Darcy's Temptation (28 page)

Miss Donnelly began to shake with anger and embarrassment. “You do not intend to marry me?” Her words hung in the air.

“I considered the matter, and it does not seem to be in our mutual interest to do so.”

She started to continue her protest when she caught the movement out of the corner of her eye. Full of rage and mortification, Elizabeth Donnelly turned to see Conrad standing in the shadows. He rose from his pallet on the floor and stood mesmerized by the melodrama playing out in front of him. “You!” she screamed, pointing a gloved finger in his direction. “Why are you lurking about in Mr. Donnelly's room? Speak, man, don't stand there like a mute.”

Her glare intensified as Conrad shifted his weight under her stare. He stammered, trying to compose an answer to an obvious question. Mr. Donnelly did not trust the household staff nor did he trust her. Before he committed an ultimate sin of speaking out unceremoniously to his employer, Darcy stepped forward, placing himself between Elizabeth Donnelly and his manservant. “Control yourself, Madam,” he demanded in a harsh whisper. “You are making a scene. It is bad enough you entered my bedchamber uninvited; now you propose to complicate the matter by announcing to the staff your indiscretion. Have you no shame?You prove my point with this display. I assure you Conrad's silence in this matter, but if you do not leave now, your actions will readily become public knowledge. Now, I suggest you leave my room posthaste. We will never speak of this incident again. Do I make myself clear?”

Darcy's head remained only inches from her upturned face. A stranger coming upon the scene might think he stumbled upon a moment of intimacy between a man and a woman; however, Darcy felt nothing but contempt for the lady standing in front of him. He fought hard to keep that emotion out of his voice when next he spoke. “Conrad will escort you
back to your room, Miss Donnelly. Have a pleasant evening.” He placed his hand on her elbow to guide her toward the bedroom door, opening it precipitously. With a flick of his wrist, he motioned for Conrad to escort his employer back to her bedroom.

“I do not want that man near me,” she demanded as she looked back at the truly stunned servant.

“Then I will summon your maid.” Darcy pretended to pacify her.“Of course, that will add to your duplicity. I guarantee Conrad's loyalty to this estate and to your family; I cannot speak as such for the other servants. Now, do you still wish for me to summon your maid? I suppose if you insist, I could escort you wrapped in my bedclothes, but I do not see how that will nullify the situation.What shall it be, Madam?”

Shocked, she shrieked at the top of her lungs, pulled the gloves from her hands, threw them on the floor at her feet, and heavily stamped to her room. As instructed, Conrad followed at a respectful distance until she entered her chambers and slammed the door.

 

Miss Donnelly sat at the desk of her study. She had not seen Darcy all day. He took breakfast in his rooms. She must think of some way out of this mess; her mind raced, looking for a solution. If she could not seduce Darcy, he would not marry her; then where would she be? Her thoughts dwelt on the embarrassment of the previous night, and she was unaware of the maid's presence at the door.

“Miss Donnelly,” the maid said, waiting for the mistress's attention before continuing. “There is a gentleman from Kent to see you.”

Shaking the cobwebs from her mind, she said,“Send him in.”

The short, pudgy clergyman entered the study and made Miss Donnelly an ostentatious bow. “Miss Donnelly, I am Mr. William Collins. Your request through my father Sir William
Lucas to officiate over your nuptials honored me.To marry the son of a lord is a rare distinction.”

“Ah, Mr. Collins.” Miss Donnelly made him a curtsy. “I forgot you arrived today.” She tried to put on a face of confidence, but Miss Donnelly wondered what to do with Mr. Collins now that Darcy rejected her advances.

“Of course, I came as quickly as possible. My esteemed patroness Lady Catherine de Bourgh of Rosings Park kindly released me of my duties this week so I might attend to your needs. My curate will deliver my sermon to my flock at Hunsford tomorrow.” Mr. Collins spoke quickly, trying to impress with his connections. “We may do the ceremony early Monday morning.”

“Mr. Collins,” she finally interrupted his speech,“my cousin and I wish to marry immediately.We were to marry previously, but armed highwaymen attacked Frederick, forcing us to postpone.” Why she just did not admit there would be no marriage even surprised her.

“How awful,” Collins gasped.“I assume your cousin is with health now.”

“He is recovering quite well, thank you.” She offered him a seat.“May I offer you some refreshments, Mr. Collins?”

“No, thank you, Miss Donnelly. Might I, however, meet your intended? I believe it is part of my responsibility as a spiritual leader to counsel my charges. Lady Catherine de Bourgh highly agrees this to be a part of my duties. In fact, she encourages it. I am currently providing such services to her daughter Miss Anne de Bourgh and her intended Colonel Fitzwilliam, who is actually the son of Lord and Lady Matlock.”

Miss Donnelly thought she never saw such a pompous nincompoop in her life, but if she could still convince Darcy to marry her, she would tolerate anything. So, did it matter whether Darcy would visit her bedroom or not? That activity did not particularly interest her anyway. She would approach it
as a business deal; Darcy would marry her, and she would give him part of the inheritance.There was still hope this could be resolved.About that time Darcy came down the main staircase. She quickly moved to the study's door and called to him. “Frederick, would you come here a moment? I have someone who wishes to meet you.”

Darcy rolled his eyes at her request, but he did as she asked. He entered the doorway of the study and said, “Yes, Madam.”

Mr. Collins jumped to his feet expecting to see a refined gentleman, but the surprise of seeing Fitzwilliam Darcy standing in the doorway froze the man in place. He knew from Lady Catherine and from his wife's family in Hertfordshire that Darcy had been missing for five weeks.To find him here in Brigg actually stifled Collins. “Frederick, this is Mr. William Collins. Mr. Collins, this is my cousin, Frederick Donnelly.”

Darcy, much to Collins's surprise, did not change his expression. He made a quick bow before speaking. “Mr. Collins, welcome to Darling Hall. I am afraid, Sir, you caught me at an inopportune time; I must excuse myself. I am sure my cousin will entertain you nicely.” Before anyone could respond, Darcy left the room and the house.

Miss Donnelly tried to cover her embarrassment. Obviously, Darcy's anger had not subsided.“My cousin is very busy with the estate,” she stammered.

“Your cousin?” Mr. Collins's voice rose in disbelief. “That man is not your cousin!”

“You are mistaken, Sir. That man is my cousin Frederick Donnelly.” She forced her voice to remain even.

“Madam,” Collins said as he began to pace the floor, “that man is Fitzwilliam Darcy, the Master of Pemberley, the nephew of my esteemed patroness Lady Catherine de Bourgh. What kind of deceit are you trying to practice here?” His accusations hit Miss Donnelly fully, and she steadied herself with the back of the chair.

Repeating her earlier remark, she mumbled. “You are mistaken, Sir. He is my cousin Frederick.”

“Madam, he is my cousin! Mr. Darcy is married to my cousin Elizabeth Bennet from Longbourn. It is an estate entailed to me upon her father's death.What makes you think I know not this man?”

Miss Donnelly whispered in disbelief,“He is married?”

“My cousin Elizabeth is with child,” Collins added triumphantly.

“Mr. Collins,” Miss Donnelly recovered quickly,“I will have my men bring my coach to take you back into town.” She rang the bell for a maid.

“Miss Donnelly,” he began to protest, but the woman left the room without even a by-your-leave.Within seconds, a staff member ushered him from the room and the house. Collins had no opportunity to speak to Darcy again.

Jane Austen,
Pride and Prejudice
, 1813

Darcy rode the horse hard across the lands surrounding Darling Hall; agitation remained from the previous night. He had not slept after physically removing Miss Donnelly from his room. Her desperation meant he must be cautious. Having the foresight to have Conrad sleep in his rooms saved him last night. He would continue to do so. That would stymie her efforts to seduce him into marriage.

He pulled up the horse and dismounted. Looking back at the house from the rise to the left, he could see Miss Donnelly's coach leaving with the man he met in the study. This Mr. Collins was dressed as a clergyman so Miss Donnelly, obviously, had not abandoned her plans for marriage. The image of the woman standing in his room last night sent revulsion pulsing through his body.“She actually wore gloves to my bedroom,” he muttered.“How could I even consider marriage to such a woman?”

Momentarily, Darcy thought of marrying Miss Donnelly and immediately having her committed for the mentally inept, but he knew that would mean being married until her death—even if she were no longer in the home. No, he simply wanted away from her—away from Darling Hall. The problem he faced was a lack of funds.

Darcy had nothing. Even the horse he rode belonged to the estate. If he took the horse, even with a promise to return it, Miss Donnelly would likely send the constable after him.That certainly would not get him back into good graces with his father, and his belongings left from the robbery were of little value for selling. Darcy's quandary—his escape from the situation in which he found himself—rested in a positive response from his father. He would simply delay his departure from Darling Hall until the fateful letter arrived.

The thing that shook his being, even more this morning than his confrontation with Miss Donnelly last night, was the dream in which he was lost to the woman. Darcy knew it was the same woman—the woman of whom he dreamed each night. Only last night, he finally saw her in the dream—not just felt her presence—actually saw her face. Next to him, the woman was petite and lilt, and his thoughts of her body next to his sent sensations coursing through him even now. If he could possess such a woman, then he thought he could feel contentment.

 

Mr. Collins's departure sent Miss Donnelly into a tailspin. She knew it would be only a matter of days before someone knew of her plans. What would she do then? Needless to say, Mr. Collins would send a dispatch to Mr. Darcy's real family, and then she would be found out. So, for several days she hid in her room, expecting Mr. Darcy and his loved ones to demand to see her.Yet, a week passed without notice, and she eventually returned to her usual routine, although she still avoided Darcy.

Had she known more of Mr. Collins she would know he did report seeing Mr. Darcy to his family. He told the person to whom he owed his living: Mr. Collins told Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Lady Catherine determined if her nephew wished to leave Elizabeth Bennet for a more appropriate match, then who was she to interfere. After all, her nephew demanded she stay out of his personal affairs, and, on this, she would honor his
wishes.Therefore, no one knew of Darcy's whereabouts but his aunt and her faithful servant Mr. Collins.

First, Mr. Harrison came to the estate to help the ladies with the running of Pemberley. A few days later, Jane and Mr. Bingley reappeared. Finally, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Anne came to stay. Although Elizabeth appreciated their kindness upon her behalf, part of her wanted them to just go away. Darcy had been missing for nearly six weeks, and Elizabeth's nerves frayed with the effort to maintain her composure.