“If I may, gentlemen?”—they nodded—“Howwill the process work?”
“The Merino account has puzzled us since my father’s death,” said the senior Mr. Bainbridge. “When Mr. Darcy established it, only he and my father knew the particulars. Mr. Darcy came only three times to make adjustments to the account. Depending on the authentication, we will divulge more to you. If I may be so bold? We were not expectingyou, Mr. Fitzroy. We have done business with your family since the time of your own grandfather and knew your father well, as you know.”
“Yes,” Darcy said, an odd feeling beginning to take hold of him.
“To answer your question, once theguardianof this account arrives,” the younger man said, “my father will go into the vault and remove an envelope that Mr. George Darcy sealed. The contents are unknown to us, and only the person charged to do so by Mr. Darcy can open it.”
Darcy nodded again.
“That person will interview you to determine if you meet the qualifications.”
“And if they determine I do not?”
“You will not gain access.”
Darcy tapped his fingers on the table when there was a knock at the door. The men looked up sharply, as the younger Mr. Bainbridge rose to speak to the visitor.
“Thank you for coming. Where would you like to interview the gentleman?” After, he turned in confusion to his father and Darcy. “She said there is no need to interview you, Mr. Fitzroy.”
The door opened, and Darcy stood as Mrs. Reynolds entered the room. “This man is entitled to the Merino account. He is the firstborn son of George Darcy.”
All three men froze at this pronouncement.
“How did you know?” Darcy asked.
“How didyouknow, dear boy?” she asked, walking toward him, and tentatively reaching out her hand to touch him. “Forgive me.” She lowered her arm, but it was too much for him to bear, and he wrapped his arms around her, as he remembered doing as a child in another life.
She began to sob. “Oh! I thought you would never return.”
“I never knew.”
The older woman wiped her eyes and turned to the Bainbridges. “If you would please remove the envelope from the safe and give it to Mr. Fitzroy to read?”
The older gentleman gestured for her to take a seat in one of the large chairs. The younger man did as instructed, returning within minutes. He handed the envelope to Darcy, who opened it at once.
Father.He traced the all too familiar script of George Darcy and broke the well-known seal.
March 18___
William,
My son, you are more precious to me than you will ever know, and it was with great pains that I gave you to be raised by the Fitzroys.
I know not how you came to know of this account or why it is needed, but it is yours, my son. All of it: the money, the holdings, and, more importantly, Pemberley. Pemberley is yours. I remember when you visited as a boy with Herbert and Edith. I could have studied you for the entirety of your stay. In you, I saw myself, and the son I could never raise. However, I believe so did Lady Anne, therefore I feared drawing further attention to you.
Know that in my youth, I loved your mother, Clara Smith. I was caught between two women I cared for deeply, and in a moment of weakness, I shamed the Darcy name. I am merely a man, no more, no less. But, know this, my son: my shame was my own. Your existence takes no part in it. If Reynolds is still alive, she will tell the story.
Lady Anne was a wonderful woman who I respected and eventually grew to love. She gave me your sister. Georgiana is often reticent in company but thrives when surrounded by those who genuinely care for her. I hope you will be a friend to her.
The only people who knew of your existence, other than your mother Clara, are Herbert, Reynolds, and Sir Lewis de Bourgh. Reynolds is to be trusted above all others.
I give you a father’s blessing. I confer all the rights as my heir upon you and have been proud to watch you from afar grow into the man you have become. With honors at Eton and Cambridge…my pride knew no bounds at your accomplishments.
Before I close, I also ask you to watch out for my godson, George Wickham. I am in poor health and have noticed his behavior has altered. I worry he has changed from the young man I have always believed him to be.
Let this letter stand as a witness to Bainbridge & Sons that you are to receive the full Darcy estate and may take the Darcy name at any time. It is up to your discretion if you wish to make this knowledge public.
Take care, my son,
