Chapter 36
Unlike every other trip away from Anne, Mr. Darcy’s mind did not gradually calm the further he traveled from the de Bourgh women. Instead, it became more tumultuous with each mile toward London.
He felt like a criminal recruiting judges to sentence him to a prolonged life of misery.
With his robust constitution and firm moral foundation, he had been certain he could bear severe hardship.
Now, though, the mere thought of being separated from the woman, who ironically, was the same one who could sustain him through the same impending miserable life, was unbearable.
Another matter weighed equally, if not more, on him than the potential lengthening of his marital state.
The Colonel had gone to London at the end of the planting season to avail himself of the opportunity to continue courting Lady Jane.
While bemoaning in his letters a lack of warm response from the Duke’s eldest daughter, the Colonel commented that their childhood friend, the sixth Duke of Devonshire, was a regular guest at Northampton House.
The Northampton family was in town to finish the season now that the lawsuits had been favorably settled.
His Grace, Duke of Northampton, had invited the young duke to his home for a family dinner as a gesture of gratitude for his part in saving Lydia from the mischief orchestrated by Viscount Weybridge.
The Colonel and his parents were invited as well.
That was the first dinner the Duchess had hosted, and it was a success.
Her Grace personally oversaw the lavish table befitting the status of the Dukedom, even though she was exhausted at the end of dinner and had to retire early, leaving the hostess’s tasks to her two eldest daughters.
“It was undeniable,” the Colonel wrote. “Devonshire’s attention was on Lady Elizabeth, who was as vivacious as ever.
She alone among her sisters did not cower in front of Devonshire, even with his taciturn and haughty self on full display, which…
hmm… reminds me of somebody else…. She paid him no special deference and sang and played delightfully after dinner.
The performance was simply exquisite. Even I was tempted.
Do not be jealous—what man would not have been captivated?
You are fortunate I am still trying to gain Lady Jane’s hand.
Her loveliness is different, but equally enchanting. ”
When he first read the letter, he had pitied the young duke for the disappointment that would be sure to come.
His Elizabeth could never be inconstant.
In his current agitated state, however, Mr. Darcy found this situation with Devonshire deeply unsettling.
What had happened? Would Devonshire declare himself?
Neither the Duke nor Elizabeth had mentioned a word about Devonshire’s visits.
Georgiana’s letters only said the young Duke came to visit and Lady Lydia hid in her room, too embarrassed to meet the object of her folly.
Actually, she peeked out from behind the curtain at the Duke as he descended from his carriage and declared he was not handsome enough to tempt her.
For all Darcy knew, Devonshire was still obsessed with Lady Caroline.
Now that the former Lord Hartington had inherited the dukedom, had he finally given up his futile and irrational desire from boyhood?
Devonshire was eccentric, but not a bad sort.
Darcy did not know of any vice to warn Elizabeth about…
but why should he warn her against anyone?
She is mine!
But was she, truly? It was getting more and more likely that he might never be any woman’s husband but Anne’s!
He closed his eyes and threw his head back in frustration—or was it desperation?
By the time the carriage arrived at Darcy House, he had made up his mind to release Elizabeth from her promise to him.
After all, if the doctors found his wife to have miraculously recovered, he might have to—despite the revulsion he felt—perform the most intimate marital act with one of the most spiteful women of his acquaintance, who was also legally his wife.
To lead Elizabeth on further would be unfair, ungallant, and ungrateful toward the only woman he had ever truly loved.
She deserved to be happy and the mother of children, one of whom would one day become the seventh Duke of Devonshire.
He visited Dr. Taylor that afternoon and asked him to assemble a team of preeminent physicians to examine his wife in Brighton. Except for Dr. Taylor, no one else would be informed of the objective behind their medical engagement.
He sent an invitation to the Colonel, but his cousin, not expecting Darcy’s presence in town, had gone to the country to see friends.
Desperate to find out the meaning of Devonshire’s newfound affinity with the House of Northampton, he went to dine at his club, intent on gathering gossip on this topic.
Even though the dining room was less patronized than usual, as many gentlemen had followed the Prince Regent to Brighton, he got what he came for—Devonshire had been spotted among the horde paying calls at Northampton House.
These gentlemen, Devonshire included, could have only one goal in mind: to snare one of the two Northampton heiresses on the marriage mart.
Since the second daughter had exhibited vivacious traits similar to Lady Caroline Lamb’s, perhaps Devonshire was after Lady Elizabeth?
The night was long and torturous. He again felt like a criminal, now convicted of a completely different crime and facing banishment from all he cherished.
As he approached Northampton House, he saw the grand carriage with the Devonshire crest driving away.
For Devonshire to be visiting so early in the day, he must be on intimate terms with the Northampton family.
His heart sank. He had thought being mired in misery was a weak man’s excuse for doing nothing to improve his own lot, but now, he felt like the weakest of men.
He just wanted the heartbreaking meeting to be over.
Well, at least I am doing something…
“Ah, Darcy. Come in! Your hard work has paid off. I am now firmly recognized as Duke, whether I like it or not, and I confess to liking it more and more with allies like you. There is much good news besides. You may not have heard that Jeremiah Smith accepted a position with the Canal Network and finally proposed to Lizzy’s maid, and I shall be a father again in five months!
Who knows, perhaps my elusive heir will make his appearance now that the prize is a dukedom.
My daughters’ portions, however, would be significantly reduced if the new babe is indeed a boy.
” At this last quip, the Duke threw Darcy a knowing look.
His Grace’s mood was ebullient, but Mr. Darcy felt inadequate to help celebrate the triumph he had helped Bennet attain.
“Congratulations, sir. Your good fortune and inheritance are well-deserved. I contributed nothing of note to your success…”
“On the conception of the babe, you are absolutely correct,” interjected the Duke with glee, while his guest tried to force a smile.
“Sir, I saw Devonshire’s carriage leaving the house.
There are rumors he has been frequenting your residence and was contemplating choosing one of your two eldest daughters as his duchess.
I wonder whether there is any truth in the gossip.
If so, I wonder whether you need a character witness for young Devonshire from one who has known him since his infancy. ”
The Duke narrowed his eyes and looked at the young man displaying a solemn expression he had not worn since Hertfordshire. Mr. Darcy blushed.
“Young man, your service to me knows no bounds. Now you have taken on matchmaking! It can mean only one of two things: the woman you married is doing extremely poorly, and you want to make sure Devonshire does not claim the daughter I have already promised you; or she is doing extremely well, and you are no longer in the running for the hand of my Lizzy, and you feel obliged to make sure that the wrong man does not claim your prize. Which is it?”
Mr. Darcy was astounded. How was the Duke so astute? His usual impassive demeanor had not slipped, or had it? He wanted to get straight to the point but had trouble formulating his answer when so bluntly confronted by the lady’s father.
“Sir, you have a penetrating wit. Lady Elizabeth takes after you.”
The Duke waved his hand to urge Mr. Darcy to get on with his answer.
“My cousin Anne, my wife in name only, has experienced a dramatic improvement in her health. This seemingly incredible recovery could be simply a manifestation of the last stage of her illness, or it could be a veritable miracle that she has somehow overcome consumption. I am in town gathering several expert physicians to examine her and inform me which of the two possibilities is correct, so I could judge whether to submit to her demand to be my wife in truth, and bear my children. I am in no position to promise Lady Elizabeth the future she deserves, especially if Devonshire is intent on making her his duchess.”
“Humph! I have never heard of a consumptive patient returning to health. I know something about this deadly disease because I studied it thoroughly after my brother died of it. My advice to you is to be patient.”
“Thank you, sir, for your encouragement. But if I take the step to… consummate the marriage, that means that my cousin is no longer in danger of dying. I cannot, in good conscience, deceive Lady Elizabeth with the false hope that I will be free soon.”