can see that you are a gentleman, someone I can rely on to be discreet and to keep this unfortunate situation quiet, and I would appreciate it if you would discourage any discussion by the locals.”

“Ye hae ma word, sir. Yon gentleman's man, Thomas, gae us good reasons for tha poor laddie's behavior. Anyway, that storm has passed by. Tha excise man comin' in ta the glen frae the Sooth a looking fur mountain tay an' breakin' up stills is what everyane's blethering aboot. Takin' oor whisky is more important ta us than some lunatic runnin' aboot naked.”

Darcy bristled at MacGregor's use of the word “lunatic.” Yes, the moon did have its effects, but it did not make men run mad. After refilling the laird's glass, Darcy offered MacGregor some monetary compensation for the inconvenience caused by the young man.

Now in his cups, MacGregor declined any remuneration, but after Darcy continued to insist, the Scotsman took the notes spread before him, and Darcy left hoping that the government excise men would linger a while in the glen—anything to get people to stop talking about Rupert “loupin' aboot naked in the woods.”

***

While Darcy had been inside the house soothing ruffled feathers, Metcalf, the coachman, had been removing every speck of dust from the carriage. A member of the Metcalf family had been driving carriages for Darcys for three generations, and it was Metcalf who had transported the she wolf and her pups from Northumberland, first to Pemberley and then to a port on the Irish Sea, a journey that could have proved disastrous if the wagon had broken down. Along with Mercer, a retired mail coach driver, Darcy relied on these men to get him to Pemberley or some other safe destination before the rising of the full moon. Neither man had ever disappointed him.

They had made the journey from Pemberley to the Underhill estate in five days—a day ahead of schedule. But that gain soon fell away because of Rupert, who was carrying on in such a manner that the only way to get him into a carriage to go to Durham, where members of the Council were waiting for him, was to tie him up, and that Darcy would not do. After sending an express rider to Durham with a letter explaining that they must come and get the bad apple, they waited, day after day, until the two Council representatives arrived. Because Darcy had no wish to witness his removal, Mercer and he had departed that same afternoon, but without Teddy.

In order to help calm the young miscreant, Teddy had offered to go with the Council men as far as Durham. That alone had served to calm the young man, but Teddy also told Rupert stories of his own sojourn in the far north of the North American continent. Because his appetite was second only to Nell's, when Rupert heard of the excellent hunting afforded by vast caribou herds and moose and the easy pickings of thousands of migratory birds and their eggs, his spirits picked up considerably, and he became more compliant. There were other inducements as well. Teddy spoke of the freedom of running over great snow-covered expanses and how he and his party had been invited into the homes of the natives, whose belief system included animals transfiguring into men, and because of that, the tension and danger of nightfall and daybreak were absent.

But while they waited, with the clock ticking away the hours, Darcy's attention turned to Elizabeth, and with a bottle of Jedburgh Scotch on the table next to him and David and Goliath at his heels, he reexamined his options. Yes, he loved her, more than he ever thought possible, but the reality was that he was a werewolf and she was a human. The situation with Rupert had served to demonstrate how vulnerable a population werewolves were. One wayward comment could end in disaster for the entire lupine community.

Even if there were no idiots like Rupert, there was still the physical transformation that took place every four weeks, and such thoughts caused Darcy to sink back into his chair. Of course, he would rather not be a werewolf, but he had accepted it from the beginning. And there were advantages to being a lupine. Although he relished the thrill of the hunt and roaming through the diverse landscapes of his property and the Peak, nothing compared to his time in North America. Because he had been tested mentally and physically by its harsh elements, when he had returned to England, he was confident in his abilities in both his incarnations. But with his adventure now behind him, he had decided it was time to choose a wife from among the she wolf population so that he might marry and raise a family. He had it all planned out until…

Darcy had arrived at Netherfield Park the very day of the assembly. It had been a mere two days since daybreak, and he had told Bingley that he was in no humor to go to a local dance. With his sense of smell still in a heightened state, the mixture of scents—most of them emanating from unwashed bodies with an added layer of perfume to disguise the odors—was unpleasant to say the least, but Charles would not be put off. Once they had arrived at the assembly, Bingley continued to press his friend, insisting that he dance. The result was that he had stated in a voice loud enough to be heard by others that “to dance at an assembly such as this would be insupportable.” Worse yet, he had specifically singled Elizabeth out as being merely tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt him to dance.

He was genuinely ashamed when he realized that Elizabeth had heard his remark, and when he turned around to gauge the effect of his rudeness, she had looked right at him and had actually smiled at his surliness. In that moment, he had felt a tug at his heart, but he needed to know more about the lady. So he had listened in on her conversations at Lucas Lodge and had found her to be an engaging conversationalist as well as someone who spoke with authority on a number of substantive topics. When she had called him out for his eavesdropping, he did not care because he had heard what he needed to hear. Added to all her charms and sparkling wit was a smile that had left him weak at the knees.

The result was that he followed her into Kent and badly botched the whole affair. As he walked to the parsonage, he practiced what he would say to her and thought that if an opportunity arose, he might even drop a hint that there was more to him than he was at liberty to disclose at that time. But when he went into the parlor and saw her sitting in front of a window, with its light creating an aura outlining her beautiful features, he forgot every line he had rehearsed. Instead, he concluded that it did not matter what he said. He was a werewolf, and this lovely creature would run away when she learned of his other incarnation. Instead of professing his love for her, he had presented her with a list of reasons why he should
not
marry her. In that way, he would not feel rejected when his secret was revealed.

A few months after his bungled proposal, Elizabeth came to Pemberley on the very morning of his return to human form. It was a glorious day, and after escorting Nell to the rendezvous point, he had decided to take a walk in the gardens. As he entered the lower gardens, there she was, sitting on a bench without her bonnet but with her eyes closed and her face pointed toward the sun. When she opened her eyes and found him staring at her, she jumped up from the bench and hurriedly returned her bonnet to its rightful place. He sensed her embarrassment, but he sensed something else as well. The message given out by her scent was unmistakable. She wanted him to take her in his arms and kiss her, and once again, he had reason to hope.

After her return to Hertfordshire, he had paid a call on her at Longbourn, which had gone very well, and with each subsequent visit, her scent and the way she moved her body let him know that she would be receptive to another offer of marriage, that is, if he were human. But between his monthly transformations and going to Northumberland and arranging for transportation for the she wolf and her pups, he had not seen her at all during the month of June. In July, he was in Scotland attending the gathering, and then Rupert had arrived at Pemberley. Although he had written a number of letters to her during their separation, when he had asked if she had received them, she said nothing more than, “Yes, they were properly addressed.” Clearly, she had judged them to be unsatisfactory.

“Which reminds me that I must remember to write to Elizabeth and Georgiana before I leave Scotland,” he said out loud, and after locating a writing desk where he could perform such a task, his thoughts returned to Lizzy.

It was Anne who had finally convinced him to reveal to Elizabeth his other incarnation, and it was a good thing that she had. When he arrived at Longbourn, Elizabeth was so annoyed at him for his peripatetic habits that if he had not had a plan in place, he believed that she would have shown him the door. As it turned out, Anne's scheme to reveal his lupine nature at Pemberley worked brilliantly, and the strength of his love eventually won her over.

If only he knew what was happening at Pemberley. Considering the circumstances under which he had been called away, he believed that he had done the right thing by providing her with an opportunity to change her mind. But would she take it? He dearly wished to know what was happening in Derbyshire. He would arrive at Pemberley shortly before the next full moon, but would Elizabeth be there to witness it?

During the last few days, Lizzy had been watching Anne de Bourgh for any sign that her health might be affected by all the emotional upheaval at Pemberley. During the carriage ride to Ashton Hall, Anne had contributed little to the conversation, stating that she preferred to listen to Georgiana speak of her debut or Lizzy's answers to her cousin's many questions about life at Longbourn. There was also a slowness in her movements that was a sign of fatigue, so when the weather went from dreary to dismal and the rains came, Lizzy suggested that they remain at Ashton Hall so that Anne could rest, and rest she did.

The first day after their arrival, Anne did not come downstairs until one o'clock in the afternoon, and Georgiana teased her cousin that she was picking up her bad habits. The second day was a repeat of the first, and it was then that Lizzy realized why Anne felt comfortable keeping to her bedchamber and foregoing playing cards after dinner. A weight had been lifted off her shoulders because Lady Marguerite was now in charge.

Although Lizzy thought Lady Marguerite was an absolute jewel, she greatly intimidated Georgiana with her outspoken opinions.

“Aunt Marguerite wants me to be strong like Aunt Catherine, but not bossy. Assertive like she is, but not scary. A good hostess like Lady Helen, but not to be like her in any other way. Oh, and one more thing, she said that I should never marry anyone who is prettier than I am. Of course, she was referring to Jeanne and Mr. Wimbley.”

The much maligned Mr. Wimbley had departed that morning to visit a relative who had suddenly taken ill. As Aunt Marguerite had explained it, “Once he realized that I would not stay in the dragon's den, which is how he refers to my suite of rooms, he hightailed it to his brother's house in High Wycombe, and Jeanne went with him to make sure he was visiting his brother and not someone else.”

“I do not think Lady Marguerite had a very happy marriage,” Lizzy suggested as a reason for her harsh treatment of her son-in-law.

“Oh, I know she did not,” Georgiana said. “She made that quite plain when I asked how long Lord Ashton had been gone. She said that he had died ten years ago, but added, ‘He had a heart attack brought on by… Oh, never mind, you are too young. Just let me put it this way, he did not die alone.'” Lizzy tried to suppress a smile, but Georgiana noticed. “I know I am young, but even so, I understood what she was talking about. I think it is awful when one's spouse is unfaithful. I do so hope that I shall marry someone who will be faithful to me. I want to be deeply in love with my husband and he with me.”

So do I, Lizzy thought.

***

After a five-day visit, Anne announced that she was prepared to resume her journey but hoped that she would be able to have a full day's rest at either Netherfield Park or Longbourn before going into Kent. Lizzy thought of the palatial Rosings Park and decided that Netherfield Park was the better choice—at least for Anne, and when Lizzy suggested to Georgiana that she stay with Jane as well until Anne had departed, Georgiana agreed. In that way, Lizzy would have time to speak with her mother, and she knew what her first question would be. “Are you engaged to be married to Mr. Darcy?” When she answered no, the inquisition would begin.

Although Lizzy had only been gone for two weeks, she felt as if she had been away from Hertfordshire for a month, and Jane hugged her as if she had been absent a year. Despite the short interval, Jane, now in her fifth month, had blossomed in her sister's absence, and there was no longer any way to conceal her pregnancy. The proud father came bounding into the room, greeting everyone with his irrepressible cheerfulness.

Lizzy was easily convinced to stay the night at Netherfield Park. She would delay her mother's probing questions as long as possible, but Jane was equally curious about recent events and visited with her sister in her room after everyone had retired.

“Lizzy, I do not know what to make of your short visit to Pemberley. You seem to be in good spirits, but I suspect if there was an announcement to be made that I would already know of your engagement to Mr. Darcy because you would be unable to contain your joy.”

An announcement? Was there anything to announce, Lizzy wondered. Mr. Darcy's chilling words before leaving for Scotland continued to echo in her mind: “Please know that you owe me nothing. You are not bound to me.” Unsure of her future with the master of Pemberley, Lizzy chose to remain silent.

“Mr. Darcy and I are not engaged,” Lizzy said in a quiet voice. “He was called away on a family emergency, and since Miss de Bourgh's health became a concern, it was decided that we should leave Pemberley. But once Anne departs for Rosings, Miss Darcy will come and stay at Longbourn.”

“Oh my! Won't that be interesting? The mistress of Pemberley will be staying at our humble abode,” Jane said, laughing, but then she asked, “What happened with Mr. Darcy? I thought the purpose of his inviting you to Pemberley was so that he could propose at the Darcy ancestral estate.”

“I am afraid things got off to a rather bad start. We both have strong temperaments, and we quarreled. However, it had the effect of clearing the air, and after that, my visit was quite pleasant. But then he had to leave. And I can see you are looking for more information, but I have nothing else to share.”

“Good gracious! How long does it take for a man to utter the words, ‘Will you marry me, Miss Elizabeth?' That is all that need be said. What is the difficulty? I simply do not understand the delay,” Jane said in a raised voice, indicating her continued frustration with her sister's suitor.

“I think it will finally be decided when he comes to Longbourn for his sister, but until then, I am as much in the dark as you are.”

***

When Mr. Bingley's carriage pulled into the drive, everyone was expecting Jane and Charles to emerge, so no one came out to greet Elizabeth. But when Lizzy went into the drawing room, she was nearly overpowered by an exuberant Kitty and a squealing Mrs. Bennet. With Jane and Lydia married and Lizzy away in Derbyshire, Kitty had only Mary for companionship, and since the two sisters had nothing in common and no hope of that ever changing, evenings had been very dull for Kitty. The ruckus created by her welcome brought her father out of his sanctuary to welcome his daughter home.

“While you have been gone, not two words of sense have been spoken in this house,” Mr. Bennet told his favorite daughter and gave her a peck on the cheek. “I look forward to a return of intelligent discourse.”

Lizzy was delighted by the warmth of her homecoming, but then she turned around and saw her mother, who had been waiting for her daughter to burst out with the good news that she was to be married to the very wealthy Mr. Darcy. When Lizzy said nothing, she asked, “Well, are you engaged or not?” And the room went quiet in anticipation.

“Mrs. Bennet, she has only just walked in the door,” Mr. Bennet said, scolding his wife.

“What has that to do with anything? She is either engaged or she isn't. So which is it?”

“I am not engaged, Mama,” Lizzy said, looking at her father rather than addressing her mother.

“But I told you that you should not come home until you were betrothed. Why are you here? Why was your visit so short? That is the problem,” she said, wagging her finger at her daughter. “You did not give him enough time.”

“Mama, Mr. Darcy was called away on a family emergency.”

“So what! You should have stayed at Pemberley until he came back. You may have lost him by leaving Derbyshire.”

“Mrs. Bennet, if it is Mr. Darcy's intention to make our daughter an offer, then he will find Lizzy no matter where she is. If traveling the distance between Derbyshire and Hertfordshire is an obstacle to their becoming engaged, then I must say that I would be reluctant to give my consent to the match.”

“Mama, I could not possibly remain at Pemberley because Miss de Bourgh had to return to Rosings, and Miss Darcy came with her. They are both staying at Netherfield Park until Miss de Bourgh goes to Kent, and then Miss Darcy will come here.”

“Oh my goodness!” Mrs. Bennet exclaimed. “Miss Darcy? Here at Longbourn? Why didn't you say that from the start? As long as we have her, Mr. Darcy must come here to recover his sister.”

“Mrs. Bennet, you make it sound as if we are holding the young lady hostage.” Mr. Bennet gestured for Lizzy to follow him into the study. After the door was closed, he poured a sherry for his daughter and a port for himself. She looked as if she needed it.

“What happened in Derbyshire?”

“A great deal,” Lizzy said after taking more than a sip of sherry. “It is a lot more complicated than I ever thought it would be. After taking into consideration the prestige of the family, their aristocratic neighbors, the size of the estate, the number of servants, etc., I was quite overwhelmed by all the responsibilities expected of the wife of Mr. Darcy.”

“Come, come, my dear. Those things are important, but if you love Mr. Darcy, it certainly should not deter you from marrying him.”

“Papa, please do not say ‘
if
I love him.' I
do
love him—so very dearly. But he is a complex man, and there were times when I did not understand what my role would be. I thought that I might not be exactly what he needs because… Oh, I don't know how to explain myself.”

“If you are trying to say that he is a difficult man to be around, maybe he does not deserve you.”

“Oh, no, Papa. He is such a good man, and he deserves a wife who will stand by his side through trials and tribulations.”

“Trials and tribulations? What does Mr. Darcy know of such things? He lives in a grand manor house on an estate of thousands of acres with servants at his beck and call. He has wealth, prestige, and rank. He wants for nothing.”

Lizzy looked away from her father, and tears filled her eyes. Mr. Darcy wanted for nothing—nothing except that he be wholly human, that he not live in fear of discovery, and that his every move not be dictated by the phases of the moon.

“My dear, something is bothering you. Please tell me what it is.”

“Papa, it is not that Mr. Darcy does not deserve me. It is that I may not be what Mr. Darcy needs to live his life to the fullest.”

“I do not understand you, child.”

“I know.”

***

The days passed quickly. With Anne's return to Rosings Park, Georgiana had come to stay at Longbourn. After much discussion, the final accommodations were that Georgiana would sleep in Kitty's room because both were close in age, Mary would share Lizzy's room, and Mrs. Brotherton would have Mary's bedroom.

“Lizzy, it is so funny,” Georgiana said, giggling. “I have such a big house with so few people in it, and you have a small house with so many people. Isn't that odd?”

Lizzy chuckled to herself. She had never thought of Longbourn as being a “small house,” but to someone who lived in a grand country manor, the Bennet homestead probably did look small. Despite so many people living in tight quarters, Georgiana loved it. Having lost both of her parents by the time she was thirteen, and having only the one brother, who was ten years her senior, she was enjoying the energy and closeness of the Bennet family.

Georgiana was a perfect fit. Because Miss Darcy had access to an impressive library at Pemberley and had been educated at one of London's finest seminaries, she had a broad base of knowledge that Mary eagerly tapped into. Better yet, a friendship had developed between Kitty and Georgiana, and Miss Darcy was a more suitable companion for her than Lydia ever was.

When the young ladies walked into Meryton to pick up the mail at the inn, seventeen days had passed since Mr. Darcy had left Pemberley. In addition to letters from Mrs. Gardiner and Mr. Bennet's sister, there were letters for both Lizzy and Georgiana from Mr. Darcy that had been forwarded to Meryton by Mr. Jackson. Lizzy quickly tucked the letter into her reticule, but Georgiana broke the seal on hers, and when a smile appeared on her face, Lizzy knew that all was well, and she handed the letter to Lizzy.

My Dearest Georgiana,

We made excellent time and arrived a day earlier than expected. Rupert and Teddy are both well and send you their regards. However, there were some difficulties in arranging schedules, and so I must remain until those problems have been worked out. But I am confident that they will shortly be resolved, and I anticipate being back at Pemberley well in advance of my scheduled appointment. So there are no concerns on that account. Please give my best to Anne and Miss Elizabeth.

Yours, Will (writing from Carlisle)

“My brother thinks we are still at Pemberley,” Georgiana said. “He will be disappointed when he finds that we are not there, but what could one do when Aunt Catherine sent a carriage for Anne?”

“Well, he will learn from Mr. Jackson the reason for our departure, and all will be well. Shall we go to the circulating library and see if anything interesting has come in on the London coach?” Lizzy asked, hoping that Georgiana would not mention that she too had received a letter.

As soon as Lizzy reached Longbourn, she went to the sitting room so that she might read Mr. Darcy's letter in private.

Dear Elizabeth,

All is well here. Things went much better than expected. I look forward to seeing you when I return to Pemberley.

Yours, F. Darcy

Lizzy could hardly believe it. Three sentences! That was what she had been waiting for all this time? Such brevity was a message in itself. He had asked her to reconsider her decision to marry him when it was obvious it was he who was doing the reconsidering. She went to her father's study, and with fire in her eyes, she announced, “Papa, you were right. Mr. Darcy does not deserve me.” She turned on her heel and left.