Elizabeth asked. “You mean something entirely fabricated?”
Richard’s interest was caught. “Not entirely. We would keep it as close to the truth as possible.”
Darcy said. “The story cannot be too far-fetched, or it will smack of a farce. What if we spread the tale that I fell deeply in love and could not be reasoned with? We could say the earl sent you to talk sense into me, but you realized my attachment was profound and chose to help me instead. You even stood up with me, knowing that once I was married, my family could not separate me from my beautiful country maiden.”
Richard grinned. “And when they see the beautiful country maiden, they will understand why you fell head over heels. Infact, when they see how you dote upon her, they will know it to be true and will be charmed that the great Fitzwilliam Darcy was finally subdued by a woman.”
He clapped Darcy on the back and turned to Elizabeth. “They will line up to pay you homage, Mrs. Darcy. They will want to gaze upon the paragon who tamed the brute.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Is Mr. Darcy being likened to a horse, sir? And I tamed him?”
Darcy grew serious. “I believe it would work, Richard. It casts my behavior as so entirely out of character that, should Miss Bingley write the truth, no one would believe her. They will think her bitter and spiteful, especially since it is well known that she has chased me for years. And, if Aunt Helen lends her influence and you give credence, since you stood up with me, our story will be believed.”
The two men leaned back with their port, and after a moment, Richard began to laugh. “You know what this means, Fitzwilliam?”
Darcy looked at him warily. “What?”
“It means you must attend balls and actually dance. You will have to appear at soirées and the theater, so that the ton may witness for themselves the depth of your devotion to your new bride.”
Darcy sighed. “So it seems, Richard. Do you have any other ideas? Something I may find more palatable?”
Richard chuckled. “No, I do not. But at least you will have the summer at Pemberley while that termagant is tucked away in North Yorkshire. If you are fortunate, her cousin may abduct her for her dowry.”
Darcy grimaced. “I doubt any man would consider it a fair exchange. Perhaps if Charles sweetened the pot by increasing the dowry from twenty to thirty thousand pounds.”
Richard laughed. “Never mind, Darcy. Let us take one day at a time. Tomorrow we leave for London, and then on to Pemberley for a long holiday. We will deal with the rest when it comes.”
He rose and set down his glass. “I am going to call it an early night. It has been a long, taxing day. I will see you at breakfast.” Richard bade goodnight to the other guests and left the room.
Darcy turned to Elizabeth. “Shall we go up, Mrs. Darcy?”
Her gaze dropped to her hands.
“You need not be nervous. You have nothing to fear from me. I am a man of honor.”
She raised her eyes to his. “Yes, sir, I know you are, but it is still embarrassing. I have never been alone in a bedchamber with a man before.”
“I will sleep in the dressing room if you prefer.”
She considered. “Or I could take the dressing room. Somehow, I had not thought this through. It seemed so easy when we discussed it earlier. Come, the longer I sit and think of it, the more appalling it looms over me.”
They both rose, and Darcy bade the family good night. He offered his arm to Elizabeth, and they went up together.
In the shadows of the dark hall, she watched them leave the drawing room. There must be some way she could injure him, as he had injured her. Seven years of her youth had been squandered in pursuit of him. Mr. Darcy would never allow hernear his bride, but there were two others he loved more than life itself, Georgiana and Richard.
Her eyes narrowed as she watched them ascend the stairs. She would entrap his cousin, and she would enjoy doing it. Not only because he was a handsome, virile man who resembled Mr. Darcy, but because for one night she could live out her fantasy. Then he would belong to her, and she would become a member of Mr. Darcy’s family. She would attend every Easter house party, every Christmas gathering. Her children would be cousins to his children. Yes, she would be part of his life and his family forever.
She slipped away up the darkened servants’ stairs and made her way back to her own bedchamber to dress for her tryst. She knew herself to be a handsome, desirable woman. She could not fail in her quest. She would wait until he retired for the night, and then she would claim him.
Chapter 23: The Wedding Night
Elizabeth stood in the bedchamber she shared with Mary, gazing at the delicate, transparent garments Mrs. Gardiner had purchased for her wedding night. Miss Ellis had laid three of them upon the bed, believing her mistress would select one for her transition out of maidenhood.
“Thank you, Ellis. Please call my sisters to me. They will help me prepare for the night. You are excused.”
When her maid had gone, Elizabeth folded the garments and tucked them carefully into her trunk. She was searching for her own night shift when Jane and Mary entered.
Elizabeth stood frustrated, her hands clenched on her hips.
