Chapter 26 #3
She became more animated as she realised how unreasonable her ideas were; David smiled with gentle understanding as he kissed her hair. She was still resisting him and struggling to push him away.
“My love, you know only too well I have to go. You are the most courageous woman I know. I do understand your torment, but the past is gone—we cannot live our lives in fear of Markham. For heaven’s sake—he is an idiot!
I know he is a dangerous idiot though, and I promise I will be cautious.
We will be at least four men there—none of us will be in real danger, you must see that.
We are not going to war, for God’s sake! ”
“Then I shall come with you!” Cassandra declared and David burst out laughing so hard that he had tears in his eyes. He covered her face in kisses while she fought to escape his arms.
“That was the sweetest profession of love, my dearest, and I shall always be grateful to you for your care. Now I have to leave; the others are waiting for me. I shall return before you know it.”
“Stop patronising me, Colonel Fitzwilliam. I intend to come, too, so do not treat me like a child!
“Then do not behave like a child, your ladyship. Surely you cannot imagine I would allow you to participate in a potentially dangerously situation. So you are worried for me and want to come—for what? If we are unable to handle him—four men—of what use could you be?”
“So you admit the danger for yourself!”
“No I do not. I only admit how delighted I am with your care for me. I will gladly continue this conversation as soon as I return—which I estimate will happen a little after midnight. Please have dinner and then try to find some sleep; you will awake in my arms tomorrow morning.”
David placed a soft kiss upon her lips and then left; she heard the door shutting behind him. Her hands trembled and her heartbeat increased wildly with the sound of his retreating steps.
For a few moments she remained as stone in the middle of the room, and then she moved to the window only to see him enter the carriage.
David cast a last quick glance to the window, and she thought she could see a smile on his face.
Her heart seemed to stop, a cold shiver shattered her spine, and everything became dark around her.
∞∞∞
In the peaceful comfort of their rooms, Elizabeth was sitting on the sofa close to the fire; Darcy had been speaking for quite a while but she could not—would not—accept the meaning of his words.
Caroline always wanted to marry a title with considerable wealth; now that her dream had come true, why would she want to leave?
That was preposterous, and she was certain it was only one of Caroline’s schemes.
She was likely just upset with Markham for not giving her enough pin money or something.
“Surely, you cannot consider going,” she said bluntly.
“My love, you must understand why I have to go. We cannot leave this burden on Bingley alone!”
“Charles should be at home taking care of his wife and newborn son, not chasing Markham around town for one of Caroline’s whims.”
“Elizabeth, that is not fair. Everything indicates that Caroline is in a dangerous situation. And you know only too well that one cannot abandon one’s sister, no matter how badly that sister behaves.”
Elizabeth turned pale and averted her eyes. “Lydia was silly and impulsive, but she has never been as mean as Caroline. It is not a fair comparison.”
“I know it was not fair; forgive me. I did not mean to compare them, only to sympathise with Bingley’s worry.
I understand why he cannot dismiss his sister’s cry for help despite her past misbehaviour.
Can you imagine his torment, his distress, his fatigue after all those sleepless nights of fear—and now this?
How can I leave him alone in this trying moment?
I am certain you understand Bingley cannot succeed in this without my help. ”
“I still do not understand why a woman would be unable to leave and visit her family? Why would she need an entire regiment to take her from her husband’s house? This is all so strange!”
“I agree with you, and that is precisely why Bingley is so out of his mind with worry and why I know I have to go with him.” She looked straight at him as tears rolled down her cheeks.
“William, I am so afraid.”
“My love, do you trust me? Do you trust me when I tell you nothing is more important to me than you and our child? Do you trust that I will not do anything to put myself in danger—not for me, but for you? I give you my word that we will be exceptionally cautious; we have planned our strategy carefully.”
“A strategy? What strategy?”
He explained it to her in every detail while holding her hand and caressing her fingers; she only nodded in silence. She could see the wisdom of their plan, despite the cold claw of fear that clenched her heart.
“And,” Darcy concluded with a smile, “as an ultimate solution, if Markham proves unreasonable, David has proposed to beat him senseless and grab Caroline from the house.”
Elizabeth’s lips twisted and her eyes narrowed as she met her husband’s curious gaze.
“Well, what can I say? Perhaps you should apply the colonel’s solution first—after all he is an officer in His Majesty’s army and familiar with the requirements of a successful strategy.”
Darcy laughed, and she smiled with a heavy heart.
Feeling their child kicking, she startled and took his palm to press it to her abdomen.
She did trust him implicitly. She knew he would take care of himself, if only to be able to take care of her and their child.
She could not ask him to stay idly by her side, abandoning their brother in time of need.
He would not be Fitzwilliam Darcy if he accepted that, and she would not be worthy to be his wife if she continued to upset him with unreasonable pleas.
“Please be careful, my husband,” she whispered as she wiped her tears and wondered why breathing had suddenly become so difficult.
∞∞∞
Four men could be seen entering the small cottage in which Markham had taken residence; two of them barely maintained their composure as distress shaded their faces darker than the night.
They had expected to be detained; however, surprisingly, a servant invited them in the moment they knocked at the front door.
The earl attempted to inform the servant who he was but the man seemed completely indifferent to his words.
The only remark was that his master was waiting in the main room—and then the servant withdrew down the hallway.
Though Bingley’s story had given them some indication about the alteration of Markham’s state, the latter’s appearance took both Darcy and Fitzwilliam by surprise. He was drunk, but it was more than that; his cold laugh the moment he saw his visitors only confirmed the impression.
“Oh, you are finally here—Darcy and Cassandra’s new husbands; what an honour for my humble abode! I expected you earlier. What took you so long? I have already started to drink alone, but I may offer you something. What would you like?”
“Son, what is happening to you? Are you unwell? You look very ill. What are you doing here in this house? I cannot believe you are in town and did not inform me.” The earl moved toward his son, and the young Markham cast a quick glance at him.
“I have been very busy, Father. Do not start lecturing me; I am in no mood to listen to you.”
The earl stared at his son, his eyes wide in disbelief, completely ignored in the middle of the room. Markham filled his glass once more and turned to his visitors with an inquiring look.
“Lord Markham, I apologise for interfering, and I hope it will not be a long interruption,” said Bingley with perfect politeness. “I only wish to speak to my sister if that is convenient.
“In fact it is not convenient. I do not want you to speak to my wife. She is my wife—you know? I told you as much earlier, but I notice you brought reinforcements this time. I was certain you could not accomplish the job alone.”
“Lord Markham, I shall not enter into an argument with you; I have a simple request, and you cannot deny me. Surely, you must see how strange is your refusal to allow me to meet with my sister. This is not acceptable, and I cannot understand how—
“You cannot understand because you are an idiot, Bingley—as is your stupid sister. I am so tired of her that I will not speak of her any longer. Now—you two—may I be of some assistance to you?”
“Lord Markham!” Bingley burst out furiously, but Markham ignored him completely while he continued to smile at the others. Darcy cast a quick glance at the earl; clearly, he was of no help in solving the situation.
“Come Markham, stop fooling around. We are here to see Mr Bingley’s sister, and we will not leave without achieving our purpose.
All we want is a few minutes with her; you cannot deny us this.
” Darcy took a step toward Markham, his countenance as decided as his words; he intended to put an end to the quarrel, and he would not be stopped.
“Of course I can deny it to you. I can do whatever I please regarding my wife; however, I might be tempted to exchange benefits. I will allow you to speak to my wife if you will allow me to speak to yours. How is that? That way, every party involved will be satisfied to some degree.”
Darcy instantly turned pale and took another step forward; a moment later, he regained his composure. “You tread on dangerous ground, Markham. Be careful what you say.”
“You are on dangerous ground, Darcy; you are in my home at my disposal, and now you upset me. Leave my home immediately! I will call on you if I want to speak to you again!”
“Charles…please do not leave me,” sounded a weak voice, and everyone’s eyes turned to the door where a woman dressed only in a nightgown and holding a small bundle tightly to her chest stepped tentatively into the room, supporting herself with the wall. “Please do not leave m—