Chapter 23

Changes and planes

The Rider enjoys the outdoors, and after touring much of his father's land, he dismounted and sat near the stream, but his rest was interrupted when a flash then revealed a man he certainly did not expect to see

-What are you doing? You have come here for my father?-

-No Hugh, I have come for you-

-Let's see Wickham, we had a great time but I am no longer interested, I have goals to meet and I already have a plan drawn up-

-Although your father is still looking for a way to get rid of you-

-He couldn't, and if you're talking to me it's because his last plan didn't work out-

-Certainly you're right, I couldn't bring the womb that would conceive his replacement-

The dark look and anger were shown on the face of Hugh

-But even if it leaves the Duke out of the game, it doesn't leave you-

-I know you're very skilled but you can't change my qualities, I'm an alpha wolf, apart from my great resistance and ability to fight as well as command , I have no more magic, as then I will hold the Duchy and'll do with the House-

-You're a seducer, seduce her for you, I couldn't bring her to your father and she has become unreachable, but you can seduce her, you can-

-You couldn't- said Hugh while laughing, -how Couldn't you?-

-Let's say I didn't have time, but it's not worth it- and magically showed an illusion of Elizabeth Bennet

Hugh stopped looking at her –She's pretty I can't deny it-

-It's Hilmen-

Hugh looked at Wickham now – I see the plan was that her son would be my brother, and that way he would be out-

George nodded and shrugged his shoulders –I can tell you where he is, how to get to him and I can help you without showing me, but you must seduce her and you will be the father of a Hilmen -

Hugh sniffed and looked at George –Wickham, what did you win?-

-Money, you could even give me one of his sisters, although she is the most valuable, she is not the only one-

Hugh nodded….. and new plans began to be drawn….

While Darcy arrived in Derbyshire at the House of the late Jacob Fitzwilliam in Bolsover, his cousin Viscount Edward was already there, and also Jhon Fitzwilliam...

Congratulations Darcy.—Edward pointed out...

-Edward, Jhon – he said greeting

- In fact, he did not consider it necessary that we wait for my father and Richard does not have permission to come, we all know who decides now, I think it is more necessary that we proceed to read and make way for the most immediate decisions the situation in Nothighamshire and Leicestershire remains tense- said a resolute Edward

Darcy looked at the lawyers and said -You will say the procedure

-Certainly, gentlemen, the Earl is the authority of the County of Derbyshire and a member of this house, however, the availability of the House had already been discussed before leaving the honorable Jacob Fitzwilliam and meeting with Viscount Edward, we could proceed.

A reading was given of all surviving members of the Fitzwilliam house: Earl Ethan, Viscount Edwa rd, Colonel Richard, Jhon, and Fitzwilliam Darcy, the articles and royal opinion that supported the destiny of the same and Fitzwilliam Darcy was made official as the current holder of the house, as well as the conditioning in the use of the name, proceeded to the signatures for him sent to the royal house and carrying out the edict.

Darcy took the floor and stated -All will remain in their current places, including the Earls of Nothighamshire, Leicestershire and Warwickshire, although they do not belong to the house their appointment is real, however, the final disposition of the land and assets of the Fitzwilliam house they will not be delegates-

The viscount intervened -That is to say that you will supervise and have a veto of our acts, I do not think that father or the other Counts are comfortable with it

-Maybe they are not, they will have the administration but not the final disposition, it is a right that I am not going to delegate and if the King listens to the King's Men as consultants, the Counts must listen to me too, the honorable Jacob was respected in his position I do not demand anything different-

Jhon intervened -We have to ask for your advice then as with the old Man of the King

-It is not necessary or binding, you can manage and keep me up to date

-Well, I agree that you will not tell us what to do, but you can invalidate our actions, well Therefore, although we will not ask you for advice, it is preferable to keep you informed and thus avoid public censorship- said Viscount

Darcy nodded, and Jhon said -I think it is appropriate, I suppose that the Counts will be notified with the royal edict

-The justices of the peace and support for unqualified members are maintained? - asked Edward

- Everything is maintained, from what I recently reviewed I only have some adjustments in one of the properties in Matlock, I consider it appropriate that the administrators send quarterly for review, the contributions to the senate or particular situations we attend to separately, such as the cases that you mentioned Edward, and finally the ladies of the House remain where they are and I will not intervene in their alliances

Both men were astonished; they all hoped that Darcy would control the new nuptials for political purposes; as Jacob and all the previous ones did, the Count would really be upset, the Viscount thought. The meeting ended and the men were summoned again when it was time for the funeral ceremonies, the Count had arrived just in time for it and also Lady Catherine, really the latter did not have to go there because theladies weren't participating, but she didn't want to be left out.

The dinner was tense. The Count was a little unhappy with Darcy's lines, Lady Catherine did not miss a chance and raised her point

-Well Darcy, once you formalize your appointment you must announce your commitment to Anne, you must not delay this any longer, the link will contribute to the house and a new lineage will be guaranteed, it could return to the family royal given the excellence of the lineage and the strength that the house will have

-Aunt Catherine precisely today Darcy expressed that weddings by alliance would not be mandatory- Edward said smiling

-You know that this is absurd, alliances are vital to keep the House alive- said the Count

- Of course it is, no union that diminishes the status of the house should be allowed, the Fitzwilliam lineage goes back to the Royal House we cannot diminish that, all of us have created powerful alliances with our nuptials

- As you think today you have the power you have, it's thanks to the marriage alliances- sentenced the Count

- Guys - he said firmly and the room was silenced - the House of Fitzwilliam has just died with the Honorable Jacob, who hen he had no children with his wife, of this family there are only 2 single ladies and 2 gentlemen left, including me, in my person and that of my sister resides the possibility of bequeathing, testating and deciding on everything that this house encompasses and it is only due to our quality, we have more than enough to bequeath to each of the other bachelors and to you, you would manage and live comfortably in your homes, I do not want to be a Duke nor do I long to return to the royal house, I will not marry Anne and I will not force anyone to get married to get more control and power-

Lady Catherine dazed did not control her mind and hit her cane two pixies appeared that attacked Darcy they planted a contract in front of her like this and took her hand to sign- We are not playing, here is the commitment contract- hissed the lady

-Me neither- said Darcy who got up and with a loud bang made the pixies fly

-Catherine is not the way- said the Count who got up to control the situation, knowing that no one none of them was a true rival for Darcy

But Darcy didn't give him a chance, he had already moved his hands and his men were surrounding the room just as 2 magical beings were flying behind him - I'm not a child they can control, neither am I manipulate with the memory of my parents, whether they like it or not I am the head of this house that is now merged with the Darcy, their domain in the lands they hold will be under my command and you are subject to me not the other way around-

All They looked stunned as he spoke, something happened that they had never seen, Darcy's aura became overcrowded and various magical beings appeared: a wolf, a manticore, a phoenix, an elf...

Seeing that no one said anything else, his cousin, trying to lighten the atmosphere, said ... -It has become sufficiently clear that you are the head Darcy, in good time let's toast to our new Man of the King, he raised his glass

John followed him and the Count too, Lady Catherine still shocked did not react and Darcy breathed while everything he was normalized and took his drink, they toasted and left it had been a long day and they still had to digest the facts, before leaving his cousin told him -How did you manage to do-

Darcy confused look him

-Display your aura like that and make them become mystical beings, what spell is that? I know that magical creatures come from you because you are Hilmen, but those were mystical beings created in your aura-

-I did not do any spell- Darcy said

-Yes you did, we all saw it, you did not create a magical being, they seemed to come from you, that was another thing another level

-Uhm I guess my power has only grown- he said with a gesture that it wasn't important

Edward continued- Teach me how to do it, not today but teach me, I won't forget...

Darcy smiled and went to the prepared room...Edward's words left him intrigued he did nothing consciously, his emotions were more volatile now, Richard had insisted that his essence had changed, the nearby animals were unaware, because this was happening, what was it about...he thought for a long time, he reflected on his own words...My power has grown...but why? the only thing that came to his mind was Elizabeth could her presence have affected him so much... there had to be something else...

He remembered Stevenson's words... something in the treatment he received has changed him...he was magically treated by two healers both Bennet, Katherine who healed some of his wounds and Elizabeth who pretty much restored him completely; from the latter she received her essence, therefore also part of her power, she spoke many times about her volatile emotions, all the Bennets showed changing auras it was more than a spell, her wolf ancestors were her essence, when she healed him she gave him part hers…

That was, his essence had been modified by her essence…..if those changes occurred when she healed him, if they bonded as far as they could develop together...he was sure she was his irisurt, he didn't want more power, but joining her was inevitable few books could give him an idea...nothing was said about the joining of hilmens, they always joined another lesser than them, and it resulted in an improvement, but her father reminded her of something before he died…if you get her your union with her will surpass any previous union you will experience much more than with anyone, seek her before prestige, I cannot describe what it will be…

Darcy was not an innocent man, his cousins led to those places of pleasure, He attended little and even less were the times that he finished the acts with one of the ladies offered to him, he used to leave before entering a room, he did not feel comfortable going to places like that... but going there allowed him to recognize what his father's words meant, he tasted that pleasure fleetingly, just thinking that he could experience more made him yearn for her madly...

Three more days of agreements and disagreements and Darcy now left accompanied by Georgiana, even further north towards the Normanby Castle of the Darcy House

-Dear nephew, it is good that you have arrived

- Thank you Lady Margot -

-Oh but stop formalities tell me aunt, I see that you have brought Georgiana

Georgiana bowed and Lady Margot approached and gave her a kiss and hug, -we are family, dear, none of those formalities between us, oh how much you have grown-

-Come on in, it's very cold now- the brothers greeted her They continued and their aunt continued

-I see that you have been able to get rid of Lady Catherine, your father always worried about her intentions

-My position is clear on this aspect

-I am glad, Marie and Josefine will be very happy with your arrival, come you must come tired, the master's chamber has been prepared for you Darcy

Darcy nodded as her aunt waved her hands and two little elves bowed and ventured to carry the Darcy brothers

Georgiana looked curiously at the being that guided her, and the Elf told her -I'm Welby, and I can change my shape if you like more my mistress

- Excuse me but what are you

- I'm her Elf we serve the Castle of Normaby and the Darcy House-

Georgiana was surprised, she had read about them, but she thought they were extinct

Seeing the puzzled expression the Elf said- I am real my mistress, and we will continue here even after you, it is our home, and returning to Oduw is not an option

The creature diligently guided her to the room and everything was in its place- Your maid is not necessary here, we are the ones who serve in the castle, just think about it and you will have it said smiling the elf who had changed her appearance and seemed more human now

-Okay, Welby I would like a bath before tea-

A bow and the Elf left

Darcy once in her room said to the elf -Punke, Eustace will continue to take care of my clothes-

-As my lord wishes-

-The butler or his principal I want him in my office at tea time- at that moment it was heard footsteps in the next room

The elf showed no surprise, but Darcy didn't like that - Who lives in the mistress's room?-

-My lady Marie is the mistress-

-Excuse me?

- My lady Marie is the housekeeper, Master Darcy-

- For what reason? Since when?-

- Since the old master died, Lady Margot encouraged Miss Marie to take over as housekeeper and that includes the use of the room-

- Then move me to another room-

- You are our master, this corresponds my lord and it is what I order my lady-

- Yes, I am the master, but Marie is not my mistress and I will not share with my cousin the space that corresponds to my lady, such an appearance it is a commitment that does not exist, therefore, move my things to the side of my room in sister and I do not want a room that is shared inhabited by my side, understood

-Yes my lord, your wishes are my orders

The Gardiners with Elizabeth and Mary arrive at Longbourn, it was a general uproar everyone longing for news of the stay and asking to see the dresses and other purchases that their sisters had made in London, after the effervescence and in the quiet of the night Jane said to Elizabeth

-Oh Lizzie, these last few days everything has changed so much

-Yes, I could hardly notice it- Elizabeth smiled at the hubbub of her sisters after her arrival

-I guess today because of her arrival with purchases mom doesn't regulate the girls- she said smiling - but these last few weeks mom has kept them in control in the visits received, I think they want dad not to hire the governess, but I don't think they will be able to convince him-

-seriously-

-yes, dad now even briefly stays on the visits and observe everything, several lackeys have come and mr. Hostier came from London a week ago to manage the estate, the appointment has really changed everything, in fact Mary looks changed even you—

-I…. Uhm, I don't think she has changed much, and well, I think Mary was interested in someone and her friendship with Georgiana was good for her, that's why you see her changed, and you Jane, what have you changed-

Jane blushed –Lizzie mr. Bingley asked for my hand-

-Are you engaged? - Lizzie said excitedly

-No, we're not dad I don't accept a commitment—Elizabeth was really amazed- But we're in a courtship, dad says it's better that we give each other some time to get to know each other before establishing a stable commitment—

-because dad did that, I don't think mom is satisfied—

-Believe it or not, mom didn't protest, or at least not in front of everyone, and dad said I shouldn't rush because in the season we will meet many more people and well he says that I should choose wisely—

Lizzie, not knowing very well what to say, hugged Jane and said –well then to get to know him better- they smiled and then went to sleep