“Nothing?” he cried looking at her. “You are mine, Elizabeth. The future mistress ofmyhome. The future mother ofmychildren… That kiss was mine.” She blushed at this pronouncement, but he continued. “And now I see that I have been cheated. The woman I believed to be whole and pure has given her favors to another!”
She was dumbstruck. Her eyes wide, and her mouth agape with no sound coming forth.
“And now, I have to decide if I will marry you and save you from yourself and your shame…unless…unless he has made you an offer?”
“To what are you referring? He is to marry Anne de Bourgh.”
James snorted with disgust. “There are other offers to be made, Elizabeth. Darcy is a wealthy and powerful man. He can set you up in a house nicely concealed on his grounds. Maybe your small lodge? Yes, that would do well for your trysts.”
Mute with shock, she slapped him across the face. His eyes flashed in anger as he put his hand to his cheek.
His jaw clenched as he attempted to control his breathing. “However, owing to our long acquaintance, I cannot allow you to cheapen yourself any more than you already have. I will still marry you, Lizzy, as it is what is expected. But you will obey me. You will cut all contact with Georgiana Darcy and not acknowledge the Darcys when we meet in London.” He waited for her response but when none came, continued. “I never thought it would come to this, Elizabeth. I never did. I expected this of Lydia, never of you.”
Waiting for a response and receiving none, he looked back at her only to be met with a steely gaze. Finally, words burst forward. “I have never been so insulted in all my life. You have widely mistaken my character if you think I can be worked on by such persuasions as these. Forgive me, Mr. Hamilton, for… my transgressions against you. But I must return to the house.”
“You will not marry me?” he sputtered.
“How can I marry you? You do not trust me. We are no longer the same Jimmy and Lizzy who played in the glen and raced to Oakham Mount. I do not see how we can get past this.” She felt resolved in her actions. “I admit I have wronged you but not as you have imagined. I can only wish you happiness.”
“Elizabeth, be sensible. You might never get another offer of marriage, especially if this were to be made public. You should reconsider your position and that of your unmarried sisters.”
“Mr. Hamilton, as miserable as the prospect is which you have placed before me, I would rather live a life of solitude than with a husband who could not trust or respect me. Good day.”
Chapter 24
December 27, 1810
Rosings Park
With only twodays until his wedding, Darcy had become numb to his prospects. He had not had a civil conservation with his aunt since the day he tore up her attempt at stealing his fortune, and she kept mostly to her private study. Colonel Fitzwilliam had left unexpectedly earlier in the day after receiving an express from his commanding officer but was expected back in the evening, and his betrothed remained mostly in her rooms.I have nowhere to escape. Even though I am alone in this great house, I feel suffocated by my surroundings.
He buried his head in the estate books, working hard to make the transition from one estate to two as seamless as possible.With Georgiana arriving tomorrow, I must complete all my tasks to protect her from Lady Catherine’s biting comments. I am grateful she will be joining us on our wedding tour.
Lady Catherine sent word that she was dining with Lord and Lady Strathern at their estate. He asked a footman to have a tray sent into the study so he could continue working. A quarter of an hour later, here was a knock at the door.
Anne entered, followed by a servant with a tray. “Anne.” He stood quickly and struggled to tie his cravat. “I was not expecting you.”
Waving her hand, she said, “It is of no consequence. I have seen you much worse. Do you not recall the pigsty when I was nine?”
Darcy’s laughter echoed throughout the room. “My dear Anne. I forgot all about that. How angry your mother was at me for not protecting you!”
“For not protecting me? How could you when I pushed you in, then slipped myself?” Her laughter joined his, then silence settled around them as the servant departed. She waited for the door to close before shakily starting. “William, there is something I must tell you.”
“I believe I know what you are going to say, but I must tell you, you are wrong. We will have a good marriage. I will be kind —”
“Darcy, stop.” She hesitated a heartbeat. “Today, after my mother left, I went into the safe to choose my jewels for our wedding. I found tucked in the back of the safe, a letter.” She reached into her pocket but Darcy stopped her with a wave of his hand.
“Yes, Anne. I have always known about this letter your mother wrote and my mother signed. Lady Catherine showed it to me when I was just fifteen and again three weeks ago at Pemberley.” He took it from her and looked at his mother’s words again. “Yes, our marriage was my mother’s greatest wish.”
“No, William. I do not believe it was.”
His head snapped up quickly from the paper. “What do you mean?”
“Read the letter again. I realized something today that you have missed. What does the letter say in regards to my young cousin?”
Darcy found the appropriate spot in the letter:
…Know that I love you, that you are most important to me, as is Georgiana…You will inherit Pemberley, and all its holdings, however, I have instructed my sister to ensure my Matlock inheritance go to Georgiana. I fear your father is not in support of this…
