Author's Note: I apologise Ladies and Gentleman for not updating sooner, but life has been a trial lately and I have been unable to write.
This chapter takes place a month after Waking.
Thanks to Wendi Triplet Mom for her proof reading - all errors are my own.
Enjoy...
A roaring crowd
The roar from the street became deafening inside the courtroom, as Elizabeth sat nervously waiting for Mr Callaghan to enter. By the sound of the crowd that had gathered outside, he would be entering the room soon. She tapped her foot nervously against the wood floor as Jane squeezed her hand. Mr Bingley sat next to Jane waiting patiently for the ruling to be over, to her right separated by a chair sat Mr Darcy. She could see the distaste in his features in being here, to his far right sat a distant Lady Callaghan. Below them sat members of the public here to see the ruling. All thoughts were stilled as the door to the courtroom opened.
Two men dragged a malnourished, dirty Mr Callaghan into the courtroom; Jane tightened her grip on Elizabeth's hand.
"Who would have thought a month could change someone so drastically." Jane whispered.
Elizabeth nodded in agreement. With his pale skin, blood shot eyes, and the dramatic decrease in his weight, Mr Callaghan was no longer the proud, imposing gentleman he once was. He now was a quivering wreck of a man, barely able to stand. With his torn clothing hanging limply from his battered body, and the chains seeming too heavy for his frail wrists, he appeared to be nothing more than a skeleton waiting for his sentence.
She watched as his eyes darted to where Mr Darcy sat.
"Mr Callaghan you are charged with murder and illegal duelling on more than one occasion." Judge Hallow said.
As she watched Callaghan turn his eyes to his mother; Elizabeth felt a pang of sympathy for the man as the lady refused to acknowledge her own son.
"How do you plea?" The judge continued.
His sunken dark eyes turned to Elizabeth, sending shivers down her spine, but she refused to look away from him.
"Guilty," he answered, his eyes cutting deep into her soul.
The court erupted in anger at his answer, he shrugged off the insults. His eyes remained fixed on Elizabeth as she hid her face from him with the excuse of talking to her sister.
"Order! Order!" The court calmed. "By the power bestowed upon me by the Crown, I hear by condemn you, Lucas Callaghan, to the gallows!" The hammer colliding with wood became the final verdict on his life. Justice would be served.
The two men who had dragged Mr Callaghan in, dragged him away from the courtroom. Elizabeth was not sure if she would see him again.
~~~~~~~Brawls & Duels ~~~~~~~
As Elizabeth handed her coat to the footman, she felt an emptiness form in the pit of stomach. Never in her life had she wished someone dead and she doubted very much she could watch someone hang. Regardless of her feelings for Mr Callaghan, the thought of his being sentenced to die made her sick.
A month had passed since she had seen Mr Darcy; she had spoken with her father and he told her of the regard Mr Darcy had for her. She felt slightly angered by her father's behaviour and how he had dealt with Mr Darcy, but she saw sense in his judgement. Her feelings have changed for Mr Darcy dramatically over the few weeks they spent together and now she was in London, as promised, with the hope that he would court her.
Although Mr Darcy had promised to not to speak to her before a month had gone, due to the hearing of Mr Callaghan they met one another three weeks after Mr Darcy had left Netherfield. She had not spoken with him in the courtroom because she was too busy controlling her emotions, but she could see that he was in a dark mood. She understood it to be due to the sentence of Mr Callaghan.
It took only three hearings before they chose to sentence Mr Callaghan to death. Elizabeth felt sad knowing his family chose to ignore him and disown him. She had heard that both Lady Callaghan and Arthur Callaghan stood to inherit everything once Lucas died.
She felt Jane's hand squeeze her shoulder and noticed Mr Bingley head for the nursery. Jane had given birth two days after Mr Darcy left, a baby boy, Thomas Bingley. She knew Mr Bingley spent much time in the nursery, Elizabeth also spent time with her nephew he was so tiny and sweet. Many times at night she would hear the chaos of the household as young Thomas Bingley cried.
"Come, Lizzy," Jane said guiding her younger sister upstairs to Elizabeth's room. "You look so pale, do sit."
Jane directed Elizabeth to the most comfortable chair in her room. As she rang for tea, she watched her sister stare into space, lost in thought. It was a certainty that the trial of Mr Callaghan had taken a toll on Elizabeth. She could tell that her sister had not been sleeping well lately because of it, though she also knew that was, in part, due to young Thomas crying at night..
Though Jane despised no one, she did not like Mr Callaghan, especially after the harm he had caused. Whether she wished the man dead, she knew not, but she did not like to see her sister so upset, and did wish there to be another way.
So that she could speak to Elizabeth alone, Jane dismissed the servant and set to pouring the tea herself.
"Here, Lizzy, drink this." Jane handed a cup of tea to Elizabeth, who took it gratefully.
"I am so confused Jane," Elizabeth began. "I do not know what to feel."
Jane remained silent, knowing better than to interrupt Elizabeth's train of thought. Their father had told Jane that Mr Darcy wished to court Elizabeth. Under normal circumstances, Jane would have taken this as good news, but at the present time she was unsure whether or not it was. Elizabeth's feelings were under a great deal of strain; not only did she have to deal with Mr Callaghan, but also had yet to fully understand her feelings for Mr Darcy.
"I do not want Mr Callaghan to hang Jane," Elizabeth whispered. "I know what he has done is wrong, but I cannot wish him dead."
"You do not wish him dead, Lizzy, but the choice is not in your hands. Mr Callaghan will be hanged for the crimes he has committed; there is nothing you can do."
"I am powerless then, Jane?" Elizabeth asked. Jane noticed the teasing glint in her eyes and smiled; her sister was returning to normal.
"Yes, you are powerless, Lizzy, but only in the case of Mr Callaghan." Jane teased.
Elizabeth met her sister's eyes, puzzled. "What are you playing at, Jane?"
"Father told me of Mr Darcy and his wish to court you."
"He didn't!"
"He did, as you well know during your time in London, Charles and I are your guardians."
"I could not expect any two people who would be more lenient." Elizabeth smirked.
"What are your feelings for Mr Darcy, Lizzy? Are you in favour of him and father's idea for courting you?"
"Jane I would not be here if I did not want Mr Darcy to court me."
"And your feelings for him?"
"I am unsure Jane. When papa had told me that he had sent Mr Darcy away, I was angry at him, now though..."
"Now?" Jane asked eager.
"I do not know, I understand the reasons for sending him away and I missed Mr Darcy a great deal, but..."
"What is it, Lizzy? Have your feelings changed?"
"I am afraid Jane." Elizabeth murmured.
"Afraid of what?"
"What if Mr Darcy has found someone else since his departure? He was so cold and uninviting when we saw him at court."
"As were you," Jane reminded her.
"Yes as was I, but..."
"You think too much, Lizzy. Remember you had not seen Mr Darcy since Rosings and he returns to Netherfield still wishing to win you, despite your refusal. Does this sound like a man who would easily forget you?"
"No."
"Still your thoughts for the time being, Lizzy. Mr Darcy still wishes to keep his promise to our father, which is why he did not talk to you."
"You may be right."
"I think you should give Mr Darcy a chance Lizzy; he cares a great deal for you," Jane said. "Let's just hope our mother does not find out that Mr Darcy is courting you."
"Yes, it may drive him away once and for all." Elizabeth smiled. She still could not get rid of the nagging feeling that something had been bothering Mr Darcy at the court hearing. Jane had made a point though, and she would be foolish to judge him.
"Why do you not go and see our aunt and uncle tomorrow, Lizzy. You have no reason to go to Mr Callaghan's hanging."
"Yes, I have not seen our aunt and uncle for some time I think it would do me good to get out the house," Elizabeth agreed. "Tell me, Jane, will I be given a curfew?"
"It depends if all your spare time is spent with Mr Darcy or not. I do have little faith in either of you."
"What do you expect me to do, Jane, when I am with Mr Darcy?" Elizabeth questioned.
Jane smiled.
"Lizzy do you remember the conversation we had with mother about marriage duties?"
"It is hard to forget! I believe it was one of the most embarrassing moments in my life."
"I think it is time for me to inform you of the parts mother left out." Elizabeth paled, she cannot be in earnest. "I am serious Lizzy." Jane said knowing her sister full well to know what was passing through her mind.
