A Perilous Match

Chapter 27

T he next morning, the drawing room at Ashburn Court was thick with tension as Elizabeth, her husband, and Colonel Fitzwilliam prepared for the confrontation that would decide Phillip’s fate. Fitzwilliam had made the difficult decision to offer Phillip a choice—leave the country quietly, or face arrest and public disgrace. It was a solution that might protect the family’s honour, but the gravity of the situation weighed heavily on everyone present.

Elizabeth sat by the window, her hands tightly clenched in her lap. The anxiety was almost unbearable, but she forced herself to remain calm, knowing that her husband needed her strength now more than ever. Fitzwilliam himself paced the room, his expression a mask of steely resolve, though Elizabeth could sense the turmoil simmering just beneath the surface. Colonel Fitzwilliam stood by the door, his arms crossed, exuding a calm readiness that belied the seriousness of the moment.

When the door opened and Phillip entered, his confident stride faltered slightly as he took in the scene before him. “What is the meaning of this?” he asked, his tone laced with suspicion as his eyes darted from one face to another. “I thought you said Grandmama came calling but your faces tell a different tale.”

Fitzwilliam stopped pacing and faced him, his voice cool and controlled. “We need to talk, Phillip. We know about everything—your schemes, your attempts to ruin my marriage, and your efforts to harm me. We know why you have done it, and we have the evidence to prove it.”

Phillip’s expression hardened, but there was a flicker of unease in his eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. This sounds like more of Wickham’s lies.”

Colonel Fitzwilliam stepped forward, his voice firm. “This is no lie. We have Wickham’s confession, witnesses, and proof of the tampered saddle. The game is over, Phillip. We caught the man you hired to harm Lady Dorset and he too confessed. It is but a matter of time before we catch the scoundrels you hired in London to attack Fitzwilliam.”

For a brief moment, Phillip’s mask slipped, revealing a flash of panic. But he quickly recovered, sneering at them. “You think you can threaten me? I am the rightful heir. You never showed any interest in the estate or our uncle. I was there for him, always. I spent more time with him than even Swynford, his own son. You were never meant to be marquess, Fitzwilliam. The title should have been mine, if not Swynford’s.”

Fitzwilliam’s voice remained calm, though there was a hard edge to it. “The title was never yours to claim, Phillip. I will not live with your threat over my head. Indeed, Richard would have you arrested at once.”

“I would, it is what you deserve. Prisons are for people like you, but our cousin is more worried about the wellbeing of his Darcy family.”

“Indeed, they do not need another scandal after everything. So, Phillip. Leave England quietly, and we can avoid further scandal. Refuse, and I will see you arrested and prosecuted. Even if it harms the family,” Fitzwilliam said.

Phillip’s eyes narrowed as he assessed his options. He opened his mouth to retort, but the door behind him creaked open, and Mr Wickham entered, his presence immediately shifting the atmosphere in the room. Mr Wickham’s usual air of bravado was absent, replaced by a sombre determination. He looked directly at Phillip, his gaze unflinching. “It’s over, Phillip. The truth is out. It’s time to face the consequences.”

Phillip’s composure cracked, his eyes widening in shock. “You? You’ve betrayed me?”

Mr Wickham nodded grimly. “You left me no choice. The evidence is overwhelming. You cannot escape this.”

“You would side with him? After you told me for years that you hate him?”

“I do not care for Dorset, no. And that will not change. But the Darcy blood runs through me as well and I will not kill my own kin, nor do your dirty work anymore. Brother,” Mr Wickham said, and Phillip’s eyes flashed.

“So you told them? Our dirty secret? William, what do you think our dear Grandmama will say when she finds out her no-good youngest son had a scoundrel for a side step? Can her heart take it? And then you threaten to tell her about me on top of it? Do you wish to cause her apoplexy?” Phillip taunted and Fitzwilliam curled his hands into fists.

“I daresay, from all I have heard the old lady is rather spry and strong. Besides, she knows what sort of man our father was, Phillip. Everyone does. It is no wonder the two of us have turned out as we have, given his blood,” Mr Wickham said and shook his head. “But I might redeem myself yet. But for you, there is no hope.”

“Redeem yourself, they will throw you away like the nothing you are, George,” Phillip said. “As for me, I will not leave England, and I will not be shamed. I will—”

In a sudden, desperate move, Phillip lunged towards Elizabeth, grabbing her by the arm and pulling her towards the door. “I will not go down without a fight!” he snarled, his grip on her tightening.

Elizabeth froze unable to react as horror played out all around her.

“Let her go, Phillip!” Fitzwilliam shouted, his voice laced with fear and anger. He took a step forward, but froze when Phillip tightened his hold on Elizabeth, dragging her further towards the exit.

The colonel and Fitzwilliam exchanged a tense glance, both unwilling to make a move that might put Elizabeth in greater danger. Mr Wickham, however, had positioned himself subtly near the door, ready to block Phillip’s escape.

As they reached the threshold, Phillip’s desperation wavered, and with a frustrated snarl, he shoved Elizabeth forward. She stumbled, but her was there in an instant, catching her before she could fall and she felt the relief as his strong arms wrapped around her. In the chaos, Phillip bolted out the door, running down the hallway and out of the house, followed by Richard while Mr Wickham awkwardly stood in the doorway.

Fitzwilliam held Elizabeth close, she could feel her heart pounding. “Are you alright?” he asked, his voice thick with concern.

Elizabeth nodded shakily, tears brimming in her eyes. “I was so frightened, Fitzwilliam. I thought… I thought he might—”

“He’s gone,” Fitzwilliam murmured, holding her tighter. “You are safe now, Elizabeth. I swear, I will never let anyone harm you again. My dearest, I have wronged you deeply. I did not listen to your concerns, and I dismissed your suspicions when I should have trusted you—trusted your judgement. You have every right to be angry with me, to resent me for my blindness.”

Elizabeth shook her head gently, her eyes softening as she reached out to take his hand in hers. “Fitzwilliam, I forgave you long before now. You wanted to believe the best of your family—that is no fault of yours.”

Fitzwilliam squeezed her hand, drawing her closer to him. “You have been so understanding, so patient with me. I do not deserve your forgiveness, Elizabeth, but I am grateful for it. I can never express how sorry I am.”

She smiled up at him, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “You are a good man, Fitzwilliam. You may have made mistakes, but so have I. It is natural to want to believe in the goodness of those we hold dear. And I know that your heart was in the right place.”

“Your understanding heart, your loyalty to your family—they are among the many things I love about you, Elizabeth. You have shown me what it truly means to care for those we love, to stand by them even in the face of doubt.”

Elizabeth blushed at his words, her cheeks tinged with pink as she gazed into his eyes. “And there are many things I admire about you, Fitzwilliam,” she said softly. “Your sense of honour, your integrity, the way you care for those around you..”

Fitzwilliam stared into her eyes, and Elizabeth knew that he could see the depth of her love reflected. “Elizabeth, I love you more than words can ever convey,” he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion. “You are my heart, my soul, my everything.”

“And you are mine,” Elizabeth replied, her voice equally tender. “I love you, Fitzwilliam, with all my heart.”

The world seemed to fade away as they leaned into each other, their lips meeting in a soft, lingering kiss that spoke of all the love, trust, and devotion they had for one another. In that moment, all the pain and betrayal seemed to melt away, leaving only the pure, unbreakable bond they shared.