Chapter 20 Maria Lucas confesses to what she has overheard. #2
“But the younger girls do not have as much to give to their children.”
“Their grandparents did not have much to give.”
He tried to conciliate once more. “Kitty and Lydia would be titled as well, and you would be known as Lady Shelton.”
“I do not care for titles. I care for my girls’ reputations. All of them will be nothing if they are known as the daughters of one of the most infamous charlatans in the history of England!” Mrs. Bennet was now angry at her husband’s seeming lack of concern about being identified as Lord Shelton.
“Is that how you see it? That I am an infamous charlatan?” he snapped, stung by her words.
“That is how the rest of the world will see it, Thomas!” she cried, her eyes pricking with tears. “How can you diminish the importance of society’s favour to our girls?”
“I do no such thing! I am just sometimes tired of hiding,” he said, bitterness on his tongue. “But that I had just kept my identity.”
“How can you say such a thing? Would you have left me and Mary friendless in a strange land?” Her voice quavered.
“I would not have left you; Bennet had asked me to look after you.”
“Would you have deigned to marry me if it were not for your will to hide your identity? I smelt of the shop!” she cried. Tears were now leaking from her eyes. His anger broke as he realized the anguish he was putting on his wife.
“Fan, Fan, shhh, shhh,” he said, pulling her into his embrace. She struggled but he held her fast. “I am sorry that I let my pride overrule my sense. No matter what, I would have found some way to marry you. I was already in love with you.”
“What have we done?” she sobbed into his shoulder. “We should have acknowledged your name when we inherited Longbourn. That way, the scandal would have been forgotten by now, and we would no longer need to worry about you being found out.”
“Shhh, my love,” he said softly while rubbing circles on her back. “We had no choice but to take Longbourn instead of Shelton to hide my identity. The inheritance was too soon after the duel, and Malcolm’s father would have had enough influence to have me prosecuted.”
“You cannot know that for certain. You also had some good friends who would have stood up for you. But now poor Lizzy is being sacrificed for revenge of the bitterest kind!”
“It will all be well. I shall go to London—”
“No, please—” She pulled back to look at him, eyes full of worry. He gently cradled her head and put it back on his shoulder.
“—and I shall take every precaution I can while I am there. You are right about the consequences of my being recognized. I shall try to keep to the Gardiners and Darcy’s homes, and I shall draw the curtains in the carriage on my way between them. You need not fear for me.”
“You can stay here and have my brother and Mr. Darcy look for him just as easily,” she protested, a new wash of tears escaping her eyes. “They will help us to save Lizzy.”
Bennet shook his head. “Our family will be needed to help in any case, but our daughter needs us.”
“Sir, I ask you to reconsider. This is too impulsive and too risky!”
“Because of what happened in Kent, and what Maria said about Wickham’s intentions, I am convinced that Lizzy is very much in danger. I need to be there to plan our tactics with Darcy, and in case, there is no other option but to involve me. I would risk everything for those girls.”
“As would I!” she cried. There were a few moments where not a word escaped the mouth of either.
“Then you must come with me,” Bennet said quietly. “We must both travel to London on Monday morning.”
“But what of Kitty and Lydia? If Mr. Wickham comes back to Hertfordshire, he may try to hurt one of them.”
“Wickham is moved by money. Lizzy and Jane are the ones at risk.”
Mrs. Bennet reluctantly acquiesced. “Very well. But please talk to me before you do something foolish that will expose your identity.”
“I shall discuss it with you if I should feel the need to risk being seen in public. Now I must go and have the coach readied for your transport tomorrow. I have determined that the threat to Lizzy is so worrisome and urgent that I am resolute to go on horseback to Mr. Darcy’s townhouse at first light. ”
Alarmed, Mrs. Bennet looked up at him. “Horseback? You just said you would be hidden in a carriage!”
“I cannot get an express to Darcy earlier than I can ride to London, and it must not be delayed. You heard Maria; Wickham has been in town for several days at least. I must travel expeditiously so as to see Darcy as soon as is possible. I can mask my face for the trip and take care around the villages and coaching stops along the way.”
“Please, Thomas, come with me in the coach!” she insisted, but her husband quietly denied her wishes.
“I cannot, my love. It is a delay I cannot afford to make. Trust me on this. My concerns are the same as yours, and I promise you, I shall take all possible precautions to keep our secret.”
“But husband, promise you will heed my warnings. Remember that the importance of not being found out is not only for your comfort but also the girls’ acceptance.”
“I can promise you that much,” he concurred.
“Very well. I shall let the Akuetes know that we shall be away.” She then appealed to her husband once more, “And after your meeting with Mr. Darcy, you will go directly to the Gardiners’ and stay there without leaving if at all possible?”
“I assure you, that is my intention, my love.”