As Elizabeth assisted Eleanor into her night-rail, she thought it would be a long two months. The girl was less prone to outbursts of temper, but it took all of Elizabeth’s self-control to cope with her mercurial nature.
“Twenty-six weeks enceinte! My legs keep cramping. ‘Tis so difficult to walk with the rolling of the ship and my increasing bulge.” She calmed herself, taking long breaths. She retrieved the copy ofRobinson Crusoefrom the shelf above the cot. “How many times before have I done this? On the journey out, I read fromTommy Thumb’s Pretty Song Book—‘twas easier with Henry and little Beth. And now I read to Eleanor.”
Bumper, who had greeted Elizabeth with much exuberance—tail wagging and face licking—the day before, came and placed his head on her lap. As she read the story, she gently stroked Bumper’s head. Soon, both child and dog were fast asleep.
With only the gentle swaying of an oil lamp to illuminate the cabin, Elizabeth retrieved her copy of the ship’s manifest to finalise the entries in her ledger. Together with the captain, theGrosvenor’sfactor, and Mr. Forbes, they had loaded an impressive cargo of raw cotton and silk, Indian mahogany and teak, tea, spices including pepper and cinnamon, indigo and dyes, printed Indian chintzes, and other finely woven cloth. Mr. Gardiner’s letters of credit, those of Captain Coxon, and, more importantly, the Darcy credit with Mastermans of London opened many warehouse doors that otherwise would have remained shut. While gold and silver were much sought after, direct access to the London banks held more allure. Each bill of exchange, even if lost, could still be reclaimed if the number, date and issuer were known; whereas once lost to shipwreck, pirates,or theft, precious metals were gone forever.
They carried no gold, silver, or quantities of diamonds or other precious stones. “There are no secrets in Bombay,” explained the captain. “Were we to take on board bullion, every pirate along the African coast would know within days. Our journey would be dogged by them, night and day. While our guns can hold them off, an ill wind or a forcing sea could place us in an imperilled position.”
For Elizabeth, the profit on the cargo was of little concern, even though it would exceed many tens of thousands—they expected a profit of eight thousand pounds from the indigo alone.
She missed William dreadfully. Each day was lonely, more so when she had sat at the crowded dinners to which she was invited. As a vice-regal—she so hated the appellation—she could not refuse. She missed the informality of Sydney society, where the governor dined with settlers, merchants, and emancipists alike. In Bombay, the conversation was all about lace, jewels, intrigues, and the latest fashions. Fortunately, she was married; otherwise, for newly arrived young women, the making and breaking of matches for them furnished employment for the ladies of the colony until the arrival of a new cargo of female flesh.
Chapter 34
London, July 1, 1813
Darcy accepted the invitation to attend Lady Matlock on the following evening. He would need to tread carefully, because the dinner had only one purpose: to push their daughter, Lady Felicity, in front of him. Sensibly, his father declined to attend, citing ill health, but the true reason was his anger at his brother-in-law, Matlock, for having dragged the Darcys into Lady Catherine’s affairs. The debt was a matter for the de Bourghs and, if need be, the Fitzwilliams to resolve.
That Aunt Alice and Felicity had returned from their country seat to endure the summer heat of London and the stench of the Thames was proof enough of his lordship’s intent. The Season had ended just a few weeks after the final sitting of Parliament—there was no reason for them to return, apart fromDarcy.
He took a hackney to St. James’s Square. While the house, number four, was large and imposing, it looked tired, with rank vegetation growing on the high lintels and cracks appearing in the joints between the sandstone blocks. The old Earl, his grandfather, would never have allowed such decay, even if it were only minor. The neighbouring houses, belonging to the Earls Bristol and Strafford, were in much better repair. Clearly, the Fitzwilliams were undergoing straitened circumstances.
“Fitzwilliam, so pleased you have come.” Darcy took his aunt’s hand and bent to kiss her cheek.
“It’s my pleasure, Aunt. We last saw each other, let me see, in May ‘09—too long ago.” He straightened and turnedto Felicity. “And who’s this lovely lady? Have we met before? For I’m sure I would have remembered such elegance.”
Lady Matlock’s eyes tightened; she looked at Darcy with suspicion. Felicity giggled. “Oh, Fitzwilliam, I’ve not changed so much.”
“Previously, you were but a young girl not yet out; and now you’ve been presented to Her Majesty. Georgiana wrote to me about it. I believe you were a great success.”
“Indeed, I’ve enjoyed London society—attending balls and the theatre. Perhaps too many beaus, but I’m in no rush to marry, for I greatly enjoy the entertainments.” She paused, realising herfaux pasin front of her father, and batted her eyes coyly at Darcy. “But were the right man to offer, I’m sure to find contentment.”
So alluring. But why hasn’t the earl already married her off? At twenty, a year before her majority, she’s charming—fair complexion, pleasing form, pleasant repartee.
At that moment, Viscount Milton and his wife, Lady Susan, entered the room and warmly greeted Darcy. They were friends as well as cousins, and Darcy relaxed; perhaps the evening would not be so fraught after all.
Following a delightful meal, being family, the separation of the sexes was unnecessary, and they entered the parlour to take tea or coffee, though port and Madeira were offered to the gentlemen.
“This is a fine wine,” said Darcy. “I recall tasting something similar when I visited the Phelps’s estate—what was the name? Of course,Quinta do Prazer.” He smiled, remembering how young Stephen Campbell had rudely interrupted Commodore Bligh upon discovering Elizabeth’s connection both to the estate and her uncle, Mr. Gardiner. Had not the man resided near Cheapside, where his father obtained his Madeira? Perhaps Matlock did the same.
“I envy you, Darcy,” said Milton, “having journeyed around the world. Whereas I’m confined to England. Withles Rosbifsunwelcome in France, there’s little opportunity to travel. You returned via Cape Horn? You are, therefore, a member of that exclusive club of people who’ve circumnavigated the globe—they call themselves theMagellans.”
“Never heard of them, but such an appellation is appropriate.”
“Fitzwilliam, was it very rough and dangerous when you rounded the Cape? I’ve heard many ships founder attempting to make the passage.” Felicity entered the conversation and came to sit next to Darcy.
Mistake! Always choose a single chair. He was outmanoeuvred—the seating comprised only couches and settees.
“Sadly, the weather was clear until we turned northwards into the Atlantic, when snow and sleet assailed us. Still, the waves, though large, were not as terrifying as those we encountered rounding the southeast extremity of Van Diemen’s Land. There, whenever we fell into a trough, we would completely lose sight of the other vessel, theDromedary.”
Felicity placed her hand on Darcy’s arm. Her action appeared natural, but his aunt’s satisfied countenance did not go unnoticed.
“Were you terribly frightened? I would have been. Surely, all the passengers were huddled below decks, for I’m certain only the bravest sailors could endure such a scene.”
There she was, Elizabeth, standing at the taffrail, shrieking in terror as the ship flew down a wave, then clambering up the next. What an untamed, impetuous woman! Later, she’d confessed, like a cat stuck in a tree, she’d been too scared to retreat to safety.
“Fitzwilliam! I feared we’d lost you.” Aunt Alice interrupted his reverie. “You are smiling. Surely, there was nothing to enjoy about such an experience.”
