Chapter 3.22
Stevens and the coachman were sitting outside, in the driving seats. Inside, Elizabeth slowly calmed herself. The torment and the grief at the thought of losing Emily, with no certainty of her fate, had been too exhausting to handle.
The carriage moved steadily along the frozen road; it was cold but Elizabeth felt sheltered in her husband’s embrace.
“Forgive me for my childish reaction. I do not know what has become of me.”
“What is to forgive, my love? You had every reason for distress. I must apologise for behaving like a savage. I should have kept my temper under good regulation, but I failed. I felt like throwing the table at Buxton, contents and all!”
“Please do not apologise. The discussion was deeply tormenting, and I felt that I too lost my composure several times. I am still astonished, I do not know what to believe and what to say.”
“I feared it might happen, from the moment I received the note.”
“This is why you had the settlement already prepared? I was surprised when you showed it.”
“Yes. I have learned my lesson from my past dealings with Wickham. With such people, one must take pre-emptive action to avoid falling victim to their fraudulent schemes. They suspect we are fond of Emily, and if we are not guarded enough, they will soon return to demand more compensation.”
“They remind me very much of Wickham and my sister, Lydia; I thought that the first moment I saw them. Except that Lydia does not have the responsibility of a daughter.”
“The situation is similar, but Lydia was young and unwise. Patty Moore is a woman in her late twenties, acquainted with the reality of life, who has worked among people of a certain position; she should have known better.”
“But in the end, Patty cannot be a vicious woman. She must have something good in her, if only for giving birth to such a kind child. She cannot be deceiving or greedy in her heart, since her daughter is so genuinely kind, even at such a tender age. Do you know what Emily was worried about yesterday?” Elizabeth said, to lighten up her husband’s spirit.
“I cannot imagine.”
“I happened upon her talking to Sarah without them seeing me. Sarah was telling her about Christmas and about the presents you offer to your staff on Boxing Day. And Emily was worried that you might be thrown into poverty with all those expenses! She declared she wished for no gifts at all since she already has everything she needs.”
A touch of warm tenderness softened his expression.
“Did she? That is lovely. She has been with you and Georgiana for only a short while, and has had no time to learn kindness from you. Everything she does now is proof of her true nature.”
“I realise that; this is why I am so sad that her mother shows so little interest in her. And this is why I hope Patty might share some of her daughter’s traits.”
“Elizabeth, this might be true or not. I have met many families where the parents were remarkable people, and the children had significant character flaws. Just as I have seen the opposite situation just as many times. In these circumstances, Patty looks more like a woman whose attachment to a man is ruining her child’s future.
I am sure Buxton must have some significant card debts, that have pressured him to find a quick solution.
He must have complained to Patty that he was in danger and they could be forced to separate—so she would do anything to protect him. ”
“Probably,” Elizabeth admitted with pain. “But Fitzwilliam, you have no doubts that the woman is Emily’s mother, have you?”
“No; they are very much alike. I threatened them with that scheme to foil theirs, and I will not hesitate to use it.”
Elizabeth caressed his face to wipe away the anger that twisted his handsome features.
“It is remarkable the effort you make for Emily. You are the best of men, Fitzwilliam. I know it was not easy for you to make those threats that you know to be untrue. I remember you saying disguise of any sort is your abhorrence.”
He recognised the teasing behind her praises and quickly claimed her lips.
“I will make an effort to remedy this injustice. You have saved Emily, and I shall not allow anyone to put her in danger again. This is not disguise, this is a strategy to defeat their artfulness.”
“I know it was not comfortable for you to lie, just as it was not comfortable to deal with Wickham and Lydia; and I thank you for doing it nevertheless.”
“Your praises are undeserved, I assure you, my love. As for Lydia and Wickham, the matter is long closed. In the present situation, I am not lying. I will use any means to protect a child. Her mother looked blinded by an unhealthy bond to that Buxton man and ready to sacrifice her daughter to please him!”
“I blame, and I pity her at the same time. But what troubles me even more, are all the coincidences that appear to have occurred. Did Buxton really happen to meet Lord Walford precisely at the moment we took in Emily? Madame Claudette claimed she could not contact Emily’s mother and had not met her in years. Then suddenly, here they are!”
“Such happenstances are rarely coincidences, I admit. Everything is still unclear, but I am certain we shall uncover the truth soon.”
“Do you know this man? Lord Walford?”
“I do know him—slightly. I have met him several times but we are not closely acquainted. If we were, I would be at his door at this very moment.”
Elizabeth laughed and caressed his face again.
“That would have been hardly proper, to barge in on an earl, moments before dinner. But then again, your entire behaviour today has been less composed and less elegant than I have ever seen!”
“I am aware of that and it is why I apologised to you earlier. Proper behaviour and elegant manners are useless in such a situation. I have attempted them with Wickham for many years, and we all saw what little success I had.”
“Surely you do not blame yourself still for Wickham’s flaws!”
“I certainly do. But there is little I can do, except to watch him from afar. However, others will not benefit from the same clemency, and I shall not struggle to keep my temper! You know me to be impatient. And resentful. These are my faults, as you have often pointed out.”
He slowly changed his tone, trying to dissipate the tension that still lay between them.
“You are frightening when you are angry, Mr. Darcy,” she teased him lovingly. “But still handsome.”
“Your approval is all that matters to me, Mrs. Darcy,” he replied, then suddenly lifted her into his lap, closing his arms around her. The carriage was moving and she almost fell, but quickly found support closer to his chest.
His lips captured hers with growing hunger. The distress had been overwhelming in the last two days and had overcome their usual mutual passion. But things were slowly changing as they surrendered to the passionate kiss.
Then, unexpectedly, Elizabeth stopped and withdrew a few inches, looking at him.
“Fitzwilliam, this Lord Walford, is he married? Madame Claudette mentioned he is living with a cousin, a marquis? And that he has several nieces and nephews? Why do they not keep each other company? Why does the earl need Emily too and why is he willing to pay for her?”
“I am not certain, my love,” he replied hesitantly, caressing her further.
“I will try to find out more tomorrow. But I suspect they will take the money. One thousand pounds is too large a large sum to afford to lose; very likely much more than Walford has offered them for the first six months of Emily’s stay, as Buxton said. ”
“So do you think they will accept the settlement?”
“I assume they will, as Buxton clearly needs it quickly. I shall raise the sum if necessary. Under no circumstances will I allow Emily to leave our house and be taken to some other place, among strangers.”
“Thank you,” Elizabeth repeated, trying to calm the sudden sense of panic that enveloped her.
Darcy held her tightly, caressing her tenderly. He had told her only half the truth, as he was reluctant to share his disturbing suspicions. Before voicing them, he must find out more about Lord Walford, as soon as possible, regardless of the fact that Emily would never meet him.
It all seemed like a thick spider’s web that Darcy was determined to break through. He felt it was his duty and his responsibility.
∞∞∞
The moment they entered the house, they were greeted by Emily, running towards them.
“Mr. Darcy, Mrs. Darcy, how good that you are home! I am glad you returned, I have been looking for you. I watched for you out of the window all the time you were gone. Miss Darcy was worried, too. It is freezing, is it not? Should I bring you a cup of hot tea, Mrs. Darcy?”
Elizabeth impulsively embraced the girl and held her tightly.
“I am glad to see you, my dear. Do not worry about the tea, we will have dinner soon. Would you dine with us, Emily?”
“Dine with you? Oh, that would not be proper, I think. Would Mr. Darcy not mind?” the girl replied shyly looking at Darcy out of the corner of her eye.
“Not at all, I assure you,” he answered, glancing at his wife and the girl in her arms.
Then on an impulse, he continued anxiously, “Elizabeth, you must excuse me. While you change for dinner, I will go to see my Uncle Matlock. Stevens will come with me.”
Elizabeth was stunned, and her panic increased.
“Now? At this hour? But we have just arrived home. Can it not wait until morning.”
“It could, I but I would rather solve it tonight. You have no reason to worry, I shall not stay long. Please ask to have dinner prepared, I am starving!”
He tried to sound light, his gaze locked with Elizabeth’s worried look; a moment later, he left, followed by his valet.
Elizabeth remained dumbfounded in front of the closed door until Emily took her hand and pulled her gently inside.
∞∞∞