Unforgiving Temper (33 page)

“But she rejected you! You will get over it
in time.”

“That is what I thought, but it has been
months now and no matter what I do, the attraction grows stronger.
Even Wickham's atrocity cannot drive her from my heart.”

“Think what you are saying. Think of the
family. Even without this…difficulty, it would have been next to
impossible; but now that she has been compromised, it is out of the
question. What will you say to my parents, and Lady Catherine?
What will you say to Georgiana?”

“You are well aware that I am not dependent
upon the wishes of the family. I do not need permission. You will
all have to accept my decision, whatever it may be. And as for
Georgiana, it was she, in fact, who set me on this course.”

“She knows?!” Richard's voice rose in anger.
“After all she has been through,
you
exposed her to
this
?”

“It could not be helped. She heard the rumors
before I did,” Darcy explained. “Georgiana has changed, grown up,
these past months, Richard. The experience we thought would destroy
her last summer has made her stronger, more compassionate – and
amazingly insightful. It was
she
who convinced me to follow
my heart; and that is what I am going to do whether I have the
family's support or not.”

Richard studied Darcy's passionate expression
before answering. “Is there no way I can dissuade you from this
ruinous path?”

“You have known me all my life. Do you
honestly think you can persuade me to abandon the woman I love to a
life of wretched penury?”

“I understand your feelings, I do. But would
it not be better to have the scandal die down before you do
anything? Give it some time. There is no hurry.”

“Actually, there is. There is a complication
that requires me to find her as soon as possible.”

Richard groaned. “There is more?”

“At first, I had thought it was only a matter
of her reputation and that perhaps her father had sent her away in
anger; but now, I fear it is much worse.” Darcy struggled to speak
the words that until now had been only intangible thoughts. He
turned a grim face to the one person in the world he could trust
completely. “Magdalen House has no record of her, and that can only
mean one thing. Their policy is such that – ”

“They will not take in a girl who is already
with child,” Richard finished for him in a flash of understanding.
“Darcy, this is insane! Are you listening to me? Absolutely
insane!”

“If I am too late, she will have no hope of
redemption. It is imperative I find her and arrange the marriage
before the child is born and beyond the protection of my name. I
need your help, Richard.”

“My help – with Wickham's child!?” Richard
jumped from his chair with an explosive curse. “Do you know what
you are asking? Even if I
were
to help you, the family –
Aunt Catherine, especially – would never let it stand!”

“I say again – no one has any claim on my
affairs, least of all Aunt Catherine; and I have made that very
clear to her,” Darcy growled as the memory of their last
conversation came to mind. “I only hope Elizabeth can be persuaded
to accept me. As for the child, with any luck it will be a girl,
saving Pemberley for a child of my own. If it is a boy, however, I
will still claim him as mine and endeavor to make him a worthy
heir. Only a handful of us will ever know the truth.”

“You would marry her even though she dislikes
you so much?”

“We got off to a bad start, that is true, but
I believe she can be persuaded to not think so ill of me – given
enough time. She is too noble to hold me in contempt forever. I
have faith in her goodness and I can wait.”

“You are a bloody fool! You fail to realize
that it is not just
you
we are talking about here. One wrong
step and you will do irreversible harm to Georgiana's future,
something for which I am also responsible. Her standing would be
seriously impaired, if not ruined altogether by such a scurrilous
connection. It is doubtful even
your
money and position
could overcome such a scandal. You cannot expect me to be a part of
that!”

“Very well, I shall not ask. You already know
Georgiana's feelings on the matter. I would not risk her reputation
if she did not support me.”

“Darcy! Open your eyes! This will not go away
easily. Wickham will plague you into penury with blackmail and the
constant threat of exposing your wife's dishonorable history.”

“I disagree. If I find her in time, it will
be my word against his, which is worth very little in our circles,”
Darcy countered stubbornly. “I would not be the first in our
society to take advantage of a young lady's affection before
marriage.”

“There would still be talk, and you know
it.”

“And it will be forgot in time. There is
always some new tittle-tattle to divert the gossips. Perhaps
Caroline Lamb will favor us with another escapade,” he added
dryly.

Richard stared hard into Darcy's eyes. “You
are being a fool, Darcy, and you will drag the whole family into
scandal and disgrace with you! Give Pemberley to Wickham's child?
Madness fit only for Bedlam! I just pray that you come to your
senses before it is too late. Elizabeth Bennet could not possibly
be worth the price you will pay for this debacle!”

“Oh, she is, Richard,” Darcy met the stare
unwaveringly. “She is. I have only to find her in time.”

“There has to be some mistake,
Mr. Darcy,” Jane Bennet's passionate words came with more
force than Darcy had ever imagined her capable of. “She may have
been mistaken about Mr. Wickham's character, but as for your
appalling conclusion – Lizzy would never…she could never do such a
thing!”

“I apologize for speaking frankly,
Miss Bennet; but we must deal with the facts if we are to have
any hope of finding her; and time is too short for a greater degree
of delicacy.”

Disclosing the news that Elizabeth had never
been received at Magdalen House and the significant meaning behind
that fact had not been a pleasant task for Darcy. Although shocking
for everyone, Georgiana's response had been admirable as was
Bingley's, but it was Jane's reaction that sent a pang through
Darcy's heart. The look of determination now on her face was an
exact copy of Elizabeth's, right down to the stubborn lift of her
chin.

Seeking some distance from the painful
reminder, Darcy moved to the window and lifted his teacup to his
lips. It was nearly full, but the dark liquid which had been poured
at the outset of the visit was now disagreeably cold. As he set his
cup and saucer back onto the tray, he could see that any thoughts
of refreshment were long forgotten by everyone in the room.

“It cannot be true!” Jane insisted. Her grief
at the mounting evidence of Elizabeth's fallen state warred
painfully with the fierce loyalty shared by the two sisters. “She
would have said
something
to me before she left; some
indication of her trouble, I am certain of it!”

“Perhaps she had not the time. Who is to
say?” Darcy replied, coming to stand in front of Jane. “The best we
can do for your sister now is to find her. Can you not think of
anyone to whom she may have gone?”

“No! We know no one in London other than my
Aunt and Uncle Gardiner; and she is not with them. There is no one
else.”

“Try, Miss Bennet, try! For your father
to have sent her off so willingly there must be someone!” Darcy
pressed. “A distant relative or friend?”

“As you have seen, I know very little of
distant relatives. And as for friends, there are very few men whose
company my father enjoys. I have never heard him speak of any
friends other than those in Hertfordshire. He leads a very quiet
country life, only traveling occasionally on business matters.”

“But there may be someone who you may not
have thought of in this light – an old school chum from his
university days or a past acquaintance, for instance. You must
think! Perhaps there is some small detail you are forgetting!”

“No! I am not forgetting anything,
Mr. Darcy! Do you think I have not spent endless nights
re-living every moment of those last few days before Lizzy went
away, searching for some shred of information that would lead us to
her? I am…” her voice caught in her throat, a small sob escaping in
its place and Georgiana reached out a comforting hand, frowning at
her brother.

Bingley stepped forward at the realization
that Jane had gone quite pale. “Darcy, I daresay this is hard
enough for Miss Bennet. Shall we give it a bit of a rest for
the moment?”

“I quite agree,” Georgiana said and she
stood, eyeing Darcy meaningfully. “I think Miss Bennet and I
shall take a walk in the gardens. Will you please excuse us?”

“Excellent idea!” Bingley concurred, helping
Jane to her feet. “That will give Darcy and me time to discuss some
strategy. I think we should try again to trace
Miss Elizabeth's movements from the time she left Longbourn.
We can inquire at some of the coaching inns farther out. Someone is
bound to have seen two women traveling alone. Meanwhile, please
know that I shall not rest until we find Miss Elizabeth and
bring her home.”

Bingley escorted the two ladies to the door,
speaking with confidence even though he knew they had already
scoured the countryside and Darcy's disappointing trip to London
had eliminated their one clear lead.

Darcy stayed frozen in his place before the
sofa where Jane had been sitting, lost in thought. His mind worked
furiously to grasp the details of a forgotten memory now freed by
something Jane had said.
'He leads a very retired life, only
traveling occasionally for business.'
Darcy frowned
thoughtfully. Perhaps Mr. Bennet's travels had not been purely
business.

“Do not despair, dear Jane,” Georgiana
soothed in a low tone as they left the room, “I have every
confidence my brother and Mr. Bingley will find something
soon.”

“Thank you, Mr. Bingley, for what you
are doing,” Jane murmured. “I am very grateful and shall never
forget your kindness to my family.”

Bingley stood at the door with clenched
fists, watching the women stroll slowly down the corridor and out
to the gardens. He hated the wall that Jane had placed between
them. He missed her tender smile and easy manners that had won his
heart so completely.
Well
, he shook himself mentally,
I
cannot bring down the wall, but I can take away the sorrow in her
eyes by hastening Miss Elizabeth's return – and tempering
Darcy's methods.

Closing the door, Bingley turned to see Darcy
still deep in thought.

“What were you thinking?” he hissed.

“Hmm?”

“That relentless questioning of
Miss Bennet? What were you thinking? You nearly had her in
tears!”

“I am sorry,” Darcy offered absently. “That
was not my intention. I had hoped she would offer some clue, and I
think I have succeeded.”

“Darcy, what do you mean? I heard nothing
that would help us find Miss Elizabeth.”

“I did not want to say anything in front of
Miss Bennet or Georgiana; however, something was said that got
me thinking. Miss Bennet said her father did not do much with
social engagements, but he did travel occasionally. That brought to
mind an interesting bit of news which until now did not mean
anything to me.”

“You have my interest. Please go on.”

“Do you remember that day I was thrown from
my horse? While I was lying in the shrubbery, I happened to
overhear something interesting. It seems Mr. Bennet is
receiving letters from a
lady
– who is not
Mrs. Bennet
– by way of a place called Granley Cottage.
Do you know it?”

“Yes, I believe I do. It is a cottage on the
Bennet estate. Jane mentioned it last fall when we were walking. It
was part of the pension given to the widow of their old steward.
But what has Mr. Bennet's letters to do with
Miss Elizabeth?”

“I have spent the last several days racking
my brain for an answer of where she would go if not to Magdalen
House. I searched the charity houses in London and could not find
any evidence of her. If she did not go to London, she would still
need someplace where she was not known but under someone's care.
Perhaps Mr. Bennet's trips were not all business. If
Mr. Bennet is getting secret letters from a lady, it is very
likely he has a paramour. And if he is having an affair on the
side, it would make sense for him to send a daughter who is in
trouble to the one person who would be both sympathetic and
discreet.”

“Good Heavens! You were right not to say
anything in front of the ladies. What a shock it would be for Jane,
in particular. I will say that I am surprised to find
Mr. Bennet has a mistress, but then my life has been full of
surprises these past months.”

“For both of us, my friend,” Darcy
acknowledged bleakly.

“But this is excellent news!” Bingley
brightened. “All we have to do is find Mr. Bennet's doxy and
we find Jane's sister!”

“I do not think it as easy as that.”

“Why? What is to stop us now?”

“For one thing, if Mr. Bennet entrusted
the widow with his secret, I hardly think she is the kind to
willingly give up any information, especially to someone she does
not know; and I do not think it wise to give Miss Bennet any
more to worry about, especially as regards her father.”

“I certainly do not want to add to her
troubles,” Bingley's face darkened again, “but there must be some
way to get the information.”

“If you will allow me, I shall have Denham
look into it. A servant is much less intimidating than a gentleman
in such cases as this. Your staff here at Netherfield are all from
the neighborhood and the woman would certainly know them. It is not
likely she would risk her pension by bringing further misery down
upon the Bennet family.”