Chapter 47 The Reckoning
Darcy escorted Elizabeth to Lady Helen’s side. “Remain with Aunt Helen, darling. We will go to supper soon. I shall return for you shortly.”
He departed, and Elizabeth clasped Lady Helen’s hand.
“What is it, Elizabeth? What has occurred?”
“Lord Dunwich spoke improperly to me during our dance, and now he appears determined to provoke Fitzwilliam into a quarrel. I pray it shall not descend into fisticuffs or a duel.”
Lady Helen gasped. “So grave as that?”
“I may exaggerate matters, my lady. Perhaps I fear more than what truly passes. Perhaps Fitzwilliam intends only to warn him away and then return to us.”
The two ladies watched as Mr. Darcy approached Lord Dunwich. No words reached them, but Lord Dunwich followed Mr. Darcy from the ballroom. Elizabeth uttered a low sound of distress. “Oh, Aunt Helen, I am afraid for Fitzwilliam.”
Lady Helen said, “I confess I share your fears, but he instructed us to stay here, and here we shall remain until he returns. This concerns gentlemen, not swooning females.”
Elizabeth had no opportunity to reply, for a sharp familiar voice sounded to her right. Miss Bingley stood staring down at her.
“Miss Eliza, what do you do here in London, ma’am? I cannot conceive how you gained admittance to this assembly.”
Lady Helen’s brows lifted in astonishment.
“Why, Miss Bingley, is your brother also present tonight?”
“I observed you dance with Mr. Darcy. You are a brazen woman, ma’am. How dare you waltz with him in such a scandalous fashion?”
Lady Helen intervened, and though her voice remained low, her tone was sharp. “You are disrespectful, ma’am. You will govern your tongue or remove yourself from our company. I have no patience with a grasping upstart such as yourself.”
“Who are you to address me as though I were a foolish child? I never…”
Elizabeth rose, interrupting the angry redhead, and performed the introductions.
Miss Bingley reddened. “Lady Helen, Countess of Matlock? "Forgive me, my lady. I did not know." Her curtsy was low and respectful. Then, with cheeks as red as her hair, Miss Bingley retreated in haste.
Lady Helen rose. “Elizabeth, let us visit the retiring room. I stand in need of refreshment.”
“Yes, my lady.” The two ladies withdrew, both worried about Mr. Darcy and his dealings with Lord Dunwich.
Darcy strode up to Dunwich and in a confidential voice said, “I would speak with you privately.”
His lordship smirked. “Growing too hot for you, Darcy?” Yet he followed his rival from the house and into the garden.
“You will stay away from my wife. You disgust her.”
“Do I? Are you certain? Or does the way she looks at me provoke your jealousy?”
The rake spewed other vile insinuations.
Then Darcy struck, and Dunwich ducked, but he was too slow.
Darcy then drove his fist hard into the man’s flank, and Dunwich doubled over and stumbled backward into the shrubs.
Darcy seized him by the coat and hauled him upright, then struck his stomach and forced the breath from him.
Another snapped the cad’s head to the side.
Then came the final blow, brutal and squarely delivered.
Blood spilled from the man’s nose, and he lay sprawled amid the crushed hedge, dazed.
Darcy loomed over him. “I repeat, you will stay away from my wife.” As he turned, Darcy nearly collided with Lord Beckingham.
“Darcy, I am indebted. The fellow has gone too long without being checked.” Lord Beckingham stepped nearer the fallen man and nudged him with the toe of his dancing shoe. “His conduct has demanded correction for years.”
Darcy raised a hand toward the butler, who watched from the entrance of the house. “The man is a cur, Beckingham. He ought not to be tolerated within decent society.”
The butler approached. “Yes, Mr. Darcy?”
“Call for his carriage and ensure Dunwich is removed from here posthaste.”
“At once, sir.”
Meanwhile, Beckingham addressed the fallen man, who had rolled onto his side. “Dunwich, I shall send my second to you tomorrow. If you do not quit the country, I will meet you upon the field of honor.” He turned to the man’s servants. “Get him out of here.”
Darcy drew on his gloves, and the two men reentered the house together.
In the ballroom, Elizabeth leaned close to her aunt and whispered, “Lady Helen, shall we attempt to discover what became of Mr. Darcy and Lord Dunwich?”
“No, Elizabeth. Such matters do not belong to women. We shall visit the retiring room and afterward return to our places. My nephew instructed us to wait, and wait we shall.” She patted Elizabeth’s arm.
“It may ease your mind to know my nephew frequents Jackson’s Saloon. Richard informs me he acquits himself admirably and matches Richard in skill with his fists. Fitzwilliam stands perfectly capable of defending both himself and you. Come.”
When they entered the retiring room, the voices of two ladies drifted toward them.
“I cannot conceive what attracted either gentleman to her.”
“No, nor can I. She has a pleasing enough figure, but her hair will not do at all. She is dark rather than fair, and she lacks height.”
“Her hair curls, Trixie. What could Mr. Darcy perceive in a woman with such unruly hair?”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened. They were speaking of her. She glanced toward the countess and discovered Lady Helen’s eyes bright with amusement and her expression positively feline.
Elizabeth relaxed somewhat. Evidently, such attacks formed an expected part of society. They waited in silence for the privy.
“In some respects, she favors you, Trixie. Did you observe it?”
“There exists no comparison. I am more handsome than she, taller besides, and more ample in figure. She amounts to nothing beside me. Why he selected her over me, I cannot begin to imagine.”
Elizabeth stiffened, but Lady Helen rested a hand upon her arm and shook her head.
At length, the two ladies emerged from behind the privacy screen and came face to face with Elizabeth and the Countess.
The less attractive of the pair curtsied. “Lady Helen, I had not realized you had entered.”
“No? Ladies, permit me to introduce my niece. Elizabeth, this is Lady Agnes and Miss Honeyfield. Ladies, this is Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy. Now then, you will excuse us.”
Elizabeth followed Lady Helen in deathly silence, thinking that if looks alone possessed the power to kill, she would already lie dead upon the floor. She waited on this side of the privacy screen and watched the two ladies depart the room.
“They are gone, Aunt. Did one of those young ladies have an understanding with my husband?”
“No, dear. Miss Honeyfield is the lady you already interrogated my nephew about. She is attractive and accomplished, but she would have condemned Fitzwilliam to a miserable life. Her temper lacks all restraint, and such a disposition never improves a woman.”
Elizabeth raised a brow. “I believe she would suit Lord Dunwich admirably. Angry women appear to attract him, my lady.”
The countess emerged from behind the screen. “Speaking of his lordship, let us hurry. I have no wish to miss my nephew when he returns.”
“I have no need of the privy, Aunt.”
“Then let us go.”
The ladies waited for another half hour before Mr. Darcy returned to them.
The instant Elizabeth caught sight of him, she rose, anxiety tightening her chest. He offered her a smile.
No blood marked his face, nor did he appear injured.
Then her gaze fell upon his gloves. Blood stained the cuff of one.
She crossed swiftly to him. He settled an arm about her waist and escorted her back to his aunt. Together, they resumed their seats.
“Well, nephew, what of Lord Dunwich?”
“Apparently, he does not frequent Jackson’s, Aunt Helen, for he displays neither skill nor experience in the art of boxing. I imagine he prefers to spend his hours in more disreputable pursuits.”
Elizabeth rested her hand upon his wrist. “Are your hands injured, Fitzwilliam? Shall we return home so I may cleanse your wounds? I can prepare a poultice to prevent inflammation. I see blood, sir.”
“That blood belongs to him, darling. My knuckles suffered a few grazes, but I believe no bones are broken.”
The countess asked, “And Lord Dunwich?”
“They are loading him into his carriage.”
“Was he badly injured?” Elizabeth asked.
“No permanent injury, but he will not show his face for at least a fortnight.”
The two women stared at Mr. Darcy, scarcely able to believe he had conducted himself with such violence.
“He taunted me, Elizabeth. What he said was too vile to repeat. Unfit for the ears of a gently bred woman. I silenced him after his first words. You need not fear him any longer.”
Lady Helen raised a brow. “But you did not mortally injure him?”
“No, my lady, but Lord Beckingham warned Dunwich’s companions that if his lordship failed to quit the country, he would meet him upon the field of honor.”
Elizabeth regarded him with confusion.
Lady Helen said, “Lord Beckingham also has a young and attractive wife. Perhaps Lord Dunwich has been pursuing her as well.” Lady Helen took Mr. Darcy’s arm. “Come along, Elizabeth. We must collect our wraps.”
Once inside the carriage, Elizabeth released a long sigh.
“What is it, darling?”
“Sir, I find that balls are as frustrating as they are beguiling.”
Lady Helen guffawed in a most unladylike manner. “Indeed. Elizabeth, you certainly know how to enliven a ball.”
Darcy said, “You speak of Lord Dunwich and his improprieties?”
“Not solely him, sir. I encountered Miss Honeyfield this evening.”
“Ah. I begin to understand. What had she to say?”
“As the saying goes, an eavesdropper seldom profits by what he hears. I was privileged to overhear Miss Honeyfield’s judgment of my charms, and considering that I neither equal her beauty, height, nor fulsome figure, she cannot comprehend why you chose me over her.”
“There is no comparison, dearest. Any man must agree with me. When it comes to character, you far surpass her. And as for beauty, I have long considered you the handsomest woman of my acquaintance in every respect by which beauty may be measured.”
This response gratified Elizabeth, and she nestled her hand within his.
Lady Helen said, “You have no friend in Caroline Bingley, Elizabeth.”
“No, indeed not, Aunt Helen. If looks could kill…”
“Yes, though she has her reasons. Miss Honeyfield met my nephew only a few months ago, but Caroline Bingley has pursued him for nearly seven years. I can find it in my heart to pity her. She ought to have turned her attention elsewhere years ago. Some women never learn.”
“My poor darling. You suffered so many indignities at this one ball. No wonder you wish to retire to the country.” Darcy turned to Lady Helen.
“Aunt, are we released? Have we fulfilled our obligations to the ton?”
“You have, nephew. You have introduced your charming wife to many whose notice signifies.” She turned to Elizabeth.
“We did not pay morning calls, niece, but we shall remedy that when you return to London for the next Season. In the meantime, you may continue your studies with Georgiana’s music master in Derbyshire and improve your skill. ”
The countess continued her lecture until they reached Matlock House.
When the carriage pulled away once more, Elizabeth nestled against Mr. Darcy’s shoulder and remained there until they drew up before Darcy House.