Chapter 11 #2
Elizabeth watched as her father’s face grew stormy. “That blasted idiot!” he cried. “I told him to stay away from the maids.”
“Has someone hurt one of our maids?” asked Elizabeth.
“Edward!” said the duke. “That stupid boy. Old enough to feel like a man but young enough to be foolish about it.”
“Edward?” cried Elizabeth. “Do you think he forced himself on one of the maids?”
The duke shook his head. “He’s too soft-hearted to do something like that. Besides, from what I know of this particular maid, I am certain she was quite willing.”
He suddenly closed his mouth. He must have realized that he was speaking to an innocent maiden about subjects which were highly inappropriate.
A few minutes of uncomfortable silence passed. Elizabeth was full of questions about her brother, but she did not voice them, since she knew they would not be answered.
“Perhaps you are right about leaving, Elizabeth,” said her father.
“I am not suitable company for an innocent lady. Neither is your brother if he could do something like this. I wouldn’t be surprised if his loose tongue has mentioned all sorts of inappropriate things while I left the two of you home together in the evenings. ”
Elizabeth said nothing, but all the various conversations she had with Edward ran through her mind. Indeed, there were quite a few tales and comments that were not particularly suitable. Still, Elizabeth had been grateful, because they gave her a more realistic expectation of how gentlemen think.
The duke sighed. “I am afraid I will have to go to Pollaner to deal with this personally. Would you prefer to go to Bath without me or wait until I return? If you still wish to leave tomorrow, I can have my secretary, Mr. Pimms, accompany you to take care of business.”
For a moment, Elizabeth hesitated. If she waited, she might have a chance to see Mr. Darcy once more after all. On the other hand, that might only make their inevitable separation even harder in the end, for she was determined to leave London.
“I think I would still like to leave tomorrow,” she said.
Elizabeth felt guilty as a pained expression crossed her father’s face. “Do you truly dislike me that much?” he said.
“I do not dislike you,” she said. “You have been as kind to me as you know how, far more than many fathers of your rank. I have every luxury I could want and more. I also have an amount of freedom that many of my peers could only dream of. I will repeat what I said this morning. This is as much for you as it is for me. The only reason for my haste is to make our separation as easy as possible, to not drag it out needlessly.”
The duke reached out his hand to grasp hers, and he gave it a squeeze. “You are an excellent daughter, Elizabeth. I want you to know that. No matter what I said about you this morning, I have always felt that way. From the day you were born to this very moment.”
“Thank you, Father,” she said.
They finished their dinner in near silence. The only other words spoken had to do with their plans for the following day.
The next morning, before dawn, six people set off for Bath from the duke’s house: Elizabeth, her maid, Lady Priscilla, Mr. Pimms, and two footmen on horseback. The journey took a day and a half, despite the speed of having four horses pull the carriage instead of just two.
When they arrived in Bath, Elizabeth was installed in the best inn in town while Mr. Pimms searched for available homes and servants.
Immediately upon their arrival, Lady Priscilla declared that she was quite fatigued and went to her own room for a nap.
As soon as Elizabeth was assured that she was alone, she sat down at the desk in her room and composed a letter.
Though she felt guilty the entire time she was writing, she was determined to complete it.
March 2, 1812
Dear Mr. Darcy,
I hope you are not too offended by my forwardness in writing to you, but I could not allow my absence to go unremarked.
By the time you receive this letter, you will have noticed my absence from Almack’s.
You may also be aware that I am no longer in London.
However, it is entirely possible that you are unaware of where I have gone.
I am in Bath, and I plan to stay here for the foreseeable future.
I am currently at the ___ Inn, though my father’s secretary, Mr. Pimms, is looking for a house for me to settle into.
Do not be too concerned. I am not alone.
My companion, Lady Priscilla, is with me, and Mr. Pimms is very responsible and efficient.
My father wished to accompany me, but he was called away home by some urgent business just before I left London.
I will not hesitate to add that I will miss you very much. I know not when we shall meet again, for I do not plan to return to London any time soon. Please be aware, however, that you will remain in my memories as the most amiable man of my acquaintance.
Sincerely,
Lady Elizabeth Lansfield
When the letter was complete, Elizabeth bribed one of the inn’s maids to see that it was posted. She was uncertain whether anything would come of it, but during the two days she had traveled, she realized that she could not bear for Mr. Darcy to not even know where she was.
Mr. Pimms was very efficient at his work. In less than a week, Elizabeth moved into a very pleasant townhome on The Crescent along with her maid and Lady Priscilla. The house wasn’t uncomfortably large, but there was plenty of space for entertaining should she wish to have a party.
Her father had agreed to pay for her house and for any servants necessary to run the house. Elizabeth would pay for food and household supplies as well as any shopping or entertainment she wished for with the income from her dowry.