Goodly Creatures: A Pride and Prejudice Deviation (75 page)

“But wouldn’t their reputations suffer as well as yours, if the truth became known? Lizzy, are there other reasons?”

“I worry that Mr Darcy would lose consequence among his tenants, servants and the people of Derbyshire when it became known his wife’s sister was married to his housekeeper’s nephew.”

Margaret Gardiner shook her head in frustration. “That is Mr Darcy’s concern. If he is not worried to whom your sisters are married… you should not worry. I am sure he thought of the significance of that connection before he asked you. What is your real fear?”

Elizabeth’s voice dropped to a whisper. “I do not think I could allow him to worship me with his body. That is something he would vow to do before God, and I feel panic at the mere thought. When I attempt to visualize what would happen, I feel as though I might faint.”

“Lizzy, I am unable to imagine what you feel. I remember being nervous as a young bride, but your experience is so very different from mine or your sisters’. My advice to Mary was… and will be to your sisters… is to trust their husbands to be kind, loving and caring. Despite the disparity of the circumstances, I still believe having faith in Mr Darcy is your answer.” Mrs Gardiner pulled her niece close. “He is a good man… talk to him. I know it is not a subject for proper young women to discuss with a man before they marry, but you are an exception. Tell him about your fears.”

She released Elizabeth and watched as she considered her aunt’s suggestion. “From what you have told me, you are becoming quite at ease confiding in each other. Yours is not a fear of the unknown, but a horror of the already experienced. Mr Darcy is the only one who would ever be able to assure you it will not be that way again.”

Darcy House hosted a dinner party practically every night. The staff could not remember a time since the death of Lady Anne when there was so much entertaining. Amongst those who often came to dinner were Sir Gareth, Miss Trent, Mr Bingley, Miss Bennet, the Countess Elderton, Lady Wolfbridge, Lord and Lady Hastings, the Gardiners, and once, even Miss Bingley, the Hursts and Lord Goldstaff. The Hursts and Miss Bingley and her wealthy admirer were invited by Darcy at Elizabeth’s urging—for Jane and Charles’ sake. Elizabeth felt that despite the viciousness of the sisters’ actions, they would be Jane’s family. The animosity needed to be, at the very least, neutralized. She wished her similar dilemma was as easy to resolve. The idea of eating dinner with Lord Wolfbridge or Lord Elderton at the table caused her to shudder with repugnance.

The Colonel was an almost permanent fixture at dinner, despite having moved to Elderton House. With a very satisfied grin, he relayed to Miss Elizabeth and Darcy that his brother had left for parts unknown. It was Richard’s opinion, he had gone to lick his wounds and let his nose heal. In addition to his exodus, the Earl had returned to Elderton. According to the Colonel, there was a wager in the betting book at White’s as to whether Darcy was responsible for the state of Lord Wolfbridge’s face. The Earl had departed London shortly after the first patron of that club asked him for the particulars of the cousins’ dispute.

The Gardiners brought David, Marianne and Susan when they dined. Sian had practically become a fixture in the nursery at Darcy House. Bethany fell madly in love with thirteen year-old Davey Gardiner. When he first arrived in the nursery, she had forced her attentions on him, and inundated him with questions about his cousin. She was surprised to learn that Miss Lizzy had taught him French using Perrault, the same as her father had done with her. During Davey’s answers of Bethany’s probing questions, she learned that Dr Jamie was his cousin. Every new bit of knowledge she learned about this practically grown up young man made him more and more appealing. She decided she should challenge him to a game of chess.

Ten year-old Marianne had developed a love for telling stories from her cousin. She entertained her sister Susan, Master Lewis and his betrothed, Sian, who had her father’s ginger hair and blue eyes, and was quite a chatterbox. She could not stop talking about the new mother she was set to acquire. Lewis, who was the most happy-go-lucky of little boys, felt a momentary stab of jealousy at her elation. He resolved he must pray harder for Miss Lizzy to accept his father.

Mr Darcy had sent an express to Dr Wilder to invite him to join their merry party for a few days before Miss Elizabeth returned to Hertfordshire. Besides seeing her and Georgiana, Darcy knew he would enjoy the festivities surrounding the engagement of his best friend, Sir Gareth, and Darcy’s best friend, Mr Bingley. His arrival was kept a secret, in case an emergency would keep him from attending. Darcy did not want to disappoint Elizabeth, Georgiana or Bethany if they were anticipating Dr Wilder, and he was unable to keep the appointment.

Shortly after Jamie’s arrival, Elizabeth was insistent he join her in the solarium. He noticed a sense of urgency in her eyes and went with her as unobtrusively as possible. Once out of view of the others, she forced herself into his arms and began to sob. Her act was totally out of character for her, and he knew immediately that something major was causing her feisty determination to falter. As he held her, he asked softly, “Lizzy, is your Irish soul failing you?”

She smiled up at him with tears in her eyes and nodded. He could do nothing but assure her he would help in any way to ease her troubles. She was able to pull herself together within a few minutes, and they agreed to find some time for a private conference. Elizabeth put on a brave face and returned to the others with the rather lame remark, “I just had to show Dr Wilder the solarium.”

Darcy was concerned for Elizabeth. He had noticed since the engagement of her sister and her friend that she seemed to be indulging in a false cheerfulness when in company. If she thought no one was observing her, her face displayed a defeated expression. Somewhere, she had lost her indomitable spirit with just a touch of sadness, and instead the haunted look, as intense as six years before was back; and she seemed to hardly be able to hold it back. He was conflicted whether the second offer he was hoping to make, before she left for Hertfordshire, was what she was wanting. Somehow, he knew it could not be that simple. Still, he believed he must declare his determination to win her before she was gone.

The dinners at Darcy house were full of lively discussion and a great deal of laughter. Opinions often covered a wide spectrum of political convictions, but always the conversations remained convivial. At the first dinner after Dr Wilder arrived, Colonel Fitzwilliam reported that he might be sent to Yorkshire to subdue the Luddites before he returned to Spain. His disclosure prompted Mr Gardiner to express his gratitude and the hope that troops would force an end to the wanton destruction.

Mr Gardiner was quite passionate in his condemnation of their actions. “I was invested in some of the wool and cotton mills that had looms destroyed. In my opinion, Judge Bayley was too lenient in the trial last month in Nottingham. Now that the Frame-Breaking-Bill has been enacted, hanging rather than transportation can be given as the penalty for their acts. That should let others know who are considering such crimes that the state is serious.”

Sir Gareth had read of the trial, and was sure that transportation was not at all a lenient punishment. He had heard many died during the voyage to Australia. He answered Mr Gardiner’s financially motivated opinion on punishment with, “Lord Byron has made a speech in the House of Lords, decrying the use of the death penalty in these offences. I believe I feel some sympathy for his position. There were more than a thousand men who participated in the attack on Betts’ frames. I think as citizens, we should try to understand the root cause of these protests and find a fair solution.”

Dr Wilder took Sir Gareth’s statement as an opening to express his sympathy with the mill workers. “Yes, I have heard from acquaintances in the area that there is widespread support for their actions. I was told the knitters Betts hired to operate the frames had never served an apprenticeship, and could be paid less money for doing the job. These practices are seen in that area as destroying the livelihood of many families.” With eyes gleaming with passion, he added, “someday, someone will get the bright idea to transport the looms to Ireland, and hire poor starving Irish men to operate the machines for a pittance.”

Mr Gardiner rolled his eyes at his wife’s cousin. “Jamie, they destroyed somewhere between fifty and seventy frames valued at four hundred pounds apiece. It is a threat to the livelihood of the owners when their property is destroyed. This war with Napoleon has put the entire British economy at risk. We must protect the owners, and give them what they need, despite the cost in these troubled times.”

The next comment heard came from a very unlikely source. Lady Wolfbridge had a sharpness tinged with glee in her voice as she said, “These Luddites seem to be attacking the wrong target. It is the owners of these frames and their drive to increase their revenues that should be attacked. It is unfair to destroy the lives of so many in order to improve the lot of so few.” A smile crept across her face as she continued. “My father realizes the potential danger he faces if his workers should turn their anger from the machines they operate, and demand of him what is their due for the years of hard work on his behalf. He is having secret chambers built in his mills and his house, just in case the dawning of this consciousness occurs. However, he forgets to whom he is entrusting the creation of his hiding places. He certainly is not going to build them himself…” the entire group saw the twinkle in the eyes of the normally subdued Lady Wolfbridge, “…but can he trust the confidentiality of the labourers?”

The Colonel looked at Eleanor with unabashed admiration and laughed heartily at her statement, and soon the others at the table joined in the mirth. Even Mr Gardiner, who did not agree at all with her sentiment, saw the humour in the predicament the owners faced.

Fitzwilliam Darcy noticed that Elizabeth barely observed the lively discussion. This was not like her. The Lizzy he knew and loved would have been in the thick of it… defending her opinion with great passion. He had to get to the bottom of her distraction and despair.

52 ODE TO THE BEAUTY OF TRUTH

Elizabeth and Jamie went for a walk in the park the next morning. Spring blooms and trees almost, but not quite, in full leaf greeted the two friends. Birds were singing their songs and the air was soft and caressing. Though the beauty about her was not enough to take her cares away, it was a momentary distraction. The breeziness of the day had brought out children flying kites. Jamie noticed, they brought the only attempt at a smile to Lizzy’s face. She spoke of coming back later with Bethany and Lewis and hoped their kites had been brought to London from Kent. Just in case, she questioned one of the older boys playing in the square to find out if there were any shops nearby that sold kites, and she got a positive response and an address two streets away. The pleasurable anticipation of spending time with them in the park on a beautiful spring day crumbled from her countenance as Lizzy realized in a few days she would be in Hertfordshire. What cruelty for April to offer her such beauty and the promise of fresh beginnings, when none could be had for her.