Author's Note: Another chapter for you. I can see comment again, so yay! I think I have corrected all the issues folks have pointed out.
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Chapter 23
Charlotte visited Netherfield later that afternoon. "Eliza, I am so glad to see you," she said after greeting Lady Anne. "Not that I am not thrilled that you came, Lady Anne, but I have missed my friend. While my mother is wonderful in most cases, at this moment, I am struggling to tolerate her excitement in this instance."
Lady Anne accepted this statement and excused herself to speak with the housekeeper, leaving the girls to talk privately.
"Your mother can be excitable, but she is pleased to have a daughter married," Elizabeth replied. "I am certain that were it Jane to wed, especially a gentleman of means, my mother would be having a fit of nerves on an hourly basis."
Charlotte rolled her eyes. "I encountered your mother a day or two ago in Meryton," she told her friend. "I was shopping for some times for my trousseau, and she publicly accused me of stealing Jane's beau. Of course, Andrew told Jane sometime ago he had only called on her once or twice at the beginning of their acquaintance and quit calling on her because she had nothing to recommend her other than her beauty."
Elizabeth chuckled at that statement. "I cannot imagine Jane took that well," Elizabeth said.
"She did not. That is when she swore she would marry better than you. She is not going to like learning that you are in town with your husband and may try to do or say something to you," Charlotte warned.
"The Darcys have hired men to protect us while we are in Meryton," Elizabeth replied. "While they are more worried about Mr Wickham, they are aware of Jane's threats. I doubt she will act aggressively, though she may be giving information to Mr Wickham since they appear friendly. Have you heard anything else from Kitty and Lydia?"
"They are not permitted to come into Lucas Lodge. However, they have worked out a system with Maria that enables her to know when they are coming so they can talk and plan," Charlotte told her. "If you want to get word to them, let me know, and I will do what I can."
"I would like to see them," Elizabeth replied. "I do not care about seeing Mama or Jane, and I doubt Papa would care about seeing me. I am pleased that Mary is with the Gardiners, so now we only need to figure out how to get Kitty and Lydia away from Longbourn."
"I think your visit to Longbourn and your marriage has opened their eyes to the reality of life there," Charlotte replied. "They have grown somewhat since you left home. Seeing Jane for what she truly is has challenged them to see things differently. If you were to approach your father about taking them to your estate … perhaps he would be willing to allow that for a time."
Elizabeth sighed deeply. "There is still so much I must learn about my new home. We have scarcely been there since our marriage. I worry that I will not be able to provide my sisters with the attention they deserve and that Fitzwilliam and I will not be the parental figures they need. I suppose we could hire a governess for them, but would that not be treating them like my parents always have? Relying on someone else to take care of them."
Charlotte nodded. "I do see your point. It is unfair to you to expect you to take on the responsibility for your younger sisters when you are just starting out in your own life with your husband. But they do need to get away from Longbourn."
"It should be my parents' responsibility, but it seems obvious they have abdicated it to others. Kitty and Lydia could not visit so easily with your sister if someone were monitoring their behaviour. They should still be in the schoolroom—they are of a similar age as Georgiana, and she still has a governess." Elizabeth paused as she considered things. "Georgiana will go to school soon; perhaps I could persuade Papa to send Kitty and Lydia with her? I need to speak to Fitzwilliam about this idea."
Elizabeth shook away these thoughts. "This is not why you came, Charlotte. You are to be married shortly. Tell me what plans have been made and why your mother is driving you to distraction."
The two began to discuss the wedding for some time until they were interrupted by the gentlemen returning from their ride around the estate. Both Darcy men had accompanied Mr Livesay around the area as they spoke of the situation regarding Wickham. George Darcy had not wanted to share this outside of the family, but Fitzwilliam had insisted their host be aware of the threat while they were staying with him. Together with two of the men hired to protect the Darcy women, they scouted locations where someone might hide if they wanted to harm the family.
"Do you truly believe he might act to hurt your family?" Mr Livesay asked.
George simply shrugged while Fitzwilliam glared. "He threatened to take revenge on our family, and the night of our wedding ball, he was leading Elizabeth toward the balcony and refused to release her arm when she asked. I prefer to be prepared," Fitzwilliam replied.
"He's resentful because I terminated our friendship once it became evident he was taking advantage of me," George added. "He had grown accustomed to expecting support from both Father and me, and his disdain for Fitzwilliam has always been apparent. If he believes he can inflict harm upon us in any manner, I think he will attempt it. Richard certainly views him as a potential threat, and his proximity to Elizabeth's family has raised our concerns."
"Livesay, you heard Miss Bennet claim that she would marry better than her sister, along with her threat to destroy our marriage. If she has been speaking with Wickham, the two may have hatched some plot together," Fitzwilliam added.
Livesay nodded. "I had almost forgotten that day," he replied thoughtfully. "What do you think he is likely to do?"
"I am not certain," Fitzwilliam replied gravely. "At the ball, we wondered what his intention was—it could have been theft, kidnapping, or something far worse. We do not know his intention, which is concerning."
Again, Livesay nodded. "Well, then, we will do all we can to prevent him from acting." The men accompanying them nodded and offered suggestions for protecting the family over the next few days.
The three gentlemen entered the drawing room after quickly washing and changing clothes from their ride. It was apparent to Elizabeth what the topic of conversation was on the ride when she saw the look on her husband's face. He immediately came to sit beside her and kissed her tenderly, ignoring the others in the room. "I love you, dearest," he whispered.
She bestowed a warm smile upon him and gently touched his cheek. Her cheeks flushed with a blush as she heard a discreet cough, prompting her to turn and greet the others who had entered the room alongside her husband.
"How was your ride, gentlemen?" she inquired to lighten the mood.
Her volley fell flat. "There are many places where an individual could hide," Fitzwilliam said darkly. "Do I need to remind you of your promise not to leave the house alone?"
"No, Fitzwilliam, you do not," Elizabeth replied, attempting not to be annoyed with the reminder. He had mentioned it a dozen times since they arrived yesterday.
"I apologise, dearest," he whispered, seeing the look that crossed her face. She merely shook her head and smiled softly at him.
Once again, Elizabeth was fed up with dealing with difficult topics. "There are simply too many difficult topics to discuss, so perhaps we should focus on a far pleasanter one," Elizabeth suggested. "Mr Livesay, what can you tell us of your wedding trip?"
This elicited a mild chuckle from everyone present, and the ensuing conversation remained light-hearted, centred around the impending journeys of all those gathered in the room. The newlywed Livesays planned to embark on a leisurely northern journey, savouring the scenery as they made their way toward Lancashire. Their route paralleled the Darcy family's, though the Darcys intended to travel at a swifter pace. The entire family would journey to Oakridge, where they would remain for a day or two before George, Lady Anne, and Georgiana would leave for Pemberley.
Later that afternoon, Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam sat in their sitting room, discussing the topics Elizabeth wanted to avoid with her friend.
"Charlotte suggested that Kitty and Lydia come to live with us, but I confess, I would prefer not to ask. I think Papa would allow them to go with us, if for no other reason than it makes it easier for him, but we both have so much to learn about running the estate. We have spent little time there since we wed, and there is much to do," Elizabeth said. She then continued to share her thoughts about the impossibility of them living with the Gardiners and even the idea Charlotte had shared about them going to school. "I would like to do what I can to help my sisters, Fitzwilliam, but a part of me is angry that I even need to consider it. My parents should be responsible for educating them and ensuring they are prepared to enter society, but I doubt they are capable of doing it."
"What if Mother invited them to Pemberley for a time? Georgiana's governess could teach your sisters and mine, and they would all benefit from each other's society. If I am not mistaken, your sisters are the same age as Georgie, and she is far too isolated. I believe Mother would be willing, though we would need to discuss the idea with her and your father," Fitzwilliam suggested.
The two snuggled together as they talked about the more difficult topic of what to do about Wickham and Jane. "We should wait until Richard arrives to tell us what he has learned about Wickham. Do we even know if he is in Meryton?"
Darcy sighed against Elizabeth's hair. "We do not," he replied. "My mind is conjuring up all these scenarios, all of which involve you being injured seriously, and I confess, I am terrified. I do not want to lose you, Elizabeth." He pulled her tightly into his embrace and proceeded to show her how much.
Richard arrived at Netherfield two days later. "I have news of Wickham," he said nearly as soon as he entered the house and was settled into the billiards room with the other gentlemen.
"What?" Fitzwilliam demanded.
"He is no longer in town—my man believes he departed for Hertfordshire shortly before I did. I am not sure of his exact intention, but he purchased a fairly large quantity of belladonna from several different apothecaries in London, mostly around Seven Dials," Richard informed the group. "Most apothecaries will only sell it in small amounts to avoid accidental poisoning, but by purchasing it from several different places, he likely has enough for a lethal dose.
"So he intends to poison someone?" George asked, incredulous. "How would he get it inside the house?"
Richard grimaced. "That I do not know, but we will need to speak to my aunt—and probably Elizabeth as well—about who to speak to in the staff about the threat."
Fitzwilliam nodded his agreement. "I have noticed that Elizabeth knows many members of the staff from her time living here. Many belong to families she has known all her life, and in many cases, she or her grandmother assisted them in some way."
They agreed to find Lady Anne and Elizabeth and share this information with them. However, Richard pulled Fitzwilliam aside. "One of my men did get close enough to overhear that the target is likely Elizabeth. Your old friend does not like that you found someone to make you happy, and your wife's sister is awfully jealous of you. I think Wickham feels it would serve you right to lose your wife, and the shrew does not seem to realise that if something were to happen to your wife, you could not marry her. Wickham was heard laughing about it."
"Do you think that Jane intends to be the one to poison my wife? In some act of bitter vengeance for marrying better than her? Livesay and Miss Lucas heard her ranting about how she would take back what rightfully belonged to her," Fitzwilliam asked.
"Is she mad?" Richard asked. "I am not even teasing—if she truly believes that, she may be out of her mind."
"Well, what can we do about her?" Fitzwilliam asked.
"I am uncertain," his cousin replied. "Perhaps she will be well enough if we deal with Wickham. Although it may be for the best if you and your wife do not return to the area."
"That is easy enough to arrange," he replied. "We would not have returned if not for her friend's wedding."
George stuck his head back into the hall. "Are you too coming?" he asked. The two shared a glance and then entered the drawing room, where everyone waited. After Richard told the ladies what he knew, they all discussed the precautions they should take. Once that conversation was ended, Richard was shown to a bedchamber, and Fitzwilliam requested that Elizabeth accompany him on a walk in the gardens.
One of the guards walked behind the pair as they walked through the gardens at the side of the house. Fitzwilliam acquainted his wife with what Richard had said privately and encouraged his wife to take additional precautions, including not drinking anything she did not see prepared.
Fitzwilliam was surprised at his wife's emotional reaction to this news. He had rarely seen her cry in the four months of their marriage. He expected her to react to this news, but the nearly inconsolable tears were a surprise. When her tears continued for some minutes, he took her into his arms and carried her inside to a small, rarely used, sitting room. He sat them down on the settee and pulled her into his lap, rubbing his hands up and down her back as he sought to console her.
"Elizabeth, dearest, are you well?" he asked when her tears finally began to wane.
It took her another minute or two to articulate her thoughts. "I think I am, but I never anticipated that Jane would be so…" She paused, searching for a word to describe her feelings. "I am astonished that Jane would genuinely contemplate causing me harm in any manner, let alone aiding someone in harming me. Until I departed for London, I regarded Jane as both a friend and a beloved sister. It was not until after I met you that I began to realize the inequity of our friendship."
"My cousin wonders if she is mad," Fitzwilliam said in a soft tone.
Elizabeth responded with a bitter laugh. "I, too, entertain such concerns," she replied. "Is it possible that Mama's frequent praise has gone to her head?"
Fitzwilliam held her tighter. "Your mother was wrong about both of you, dearest. Please know that."
Elizabeth shook her head. "I want to believe you, Fitzwilliam. It is difficult to overcome years of her slights and insults."
"I will spend the rest of my life convincing you of your worth, my love," he countered. "Replace her voice in your head with mine, telling you how exceptional you are."
"I am trying, Will," she whispered just before he kissed her.