“Nonsense.In the end the French king proved that Robespierre’s fear of mass murder following the victory of the better sort was insane, since whenweplaced him back upon his throne once more—”
“Not ‘we’, Darcy.It was me.It was Major Fitzwilliam.It was brave lads recruited from your farms, and from amongst the workmen of Manchester and London.Your only part in placing a king once more on the French throne was to pay your taxes.”
“And now you wish we had not done so.”
“I did my duty.I always do my duty.Do not think I will not do my duty — my duty as I see it before the Lord — I take no joy in this anymore.And Napoleon was a tyrant, and Napoleon needed to be removed.”
“And when he was removed there was no reaction such as you fear.There were not thousands of French peasants murdered.The women of Paris were not brutally shot by the new King.”
“Of course not, because he was scared they would rebel again, and remove him.Which they did the instant Napoleon bared his breast and dared the soldiers to shoot their emperor.Why do you think the French are willing to pay for our army to sit in Cambrai?It is because the king and his ministers fear their own people, drained as they already are by the wars.But mark my words — if Louis’s government outlasts twenty years, and I live to see it, I’ll eat my own hat.”
Darcy sighed and sat back.Elizabeth’s eyes were dancing.Shehad enjoyed being an observer of this argument a great deal.
“So then,” she said with a delighted smile.“Not to interfere with your chance to bare swords of words against one another, but Mr.Darcy’s question should be replied to: What is your purpose in spreading the story about Lord Lachglass about, beyond protecting other innocent women from ignorantly entering his clutches?”
General Fitzwilliam blinked and shook his head.“Ah that.The government is worried — you should hear my father rant upon the matter — the government worries about an uprising.There were few hints of any such chance whilst we maintained the war, but during the war, though prices were high, wages were high also.”
“It was those such as my mother who were hurt by those high prices,” Major Williams said.“Those who had all their income from the consols or a pension — Matlock gave her some eighty pounds a year to maintain herself and me after my birth, and he would not raise that just because the necessities rose in price.”
“Yes,” General Fitzwilliam nodded.“There are always those harmed by every change, but then at least everyone who could work had a full belly and full purse.Now employment is scarce, and a hundred thousand discharged soldiers wander the cities and countryside with no honorable place.A story like yours, Elizabeth, of an earl who is a minister in the government who first tried to rape a woman, and then attempted to use the court of law to murder her because she fought back.This sort of story might light a spark to the dry tinder of the already riled masses.The prime minister will push Lachglass to make terms with you, so that the story will go away.”
Darcy sighed.“This is hardly a certain route to protect Elizabeth, to enable her to return to England.”
“Have you a better notion?”
Darcy sighed.“I’d rather not see her name bandied about by the lower orders.”
“‘Tis my choice.”Elizabeth said, “And I am not so delicate — I have worked for my supper, myself.”
“It is entirely different to be a governess.That is still a respectable position, living in close terms with a proper family, rather than hiring yourself out by the day.”
Elizabeth patted his arm.“I thank you for your concern, but I truly have no worry on that account — But how would such a story be passed around?No newspaper would print such a scandalous story about a peer of the realm.”
“Well, well.”General Fitzwilliam scratched at his sideburns.“I know a few men who are well… ah, they have access to a printing press.Ortheydo not.But they know people who do.You know…”
“Good God!”Darcy exclaimed.“You have friends amongst the suppressed scurrilous press.”
General Fitzwilliam shrugged.“Not friends… friends of friends.Tell the story of what happened, and I’ll see it printed and distributed widely in London, and elsewhere in the country.Miss Bennet,youwant that to happen, so Lord Lechery’s next governess will know what to expect.”
“I do.”Elizabeth tapped her foot on the brick tile floor a few times and looked out at the empty winter garden.“For my part, whether it helps me return to England or not, I like your plan.”
Chapter Twelve
Elizabeth’s first order of business during her stay in Calais was to pen an essay for pamphlets, or newspapers, and any other libelous and rebellious press that might print it.She was rather proud about her treatment of:The Tale of an Evil and Rakish Noble who wanted to Violate and Murder an Innocent Governess.
Her story, with rhetorical flourishes, was readied and sent out the afternoon of her second day in Calais.It had been written with the reluctant help of Darcy (who had a fine turn for the invective), and the eager help of General Fitzwilliam (who was a surprisinglypoorwriter given his ample other talents), and Major Fitz Williams who suggested many puns that were hilarious, but would not contribute to the desired effect if entered into the text.
The essay packaged and sent to General Fitzwilliam’s friends amongst some subversive organization of The Young and Privileged Against Tyrannical Excesses — Elizabeth had begun to think satirically in Capital letters about everything after penning her account of her experience.
She found this laughter cathartic, and it helped to banish any demons which may have lurked in her soul after such an unpleasant experience.
Though she liked to think any would-be demons had in the main been banished by the simple fact that shewon.
Elizabeth also spent an hour each morning in attempted conversation in French with a servant M.Dessein provided whoalmostspoke English, and who was willing to correct Elizabeth each time she made a mistake.She made mistakes of grammar almost never, and mistakes of pronunciation almost always.The servant also repeated everything she said in Frenchveeeerysloooowly until Elizabeth understood the sentence.
Becky came over with the Dover packet, along with Darcy’s valet, Joseph, the Darcy carriage with its driver and footmen, General Fitzwilliam’s soldiers, Darcy’s man of business, a pile of correspondence from Darcy’s lawyer about what he was doing to stymie and annoy Lord Lachglass, a supply of Georgiana’s modified clothes for Elizabeth, Darcy’s own clothing, ample odds and ends, and most remarkably to Elizabeth, a stack of large denomination bills in the French currency that was six inches high.
The man of business explained to Darcy, when he arrived, that they had been all changed by Childe’s as a courtesy at the rate which prevailed on the market.
