Chapter 17 A Long Journey Home
Fitzwilliam Darcy entered White's with some apprehensiveness. He had received a summon he could not well refuse but he did not relish the thought of having a private conversation with the duke. Elizabeth had not mentioned her ancestry since the Matlocks Twelfth Night ball. She had dismissed the notion as implausible and had thought no more about it or so he thought...
He had waited for her to bring it up but she had not.
Darcy himself did not know what to think. It could lead to all sorts of difficulties if Elizabeth was proved to be the illegitimate daughter of the duchess. It could seriously damage their children's future prospects, not the forget Georgiana's current ones. He knew what he hoped but his gut feeling was not agreeing.
He looked around in the darkened location, it was late in the evening. There were no flames from the hearth lighting the room this summer night, a few candles did not suffice in a room with so little windows.
Several of the regulars were already deep in their cups but it was the words of Lord Jersey that had caught his attention. George Child Villiers, the fifth Earl of Jersey had married Lady Sara Fane, now the Countess of Jersey and sole heir to her grandfather Robert Childs estate and banking imperium.
The rumour mills had ran rampant about an affair between the lady and a certain Henry John Temple, third Viscount Palmerstone.
Darcy was genuinely uninterested in gossip but when one of the other gentlemen had the audacity to question the Earl himself, about his wife's extramarital affairs, his attention was involuntarily engaged.
The gentleman urged the Earl to call out Viscount Palmerstone to the field of honour. The Earl replied wryly that if he were to call out all his wife's lovers, it would require him to fight every gentleman in London.
Another inebriated gentleman called out that he wished his wife had received at least one lover, albeit he would prefer it to be himself. A third offered him his own wife who he referred to as the dead log. It was an advancement from the screaming on their wedding night but not by much...
"You are awfully quiet over there, Mr Darcy. No tales on your feisty country maiden to share?" A man he vaguely knew as Mr Cowles, inquired. Darcy sent him a haughty scowl that would make any sensible man cower but Mr Cowles was not one of those... Darcy was saved from putting the man in his place by the approaching Duke of Lincoln. The thought of airing his private affairs was quite repugnant to him...
"Excuse me, Gentlemen." Darcy bowed and followed the Duke who had secured a private parlour for the two. He was alone save the servants who were busy arranging several dishes on the table. It was obvious the duke did not expect the matter to be resolved quickly.
He dismissed the servants as soon as the plates were arranged and ordered them to leave the bottles of wine. They could serve themselves.
"I had expected to hear from you a long time ago, Mr Darcy, but I cannot in good conscience delay the matter any further."
"I am at a loss of what you are referring to, your Grace."
The duke's head snapped up and scrutinised his dinner companion for several minutes. The silence became awkward and Darcy fought not to squirm in his seat.
"I believe you are a sensible man, Mr Darcy. I understand your approach, I really do but times may come were you need to know. What is your wife's opinion on the matter."
Darcy took his time answering. Duke or not, his main loyalty was towards his wife.
"I would say she is in a state of denial."
"That is understandable," the duke replied.
The duke was being convivial which coincided with the impression Darcy had made in his previous encounters with him. He decided more openness was necessary. Hoping Elizabeth would forgive him, discussing such private affairs with essentially a stranger.
"My wife may not have a close relationship with her mother but she shares a tight connection with her father. I suspect that has some bearing in her lack of inquisitiveness."
"She has nothing to worry about. Mr Bennet is her father."
"How is that even possible."
"You are an honourable man, Mr Darcy. Mr Bennet was not. He might have redeemed himself over the latter years but in the year of 1791 he was not."
Mr Darcy had finished his soup and helped himself to some meat and vegetables, waiting for the Duke to continue.
"My man has visited annually over the years, I have had no reports of any trouble but you understand why I could not take her in..."
Dread filled Darcy for the first time. 'Could the lackadaisical Mr Bennet have forced himself on the young duchess? Had she been betrothed to the duke at the time?'
"I can see where your thought tend and I can assure you are wrong with your worst assumption, although I do believe he holds most of the responsibility...
They met in the early summer of 1791. Mr Bennet came riding on his stallion and swiped Vivienne off her feet. She was utterly besotted with the more mature man that was visiting her older brother. He must have been around your age while she was six and ten.
We had been promised to each other since our infancy, Vivienne and I. I am two years her senior and hardly needed shaving back then.
I truly believe he was infatuated with her as well.
He had been trapped into a marriage the year previous. I know because he lamented the fact loudly enough to anyone who would listen. The lady had acted brazenly and had delivered a daughter a few months after the marriage. In that instant she had been within her rights to demand the marriage it would seem.
Vivienne succumbed to his advances once, he left and the repercussions soon became obvious to us who knew her. It was not decided until the baby was born what to do. By happenstance, I really do not know all the details but Vivienne was in Lambton with some distant relatives of the Duke Devonshire when she delivered a healthy baby girl."
"Who was she staying with in Lambton?"
"Reverend Cavendish, he has long since passed."
"I remember him from my childhood."
It was a strange thought that Elizabeth had been born merely five miles from him, in his eighth year.
"Circumstances was such that Mrs Bennet delivered a stillborn boy, a month before Vivienne's daughter was born. Mr Bennet wanted the child and it was arranged for her to live with her father and be raised as their own. Mrs Bennet had been prostrate with grief and had accepted no callers since the death of her son. The child's small stature was explained by being part of a set of twins. They are usually smaller when they have shared a womb.
Mrs Bennet had nursed her oldest daughter but grief can drive away a mothers milk which is how they explained the need for a wet nurse for your wife.
She was handed over to a wet nurse in the Longbourn village and lived there for a year or two. Mrs Bennet was soon pregnant with their third child and did not collect Mrs Darcy until the third one was weaned.
To quell any rumours around Vivienne's sickness we married a month after the child was born. No one would believe that the son of a duke would marry someone who was ruined. Even if I was the second son..."
"Yet you did."
"Yes, it might seem strange but I love my wife, Mr Darcy which is something I suspect you can relate to. Better yet, my wife loves me."
"It is the greatest blessing, to be loved by one's wife, your Grace."
"It truly is.."
The duke fell into deep thoughts, Darcy was loathed to disturb him.
"My wife has a rather substantial dowry from an unknown source..."
"Has?" The duke questioned.
"Yes, I did not know of it before long after we became betrothed. I have left it up to her, what she wants to do with the money. She has decided to leave the capital and the interest in the four per cent for our future daughters.
Growing up believing she had only the small portion of her mother's, forgive me, Mrs Bennet's dowry. With the threat of being thrown into the hedgerows by her father's distant cousin when the unfortunate event would happen have made my wife cautious with her spending."
"It was I that provided her with a dowry. Despite wanting to conceal my identity, it was never my intention that it should be kept a secret."
"Elizabeth questioned Mr Bennet about the dowry but he denied any knowledge. Mr Gardiner might have concealed the facts to protect the capital from both Mr and Mrs Bennet. Longbourn's income is about two thousand a year, yet there are no dowries for their daughters. Personally, I believe the land likely could yield more if it had been exploited to its full potential..."
"There was no reason to conceal the dowry. I made sure only Mrs Darcy or her future husband could withdraw from the account."
"Did Mr Gardiner know?"
"Yes."
"It will only be speculation until I have spoken to Mr Bennet, perhaps even then, but the only explanation I can come up with is to protect Elizabeth from her stepmother's wrath. I admit I do not understand why you provided the dowry."
"Guilty conscience, I suppose. Abandoning the child that is my wife's blood but I had no choice."
"No, you did not. I commence your forbearance in this, your Grace. You could have walked away and never looked back at either Elizabeth nor her mother."
"Every day I spend with my wife, Mr Darcy, is worth more turmoil than you could probably imagine. I have no regrets.
You might wonder after so many years of concealment, avoiding social engagements, we attended the Matlocks ball?"
"Yes, the thought has crossed my mind."
"I asked Elizabeth at the ball in honour of your wedding and she said that you had to decline because you were to spend Christmas at Pemberley."
"It was our plan initially but my cousin's wedding altered our plans."
"I never thought that this issue would ever arise with the child reared on a small estate in rural Hertfordshire. Mr Bennet promised to keep his daughter away from the ballrooms in London but you found her anyway..."
A rare smile appeared on Mr Darcy's countenance. "I did..."
"The question is what to do next. It can be difficult for the both of us if this becomes common knowledge. Mrs Darcy does not resemble her sister, Mrs Bingley."
"No but neither of the Bennet daughters resemble each other much but Mrs Bingley is the only fair daughter. Elizabeth is dark but so is two of her other sisters while the third is something in between. There is another matter that can confirm suspicions, should gossip arise and that is Elizabeth's middle name. It is Vivienne..."
"Could be explained by Mr Bennet knowing her brother, the Marques of Montgomery."
"I believe it will be of our interest to conceal that fact. If he knew the brother, it is a small step to connect him to the sister."
"Those who attended Oxford at the time Mr Bennet was studying will know. It was there he met Montgomery."
"I am surprised my aunt, the Countess of Matlock have not made the connection."
"She has, Lady Aubrey is Vivienne's aunt. She has always known. It was she Vivienne turned to when she discovered she was pregnant."
"My aunt must have known from the minute I sent the letter about Miss Elizabeth Bennet from Hertfordshire. We were invited to dinner immediately after we arrived in London. I thought that was strange, I had honestly expected my relation to oppose to the match, not invite us to dinner.
I wonder if my uncle and Lady Catherine knew or was my aunt testing them to see if they saw the resemblance?
It seems like I still have more questions than answers. I need to process this, ask Mr Bennet some questions but first and foremost, I need to speak to my wife..."
The duke nodded his consent and Darcy left soon after.
Darcy entered his townhouse, looking for his wife. He found her in the library, pacing back and forth.
"There you are, please help me see the reason behind this."
She waved a letter in the air. Darcy's felt his stomach drop, was it already known? Was that the real reason the Duke summoned him?
"Lydia will not come to Pemberley. She is having so much fun. What fun is there to be had in Newcastle that she cannot have at Pemberley? I do not understand..."
Darcy tried to hide his sigh of relief.
"I do not know but Lydia's perception of what is fun might be vastly different from mine. What I know of Newcastle is that it is a rather dusty from the coal but it has a large print centre and produce flint glass. I suspect there is more entertainment to be had in a larger town but...
She has the companionship of the other wives with their husbands gone into battle. Those kinds of circumstances may have created a special bond between the remaining wives who support and comfort each other. The Fenham Barracks is new, completed in 1806, I believe. It might not be as dreary as we imagine."
Elizabeth moved toward Darcy, enfolded him in a fierce embrace and lay her head on his chest.
"You always say the right words to comfort me."
Darcy could not help a chuckle escaping his lips.
"Do I need to remind you of a Greek folly at Rosings or an assembly in Meryton?"
"No, I remember you said you loved me most ardently at the folly and something about poetry being the food of love at the assembly. Would you read me some poetry, Fitzwilliam?"
"Perhaps later, Elizabeth. I have a long story to relate and I have to get it off my chest."
Darcy led his wife to the wingback chair before the cold hearth. Pulled her to his lap and enveloped her in his arms. Elizabeth rested her head on his shoulder and settled in, to listen to the long and sordid tale of her ancestry.
Their plans of a speedy trip to Longbourn was thwarted in the early hours of the morning when sharp and incessant raps of the knocker on their door was heard. Darcy leapt to his feet, thinking it was some kind of emergency. He wrapped a robe around his person and hastened down the stairs.
A familiar voice greeted him as he approached through the hallway.
"Let me in man, before someone sees me and create a scandal."
A dishevelled Viscount Cromford met him just inside the door.
"Whatever happened to you?"
"My wife happened. The old hag has locked me out of my own house."
"She cannot do that, it is, as you say, your house!"
"She can and she has. When I came home after a night at White's, the knocker was down and a footman I did not recognise, shouted through the door that I was not welcome. She has gone too far this time, Darcy.
I am tired of quarrelling with her. She suffers from the green-eyed monster, her jealousy is as suffocating as it is unfathomable. She has no interest in me other than limiting my movements. She nags ceaselessly about who I encounter, talk to, have seen or even thought about. I have never strayed Darcy, it is not in my nature..."
"Really?"
"Do not give me that incredulous look, cousin. I have never given you any reason to believe so."
"Come, let us sequester ourselves in my study. This is a conversation better had in private."
Darcy and the Viscount strode to the study and shut the door.
"You are a notorious flirt, cousin. Even my own wife felt the awkwardness of the moment when you offered to escort her to the theatre and Vauxhall, without me..."
"I did not believe you would trouble yourself with attending events you do not particularly enjoy. I was offering her the service of a cousin to escort her, that is all. If I wanted to cuckold someone, Darcy, I can assure you that it would not have been you."
"That is a relief to know but it does not solve your problem."
"No, it does not. I have had it, Darcy. I am at my wits end with that infuriating woman."
"Have you ever tried to woo her?"
"Fancy hearing that from the most socially inept man I know."
"I admit I stumbled a little in the beginning and did not actually woo my wife until after we had become betrothed but I believe I have redeemed myself since."
"Of course, I have wooed her. I have taken her to the theatre, Vauxhall, Balls and parties. She watches me like a hawk and picks a fight as soon as I turn my head in the opposite direction. It is exhausting..."
"You have wooed her under the scrutinising eyes of the ton. Why not take her somewhere you two can be alone. I highly recommend it."
The Viscount eyed his cousin searchingly.
"You have changed."
"Yes, a happy marriage will do that to you too, if you let it."
"What do you suggest I do."
"I will have Mrs Murray ready a room for you. We will wait until the visiting hours, the knocker will surely be up then. You should fire the footman who denied his master entrance and whisk your wife away to your country estate. Spend some time with her alone, no visitors or other distractions.
Take her out on picnics, walks or ride across the fields. Watch sunset or sunrises with her. Take her for a swim in a river, anything you can think of that will afford you some time in each other's exclusive company."
"Does it work?"
Darcy just smiled, he had admitted more than he had wanted with his suggestions.
"Will you come with me when I challenge the dragon?"
"Yes, but I would work on my appellations if I were you. No lady wants to be referred to as the dragon. I keep that an honour solely owned by our aunt Catherine."
The Viscount and Viscountess was on their way to Cromford by the afternoon. Darcy hoped it was not too late to salvage their marriage.
Longbourn
There were no squeals or running footsteps when their carriage came to a halt at Longbourn. It was suspiciously quiet, Elizabeth wondered if her parents were at home which was strange as it had been decided months ago that they would collect Mary and Kitty on their way north. Mary was to stay at Bellevue while Kitty was coming to Pemberley with them.
Mrs Hill materialised at the door and led them to a back parlour.
Mrs Bennet was entertaining Lady Lucas and her sister Mrs Phillips. They were talking animatedly, no wonder they had not heard the carriage approaching.
Elizabeth heard her mother lament on Mary's none exciting marriage prospects, spending most of her days at the orphanage. She made it sound like the trip north had been her idea to find a husband. Not to forget the neglect she suffered herself from her selfish daughter.
It was unlikely she would spend more time with her mother as a married woman but Elizabeth was not going to mention that. She knew Mrs Bennet would be at loss for purpose if both her remaining daughters should find suitors on their sojourn to Bellevue and Pemberley. It was unlikely Kitty would prefer to stay at Longbourn like Mary did not seem to mind.
"Mr Darcy and Mrs Darcy, mam." Mrs Hill announced as they walked through the door.
"Mrs Darcy, come sit by us and tell us about your travels to such an exotic country. You have come at a fortuitous moment, I am sure Lady Lucas and Mrs Phillips are as eager as I to hear your news."
Mr Darcy bowed to the ladies and exited the room in search for Mr Bennet. He was confident he could find him by himself at his usual sanctuary.
The Darcys had decided that Fitzwilliam would speak to her father alone. She was not ready to relinquish the childhood she had known her entire life as somewhat of the backdrop of a play. In addition, she thought it might be easier for him to be completely honest in front of Mr Darcy.
Mr Darcy knocked on the door to Mr Bennet's study. He entered at Mr Bennet's invitation, it was obvious by the expression on the patriarch's countenance that Mr Darcy was not whom he had expected.
"Mr Darcy, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit today? Is not Lizzy with you?"
"Elizabeth is in the back parlour with Mrs Bennet, Lady Lucas and Mrs Phillips."
"She got waylaid by the three musketeers, poor thing but I am glad it is not me. Are you staying long in the neighbourhood?"
"No, we are on our way back to Pemberley but we will make an extended stop at Bellevue on the way. The sisters have not seen each other for a while and Elizabeth is planning to help Jane through her confinement.
As agreed, we are here to collect Kitty and Mary."
"Right, give my daughter and son my blessings, I sincerely hope everything goes well. If I know my Jane, she will deliver her child with a serene smile and little fuss. A healthy, seven-pound boy...
I see you have something on your chest, Mr Darcy."
"I spoke to the Duke of Lincoln a few days ago. He had an interesting tale to tell."
"I was young and foolish."
'If that was the case, Mr Darcy had some time left to act foolishly. Mr Bennet had been at least as old he was now, if not older.'
"We have all been young," Darcy replied none committedly.
"You do not admit to having been foolish, Mr Darcy?"
"Not that I can remember."
Mr Bennet laughed.
"No, I can easily imagine a solemn young lad, walking the grounds of Pemberley."
'He had not been a solemn young lad, not until his mother died. Mr Bennet could not know and neither was he in the mood to elaborate.
The purpose of his visit became blurry. Who was he to judge? He had been tested for two days at Sanditon and had succumbed to drink on the third.
Not as much as his condition would necessitate but still.'
"May we send for Elizabeth?"
Mr Bennet rang the bell and ordered Elizabeth to be brought to his study by Mrs Hill.
She came with Mrs Bennet hot in her heels. Elizabeth seated herself next to her husband.
"Mr Bennet, I am entertaining Lady Lucas and Mrs Phillips, it is not polite to rob us of our main source of amusement."
Mr Bennet looked imploringly at his wife who withered before their eyes.
"She knows?"
Mr Bennet nodded.
"Why would you conceal such an important matter from me? It is unfathomable."
Mrs Bennet went to Elizabeth's side and looked her in the eyes.
"It took me a long time to come to terms with your existence, Elizabeth. When I did, I wanted you to feel like a part of the family not the bastard daughter of your father and his liaison. Your father agreed to my demands of keeping your ancestry a secret. I would not subject you or myself to the derision of society, should it become known."
"Understandable, I suppose..."
"I have to see to my guests, excuse me." Mrs Bennet said and left the room to its awkward silence.
Elizabeth thought she should have had questions to ask but her mind was blank. She felt her husband lay his hand upon hers and squeeze, it made her decide on her course of action.
"I want to go home to Pemberley. I cannot change the past and the future may hold some challenges should this ever become known. I wonder why you did not found it prudent to warn neither myself nor Mr Darcy of the perils we faced by entering London's society, father. You must have known we could happen upon another unawares."
"Would you have accepted Mr Darcy, if you had known you were an illegitimate child? Would Mr Darcy have married you, had he known? I do not know but I wanted better for you, Elizabeth. Perhaps I am a despicable old fool, I am not the right man to judge. I have acted how I thought would be best with a situation entirely of my own doing but a difficult one."
"I would have married your daughter no matter the impediments, Mr Bennet."
Mr Bennet inclined his head. The Darcys rose and collected Mary and Kitty before they left.
"Take me home to Pemberley."
"Should we not stop at Bellevue to welcome the new Bingley into the world."
Elizabeth sighed. How could she forget that her own sister was nearing her confinement was beyond her...
"I meant Bellevue, at least it is not so far from home..."
"No, it is conveniently close. I hope you will visit us at Pemberley as well, Mary. We are planning to invite the Bingleys to celebrate Christmas with us."
"Certainly, Mr Darcy. I have heard much praise of Pemberley. I will be delighted."
Mary was a pleasant travelling companion if you were not fond of conversation. She spent the days with her nose in a book, although the book was no longer Fordyce's sermons. Neither was it a romantic novel, Mary was reading up on the use of herbs for medicinal purposes, having dealt with a lot of sickness at the orphanage. One particular case had touched her heart in a most profound manner. A tiny little girl had been left at the tread of the church in Meryton. About eight months after the militia had left for Brighton. Mary thought it was no coincidence but since they had not been able to locate the mother, they would never know.
Mary had worked day and night to feed the little thing goat's milk and cream. The orphanage could not afford a wet nurse to feed the babe... She had soon discovered that heat was crucial, the babe chilled very easily.
She was trying to discover if there were any herbs that could have aided her recovery.
The girl was now six and a half month and thriving in the centre of attention of the older girls at the orphanage.
"I wonder if Lydia might be expecting since she would not come to visit?" Elizabeth remarked out of the blue. Jolting her travelling companions out of their reveries. "Perhaps she is not well... Would you mind if I invite her for Christmas with the promise of a few parties and entertainment should that be her incentive, Fitzwilliam?"
"You may invite whomever you want, Elizabeth. It is your home too."
The Darcys shared a look that made Mary and Kitty turn their gazes out the window.
"It is settled then. All the Bennet sisters united for the Yuletide. I hope she accepts..."
Beautiful Bellevue came into view, situated in front of the scenic lake it fitted its name perfectly. The scene that met them at the stairs came as a shock though. Instead of a highly pregnant Jane at the top of the stairs. It was a much slimmer Jane with a tiny bundle in her arms.
Bingley came bouncing down the stairs like an eager puppy and wrung open their carriage door before their footman had the time to perform his service.
"Welcome to Bellevue, I have a surprise for you. My beautiful, magnificent wife delivered me a son three days ago with little inconvenience to anyone but herself. Over and done with, within the blink of an eye. Both are in excellent health. The Bennet sisters are something else, I tell you, Darcy. There is no reason to worry when your time comes... Mrs Bennet assured me of it but I admit I did not quite believe her. Come, come and meet my strapping little boy Charlie."
"Draw breath, Charles, and move out of the way so that we can get out of the carriage." Darcy admonished but with a jovial tone of voice. Smiling at the exuberance of his friend.
"I beg your pardon..." Charles moved away from the door. Elizabeth was up the stairs to her sister in a trice.
"You were supposed to wait until I was here to deliver your babe."
"I am sorry..."
"Oh, do not look so contrite, Jane. I was only jesting. Pay me no mind but should you be out of bed?"
"I will tell you, Darcy. The Bennet sisters have somewhat of a stubborn streak, even my angel Jane.
She absolutely refused to stay in her confinement. Up and about, an hour after the birth, she was." Bingley threw his hands up in the air, to accentuate his despair but did not succeed in hiding his proud smile.
Darcy shook his hand and congratulations were delivered before they were ushered inside by Jane.
A new-born babe naturally takes the centre of attention. The ladies cooed over the infant, leaving the proud father and his friend to fend for themselves. A quiet few days were spent in caring and getting acquainted with a dear but determined infant.
Their restful bliss lasted close to a week when their peace was broken by an approaching carriage.
The ladies gathered at the window, pressing their noses against the windowpane to see who was coming.
"Perhaps it is mama and papa coming to greet their first grandchild," Mary suggested.
"I doubt it," Jane retorted. "I have not told them yet if any of you have not mentioned it in any of your letters. I have written them a note but I was too late for the outgoing post yesterday. It was not sent until today."
Mary fiddled with her skirt, a habit she had developed as a child when she was anxious.
"My letter was sent yesterday. I am afraid I expounded quite liberally on the pleasures of being an aunt."
"It does not signify, Mary. My letter will arrive the next day. Anyway, there is no chance it has been delivered to Longbourn yet. It cannot be them. It is not the Bennet carriage unless they have bought or rented a new one..."
The unfamiliar carriage came to halt, a lady and a gentleman exited to the consternation of Elizabeth whose frown deepened.
"I am so sorry, Elizabeth. I had no idea Caroline was coming. But who is the gentleman? I swear I have never laid my eyes upon him before..."
"That is Mr Crowe, he does not have much speaking in his favour. He is a drunkard and a rake."
"Elizabeth?" Jane's eyes were wide but they hastily cleared the room from clutter and sat down to greet the newcomers.
"Mr Crowe and Mrs Crowe, mam." The Bellevue butler announced before he let the newlyweds inside.
"Jane, how good of you to welcome us and I see you are entertaining the Darcys as well as the Bennets... Come meet my husband, Jane. Is he not particularly handsome? His skin is flawless and his height is perfect, not too tall so one has to crane one's neck..." The new Mrs Crowe smirked at Mrs Darcy.
Stunned silence was followed by a calm and collected Jane, summoning the presence of her husband. Not much was said before Bingley and Darcy entered with mud on their boots after an early morning hunt for birds.
Elizabeth had understood Caroline's stabs at her husband well enough but did not feel inclined to acknowledge her slights. Fitzwilliam was perhaps not the most handsome man to ever walk the earth but neither was he unpleasant to rest her eyes upon. Wickham owned a handsome countenance but had a rotten core. Mr Crowe might be attractive to a shallow mind but Elizabeth could not bring herself to envy Mrs Crowe her debauched husband. What Mr Darcy might be perceived as lacking in outward appearance, his presence more than made up for. He turned heads wherever he went, solely by entering a room.
"Mr and Mrs Crowe have arrived, Charles. I thought you might want to greet your sister."
"You have married without my consent?"
"I am five... I have reached my maturity, Charles. Your consent was not needed."
Mr Crowe muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like I wish it was.
"We were married two days ago at Sanditon by reverend Hankins. It was a beautiful ceremony, much more elaborate than Lord and Lady Babington's. Miss Haywood, who will marry in a few days when her relatives arrive from Willingden, asked me for advice. Not lady Babington..."
Mrs Crowe had a long pause in mind, to let that tidbit sink in but her brother thwarted her plan.
"I am only interested in one wedding. Mr Crowe, it is custom to address the relatives of your future bride. Regardless of her age, it is the proper thing to do."
"Certainly, Mr Bingley you are correct and so I would have done had I any inclination I was about to marry. Quite frankly, I do not even remember proposing. Several of my acquaintances have come forward and confirmed the ardent embrace I apparently bestowed upon your sister in the aftermath which led to a rather speedy wedding. I am still a little confused about how it came to pass but I am obviously married to your sister. I am absolutely certain of that."
Bingley looked bewildered between his sister and his new brother.
"I suppose congratulations are in order. I wish you happy, Mr and Mrs Crowe. Caroline, you must come and visit your first nephew. He is sleeping in the nursery."
"We ought not to disturb his sleep, I will see the babe when he wakes up. A little Champagne would not go amiss, to celebrate the joyous occasion..." Mrs Crowe had never much liked children, not until they had grown into their wits. Champagne, on the other hand, was a particular favourite.
"Quite right." Bingley rang for the butler and ordered a bottle of champagne that had come with the house. Mr Darcy requested he alert his servants to pack their belongings, they were leaving for Pemberley as soon as it could be arranged. Kitty was to come to Pemberley but Georgiana was not coming home for another two weeks. Georgiana had opted to stay a little longer with the Fitzwilliam's at Sanditon. She was to be escorted back by the Countess of Matlock herself.
Kitty chose to stay with Jane and the babe until Georgiana was expected home. Elizabeth was not too sad about being deemed too dull for company. A couple of weeks of solitude with her husband sounded heavenly. Staying at Bellevue with Caroline and Mr Crowe was out of the question. Elizabeth even whispered a warning in Mr Bingley's ear to look after his glass in case Mr Crowe had more laudanum in his pocket.
