Desperate Hearts: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Page 10

  “And what good will that do?” Fitzwilliam asked, holding both of Darcy’s arms and forcing his cousin to look him in the eyes. "In any event it is hardly likely that they will receive you. I have attempted to call on them twice, and they have refused to see me."

  As Darcy continued to sag, he also shook his head slowly and said “I must have answers. Did you learn anything else at White’s? Why did she abandon me?”

  Fitzwilliam felt a pang in his own heart for his cousin’s pain. He slowly shook his head. “All I was able to learn is that they met here in town but she is originally from another shire. A country miss. This Moretti is very tight-lipped, and so is his normally garrulous friend Sally. Something does not feel right, and I am determined to find out what it is. Promise me you will not do anything rash, like confronting them; at this point it can only cause you greater pain.”

  Darcy gave his cousin a doleful look. “Fitzwilliam, I love her more than life. She has bewitched me body and soul. We were not yet engaged but we had an understanding; I was to speak with her father upon my return to Hertfordshire. I am convinced that she was as attached to me as I am to her. We danced two sets and dined together just recently at the Netherfield ball. When I saw her on the day we left for town she told me she would be waiting for my return to Hertfordshire. I was planning to marry her and spend the rest of my life with her … now I discover that she has sold herself to this man. How much greater pain could there possibly be?”

  “Believe me, old man, you do not want to find out,” Fitzwilliam shook his head sadly. “Please stay here and let me do some investigations into this Moretti. I have official channels of information as well as unofficial sources. I will report back to you when I have any useful intelligence. But you must promise me that you will not approach them. I have never seen you like this, Darcy. You are hanging by a very thin thread. Do not do anything that will push you into a deeper abyss. We will sort this out.”

  Fitzwilliam took the glass out of Darcy’s hand and in one swallow downed its contents. “And no more of that, my friend,” he cautioned. “You are not used to this much drink. It is not producing a beneficial effect. And it may muddle your head enough that you will do something downright stupid. Please be patient a little longer. I will find out what the game is.” The Colonel patted his cousin’s shoulder and led him to the sofa. “Why don’t you rest, maybe take a nap? I am going out now but I shall be back in the morning. I see that you haven’t slept lately, but have you even eaten anything in the past few days?”

  Darcy’s hangdog look told Fitzwilliam all he needed to know. Fitzwilliam turned and started for the study door. Darcy leaned back on the sofa letting his head drop back. “Where are you going, Fitzwilliam?” Darcy asked in such a low, plaintive voice that the Colonel had to strain to hear him. Fitzwilliam turned to answer him and realized that his cousin had already slipped into a drink-induced slumber.

  “To save your life if I can, cousin” Fitzwilliam replied under his breath, not wanting to disturb Darcy from the only peace he had found in all these many days. “To save your life.”

  Twenty-four: Netherfield, several hours later

  Charles Bingley was clearly surprised when Colonel Fitzwilliam’s arrival was announced. Bingley was in his study working on his ledgers. He looked up with his usual welcoming grin. “Colonel Fitzwilliam! This is a surprise! I am delighted to see you.” Bingley rose to greet the Colonel. “I did not know you were coming to Hertfordshire. I presume Darcy is with you?” Bingley looked past Fitzwilliam expecting to see Darcy following him.

  “No, not on this trip, Bingley. I just left him in town.” He gave Bingley’s hand his usual brisk and hearty shake. “I have come here to do some … investigations.”

  Bingley’s smile continued as he regarded the Colonel quizzically. “Whatever do you mean? Are you on official army business?”

  “This investigation is of a more personal nature,” Fitzwilliam replied. Then he changed the subject. “And how are you, Bingley? Are you now officially engaged to Miss Bennet? Am I to wish you joy and congratulations?” the Colonel smiled at him.

  “Yes, just since yesterday. I made my offer and she accepted,” Bingley’s grin grew even larger. “And her father gave us his blessing. We are to be married in six weeks’ time.” Bingley’s grin faded slightly. “I am hopeful that will be enough time for my sisters to reconcile themselves to the match.” He looked out the study door and then turning to Fitzwilliam said in a low, conspiratorial voice “They have not been very supportive of my choice of wife,” he said.

  “So I hear” Fitzwilliam replied. “That does make things somewhat uncomfortable, does it not?” Fitzwilliam turned towards the window that overlooked the fields and road leading to Longbourn. “And what about Miss Bennet’s sisters? I understand that there are four of them, and I trust they are looking forward to welcoming you as a brother?”

  Bingley’s grin returned. He rubbed his hands together and said “Yes indeed. They are very well pleased. Especially the second-eldest sister Miss Elizabeth. Do you know her? Jane – Miss Bennet – has been spending a great deal of time with her sister to work out wedding plans. She does not trust Mrs. Bennet’s taste … and to own the truth, neither do I. So she spends almost as much time with Miss Elizabeth as she does with me!” Bingley laughed.

  “Miss Elizabeth? Is that not the young lady that my cousin is courting? I do not believe I have yet had the pleasure of meeting her either, but I look forward to doing so. When was the last time you saw her?” Fitzwilliam asked.

  “I saw her yesterday when I went to Longbourn to see Jane – Miss Bennet.” Bingley replied. “I am for Longbourn shortly to call on Miss Bennet. Would you care to accompany me and meet them both? I am sure that Miss Elizabeth would be very happy to hear any news of Darcy that you can impart.”

  Fitzwilliam was somewhat confused but kept his countenance so Bingley would not suspect anything was amiss. “Yes, I would like that very much. Are you sure I will be welcome without an invitation?” Fitzwilliam asked.

  “It is only tea and coffee, my man,” Bingley assured him smilingly. “And as I said, I have no doubt that your news of your cousin will ensure your welcome. At least to Miss Elizabeth!” He grinned again.

  “Then let me go clean off the road dust and then we shall away to Longbourn,” Fitzwilliam answered, somewhat confused about the reference to Miss Elizabeth. Bingley rang for his servant to show Fitzwilliam to a guest room and to bring him hot water and a towel there. Then he headed to his own apartment to ready himself for the visit.

  As her brother and the Colonel had departed Charles’ study, Caroline happened to be walking past and nearly collided with them. Caroline, who was on her way back from speaking with the cook about tomorrow night’s dinner menu, peered curiously at the red coat and unfamiliar face accompanying her brother. Charles quickly introduced the Colonel to Caroline. Whereas her brother had been surprised by Fitzwilliam’s visit, Caroline was positively flabbergasted that Darcy’s officious cousin was standing before her here in Netherfield. What could he mean?

  “A pleasure to meet you, Miss Bingley” Fitzwilliam bowed. “I have heard a great deal about you from my cousin.” He tried to keep the sarcasm out of his voice and hoped he had succeeded. Caroline blushed and curtsied.

  “We are on our way to Longbourn to call on the Miss Bennets in a few minutes,” Charles told her. “Would you care to join us?”

  Caroline tried to hide her horror at both the Colonel’s appearance at Netherfield and the thought of spending time in the Bennets’ company. “I thank you, but I have some correspondence that I must attend to.” She curtsied again and turned on her heel to hurry back to her own apartment. The gentlemen repaired to their respective chambers to make their preparations, and met a short time later outside the study to leave for Longbourn.

  Twenty-five: Longbourn, a short time later

  “At least it is a short ride, so I can bear the trip on horseback” Bingley laughed as they appro
ached Longbourn. As they turned into the drive to the front of the house, Bingley could barely keep himself from leaping off his horse; only the realization that he would probably break his neck kept him at a more dignified pace. He was greeted warmly at the door by the two eldest Miss Bennets – Jane and Elizabeth.

  “Miss Jane! Miss Elizabeth! How good to see you again!” Bingley took Jane’s hands in his own. “I would like to introduce you to my guest. This is Colonel Lionel Fitzwilliam, Mr. Darcy’s cousin. He may be of particular interest to you, Miss Elizabeth, as he has just arrived from town and has the latest news of Darcy!”

  Elizabeth turned to face the Colonel. “And what news have you of Mr. Darcy, sir?” she asked with a coquettish smile on her face.

  Fitzwilliam tried not to stare, but he could barely keep his countenance. “How did you arrive here so swiftly, Miss Bennet? I just left town myself a short while ago. Your carriage must be very speedy indeed for you to have arrived here before me. Mercury kept up a gallup for much of the journey.”

  Elizabeth looked at him quizzically. “Why, whatever are you talking about, sir? I have not left Longbourn for several days and have not been in London for several months.” She smiled and shook her head. “I assure you, sir, that I have not been traveling this day.” She looked at Jane, then at Bingley, then back at Fitzwilliam, regarding him with raised eyebrows and waiting impatiently for an explanation.

  Fitzwilliam, whose mouth was slightly agape, quickly regained his composure. “Clearly there is some misunderstanding on my part, Miss Bennet. Darcy was certain he saw you in town just this morning. He must be so besotted with you that he sees you here, there, and everywhere!” Fitzwilliam laughed, doing his best to make light of the situation.

  Elizabeth smiled tentatively but was not quite sure she wanted to join in the Colonel’s laughter. “Do you mean to say that the Master of Pemberley is hallucinating, Colonel? Or has he perhaps taken to drink since we last saw him?”

  Fitzwilliam started to choke on this question and coughed to cover it up. He could see in Elizabeth’s saucy demeanour just what he was certain attracted Darcy to her. He was not going to admit that Darcy had taken to drink lately, and was in fact well into his cups when he had departed Darcy’s townhouse. “No, madam, and I do not wish to give that impression. I merely suggested that the hopeful eyes of love may be deceived.” He forced himself to smile again, and was pleased and relieved when Elizabeth returned the smile.

  Bingley and Jane had been exchanging blank looks during this conversation, and Bingley now jumped into it. “Fitzwilliam, what are you about? Miss Jane and I have been long aware that Darcy formed an attachment to Miss Elizabeth shortly after meeting her. But certainly he has not gone out of his senses for her, has he?” Bingley looked over at Jane and winked.

  “No, no” Fitzwilliam tried to recover from this topic before he slipped and said something he did not wish to say. “I am sure that he saw someone who looked rather like Miss Elizabeth and wishful thinking convinced him that it was in fact you. I believe he misses you very much. You are all he spoke of while I was with him at his London house.” He finished with a brilliant smile, hoping that this explanation would put an end to the subject.

  Elizabeth blushed quite thoroughly, and turned towards the house. “Perhaps we should go in for some refreshments,” she addressed everyone and no one in particular.

  Twenty-six: Back at Netherfield

  “Damnation!” Caroline Bingley muttered the oath under her breath as she heard voices in the entry hall – her brother had returned home from his visit to that ridiculous Bennet family. And that miserable Colonel was still with him – apparently he was planning to stay for a while. She had hoped to get the urgent express letter out before her brother returned and started asking questions. Caroline quickly summoned the footman and handed the letter to him with specific instructions to discreetly arrange for an express rider straight away – alluding to dire consequences should this letter not be delivered as soon as humanly possible and in complete confidence; he was to mention it to nobody. The footman bowed and turned away to fulfill his duty.

  Dithering did not come naturally to Caroline; she was in general a very determined young lady. When she made up her mind to do something, she went forthwith to do it, no matter the cost. Now, however, she did not know what she would do if the express was not in Bridget’s hands within a few hours. Her carefully devised plans surely could not be thwarted by this … this … red coat. From what little she overheard between Fitzwilliam and her brother, she surmised that the Colonel – whom she had understood from Mr. Darcy was involved in intelligence work as well as military duties – was in the midst of an investigation of a personal nature. That he was here in Hertfordshire, and given his fierce loyalty to Mr. Darcy, indicated that he might just be on to her scheme.

  Caroline stood dumbfounded for a moment. She was certain that if Fitzwilliam did indeed uncover the plot against Eliza Bennet he would not hesitate to inform Mr. Darcy of all the particulars. But even if he had also uncovered the connection with Lady Catherine he would never embarrass his own family by accusing his aunt. No, he would do everything in his power to avoid implicating Lady Catherine. And so all the censure would fall on herself. Of course Caroline had heard the expression about one’s blood running cold but until this moment had never actually experienced it. There was nothing for it now but to hope that Bridget and Gino received the missive in time and managed to remove from Mayfair before the two cousins confronted them. And perhaps had the police sent to Netherfield to charge her with … what? Caroline was certain they had done nothing actionable, although she had no doubt that to accommodate two of the most powerful families in England, the police would come up with something that might even result in her transportation. But they did not transport women. Did they?

  Trying to control her over-active imagination – and her guilt – she was aware that she was simply buying trouble that likely would never come. All Caroline could do now was wait for Bridget’s return express. Bearing good news of success, she hoped. Once Mr. Darcy decided to abandon his pursuit of that Bennet girl she could be rid of the whole lot of them – Eliza Bennet, Jane Bennet, the Morettis, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and Lady Catherine – and concentrate on winning Mr. Darcy for herself.

  Twenty-seven: London, Mayfair, early evening of the same day

  “Well, my dear, we knew our good fortune was not going to last forever,” Gino shrugged when his wife excitedly read him the contents of the express letter. “We might have received this letter at any time. I do hope that we have been successful in this business. If not, we shall have a deuce of a time trying to collect payment for our services. It’s not like we can bring the matter to a magistrate, so we shall have to rely on the good offices of Her Ladyship. I suspect that her offices are not particularly good in general, and that she will do her utmost to avoid paying us, as well as to disengage herself from any questionable actions in this case.”

  “Let us not look for trouble, and trust that Lady Catherine is a woman of her word. In any event I have some new gowns and other garments at her expense and I have no intention of relinquishing them,” Bridget stated flatly as she scurried around trying to collect all her belongings and pack them up in preparation for their hasty departure from Mayfair. “They are the least I deserve for my considerable efforts.”

  “Yes they are, my love. And we do have the fifty pounds Miss Bingley gave us as an advance. But prepare yourself to relinquish both garments and ready money in the event that Her Ladyship decides to have her solicitor bring the question of ownership before the magistrate. I am afraid she would have the matter dead to rights. Especially inasmuch as she is titled, and that always counts for far more than the truth does.” The reality of their tenuous situation was beginning to dawn on Gino, and he wished to remove from Mayfair before Lady Catherine, or Miss Bingley, could arrive. Possibly in the company of a constable, although he was certain they had done nothing that could technically be constr
ued as illegal.

  “It looks like we are just about ready, my love” Gino observed. “Can you finish the last of it while I go out and arrange for the carriage? I do not want a hack driver to be able to identify us or disclose to anyone where he delivered us. We shall ride in the carriage one more time, to Greypool Lane, deposit our belongings, then I shall drive it back to the stables where it was let and return home again.”

  Bridget looked over at her husband and told him that she could easily finish up the packing. And that she too would be glad to be away from Mayfair as soon as may be. From the beginning of their discussions with Caroline Bingley, Bridget had been rather uneasy in the role they were hired to perform. The excitement, not to mention the excellent remuneration promised to them, had convinced her to dismiss her caution. Now she was experiencing that unease once again. Hindsight is always perfect, she mused. She took one last look around at the luxurious accommodations. She would certainly miss living here; their rooms in Greypool could not even begin to compare with it. But Bridget was not formed for ill humour and regret. She slipped on her spencer and bonnet, grabbed her personal travel bag and reticule, and went downstairs to meet her husband for the journey back to their real life. She passed several of the servants on her way, and took a moment to thank each one of them for their service and their kindnesses during their stay. The servants in turn were sorry to see them go; the young couple had brought a much-needed liveliness to the house of the staid ambassador, and they were always most courteous towards the staff.