“You know Bingley, the more the merrier. Would you like an invitation too Theo? Miss Bingley might leave me alone with a viscount in her home.”
Theo grimaced. “It might be worth it, and I do owe you some payback. Yes. I would appreciate an invitation.”
“I doubt there is much entertainment in Hertfordshire.” William gave Theo the side eye.
“Cousin, I no longer gamble or chase loose women. Those days are over. I will do as my mother and father have been asking me to for the last decade. I will find an acceptable wife and set up my nursery. I will spend a month or two in London during the season and spend the rest of my time at Rosemont trying to fix the neglect that I have allowed since I took over.”
“What has happened to you? Not that I am complaining.”
“Life happened to me and betrayal.”
The light of the sun was slowly diminishing over the horizon, and Richard and Ratcliff decided to head off to bed. Theo sat quietly next to Darcy as the stars came out. It was a beautiful night. Warm, but not hot. A gentle breeze was blowing. Finally, Theo said with little aplomb, “I have a daughter.”
Darcy had just taken a sip of his wine and nearly choked. He coughed for a good minute before he gasped out, “What?!”
“You are the only one I have told, William, so I would appreciate your confidence in this matter. I have written in my will that you will be her guardian if anything happens to me. Thought I should let you know.”
“Who…but…who is the mother?”
“Do you remember the young debutant that chased me around two seasons ago? Lady Jessica?”
“Yes. She chased me too. Her father was the impoverished baron you used to play cards with.”
“Yes, that’s her. Her father lost badly to me at cards one night while we were drinking heavily. Said to take his daughter as payment, and she seemed welcoming, if you know what I mean.”
“I really don’t, no.” Darcy growled.
“I am sorry. Of course you do not. You’re a good man, Darcy. Anyway, I woke up the next day, and she assumed we were to be married. I was likely still drunk when I disabused her of the notion. Her father, right to her face, told her she was just my winnings, and I did not have to marry her. Anyway, long story short, they left for Scotland the next week. I heard nothing of them until almost a year later. She came to me at Fitzwilliam House with a babe in arms. The girl is quite obviously a Fitzwilliam. She even has the birthmark. Lady Jessica’s father drank himself to death while they were in Scotland. He left her with almost nothing to live on. She was ill. Very ill. She died less than a week later.”
He took a long sip of his wine and refilled his glass. “There I was, with a babe in arms and a dead woman in my guest room. Dr. Henry had been kind enough to try and save Lady Jessica, but he said there was nothing he could do. He did find a wetnurse for the little girl though. Wickham and I were still friends…I thought…and he helped me find a woman who would raise my daughter as her own if I could set them up in a home. I bought a little place in Cheapside. Got her a maid of all work, a cook, and a footman. My man of business checks on them regularly. I stop in occasionally to see her. She’s….precious.”
“Is that the betrayal you spoke of?”
“No. That was Wickham. He came to me, broke as usual, and asked me for money. I told him I had spent all my ready on setting up a household for my daughter, and he threatened me.”
“With what? Going to the papers? Telling your parents? Many gentlemen have by-blows.”
“That’s what I told him! I kicked him to the curb and told him to never come back! That is when he began using my false name and acting like…well…like a good for nothing viscount. He let it slip that Henry Blake was actually Viscount Rosemont. The first time a creditor showed up at my door, I was shocked. Wickham showed up the same day and said if I did not help him, he would ruin me another way. I suppose having the butler really throw him to the curb was not the best choice. Wickham went all over the city losing money in the name of Henry Blake. Some very bad men cornered me one day. That is when I had to sell the coach and four. Father received an anonymous letter telling ofmylosses at some of the worst gambling hells in and around London. And so…I was banished to Rosemont. You know the rest. Seeing Wickham carried off to his doom made me happier than it should have, I suppose.”
Chapter Twenty-five
“Oh uncle. Are you sure you need to leave and take the girls with you?”
“Yes, Beth. Mr. Cramer fell and broke his leg. Mrs. Giles is having a difficult lying in, and there’s no one to help with the children or start putting up food for winter. Lizzy and I are needed on the home farm, and Jane is needed for the tenants. I suppose I could spare Lydia and Kitty, as well as Mrs. Greaves.” Uncle Thomas was rubbing his chin and thinking. “Maybe Miss Darcy can continue to stay here since she no longer has a companion. I’ve written Darcy to let him know she is here so I can keep a close eye on her. He should have received the letter by now. I worry that he might be quite unhappy to find me gone when he eventually arrives.”
“He knows John well, and the twins have kept her safe. With Jackson, Smithers, and the Fredricks here, Darcy should be happy enough with her chaperonage. Mamie will be sorry to see you go.”
Thomas Bennet turned red from chin to ears. “Mrs. Russell will be missed. If I let you keep my two youngest, I guess that guaranteesyou will be back to Longbourn eventually. You will not abscond with them to America, will you? I might miss them after a year or two.”
Beth hugged her sarcastic uncle and promised to take care of his two youngest. At dinner that night everything was discussed, and the two eldest agreed they needed to return with their father. Mary, Kitty, and Lydia were given the choice of staying at the seaside or returning home early.
“I believe I need to return home also. It sounds like the tenants need a great deal of help.” Mary said after only a moment’s thought.
Jane smiled, “I was hoping you would choose to return with us. I would appreciate your help with the tenants. Lizzy will be with father most of the time.”
Kitty and Lydia began bouncing in their chairs as Gigi looked at them beseechingly. “We can stay papa?! Here with Gigi?”
“You may, but you will have to listen to Mrs. Russell, Mrs. Greaves, John, and your cousin. There will be no running wild! You will continue your lessons, and that also means you Miss Darcy. I mean the younger Miss Darcy.”
