Chapter 9

9

D uring the few trips to London that Elizabeth made to see her uncle and aunt Gardiner near Cheapside, she never happened to venture into the neighborhood where Darcy lived. His house was grand. No, their house was grand, for Elizabeth noticed how many times in his conversation since they married that he included her when speaking of his assets. She was gratified to know that she was not married to a selfish man.

He must have informed those in his employ to expect their arrival since a line of servants greeted them. An elderly stately man stepped forward, bowing deeply.

“Mrs. Darcy, we are pleased to welcome you to Darcy House. Your pleasure and needs will be our primary concern. Molly has been assigned as your maid until you make your own selection. The chambers on the other side of yours have been opened for a nursery. We are happy to have young ones here even as we extend our deepest sympathies for the loss of their beloved parents.”

“I appreciate your welcome and your condolences.” Tipping her head in respect, she held Clara away from her so the butler and others could see the face of one of their young charges. Charlie still slept, but his sister frowned until a large woman wearing an equally impressive frown and a clean apron approached.

Clara cooed and gurgled, the corners of her mouth moving into a semblance of a smile, surprising Elizabeth, Darcy, and Mrs. Carter.

Her husband chuckled. “Cook, it appears that you have an admirer. Possibly, Miss Clara has heard of the superiority of your lemon tarts, for her smiles are as rare as yours.”

Cook flashed a grin, showing the absence of most of her teeth. Almost immediately, her expression returned to looking sour. But Elizabeth had already taken note of the head of the kitchen’s vulnerability. Underneath that gruff exterior, she was a woman like any other, with a heart softened by an innocent child. Miss Clara Bingley had a protector for as long as she resided at Darcy House. Elizabeth was confident that Cook would extend the same service to Charlie.

It was a grand start to their residence at Darcy House.

The butler extended his arm toward the long corridor running next to a large staircase. “Sir, I beg your pardon for interrupting your welcome, but your attorneys are in your study as you requested.” Bowing to Elizabeth, he said, “Mrs. Price would be happy to show Mrs. Darcy, the nurse, and the children to their chambers.”

Nodding, Darcy introduced his housekeeper. “As Mrs. Hill and Mrs. Nicholls thoroughly commandeer their properties, Mrs. Price does ours here in Town.”

Elizabeth was pleased to note how easy her husband was with his servants. He was not the demanding sort, but then she already knew that from the way he acted with the wet nurses and the housekeepers at Netherfield Park and Longbourn. Prior to the past twenty-four hours, she would not have guessed him to be a man who respected human dignity, but he did.

With a lighter heart, she ascended the stairs with Mrs. Carter and the babies, fully aware that there was much more to her husband than she first suspected. Yet her good opinion of him remained uncertain, for there were too many occasions early in their acquaintance when he had been rude and unsufferable. Learning more about Fitzwilliam Darcy remained a challenge. Nevertheless, the approaching inferno of seeking legal custody of the twins would reveal his true nature like no other test. And it would reveal hers.

Four gray-haired men lined up in chairs set in front of his desk, portable writing tables at the ready, inkwells filled, and quills sharpened.

“I will thank you in advance for responding quickly to my request for your presence. I doubt that you will thank me by the time this day is over.” Darcy knew Mr. Sutton from his birth since he served his father loyally. The other three were strangers. Mr. Sutton was the senior partner in the law firm. He spoke first.

“Sir, your note delivered not one hour ago listed three matters that need to be addressed expediently. Since Mr. Michael Johnson is most familiar with marriage laws, he will be taking the lead. In addition to bringing a copy of the settlement your father set up for your mother, he brought a sample of what most of your peers are using in modern times. Mr. Adam Cockerill is an expert in estate law,so he will update your will. Mr. Simon Burt is the firm’s representative for the Court of Chancery. He will oversee the filing of your petitions as well as learn the habits and nature of whichever judge is assigned. I will oversee each of these processes to make certain they are performed according to your specifications.”

Darcy appreciated that Mr. Sutton came directly to the point. They were there to work, not to gossip about the events of his day. There were no opinions about his bride being less than the expectations of society, nor was there any expressed concern that he had Bingley’s children instead of Lord Armstrong. Instead, he saw before him a team of men whom he hoped were devoted to justice. Like any other business, Darcy needed to know exactly who he was entrusting with his most valuable assets, Elizabeth and the children.

After directing Mr. Johnson and Mr. Cockerill to update his papers to protect Elizabeth and the children, he asked Mr. Burt about the odds of success at Chancery against Lord Armstrong.

Mr. Burt was a tall, stately gentleman, elegantly dressed, with a full head of snow-white hair. Although he never needed to work with the attorney prior to this day, Darcy judged that he looked the part of a wise counselor.

“Mr. Darcy, as you are aware, Lord Armstrong is a powerful man in his own right. His barony is healthy, his estate is almost as large as Pemberley, and his wife is the biological aunt to the children on the paternal side. He is a man closely connected to the Prince Regent and many powerful members of the House of Lords. Your petition will not be easy since, as you reported, he is determined to gain authority over his nephew.”

“I understand.” This was nothing more than what Darcy already knew.

“Your marriage to the children’s aunt is a weaker legal claim since she is from the maternal side. If Mr. Bingley assigned no legal authority to Mrs. Bingley, even had she survived, Lord Armstrong would have been within his rights to claim the boy.”

Darcy’s hopes plummeted. Yet, he refused to give up. “Tell me then, is there anything about a case where a judge would, without hesitation, deny a request for guardianship?” Darcy asked, his heart pounding rapidly. If there was not, then they could be in trouble before they even began the process.

Mr. Burt replied, ticking off the points on his fingers as he spoke. “There are three reasons for instant denial of a petition. One, if the applicant committed a terrible crime, and the petitioner was proven beyond a shadow of a doubt to be guilty. As you are likely aware, no such charges have ever been brought against Lord Armstrong. In the eyes of the court, his reputation is as impeccable as yours. Two, if he was considered egregiously immoral. Unfortunately, the interpretation of what constitutes egregious is determined by each judge who hears a case. Again, nothing of this sort is known publicly about Lord Armstrong. Finally, if he intended to raise the child as an atheist, the petition would be denied. Lord and Lady Armstrong happen to attend the same church as I do. Such a claim against them could not be proven.”

“Ah.” Darcy shifted in his chair. “I see. Well, then I wonder whether documents prepared less than two years prior to the marriage of the Bingleys stating that he appointed myself and my cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam as godparents to any future children along with trustees of his assets and properties to be sufficient to sway the court in my favor?”

Mr. Burt did not answer right away. “Of course it would. Do you have this document in your possession?”

“Not currently. However, I will have them for you soon.” Although the papers were on his other coach that had not arrived yet, Darcy was confident they would be available within a few hours. “Unfortunately, Mr. Bingley never got around to having it signed and witnessed. Yet, they clearly state his desires.”

All four men shook their heads from side to side, crushing the flicker of hope that Darcy refused to have extinguished.

Mr. Burt stated, “This will not help, Mr. Darcy. As I see it, you have several strikes against you in comparison to Lord Armstrong. I highly suspect that a judge will see it the same way.”

“Then let me ask you, since you know as much as you do about Lord Armstrong, what is his weakness? No, do not bother to answer since I already know the answer. You see, in knowing Charles Bingley, I also became well acquainted with his sisters. Mrs. Hurst was selected as bride to Gilbert Hurst because he needed her dowry of twenty thousand pounds to restore his family estate. I will not comment on my observations of their marriage other than to say I would never pattern my own after theirs. Miss Caroline Bingley’s greatest asset was also her dowry since her brother, one of the kindest men in the world, considered her to be a shrew. The family’s roots in trade are only one generation removed. In marrying Miss Bingley, Lord Armstrong revealed that his wealth is not what he wants others to believe, am I right?”

Mr. Burt cleared his throat. “I would not assume to know.”

“Then allow me to ask, how is it that Lord Armstrong’s business is well known to you? Since my express was delivered less than an hour ago, this indicates that you had no time to research the man yourself. Are you personally privy to his habits or is someone else at your office feeding you information?”

The attorney stammered, “I have provided Lord Armstrong legal advice over the years. Mr. Darcy, you are not the only client of the firm.”

“Understood. One question more, Mr. Burt. Would Lord Armstrong be an excellent guardian for a brother and sister if his intention was to take one and ignore the other?”

“Again, I would not assume to know.”

Pointing his finger directly at him, Darcy said, “Of course, you would assume to know. After all, was it not you who proclaimed Lord Armstrong to be a man among men, wealthy and powerful to the point that I, the grandson of an earl with enough money in my accounts to buy Lord Armstrong, would have no success in my petition?”

Mr. Burt’s chin dropped, as did Mr. Sutton’s. The other two attorneys slid back in their chairs as if to hide from Darcy’s anger.

“Since I cannot believe that you are impartial, you are summarily dismissed, Mr. Burt.”

Darcy stood and opened the door, waiting until the man left. He refused to hear the attorney’s mumbled apologies. Flinging the heavy door closed as soon as Mr. Burt passed through, he turned to the rest of the men.

“Do not be misled if you believe in any way that I will not do all within my power to see justice served for my wife or these children. Nothing…!” Darcy stared each one in the eye. “I will protect anyone under my care. Since Charles Bingley named my cousin as co-guardian, be absolutely assured that he feels the same way about the future of the twins. ”

Mr. Sutton stood. “Mr. Darcy, sir, you have our respect and our full devotion to the tasks required of us. The three of us will give our utmost attention to fulfilling your requests. Tomorrow before noon, we will have the drafts of your marriage settlement for Mrs. Darcy, your Will, and your petition to the court available for your review. As an act of faith on our part, none of us will speak a word of anything you share with us to anyone else in the office, especially Mr. Burt. We will each write the documents, not even trusting them to a clerk. Will this satisfy you?”

Darcy saw the beads of perspiration on Sutton’s upper lip.

Waiting until the man shifted his weight to his other leg and rubbed his palms against the fabric of his jacket, Darcy said, “Yes. Present yourselves here by noon.”

Remaining behind his desk after they left, he wondered who else Lord Armstrong had already influenced.By now, he would have arrived at Netherfield Park. He would know that Bingley was dead. He would know that Darcy had both children and that they were on their way to Pemberley. But Darcy was exactly where he needed to be.

The battle they would be fighting would not be life and death. Instead, it would mean the happiness of two innocent children. And his wife.