Darcy in Want of a Wife

Chapter 44

Dining Room

After Dinner

Lady Matlock rose to her feet, and the rest of the women did so as well. The coterie of well-dressed ladies followed her out of the room and shut the door behind them, leaving the men to their port.

The earl waited until the servants had removed the dessert plates and departed and then bent a serious look on his nephew.

“So Wickham is in custody, then?” he asked.

“He is being held at Newgate until his trial, along with his conspirators.”

The earl nodded in approval, poured himself another glass of port, and asked, “What do you want to happen to him?”

“I want him hanged,” Darcy said succinctly.

The earl looked at his Colonel Fitzwilliam, who said, “He deserves nothing less, Father; the man was blessed with the patronage of my uncle Darcy, was gifted with an education at Cambridge, and has proceeded to use his good looks, silver tongue, and charisma to destroy the lives of others. This latest offense is but one of many, and this one is worthy of hanging.”

“I agree,” Matlock replied and sighed. “I admired your father very much, Darcy, but he always had a blind spot regarding Wickham.”

“He was an engaging young man and went out of his way to charm my father,” Darcy agreed. “I was often frustrated by my father’s preference toward the rogue. I have a more serious nature, and Wickham was able to entertain my father, especially in those dark days after my mother’s death, not to mention the two years at the end of his life when he was feeble and failing.”

“It seems you have it all well in hand, then,” Matlock remarked.

“I think so,” Darcy agreed, “though we are a trifle concerned that Miss Bennet’s abduction might become a topic of open discussion in the courtroom.”

Matlock nodded. “I can speak to some of my cronies about the matter and request that the trial be barred from spectators, or if that is not possible, that the lady’s name be entirely suppressed.”

“We would appreciate that very much,” Bingley said, hitherto silent. “It would ease my wife’s mind if she knew that this dreadful gossip did not escape into society.”

“I will do all I can to protect Miss Bennet’s name,” the earl promised.

“As for Miss Bennet herself,” Richard said, “I hereby offer myself as her champion for at least the next two months.”

Darcy and Bingley turned startled eyes on the colonel, and Darcy demanded, “What do you mean?”

“I think it is entirely obvious,” Richard replied cheerfully. “I am stationed in London for the moment, and when not engaged in my military duties, I will be pleased to squire Miss Bennet to dinner parties and the park and perhaps the opera or a play. Every other man in this room is married, so I will happily take it upon myself to show the world that the Matlocks approve of Mary Bennet.”

“That is kind of you,” Bingley said.

Richard shrugged. “The truth is that if Miss Bennet had a substantial dowry, I would be desirous of pursuing her hand in marriage. I am genuinely in awe of her courage; how many ladies would not freeze under such horrific circumstances!”

“It is true,” Darcy agreed. “Mary is very brave.”

“What of Wickham’s co-conspirators?” Matlock asked.

“Assuming none of you are in opposition, I am inclined to be merciful to both Mrs. Younge and her brother and have them sent to Australia on a prison ship.”

“That is a harsh mercy,” Richard said drily, “given how dreadful those voyages are. But I assume they would prefer that to hanging.”

“If they would prefer hanging, they have only to tell me,” Darcy replied without humor.

After a long, grave silence, Matlock said, “On a more cheerful note, my wife has been eagerly planning a number of outings and engagements. The Season is largely over, but there are enough families still in Town that we will be able to spread throughout society that Miss Mary Bennet, along with her extended family, is under our protection.”

“Thank you very much, Uncle,” Darcy said.

/

Matlock House

One Week Later

Elizabeth Darcy held to her husband’s arm as the two climbed the stairs up to the front door of Matlock House. It was evening now, the windows before them lit with warm candlelight that silhouetted the forms of the guests who had arrived before them. They were almost, but not quite, late after a full and busy day.

Elizabeth had visited both the dressmaker and the milliner as part of the process of acquiring a more suitable wardrobe for her new status as Mrs. Darcy. In the meantime, Darcy had been occupied with seeing to Wickham and his cohorts, who were locked up in Newgate following their arrest.

Elizabeth was glad to leave any matters regarding those villains to her husband. She knew that for his crimes, Wickham would be sentenced to the gallows. Elizabeth did not consider herself a squeamish woman – far from it, in fact – but she still preferred not to fill her head with thoughts of the man’s upcoming execution.

The Darcys walked into the foyer and were approached by a servant, who respectfully took Darcy’s hat and cane and gloves. Elizabeth, gazing across the foyer, immediately spotted her older sister, Jane, along with Mr. Bingley and her sister, Mary. Before Elizabeth could greet her relations, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam stepped into the entrance hall, bowed to the Bingleys and engaged Mary in conversation.

Elizabeth was pleasantly surprised by how attractive Mary looked. Mary had long been regarded as the plainest of the Bennet daughters, but today she wore a lovely peach gown, and her hair was coiled up elaborately, with a matching ribbon threaded through her dark curls. She had a joyful smile on her face, which made her look far more approachable than usual.

She was not as handsome in face and form as Jane or Lydia or Kitty, but Mary, when dressed in flattering colors, was pretty in her own right. Undoubtedly, the constant reminders of her sisters’ beauty had been the reason why Mary had struggled so much to put herself out in society, especially given Mrs. Bennet’s perpetual harping on her plainness. It was no mystery why Mary gave it little effort and preferred to focus on her books and pianoforte instead.

As Elizabeth continued to watch, Colonel Fitzwilliam offered Mary his arm, and once she accepted, he began to lead her into the drawing room with the Bingleys following in their wake.

“Shall we, my dear?” Darcy asked, gallantly holding his arm out to his wife.

The small group made their way down the hall and into the drawing room, only to be greeted by an ecstatic cry.

“Elizabeth! Mr. Darcy!” Lady Audrey Galpin exclaimed, hurrying up to her friend and new husband. “Many congratulations to you both. I was entirely amazed to read your marriage announcement in the Times.”

Darcy grimaced slightly and glanced briefly toward his elder relations. “The truth, Lady Audrey, is that some members of my family did not understand how wonderful Elizabeth is. So we slipped off to Elizabeth’s home in Meryton and were wed in the church where she was baptized.”

Elizabeth knew that this was more information than was usually shared, even with a friend of the bride, but it was important that their hasty marriage be explained in a reasonable way. The entire family hoped that Mary’s ordeal would be hushed up, but there did need to be some explanation for the hurried wedding.

Of course, some people would guess that Elizabeth was already pregnant, but when nine months passed without the birth of a child, those rumors would dissipate as well.

“I totally understand,” Lady Audrey said and then lowered her voice and leaned closer. “I will confess that my mother was genuinely shocked at your union. I explained that you are an intelligent man, Mr. Darcy, and are desirous of an equally clever wife.”

“You are entirely correct,” Darcy said, turning an adoring look on his bride, who blushed and said, “I hope you are well, Lady Audrey?”

“I am, and I am delighted that Lord and Lady Matlock invited my brother and me to such a pleasant dinner before we depart London.”

“You are returning to your estate?” Elizabeth asked.

“Yes, we are all ready for the cooler air and fresh breezes of the country. But what of you? Will you be staying in London for the foreseeable future?”

“A few weeks, perhaps,” Darcy said. “We have some business to finish here in London.”

“Am I correct that you have never been to Pemberley before, Elizabeth?”

“I have not.”

“You are to be envied to have such a wonderful treat ahead of you,” Lady Audrey said with a smile. “I have heard it is magnificent!”

The door opened at this moment to reveal the two Misses St. John and Miss Storey, who hurried over with apologies for their tardiness. Elizabeth found herself in the midst of an excited group of friends, all of whom repeated their congratulations and amazement at her recent marriage.

Darcy, who had shifted a little away to allow for all this feminine enthusiasm, cast a piteous look at Elizabeth. She grinned and responded by tilting her head toward the Earl of Matlock, giving silent approval to his desire to leave the noise and activity.

The master of Pemberley made his way to his uncle, who was standing apart from the rest of the group.

“You are very fortunate in your husband,” the elder Miss Storey said, and Elizabeth turned and said, “I know, I am.”

This provoked knowing looks on the part of her friends, and she laughed and said, “Beyond the obvious, I mean. Fitzwilliam is tall, handsome, and wealthy, but he also has a powerful intellect, and is kind, and gentle, and protective, and…”

She trailed off as the ladies chuckled, and Lady Audrey said, “My dear friends, those of us who are not yet married, I encourage us all to look to Elizabeth for inspiration. It is not enough to admire a man’s looks and wealth; no, for bluestockings like ourselves, we must respect a man’s intelligence, along with his character!”

“If I had a glass, I would toast to that!” the younger Miss St. John declared.

Elizabeth grinned and looked at her husband, who was now speaking with the Earl, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and her sister, Mary.

She was indeed fortunate to have met and married such a wonderful man – intelligent, generous, kind, and protective.

He glanced her way, and their eyes met. He smiled at her, and she felt herself flush as her heart beat faster. She was too smart a woman to imagine that their life going forward would be entirely free of difficulty. They were both diligent and determined individuals and would have their share of arguments. They would doubtless deal with sickness and sorrows and disappointments.

But she knew that they belonged together. They would be better together than apart. They would laugh and cry together. They would argue and resolve their differences. They would work and play together. They would, she hoped and prayed, grow old together.

They were blessed. So very blessed.