Chapter 6 #2
“That alone would not make him objectionable, as too many people of fashion shamelessly ignore how Bonaparte has killed so many of their cousins and neighbors and instead celebrate him as a hero.
These na?ve people do not realize that they are also paying for the atrocities caused by Bonaparte.
In Parliament, several bills are pending on higher taxation to fund the war.
Mr. de Bourgh went far beyond being a harmless admirer of the despot.
He has been heard at his club boasting of selling Rosings when it comes into his hands, so he could give over the proceeds to Bonaparte for his glory.
Traitorous! Is it merely empty talk? Could be, but the danger is there.
“Darcy, for centuries, families of note have married for connections and fortune to accumulate wealth and property. Lord Rockingham left me a princely fortune, simply because he had married my aunt. I am very nearly leader of the Whig Party. My wealth is an important factor in my rise to this prominent position. You may not know, but I was on a short list of candidates for prime minister.”
Lord Fitzwilliam paused to await a response from Darcy, who was solemn and inscrutable.
Eventually, Mr. Darcy inquired, “Is there no possibility of stratagem from Aunt Catherine? In the past, she disguised Cousin Anne’s poor health to promote her as mistress of Pemberley. Is it possible she is doing the reverse—exaggerating Anne’s poor health, for lack of a better word—to ensnare me?”
“I considered that. However, this time, she did not specifically ask for you to marry Anne, but rather, implored me to ensure Rosings stayed in the family. Richard would have been perfect for this task as Rosings would be enticement enough for him to relinquish risking his life on the Continent. Richard, however, is unreachable somewhere in Portugal or, more likely, still making his way there over the rough seas. His ship sailed only three weeks ago.”
“Could Anne and Richard marry by proxy? I heard men in the military do that when they are deployed from home.”
“A marriage by proxy is indeed possible. However, such marriages are usually followed by the actual event soon after. In this case, we would have to plan for the possibility that Richard may not come back…” The Earl drew a deep breath to calm his emotions, not wishing to think of his son perhaps perishing in a battle the Earl knew was planned for April.
“And if he does, Lord willing, he may not come in time for Anne to be present at the wedding. James de Bourgh is a barrister of note. He will most certainly take the inheritance dispute to court. He has, in fact, offered his hand to Anne several times, but Anne has always refused his offer.”
“I wonder why. Does Anne not desire to be married and have her own household? I do not know her wishes, because I have not spoken more than ten words to her in the last five years, since Lady Catherine began her relentless pushing of Anne on me for marriage.”
“And you do not want to know. It is understandable. Your Aunt Charlotte has spoken to Anne about her marital prospects. Anne was either mum or said her mother would do what would be best for her. We all know what her mother thinks is best for Anne, or rather, who is best for Anne.”
“Good heavens! I did not expect Anne to have a weak will as well as a weak body.”
Darcy got up and started pacing, looking troubled.
“Darcy, you may be overthinking the matter. Anne will live at most a few months more. It matters not what she is or what she is not. The task at hand is to keep Rosings within the family. You must agree that Rosings is a magnificent estate in a southern county where the Fitzwilliam-Darcy clan exercises scant influence. Rosings is our only stronghold. We cannot afford to lose it. If there were another male within the family available for this task, I would not have even suggested it to you. As it is, you are our only hope.”
Mr. Darcy revered his uncle, but their interactions had been chiefly concerned with family or investment matters.
He had no time for politics, and frankly, was not particularly attracted by the scheming and questionable 1dealings that occurred on a daily basis.
He now began to see that his uncle had not risen to his current position in government because of his benevolent nature and liberal treatment of all within his family and estates.
A few moments of contemplation induced a sinking feeling that his decision amounted to stealing the birthright of another gentleman, potential traitor though he might be. He would submit to his uncle’s request on one condition.
“I cannot argue against the soundness of your advice, sir. I must, however, ascertain for myself that Anne is… not long for this world. It sounds boorish or even heartless to ensure my cousin will die soon, but Pemberley needs an heir. I cannot risk having a sickly wife who cannot bear children.”
“Darcy, many seemingly healthy wives are barren or die while birthing children. Whether we have children or not is in God’s hands. However, I understand your worries and sympathize with you. What would ease your concerns about marrying Anne?”
“I shall perform the annual audit of Rosings’s books in a week instead of waiting till Easter.
My personal physician will accompany me.
I trust Dr. Taylor’s medical expertise. While he is examining Anne, I shall examine Lady Catherine.
If she intends to deceive, I should be able to detect some hint of a deception. ”
“That makes sense. If everything checks out to your satisfaction, I shall obtain a special license so that you will be the legal owner of Rosings sooner rather than later.”
“Uncle, you should know that in the marriage settlement, it will be clearly stated that Lady Catherine will move into the dower house before the ceremony, and she will relinquish all control over Rosings’s affairs regardless of whom I put in charge of the estate.
Anne will stay at Rosings and shall not remove to Pemberley. ”
“Ah, that is the test you have in mind for Catherine. It is clever. However, I think you should leave out the clause about Anne not going to Pemberley in case Mr. de Bourgh cites that as evidence that the marriage is a sham. If you do not take Anne to Pemberley, she cannot go. You do not need to state that in a legal document.”
Mr. Darcy was wary of this. He did not trust Lady Catherine not to send Anne to Pemberley after the wedding in order to reclaim the position of Rosings’s mistress again. However, he thought it perhaps too early to worry about this detail.
Three days later, Mr. Darcy and Dr. Taylor boarded the Darcy coach for Rosings. Dr. Taylor had served the Darcy family since the current Mr. Darcy was a babe, and the master trusted his medical opinions implicitly.
Mr. Darcy, meanwhile, was in deep contemplation.
He was still uneasy about marrying solely to increase his family’s wealth.
Dowry and connections had always been two important criteria for his choice of wife, but he also wanted to at least like his wife, so he could look forward to being intimate with her.
Anne, however, looked a replica of her mother, who resembled his own mother.
The image of their coming together seemed wrong on so many levels.
No, he simply would not do it. His uncle did say Anne would not be able to survive an agitation such as copulation, which was a relief.
However, what if the doctors were all wrong?
The thought of consummating his marriage to Anne turned his stomach.
On the other hand, just days ago, he had concluded that society wives cause nothing but heartache.
At least Anne would not be able to commit infidelity.
Regardless of Anne’s health, it seemed that his marrying her was inevitable. She had both fortune and connections, and she had been sheltered from the ills of society and was therefore unlikely to infringe on her marriage vows.
But… No! I do not need her fortune. I can create my own. My investment in the Northampton Canal Network has made me nearly as wealthy as Uncle Fitzwilliam, and I am not yet eight-and-twenty!
On the other hand…
Throughout the half-day journey, Mr. Darcy’s mind was taken over by mutually contradictory thoughts.
No, it did not matter whom he married because he had given up on society ladies.
Anne would be a safe choice, and she was dying.
He would have far more freedom to choose a lady to marry next.
However, marrying Anne would be dishonorable—taking away someone else’s right to inherit.
Mr. de Bourgh might be a traitor in the making, but he had not yet committed any such heinous crime, and might never.
Who was he to judge another’s character without proof?
It would be equally likely that Mr. de Bourgh would become a competent master of Rosings and a loyal subject to the British crown once he had taken possession of the estate.
As the carriage went along the lane to Rosings, Mr. Darcy had to agree with his uncle on one thing: Rosings was a valuable estate, being so close to London, and would become more so as more and more industries and commerce opened up the country to the world at large.