Mr. Darcy thought this over. “Perhaps he is not.”
“But then, who is my father, if not the duke? We still don’t know?”
“Think about it, Elizabeth, she wrote those letters to Larilane, angry that he had spoken to the duke, but she knew she was lying about the duke being the child’s father, so she didn’t wish to be found out! And then Larilane, entangled in her lies, did things he was ashamed of. And it makes sense why he left her when he found out.”
Elizabeth furrowed her brow, trying to make sense of everything he had said. Maybe it made sense, but it seemed a bit complicated to her.
“I know, you do not wish your father’s identity to be unknown,” said Mr. Darcy.
“Well,” said Elizabeth, “there is the fact that I was thinking that I don’t look much like the current duke. If he were not actually my half-brother, then I wouldn’t look like him. And if we were truly twins, surely I would look like him, would I not?”
“One would think,” he said.
“On the other hand,” said Elizabeth, “the duke waved away the idea that he resembles Mr. Houseman as some coincidence that means nothing. So perhaps I’m overthinking the idea of familial resemblance.”
“They do look alike,” said Mr. Darcy, rubbing his forehead.
“Well, what if they are related somehow?” said Elizabeth.
“How many concealed children could the late duke have?” said Mr. Darcy, shaking his head.
“Maybe he did it more than once,” said Elizabeth. “Eloping with women in secret, I mean.”
“Hmm,” said Mr. Darcy. “It does seem like the sort of thing a man like that would do.”
“Doesn’t it? He would ‘marry’ any number of women, keep them and use them, get children on them…”
“And Houseman knows,” said Darcy. “He knows that he’s the son of the duke.”
“Yes, and that’s why he built this house right here, that’s why he is trying to thrust himself into the society of the Neithern house. It all makes sense.”
“It rather does,” said Darcy, thinking it over.
She thought it over, too.
“Yes, but it doesn’t explain everything,” said Mr. Darcy. “It doesn’t explain why your mother broke with Larilane.”
“Nor why the duke was suddenly locked up,” said Elizabeth. “If he was at it for long enough to get that many children, why did his family wait so long?”
“Maybe they didn’t know about it until Larilane went to them and told them of your existence.”
“Maybe,” said Elizabeth.
“Of course, it seems likely, if they knew of your existence, they would have done something for you,” said Mr. Darcy. “Maybe not a great deal of money, but something to buy your silence, to buy your mother’s silence.”
“Oh, yes, perhaps,” said Elizabeth, thoughtful. “Perhaps, yes.”
They both regarded each other, confusion writ plainly on their countenances. Then they continued to walk through the stacks of books.
“Well, we need to find out more,” said Mr. Darcy.
“I think we must speak to Houseman,” said Elizabeth.
Darcy nodded. “Aye, that seems a good idea.”
“Perhaps I can speak to the duke again,” said Elizabeth. “Do you think I should conceal what I know of myself, however? We are not sure if I evenamhis sister.”
“He was open with you about his father. I think you can trust him to be discreet. Besides, this would be something he would wish to conceal about his family as well.”
