Mr. Darcy's Forbidden Love-kindle (68 page)

Her expression was such that it was obvious that Jane wanted to stay, but as was her nature, she acquiesced. Meanwhile, Charles walked over to offer his arm to her mother, but in her anger, Mrs. Bennet eschewed his help. Instead, Bingley escorted Jane and Madeline Gardiner from the room, directly behind that cantankerous woman. Their aunt dropped her head as she was ushered out.

As soon as they were out of sight, Mr. Bennet smiled wanly before addressing William’s aunt once more. “Would you mind if I sat down?” He gestured to his cane. “I am afraid that my leg does not lend itself to standing.”

Lady Ashcroft nodded. “Certainly, be seated.” As soon as he had sunk into one of the sturdy, upholstered chairs, she added, “It is obvious why you are here. To get straight to the point, Miss Elizabeth is under our roof.  She accompanied us to London from Ramsgate at my insistence. The man that Mrs. Gardiner has been foisting upon Elizabeth, John Wilkens, Earl of Hampton, proved himself to be a cruel and sadistic person while we were there. Once I learned that he tried to harm Miss Elizabeth as well as his own sister, I insisted she return with us. His sister was placed under the protection of her aunt, a good friend of mine.”

Mr. Bennet seemed to lose all colour at her words. “I had no idea. Apparently I have been kept in the dark about a good many things concerning my daughter since she left Longbourn. It appears that I owe you my gratitude for taking her under your protection. My Lizzy means the world to me.” He sighed heavily. “Would you please ask her and your nephew to join us? I wish to speak to both of them.”

“Certainly.” She stood. “If you will excuse me, I shall have my housekeeper bring some refreshments while I locate them.” 

~~~*~~~

London
Darcy House
Upstairs

William was not asleep as his aunt had assumed when she encountered Mrs. Bennet that fateful morning. Instead, he had awakened early and dressed straightaway in order to intercept Elizabeth when she headed downstairs to break her fast. Peering through his slightly opened bedroom door for a half-hour, however, had only served to try his patience. Thus, he had slipped into the hallway, looked surreptitiously in both directions to make sure no one was about, then knocked on her door.

When it opened, he was relieved to find her dressed, since he had every intention of going inside. Once within, he captured her in his arms and kissed her deeply before she could even speak. Melting into him as she had before, the sensation of holding Elizabeth intimately was so incredible that he continued the kiss far longer than he knew was proper. When he finally broke away to look at her, her eyes were still closed and she swayed precariously.

“Sweetheart, do you need to sit down?”

“Hmmm?” Slowly Elizabeth opened her eyes. “I fear that I am a bit faint.”

He immediately pulled her close again, nuzzling her neck as he growled teasingly. “Faint, is it? I like the sound of that!”

Slowly becoming fully cognizant, Elizabeth pushed him away playfully. “That is nothing to laugh about.”

“Of course, it is not, my love.” William forced himself to appear more subdued as he added. “I am just pleased that I affect you so.”

Just at that moment, the sound of loud voices downstairs reached them, and William stepped to the door and opened it gingerly in order to listen. Elizabeth’s hands flew to her mouth.

William turned around, and he gaped at her. “Is that your mother?”  Numbly, she nodded.

He took her arm gently and, after checking the hall, led her out of the room and towards the grand staircase. As they neared it, they could see Lady Ashcroft standing at the head of the stairs, and William pulled Elizabeth into another doorway so they would not be detected. Hearing his aunt instruct the housekeeper to take the intruders to the drawing room, he put his finger to his lips to indicate that they should make no sound, then guided Elizabeth to another set of stairs that led to the rear of the first floor.

Once downstairs, the voice now coming from the drawing room was even louder. Both desiring to know all that was being said, William drew Elizabeth into the billiard’s room where he opened a wall panel exposing a servant’s corridor. Using this means, they swiftly made their way to a point outside the room where her mother was holding forth. Arriving in time to hear most of Mrs. Bennet’s strident diatribe and by the end of it, Elizabeth was shaking visibly. So William ran his arms around her waist and pulled her tight against his chest to comfort her. Just as she relaxed against him and laid her arms atop his, Barnes introduced Charles Bingley and Mr. Bennet, effectively ending Mrs. Bennet’s tirade. Shortly after that, Elizabeth’s father ordered his wife from the room, and when Lady Ashcroft excused herself to go in search of the two of them, he led Lizzy back to the billiard’s room and helped her to a seat on a settee.

“Stay here, sweetheart. I shall have Barnes inform my aunt where we are.”

Not long after William had quit the room, he returned, and a short time later Audrey Ashcroft appeared in the doorway. Instantly she noted Elizabeth’s distress and moved to sit next to her, reaching for her hand.

“Your father wishes to speak to you and Fitzwilliam. If you do not wish to see him now, I shall tell him that you are indisposed, and my nephew shall speak to him alone. However, in my opinion, it would be best if you face him together. I have found that postponing unpleasant conversations oft times makes matters worse. I will add that he seems a fine gentleman and an understanding one at that.”

Elizabeth smiled wanly. “Unlike my mother.”

Audrey tried not to show any censure. “I am sure she means well, though perhaps she needs to be more circumspect with her words and less accusatory.” 

“Yes, she does. I… I apologize to you and Fitzwilliam for her rudeness.”

Audrey hugged Elizabeth. “You need never apologise to either of us. You cannot control your relations to any further extent than Fitzwilliam and I can control ours.  And believe me when I say that my sister, Catherine, is far worse than your mother.”

Elizabeth smiled through teary lashes. “You are too kind.”

William spoke up. “She is being honest, Elizabeth.”

Giving him a heartfelt smile, she stood. “I am ready to face my father, and no matter what may occur, know that I shall never agree to give you up.”

William held out his arm, and she placed a delicate hand there. “I shall hold you to that. Now let us explain our predicament and hope he is as understanding as my aunt believes.”

Audrey addressed them. “I shall be waiting in the library in case I am needed to clear any misunderstanding or to be of service in any fashion.” She glanced to William.  “I feel as though I am your mother, Fitzwilliam, and you,” she looked to Elizabeth, “will be my daughter one day. I shall not let anyone disparage either one of you.”

“We shall be happy to call upon you if need be,” William replied. “Your love and support means everything.”

“Yes, to us both,” Elizabeth echoed.

After each young person had received a kiss from William’s aunt, they proceeded to the drawing room to face her father hand-in-hand, presenting a united front.

~~~*~~~

Later in the drawing room

Mr. Bennet resembled an older rendition of Fitzwilliam Darcy as he strode back and forth across the drawing room in a steady cadence.  The only difference between the two was that his cane punctuated each step, and he did not run his hands through his hair, as it was nearly non-existent. Instead, he used his free hand to toy with his whiskers.

The first subject Mr. Bennet raised with his daughter when she entered the room had been John Wilkens. Elizabeth confessed everything that had transpired while she stayed at Gatesbridge Manor, even revealing some things that William had not heard. As his own anger at the Earl of Hampton was kindled anew, he felt certain that the man that had confronted him in Meryton would be livid over what he had just learned. And when Elizabeth’s father rose on his injured leg to stalk about the room, he was not taken by surprise.

William’s chief focus, however, was Elizabeth, who sat opposite him. She anxiously observed her father, her dire expression growing more calamitous with every lap and that troubled him. No doubt she knew her father better than he. Even so, when Mr. Bennet ended his incessant pacing abruptly, it gained William’s attention.

“I cannot believe that my Sister Gardiner did not know more about that blackguard before she promoted the match or allowed you to accompany his sister to Ramsgate. If he was such a degenerate, surely someone knew of his propensity for wickedness.” He trained his eyes on Elizabeth. “And why did you paint such rosy pictures in your letters? Was I to be kept in the dark the whole time?”

Elizabeth’s eyes fell. “I am sorry, Papa. To be honest, at first I was trying to prolong my stay, hoping to meet a better prospect than the earl. I knew that if I turned him down arbitrarily, Aunt Gardiner would likely send me home. She made her wishes for a match with Wilkens known often enough. And you know how Mama behaves when she is unhappy with me.” She added softly, “Which is most of the time.”

“I would never let anyone force you into an unwanted courtship or marriage, and believe me when I say that your aunt and your mother will get a piece of my mind when I return to Gracechurch Street. In addition, if that blackguard was not already dead, I would call him out immediately!”

Elizabeth and William both looked incredulous, simultaneously exclaiming, “Wilkens is dead?”

“According to your mother and your aunt, notice was received this morning,” Mr. Bennet continued, unmindful of his audience’s shock at the news. “But make no mistake, if he was not dead, I would have no reservations in calling him out for his behaviour. I can still wield a sword if necessary, and while I may be old, I shoot game with the best of them. I may be slower to aim, but I am accurate, which is more than can be said for some of these so-called gentlemen.” He waved a hand towards William. 

Attempting to demonstrate that there was something on which they agreed, William declared, “I have known him for years, and I tried to warn Miss Elizabeth about Wilkens. After I learned what transpired at Gatesbridge, I was intent on challenging him myself. No man should do harm to a lady without repercussion.”

Mr. Bennet’s eyes bored into William, and he replied sarcastically. “Do you really want to take that stance, young man? Especially, since I have reservations regarding your own treatment of my daughter?”

William swallowed hard, trying not to appear uneasy. There was no way he would ever raise a weapon against Elizabeth’s father, even if challenged. “I look forward to explaining any misconceptions or reservations you may have about my conduct with regards to your daughter.”

The older man hobbled towards an upholstered chair, and eased into it, saying to no one in particular, “I should not have let my ire overtax my leg.” After he had situated himself more comfortably, he again fixed his gaze on William. “Suppose you begin by addressing the rumours that my wife mentioned regarding you and my daughter?”

Elizabeth swiftly moved to sit down next to William, taking his hand. “Papa, I think I should be the one to tell you how we met again in London and how I came to fall in love with him.”

Mr. Bennet’s eyebrows furrowed as his eyes narrowed, flicking back and forth between her and William.

“Very well then, Lizzy, please do your best to convince me that I should not run him through once you are finished.” 

~~~*~~~

Over one half-hour later, Lizzy’s father looked just as pensive as he had when considering John Wilkens’ deeds. The only difference was that he had not resumed pacing. He did, however, sit silently with his elbows on the arms of the chair, his head bowed and propped against his tented fingers. Deathly still themselves, William and Elizabeth hoped that this was a good sign. Presently, Mr. Bennet looked up and stared into the distance, as though the answer was to be found somewhere out there. Finally, taking a deep breath that he released noisily, he then began to speak.

“I cannot condone Elizabeth’s relationship with a married man, howbeit, one miserably entrapped by a hateful, conniving woman. This situation can only get more unpleasant once it becomes fully known and, make no mistake, it shall. It will affect our entire family—all your sisters, Lizzy, not just you. Have you considered that?”

Elizabeth started to speak but was interrupted by her father. “However, I do not deceive myself that either of you are seeking my approval. And, before you say it, I am aware that you shall turn one and twenty in one month, Daughter, in which case you will not need my consent if you decide to carry out this waiting game or to marry Mr. Darcy in the future. But, until you are one and twenty you WILL follow my dictates.”

William and Elizabeth exchanged anxious glances. When he was certain of her steadfastness, William spoke.

“Nonetheless, we both wish to have your understanding, if not your approval.” His mien softened as he looked at Elizabeth. “Neither of us meant to fall in love. It was Fate that we met in Meryton and then again here. I did not seek her out when I learned she was in Town, nor did she look for me. On the contrary, we tried our best not to love one another.”

Mr. Bennet studied William for a long moment. “I am inclined to believe you, since you left Meryton without asking permission to see Lizzy again in order to explain. I will admit that I was impressed because you wanted her to despise you so as to destroy any attachment that might have developed as a result of your stay in the cabin.”

“And I did despise him, Papa!” Elizabeth interjected. “I was so angry when I discovered that he was married that I not only confronted him, I swore to hate him for all eternity.”

“Eternity was not so long, eh?” Mr. Bennet offered dryly.

Her eyes fell to her lap. “No, Papa,” she whispered.

Sobering, he focused on William once more. “I know what Lizzy wants, but she is young and in love for the first time. What do you wish from me, Mr. Darcy, other than my favourite daughter?”