Previously: Jane left Darcy House

Friday, August 7, 1818

Darcy House, de Coverley Square, Mayfair

Two hours later…

"Jane did not have time this morning to arrange for Mr. Davidson to come pick her up. She must have arranged it with him yesterday" Mr. Darcy protested.

"I don't care." Elizabeth glared at Mr. Darcy. "I want to know what you said to Jane this morning."

"Well I …ah."

Elizabeth poked him in his chest with her finger. "You told her she was not welcome here."

"I did not. I just told her that she could not conduct her affair from here."

Elizabeth poked him again, harder. "Jane would not have an affair."

"She came home rumpled last night" Mr. Darcy protested.

"Rumpled? What does that mean? Did you see her?" Hard poke.

"Rumpled means…well rumpled. Chamberlain saw her. He told me."

"He did, did he?" Elizabeth called out "Chamberlain!"

Chamberlain entered the study. "Yes ma'am?"

Elizabeth turned and pointed her finger at him. Mr. Darcy took the opportunity to move out of her range. "You told Mr. Darcy that Mrs. Fitzwilliam was rumpled last night. What did you mean?"

"Ah ma'am, well she was…"

"Was her dress up around her neck?"

"No ma'am…"

"Was her bodice ripped?"

"No, no…"

"Was her hair all undone?"

"No, she was all proper…"

"Then why in Hades did you say she was rumpled?"

"She was a little wrinkled…"

"She was out all day wearing the same dress and she comes home a little wrinkled and you accuse her of being rumpled." Elizabeth was yelling at Chamberlain by now. "Get out of my sight and stay out of my sight before I decide to throw your wrinkled hide out on the street without a reference."

Chamberlain backed out of the study mumbling his apologies.

Elizabeth rounded on Darcy and she did not modulate her voice. "And you had better explain how having a few wrinkles in your dress equates to having an affair before you end up on the street with your officious butler."

"I am sorry; I was wrong" Mr. Darcy tried to placate her. "I was irritated because of the fight we have been having over Georgiana and Mr. Davidson and I may have taken it out on Jane."

The attempt at placation failed. "And that gives you licence to run my sister out of this house? I don't think so. Now go have the carriage brought round. I am going to go to Bingley's house in the hopes Mr. Davidson took her there and you had better hope that he did."

An hour later …

They, which is to say, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy and Miss Darcy, attended at what had been Bingley's house in Mayfair only to be told he had sold it two years previously and had moved, the new owners had heard, third hand mind you, to a house in Kensington, somewhere near Penrose Triangle, so they were now driving slowly through the borough looking, Elizabeth hoped, for someone of whom they could ask for directions although Mr. Darcy seemed disinclined to do so.

Friday, August 7, 1818

Near Bingley House, Sator Square, Kensington

"There's Mr. Davidson and Miss Davidson" called out Georgiana who has been looking out of the right-side windows of the coach.

"Are you certain?" asked Mr. Darcy.

"Of course, I would know him anywhere" said Georgiana heedless of Mr. Darcy's consequent scowl.

Mr. Darcy signaled for the coach to stop and the three of them got out onto the street. "There" Georgiana pointed "they are almost to that little park there."

"Roger" Mr. Darcy called one of the footmen to him. "See that couple there, I want you to run after them and when you catch them, hold them until we get there. Do you understand?" Roger nodded and ran off. Mr. Darcy told their coachman to take the coach somewhere where he could turn it around and come back to them. He then extended his arms to wife and sister and they set out after Roger.

As they walked, they watched Roger run towards the Davidsons.

They watched Roger catch up to the Davidsons.

They watched Roger tackle Mr. Davidson from behind, knocking him down.

Georgiana shrieked "John!", hitched up her dress and starting running towards him.

"John?" Mr. Darcy was stunned.

"Worry about that later. You have a bigger problem to worry about now." Elizabeth tugged at his arm. "Come on."

For someone who had just suffered a vicious surprise attack from behind Mr. Davidson handled himself with remarkable poise. He wiggled out from under Roger and scrambled to his feet. When Roger got up Mr. Davidson kicked him in the groin and as Roger then bent over Mr. Davidson hit him on the back of his neck. Roger fell flat on the sidewalk and did not get back up. Mr. Davidson stood over him with clenched fists, ready if he did.

"Agnes, go get two footmen from the house. Tell them to bring some rope." Agnes just stared at him. "Agnes!"

Agnes shook her head. "What just happened? Why?"

"I don't know; we'll sort it out later. Now go get those footmen before this ruffian tries to escape." Roger groaned and started to lift his head but Mr. Davidson put his foot on it and pushed it back down.

Agnes nodded and hurried off to Bingley House which was just two more doors down the street.

Georgiana ran up to Mr. Davidson and grabbed his arms. "Are you alright John? Roger did not hurt you, did he?"

Mr. Davidson blinked at her. "Miss Darcy! Where did you come from?" He looked down at Roger and then back at her. "You know this man?"

"He is one of our footmen. My brother sent him to stop you."

Over Georgiana's shoulder Mr. Davidson could see Mr. and Mrs. Darcy coming. "He did, did he?" He gently disengaged her hands from his arms and stepped back from her.

Agnes and the footmen arrived at the same time as Mr. and Mrs. Darcy. Mr. Davidson ignored the latter as he instructed the footmen to tie up Roger.

"There is no need for that" Mr. Darcy objected. "It was an accident."

Mr. Davidson turned and glared at Mr. Darcy. "It was not. It was an assault pure and simple. Now say your goodbyes for your man is off to Australia." He turned his back on Mr. Darcy and told his footmen "Take him to the magistrates. I will be there shortly to lay charges."

Mr. Darcy grabbed Mr. Davidson's arm and spun him around. Mr. Davidson just barely stopped himself from punching Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy jerked his head back.

"Look, I am sorry" he told Mr. Davidson. "I told Roger to stop you. I did not realize…"

"You gentlemen never do when you abuse those whom you consider to be your inferiors" Mr. Davidson spat out. "Maybe you should be heading to Australia with your man; I'll have to see what the magistrates say in that regard. Govern yourself accordingly."

The footmen had Roger on his feet and were pushing him down the street. Agnes handed Mr. Davidson his hat which had flown off in the fracas. He extended his arm to her. "Shall we my dear? I feel in need of a libation stronger than tea" and they set off to Bingley House leaving the three Darcys in their wake.

The two Darcy ladies looked to Mr. Darcy. "I will not grovel to that man" he told them.

"Well you had better before you end up in the Old Bailey pleading your case" Elizabeth told him.

"I will if you will not" declared Georgiana and she ran after the Davidsons, calling out "John, wait."

Mr. Darcy went to follow her but Elizabeth held him back. "You had your chance to save yourself and poor Roger and you would not do it; now you will let Georgiana see if she can."

Mr. Davidson dropped his sister's arm, turned and walked back to meet Georgiana. "Yes, Miss Darcy?"

She reached out and put her hand on his left arm. "Please, you cannot have Roger transported for misunderstanding William's instructions."

"I can and I will Miss Darcy."

"But…"

"Not buts Miss Darcy it will happen."

"William will apologize."

Mr. Davidson sniffed. "A mealy-mouthed apology from your brother is worth nothing. I was assaulted. I was humiliated in front of my neighbours. This will be the talk of every dinner on this street tonight. Your brother must feel a similar sting. Go back to your brother and sister Miss Darcy, you will not sway me."

Georgiana increased her grip on his arm. "What if he pays you some money? That will sting."

"Your brother is a rich man; it would have to be a large amount for it to sting."

Georgiana knew she had won but she made the mistake of smiling at her success. Mr. Davidson caught her. "How much do you suggest?" he asked.

Being put on the spot gave her pause but finally she suggested "one hundred pounds."

"Your brother probably spills that much in a week."

"More?"

"Much more."

"One thousand pounds then."

"That's a lot of money. It'll certainly sting but still…"

"Do it for me, please" she pleaded.

"I don't know…" He smiled as her face fell. "Is there any incentive you can offer?"

She frowned at him. "My gratitude is not enough?"

"Gratitude is so fleeting."

She thought "You can use my Christian name" she offered.

"Which is?"

"Georgiana."

"A very pretty name, but still… I was thinking of …"

"Of what?"

"A kiss."

"A thousand pounds and a kiss?"

"It seems fair."

"And when do you get the kiss?"

"You will know when the time is right."

"It is a deal. Do we shake hands?"

"There is no need, not with the promise of a kiss to bind us. Now don't think that I will always be so accommodating."

She smiled at him "Oh I think you will be."

Mr. Davidson looked over her shoulder. "Your brother appears to have lost patience with our negotiations and is coming towards us."

Georgiana turned, slipped her hand under Mr. Davidson's arm and faced her brother.

"Mr. Darcy, I'm prepared to forget this unfortunate incident on terms."

"Which are?"

"There are three." Georgiana looked askance at Mr. Davidson and he winked at her. "The first two must be satisfied within the next two hours. Firstly, you will provide me with your written apology, unequivocal and unconditional; secondly, you will provide me with your bank draft for one thousand pounds…" Mr. Davidson paused to enjoy the affronted look on Mr. Darcy's face "payable to the Board of Governors of St. Swithin's School."

"And the third condition?" Darcy asked.

"There be no repercussions against your man."

Mr. Darcy sighed. He could feel Elizabeth squeezing his arm. "Done."

"Good." Mr. Davidson called out to his footmen "Release him." Georgiana smiled and nodded at him. "Now while Mr. Darcy returns to Darcy House to prepare the required paperwork perhaps you ladies would like to take tea with my sister and have her give you the details of the wedding."

"There was a wedding?"

"There certainly was."

Mr. Davidson escorted the ladies to the drawing room and then excused himself to go change as he had ripped his trousers during his skirmish with Roger. It did not take Miss Davidson long to realize her guests had not had a chance to break their fasts that morning so she suggested they have lunch instead of just tea to which they gratefully agreed.

While they waited Miss Davidson described the wedding to them although there was not that much wedding to describe. A service pared down to the bare minimum prescribed by the Book of Common Prayer conducted under an ordinary licence; the only guests in attendance being the Davidsons and the Bingley children. The only happenings of note having been the flower girl's unsuccessful attempt to pull all of the petals off the bridal bouquet and the ring bearer's loudly expressed demand to be allowed to put the ring on the bride's finger himself in lieu of the groom which demand was only withdrawn upon the groom promising that he, the ring bearer, would have his own bride someday to so honour. For all that, or perhaps, because of that, the ceremony produced a happy groom and a radiant bride, who immediately departed the church for their honeymoon at the seashore, children in tow, much to the groom's chagrin and the new mother's delight.

When Mr. Davidson rejoined them and was told that they were waiting on lunch he suggested that they adjourn to the studio he and his sister shared while they waited for Mr. Darcy's return.

Once in the studio Mr. Davidson quickly steered Georgiana over to his drafting table to show her plans he had drawn up for his various inventions, leastwise that was what he told the erstwhile chaperones, his sister and Mrs. Darcy; his true purpose to see if there some way he could stay in contact with Miss Darcy during their respective winter exiles in Derbyshire and Manchester.

He opened with "Miss Darcy, I do not believe that your brother is very happy with me."

"It has been many years since I have seen him as stormy as he looked today." Almost six years to the day since William had discovered her in Ramsgate preparing to elope with Wickham she thought.

"I was surprised when he accepted the terms I presented to him; I thought he would have argued. He could have bargained me down to just the kiss you owe me."

"He would rather pay the money than allow you to kiss me." She sighed.

"He would rather pay the money than allow me to see you." He sighed.

She nodded. "True."

"But you would see me again if you could" he asked.

"And give you that kiss" she smiled "But how and when?"

"And there's the rub." They both sighed.

"I could have Lizzy have him invite you to come visit us at Pemberley."

"Lizzy?"

"Elizabeth, that is Mrs. Darcy."

"And even given the animus he has for me he would invite me if she asked?"

"Yes."

Mr. Davidson did not reply, he just stared at Georgiana for what was an uncomfortable time for her then he smiled.

"What?" she asked.

He just smirked at her.

"Tell me!" she insisted.

"It just struck me that you have learned everything you know about the care and management of a husband from Mrs. Darcy."

"And that bothers you?"

"A little. To be so in thrall to someone…"

"I promise I will only use my power for good."

"As determined by whom?"

"Me of course." Georgiana looked over at Elizabeth and Miss Davidson whom seemed to be in throes of a discussion and so she took the opportunity to pat Mr. Davidson's hand. "For the good of those I love." There, I have made my declaration she thought. She held her breath waiting on his response.

Mr. Davidson took Georgiana's hand in his and rubbed her knuckles with his thumb. He did not respond as she hoped, at least not right away. "Please don't solicit Mrs. Darcy for an invitation to Pemberley for me, I wouldn't be able to accept. I've been away from my offices in Manchester already too long; I'm only in London to deal with my patent lawyers, it seems they make more money in fees than I do in royalties from my inventions." She huffed and tried to pull her hand away but he tightened his grip. "You know a tradesman must earn his crust. What if Lady Bingley invited you to come visit them in Manchester?"

She shook her head. "My brother would never agree."

"Would it help if I could prove I could take care of a wife in the manner to which she is accustomed?"

She stared at him. Was this his declaration? When she did not reply he continued.

"I could show him my house."

"You own a house?"

"Several, including the one next door to this one. We built all three at the same time. Agnes and her husband-to-be have the one on the corner, Sir Charles this one and I have the one on the right. Mine is not decorated or furnished yet, I thought to leave that to my wife to take care of..." he squeezed her hand "when I have one."

"And when will that be?"

"Before Christmas."

"Christmas this year?"

"Yes."

"And have you proposed to her yet?"

"As soon as I can get her alone."

"That could be difficult today."

"Yes."