A.N. Thank you, Marjorie, Joan, Dumm, Gabyhyatt, Yamauchi, Sacredwoman, Leslie, Gedoena, liysl, Lauramari, Jansfamily, Another Lizzie, Violingirl, Dw.618, MissyDy, Zhivni, Saralee, Colleen, Nanciellen, Kiwipride, Jolanda, Missouri Walker, Enaxi, ElizaG1 and guests, for reviewing Chapters 15 and 16. The story has 20 chapters so we are heading towards the end. I had the first draft but there will still be some tweaking for the ending as I read your ideas and speculations. I'm sorry some readers need warning about the change of characters like Jane being jealous and Mrs. B being nasty even to Jane. I usually only promise D&E HEA and all other characters are fair game to me. So be warned, there may be more OOC actions by other characters. It is good to know you liked the development of D&E's relationship. Where is Wally - haha, no Charlotte? You will just need to wait for one more chapter. Wickham seems to be winning the odds at the moment. You will know more soon! Sacredwoman - you are leaning towards a Gone Girl plot. I wish I had thought of that! Gedoena, it is not an evil Jane, but she is not so sweet. I agree with you, Lauramari. In the cannon, Jane didn't defend and protect Lizzy from Mrs. B's scolding. I often wonder if she is jealous of Lizzy because she didn't manage to attract Darcy, a man with more intellect, fortune and connections. Enaxi - it's good that you find the story uplifting too. I tried not to depress readers but sometimes the characters have their own idea. Guest - the drunken man might be Colonel Forster? That's a great suggestion! But you will have to wait to see if it's right. Guest - Jane and Lizzy don't share a room? I guess I'm the author, I can make them share the room for a night. Haha. Was Colonel Fitzwilliam involved in Charlotte's disappearance? I'm keeping that close to my chest. Now, let us continue with the Lucas. Happy reading and reviewing!
Chapter Seventeen
Darcy met Elizabeth's eyes, ascertaining that she had been struck by the comment as well. He had been grateful enough to keep his silence throughout Lady Lucas's dramatic lament, and had reflected that he did not know Lady Lucas well enough to judge the sincerity of her words and tone, which had struck him as perhaps overly theatrical. This, however, was something tangible that he might dig into.
"Lady Lucas, you must pardon me for intruding on your grief," Darcy raised his voice slightly that the woman might hear him over her sobs. "But you just mentioned receiving a letter from Mrs. Collins? When did you receive it? The contents of such a letter could give us valuable clues as to her location, you know."
"A letter from Charlotte?" Lady Lucas emerged once more from the depths of her handkerchief, dabbing carefully at her eyes, which had an angry glint to them suddenly. "Oh, sir, you misheard me! My fondest hope is to receive a letter from my poor child. Would that I had received one!"
"But Lady Lucas, you just now said that you felt a cold chill sweep over you when you did lay eyes on a letter from her. I heard you quite distinctly," Elizabeth said firmly, not swayed at all by the woman's continued attempts at appearing grief-stricken.
"Oh, very well!" snapped Lady Lucas, laying aside her still-dry handkerchief with an angry movement. "Suppose I did, what of it?"
"Why, it is just as Mr. Darcy said, the contents of that letter might lead us to Charlotte! What did she write to you? When was the letter sent? Where did it send from?
"I burnt that letter and nothing on this earth will induce me to tell you of its contents," declared Lady Lucas imperiously. "It is no business of either of yours and I believe you are both quite impertinent for asking!"
"But when she wrote to you, she was well? Will you tell me that much, at least, that I might worry a little less for my oldest and dearest friend?" Elizabeth forced herself to speak cajolingly, recalling comments from both Charlotte and Sir William regarding Lady Lucas's bullying nature when crossed.
"I worry not a tiny bit. My eldest daughter is dead to me!" exclaimed Lady Lucas. "And I have destroyed the note that Mr. Collins sent inquiring after her in January, and was most displeased with Sir William taking Maria on that foolish journey to Kent, not that he did me the courtesy of understanding my hints and displeasure! I suppose he wishes now that he had truly listened to my words. I told myself no good could come of that trip, and my husband is nearly murdered in cold blood. I hope in the future Sir William remembers that!"
The matron used the present tense to describe Charlotte, Darcy and Elizabeth exchange glances. Lady Lucas knew that Charlotte was alive and possibly where her daughter was right now!
"If you had confided in your husband about Mrs. Collins's absence in Kent and her whereabout, he would most certainly have been spared that ordeal, and a good deal of distress could have been avoided for many parties," Darcy pointed out icily.
"I vowed to never reveal the contents of that letter to anyone," Lady Lucas declared grandly. "And I never shall. The girl has brought shame to me and I shall consider her dead! I have nothing more to say on the matter, and I am quite exhausted from this questioning. Leave now, so that I may rest!"
"But surely you will consider persuading Sir William to drop the charges against Mr. Collins and Lady Catherine?" Elizabeth murmured. "After all, the altercation would not have happened if Sir William knew of Charlotte's safety."
"That spineless husband of mine already wanted to drop the charges but I forbid it! That pompous, foolish relative of the Bennets indirectly brought the scandal to my family by marrying Charlotte! And his patroness is no less culpable. They both had to pay for their actions and share the shame. Now get out of my house!"
"Very well, Lady Lucas, I am sorry that we upset you," Elizabeth gritted out the words, rising before Darcy could protest.
~0~
"I am surprised, I do not think I have ever seen you admit defeat so readily," Darcy commented once they had been shown out of the house.
"It certainly went against my natural instincts to do so," Elizabeth admitted ruefully. "But I did not give up the battle for my own sake. I feared that poor Sir William would be the one to suffer her wrath if I enraged her further, and the poor man needs to recover still. I suspect that he is not truly well enough to be attending business matters in Meryton, but is trying to hasten his convalescence by escaping his wife's bile."
"You are undoubtedly correct, I am surprised it did not occur to me. Was it not shocking to hear her actually blame Sir William for being assaulted? As if that were the sort of punishment he should expect for going against her wishes!"
"The most dreadful thing is how sincerely she seemed to believe that it served him right," Elizabeth sighed. "I once prided myself on my discernment, yet I didn't realize until recently, the similarities between my parents' marriage and that of Sir William and Lady Lucas. I have always been so keenly aware of my father and mother's failings. Still, despite growing up so intimately with the Lucas family, I didn't see how much common ground there was. I suppose it should be no wonder that there is antagonism between my mother and Lady Lucas."
"I was thinking of a similar resemblance between Lady Lucas and my aunt, now that you mention it," Darcy reflected. "Which is odd, as the three ladies in question are utterly dissimilar in most respects!"
"You are right, but it strikes me that they all share another commonality. They are all three profoundly unhappy women," Elizabeth pointed out. "I wonder, do they tyrannize their husbands, with bullying or complaining about nerves, because they are unhappy, or are they unhappy because they can do so? For my part, I think it would be most unsettling, and decidedly dull as well, to live in the knowledge that I should always get my way."
"Indeed?" Darcy queried with a humorous glance at his beloved. "You would not like to have your husband be slavishly devoted to your every whim?"
"Why, certainly not!" laughed Elizabeth merrily. "A good many of my whims are not worth even my own devotion. Besides, I don't think any of those husbands in question – although I suppose I cannot speak for poor Sir Lewis as I am only imagining what his life must have been – were ever devoted to their wives in the way that you suggest. They did not give in to their wives' demands out of love and affection, but out of cowardice or laziness, and they then resent their wives and themselves for it."
"I believe that is so. Imagine how offended and outraged those gentlemen would be if it were suggested that they are primarily motivated by the avoidance of their wives' outbursts. It is hardly in keeping with the manly ideas they most likely cherish about themselves, after all."
"Well, it is rather unmanly to be frightened of a woman, I suppose," Elizabeth considered.
"Nonsense!" exclaimed Darcy good-naturedly. "I can personally attest to the fact that nothing has terrified me so much in all of my life, or disordered my existence so entirely, as you have. I am not ashamed to acknowledge it."
Elizabeth blushed at his words, and at the sudden tones of sincerity and depth that entered his voice.
"I cannot imagine, Mr. Darcy, what I could have done that should terrify you so," she managed to reply.
"Only stolen my heart, stirred my soul, and bewitched my mind, that is all. It seems natural enough that I have a little awe for the creature capable of such things," Darcy murmured, the intensity of his words thrilling Elizabeth through and through.
"I asked you once, dreadfully, without any doubt that you would accept me," Darcy continued passionately. "I ask you now with no arrogant assurance, only desperate hope, will you be my bride and create our happiness together?"
Elizabeth was dizzy with the sensation that everything in her world had just been made more right than she could ever have believed possible. She answered breathlessly, "Nothing in the world would make me so happy."
"Then I will speak to your father at once. If he has no objection, nothing shall keep us apart," Darcy kissed her hand in a way that caused Elizabeth's pulse to race deliciously. She felt the warmth from his lips running through her body.
"Your family will not object to our marriage?" she managed breathlessly.
"If you will have me, I will permit nothing to come between us ever again," he vowed.
Elizabeth smiled contently on hearing his words of assurance. Soon, her spirits rose to playfulness again.
"Since you admit to being fearful of me, Mr. Darcy, what say you if I forbid you to visit your cousin in the future?"
"Anne?"
"No, the loathsome Colonel Fitzwilliam!"
"Ah, I shall sadly miss his camaraderie. But I must have such extraordinary sources of happiness necessarily attached to my situation as your husband, I could, upon the whole, have no cause to repine."
"You give in to my wishes so easily?" She laughed.
"I somehow do not think that you would be likely to terrorize me for wanting to visit Richard, or make my life a misery if I dare have an opinion of my own regarding the decoration of a side parlour." Darcy said.
"I believe I am also unlikely to shriek about my nerves until you give in to my demands and retreat to your library," Elizabeth smiled, thinking how unlikely it really was that she and Darcy could ever behave just as her parents did. "But I must confess that I do think I may argue with you occasionally."
"Ah, well, I think it would be most unsettling, and decidedly dull as well, to live in the knowledge that I should always get my way," Darcy neatly turned her earlier words back around to her, making Elizabeth laugh again. "Just because others have poisoned the affection they may once have felt for each other does not mean we inevitably shall. I now believe that happiness in marriage must be worked on and I am a diligent worker. I hope you can believe that, just as I hope you can believe that 'affection' is a ridiculously mild and feeble word for what I feel for you."
"I do believe it," Elizabeth whispered, wondering how it was possible that she could be so exquisitely fortunate. They walked in enraptured silence for a time, both too happy for words, yet understanding one another perfectly nevertheless.
This blissful interlude was cut short by the sudden appearance of Sir William, who came riding down the lane on his return trip from Meryton, looking decidedly pale and tired.
"Oh, good day to you both!" he exclaimed, drawing his horse up as he reached the pair.
"Good day, Sir William," Darcy returned the greeting kindly, for he felt a great deal of concern for that gentleman, despite wishing him at the furthest ends of the earth just then. "We have just been to call on you, and were sad to have missed you. Lady Lucas told us that you were attending to some business in the village?"
"Ah, yes, indeed. I have been absent from my affairs for rather too long, I am afraid, and there were some pressing matters that required my attention."
"Are you quite well enough for all of that, Sir William?" asked Elizabeth. "You seem much more worn than the last time I saw you."
"I shall be fine, my dear, indeed, I believe the ride has done me some good, clearing my mind and all that. And attending to my business affairs makes me feel like my own man once more. No need to worry on my account!"
"On the contrary, sir," Elizabeth declared lightly. "If I am to be credited with having saved your life, then it is only natural that I should feel responsible for it hence. I have a great personal interest in your full recovery and well-being!"
"You are too kind, Lizzy," Sir William tipped his hat to her.
"Sir William, if I might speak with you for a moment further regarding a rather serious matter?" Darcy asked courteously. "If you are quite certain that your health will permit prolonging your outing a little longer."
"I am fine, just fine, and in no particular hurry to return home, if I am perfectly candid. What was it that you needed, Mr. Darcy?" Sir William replied, casting an anxious glance in the direction of Lucas Lodge – and, Elizabeth guessed, Lady Lucas, who must be the source of Sir William's sorrowful countenance.
"I wonder if you have given any further consideration to the charges pressed against Mr. Collins and Lady Catherine, although I am reluctant to introduce the subject. I do not wish to cause you pain by mentioning the issue, I assure you. I cannot rid myself of the thought that you will be bringing additional distress to yourself by continuing with a legal trial, whereas I believe my aunt could be persuaded to settle financially with you out of court for her wrongdoing. That would surely be a more pleasant option for all parties involved, would it not?"
"Mr. Darcy, it is entirely natural that you would wish to help your aunt avoid a public trial and scandal, and I do not think badly of you for it -" Sir William began, tension colouring his pale, drawn face.
"I do not speak out of concern for my aunt, although I understand that will be difficult for you to believe. I fear the effects a trial would have upon your health, sir, and I believe a public trial and the resulting scandal would bring a great deal of negative attention to the plight of your daughter. Surely it would be best to settle out of court and keep Mrs. Collins's situation as quiet as possible?" Darcy persuaded.
"That does seem wisest, Sir William," Elizabeth agreed gently. "I do not think badly of Charlotte, not even for an instant, but I do hope that my friend could avoid public humiliation as much as possible. A trial will almost certainly bring attention to her actions after the wedding, which society will not interpret kindly, I am afraid."
"I do not disagree with either of you," Sir William answered in weary tones. He now knew Charlotte was alive as well! "And I have attempted to make those self-same points clear to Lady Lucas, as this has all occurred to me after I rested my head a few more days. I will admit that during the earlier stages of my convalescence, I had difficulty in thinking clearly. An angry man seemed to be in my head then, wanting nothing but to vent my fury at anyone and seek revenge. But as I recover, I feel that the course of action you describe would be best. However, I am afraid that I really must proceed with the trial regardless."
"But why?" wondered Elizabeth, her relief at Sir William's agreement clouded by puzzlement.
"Because Lady Lucas insists, quite adamantly, that I continue to press charges against both Mr. Collins and Lady Catherine, and there is no reasoning with her. In fact, she demands that I write to Lord Metcalf to revive the prosecution against those two for Charlotte's disappearance. I have just received word from the authority in Kent that the trial for the assault is to take place in a fortnight."
"Surely you told Lady Lucas that the magistrate only initially suspected their involvement with your daughter's disappearance, but further investigation proved otherwise?" Darcy was incredulous.
"I have told Lady Lucas that many times, however, she refuses to listen. My wife is quite vocal that Mr. Collins has murdered our poor Charlotte, and Lady Lucas will not rest until she sees him brought to justice for it. The magistrate's opinion, to say nothing of my own, has no weight with her at all."
Elizabeth and Darcy exchanged bewildered glances. How could Lady Lucas insist on any such thing when she knew better than anyone else, from the letter she received from Charlotte, that her daughter had not been murdered by Mr. Collins?
"Sir William," Elizabeth said. "We just spoke to Lady Lucas when we called for you and she admitted to us that she had received a letter from Charlotte. It cannot be a matter of opinion, she knows for certain that Mr. Collins did not murder Charlotte!"
"That may be," Sir William sighed, such a defeated air hanging about him so heavily that Elizabeth wondered he did not collapse under its weight. "But Lady Lucas will never admit such a thing to me or anyone else. She would not tell me where Charlotte is and she will never relinquish her demands. If the detail of the trial is spread here, my wife will find it more bearable to have Meryton society think she has a murdered daughter than a scandalous one, for one thing. For another, she is simply determined to have her way and will brook no opposition. Let us speak no further on this matter, my friends, there is no purpose to it. Neither of you is ever able to understand precisely the position that I am in. Good day." And Sir William tipped his hat once more. He mounted and then spurred his horse onward, leaving Darcy and Elizabeth to stare blankly after him.
~0~
Darcy made immediate plans to return to Kent so that he might attend the trial. Elizabeth was not called as a witness, as she had given statement previously that she did not see Lady Catherine handed a brass vase to Collins. Darcy did not depart without first speaking at length to Mr. Bennet. That gentleman seemed highly skeptical, doubting the sincerity of Darcy's request. However, Elizabeth's delighted reassurance soon convinced her father and the entire family that she was in earnest regarding her affection for "that odious man". Mr. Darcy was quickly known by far more flattering descriptions, especially by Mrs. Bennet, who forgot entirely that she had ever disliked the man.
Darcy and Elizabeth agreed that, impatient as they might be to wed, they would feel better if the business with Charlotte, Lady Catherine, and Mr. Collins, was first laid to rest. Darcy had received a letter from McGuiness in Poole, Dorset, indicating that Mrs. Collins's trail was growing clearer.
"Mrs. Collins was seen briefly by an elderly stable hand at an inn in the company of a gentleman of more fashion than fortune, McGuiness has written," Darcy said to Elizabeth. They were taking a walk, with Mary as their chaperone.
"Among Charlotte and my acquaintances, I would say that description seems to fit Mr. Hurst more than anyone else."
"I agree," Darcy nodded. "It was unfortunate that McGuiness could not get anything more out of the stable hand. But Mr. Hurst and his wife are visiting his parents in York. It is nearly 300 miles from York to Poole." ¬
"I can't account for any well-to-do gentleman Charlotte has known, besides Mr. Bingley and your party. The man could be someone she met in Bromley. But I remember reading about Poole and talking with Charlotte about the town. I was about 10 years old and still quite obsessed with pirates. The caves and coastline are a haven for smugglers."
"McGuiness also noted that the port is very busy with trade with Newfoundland. He hoped he would find Mrs. Collins in time, before she crosses the Atlantic, if that is her intention."
The couple discussed further their hope for Charlotte's safe return. Regardless, Darcy found himself terribly loathe to leave Hertfordshire. His only consolations being the idea of finding some resolution to the matter of the trial, and the fact that Miss Bingley's company was growing ever more intolerable. Miss Bingley nearly turned the table with its entire content at the dining room over when she heard of the betrothal of Mr. Darcy with Elizabeth. Her face became so red that Darcy feared for her heart. Miss Bingley did not offer Darcy any congratulations. Instead, she consulted Darcy slyly about ways to grow closer with the Bennet sisters, while doubling her attempts to drive Jane and Bingley apart, in fact. Promising to write to Elizabeth about every detail of the trial, Darcy departed reluctantly, leaving her to attempt to mend her relationship with her elder sister while also fending off her mother's nearly frantic enthusiasm for the upcoming weddings.