Hello everybody! I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend, especially those of you in the middle of an extended holiday weekend.
As some of you know I usually post my stories on fanfiction sites before I publish them commercially. It gives readers the chance to enjoy them for free and gives me invaluable feedback as I write. But lately I have had some suspicions that someone who reads on this site may be planning on publishing this story commercially before I can do it. That may sound farfetched but it happened to me once before, so I hesitated to post this chapter today, or even to continue posting this story here at all.
For now, I will continue posting on this site. But don't be surprised if the pace of posting slows down as the book continues, or if I post outside of my usual schedule. And I may have to totally take the story down if circumstances require it. Just wanted to let you know what is happening in case that comes to pass.
And now, on to our story!Hold on to your hats, the angst is about to begin!
The family, of course, was overjoyed to hear of their engagement, if not completely surprised.
"I gave him my consent long ago, Lizzy," Gardiner said to Elizabeth privately, confirming what Darcy had said earlier. "You will be rich, even richer than Jane, which must make your family happy. And Darcy's character is exemplary. On paper, at least, he will be an ideal husband for you. But you need to be aware of a certain tendency in your character that, if you do not keep it in check, may come between you and your husband."
"What is this terrible fault, uncle? For Mr. Darcy has assured me that in his eyes I am perfection itself."
Gardiner regarded her soberly. "You must be serious, Lizzy, and listen carefully. You and Jane are very different people. Bingley may disappear without warning for several weeks at a time and she will not fret. She will not demand answers and explanations that he cannot give. You would do well to follow her example."
Elizabeth recalled Darcy's words when he proposed to her. As you have seen there are times when my business affairs call me away unexpectedly, and I may not always be able to tell you before I go. Can you bear the uncertainty? Do you trust that I will always come home to you? "I will not suspect Mr. Darcy of falling into those errors which are so common with some men, if that is what you mean. I believe him to be loyal. I would not agree to marry him if I did not."
"That is easy to say now," her uncle countered. "It will be much harder when the time comes. You may be called on to keep faith in him when it goes against every appearance, even against your better judgment. I hope Darcy has adequately prepared you for such an eventuality."
"He said something similar," Elizabeth answered thoughtfully, "though you make it sound much more ominous than he did. Is this your only reservation about a marriage between us? Have you any other concerns?"
"None at all! I could not have hoped for a finer match for you, or for Jane for that matter. And if this is what it takes to convince both of you to leave Paris, then Darcy and Bingley have my sincerest gratitude. Truthfully I should have made you go back to England months ago."
"But if you had, then Jane and I would not have come to know Darcy and Bingley, and we would not be engaged now," Elizabeth said playfully. Gardiner only shook his head in response. "Do you think things are becoming more dangerous in Paris, uncle?" she added, more seriously.
"I am afraid things will become much more dangerous for all of us before this revolution runs its course, Lizzy."
Elizabeth recalled this conversation while she and Darcy sat together one day, watching Jules play with Cozette. Jane and Bingley were on the other side of the room, speaking with Mrs. Gardiner. "How long does it take for two people to be able to trust one another completely?" she said, almost to herself.
Darcy looked at her quizzically. "To what purpose is this question?"
Elizabeth did not realize she had spoken out loud. She flushed and stirred uneasily in her seat. "I was just thinking about what you said when you proposed, that there would be times when your business affairs call you away without warning. My uncle warned me of something along the same lines, saying that I should not ask you too many questions. It has been on my mind ever since."
"Are you having second thoughts about marrying me?" Darcy asked, turning away from Jules to look at her in alarm.
"None at all," Elizabeth assured him at once, and Darcy relaxed. "But you must admit, women are not treated fairly in this regard. Wives are not entitled to know their husband's business affairs, even if it affects them particularly. It is a highly unequal arrangement."
"You are right, of course." Darcy took her hand and held it reassuringly between his own. "I do not intend to be a tyrant in my own home, but to include you in every aspect of it."
"I would feel more included if I knew more of what is involved in your work."
"What do you want to know about it?"
"Why are you called away so often? And why so suddenly, with no warning to your friends or, presumably, even your family? Where do you go on these trips?"
There was a pause. Then Darcy answered carefully, keeping his eyes locked on their clasped hands. "The silk industry is more competitive than you may think. When money is involved, some men will stop at nothing to get what they want. Bingley and I must guard our sources of capital and other vital information with the utmost care."
His answer sounded rehearsed, as though he had prepared it ahead of time. "I am not familiar with business matters, but I have never heard of such sudden and frequent disappearances."
"There is more at stake than you might guess. There are reasons why I cannot speak to you freely here in Paris, but I will feel more able to share details with you once we are in England. Can you wait that long? Will you trust me to give you more information once we are married? I promise to keep secrets from you only as long as absolutely necessary."
She was still mystified, but she did not wish to press any further. "I believe I can contain my curiosity until then."
He looked reassured and kissed her hand gratefully, but she thought she saw an uneasy look flash in his eyes for a moment before he smiled and released her hand.
Two days later the two couples were sitting in the parlor, along with Mrs. Gardiner and Jules. Bingley and Jane were reading a letter from Bingley's sister while Mrs. Gardiner helped Jules recognize and pronounce simple words on the page in front of him. Mrs. Gardiner now spent the majority of each day with the child, giving him the parental love that he had sorely lacked, and Jules was thriving under her care. It was hard to believe that he had ever had to fend for himself on the street, or that he had been neglected and uncared for so long. Even now his face was fixed in concentration on the page in front of him, and he smiled when Mrs. Gardiner praised him for demonstrating a new skill.
"What a difference a mother's love makes for a child," Elizabeth murmured to Darcy.
"And what a difference a child makes for a mother," Darcy countered. It was true, for Mrs. Gardiner seemed to enjoy their interactions even more than Jules.
Elizabeth wished her uncle were there to witness the scene but his chair on the other side of the room was empty. He had gone to one of his warehouses early that morning and said he would not be back until dinner. They were therefore surprised a few minutes later, when they heard the front door open without a knock and recognized his quick step crossing the threshold. In another moment he entered the room, an unreadable expression on his face. They all looked up at him expectantly.
"I heard a most disturbing report, and had to come home so I could tell you in person. The Lucas family has disappeared!"
For a moment the room remained silent. Then everyone began to exclaim. "Is it true? Are they really gone? Where did they go? How long ago-" Gardiner held up his hand to stop them.
"To answer your questions, I do not know. I heard the rumors only a little while ago. They say the last time the Lucases were seen in public was at the recital. And I also heard that Monsieur Corbin escaped prison a few days ago, with the help of the Fleur de Lys."
"The Fleur de Lys!" Mrs. Gardiner repeated, disbelieving.
"Something about being disguised as a soldier and walking out of the prison in broad daylight, but I do not see how that could be. At any rate the count is gone. He is no longer imprisoned, and he has not gone to the guillotine. I would know if that happened."
"But what about the Lucases? Where are they? Is it possible that they are with the count, and that they are fleeing the country together?" This was from Elizabeth. "Or-" she added, as dread swept over her, "has something worse happened?"
"I sent one of my workers to the Lucas home to try to discover more information. I hope to hear from him shortly."
They spent an anxious hour, wondering and speculating wildly among themselves, before Gardiner received a message. The Lucas home was, indeed, deserted; all was dark and still, and there was no sign of the family.
"But where are they?" Elizabeth exclaimed, now thoroughly alarmed. "Have they fled the country, or have they been arrested?"
Gardiner paused to check the room for servants before answering, "Depend on it, they have fled Paris."
"I would give anything for that to be true! But how can you be sure?"
"If a man as prominent as Sir William were to be arrested by the French, the news would be all over the street," her uncle said firmly. "Since there is no word of them, they must be somewhere safe."
Darcy nodded in agreement. "Your uncle is right. If no one knows where they are then very likely they are in hiding. Perhaps they are making their way to England. Why, at this very moment they may be on a ship, crossing the Channel, about to pull into port in London!" He spoke with such conviction that Elizabeth gave a sigh of relief.
"But what about Monsieur Corbin? What of him?" Jane asked. Nobody answered, but exchanged anxious glances all around.
"How did the Lucases make their escape?" Elizabeth exclaimed. "And why did they go to the recital that day? Why would they be out in public at all, if they were about to flee for their lives?"
"I believe I can hazard a guess." It was Darcy again. "If they thought they were being watched, they could easily have attended the recital as a family and then left the theater separately, in order to throw off any pursuers."
Elizabeth brightened. "Of course. What a brilliant plan! Escaping in broad daylight. Perhaps they, too, were aided by the Fleur de Lys!"
"Only the Fleur himself can answer that," her uncle answered, giving Darcy a shrewd glance. "Or perhaps the Lucases, if we ever hear from them again."
His words were cut off by the sound of shouts and cries on the street outside. The street had been busy all morning, with usual sounds of commerce. But these sounds were different. They grew quickly louder, approaching the house, accompanied by the sound of footsteps and general commotion. Gardiner crossed quickly to the window and pushed a curtain aside to peer out while the others watched, holding their breath. "It is nothing," he said after a moment. "Merely some citizens protesting the monarchy. But we have never seen protesters on this street before. The city grows more restless every day." He let the curtain fall back into place but the others did not exhale until the sounds died away again.
Bingley and Jane went back to reading his letter. Gardiner stepped away from the window, moving to speak quietly with his wife, while Darcy took his place and stood behind the curtain, frowning as he stared outside. Elizabeth was lost in her own thoughts, wondering where Charlotte might be. If the Lucas family fled immediately after the recital, then they had been gone for three days. Were they hiding somewhere, in fear for their lives, dreading the sound of boots on the street or a knock on the door? Or had Charlotte been reunited with her fiance in some safe location? Were they still planning to be married?
"I don't like any of this." Darcy stepped back abruptly from the window. He turned to face Gardiner. "The sooner Bingley and I can take Elizabeth and Jane away from all this, the better. And you, too, sir," he added. "If I may be so bold, I think it is past time for you and Mrs. Gardiner to leave France."
Gardiner cleared his throat and exchanged a look with his wife. "I do not disagree with you, but it is not as simple as you think. There are certain matters with my business that must be completed first."
"I don't think you should wait!" Darcy countered, speaking with more force than they had ever heard before from him. He crossed the room, pacing impatiently. "I think we should leave - all of us- before the king's verdict is handed down. If it goes against him it may be too late."
Elizabeth could not help staring at her fiance as he strode across the floor, his arms clasped behind his back. His face was set in concentration and he seemed to have forgotten Elizabeth's presence entirely.
"I will not leave my husband," Mrs. Gardiner said firmly. "Or Jules. It is simply not to be thought of." She placed her arms around the child defiantly.
Jules looked anxiously around the room, and Elizabeth wondered how much of the conversation he understood. Certainly he needed no ability in English to sense the tension in the room, and to realize that the adults in his life were concerned with something grave.
"Jules is French, not English," Gardiner placed a hand on the child's head, speaking in English. "I do not know if we would be able to take him with us."
"But we cannot leave him behind. There must be a way!"
"We will find a way," Darcy stopped pacing to look at Gardiner. "But even if you and Mrs. Gardiner cannot go, Elizabeth and Jane ought to leave as soon as possible. We can take them to England now, if they are willing." Darcy looked at Elizabeth expectantly.
Gardiner turned to his nieces. "Jane, Elizabeth- what do you want to do?"
Elizabeth looked at Jane, noting her wide eyes and anxious expression. In moments they came to an unspoken agreement. "If the Lucases thought it was time to go, then we should leave as well." If she had any doubts about their decision, those doubts disappeared as she saw the look of relief cross her aunt and uncle's faces.
"Then let us go now!" Bingley exclaimed. "What are we waiting for?"
"That is not possible," Gardiner corrected him. "You cannot take Jane and Lizzy to England by yourselves, not without being married first. And the banns have not even been called yet."
"Yet we must leave." Darcy insisted. "The sooner the better!"
There was another pause while everyone considered the problem. The silence was broken by Jules' plaintive voice, in halting, accented English. "Where are you going?"
The Gardiners exchanged a glance; then Mr. Gardiner knelt next to the child. He gently dislodged the child from clinging to Mrs. Gardiner's skirt and turned him so they were face to face. "Do you want to go to England?" he asked in French. "Do you want to go with us and stay there forever? We may never come back to France again."
"I want to be with you! Please, madam and monsieur, let me go with you!" Jules threw his arms around Gardiner's neck and clung tightly. Mrs. Gardiner knelt on the child's other side and the three clung together. All eyes in the room were fixed on the little trio.
"Then it is decided. We have two things to accomplish as soon as possible." Darcy spoke into the sudden silence. "We need to find a way to make a French child English. I will use every power at my disposal to make that happen. And we have to find a way to hold a double wedding in less than three weeks."
Well, I warned you that the angst was about to go up, and here it is! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and that you will leave a comment or two to let me know! Have a wonderful holiday season. :-) -Elaine Owen