It was a blessed relief to do so. She sat between Georgiana and Mrs Annesley, and she looked at the servants and companion. None of them dared to look curious, but she wished to explain the situation, anyway. “Someone has maliciously spread false gossip about me. My father is apparently not willing to work to clear my name, but Mr Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam are attempting to refute the lies. Still, I am underage, and apparently my father wishes to take advantage of the situation to attempt to force me to marry a man who I could never respect as a husband, let alone love.”
Becky’s eyes were wide. The lady’s maid looked sympathetic. Mrs Annesley said, “Deliberately starting rumours is a terrible thing to do, but I wish to remind all of you that it is almost as evil tospreadgossip, since you likely do not know whether or not it is true.”
Everyone nodded, but Mrs Annesley was not done. “I wish you to know, Miss Elizabeth, that your father could not legally force you to marry anyone. If any young woman is told that shemustmarry, she should remember that people might make her life difficult if she does not, but the clergy are not allowed to complete a marriage ceremony for someone against her will.”
“Thank you, Mrs Annesley. I am aware of this, and I am certain that Mr Darcy will do everything in his power to protect me. However, I thought it might be wise not to test my father’s temper by being easily found.”
Mrs Annesley said, “I am very impressed with Mr Darcy’s character. He has a strong commitment to justice, loyalty, and charity.”
Elizabeth felt a bubble of happiness rising in her chest. She had once laughed at least a bit at the words of people who complimented his character as if he was the hero in a children’s book. But now, after hearing Mrs Nicholls and Mrs Annesley, Mr and Miss Bingley all praising him to the skies and beyond, and seeing that the specifics of their praise agreed with her own experiences with the man, Elizabeth accepted as fact that he was at the very least tied with her uncle as the best man she had ever known.
That such a man could care for her was nothing short of wonderful.
The home to which Mr Nicholls proudly welcomed the ladies was perhaps half the size of Longbourn, but it was clean and comfortable. Becky was to sleep in a small room off the guest bedchamber assigned to Elizabeth, and Georgiana’s maid would sleep in a similar room next to her bedchamber. Mrs Annesley would be housed on the floor above.
“How are you managing?” Elizabeth whispered to Georgiana that night, as they settled in for a long, sisterly chat.
“Do not dare to worry about me, Elizabeth!” Georgiana whispered back. The young girl continued, “I may be used to a bell pull in every room and as many baths as I want, but I well understand that most people do not live in luxury, and I could certainly adapt for longer periods than a night or two.”
“You said you had something very upsetting and yet very important to tell me,” Elizabeth prompted. She had a feeling that the upsetting revelation would be about the incident in Ramsgate, and her guess was correct. The two would-be sisters whispered together until half past one, when Elizabeth insisted that the younger lady attempt to get some sleep, and she crept out of Georgiana’s warm bed, across the corridor, and into her own chilly bed.
She curled up with memories and hopes of Mr Darcy, and those thoughts warmed her enough to soon slumber, dream, and then deeply sleep.
CHAPTER 21
21 November 1811
DARCY
As Darcy and Richard rode to Haye-Park, Richard began to ask questions. This was not unexpected, but Darcy felt fairly impatient with his cousin for taking Darcy’s attention away from the current crisis.
Richard started out by saying, “I know from speaking with Miss Elizabeth that she is the daughter of a gentleman. However, I suppose that there is little dowry and basically no connexions.”
“Correct.”
“Assuming that you will be able to squash this rumour, will you consider returning to London for a short time, allowing that time to heal the rough patch?
“Go to London without Miss Elizabeth? Definitely not.”
“And you are ready to declare Miss Elizabeth to be your one and only, your everything, forever and ever? No need to meet the three ladies my mother spent a month identifying as worthy candidates to take your mother’s place?”
“I am without a doubt ready to declare Elizabeth my everything, now and forever. For me, it will be Elizabeth, or I will not marry.”
Richard nodded, apparently expecting Darcy’s decisiveness—although he might call it stubbornness.
The two men reached the main road the stable master had mentioned and turned right, knowing that they were close to Haye-Park. The relatively smooth terrain meant that they could allow their mounts their head.
The estate of Haye-Park looked prosperous, and the manor house was between Longbourn and Netherfield Park in size. At the door, Darcy presented his card and asked for the younger William Goulding. They were shown into a small parlour.
Mr Goulding came to the room a few minutes later, looking as if he had hurried to wash up a bit. His look of surprise changed to a look of trepidation as he saw Richard behind Darcy.
Richard was not only imposing physically, he was doubly intimidating in his Army uniform.
“Mr Darcy?” Mr Goulding said, making the greeting into an enquiry.
“Good afternoon. May I introduce my cousin, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam?”
“I am very pleased to meet you, Colonel.”
