Chapter Twenty
SETTLING IN
Darcy House
Tuesday, The Next Day
The Study
William sat at his desk, having just read an update on the rebuilding of the barn at Rosings Park.
Another report sat on the side of the desk detailing a dispute between two tenants at Pemberley.
He knew he needed to be prompt in answering both, but all he could think of was his wife and the intimate night they had enjoyed.
“Elizabeth,” he murmured. The corners of his mouth gave way to a slight smile as he envisioned her loveliness.
After changing for bed, William had quietly entered the open door to her room where he casually leaned against the door frame and watched as she completed her nightly preparations sitting at her vanity.
Seeing him in the mirror, she turned on her seat and greeted him with a look full of mischief.
“I have been waiting for you, Mr. Darcy,” she enticingly said.
Extending her arm with her brush and comb in hand she continued, “I fear it will be an arduous undertaking for one who is not experienced with hair such as mine. As you can see, after removing the hairpins, it is quite unruly, yet I do recall you saying it is a task which you would gladly undertake.”
“Indeed, I did,” he said, walking to where she sat.
Slowly lifting a lock of hair, he twisted it around his finger while inhaling the scent.
“Your hair is lovely, Elizabeth. But first, if you do not mind….” Pulling her from the stool and into his embrace, he kissed her without reserve.
“My darling wife, I love you so,” he murmured.
“Whatever did I do to deserve such happiness?”
“We have been blessed, my husband, and I love you with each and every breath of my being, as you well know.” With that, brushing Elizabeth’s hair was easily forgotten.
Lifting her into his arms, he carried her through the adjoining room and to his bed.
It was a wondrous night where passions quickly ignited, overtaking their sensibilities.
Afterwards, he pulled her soft and supple body into his embrace and the two of them fell asleep until morning came and they eagerly repeated their lovemaking.
Before leaving the bed, Elizabeth kissed him one last time, then put on her robe and went to her room.
Mere seconds later, William heard Elizabeth let out a squeal of horror followed by a sudden burst of laughter.
Quickly grabbing his robe, he strode to her room where she sat at the vanity gazing intently into the mirror. “Elizabeth, is something amiss?”
Facing him, she emphatically said, “You, Mr. Darcy, could have easily told me what was amiss before I came in here and was shocked by my own reflection. Just look at my hair!”
“Elizabeth, I love your hair and see nothing wrong.” Moving closer, he tried not to smirk as he twisted her curly locks behind her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. “I supposed it is a little dishevelled, but that is to be expected after….”
She rose and, pointing her finger at his chest, playfully stated, “Indeed! I knew it would be bad since you did not fulfil your duty in brushing it last night. Now, however, I look more like something out of a Greek drama.”
“A Greek drama?” He asked, pretending not to understand.
“Yes, I believe her name was Medusa, was it not?”
Note: In Greek mythology, Medusa is generally described as a woman with living snakes in her hair; her appearance was so hideous that anyone who looked upon her was turned to stone.
“Elizabeth, I would never associate you with such an unsightly creature.”
“I should hope not!” she playfully interjected, handing him the brush and comb.
Sitting once again, she smiled, saying, “Now, if you do not wish to be turned to stone, it would be best to start at the bottom. When you get to the difficult tangles, you will need to go tress by tress using the lavender oil and the comb if you are to have any success.”
“With pleasure, my love,” he gleefully said, proceeding as she directed.
Elizabeth watched in the mirror while he worked on her hair.
She told him how she and Jane would tend each other’s hair every night and how much she enjoyed brushing Anna’s hair.
She could not help but giggle as she watched his expressions change from extreme concentration, to frustration, and finally to one of satisfaction.
All in all, it took William nearly three quarters of an hour to slowly untangle Elizabeth’s mass of curls.
When he was finished, he proudly stated, “There now, you look as lovely as ever. Although, for my part, I would not mind if you wore your hair loose like this every day.” He leaned over, pushed her hair to the side and kissed her neck.
“Not to mention it smells heavenly and is quite alluring.”
Quickly rising and turning in his arms, she said, “It would not be practical in the least, dear husband. Even so, I am delighted with your sentiments and above all your efforts. It will make it much easier for my maid, who is not nearly as adept at dealing with my hair as Molly is.”
“Does this mean I may try again this evening?”
Giggling, she responded, “Without question.”
As the two of them laughed out loud, William picked up Elizabeth and twirled her around in his arms. When he finished, however, he did not immediately put her down.
Instead he held her close and tenderly kissed her on the lips.
As their kisses deepened, and his ardour began to rise, William carried her to her bed, where they stayed for another hour before getting up to begin their day.
Reluctantly putting those thoughts aside, William reached into his desk drawer and removed a fresh sheet of paper.
Taking a sharpened pen in hand, he began addressing the first correspondence.
He had just finished sealing the second letter when his butler knocked on the door, announcing the Earl of Matlock.
“Uncle,” said William rising from his chair. “I did not expect to see you this morning. Has something happened that I should know?”
“Yes. Wickham has regained consciousness, although he is in a very bad way. The message I received says he is asking to see you.”
“Me?! Unbelievable! I nearly lost my wife, my daughter, and my sister because of that man!”
“I understand. The note says Wickham continues to be fevered and has developed some respiratory issues. Because he is so weak, he is not expected to last the day. Perhaps he wishes to make amends and clear his conscience.”
“Huh! I highly doubt that!” Raking his hand through his hair, William finally said, “Very well, give me a few minutes. I would like to inform my wife where I am going.”
“Certainly. I shall wait for you in the carriage.”
The Gaol
William was not in the mood for conversation as the two men travelled the distance to the gaol located in an undesirable section of Town.
The area was not kept up, and the visible sign of garbage and rot in the streets was disgusting.
The building itself was little better. Though there were no signs of human waste, a foul stench permeated the halls as the two men asked for admittance to where Wickham was being held.
The dimly-lit room was not large, and there were three other inmates in poor health who shared the space.
On entering, William said through gritted teeth, “Uncle, this place is appalling. It is no wonder Wickham has not shown any improvement. Heavens! My cattle are treated far better than these poor souls.”
“Darcy,” a gravelly voice barely audible called out. “Is that you?” Wickham’s enquiry was followed by excessive coughing, drawing the men’s attention to where he was laying in the corner.
“I am here, Wickham,” William answered, moving to the side of the bed. “What is it you wanted?”
Wickham managed to choke out a brief laugh before saying, “Always to the point, are you not? No niceties for your old chum?”
William did not respond.
“How do you like my accommodations? I thought surely you would provide better for old time’s sake.” He tried to laugh but ended with another violent cough. “Too bad you never paid up while you had the chance.” His speech remained broken. “You will wish you had when I tell all.”
“Tell me what, Wickham? What could you possibly have to say that would be of interest to me at this point in time?”
Trying to calm his breathing, he mockingly said, “I had them both, you know. I admit, there was little sport in your sister, a mere child who was heavily sedated, but your wife was … so very lively and full of passion. Did she tell you of our night together at the boarding house? How I fondled her and how she writhed in my embrace? I doubt it,” he laughed sardonically.
“You may have been the first to have her, but assuming she is now with child, you will never know if your firstborn is from my seed or yours. Such a good joke! What is more, after our joining she is now infected with the French disease, as is Georgiana. And assuming you have had your way with her since her recovery, you, too, are infected! A fitting end to our relationship, is it not?”
“Wickham, you disgust me. I shall not demean my wife or sister by listening to you and your vulgar lies any longer. Uncle, let us leave. I have had enough.”
“Yes, Darcy, walk away. Leave me to die in this hell-hole! If you had lowered your standards a bit and paid me the money I asked for after Anne died, this never would have happened. I could have gone to France and you could have gone on with your self-righteous life and your precious wife. Instead, you have deprived me of the best years of my life!”
“Wickham, you are mad. You were given more than you deserved from my family, many times over. It is not my fault that you chose to throw it away and bedded every whore from here to God knows where. I have no qualms about what has passed between us. It is now on your head, and I have nothing more to say.”