Goodly Creatures: A Pride and Prejudice Deviation (13 page)

Mr Gardiner put his arm around his niece. “Lizzy, it is not worth the risk of your violation being exposed. My business is thriving. Your aunt and I can afford to raise this child, and I am prepared to help my sister when the time comes.”

“Uncle, you have always been kind and generous. Your way is to always look forward and plan for any eventuality… unlike my father. I love Papa, and I am glad he has taught me so many things, but I hope to emulate you as I grow to adulthood—protective, loving, devoted to my family. I promise my abominable pride, which got us into this dilemma, is now under good regulation. From this day forward, I will be proud of what I accomplish, and not who I know. Let me do this one thing for my babe and my Mama. If I am successful, I know you could make the six thousand pounds grow.”

After days of listening to numerous variations of her argument, the Gardiners conceded to Elizabeth’s wish. Mr and Mrs Gardiner even began to share her need for revenge. It seemed a more useful emotion than wallowing in the guilt they had felt as they had first evaluated the incident.

Her aunt could not shake her own feelings of responsibility for the tragedy. Her remorse often became anger as she remembered the particular facts of the entrapment. She too had been flattered by Mrs Darcy’s interest, and it was she who made the decision to allow a fifteen-year-old child under her care to go alone to Darcy House. Her example had encouraged Lizzy to be deceived by persons placed so high in society.

Mr Gardiner remembered his older sister caring for him as a young boy. As the oldest, she had taken very seriously her responsibilities toward her younger siblings. She never let his hand go and had even carried him when necessary. Their mother had told her to keep her baby brother from harm’s way, and she had carried out her mission as vigilantly as she currently attempted to marry off her daughters. He had failed Fanny as well as his niece. The possible advantages to his business from the connections had taken precedence over his duty to protect his sister’s child from a predator. The notion that those with titles and inherited wealth must be honourable frequently caused him to laugh at his opportunistic denial. The papers were filled with their outrageous scandals. Poor Lizzy chastised herself for her pride, but he was a man of the world who had acted like a naive schoolboy. The couple even began recalling numerous warning signs they should have heeded as they remembered their dealings with the perpetrators of this crime against their beloved Elizabeth.

Mr Thatcher made additional discreet inquiries to find out useful information about both the Darcys and Lord Wolfbridge. Finally, Mr Gardiner felt they were prepared and sent a note to Darcy House requesting a meeting with Mr and Mrs Darcy and Lord Wolfbridge. He thought about using his solicitor to make the request, but Lizzy felt strongly that no lawyers be involved to ensure secrecy. Within two days, Mr Darcy agreed to the meeting for the following Tuesday.

As with the fateful day of her humiliation, Elizabeth dressed carefully for her trip to Darcy House. Then she had been a youthful harbinger of spring filled with joyful expectations for a day spent in her new friend’s beautiful solarium. This morning she chose to wear the fashionable new gown her uncle had encouraged her to have made; she suspected in hopes of raising her spirits. It was made from such unique material that she had decided to forgo all but the barest ornamentation. Her mother would not have approved, but Elizabeth had felt it wrong to gild the lily and detract from the novel beauty of the cloth. She also felt the absence of fol-de-rols promoted a more sedate image that was in keeping with her mission.

Elizabeth smiled at the mirror. The reflection that returned her greeting was a young woman in a beautiful dress of glistening verdant silk. Turning from side to side to admire her new frock, she observed how the movement made the colour and design of the fabric appear as water cascading to the tops of her slippers. Her attention was next drawn to the bodice of the gown, and Lizzy noticed how the dressmaker had draped it in such a way to modestly accent her newly acquired bosom. Suddenly she wrinkled her nose in remembered disgust and wondered whether that feature might bring a twinge of disappointment to Lord Wolfbridge. Returning to more pleasant thoughts, she marvelled again at how very unique the material was, and if her circumstances had been different, she would have revelled to return from London wearing something so novel and elegant. The silk appeared to have a wavy weave, but her uncle told her it was actually a ribbing and rolling process that created the rippling pattern. Mr Gardiner had come across the fabric—clandestinely imported from France and called moiré—at one of his friend’s warehouses and brought bolts home in rose and green.

Elizabeth had chosen the green because it matched the colour of her eyes and enhanced, rather than competed, with the flaming highlights of her hair. Molly had helped her put up her unruly curls in a more mature style. The only adornment she wore was her amber cross. As she gave herself a final inspection in the glass, she noted a bold determined expression betrayed by eyes filled with an underlying sorrow. In a few months, she had seen her childhood swept away as circumstances forced her transformation into the audacious young woman reflected before her. Today she would make a plea in hopes she could even the score with these dishonourable people and perhaps in the doing gain some peace of mind.

Once settled in the carriage, Elizabeth said, “Uncle, please stop fretting about allowing me to conduct the negotiations. It is true, Mr Darcy and Lord Wolfbridge will think it inappropriate for me to speak; but I am hoping the element of surprise will work to our advantage. Mrs Darcy is the most vulnerable, and I want to utilize the guilt feelings I suspect she may feel. Her act was thoughtless, and I am certain she fears the whole truth being learned by her husband. I do not know why, but I believe he is the most honourable of the trio. Mrs Darcy’s apprehension of losing her husband’s good opinion should make her particularly susceptible to my appeal.”

Elizabeth could not stifle a girlish giggle as she thought about the time she had spent before the mirror rehearsing her lines. “As you know, I have gone over my approach numerous times, and with the intelligence Mr Thatcher provided about Lord Wolfbridge, I should be able to carry off this negotiation.”

“Lizzy, I have complete confidence in you.” He chuckled with her before he continued. “I, more than any other, know you are persuasive. You won over your aunt and me to the position of keeping your father in the dark about what has happened. If he ever found out what I have hidden from him, I doubt he would ever forgive me. It is probably not prudent to allow you to do this, but I share your need for vindication. Wresting reparations from Lord Wolfbridge and Mrs Darcy is definitely preferable to fighting a duel. But for my own peace of mind, one last time, tell me what is most important.”

“I have not forgotten…
even more important than obtaining payment from Lord Wolfbridge and Mrs Darcy, is the necessity to maintain the honour of our family.
Uncle Edward, I love my sisters too much to jeopardize their futures. In the past week, you and I have judiciously laid out the necessary steps to ensure secrecy. We will insist all correspondence and settlements go through you. With those measures in place, there will be much less suspicion of what the money is for. I do not want the name Bennet to be used at all in either our consultation or any arrangements we conclude. Both today and in the future, I will only be Miss Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth grinned at her uncle and said with bravado, “Lord Wolfbridge needs Miss Harding’s fifty thousand pounds. He has as much to lose if this affair comes to light, and Mrs Darcy is culpable and in fear of her husband’s disapproval.” Elizabeth jutted out her chin and smiled. “Our case is strong—not to mention righteous.”

10 HER POUND OF FLESH

Mr Gardiner and Elizabeth were shown into Mr Darcy’s study. Lord Wolfbridge and the Darcys were surprised to see Elizabeth. Mrs Darcy appeared worried, Mr Darcy looked confused and Lord Wolfbridge was openly irritated. Anne and the Viscount were sitting in chairs on one side of the fireplace, and Fitzwilliam Darcy was sitting behind his desk. Elizabeth was relieved to see no lawyer present. The fewer people who knew about what had occurred in this house three months ago, the less likelihood her family’s honour would be breached.

“Miss Elizabeth, Mr Gardiner, please have a seat.” Mr Darcy addressed them as they had been announced. He gestured for them to take the two chairs on the other side of the fireplace.

Lizzy and her uncle sat, as the others in the room looked expectantly to Mr Gardiner. Elizabeth waited a few seconds before she began to speak. Mr and Mrs Darcy and Lord Wolfbridge were startled that Elizabeth was to address them.

Lizzy noticed Mr Darcy was looking intently at her. She was unsure at what he was staring. Was it her audacity to be speaking or was it her recently increased bosom that was capturing his attention? It was hard to tell with him, since he seemed to be trying to hide his true intent; but she did notice that he would move his eyes away from her only to have them return a few seconds later, and more often than not they were drawn to her décolletage. Good Lord, having him admire her had not been part of her plan! As she had dressed this morning, her goal had been to appear businesslike. The last thing she needed while she was carrying out these negotiations was to be worried about the other cousin getting lascivious thoughts. Still, he did not seem to be giving her the same kind of look as Lord Wolfbridge had on the ides of March. In the end she concluded, Mr Darcy’s dour countenance was mainly finding fault with her boldness.

She had practiced for days… schooling her face to show no inconvenient feelings. She did not want to become emotional and let her words betray the anger she felt. “Lord Wolfbridge, Mr and Mrs Darcy, I am with child. I was violated by the Viscount three months ago in this very house. The baby I am carrying is the result of that encounter. I told no one of what occurred here last March until my aunt and uncle became suspicious of my condition and forced me to reveal what had happened.” She relaxed and quietly took a calming breath. “I very much wanted to keep the incident from any other’s notice. My father had only two expectations of me. He wanted me to guard my chastity and refrain from nonsensical behaviour. I experienced the ultimate humiliation that afternoon; and I failed my father on both counts. Obviously I am no longer chaste.” Elizabeth was afraid her stoic demeanour was about to fail as she said, “Even worse, I was incredibly silly.”

Lizzy concentrated and forced her face to relax into a slight sneer; nothing too impertinent, but something that allowed her audience to know the disregard she felt for their status. “My silliness was exhibited in the pride I felt to be receiving attention from such great persons as you. All three of you come from prestigious and ancient families, and you, Lord Wolfbridge, will one day be a peer. I was flattered you would want to associate with a country lass like me. All I have to recommend me is a father who owns a minor estate and numerous hard-working relatives in trade.”