A Wife for Mr Darcy

“Mercer and I will leave at first light and go straight through to Brighton, and I will act as a representative for your family until such time as your father can determine the course of action he wishes to pursue. I would ask that you write a letter to your father tonight, stating in the clearest possible terms that Lydia is in danger and that I can testify to that fact. You and the Gardiners will return to Longbourn as planned, but your letter will go by express rider.” He then took her hand and kissed it. “We must move quickly, Elizabeth, so please go write your letter, and I will do the same. Bring it to me as soon as you have finished.”

When Darcy opened the door to the study, Gregg was waiting for instructions, and he was already dressed ready to ride. After being informed of the particulars, he left to go to the stables, and Darcy thought that no matter what Antony was paying him, it was not enough.

Darcy sat down at the desk in the study to pen his letter to the colonel. He gave no particular examples of Wickham’s unscrupulous behavior, but instead asked the colonel to rely on his reputation as surety until he could talk to him in person. As soon as the ink had dried and he had sealed it, he handed it to Mercer to deliver to Gregg.

Darcy waited at the bottom of the stairs for Lizzy, and as she descended, she practically took them two at a time and was waving the letter in the air, trying to get the ink to dry faster.

“One of the grooms will take this into Lambton early tomorrow morning and hire an express rider. It will be placed in your father’s hands long before you arrive at Longbourn. By the time you get home, Mr. Bennet will have made his plans. I think that is all we can do tonight to assist Lydia, but I need to speak to you before I leave. Will you join me in the study?” And he gestured for her to go in ahead of him.

As soon as they were seated on the sofa, he began, “Before I leave for Brighton, I would like to share some things with you that may explain some of my actions. Allow me to begin by saying that only a male can inherit Pemberley. This stipulation means that I must have a son. However, because I was comfortable with the designated heir to Pemberley, I was in no hurry to marry. David Ashton is a good man, forty-five years of age, fond of Georgiana, and one who gave every indication of being a lifelong bachelor. However, shortly before the start of the season, he informed me that he was to marry a niece and ward of the Duke of Rutland, who owns property that abuts Pemberley. Consolidating our two estates has been a wish of the duke for as long as I can remember.

“As soon as I learned of the engagement, I knew I had to find a wife. If I have learned anything from Antony’s marriage, it was that the woman I married must, at the very least, be kind. It ranked higher in importance to me than beauty or accomplishments. So after reviewing all of my options, I settled on Miss Letitia Montford.

“I will admit that I was not the best suitor. After returning to London following the Netherfield ball, I realized that I was comparing everyone to you—and not just Miss Montford. No lady was as witty, intelligent, or pretty as you were. No one could make me smile or laugh the way you did,” and taking Lizzy’s hand, he said, “You have ruined me for every other woman.”

“If you are looking for an apology, you will have to look elsewhere,” Lizzy said, as she ran her fingers along the back of his hand.

“Even though I did not love Miss Montford, I continued with the courtship for fear she might be humiliated if I withdrew my attentions, and she had done nothing to deserve that. Fortunately, I have meddling relations who would not let me jump off that cliff. Richard, Georgiana, and Anne did things behind my back, including making arrangements for you to come to Pemberley, with me to follow. Another person who helped considerably was Miss Montford herself. I know you were surprised to find me at Pemberley, but I had been encouraged to come here by Miss Montford.”

“I do not understand. She wanted you to leave her?”

“Yes. She wished me to be anywhere but in London. I think I actually frightened her.”

“I can understand that.”

Darcy laughed out loud. “Even in the present circumstances, your wit does not desert you. But do not expect me to believe for one minute that you are afraid of me. You have had me on my heels since I sat across from you in the parlor at Longbourn.”

“If you have adopted a more humble posture because of me, Mr. Darcy, I am glad to have been of service.”

“Elizabeth, when the dust settles, I will have to ask myself why I am deliberately seeking the companionship of someone who will always get the better of me. But as to Letitia Montford, I do believe she would release me immediately, but I am unsure if her father would be willing to do the same. But I no longer care what Sir John thinks. I have decided that this courtship must end as Miss Montford would be perfectly miserable with me, and she could never make me happy. There is only one person who can do that, and I am looking at her.”

Taking his cue from the look in her eyes, he did what he had wanted to do ever since that afternoon at Longbourn, and he took her in his arms and he kissed her and kissed her again, and after parting her lips with his tongue, he felt the response of her warm lips tasting his. She moved her hands to his face and traced his lips with her fingers, and then she put her arms around his neck and kissed him again before resting her head on his chest. For many more minutes, they sat there quietly in each other’s embrace, but Darcy knew that there were so many things that needed to be done before he could leave in the morning. And so he stood and brought her to her feet and kissed her in one long kiss because he did not know when he would feel her lips again.

“I am to Brighton in the morning and then to London for that business of which we just spoke. But at the earliest possible moment, I will come to you, and I promise you, no more small steps. I plan to bridge the chasm that separates us in one giant leap of love.”

Chapter 39

Darcy, dressed in his traveling clothes, was on his way to Antony’s room when Lord Fitzwilliam stepped out into the hallway.

“Sneaking out of your own house, Darcy? That is very odd.”

“Actually, I was coming to see you, but what are you doing up at this hour?”

“It should not surprise you that I am a light sleeper. Always listening for the door, you know.”

After Darcy explained what was going on in Brighton, and with Lord Fitzwilliam’s own daughters in the forefront of his mind, a look of disgust appeared on the earl’s face. “I despise that sort of behavior. A sixteen-year- old girl is a child. Say what you will about my affaires de coeur, the ladies are all over the age of twenty-five.”

Darcy disagreed with Antony’s view of what was honorable behavior, but it was no time for a discussion on morality.

“I have come to tell you that I was in need of Gregg’s service, and he is on his way to Brighton these past two hours. But I do not know if even so able a horseman as Gregg can get there in time to disrupt Wickham’s plan. After all, Brighton is two hundred miles away, and the man must rest.”

“Do you know how Gregg came to be in my service?” Antony asked.

“From his size and his equestrian talents, I suspect he was a jockey at some point.”

“Exactement! He jockeyed for my father, and I was at the races at Canterbury the day he took a nasty spill. My dear pere put him to work in the stables until he recovered and was able to race again, but when he finally hung up his whip, I took him into my service as I was now Lord Fitzwilliam. Before Gregg, I never could keep a manservant. Not everyone likes surprises. Anyway, I needed someone who was a fast thinker as well as being fast on his feet and on a horse and while running down alleys. But as to the matter at hand, Gregg has raced from Cornwall to Perth and knows every highway and byway in the realm and every coaching inn where he can change horses quickly. Once he gets near to London, he will hire a hackney and that will allow him to sleep all the way to Brighton. Rest assured. He will get your message to Colonel Forster.”

“God only knows if all this rushing about will do any good. But that is out of my hands, and I must do what I can. Mercer and I are on our way to Brighton. I have left instructions with regards to Georgiana with Jackson, and any help Richard or you can provide would be appreciated. If my sister no longer wishes to stay at Pemberley, please see her back to London.”

“Of course. No worries on that or any other matter.”