Chapter 3.27 #2
“Darcy? What are you doing here and why are you disturbing me at such an hour? Have you forgotten your manners completely?”
“I shall not disturb you for long, Walford. I have come to tell you that your behaviour towards my wife and sister was outrageous and to warn you never to repeat it.”
“Outrageous? My behaviour? I must say your wife had been utterly impolite to me. Lady Amelia and her companions may testify. I have nothing to blame myself for.”
“I can easily believe that you think you have nothing to blame yourself for. Of your flaws and misbehaviour, we will speak again at another time and place. For now, my only request is that you do not address my wife or my sister ever again, or you will bear the consequences!”
“Truly? Is this a threat? Do you own London now? Am I allowed to greet them? Or nod to them? Or be in the same town as them?”
Lord Walford began to laugh, sipping from his glass.
“You are shameless, Walford, and careless, if you believe I shall tolerate your impertinence.”
“You are unreasonable and laughable, Darcy. You need not worry, nobody cares much for your wife. Do not forget you are in my house! I will grant you several minutes before asking for you to be thrown out. You ruined my party and disrupted my guests, not to mention you are disturbing me for no reason.”
“Do not dare trifle with me, Walford! I have been watching you. You cannot take a step or make a gesture without me knowing it! I have proof.”
“Proof? Of what? What do you want from me, Darcy? I told you I have nothing to argue with you about! Leave it be!”
“I wish to know who the children are that you keep in your house! Or will you deny it?”
“I have no wish to deny it! I do not keep anyone by force! Their parents agreed to allow them to live with me!”
“For what purpose?”
“How dare you question me? What is your interest in this matter? Those children have a better life than they would have with their family! They are fed and clothed, and taken care of! Besides, you cannot impose any liability; you are nothing in this matter unless you have some particular interest too—just as I told your wife!”
Darcy’s fist flew before he had time to control it and hit Walford’s face so forcefully that the man was thrown to the ground. In the doorframe, several ladies and gentlemen were staring, gasping in astonishment!
“Mr. Darcy!” a woman’s voice cried, but Darcy ignored it.
“You could go to prison for assaulting me in my own house, Darcy!” Lordy Walford cried, trying to stand with the help of his cousin.
“Walford, even if I kill you this moment, it would not be enough! Assault is nothing compared with what you deserve! I am ready to justify my attack to any judge—just name him! Or call me out—I shall be happy to oblige!”
“You have lost your mind, Darcy! Call you out? Duels are illegal, as you know! You could go to prison for the mere suggestion! Leave my house this instant! I say again—you have lost your mind!”
“No indeed, you lost yours long ago. And it is time for you to be stopped,” Darcy threatened.
Some other men surrounded Walford, providing him with protection. The colonel grasped Darcy’s arm, pulling him back while speaking with barely concealed disdain.
“Walford, if I were you, I would leave London and even England. Immediately. Tomorrow might be too late! As for the rest of you—have a nice evening! Close your eyes and pretend all is well! Amuse yourselves! After all, you are reliable members of the ton, nothing can touch you!”
“Get out of my house immediately!” Lord Walford yelled, and several servants approached. “Out! This very moment! Out!” he continued to shout, his face transfigured by anger.
Eventually, the colonel managed to pull Darcy out, and the door closed behind them.
They remained still on the stairs, attempting to regain some composure before they returned to the carriage. Then the colonel began to laugh.
“Now that is an incident which the entire town will talk of for a few months! I must say I am stunned! I cannot believe you—the most proper of men—behaved in such a way! I am impressed, Darcy. Impressed, I say!”
“I am not. I am aware I acted irrationally, and most certainly my actions are not suited to an honourable gentleman. But my temper betrayed me. I am only glad that neither Georgiana or Elizabeth saw me.”
“Or my mother. She would be very displeased to hear you visited Walford at home, and she is also frightening when she is upset. Almost as much as you.”
They entered the carriage, and it began to move, while the colonel kept laughing.
“Did you see Walford’s face when you hit him? And the others—it was like they feared they would be next in line!”
“Your tirade was quite memorable too,” Darcy said, his wrath slowly defeated by amusement.
“Yes, I know. Before now, I never imagined myself to possess such eloquence. I am quite proud of myself.”
They continued to chat, combining bitterness with mockery and speculating on what Walford would do next. There was nothing more to be done for the time being, so they separated, each to their own house. Dinner time had long passed.
∞∞∞
Elizabeth’s heart had found no peace since she heard her husband had left the house unexpectedly, to an unknown destination. He had not told her anything, except that he had some unresolved business and she suspected—and feared—the worst.
Neither she nor Georgiana could do anything else but pace from one room to another. Emily—already frightened after the park meeting, which she understood was related to her—followed them like a shadow, sharing their distress.
When Darcy arrived, the general breath of relief banished the heavy tension in the house.
He forced a smile and explained briefly while taking off his coat.
“I made an urgent call, together with Richard. Forgive me for being late for dinner, I hope it is ready by now.”
“Brother, are you well? And Richard?”
“Of course, Georgiana. We are both well—why would we not be? Come, let us eat, it is already very late. Emily, will you join us?”
“No, sir,” the girl answered shyly, thankful to see the master home safely. “Good night,” she said hastily, hurrying downstairs to look for Sarah.
During dinner, Darcy offered no more details, although the ladies’ curiosity was palpable. Eventually, by the third glass of brandy, he finally admitted.
“I went to see Walford. Richard came with me.” He bore his wife and sister’s silent, enquiring gazes for a while, then continued, averting his eyes and filling his glass again.
“He was in the middle of a party, as always. I tried to speak to him privately, but he provoked me; he was cynical, impertinent, detestable. And I hit him.”
“You hit him?” Elizabeth cried.
‘Yes,” he said, rubbing the back of his hand. “Just once, although he deserved much more.”
Elizabeth and Georgiana both gasped in disbelief.
“I apologise for losing my temper. My actions were careless, and I allowed anger to defeat my judgement. You must expect rumours and gossip that might affect our entire family,” he said apologetically.
“You hit him?” Elizabeth asked again, in a different tone, a strange sparkle in her eyes. He nodded, her unexpected mirth warming his blood.
“It was well deserved, I am sure,” Georgiana whispered, gulping some water.
“I do not doubt it was,” Elizabeth confirmed with the same voice that hid a trace of admiration.
“Your trust flatters me, ladies,” Darcy replied, pleased that he had decided to tell them the truth and puzzled by the favourable reaction, which he had not foreseen.
Although the day had been dreadful and full of unexpected revelations, as well as some painful moments, the three Darcys were in no haste to retire for the night.
They talked for a while, then Georgiana and Elizabeth played and sang together until close to midnight.
Both Darcy and his sister were anxious about the surprise prepared for Elizabeth the following day. The upcoming arrival of the Bennet family would be a happy reunion and would compensate for the torment of the last few days.
The siblings were also slightly distressed at the notion of having the house full of people for a whole month.
For the last five years since their father had passed away, when they were in London, they had celebrated Christmas Eve with the Matlocks.
For Boxing Day they always offered substantial gifts to the staff, both from Pemberley and the townhouse, and that was all.
Darcy rarely attended parties during that time of the year and had never hosted one.
The Darcys’ celebrations had been rather quiet for as long as they remembered.
The siblings had learned to find comfort in that solitude and each other’s company.
Elizabeth’s presence would change Christmas, as well as their future lives, entirely. She would bring more joy, more liveliness, more laughter to their houses that had been too silent for too long. Nothing would be the same, and they had no cause to repine.
When they finally retired to their chambers, it was past midnight. The new day had already arrived.