“Well, of course not. He looks nothing like George Darcy. Georgiana is the very image of her father, even thesteward’sson George Wickham favored my uncle. And little cousin Henry looks more like Sir Geoffrey with that unfortunate copper hair of his.” Rebecca furrowed her brows, a sudden memory intruding upon her. “That miniature my aunt keeps of her lost son – shedidhave a dark-haired child. Aunt, is that what all this bluster is about? You do think it could be him!”
“Mr. Worthing is a charlatan and a seducer! Since our first meeting, I distrusted the man – I knew he was hiding something! Your parents met with many pretenders, in the search for Anne’s lost son – women willing to part with their own babes for the sake of seeing them live a better life. We shielded my sister from the worst of it, then, and I fear I must do so again, to spare her disappointment of the acutest kind. If I thought there was the slightest chance of this villain truly being her son, nothing would stand in my way of bringing the truth to light.”
Lady Catherine had grown heated, her chest heaving from the force of her admonishments, and she thumped her walkingstick against the ground for emphasis as she carried on. “I would do anything for my poor sister; I have supported her through such tragedies as I hope you will never know, you thoughtless child. At present I am resolved to put an end to the harmful speculation this odious man has aroused. If there is anything you have heard of this Mr. Worthing that would give my sister false hope, you must keep it to yourself. With any luck, once I have recovered my daughter, we will never hear from him again, and my poor sister will forget all about it, in time.”
“I have nothing to say that would upset her, nor would I ever willfully do so,” Rebecca said, sitting up in a rigid and defiant posture. “I love my family every bit as much as you do, though I may have a different way of showing it – in a style that involves humor and affection.”
“Rebecca, for God’s sake, you shall exhaust me before I even begin my journey to Surrey!”
It seemed to Rebecca that this could only be a good thing for Elizabeth, who would bear quite enough of her mother’s displeasure even if Lady Catherine had several hours to calm herself in the carriage. As Lady Catherine swept from the room, Rebecca called out one final piece of provocation. “But what will you do if itishim?”
Chapter Fifteen
21 June, 1812
Wildewoode Manor, Surrey
Elizabeth and William, and Kitty and Mr. Bingley, walked in pairs, arm in arm as they returned from the Solstice fair in Markby. Miss Annesley and Mr. Chasuble trailed behind them, making conveniently indolent chaperones. Elizabeth wondered how they might act if they knew the plan she and William were about to undertake together.
She had thoroughly enjoyed herself with the man she was soon to call husband; the fair would go on until sunset, and she was sorry they could not stay longer. They had gotten their fortunes told, played games with some of the villagers and other local families whom Elizabeth supposed would soon become her acquaintance, and had even had their faces painted.
Elizabeth’s face was adored with small, intricate brushstrokes from her eyes to her chin, jutting out along her cheekbones to form beautiful butterfly wings. Kitty had gotten her face painted as a cat – a very regal feline who resembled Duchess. Mr. Bingley was painted as a frog, promising to turn into a prince if Kitty would kiss him. William had let the artist decide, and the exuberant young man had styled him as a fox; Elizabeth assured him it was most becoming amidst his many laments that he appeared ridiculous.
It was early afternoon when they reached the manor, and Mr. Chasuble importuned Miss Annesley to sit in the library and advise him on a matter of grammar in the coming Sunday’s sermon. Mr. Bingley declared he was famished, and called for luncheon to be served in the parlor as William made a droll face at his friend commanding the servants. Elizabeth was a little peckish after being out of doors in the heat, but she felt a pressing sense of urgency to begin the journey ahead.
She was entreated to take a little substance before travelling, and though she saw the wisdom in it, she was anxious as she ate. William appeared perfectly at ease, and she gave him a smile of gratitude as she considered how much she admired the way his steady reserve in such moments as this had a pleasantly calming effect on her.
She began to relax, and even took Kitty’s part in beseeching William to be reasonable when Mr. Bingley declared that Mr. Chasuble had consented to host him at the vicarage for a week or two, until William returned from his journey north.
“Surely you did not tell him about the elopement!"
“Of course not, Darcy – Worthing – but I shall never get used to your new name! I am not a simpleton, old chap. I only said you were travelling north. I should never lie to a clergyman, though this is not the first time I have omitted a little truth.”
“Brilliant,” William drawled.
“Come now, I shall be perfectly respectable while I am Mr. Chasuble’s guest. Really, he seems so eager for company that I daresay I am doing him a favor! And I shall not trespass on Kitty’s studies, nor disoblige Miss Annesley in any way. The vicar would not permit it!”
“What if it were only for a few days ,William?” Elizabeth told him her scheme to stop at Pemberley along their return journey from Scotland. “It shall be one less night at an inn, and I am sure we will be perfectly welcome. I have only visited there once since Richard took over the management of the estate, but the housekeeper Mrs. Reynolds has known me since I was four years old, and always doted on me during my annual visits. We might stay a while there – I have written to Rebecca, and when she can no longer conceal my flight from Mamma, she is to inform them all that they might also journey thither, if they wish to be reconciled.”
“And what if they intercept us?”
“Rebecca will get word to me, if that happens.” Elizabeth gazed down at her plate, losing her appetite as she again thought of the concerns for her family that had cost her so much sleep. “I must hope they shall wish to reconcile. I understand that my choices could put my cousin and sister’s reputations at risk, but I thought it would be a means of explaining my absence. Surely nobody but the servants who rather fear Mamma will know I have left home, and my family will have no reason to say anything – and every reason to conceal it. If my relations journey to Pemberley, nobody outside the family need know I am not amongst their party. And then, I might introduce Jane and Kitty – if you will permit her to join us there.”
“Oh, yes! I am quite beside myself to meet Jane – you have painted her as a paragon of virtue, but I hope she is a little silly.”
Elizabeth laughed. “She is in love, Kitty – of course she is!”
“And what is Pemberley like? Is it a very grand house? It sounds formidable.”
“It is both – indeed, it is the finest house I have ever seen. It is just the sort of place my dear Aunt Anne seems most herself; there is such natural beauty, and the house is perfect in its elegance. William has seen it – he must agree that he is a lucky man indeed, that my cousin Richard chose to court Jane and not me, for I might have been tempted to please my Mamma, and become mistress of such a place.”
Kitty let out a sigh of fascination. “Jane must be an angel, to be chosen over you, Lizzy, and to become mistress of such an estate.”
“It is only until my cousin comes of age, but yes, she is very lucky she happened to fall in love with the current master of Pemberley.” Elizabeth gave William a saucy wink. He bristled, though his eyes shone with mirth, and Mr. Bingley gave him a playful nudge.
“I can escort Kitty to Pemberley. I have always wished for Richard to invite me there – I have hinted at it enough! Ah, Caroline will be mad with envy!”
“I have not yet given Kitty permission.” William hastily held up his hands in defense at Elizabeth and Kitty’s immediate protestations. “But, I do give my consent –ifMiss Annesley rides with her in the carriage. Bingley, you must go on horseback, or ride with the driver.”
