Chapter 22
While Mr. Darcy was living a life of outward duty and inward conflict, a letter arrived for him from the Duke of Northampton.
It requested Darcy’s help, as the lady who claimed to be the fourth Duke’s secret wife had given birth to a boy, and His Grace expected the battle for the Northampton title and fortune would turn intense.
Mr. Darcy’s assistance would be of the utmost importance.
The second letter he received that day came from his uncle, the Earl, who repeated the same urgent request that Darcy attend to the change of circumstances with his wise counsel.
The Earl himself had to leave for the north to evaluate the severity of the Luddite uprisings, but his son Richard should be of some help, as he had almost entirely recovered from his war injuries.
Mr. Darcy felt a small leap in his heart—he had the perfect excuse to absent himself from Rosings for a while.
He welcomed the intellectual challenge this legal case presented, and he genuinely enjoyed his friendship with the Duke.
Moreover, to see again his cousin Richard, whose irreverent sense of humor and carefree outlook on life always cheered him, was something to look forward to.
Everything would have been perfect had his cousin come home two weeks earlier, but he had not.
Because of that, Darcy had a cross to bear, and, by Jove, he would bear it.
By now, he had formed the habit of suppressing any other reason that might gladden his heart to visit the Duke, although he was not always successful.
The preparations for the journey diverted him from his persistent dark mood. He arranged for the doctors to take complete charge of Anne’s routines. Lady Catherine could see her daughter, but she could change nothing about Anne’s care without the doctors first getting approval from him.
The day before he was to leave, he went to bid farewell to Anne.
“Oh, you are leaving? I have grown accustomed to your presence,” said Anne. Darcy detected a hint of petulance in her tone of voice.
“It cannot be helped. When the matter is settled, Richard will come back with me. He always cheers you.”
Anne grimaced. “Richard is not my husband.”
Mr. Darcy was shocked and perturbed when he heard this possessive announcement from his cousin—he had never thought of her as his wife. Had Anne forgotten why he had agreed to marry her?
“Richard can make you laugh, but I cannot,” said Mr. Darcy, somewhat defensively.
“You may go now. I am tired.”
Mr. Darcy could not help feeling that Anne was turning into her mother and was showing her controlling claws. What had he gotten himself into? This was a turn of events he had not anticipated.
Quitting Rosings for a time had become necessary to keep him sane.
◆◆◆
As soon as the news of the birth of a potential heir became known, some of the young men scrambling to court Jane and Elizabeth began falling away.
Many, especially those newly elevated to the peerage, distrusted the obscure nonentities suddenly raised above them.
They would not have the courage to shun the newcomers in public, but they would step back to wait and see.
The news gained followers so quickly because two pensioned retainers from Northampton House attested the babe bore an unmistakable resemblance to the fourth duke.
The Duke, Mr. Gardiner, Mr. Darcy, and the Colonel met in the study at Northampton House.
After hearing the details of the case, Mr. Darcy, having followed the proceedings from the beginning, remarked that things had not changed as the crucial question was whether the woman was legally married to the fourth Duke.
Until that question was settled, it would not matter that a boy alleged to be a progeny of the fourth Duke had been born.
Colonel Fitzwilliam listened to the discussion intently and interjected, “Is Evelyn Webb the name of this secret duchess?”
All eyes turned to the Colonel, who had been away since the end of the previous year and recovering from severe injuries.
“Yes, indeed,” answered Darcy. “You have information about her?”
“My friend and comrade, Colonel Lord John Weston, was smitten with Miss Evelyn Webb about a year ago. Weston offered her a contract and invited me to visit to show off his… acquisition. He boasted she had recently been mistress of the Duke of Northampton. If I remember correctly, she was still staying at the house provided for her use by the Duke, who was too occupied elsewhere to worry about her not vacating the premises. Weston thought he had got himself a bargain, as Miss Webb did not need him to rent an establishment for her. It was a dignified place next to Berkeley Square. Two months later, Weston left for the Continent unexpectedly because the woman jilted him and went for greener pastures. Is this information pertinent to your investigation?”
“Very much so,” answered Darcy, “although this alone cannot disprove the claim that Miss Webb was secretly married to the fourth Duke. His Grace began having spasms in the chest about a year ago, the same time that Miss Webb’s contract ended.
It is possible he became concerned about his health and mortality and married her to try for an heir.
His offer of marriage would have been far more attractive than being mistress to a younger son—I mean no disrespect toward you, Richard. ”
“None taken, cousin. But this younger son has excellent prospects.” The Colonel cast a meaningful glance toward his cousin.
Mr. Gardiner asked, “Is your friend Weston in England? Or is he risking life and limb on the Peninsula?”
“He is indeed, sir, back in England. He went off to Portugal but was wounded grievously in the last campaign. At the moment, he is convalescing at his father’s estate in Kent.”
Darcy stated, “We now have a potential lead on the critical period before the fourth Duke’s death, and the Weston’s estate is but ten miles from Rosings. Perhaps you should start your visit to Rosings a few days early, and we shall visit Colonel Weston on the way.”
As the meeting came to a close, His Grace said, “Colonel, I am truly indebted to you for discovering this new avenue of investigation. What can I do to make your travels more comfortable? After all, your wounds are still fresh.”
“Sir, I am grateful for your kind offer. We soldiers are an easy bunch to please. If my limbs are attached to my body and in working order, I have nothing else to wish for. Besides, riding in Darcy’s well-sprung barouche is most pleasant.”
“Your cheerful attitude in undertaking so much trouble on my behalf is very much appreciated. Thank you.”
The Duke then turned to the other cousin and asked, “Darcy, you have gone above and beyond what friendship calls for, but I understand that you would do the same even if I were your servant. I would be remiss in not expressing my gratitude once again. When will you leave?”
“Thank you, sir. We shall travel in two days. I only hope the Colonel’s and my efforts in revealing the truth will, in the end, settle your right to inherit once and for all.”
“Well then. My family has removed to Kennington Castle to get away from the stares and the gossip. I shall join them. London has never suited me. Avoiding another Almack’s farce is reason enough for staying in the country.
Imagine that establishment is reputed to be the foremost marriage mart for the qualities!
I shall forbid my daughters to find husbands from such a ridiculous place full of idle, fortune-hunting young men. ”
“I understand your sentiments, sir. I prefer Pemberley above all else. If any findings from our investigations come up, I shall notify you immediately.”
When the cousins left the Duke’s residence, the Colonel remarked with regret, “I so looked forward to Almack’s this Wednesday. I can finally dance! But now I must go away.”
“When have you begun this love affair with dancing? You detest the activity.”
“The love affair is not with dancing, I assure you. I still avoid that like the plague.”
“Well, I do not want to pry into your budding romance, budding as it must be, since you have been home only a month.”
“Oh, I do not mind sharing. It is a new experience for me. To be honest, I never thought of marrying and settling down, as I had nothing to recommend myself in looks or fortune. Things are different now, thanks to you. Ever since this injury, Mother has been nagging me about leaving the army. I do not fault her this time because I would not be here if the shrapnel had gone a smidgeon to the left and burst a major blood vessel. I am not afraid of dying in battle, but dying on my way to battle somehow sounds unworthy.”
“I agree with Aunt about your quitting the army. You have served the country for long enough, almost dying more than once. Rosings needs your capable management, as Pemberley has kept me very busy. So why the sudden interest in Almack’s?
Now that you are sharing information, I admit I am curious.
You will own an estate, and so you need to find a mistress to complete the picture. Is that right?”
“Well, not exactly like that. You and I have talked about society ladies not being to our liking. I was as attracted to Lady Caroline as you were, but see how she turned out! This scandal of hers with Byron, with all the lecherous details bandied about, simply turned my stomach, and you know I have a robust constitution. Bloody wounds and body parts strewn about do not faze me…Why that look? Are you mourning your lost love, or does my description of battle scenes disgust you?”
“Neither… perhaps both. I do not know. Keep talking.”
“Someday, you will have to tell me what happened over Christmas. Mother told me your seeing Lady Caroline again played a role in your agreeing to marry Anne. By the way, have I thanked you enough for agreeing to sacrifice yourself to secure Rosings for me?”
Mr. Darcy showed his impatience by signaling with his hand for his cousin not to dawdle.