“Not yet. I have not felt the quickening. It is too early.” Clasping her hands together, she stiffened her shoulders. “He will be pleased, will he not?”
She knew Darcy well enough to know his joy would be immense. Yet, her emotions were unsettled, and she was missing him until she craved to be in his presence again. When Darcy’s uncle paused, Elizabeth needed reassurance more than anything else.
“Darcy is very much like his father. When Gerald found out that my sister was with child, he could not keep the smile from his face. Please realize that smiling is not something you automatically think about with Darcy men.” He relaxed into the seat. “Before the day was over, Gerald rode to every tenant and told them. He widened his scope to share the news with neighbors and the townspeople of Lambton. For months, he returned to the private man he normally was. Occasionally, he would be in the middle of a task, and he would break out with a big grin.”
“Hearing this warms my heart, Uncle Hugh. How did…I mean…did your sister…uh…”
“Just ask, child.”
Mustering boldness, she inquired, “How did he treat Lady Anne?”
“My sister?” Lord Matlock threw his head back and laughed. “Oh, my lord, if only you could have been there and seen the stoic master of Pemberley attempt to cosset his wife to where he would not allow her to lift her teacup. He refused to let her descend a stair without help. My sister loved to ride, so Gerald locked her saddle in the tack room. He made many ridiculous rules to try to protect her from any harm. That is what a Darcy doeswhen they are in love with their wife and joyous with the promise of a child.”
Each word eased the stress around her heart. “How did she respond?”
“She told him how idiotic he was, called for the carriage, and went to Lambton, where she purchased another saddle that she kept in her sitting room.” He shook his head. “Both Gerald and Anne were strong-willed. Gerald knew Anne wanted the child more than life. Anne understood how much Gerald adored her. They both were aware of how fraught with danger giving birth could be. Gerald tried to temper his fears by overprotecting her. Anne attempted not to worry him too much. I suspect Darcy will do the same with you.”
“I will not mind,” Elizabeth said. “Of course, it is easy to make that promise to you now when I am not being watched like a hawk or hovered over.”
Her ultimate concern weighed on her. She finally gave voice to her question. “What if I bear a daughter instead of an heir? My mother wanted to give my father a son more than she wanted to breathe. Longbourn is entailed, so none of her five daughters will inherit, much to her chagrin. My husband and I have never discussed the situation, nor do I know his preferences.”
Lord Matlock’s eyes looked at her sharply. “If Darcy can regain Pemberley, there is no entail, so the need to produce an heir is a matter of desire rather than necessity.” He leaned forward and patted her hand where it rested on her legs. “The important thing is that you remain healthy and that you keep your husband’s feet on the ground when he finds out.”
The corner of her mouth tipped up. “I thank you,Uncle Hugh, for your reassurances. If all goes well in London, we will soon put the matter of who owns Pemberley behind us. Then we can concentrate on growing our family in a house that becomes our home.”
“My pleasure, dear girl. In marrying my nephew, you became a Fitzwilliam as much as you are a Darcy—at least from our point of view. If you make Darcy happy, you make his whole family happy.”
“That is my goal.” Elizabeth glanced out the window as the carriage slowed for another change of horses. She needed to stretch her legs after rinsing out the acrid taste lingering in her mouth. Smoothing the fabric of her coat over her middle, she wondered again for the millionth time if she carried a son or a daughter.
“If you can partake of something to eat, I shall see that warm soup is available to you once we stop. You need to keep up your strength. Bearing a Darcy is a tall order for a little lady.”
Elizabeth was as fond of Darcy’s uncle as she was of his aunt. He could have made their journey intolerable had he ignored her or if he was inconsiderate. Instead, he was solicitous.
She had to ask, “Were you as attentive to your wife as my husband’s father was to his?”
His cheeks turned a lovely shade of dark pink. “Without a doubt.”
The responseto the article Darcy posted in the circulating papers was everything Darcy planned. By mid-morning on the first day, he received many reports ofCole sightings. Not all were trustworthy, as several times, individuals reported Simon Cole being at different locations at the same time. By noon, Cole had to know he was being sought, and he was on the run.
Darcy and Richard developed a plan of action during the hours they waited, detailing what they would do if Cole attempted to flee to Pemberley or jump on a ship for parts unknown.
Richard based his sorting of each note on the time of their delivery. In the early afternoon, a missive reported that someone saw Cole entering a carriage from a well-known rooming house. This rooming house catered to professional men or politicians from established families who could afford its luxuries. Along with Cole, there was a considerable amount of luggage tied to the back and top of the conveyance.
The two men rode as quickly as they could, meeting up with the men following their prey. At a signal from an officer, they headed toward Threadneedle Street.
Over the pounding hooves, Richard yelled, “He needs money!”
Darcy yelled, “Good luck with that!” as they raced to the Bank of England.
One of Bond Street’sfinest tailors had dressed Simon Cole. His boots gleamed in the winter's afternoon. His walking stick was gold-tipped. Darcy recognized it as having belonged to his father.
While Richard stood sentinel just inside the doorway of the Bank of England, Darcy approached Cole frombehind. Summoning his cousin, the two men stepped forward to be on each side of Darcy’s former man of business.
“Going somewhere?” Richard asked, startling the man.
“I-I…” Cole jumped back when he recognized Darcy’s cousin. His eyes widened with fright once he saw them both.
Folding his arms over his chest, Darcy peered down his nose at the man.
