“Oh my,” said Elizabeth sweetly, though there was venom behind her words. “Another attempt to claim I am a cuckold.” She looked out over the hall and beckoned to an older lady. “Mrs. Reynolds, can you please step forward?”
Darcy watched his housekeeper walk calmly to the floor and stand before the judge. In her hands, she held a sleeping child of some eight months. His. Oh, Lizzie, you wonderful woman.
Elizabeth looked to the judge. “Mrs. Reynolds is the housekeeper at Pemberley. Ma’am, do you have reason to believe the boy you hold is Mr. Darcy’s?”
Mrs. Reynolds looked to Mr. Darcy, tears filling her eyes. She spoke clearly, her voice rising above the murmurs that were, once again, filling the hall.
“I were nursemaid to Mr. Darcy some twenty-eight years ago. ‘Twas my first job in the Great House. As a babe, I knew him very well. Such a lovely child, he was always the sweetest-tempered, most generous-hearted boy in the world.” She blushed. “Sorry, m’lord, just me remembering. There was a mark, shaped like a butterfly, on his left buttock. All of the Darcy men have it—the old Mr. Darcy and Mr. Frederick as have now passed.” She paused; emotion held her back.
The judge leant forward. “Please, ma’am, when you are ready.”
“The babe, as carried by Mrs. Darcy and fed at her breast, when I first saw him, dark eyes and hair, that proud forehead—I says to Mr. Winthrop, he’s a Darcy for sure. And there, on the left buttock, the butterfly, plain as maybe.”
Bent knew his case was slipping away. Just one last throw of the dice. “And why would Mr. Darcy not tell of his marriage—perchance you were estranged, or some other matter that should be before the court? It will, after all, fall on you, ma’am,to educate and bring the infant Miss Darcy into society.”
Elizabeth looked at him, her countenance scathing and contemptuous. “My, oh my, Mr. Bent. Mr. Darcy and I have been apart these past sixteen months—he thought me lost. I daresay he could not share his grief with any apart from close family. Ours is a love match—to lose love is grievous indeed. Perchance, you should ask his sister, theinfantMiss Darcy, if she was aware of his marriage, for then you will find it was not a secret to those he cared for, and those who cared for him.”
A tall, fair-haired young woman sitting in the front row of the gallery was nodding emphatically—Georgiana! Oh, sweetling, how I’ve longed to meet you.
“And, as for introducing my sister to society? You forget, sir, that in the colony, and also here in England, I have vice-regal rank, being the wife of the Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales. His Excellency and I entertained ambassadors, captains, and merchants whose great wealth exceeds any in this hall. Be gone, sir, away with your cheap insinuations.”
A spontaneous cheer erupted throughout the court, those seated in the gallery stamping their feet. The judge allowed the crowd to have their day. But then, a hush as a sombre, well-dressed gentleman made his way towards the bench. Whispers ofLord Eldon, Lord High Chancellor,followed him as he came up to Lord Rushton. They exchanged friendly words, the judge nodding in agreement, a surprised expression lightening his countenance.
“All stand.” The throng quieted; most were standing already. Reluctantly, Lord Matlock stood; he nodded to Rushton—there was nothing further to gain here.
“The case is dismissed. Talis est curiae dignitas et eius condescendentia.” Lord Rushton stepped down from the bench. “Mr. Darcy, Lord Eldon wishes a moment of your time. Now, ifyou please.”
***
Elizabeth was near exhausted. To be reunited with William! Yet she could not see him. Mrs. Reynolds took little Ben back to the carriage—all this time, he had remained fast asleep.
“Mrs. Darcy, let me introduce myself.”
“Ma’am?”
“I am Lady Matlock, Darcy’s aunt.”
“My pleasure, my lady.”
“Of course. Darcy was taken away by Rushton, Eldon, and my husband, Matlock. Thus, there is an opportunity for us to talk. Much has gone on while you were away, and we should clear the air—start afresh, as it were.”
Elizabeth was gently led outside the court. Bewildered by all that was happening, she let herself be guided down the street. Her footmen followed discreetly behind.
“There is a lovely tea room with a cool courtyard, out of the crowd.” They entered; indeed, stone walls with ferns and other lush plants pleasing to the eye and cooling the space.
“So, my dear, you and Darcy were married in the year ‘10?”
“Indeed, ma’am. ‘Twas the 15th of May. A very fine day, as I recall.”
“Most wedding days are fine, but I must admit that there was a persistent drizzle for mine. Now, I suspect you know more of my family than I know of yours. Your father has an estate?”
“Longbourn, near Meryton in Hertfordshire. Oh, come now, my lady. Your asking questions and my answering them will take a very long time for us to become well acquainted. Let me provide a precis—in fact, I should have a copy printed,which would save repeating myself time and again.”
“Upon my word,” said her ladyship, “you are very impertinent for one so young—pray, what is your age?”
Elizabeth was saved from answering when a lady of similar years to Lady Matlock approached.
“Why, Alice,” said she, “Bathurst thought he saw Matlock and Eldon in the court. And now he has gone off with them. May I sit with you?”
