Author's Note: Another chapter for you.
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Chapter 25
It was a subdued group who gathered for supper. The cook, a woman who had found this position with the help of Elizabeth's grandmother, had been warned of the threat to the family, particularly Elizabeth. She was determined to ensure that everything served in her kitchen was safe to eat, and the party took comfort in that, but there was still much to discover.
Richard brought several additional men with him tasked with finding and tracking Wickham. Their first assignment was to discover where he was staying and then to keep an eye on him. Another man was charged with seeing what he could discover about Jane Bennet, which was slightly more complicated. She rarely left her house, and her meetings with Wickham most often occurred in the drawing room, in plain sight of the Bennet family. No one knew how to learn more about Jane and Wickham's plans, as there was no way to get anyone else inside the house.
"We could speak to Mrs Hill," Elizabeth had suggested earlier once she had recovered and had joined Lady Anne and the gentleman to make plans. "She is the housekeeper and would let us know if she hears anything. She could encourage the maids to eavesdrop and report anything they hear to her."
The gentlemen looked at each other for a moment and shrugged. "It could not hurt to try it," Richard replied. "You cannot visit Longbourn; however, if you give me a note, I will ensure it gets to her. She can keep a secret?"
"Yes, extraordinarily well," Elizabeth laughed, her first real laugh since that afternoon. "Mrs Hill was always a great help to me when I would try to avoid Mama's anger and often worked with me to circumvent Mama's threats. She was the one who would help me escape the house when I needed to."
"Does she want a new position?" Fitzwilliam asked. "You know we will need to replace the housekeeper at Oakridge soon. The one we have there presently wants to retire soon if you recall."
Elizabeth considered this and informed her husband that Mr. Hill would also need a position. They decided to consider that idea soon, as right now, they needed to focus on ensuring the safety of their family.
Georgiana joined the family for dinner that evening, and the table's conversation remained focused on lighter subjects for her sake.
After dinner, the entire party moved into a drawing room where the three ladies entertained them with music. The gentlemen talked quietly together, though Fitzwilliam remained near the ladies, particularly his wife.
Finally, Lady Anne told her daughter it was time for bed, so mother and daughter retired to their chambers with Elizabeth following behind. "I am tired, Fitzwilliam; however, do not feel you must join me immediately. I know you want to speak to the gentlemen about the plans to ensure everyone's safety," she whispered.
Reluctantly, he sent his wife upstairs ahead of him. "I will not be long, my love," he said, kissing her before releasing her hand.
Richard and George laughed at the look on his face as his wife exited the room. "You are utterly lost, Fitz," Richard teased his cousin. "You will never find me looking like that over a woman."
Darcy scowled at his cousin. "I am extraordinarily happy with my wife, Richard. You do not know what you are missing."
Richard scoffed, and the topic turned to more serious matters. "What should we do about Wickham? My men are ready to grab him and deliver him to the press gang, or do you want to see what he will do first?"
"Take him now," Fitzwilliam stated. "Make sure he still has the belladonna and capture him. I prefer that he not endanger my wife."
"But if we wait until he acts, we can have him arrested and hung," George replied. "He apparently has no qualms about murdering someone."
"Under no circumstances will we use my wife as bait," Fitzwilliam protested.
"I am not suggesting we do so," George retorted. "I am merely suggesting we allow him to get caught in the act. We have people watching him; he cannot do anything we do not know about. The Hills at Longbourn are keeping an eye on things there and have already given us an account of a meeting between Wickham and Miss Bennet."
"What?" Fitzwilliam barked. "Why have I not been told of this before?"
"Because we just learned of it after dinner," Richard replied calmly.
"Learned what exactly?" Fitzwilliam demanded.
"Wickham's plan," Richard said.
"How do you know his plan already?" Fitzwilliam asked again.
"He and Miss Bennet were discussing it right before Mrs. Hill. They either did not realize she was present or assumed she could not hear them," Richard chuckled. "Wickham has never been particularly observant." Quietly, Richard proceeded to brief both Darcy men on the exact details of what had been overheard, and they deliberated their own strategies for apprehending the duo in the act.
Two nights later, there was an assembly in Meryton. The Darcy party originally planned not to go, but Richard convinced them this was the best way to encounter Miss Bennet and Wickham, allowing both groups to implement their plans.
Unsurprisingly, it was Elizabeth and Lady Anne who finally convinced Fitzwilliam to allow them to put this plan into motion. When Fitzwilliam first apprised his wife of Richard's intentions, he was adamantly against allowing Elizabeth to put herself in harm's way. However, she had perfunctorily dismissed all his objections, promising to be very careful and reminding him that he, George, Richard, and the hired guards would all be there to ensure Elizabeth was not hurt. She would not eat or drink apart from the food they brought to the event themselves, and several people would be keeping an eye on Jane and Wickham both before and during the event.
Fitzwilliam was unhappy, and his face was a stone mask as they travelled to the assembly hall. It was one Elizabeth had seen on occasion before they wed but rarely since, and she recognized it as a reflection of his discomfort in this situation. He was concerned for his wife, and Elizabeth was determined to force him out of his doldrums before they left their carriage.
"If I had to judge based on the face you are presently making, I would guess you had been forced to marry me and were most displeased by it," she whispered, not wanting to disturb the other occupants of the vehicle.
Her words had the desired effect as he looked down at her, startled. "Never displeased, dearest," he whispered back. "I love you so very much."
"Then you must demonstrate it, darling. That scowl you wear gives the impression you are not madly in love. Smile at me; stare at me if you must—but smile!" she commanded.
He emitted a soft chuckle, audible only to her. "I worry for your well-being. My cousin and brother have assured me that everything will be fine, and they are closely monitoring the situation," he sighed deeply. "They have made it clear that my sole duty tonight is to ensure you have an enjoyable evening. I must admit, I find it challenging to assume the role of jester rather than being granted the opportunity to safeguard you."
Elizabeth laughed. "You are hardly a jester, dearest Fitzwilliam," she cajoled. "And you are safeguarding me. You will be by my side all evening; our role is as important as the rest. We are to lull them into feeling safe so they will act, and Richard and his men will ensure Wickham will never harm another."
"But you run the risk of being harmed," he insisted.
"I do not," Elizabeth replied. "We have been over this."
"I do not like this," he stated simply.
"I know, but all will be well," she told him. "Now, let us go into the assembly hall. I want to dance."
Fitzwilliam struggled to adjust his visage into a look of contentment, and Elizabeth laughed at his effort. Hearing her, he smiled softly as the carriage halted. "I must remember that sound any time I am tempted to frown. You will have to repeat it often to bolster my spirits this evening," he remarked as he disembarked from the carriage after his mother and brother and then turned to assist her. As she placed her hand in his, he promptly kissed it, and his countenance underwent another transformation, now radiating his profound love for his wife.
"That is the expression I hope to witness for the remainder of our lives, Fitzwilliam. When you look at me that way, it will make convincing everyone of our happiness quite effortless," Elizabeth replied in a soft tone. "Now, 'once more into the breach,'" she declared with a carefree air.
Entering the assembly hall, Elizabeth was quickly inundated with old friends. She spoke to them all, introducing them to her husband and his family. George and Lady Anne were personable and friendly, but her husband greeted everyone seriously, allowing his wife to speak and charm them. After some time, both Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam observed the arrival of the Bennets, and a palpable tension filled the air between the two groups.
"Will they approach, do you think?" Elizabeth whispered to her husband. "I cannot see them for the crowd."
"They seem to be discussing it," Fitzwilliam replied, equally as quiet as his wife. "They are looking this way and gesticulating." Elizabeth spoke to another former neighbour, and after a moment, Fitzwilliam spoke again: "Ahh, they are beginning to move this way. Your mother is leading the charge."
"Smile, Fitzwilliam," she hissed. "We are happy, and they can do nothing about it."
"Lizzy!" her mother exclaimed as she drew near, her initial warm tone swiftly transitioning into a reproachful one. "I must say, I was utterly astonished to see you here tonight. I am astounded that you arrived in Meryton without notifying your family of your presence. Why on earth have you not come to visit us?"
"Mama, you insulted both me and my husband the one time we visited Longbourn. You sent me away from home, asking the Gardiners to be responsible for me since you did not want the bother, and now that I am married, you still think you can order me to come and go as you desire. If you did not want to bother with me when I was living in your home, now that I am living with my husband, why would I want to bother with you?" Elizabeth replied in a voice so low that her mother had to lean in to hear it.
Mrs Bennet was not as circumspect. "You are an ungrateful girl," she said shrilly. "How can you treat your mother in this infamous way? You always were an unnatural daughter, and I am certain your husband will quickly see you are not worth his time, and he will set you aside. Then he will be sorry he did not choose my most beautiful daughter. He will be sorry he did not choose Jane."
"Madam, you are grievously mistaken if you still hold that belief to be true. I shall never forsake my wife; I did, in fact, wed your most beautiful daughter. Regrettably, she happened to be the one you never desired and could never see past your own animosity to appreciate her. You have imbued your eldest daughter with the notion that she is entitled to the finest, but that is a fallacy," Fitzwilliam hissed, lowering his voice to ensure others could not overhear. "As I understand it, she has been repeatedly reminded that such an attitude can render even the most beautiful woman unattractive. She is entitled to nothing; without accomplishments, she has nothing to offer any man beyond her looks. Few men would settle for a woman devoid of wit, accomplishments, and dowry."
Mrs Bennet scoffed. "You are a fool," she hissed, lowering her voice to match his. "You will regret not taking my Jane for your wife. Lizzy is worthless, always doing the wrong thing, and you will regret it when she cannot give you the son you desire. She is good for nothing, and with her luck, she will only produce girls."
"My estate is not entailed and may be inherited by any child. Whether we are blessed with sons or daughters, we shall cherish them all, and if my wife does not bear me a child, I shall find contentment in spending my life with her. You, madam, are the one in error. It is high time we conclude this conversation," Fitzwilliam declared, much to his mother-in-law's chagrin. Nevertheless, she had no further remarks to offer, and upon noticing her neighbours casting disdainful glances her way, she chose to withdraw.
"That was not wholly unexpected, although I did not expect her to attack so quickly. Jane was quiet," Elizabeth whispered.
"Too quiet," replied Fitzwilliam. "She still believes she is better than you; it was clearly written in her face."
"It will all be well, Fitzwilliam," Elizabeth reiterated, trusting that the more she said it, the more she would convince herself. While she harboured some concerns about the plan, she understood that revealing them might prompt her husband to summon the carriage and swiftly return her home instead of allowing events to play out.
Finally, the first strains of the music were heard, and the Darcys moved toward the dance floor. Elizabeth took a moment to take a drink of tea handed to her by Lady Anne, as her throat was dry from greeting so many people. Soon, they were standing in opposite lines, watching as others stood around them. Elizabeth noted Jane's position in the line—there was only one person between the sisters, and that was Charlotte. Elizabeth smiled at her friend, momentarily reaching out to clasp and squeeze her hand.
As the couples progressed through the line, Elizabeth alternated her gaze between her husband and the surrounding crowd. She noticed her brother and mother-in-law observing and even spotted Richard and several guards discreetly positioned throughout the gathering. Despite being aware of Wickham's presence in Meryton, Elizabeth still felt taken aback when she finally spotted him near the refreshment table and began to scrutinize him intently.
"I see him as well," Fitzwilliam murmured as they passed each other in the line. He continued when they found another brief moment, "Richard is standing nearby, along with the others. They are keeping a close watch on him. My love, you should cease staring, or you may inadvertently reveal their presence."
Elizabeth was startled by this reminder, prompting her to turn her attention to her husband. "Thank you for the reminder, my dear," she whispered in response. "I was momentarily taken aback when I saw him here."
"Be prepared to take whatever Jane offers to you when the dance ends. George and I will ensure you do not drink it," he said as he stood beside her as they waited for their turn. "Are you ready for your performance?"
She laughed lightly. "I am," she replied. "I have always enjoyed playacting, and now I have a reason to do so."
All too soon, the dance concluded, and the Darcys started approaching Lady Anne. However, before they could reach her, Jane intercepted them, carrying a glass of some beverage. "Dear sister," she feigned, "You appeared positively wretched as you concluded that dance, so I thought I would fetch you a drink to ascertain if it might revive you."
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at her sister's gesture and the insult it contained. "Thank you, Jane," she responded, accepting the drink and ignoring her comment. However, as she brought it closer, an unfamiliar scent assailed her senses, triggering a visceral reaction. Her stomach churned, and she turned her face away.
Fitzwilliam regarded her with deep concern, as this was not part of their plan. "Are you feeling well, dearest?" he inquired, genuine worry evident in his voice.
"I am not entirely sure, Fitzwilliam," she replied, betraying her unease. "It is strange—I caught a scent that turned my stomach. I do not believe it was the wine, but a strong odour is lingering somewhere."
Jane observed her sister cautiously. "It could not be the wine," she remarked. "You have had it many times before without any issues."
"I do not believe it is the wine," Elizabeth affirmed gravely.
Lady Anne and George joined them, their expressions mirroring concern. "Are you feeling all right, Elizabeth?" Lady Anne inquired.
"I think so, Mother. I was briefly overcome by a noxious odour, but I believe I am improving now. It just struck me so suddenly," Elizabeth replied.
To the astonishment of her sons and daughter, Lady Anne appeared almost pleased by this revelation. "Is this the first time such a thing has occurred?" she asked.
Elizabeth pondered for a moment. "My stomach has been unusually unsettled recently," she admitted.
Lady Anne patted her hand reassuringly. "We shall discuss this further tomorrow, though I am confident you are perfectly well. Do not fret, Fitzwilliam," she assured them both.
Jane stood there, observing their interactions, and for a brief moment, experienced a twinge of… something. It might have been wistfulness for a family like the one before her. However, that sentiment vanished almost as swiftly as it had surfaced.
"Here, Lizzy," she offered again. "Perhaps the wine will help."
Stepping in to act his part, George reached forward. "Since Elizabeth is unwell, I will take the drink in her stead," he offered. "May I?"
"Umm," Jane hesitated, her gaze flickering towards the refreshment table where Wickham lurked in the shadows. Upon receiving his subtle nod, she extended the drink towards the gentleman. "Here, I hope you find it to your liking."
"I am certain I will," George replied, taking the drink she offered. "Thank you, Miss Bennet."