Chapter Twenty-Three
JTREAKS OF SUNLIGHT CLEARED AWAY CLOUDS FROM THE LATE DECEMBER sky as Darcy slipped into his sister’s room.
Only the dying embers of the fireplace provided warmth, and he was half tempted to stoke the fire so Georgiana might be more comfortable, but he would not wake her.
Standing by her bed, he noted how she grew lovelier every day, looking very much like their father’s ancestors.
There were portraits in the gallery of some of the earlier Darcy households, and he saw her features in many of them.
When he was younger, he searched the faces, looking for someone who resembled him.
He had to go back five generations to find his eyes and his chin line.
These thoughts on such a day were silent ramblings, but, somehow, they gave Darcy a sense of completeness.
He belonged to this family—to this girl—to this curse.
He gently pulled the bed linens over her shoulders and tucked them in about her before placing the letter on the nightstand. “I love you, Georgie,” he mouthed and then turned for the door.
However, her sleepy voice stopped his progress. “William?”
Darcy returned to her side. “I am sorry I woke you. Return to sleep.” He moved a strand of her hair away from her eyes. “I am to be away from Pemberley for a few days. I left you a note explaining everything.”
“Will you go after Elizabeth?”
Darcy shook his head in the negative. “I cannot. Elizabeth must be with her family now.”
Georgiana struggled to sit up in bed. “Will Elizabeth not return?”
He looked away and forced himself to swallow the regret. “It would be my wish that you and Elizabeth share a life together. You can learn a great deal from my wife.”
“But not without you?” she insisted.
“Unfortunately, Elizabeth possesses reasons to hate me. I am not under the persuasion that she will return to me.” How could he explain?
“Georgiana, George Wickham took Elizabeth’s youngest sister, and Wickham did so as revenge against our family.
Against me, because I foolishly challenged him.
I cannot ask Elizabeth to forgive my arrogance. ”
She clutched at his hand. “William, you cannot go off alone to find Wickham! How will I face this without your guidance?”
“It is the only thing—the only honorable thing—I can present to Elizabeth—the only thing I can do for this family.”
“Elizabeth loves you. She would argue against this.”
Darcy caressed her cheek. “Elizabeth’s loyalty remains true, which will strain her relationship with her parents and her sisters.
She cannot tell them the reason for Miss Lydia’s demise or admit her share of the blame.
I know Elizabeth. She will exile herself from her family.
She will require someone to whom to turn.
Be that someone, Georgiana. Elizabeth will respond in kind.
The two of you will be a formidable pair.
I have outlined what must be done for the estate and for your future.
You and Elizabeth will want for nothing. I have seen to it.”
Georgiana’s tears escaped. “Do not go,” she whispered.
Darcy wiped away her tears with his thumbs. “I will make you one promise before I leave you, my darling girl. If, somehow, I survive this confrontation, I will find Elizabeth, and I will beg her on bended knee to return to us. I will humble myself at her feet and refuse no as an answer.”
“You do love her? I knew you did!” The tears began again.
“With all my heart.” Darcy pulled his sister to him.
“With all my heart I have not given to you.” He kissed the top of Georgiana’s head.
“I will journey far and the weather may not hold, so I must be on my way. Stay here where it is warm. Smile for me, my girl. That is the image of you I wish to take to Northumberland with me.”
Elizabeth traveled for nearly two hours, but the previous night’s rain slowed her progress.
She asked Mr. Peters to stop at an inn for a rest. A dull headache remained from the nightmarish images, which had haunted her aborted sleep.
She could not shake the image of a bloody Darcy speaking her name.
How much of the dream is true? That question troubled her waking hours.
With the other dreams, parts of them had been predictions to be fulfilled, and parts had already occurred.
She could not bear the thought of what she had seen happening to Darcy.Yet what could she do?
She must go to her family. Jane required her assistance.
Moreover, her assisting Darcy only put him in more danger. Her husband would wish to protect her.
The carriage rolled to a stop. As Peters scrambled down from the seat, Elizabeth righted herself and straightened her clothing. Peters jerked open the door and let down the steps. “Here we be, Mrs. Darcy.” He offered her a hand down.
Elizabeth took a few gingerly steps, testing her legs. “Thank you, Peters.” She patted the back of his hand before stepping away. “I promise I will not be long. I just require some tea to settle my stomach.”
“Naturally, Mrs. Darcy. I’ll be tendin’ the horses. We can start out again whenever you be prepared.”
“You claim something, too, Peters. Tell them to put it on my account.” She walked stiffly towards the inn. Few horses or carriages were in the yard, and Elizabeth thought she might find the peace and quiet refreshing. The rattle of the carriage seemed deafening today.
A stout innkeeper rushed forward when she entered. Well-dressed women, even those traveling with only a maid, tended to demand immediate attention, and the man recognized the quality of her clothes. “Good day, ma’am, may I be of assistance?”
“I require tea, Sir. Be certain someone serves my driver and my maid.” She removed her gloves and bonnet. “I will sit over there.” Elizabeth gestured to a table along the wall.
“Yes, Ma’am,” he said and gave a thick-waisted bow. “Me wife will be right over.”
Elizabeth settled herself at the table, placing her outer garment on one of the chairs. She shrugged her shoulders several times to loosen the tension. It was not a big inn, but everything appeared clean and well-polished.
A stout woman waddled towards the table. “What might we be gettin’ you, Ma’am?”
Elizabeth recognized it was unusual for a woman to travel alone, and it was important to let everyone know with her tone that she was no fool when it came to proper service. “I prefer tea, and if you have some sweetmeats or tartlets, that would be wonderful.”
“I be findin’ you some of the best sweetmeats in the country, Ma’am.” The innkeeper’s wife took off at a trot.
Elizabeth sighed deeply. She really did not care for the sweet refreshments, but she would eat a few and box up the rest. Her maid had a sweet tooth and would appreciate the gesture. In only a few minutes, the tea arrived.
Engrossed in her own reflections, Elizabeth took no note of the gentleman who exited the taproom.
Nor did she observe his search for a lost glove.
When he turned in her direction, she met his gaze.
“Elizabeth … I mean, Mrs. Darcy?” He made a quick bow from across the room.
“What in the world are you doing here?” He came forward as he spoke.
Elizabeth jumped to her feet upon hearing her name. “Colonel Fitzwilliam!” she said in surprise.
He caught her hand in his two large ones. “Please be seated.” He looked around, as if expecting Darcy to come through the door. “May I join you, Ma’am?”
“Certainly, Colonel.” Elizabeth looked away in embarrassment. An explanation would be required as to why she had departed Pemberley without her husband.
The colonel claimed a seat at the table. “I am in amazement to find you in this out-of-the-way inn, Mrs. Darcy. I would not think my cousin would permit you from his sight so soon after your nuptials.” He gestured to the innkeeper to bring him another tankard of ale.
Elizabeth took a sip of her tea before she answered. “My mother is ill, and my papa is distraught. We have experienced a family tragedy, Sir.”
“I offer my condolences.” She acknowledged his words with a slight nod. “Yet I am still at a loss as to why your husband does not travel with you. There are many things one might say of Darcy, but ignoring his responsibilities is not one of them.”
The reappearance of the woman with her sweetmeats and his tankard permitted Elizabeth a moment to decide upon her response. The truth seemed best. Obviously, Darcy’s family would soon know of their separation. “How candid might I be, Colonel?”
“Personally, I can think of only one reason for your separation from my cousin. I asked Darcy before he married if you were aware of his unique situation, and he assured me you knew everything. Darcy loves you. Otherwise, he would not have brought you into his life.”
“My husband, I assure you, Colonel, owns my heart!”
He took a swallow of the ale and studied her closely. “I have all the time in the world, Mrs. Darcy.”
Elizabeth nibbled on the sweetmeat, and although it had nothing to do with the woman’s cooking, it assuredly tasted bitter. “May I assume, Colonel, that you know of the pox which haunts my husband?”
“As I share guardianship of Georgiana with Darcy, he confessed his concerns of the Darcy legacy. No one else in the family knows. My father is a Fitzwilliam, as was Darcy’s mother.
The aberration travels through the Darcy line, and I doubt my father would welcome the knowledge of what George Darcy did to his sister.
It would explain Lady Anne’s withdrawal from her family and her weakened state at the end of her life.
” He leaned forward to ensure secrecy. “Please say my cousin has not infected you?”
“No … no, Colonel. My husband refuses to continue the family curse over to another generation.” She blushed thoroughly at sharing such intimacies. “Mr. Darcy is a man of honor.”
“You must explain what caused this sudden departure.You do not sound as if you wished for this removal.” He cradled her hand in both of his.