Bluntly, for there was no other way to say it: “You suffer from congenital syphilis, contracted in the womb.”
Darcy paused, his words now causing expressions of horror, sympathy, and pain to spread across the faces of all but Matlock and Lady Catherine. Of course, it was no surprise to them. Tears spilled down Anne’s cheeks; she stared bewilderedly at Darcy. Georgiana leapt from her seat to sit beside Anne, enfolding her into her arms.
“Do you wish to leave?” she asked, gently wiping her cousin’s tears with her handkerchief.
“No, I wish to know why.”
Darcy saw her determination to learn the truth. “Your father died of the pox, a disease he contracted before he married. There is no doubt your mother was infected prior to your birth. ‘Tis not for me to explain further—best you speak with Lady Catherine and Lord Matlock.”
Abruptly, he stood. “Georgie, you spoke of a ride in the park. Felicity, will you join us?”
***
There was no release. Finally, Darcy knew his doubts had won over his belief in Bumper. Could he blame the dog? No, for they are loyal to a fault. He could only blame himself for hoping against hope. Eight months had passed without any sighting, any word of an English woman and child lost, then found, on the African coast.
Of course, a desperate and vindictive earl would feel justified in threatening Darcy once again. An appeal to duty had failed miserably because the revelation of Sir Lewis de Bough’s syphilis being kept secret by the earl and Lady Catherine had rendered any sympathy in that quarter moot. Anne and her humiliated mother had already left for Kent. Theearl, countess, and Felicity would leave shortly.
“Please, tell Lord Matlock you are already married.” Georgiana sat with Darcy in the small family parlour. “Why not, for there is little he can achieve now? Can he force you to purchase Rosing’s debt? If there is not enough, you could always use my dowry…”
“Oh, dearest, you’ve such a sweet nature. No, selling our investments, perhaps a small loan against the estate—I could raise one hundred and fifty thousand. That would be enough. But to what purpose? For Matlock and Lady Catherine to continue their irresponsible lifestyle? Did you know the spring ball given by the countess cost six thousand pounds? Such extravagance—yet their house in St. James’s Square is in need of repair, and the tenants are left for another season with leaking rooves.”
Georgiana leant into his shoulder. “But he appears to be so sure of himself.”
“Lizzie once said that she never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. That her courage always rises with every attempt to intimidate her. That is her legacy to which I must cleave. I know not what Matlock is about.”
Winthrop entered the room. “Lord Matlock left this letter, sir, for delivery after he departed.”
Darcy—
I am disappointed in you. You are a Fitzwilliam; you carry our name and our blood. That you should allow the name to be disgraced when Pemberley has the means to effect a resolution is beyond my understanding.
You force my hand—I am a reasonable man, but you are not.You are unmarried, a bachelor in sole charge of a young woman not yet out in society—it is a scandal. Your father should be ashamed to have created such a disgraceful circumstance. If you were married, however, then society can have no reproach. You must agree, forthwith, to wed Lady Felicity. Otherwise, on Friday next, the 4th of June, a special sitting of the Court of Chancery in Derby will hear my petition to assume guardianship of Georgiana. Society will applaud me for removing her from your care.
Matlock
Chapter 48
Runcorn, May 31, 1814
They waited for the tide at the entrance to the Mersey River, then made passage past Liverpool until they came to Runcorn, where theUnicornmoored at the Old Dock. Immediately, stevedores began unloading the cargo, transferring it to canal boats waiting to make the thirty-mile journey along the Bridgewater Canal to Manchester.
Elizabeth stood for a while, breathing the clean, fresh air coming off Albion’s shore, gazing across the fields towards brown and white cows, so different from the animals at the Cape.
“Mrs. Darcy, leaving us so soon?” Captain Webber laughed. “Eager to reach that lucky man of yours? It was a pleasure having you on board.”
“You’re a hard man, Captain—but I enjoyed singing for my supper! ‘Twas a good trip, but coming home is always more welcome. I trust your crew will no longer see a woman on board as bad luck!”
“What is the expression?—if pigs could fly. But, ma’am, they’ll have you always. I apologise that I canna give you more coin, but I’ve scarce enough to pay off the crew. The Dutch were the first to complain when the British annexed the Cape Colony, but they much prefer English silver shillings to their rixdollars.”
“For sure, but I’ve enough to get me home. You take care, Captain. Now, I must be off.”
Elizabeth descended the gangplank. Five years since she had stepped on English soil. No,Lizzie Darcy, you mustn’t becomea watering pot.
She had planned her route: Northwich, Knutsford, Macclesfield, Buxton, Bakewell, Lambton, Pemberley—William!
“Ben, we’re almost home. How I wish I’d enough money to rent a chaise; then we could be safe in William’s arms this evening. No, we must walk, for I’ve only enough for some food at the inns and, perchance, straw in a barn on which to lie.”
In her pocket remained the few English shillings that Charlotte had pressed into her hand at Fort Frederick—they would have to suffice.
