Chapter 38
A few days later, Mr. Darcy set off for his uncle’s residence to meet with the Duke to conclude some business about the inheritance. Everything was in order, and Mr. Darcy was curious why His Grace felt a meeting was necessary.
He had been pondering whether to follow tradition or to propose to Elizabeth as soon as he was free. But was he truly free? With his house decked in black bombazine and himself dressed in black, he felt as though he was still bound to his dead wife.
Since adhering to duty and tradition had him mired in the heartache from which he still suffered, he resolved to request a meeting with Elizabeth and her father before the month was out.
Imagine his surprise when he entered his uncle’s study and discovered there the Duke as well as Elizabeth, but his uncle was nowhere to be found. Now that he faced Elizabeth’s eager eyes, any reservation he felt about proposing vanished. If only they were alone!
His impeccable manners took control quickly, and he bowed reverently.
“Lady Elizabeth, Bennet, forgive me for calling while in deep mourning. I wish you well.”
The Duke bade Mr. Darcy take a seat. Elizabeth’s gaze followed his every move.
“Darcy, I owe you an apology for setting up this meeting in stealth. First, my condolences on your wife’s passing.
Someone from the Prince Regent’s entourage brought back the news from Brighton.
Whatever the circumstances were, it could not have been easy for you.
Even though her imminent, certain death was the reason you wed her, the way she died—if half of what I heard was true—must have been distressing. ”
Mr. Darcy glanced at Elizabeth to see whether she also knew the almost macabre way Anne had died. When he saw her face showing nothing but compassion and understanding, it made him want to pull her into his embrace. The Duke’s presence, of course, quelled any impetuous behavior on his part.
“Thank you, sir. The circumstances of my cousin’s death were indeed tragic, but she is at peace now, free of physical torment and mental anguish. I feel comforted in that regard.”
“I must clarify one aspect of the gossip: they say you challenged that scoundrel Wickham to a duel. Is there any truth in that?” asked the Duke solemnly.
Mr. Darcy again turned to Elizabeth, who looked anxious.
“No, sir. From what the staff of the Brighton house explained to me, my cousin could very well have been a willing participant if not the instigator of the mischief. I believe her illness muddled her mind, causing her to lose all ability to judge right from wrong.”
“I thank you for clearing things up. A certain young lady can sleep better now that she is aware you will not risk your life for some nonsensical notion of a gentleman’s honor.
If everyone followed this outdated, foolish tradition, half the Lords would be maimed or dead while the other half would be on the run on the Continent. ”
The Duke threw a glance at his daughter, who returned the look with a saucy smile, as if asking, ‘Who? Me?’
“That concern was the reason Lizzy insisted on being present at this meeting—to hear from your own mouth that you are safe.
You can tell from that impertinent smile that her anxiety has entirely subsided.
Since your visiting Northampton House may cause more gossip, we came here instead with the support of the Earl.
“Let me now come to the point. My wife, as you know, could be carrying the heir to the dukedom. When she found out about Lydia’s failed elopement, she had a nervous fit…”
Mr. Darcy became visibly agitated on hearing this, and the Duke gestured for the young man to calm.
“All is well, Darcy. The Duchess’s distress lasted a few days, and the doctor ordered bedrest until the babe is born, in around four months.
My wife seems content to be resting. There is nothing more important to her than keeping the babe safe.
Meanwhile, Lydia has at long last given up her unbridled, selfish, and reckless behavior, having finally grasped the concept that her actions could lead to dire consequences such as endangering her mother’s life and her father’s position.
Because of my wife’s delicate condition, I request you and I not announce your courtship with Elizabeth until after the babe has been born, and you have completed six months of mourning. ”
Mr. Darcy glanced over at Elizabeth again.
Seeing a slight nod from her, he answered steadily, “Sir, I am grateful for your condescension in honoring your promise to allow me to court Lady Elizabeth, even after a scandal has sullied my name. I hope and pray that Her Grace will safely deliver a healthy Bennet-Fitzstuart to perpetuate the dukedom.”
“I thank you for your well-wishes. If the elusory heir appears, it will be an unexpected joy. My wife and I gave up hoping for him long ago. Regardless of whether this child will come to be, I can count on having at least one son-in-law who will be a credit to my family.” The Duke cast such a meaningful look at Darcy that the younger man could not have missed the compliment lavished on him.
“Sir, I shall strive, as much as I am able, to live up to your generous praise. I count myself most blessed to have Lady Elizabeth’s affection.”
“Well, then, my being here was not entirely for you. Lord Fitzwilliam needs to get my signature for a piece of legislation that will go before the Lords tomorrow. I shall be a brief moment in his library.”
At the door of the study, the Duke said with a twinkle in the eye, “Leave the door open!”
As soon as the Duke was out of sight, in a flash, Mr. Darcy was kneeling before Elizabeth. He took her hand in his, kissed it reverently, and said, “M’lady, are you well?”
Elizabeth smiled beatifically and replied, “I am well. You are the one who has had to weather a grievous ordeal. I am relieved you have not turned into a cynic, or worse, after fate has dealt you such a blow.”
“The thought of you and your freely given forgiveness of my wrongs have kept me grounded and sane ever since our meeting in the grove, and it is my fondest wish to keep you by my side for always. When we declared our love to each other, I was not free to respond as I wished. Elizabeth, I am free now. Will you accept my hand in marriage?” asked Mr. Darcy urgently.
The Duke could return any minute to spoil their precious moment together.
“Yes, I will—with all my love. You are the only one I will marry.”
“Dearest!” Mr. Darcy pulled Elizabeth into his arms and kissed her like a betrothed would.
After a long moment, Mr. Darcy tore his eyes from his beloved when he heard the door creak. He sheepishly said to Elizabeth, “I am afraid your father saw our intimate moment and closed the door to preserve our reputation.
“He is an indulgent father, then?”
Mr. Darcy could not help swiping his finger over his love’s upturned nose. She was simply delightfully clever and optimistic. Any other young lady would have been worried that their indecorous behavior would cause gossip or other undesirable consequences.
Their secret betrothal was known only to the Duke, the Earl, the Colonel, and Jane. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy met at Rockingham House occasionally when the Duke met with the Earl for business, which was frequent because of the turmoil in the country since the assassination of Prime Minister Perceval.
After the season ended, the Bennet-Fitzstuart family moved to Kennington Castle.
The Duke, often accompanied by Mr. Darcy, visited his other country estates along the River Thames.
Away from London, Mr. Darcy’s presence in the ducal circle, even when Lady Elizabeth came along, was not particularly noticed.
If anyone had taken note, there was nothing to report, as the gentleman and Lady Elizabeth appeared as common, indifferent acquaintances.
In fact, since the engagement, Mr. Darcy had only kissed Lady Elizabeth’s hand, sometimes to the frustration of his love. With his inner turmoil resolved, his meticulous sense of decorum was always under good regulation.
After three months of deep mourning, Mr. Darcy was invited to dine at Kennington Castle.
The Duke had been singing the younger man’s praises in front of the Duchess, who was somewhat skeptical that the erstwhile arrogant and disdainful young man from Derbyshire could, within a few months, have become a paragon of virtue.
However, Mrs. Trimmer, who had known the gentleman since boyhood, echoed the Duke’s praises.
What finally clinched the Duchess’s good opinion was learning Mr. Darcy owned one quarter of the Northampton Canal Network.
His only shortcoming was his lack of title, but her husband assured her Mr. Darcy could become a Lord whenever he chose because he and his sister held a barony in abeyance after their great-aunt’s death a year before, and Miss Darcy had been urging her brother to petition for the title.
Baron was lowest in the hierarchy of nobility, but this particular barony had an ancient lineage—it was originally a feudal barony.
She could not quite grasp the relevance of this bit of information until her husband reminded her that the babe, if a boy, would have a courtesy title of baron.
Her Grace’s attention was focused on herself and the babe inside her, but being a consummate matchmaker, she could easily recognize the tactics used to recommend an eligible young man.
But her husband doing this? He would not stoop to her level, would he?
Her main complaint against Mr. Darcy was that he had slighted her second daughter.
Beyond that, she was intimidated by his tall stature and austere face, and so had never considered him as a potential son-in-law.
When Lizzy came to visit her chamber, Her Grace found the opportunity to clarify the issue. Lizzy had hated the gentleman in Meryton, but she had more recently praised him quite without restrain.