Besides being a loyal and honest housekeeper, Mrs. Reynolds was also very fond of Mr. Darcy. She had known him for more than two decades, and in her estimation, he was the best landlord and the best master that she had ever known. She was aware that, as an employee, she should not interfere in Mr. Darcy's affairs. However, due to the urgent and dire circumstances, she concluded that she had to tell him what Mr. Peterson had told her the previous day.
When Mrs. Reynolds entered Darcy's study, he looked at her curiously since Mrs. Reynolds rarely interrupted him. Hesitatingly, she said,"Mr. Darcy, if you have a few minutes, I would like to speak with you about something very important."
Darcy immediately gave his undivided attention and replied, "Now is a good time, Mrs. Reynolds."
Mrs. Reynolds took a deep breath and said, "I don't like gossip, and I was hesitant about whether I should speak about this with you or not." Darcy nodded and gestured for her to continue, "Yesterday, Mr. Peterson told me in confidence that he saw a woman with Mr. Frederick Swan near the fence of Pemberley and Sandstone in a compromising situation." Mrs. Reynolds looked down. "He was not sure, but he said the woman looked like Lady Victoria. The couple didn't see him."
Darcy's eyes widened in shock. He clenched his fists tightly and replied, "Thank you, Mrs. Reynolds. I appreciate you telling me this information."
Mrs. Reynolds nodded slightly and left Darcy's study.
PPP
Darcy remained in his study for the rest of the day, feeling bitterly angry with himself for having trusted his wife. At first, he was determined to confront her, but after serious consideration, he dismissed the idea; he was sure she would deny having an affair with Frederick Swan. After many hours of careful deliberation, Darcy devised a good plan. He hoped the results would provide the needed evidence to get a divorce.
Over dinner, Darcy looked at Georgiana and said, "Tomorrow, I will go to Derby to buy a mare for you."
Georgiana's face brightened as Lady Victoria had been riding her favorite mare, Venus, for weeks, and her other mare, Athenas, was old. "Thank you, Brother. When are you coming back to Pemberley?"
"I will return in three or four days as I have a meeting with an acquaintance who is interested in buying Pemberley's goods."
Lady Victoria did not comment on the matter. Darcy told her that he would not be able to visit her that night since he had to get up very early the following day.
PPP
The next day, Darcy left at dawn to Pemberley's Dower house and stayed there. Mrs. Reynolds was aware of his plan and would follow his instructions.
Two days later, Darcy was irritably pacing the small foyer of the Dower house. Finally, a young man, barely twelve years old, arrived, looking very agitated. The boy simply nodded his head, and minutes later they both rode towards a small abandoned building within the hunting grounds.
Darcy dismounted and stealthily motioned for the boy to leave. Inside the cabin he found what he had already imagined, Lady Victoria and Frederick Swan were semi-naked, kissing, and in a very compromising position. When the two lovers finally realized they were not alone, they paled, and were shocked and speechless. After an awful silence, Darcy sneered, "Mr. Swan, get dressed and leave my property immediately. From now on, never set foot on my land again."
In less than a minute, Frederick Swan ran off, half-naked and afraid that Darcy would challenge him to a duel.
As soon as they were alone, Lady Victoria, with tears in her eyes, began to tell him "I swear this is the first time this has happened..."
Darcy looked at her with deep contempt and said, "You are much worse than a cheap whore. At least, I could respect a prostitute, since they do it out of sheer necessity but you are simply one of the most despicable women I have ever met: a liar, immoral, and stupid."
Lady Victoria shook her head and tearfully said, "I am sorry, but this is also your fault. Ever since we got married, you have treated me with contempt, and I have been deeply unhappy at Pemberley." She dried her tears and went on, "I know I have made several mistakes and it was wrong of me to deceive you. But you don't care one jot for my wellbeing and my feelings."
Darcy looked at her impassively, but he recognized that in some ways she was right in what she said. After this betrayal he couldn't allow her to continue living at Pemberley. "Madame, I give you until tomorrow to leave Pemberley. I never want to see you on my land again, and I will seek a divorce."
"You can't do that; you can't kick me out." She paused and added desperately, "I am pregnant, expecting your child."
Darcy stared at her for several seconds; there was a possibility that this child was indeed his, but if it was not, he would be leaving his entire legacy to another man's child. That possibility was totally unacceptable.
After thinking for several seconds, he finally replied, "Since I have no reason to believe you, I am going to send a letter to my steward in Scotland, and with the interest of your dowry, he will rent a cottage there. No one knows you in that place, and you are going to live there until your child is born." He paused and then added, "After the child is born, If I am convinced that it is mine, the child will come to live in Pemberley, and if not, I will find a family to adopt it."
"You can't do that, how am I going to live on less than 150 pounds a year!" she yelled indignantly.
"You will survive, you will have to learn to live with very little money. After I get a divorce, you won't even get that much. The other option is that you go wherever you want with 120 pounds."
After saying this, Darcy left the cabin, ignoring Lady Victoria's pleas. He hurried back to Pemberley, locked himself in his study and wrote a letter to his steward and another letter to Lord Matlock. He would divorce her regardless of the consequences.
Half an hour later, Lady Victoria knocked on his door and begged him to open it. But it was all in vain.
PPP
Mr. Swan Senior - who was an honorable man - upon learning what had happened between his son and Lady Victoria, was horrified and greatly disappointed in his son. Additionally, the previous week, a pregnant young woman claimed that his son was the father of her child. Although his son denied knowing the woman, he had many doubts.
Mr. Swan knew that it was necessary to try at all costs to contain the scandal; Darcy was the richest and most powerful man in the region, and he didn't want to antagonize him.
After staying up all night, he concluded that the best option was to postpone his daughter's debut in London for at least a year, citing his wife's well-known health issues. Besides, he was unwilling to give money to his son to support his bad behavior and irresponsible actions. His son had to learn to be a good master and to behave like an honorable man.
The following day, he went to Pemberley to apologize to Darcy. Unsurprisingly, he was not well received, but after a very tense dialogue, Mr. Swan agreed that, if necessary, he would be a witness in Darcy's divorce for adultery.
PPP
Two days later, in an old carriage, Lady Victoria began her exile. During the first month, she wrote several letters to Frederick Swan, hoping that he would come to her aid. She had no answer until, finally, a letter arrived, and she understood that once again she had been completely wrong.
17th December, 1812
Sandstone
Madame,
Please desist from sending me your unwanted letters. You were simply an easy woman, who only served to amuse me while I was bored in Derbyshire. No self-respecting gentleman would take seriously a woman of low morals like yourself.
Frederick Swan.