Chapter 33
When the Rosings party arrived at Northampton House, the Duke was at home. His Grace’s face and posture relaxed on seeing the visitors.
“Ah, Darcy and Fitzwilliam, you seem to have an uncanny ability to know—to the minute—when your presence is needed. How fortunate! Please come in and take a seat. Jane and Lizzy, you may stay if you wish, or you could look in on your youngest sister. Mrs. Trimmer is with her in her room.”
The sisters exchanged glances and made no sign of leaving the study.
“Papa, have you learned more about what happened? How did you intercept Lydia?”
The Duke’s inclination was to tease his favorite daughter, but Mr. Darcy was also impatient to know more.
“Sir, all four of us learned about the incident through letters written by our sisters. We discussed the matter on the way here. We are eager to hear whether our conclusion agrees with reality.”
Now the Duke was intrigued. Why would Darcy and the Colonel feel the matter concerned them?
“Well, it started yesterday afternoon. An express rider delivered two letters to Kennington Castle: one for me from the Headmistress, Mrs. Treadwell; and one for Mrs. Trimmer from her niece, who teaches at the seminary.
They told the same story. The entire school was abuzz with excitement because Lady Lydia Bennet-Fitzstuart was to elope with the Duke of Devonshire at midnight.
“Lydia had bragged about marrying Devonshire as soon as she arrived at the school. Mrs. Treadwell believes every girl there makes it her life’s goal to marry the young duke, and so, by itself, her braggadocio was not noteworthy.
Some believed her because she is a duke’s daughter, but some found her constant boasting tiresome.
So, they came up with a prank of sorts. One girl, a distant cousin of Devonshire, befriended her and told her the Duke would be delighted to make her acquaintance.
“This false friend and her cohort told my gullible child that the friendship must be through letters initially because the Duke could not be seen openly courting Lydia.
He, being so famous, would attract too much unwanted attention.
Silly Lydia was taken in hook, line, and sinker and diligently exerted herself to write appealing letters.
Mrs. Treadwell was able to confiscate some and gave those to me.
I will say Lydia needs to improve her writing skills dramatically if she wishes to catch a husband through titillating letters.
The letters purportedly written by Devonshire were of a much higher quality.
The school, it seems, is doing something right.
If Lydia stays there for another year, it is possible both her mind and knowledge of the world will profit appreciably.
We can only hope proper decorum will follow.
“On receiving the expresses, Mrs. Trimmer and I went immediately to town. Thank heavens for fast horses and a well-sprung carriage! We arrived rather late in the evening. It was well past the girls’ bedtime curfew, but many, including Lydia in her traveling clothes and holding a valise, were found in a dark corner of the common room, giggling and whispering.
You know the first thing Lydia said to me?
‘Are you here to give me away, papa?’ She looked genuinely puzzled.
Then she saw Mrs. Trimmer behind me and understood her elopement would not happen.
I brought her back here last night and told her the truth about her friends’ using her for a laughingstock, and she has been inconsolable ever since.
“Now I am curious to hear what you have deduced? Darcy, will you do the honors?” asked the Duke, somewhat amused.
It was wonderful that the near disaster had a happy ending. Mr. Darcy, however, was taken aback by the lightheartedness in the Duke’s countenance.
“Sir, we received the news of this potential elopement from our sisters, who were extremely distressed, and I must admit their distress was infectious. The Colonel and I, having grown up with Devonshire, thought it highly unlikely His Grace was involved in a caper of this nature. Elopements, unfortunately, regularly occur, and many of these involve deception of some kind.”
All four young people nodded in agreement.
During the carriage ride, Elizabeth had asked about Georgiana’s cryptic remarks about an incident with W.
Since Georgiana had already told two of Elizabeth’s sisters, Mr. Darcy felt it necessary to tell the eldest two as well.
Elizabeth grieved for Georgiana after having heard what the younger girl had had to endure and was once again mortified that she had wronged Mr. Darcy because of George Wickham’s lies.
To show support for her love, she could not help throwing a tender glance his way, which was received with gladness. Neither of these escaped the sharp eye of her father.
“I am relieved this was but a schoolgirl’s tomfoolery,” said Mr. Darcy. “All’s well that ends well.”
Just then, an express came from the seminary. The Duke quickly looked over the letter.
“Your worries are not without cause. The young lady who was the instigator is a niece of Lord Dunham,” said His Grace with more solemnity than before.
The Duke turned to his daughters and explained, “Lord Dunham is the fourth Duke’s nephew, who seems to be behind all the schemes to claim at least the unentailed holdings of the Dukedom if not the title.
I wonder when I shall be rid of this vermin and his despicable schemes.
Is material wealth worth sacrificing one’s honor and dignity? ”
The Duke handed the letter to Mr. Darcy, who summarized its contents for the group.
“Mrs. Treadwell interviewed the young lady who was the leader of this mischief. She confessed that her cousin, Viscount Weybridge, Lord Dunham’s heir, designed the entire plot.
She had complained to him about Lady Lydia’s loud, endless blustering about marrying the Duke of Devonshire.
On her part, she thought the ruse was simply a good joke and no dire consequences would come from it.
She claimed she did not think there would be a real elopement.
Lady Lydia would wait for her lover, who would never come because the real Duke of Devonshire does not even know about Lady Lydia.
She was shocked to hear that Lord Weybridge‘s carriage had been found at the side entrance of the seminary, where Lady Lydia was supposed to be waiting. When Mrs. Treadwell questioned the coachman, he told her the Viscount had ordered him to pick up a young lady, Lady Lydia, and take her to the Viscount’s townhouse.
Mrs. Treadwell is familiar with the peerage through her years of educating their daughters, and knew of Lord Weybridge’s reputation as a rake.
A deliberate deception was definitely afoot. ”
Elizabeth interjected, “So Lydia was saved by her own brashness. Her loud boasting alerted the teachers and headmistress.”
“Ah, a silver lining then?” He turned to Elizabeth and said with a wistful smile, “Thank you, Lizzy, for always thinking optimistically. Lydia’s great flaw turned out to be useful in saving her from a potential life of misery.
To be the wife of such a rake! I would never force Lydia to marry a man so completely devoid of honor, even if she had eloped with him. ”
He turned to Darcy and his cousin and asked, “Gentlemen, have you discovered anything that can be used against this pack of wolves?”
Mr. Darcy and his cousin exchanged glances before Mr. Darcy spoke.
“Sir, Lord Weybridge’s wastrel ways may be the reason Lord Dunham has been eager to gain your wealth, which may also have been the reason the fourth Duke planned such an elaborate scheme to prevent his heirs from spending the entire unentailed portion of his wealth in one generation.
With Mrs. Treadwell’s testimony, there may be a case against Lord Weybridge.
The punishment for someone who is not a peer—for he will not be until he inherits—could be severe if found guilty of attempted kidnapping and impersonating a duke.
The fear of having his son transported may stop the Earl from pursuing any further nefarious schemes.
Mrs. Treadwell has a stellar reputation as headmistress among the nobles.
Most will be sympathetic lest their own daughters and nieces be hoodwinked by a scoundrel. ”
“It is a pity Lydia will not stay at the seminary after this scandal. Her remorse is a good omen. She may learn to be a proper lady yet.” The Duke also thought about his wife, who had transformed into a lady of gravitas, mindful of her own decorum for fear of bringing shame to the family name or the Dukedom.
Mr. Darcy spoke up. “Mrs. Trimmer should be able to recommend another equally distinguished seminary for Lady Lydia. Because of the malicious nature of this escapade, involving a student collaborating with an outsider of unsavory reputation, no blame will be placed on Lady Lydia. She will be welcome wherever Your Grace sends her.”
“Well, well, as you said, Darcy, all’s well that ends well. I am grateful for your insight and advice on dealing with this potentially ruinous situation.”
His Grace turned to his daughters and said, “Jane and Lizzy, would you speak to Lydia and explain what will happen, and how fortunate she is that her reputation has not been tarnished? Perhaps she will learn not to tempt fate again.”
After the sisters had left, His Grace asked to speak to Mr. Darcy alone.
“Darcy, I shall be frank. I noticed the glances that passed between you and Lizzy. It was a long time ago that I had tender feelings for a young lady, but I still recognize the sentiments expressed. Cliché as it sounds, the eye is the window into the soul. Would you enlighten me as to any recent developments about which, as Lizzy’s father, I should know? ”
Mr. Darcy’s countenance showed astonishment at first, and then it turned extremely solemn before a deep shade of crimson crept onto his face.
“Sir, I shall be frank as well. I am not ashamed of my feelings for your daughter, Elizabeth. They are honest and just. I am gratified she returns my sentiments, and that makes me the happiest of men.
“Even though my heart is true, my behavior has been regrettable. Since I met her in Hertfordshire, she has stirred my soul like no other. Such powerful feelings were unfamiliar to me, and I was confused by them. For a man so affected by a lady, the honorable next step should be an offer of marriage. This was where the dishonorable part of my behavior came in. I felt I could not escape the expectations placed upon my shoulders as nephew to an earl, master of Pemberley and sole representative of my family’s name.
This wrongheaded pride led me to run away from the one who has now become everything to me.
“I shall not bore you with my long road of torturous soul-searching. Suffice to say I thought I found a solution to my dilemma, which was to fulfill my familial duty by marrying my dying cousin to keep a valuable estate in the family so I could marry where I chose, without reproach, after… my cousin’s imminent demise.
“Sir, you could imagine the inimitable joy I felt when Lady Elizabeth…
informed me she felt a similarly strong affection for me.
Please be assured it was through the exceptional discernment of Lady Elizabeth that she made the discovery of my devotion to her, and not through any despicable seduction on my part.
“From that moment, I felt an inner transformation of my character, knowing I have the love of such a precious woman. I have been known all my life to be stolid to the extreme. And yet you told me you could tell from the few glances I shared with Lady Elizabeth that we are bound by a special connection.”
His Grace pondered a moment. He was moved by such a heartfelt confession from a gentleman who, as he himself recognized, was usually inscrutable.
“Darcy, I have not known you for long, but I have been impressed by your integrity and your honor. Marrying your ailing cousin out of family obligation was understandable, especially when you stepped up in place of your cousin, who was away serving king and country. I am also trusting you to protect Lizzy’s honor, even if she begs you to do otherwise. ”
Again, Mr. Darcy was shocked to hear such bluntness from His Grace. Indeed, he had felt on many occasions the urge to push the boundaries a little. Thank heavens Elizabeth had not begged for more intimacy. He was not certain he had the will to resist any importunity from her.
“Sir, be assured that both Lady Elizabeth and I respect the vows binding me to another, even when that marriage is a mockery of the holy institution. I shall take care of my… wife till death takes her from this world.”
“Every life is in God’s hands. What if God ordained that your wife’s life should be spared?”
Mr. Darcy had been pondering this scenario since Georgiana mentioned the possibility. When the Duke posed this question, he was ready with the answer.
“If my cousin grows stronger, Lady Elizabeth will be the first to know, and I will remain tied to my cousin until the day she or I shuffle off this mortal coil. My heart has been, and always will be, Lady Elizabeth’s.
But I speak only for myself. Lady Elizabeth will never be obligated to return my affection for her. ”
“In this scenario, if Elizabeth chooses another, would you not need to beget an heir?”
“My sister’s son can inherit Pemberley, and my cousin, the Colonel, will own Rosings as soon as it becomes expedient to do so.”
“You quoted ‘Hamlet’ just now. Your own story resembles ‘Romeo and Juliet’ more—star-crossed lovers! It must be temporary. Providence cannot be so cruel. But beware! My Lizzy could try to persuade you to adopt her way of thinking. I hope you will stand firm when that happens. I can rely on you, but not on her. When you are free to court her, you have my blessing.”
“Thank you, sir. I will not betray your trust.” Mr. Darcy answered and smiled the widest smile anyone had seen on his ever-austere face.