Page 109 of Midnight at Pemberley

“Must you leave so soon, Colonel?” Elizabeth seemed troubled by his request.

“I must, Mrs. Darcy. I hold responsibilities to my family and to my service to the Crown.”

Elizabeth smiled sadly upon him. “I just meant to say, you will be missed, Sir.”

“Are you to travel to Longbourn, Darcy?” his cousin inquired.

“I promised Elizabeth as such.”

Edward asked in concern, “What will you tell the Bennets of Wickham?”

“In my letter to my parents I told them Mr. Darcy secured a lead on Lieutenant Wickham. I instructed them to proceed with the service for Lydia without me, for the weather and circumstances would likely delay my following her return. I did not tell them more than that. I felt the less said the better.”

“You should write to them of Wickham’s demise. It would satisfy their sense of justice and provide them an opportunity to grieve for their daughter rather than to dwell on revenge,” the colonel said, reasoning out the situation. “Moreover, tell them Darcy took Wickham in an honorable fashion. It would explain my cousin’s injury, and it is not an untruth.”

“It is not the truth either,” Darcy sardonically added.

Edward countered, “No one would believe the truth. Moreover, too many people know what we did here. In my opinion, you should leave as quickly as you are able. Before your identity becomes too well known.”

Elizabeth looked concerned. “Edward speaks sense. The community knows us under the D’Arcy name, but the longer we are here, the greater the risk of someone recognizing the livery. Certainly, we wish no one from London Society to come across rumors of our adventures."

“If we wish to present Georgiana this Season, I would want no shadows darkening her prospects.” Darcy examined the ramifications of their recent choices. “Should we follow Edward, Elizabeth?”

She sipped her tea, taking her time to answer. “Although we should leave Stanwick, you are not well enough for such a tedious journey, and even I do not relish the idea of another week in your carriage.”

“Do you have more extensive injuries than you led me to believe?” Darcy demanded.

Elizabeth blushed. “Just badly bruised.”

Edward cleared his throat. “May I make a suggestion?”

“Certainly.”

“When Elizabeth and I registered, I told a tale of how the two of you planned to holiday in Edinburgh, and that I escorted her from London for that purpose.You could travel to Scotland and spend a few days recovering. It would only add a half day to your return journey. If word gets out of your being in the north of England, Edinburgh would be a good excuse for a newly married couple.”

“I have always wished to view the land of my ancestors,” Elizabeth ventured.

Darcy actually liked the idea. “Are you up for another adventure, Elizabeth?”

She winked at him. “Absolutely, Sir.”

Edward stood to leave. “I am weary and require rest. I will set out for Matlock early tomorrow. We will speak before I depart.”

“My wife would take me to task if I chose to do something as impulsive as stand up at the moment, but you, Cousin, know of my devotion and my gratitude for all you performed in my name. I owe you my life.”

“Gratitude is not necessary.” Edward presented Darcy a quick bow, and then, taking Elizabeth’s hand, he kissed the back of it. “In all my service, I never possessed a more capable partner or one quite so beautiful. Take care of that rascal, my dear.”

Elizabeth lightly touched the side of his face. “My house will always be your home, Sir.”

Epilogue

“IT IS TIME I PERMIT YOU AND ELIZABETH THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPAIR your marriage without a chaperone,” Edward insisted when Darcy asked him to accompany them to Scotland.

“I am forever in your debt.You protected Elizabeth. I shall never forget that fact.”

Edward shrugged his response, but Darcy recognized how awkwardness still remained between them. “You chose the perfect wife for you, Darcy. No other woman of our acquaintance would go through what Elizabeth did to save your life and to change your future.”

“My wife’s natural charisma has won her another admirer,” he said simply. “I have observed it to be so with everyone she encounters, whether a lord of the realm or one of my servants. You just proved your fine taste, Cousin, and my exceptional good fortune.”