Mr. Darcy's Forbidden Love-kindle (75 page)

Judging from the way she attacked me at Ramsgate, she is most likely too headstrong to be afraid
.
Good Lord, Darcy has met his match—a woman as pig-headed as he!

After the show of affection that he had witnessed in the park, he knew Darcy well enough to know that he would track him to the ends of the earth if he dallied with this woman while she was under his power. Thus, he had absolutely no desire to pursue his normal predilection with regard to her. No… no matter how appealing the thought might be, he would not give Darcy an indisputable motive to pursue him after he fled England.

That bit o’muslin
19
is not worth it
!
I shall follow my plan to extort what I can from my old friend and flee the country as soon as possible.

Perhaps, he reasoned, if Darcy got Miss Bennet back unharmed, he might be so relieved that he may well forget the ransom paid in favour of spending his time in more pleasurable pursuits. Glancing again in her direction, he studied what little of her face he could see.

Nevertheless, one thing puzzles me.
I cannot fathom why Darcy chose her for a lover.

From what he had seen of Miss Bennet at Ramsgate and just now in the park, he would allow that she was pretty, but she was certainly not beautiful. She was definitely not the kind of woman he would have chosen for a lover if he were Darcy. After all, the Master of Pemberley could have his choice of women, all of them as beautiful as Gisela had been in her youth.

There is no accounting for taste!

His chuckles had drawn the attention of Agnes, the old woman that he had brought to watch Miss Bennet. Wickham had known her for years, as her son had been one of his partners in crime until his death at the hands of an unwilling victim. Finding her had been easy, as she always begged outside one pub or another on the seedier side of Town. Eager to make a tuppence without too much effort, she had agreed to the scheme straightaway.

As Wickham closed his eyes again, Agnes proceeded to undertake her own examination of the young woman sitting next to her. Convinced that she was only helping Wickham in order to survive, she was surprised that a small twinge of guilt pricked her conscience, and for a fleeting second she regretted her part in the affair. After all, her father had been a vicar, and he had raised her better than that. Then remembering her current station in life, she pushed all kindly thoughts to the back of her mind.

Ain’t no need ta dwell on what might’ a been. There ain’t no goin back. Besides, tha lady ain’t gonna git hurt if she don’t do nothin’ stupid!

~~~*~~~

London
Darcy House
William’s Study

Obviously beside himself with fear, Mr. Bennet loudly interrupted the butler as he hobbled towards William, demanding to know what he had done with Elizabeth.

Landingham and Richard both stepped in his path, causing him to halt and eye them contemptuously. However, unwilling to have anyone fight his battles, William placed a hand on each of their shoulders. When they glanced back at him, he jerked his head to the side in a manner that suggested that they stand down. They complied, and he stepped forward to face his love’s father.

“God knows that I wish I HAD Miss Elizabeth, sir, but I do not.” He reached into his coat and pulled out the ransom note. “This arrived just before you did.”

Mr. Bennet’s eyes flicked between William and the others before he took it and began to read. Suddenly overcome, his legs gave way and his knee twisted. He cried out in pain as he went down.  William reached for his arms to support him as Bingley pushed a chair underneath him. As they settled him in the chair, he buried his face in his hands with a sob.

“Oh my Lizzy, what have they done?!”

Everyone exchanged worried glances as William shouted for Barnes to send for Mr. Gladstone, the local physician. Shaking his head in disagreement, Mr. Bennet chided the young man he held responsible.

“I need no physician. I need only to recover my daughter!”

Nonetheless, the look William gave Mr. Barnes let the butler know that he should proceed, and he hurried to do just that.

With great exasperation, Elizabeth’s father continued. “This man… this George—”

“Wickham,” Richard volunteered.

“This Wickham took my Lizzy in order to provoke you, Mr. Darcy. What befell my daughter is your fault!”

Landingham, Richard and Lord Matlock tried to defend William all at once, but the Earl prevailed.

“It is not Darcy’s fault that the blackguard took your daughter!” Lord Matlock challenged. “She garnered his wrath at Ramsgate when she interfered with his attempt to kidnap my niece!”

“Please, Uncle!” William pleaded. “I appreciate your support, but Miss Elizabeth is not to blame for any of this!”

Mr. Bennet glared at Matlock now as he taunted him with the truth. “I realise that my Lizzy courageously risked her life to save YOUR niece, who is Mr. Darcy’s sister, but let us be honest with one another. How likely a target was my Lizzy before she met your nephew? She has no fortune nor connections.”

Honouring William’s plea, no one replied. So Mr. Bennet turned to the one he had come to confront.

“Is it not obvious? This man found out that you are in love with my daughter. That is why she was his target and why he sent the ransom demand to you. Am I correct?”

Ashamed, William nodded. Mr. Bennet’s head dropped despondently with his acquiescence. His voice barely discernible, he added, “I knew my circumstances were too modest to be an inducement. I was not even notified that she had been taken.”

William tried to sound confident. “No matter the reason Miss Elizabeth was taken, you must believe that George Wickham shall not prevail. We have already figured out where he is taking her and have devised a plan to get her back unharmed. We are to leave at nightfall and, God willing, she shall be back in London in two days.”

The older gentleman raised his head to glare defiantly. “Tell me everything you have planned, but be advised. I shall hold you personally responsible if any harm comes to my child.”

“I understand completely. Now this is what we know…”

~~~*~~~

Later

After everything had been explained, it took some time to convince Mr. Bennet that he should not accompany them to Stillwater. Only fervent guarantees that he would be notified the minute Elizabeth was safe and the fact that his knee had buckled again and would hinder his ability to help caused him to concede. It was unquestionably for the best, as it took several footmen to carry the man to his waiting carriage as he departed. Mr. Gladstone came up the front steps just as Mr. Bennet was being carried down and, at William’s request, accompanied the party to the Gardiner’s to examine the patient there. Bingley stayed behind, insistent on helping to rescue Elizabeth, so several footmen accompanied the Master of Longbourn to Gracechurch Street in order to help him up the stairs and into bed.

Now all that was lacking was to put their plan for rescuing Elizabeth into action and to try to catch a few minutes sleep, since they would be up all night and most of tomorrow. Richard, his father and Charles left immediately to make arrangements for themselves and their men. However, Landingham stayed behind.

“Fitzwilliam, I wish to thank you for allowing me to accompany you. Not being there—standing with you—against whatever evil you will face would have troubled me exceedingly.”

Seeing the love in his godfather’s expression, William reached out and Landingham responded by pulling his godson into a hug. Tears shined in both men’s eyes.

“I am so sorry,” William offered sincerely. “I should have told you sooner that your revelation about Georgiana’s paternity has not changed my opinion of you. In hindsight, you have always been a strong influence in my life as well as Georgiana’s, and you evidently loved my mother very much. And once I considered what I would have done, had it been Elizabeth—”

Landingham interrupted, “There is no need to explain, Son.” 

Earlier, William had requested Barnes send for the livery manager, Mr. Fairfax, who happened to knock on the door at just that moment. They stepped apart and as they shook hands, Landingham proclaimed, “I had best get started. Night shall come soon enough.”

He opened the door to allow Fairfax access and quickly strode past him and towards the front door. Fairfax entered and William began giving orders concerning the horses and coaches, as well as what marksmen he wished to accompany them. Shortly afterward, the servant left the room to do his duty, and William rose from his chair and stretched. Then, intent on finding Hobbs to inform him of what clothes he needed for the trip, he went towards the grand staircase.

Though exhausted from all that had happened, he did not plan on resting. No doubt sleep would elude him if he lay down. Rest would not come until Elizabeth was safe in his arms again. With these thoughts on his mind, he was looking down at the floor and almost collided with his aunt who had just descended the stairs.

“Fitzwilliam, what in the world has happened? As I stood at the top of the stairs, I saw Marshall practically run out the front door without a hat! With his injury, he should not be running, and I know that he often forgets his hat entirely when he is upset. And you are so preoccupied that you almost ran into me. What has caused you both to be so troubled?”

William could not but smile slightly at how well his aunt knew his godfather. Taking her arm, he gently steered her in the direction of his study.

“Much has happened this morning, Aunt, and there is a great deal to impart. You had better sit down before I begin.”

~~~*~~~

Gardiner’s Residence
A bedroom

“Tell me where she is! Has she run off with that dreadful Mr. Darcy?” Mrs. Bennet wailed. “It is just like her to defy us! Headstrong girl! Lizzy shall be the ruin of us all, mark my words.”

Mr. Bennet, now lying in bed, his knee throbbing with every beat of his heart, sighed.
At least she waited until the physician departed!

Then rising carefully on his elbows in order to address his wife, who stood at the end of the bed, he summoned all his strength, replying through clenched teeth, “I am only going to say this once, Fanny, do not ask me again about Elizabeth. All I will tell you is that everything should be settled by tomorrow evening. Now, go downstairs and send Jane to me.”

“Humph!” she retorted loudly as she stomped from the room. “I am not surprised at all. You have always placed more confidence in your eldest daughters than in me.”

As she disappeared down the hall, he mumbled, “If so, it is because they have good sense, whereas you do not.”

Presently Jane entered the room, and he could see the fear in her eyes as she came around the end of the bed. It was the same expression she had worn that morning when she had awakened him to say that Lizzy was not in the house, and the footman reported that he had not escorted her anywhere.

As she took a seat on the side of the bed, he reached out to push a stray curl behind her ear and then ran his fingers down her cheek before patting it in a fatherly expression of love. In doing so, he encountered the tears that silently covered her cheek.

“Jane dear, please try to be brave.” She closed her eyes, took a deep shuddering breath and nodded as she released it.

“Now, before I say anything, I am to relay a message to you from your fiancé.” Jane’s eyes opened and she studied her father. “Mr. Bingley allows that he must handle some business before he calls on you again. He expects to be back by tomorrow night or the next day at the latest. He will see you at his first opportunity.”

Her head bobbed up and down obediently, and his heart ached at her hopeful expression. 

“I understand that you suffer the most from Lizzy’s disappearance, so I want you to know what has happened. I do not want you to discuss it with your mother, aunt or uncle. I will not suffer listening to their opinions as to what happened, or may happen, before your sister returns. I hold them responsible for Lizzy’s being in Ramsgate, which brought her to the attention of the man who has taken her. ”

Jane’s eyes grew wide. “Taken Lizzy? Oh, Papa, tell me what has happened.”

All the while he explained what had occurred, tears streamed down Jane’s face. And when he had finished, he held his breath, fearful that she might collapse. However, her strength surprised him.

Brushing the tears from her face with the backs of her hands, she seemed to gather her composure as she ventured, “I… I assume that Lizzy is the business that Charles refers to?”

“Yes.  If not for this bad knee—”

Now it was Jane’s turn to offer comfort. She brushed the hair off of her father’s forehead. “You are being unselfish by waiting here. In your present condition, you might only hinder the efforts to save Lizzy.”

He stared at the ceiling then, as though to find the answers there. “My mind agrees with you, but my heart will not forgive me for not going. It is so hard to wait here. Lizzy is my child. I should be the one to rescue her.”

“But with your injury, you are not able. She will understand. And, from what Lizzy has told me, Mr. Darcy is an honourable man, and I am convinced that he truly loves her. I am certain that he and Charles will take every measure to bring her back safely.”

“Lizzy’s letters to you must have been more informative about Mr. Darcy than those she sent to me.”

Jane smiled wanly. “You know that sisters share everything, especially thoughts of a romantic nature.”

“I suppose that by now I should know the habits of young ladies.”  He tried to tease, but his playfulness quickly faded. “Let us hope that Lizzy’s opinion of Mr. Darcy is closer to his character than the one I formed today. That gentleman joins the ranks of those I hold responsible for her being taken.”

“How so?”

“It is obvious that this Wickham fellow pursued my Lizzy because of Darcy’s wealth.”