Chapter 12
Twelve
The Peak Report had a very bold headline: DUKE ANGERS DERBYSHIRE RESIDENTS.
The article featured events, quotes, and sources.
Both Darcy and Elizabeth were amazed at the number of people willing to go on record describing unacceptable things that the Duke of Lymebourne had done, from importuning female servants and two gentlewomen to killing one man and wounding another man in duels, from shutting down a mine and a quarry to running a tenant off his land because he had the temerity to disagree with the duke regarding best planting times.
The article told of a hunt and, later, a shooting party that had been organised by the duke, each at the wrong time of the year; these ill-planned sporting events decimated populations of deer and game birds and thus ruined local hunting and shooting for years.
The duke’s plan to relocate Shirethorpe was detailed, with quotes from workers and the villagers who would be impacted.
The possible problems Darcy had identified for Lambton as well as Shirethorpe residents were analysed.
Darcy was mentioned as having founded a local newspaper and another school as possible remedies for some of those problems.
Unlike the rumours that had been reported to Darcy, the newspaper article did not vilify the duke, and Darcy and Elizabeth were not praised in such exaggerated terms as befitted a novel.
Instead, every fact was stated in neutral language and backed by evidence.
The article made Darcy incredibly proud of his decision to ask James to serve as editor for the periodical.
The message from Lodge was even more heartening, because it advised that a band of twelve landowners from northern Derbyshire were travelling together to London specifically to make a complaint against the duke and to stand with Darcy.
He had never heard of such an action, in the past, and it amazed him that someone had rallied supporters on his behalf!
“Does it not seem surprising,” Elizabeth asked, “that twelve landowners in Derbyshire would know of the duke’s threats against us almost the moment we learnt of them?"
Darcy’s uncle tapped Lodge’s report. “Theodore Bramley is the first man mentioned; Bramley Hall is very close to Lymeston, and he has battled with the duke over fifteen years. I know that, if I tell you all something, you will keep it to yourselves—no telling wives or fathers or anyone other than the four of us in this room?”
Everyone nodded, so the earl continued, “Bramley has a man deeply involved with Lymebourne. He lives in an ancillary house at Lymeston, and he is a trusted member of meetings; I am certain that he knew the duke’s plans before the man even picked up his pen to whine to the Prince and issue threats to you all.
Bramley’s man would have been able to contact him within an hour, and then Bramley could have sent messengers to the eleven other landowners that same day.
It is no surprise to me that he would have jumped at the chance to set down the duke, given the fact that your actions, Darcy and Elizabeth, have captured the interest of the populace. ”
Gardiner nodded and said, “I imagine that you believe that the Prince will side with Darcy because so many people have already done so?”
Uncle Henry nodded. “I do. The Prince Regent has wearied of Lymebourne’s escapades.
Prinny does many of the same things himself, so it is not a moral stance, but Lymebourne has caused too much uproar among the nobility to have any influence at all in the House of Lords these days, so it is expedient to side with the many over the one.
Also, there has been rioting in the north, as you know, and the Prince does not wish to incite more! ”
Darcy said, “As far as I can tell, this is all quite unprecedented, but what should I do, if anything?”
“And I?” Gardiner added.
“Mr Gardiner,” the earl said, “you have a sterling reputation as fair to all, of whatever rank; you should continue as always, and if I learn anything important to you, I will let you know, and you should let me know, via Darcy, if anything happens in your sphere.
“As for you, Darcy, if you are called to meet with the Prince Regent, you should stick with your usual highly moral views because otherwise he will not trust you; however, please attempt to be more pleasant than you usually are.”
Elizabeth chortled a bit at that advice, and Darcy sent a swift smile her way before checking with his uncle, “So I should act like a prig but not frown quite so much?”
Everyone laughed, although Darcy knew it might be a fine line he would have to skate.
The next two days, Darcy kept busy meeting with attorneys and bankers, investigators and possible investors.
Although the ladies kept equally busy shopping—especially with a very long and, Elizabeth claimed, gruelling session with Georgiana’s usual modiste—Darcy managed to squeeze in a few outings during which he escorted the ladies.
One blessed hour was spent at Hatchards, during which Darcy was able to shower Elizabeth with her favourite sort of gift, books.
Another pleasant time was the visit to Gunter’s Tea Shop for hot tea and cold ices.
“I miss you,” Elizabeth said to Darcy.
It was ridiculous, since they were living in the same house, but he agreed: “I feel as if I am seldom able to see you and never able to speak with you alone.”
“You have not been keeping me apprised of the battle, sir. Who is ahead at this point, you or the duke?”
“That is an excellent question, and when I have even the faintest notion, I will let you know.” Darcy smiled. “I would not mind in the least if the earl saw fit to drop by and inform us of the most recent information. But….”
“You hate to interrupt him, in whatever he is doing—mayhap helping you!—in order to soothe your own anxiety?”
“You know me so well,” he murmured.
“I would like to know you much better,” she whispered back; however, a moment later Mrs Bennet was whisking by, urging Elizabeth to make haste so that she could help her sister make a decision on what was apparently to be the wedding of the century.
The next day, the earl did descend on Darcy House, bustling up the steps with a worried look on his face.
Darcy had been about to leave for a meeting with a man who wished to invest in a mill that made luxury fabrics; the earl waved his hand at Darcy’s plan and said, “Send a man to postpone; you are called to meet with the Prince Regent!”
The other shoe dropped when his uncle said, “And Elizabeth is to go, as well.”
Darcy gave rapid orders, and one footman rode out to cancel Darcy’s meeting as another travelled the opposite direction to find Elizabeth at the cobbler’s shop.
Darcy’s orders had been simple: “Take her directly to Madame DuBois, and dress her to impress the Prince. Madame will know what to do. Then I will meet her at Carlton House at four.”
“Tell me what I need to know before I go,” Darcy asked his uncle while a bath was drawn.
“Bramley and the others arrived and spoke with the Prince Regent this morning. He seemed quite vexed with the duke, who had not bothered to come in person but has been burying the Prince with complaint letters. Bramley said that the Prince acted very high-and-mighty regarding traditional virtues, but he kept venting his anger with little comments that were likely more injurious to the duke’s case.
Once he said something about the complaints contradicting one another, and another time he said that the attitude against the duke is unanimous amongst both Houses of Parliament. ”
“And what would you most wish me to do, or say?” Darcy asked.
“Allow Elizabeth to charm the Prince, and you should be as polite as you were taught to be, but go ahead and attack the duke’s character, words, and actions—but do so politely.”
“Very well,” Darcy said. It did not sound too terribly onerous, although Darcy hated the idea of Elizabeth coming to the notice of the notorious Prince. Still, she had been summoned; she had to go.
Darcy hurried through his bath, shave, and dressing. His valet was amazingly quick despite the enormity of the care he took for the elegance of his dress. Darcy soon found himself in his carriage quite early, which was ideal; one never knew where and when congestion might delay the simplest route.
He only hoped Elizabeth would arrive on time.
She did, but he almost failed to recognise her.
The young lady getting out of a very grand carriage wore a gown with a ridiculously long train, and her hair was teased into an enormous coiffure, decorated with a bandeau headdress and white ostrich feathers.
She dazzled with diamonds in her hair, on her throat, and at the high waist of the gown.
Darcy looked again and startled. “Elizabeth!” he said.
“Good evening, sir,” she said, sounding miserable.
“You look…beautiful,” he said.
“I thought that disguise of every kind was abhorrent to you.”
“Well, I do not admire the style you have had to adopt, but you are still beautiful despite the excess of your clothing.”
“Thank you.”
Darcy offered his arm and led Elizabeth to the door. “You will be meeting with the Prince Regent in the state room,” a servant informed them. “This way, sir, madame.”
They had to wait more than a quarter of an hour, but the Prince was finally announced and entered. The court official who had met Darcy several times reintroduced Darcy and introduced Elizabeth to the Prince.
Darcy bowed low, Elizabeth dipped a deep curtsey. They both smiled and waited for the Prince to begin the conversation.
“You are even lovelier than His Grace claimed,” the Prince said.
“Thank you, Your Royal Highness.” Elizabeth smiled one of her most brilliant smiles and said, “I cannot say the same to you, since His Grace never spoke of you except as a fearful object who would wish to destroy my life and my family.”
Darcy’s insides clenched. That was certainly a bold thing to say, but he studied the Prince’s face and saw that Elizabeth’s smile, her bright tone, and her one lifted eyebrow, which showed her to be dealing with irony, had charmed him.
To his relief, the prince laughed. “Where on earth did you find this delightful creature?” he asked Darcy.
“In Hertfordshire, Your Royal Highness.”
“And are you certain you know what to do with such a treasure?” he asked Darcy. He turned to Elizabeth and said, “You know the nickname for your intended, do you not? He has ever been called The Monk, and my dear, he earned the title in the most tedious way possible.”
Elizabeth laughed as if the Prince’s words were witty. “Thank you for the laugh, Your Royal Highness. I dearly love to laugh, almost as much as I dearly love my very own Monk.”
The Prince laughed, too, no doubt convinced by Elizabeth’s charm that he had been amusing and quick-witted.
He turned to Darcy again and said, “I have heard of late that ‘The Monk’ is now ‘Saint Darcy.’ You are too liberal by half, I believe, but I am of a mind to dismiss all of Lymebourne’s complaints as just so much steam. What say you?”
“Britain is great because we have a government that reflects the people and cares about the people. We are great because we work hard, we invent machines and conveyances, we support artists, and we invite the best of the world into our drawing rooms and theatres and lecture halls. The Duke of Lymebourne spurns everything that makes Britain great, and I am delighted if you ignore him in favour of those who add to society rather than distract and attack.”
Before the prince could respond, Elizabeth said in a low but carrying voice, “I am certain, sir, that you now see exactly why I am so very proud to be attached to this man.”
The prince nodded at her, perhaps believing that he agreed with both Darcy and her—Such is the power of Elizabeth! Darcy thought.
Only a few minutes later, Elizabeth and Darcy found themselves dismissed back to the curb.
The carriage that Madame DuBois had arranged for Elizabeth had left, and Darcy handed her into his carriage, where his valet and the lady’s maid waited.
“What are we to do with the gown, headdress, and jewels, Elizabeth?” Darcy asked.
“Madame said she was sending boxes to Darcy House,” she replied. “And I promised that you would send everything back with armed guards at first light tomorrow.”
“Good, good,” he said. “If we had had any sort of warning, I would have been able to access the Darcy jewels.”
“I should have expected there to be Darcy jewels,” she murmured.
“Do you realise what happened in there?” he asked.
“I believe that you won and the dastardly duke lost,” she said.
“I believe that we now have a green light for getting married!” he explained.
“Oh! I believe that you are correct.”
They stared at each other, him entirely rapturous, and her evincing ecstasy.