For several moments, no one spoke. Fitzwilliam noticed when his father seemed to have an idea, and only a moment later, was unsurprised by what was said.
“Darcy, do you still have the men who attempted to kidnap your wife in London?” Lord Matlock asked, an odd look on his face.
“No, they are in Newgate. My footmen ensured they did not escape after the incident, and a magistrate hauled them away after I made my report. Obviously, I kept my aunt’s name out of it, but the mere fact of what they did, regardless of their motivation, was enough to hold them for trial,” Darcy replied.
“Hmm,” Lord Matlock said, deep in thought. “Darcy, you should allow me to take over this matter. I will ensure my sister is dealt with appropriately. You said you have been unable to discover her?”
Darcy nodded at that while Fitzwilliam watched his father closely. He noticed the obvious glee that his father could not hide at the idea that he could “take over” this investigation. Fitzwilliam was aware the earl knew of Lady Catherine’s attempts to harm Georgiana and suspected his father was more complicit, but had thus far been unable to determine exactly what the man knew.
“I prefer to handle it myself for the present,” Darcy said, as he and Fitzwilliam had discussed the day before. “After all, it is my family who has been threatened, and I already have men out looking for my aunt. There was a report that she was seen in a carriage heading north out of London, but not long after it left the city limits, she turned east as though she might be attempting to return to her former home.”
Lord Matlock started at that, having not been aware that she had not arrived at Matlock as intended. “She is in Kent?”
Darcy’s gaze narrowed, his voice even as he replied. “Although my men could not confirm her exact destination, they believe she was headed to Kent. Anne suspects she will attempt to reach Rosings, hoping to access whatever funds she can scrape together. We are still uncertain how she managed to hire acarriage,” Darcy paused, studying his uncle closely to gauge his reaction, “but she seems to have secured funds from some unknown source. She was with you at Matlock House for a time—was she carrying jewellery or valuables she might have sold? Were you aware of her departure from your home or how she travelled?”
Lord Matlock’s expression shifted, a flicker of something guarded passing over his face. Realising that Darcy and Richard had pieced together much of the situation, he weighed his answer carefully. Finally, he spoke, his tone edged with reluctant honesty. “She was indeed travelling in one of my carriages with my men escorting her. The arrangement was to send her to Matlock indefinitely.” He hesitated, his jaw tightening as he forced out the words. “During our conversations, she… hinted at some schemes involving you.” His gaze flickered away for a moment, betraying the lie as he added, “Naturally, I did not know of any crimes she might have committed. I warned her—quite firmly—any further defiance would see her cut off entirely. If she disregarded my wishes, then she is now utterly on her own.”
The earl’s tone grew sharper as he finished, betraying his frustration. Yet, the underlying reason was clear to Darcy, Richard, and Hargrove: Lord Matlock’s anger stemmed less from any concern for the harm Lady Catherine might cause and more from her outright defiance of his authority. The silence in the room thickened as each man absorbed this, understanding that the earl’s indignation was driven by a desire to control rather than any genuine desire to curb his sister’s behaviour.
Wary of this new tension in the room, Darcy and Fitzwilliam nodded surreptitiously at each other. “When Darcy’s men bring another report, I will let you know what they find,” Fitzwilliamtold his father. “I doubt Lady Catherine will be able to get inside Rosings to take anything, but on the chance she might, I will send a few men ahead to ensure the house is protected against invasion.” He said this last with a grin, intending to lighten the mood.
“Come, let us rejoin the ladies,” Darcy replied, attempting to draw this uncomfortable conversation to a close. “I promised Elizabeth I would not leave her alone too long,” he finished, using the excuse they had agreed upon before the arrival of their guests. All the residents of Darcy House had expected Lord Matlock to request some time away from the women, knowing that he would not be as forthcoming with them in the room.
Grudgingly, Lord Matlock agreed, and the four men moved into the room where the ladies were chatting. In the half hour or so they were away, Lady Julia had warmed to Elizabeth, allowing her to call her Aunt Julia, as she did with her other nieces. She also seemed to have accepted the Darcys' and Hargroves' intention to return home rather than stay in town.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
TUESDAY, 3 DECEMBER 1811
On their final visit to themodiste, Lady Julia accompanied her three nieces with an unusual air of anticipation. Though she preferred gowns of a more elaborate style, she was pleased to see that Elizabeth had chosen dresses in refined but simple designs that flattered her and suited her new station as Mrs. Darcy. There was a certain elegance in the younger woman’s choices—graceful yet understated, much like Elizabeth herself.
Lady Julia had discovered over the past few days that her new niece was markedly different from most young ladies of theton. Elizabeth was warm and spirited, treating everyone, regardless of station, with an effortless kindness. Yet, as Lady Julia quickly realised, this gentleness concealed a formidable will. Elizabeth was not one to bend under pressure, even when faced with her new aunt’s most persuasive arguments.
The carriage ride to themodistehad barely begun when Lady Julia brought up the subject again, still unable to relinquish her desire to keep the Darcys in London through the Christmas season and into spring. Though she had seemed to accept their decision during her previous visit, the numerous questions from friends and acquaintances had led her to believe she might persuade Elizabeth to stay. It was clear that Darcy would follow his wife’s wishes.
“Elizabeth, dear,” she began, her tone genteel but unmistakably pointed. “You must understand that a prolonged stay in Londonwould benefit you greatly. Thetonwill need time to become acquainted with you, and it would set the foundation for you to have a lasting influence within society. Darcy is very wealthy and has considerable influence, despite his lack of a title.”
Elizabeth offered a polite smile, a hint of amusement in her eyes. “I appreciate the thought, Aunt Julia, truly I do. But we intend to spend our first Christmas at Pemberley. We need this time to settle into our marriage and embrace our new roles.”
Lady Julia’s lips pursed, her resolve unshaken. “But as a new bride, Elizabeth, you will find that establishing yourself among society’s elite is essential. It will not only enhance your standing but will prevent… well, misunderstandings. It is no secret that rumours spread quickly, and your marriage was rather sudden.”
Elizabeth tilted her head thoughtfully, her tone still light but obviously resolute. “Rumours are like weeds, Aunt—they tend to flourish whether one is in town or the countryside. As I understand it, some weeds cannot be rooted out, no matter how carefully one tends to the garden.”
Lady Julia blinked, momentarily caught off guard by Elizabeth’s clever retort. A faint smile tugged at her lips despite herself. “You have a gift for argument, my dear,” she admitted. “Still, it is a waste for such a charming young lady to remain hidden in Derbyshire. Imagine the connections you could forge—the influence you could wield as Mrs. Darcy.”
“Perhaps,” Elizabeth replied, her voice softening but losing none of its conviction. “But I have no desire to become someone I am not, nor to court those who might value position above all else. I would far rather build relationships founded on sincerity, even if they are fewer in number. I know that Fitzwilliam feels the same way, and we are in agreement that we will depart on Thursday asplanned. We will return for perhaps a month in the spring, but no more than that.”
Lady Julia exhaled, glancing at Georgiana, who watched her sister-in-law with quiet admiration, and Anne, whose usually reserved expression softened with respect. Both young women seemed to draw strength from Elizabeth’s resolve, and Lady Julia realised her arguments would go unheeded.
After a pause, she chuckled, inclining her head slightly in grudging respect. “Very well, Elizabeth. It seems the Darcy stubbornness has not only survived in my nephew but has also made a formidable alliance in his new bride. I will not press further—for now.”
Elizabeth’s smile widened, her eyes twinkling with warmth. “Thank you, Aunt. You are most gracious. We will be happy to have your support when we return to town in the spring.”
Ordinarily, such stubbornness might have made Lady Julia despise her new niece—and indeed, had it been directed at another aunt, it likely would have. Yet, despite herself, she could not help but admire Elizabeth’s resolve. Knowing her nephew’s unyielding nature, Lady Julia wondered if it was precisely this spirited defiance that had captivated Darcy so many years ago. As Master of Pemberley, he was accustomed to having his way with little opposition, and it was clear that Elizabeth would not hesitate to challenge him—or put him in his place—whenever necessary.
Upon returning to Darcy House,Lady Julia gratefully accepted Elizabeth’s invitation to join them for tea, extending her visit. To her surprise, not long after the ladies had seated themselves, her son entered the room with Darcy and Hargrove. They closed the door behind them as they came in.
“Mother,” Fitzwilliam greeted her with a kiss to the cheek, “how are you today?”
