Darcy drew her gently into his lap and folded her against his chest. “No, Elizabeth. No man of honor would challenge his host.And Miss Lewis is of age. I believe that if you, Mary, and I stand together, Lewis will behave as a gentleman. He was born and bred to behave as a gentleman; a lifetime of training cannot be so easily set aside. But I did not wish to keep this from you. We promised one another honesty in all things.”
She lifted her face to him. “Fitzwilliam, I am afraid. What if he does hurt you?”
Darcy sighed and stroked her hair. “I did not mean to alarm you, my darling. I truly do not think there is reason to fear the worst. Did I do well to tell you?”
She inhaled a long, slow breath. “Yes. And I am sorry for reacting like a ninny. You did well to tell me, and I will not fear. You are right. All three men are gentlemen. I doubt Richard would accept a challenge, nor would Isabella permit it. And I shall do everything in my power to prevent it.” She caught hold of his lapels. “But you must promise me you will not accept a challenge, should he turn on you.”
“You have my promise, my darling. I have you and Georgiana both in my care, and I would never risk my life or my health to your harm or sorrow.” Darcy kissed her temple, smiling faintly as he held her close. What an earnest, sweet woman she was. He saw deep feeling in her eyes. Was it love? Had she come to care for him already, or was it only common humanity, fear for the life of another? How he longed to carry her to her bed and love her, but he held himself back, contented for now to be granted unspoken leave to keep her in his arms and offer comfort.
Chapter 39: Awaiting The Storm
As he descended the staircase, Richard noticed light spilling from Darcy’s study. The door stood slightly ajar. He moved down the corridor and tapped lightly.
Darcy looked up from his desk. “Richard. I hoped I would see you before you left.” He rose and came forward, his brow furrowed. “Have you thought this through? This step may cause a rift between Isabella and her brother for the rest of their lives. Those two are very close.”
Richard sighed. “Darcy, she and I spoke of it. She has chosen me. When I spoke of a possible rift between her and her brother, she said that if I did not obtain the marriage license, she would run away and force me to come after her, and then we would have to elope. She is tired of waiting, tired of being lonely and wanting what she cannot have. Now, suddenly, there is hope, and one way or another she means to take it. So I am leaving for Matlock. I will be at the registry office when it opens, and back by ten. Whatever comes will come.”
Darcy studied him gravely. “Perhaps you and Lewis could speak. Whatever stands between you, perhaps it might be resolved. If the two of you spoke together, you might yet bring him around.”
Richard shook his head. “She has sworn me to secrecy. She knows her brother. She fears he would take her away, and I should never see her again. You know Lewis, once he fixes an idea in his mind, nothing can dislodge it.”
Darcy sighed deeply. “Very well. If you wish me to be present when you and Isabella announce your marriage, I will stand with you.”
Richard clapped his cousin on the shoulder. “Thank you, Darcy. I may take you up on that. Perhaps your presence will prevent him from calling me out.”
Darcy’s jaw tightened. “Then be sure that I shall be with you when you make your announcement, and so will Elizabeth. Perhaps Mary, too. If she is there, Lewis will be less likely to lose his temper.”
Richard’s brow lifted. “I saw him walk off with your sister-in-law yesterday. Is he seeking a courtship, do you think?”
“He is,” Darcy replied. “He spoke with her yesterday, and she agreed. He told me of it last night after dinner. Elizabeth says Mary once took a dislike to him, but he managed to win her over. If she is present, and he wishes to maintain her good opinion, he will conduct himself far better than if it were just the two of you alone.”
Richard nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Plan on it, Darcy. I want only to be happy, and Isabella’s happiness is bound up in mine. If we can preserve her relationship with her brother and save my skin in the process, it will have been a good day’s work.”
Darcy inclined his head. “I will tell Elizabeth. We will plan accordingly.”
With that, Richard took his leave, striding down the hall and out into the crisp morning air, bound for Matlock.
Darcy tapped upon the inner connecting door to his wife’s bedchamber.
“Come in,” she called. Ellis was just finishing her mistress’s hair, and when she had made her curtsey and withdrawn, Darcy drew near.
“So, you leave with Lewis and your sister this morning?”
“We are to board the carriage at half past eight, after breakfast.”
“Do you feel safe with him?”
“I do. Isabella will be with us, and he is a gentleman born and bred, as we discussed last night.”
Darcy’s brow furrowed slightly. “Yes, but I fear your telltale eyes, my dear. You are incapable of deceit. I fear you will give away the secret.”
She laughed softly. “Have no fear. He told Mary he would ride his mount so that she and Miss Lewis might have time to become acquainted on the drive to and from his estate. I shall keep my eyes respectfully lowered whenever I am in his company and will be careful not to sit across from him. I think his attention will be so fixed upon my sister and the visit that he will scarcely notice me.”
He considered this, his mouth curved in amusement. “I believe you are right. I will bid you safe travels and leave you, then. The men are already at breakfast. We are to visit the glover and cordwainer in Lambton in the morning and will visit with the American in the afternoon.”
Elizabeth looked up in surprise. “I had no idea Lambton boasted such fine specialty shops.”
“Those are the only two worth visiting,” he said. “Much of the product is sent to the finest establishments in London, yet the merchants keep an excellent selection here and draw custom from gentlemen all over Derbyshire.”
