Chapter 16

16

E lizabeth’s toes curled. Her bones melted into a puddle. Heat rushed up her spine. Fitzwilliam Darcy was… good lord… magnificent. Could a woman faint from a kiss? From her own husband? She sighed against his lips, barely acknowledging the distant sound of a door being thrown open. Whoever it is, go away.

The harsh clearing of a throat was like a bucket of cold water.

Her eyes flew open to see Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam tap Darcy’s shoulder. Her husband sighed against her lips, stirring up a whole new swarm of desirable reactions.

“Tap one more time, and I’ll punch your front teeth out,” her husband growled. “Go away!”

“Darcy, I…well, it appears that my timing is not nearly as perfect as I always profess.” The colonel pulled a chair in front of them. “I hate to interrupt, but we need to talk. I saw Lord Armstrong at the club, and you will never guess who was with him.”

“Wickham,” Darcy and Elizabeth said together.

Richard sat back in his chair. “How did you know?”

Darcy retrieved the letter that had slipped to the floor and handed it to the colonel. With each paragraph, Richard’s face reddened as the muscles in his jaw tightened.

“This is it, then.” Dropping the note on the side table, Richard rubbed his palms over his face, apparently a family trait. “He will lie or embellish the truth until you and Georgie will be ruined to the point that no fair judge would even consider your case.”

Darcy stood and paced. “What you say is true. At the same time, I cannot fail to believe that justice will prevail. Do recall that Mr. Sutton offered three options to gain custody. We can appeal against any decisions made by the Court of Chancery, dragging out the process until Charlie reaches the age of fourteen. This delaying tactic might be our best choice. In reality, what do I care about Bingley's fortune? If it all disappeared to pay court costs and fees, the custody of Bingley’s son, at least for his first fourteen years, would be worth it to me. To us.” He gestured to Elizabeth. “The Darcys may not have the political connections that Lord Armstrong can draw upon or be a relative of the paternal side of the twin’s family, but I do not doubt our ability to wait him out. If the baron becomes desperate, this could benefit us, especially if, in so doing, he makes an error that we might capitalize on.”

The colonel nodded. Elizabeth could almost see his mind strategizing.

Darcy added, “Perhaps if we consider exactly what is at stake, we can better see how to defend our position. If Charlie was handed over to Lord Armstrong that means Elizabeth and I will never hear his first giggle or see his first real smile. We would miss him showing off his first tooth with pride and hearing his first word. We would not see his first wobbling step. Nor would we watch him go from leading strings to being fully breached. Additionally, we could not tease him when he wants to play or comfort him when he is sad.”

“Do you even know how to tease?” the colonel asked.

“I learned from the best.”

Richard rubbed his fingertips against his chest, claiming the role. “You did at that.”

“Cousin, we would not see him grow from a babe to a lad, then to a young man going off to school. We could not guide him or direct him. There would be no showing him what it takes to be a good man like his father or how to avoid men like Wickham. Worst of all, we could not tell him about his parents, how kind they were, and how much they loved him even before he was born. It would be tragic on so many levels to lose him to strangers, for that is what Lord and Lady Armstrong would be to him. And”—he ran his hand through his hair—“it would devastate Clara. The doctor has even said that the attachment between twins is unbelievably strong. We cannot do this to her.”

Elizabeth observed her husband as the two men discussed the possible paths they could take to get the best results. His words touched her heart, each syllable burying itself deeply until she admitted that she and Darcy shared the special love of the children that would make them a family.

Where she earlier felt a hint of affection for Fitzwilliam Darcy, his declaration cemented him into those deep, dark recesses reserved for the most important people in her life. In the few days since their marriage, he became her sounding block, her champion, and her hero.

No more could she evade the subject nor lie to herself. If she searched the globe, she would never find as fine a man as her husband.

She readily admitted that he was as handsome as sin. Nevertheless, his true beauty was his heart, which, at that moment in time, she fully claimed as her own.

Darcy and Richard plotted for less than an hour when a message arrived.

Mr. Darcy,

One of my assistants overheard a clerk on Lord Armstrong’s legal team state that His Lordship will arrive at Chancery late this afternoon to file his petition personally. If there is a possibility that Lord Matlock, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and yourself can accompany me within the hour to file your petition, then ours shall be seen first. If you are unable, we will take whatever preventive measures are available.

Most judges prefer to settle guardianship cases quickly. A decision might be made as soon as Lord Armstrong’s petition is read. My messenger awaits your reply.

Respectfully,

Mr. Samuel R. Sutton, Attorney at Law

Without a word, Richard left for Matlock House to inform his father. Darcy called for his carriage. Rushing to his room to change his coat, the open door to the sitting room revealed Elizabeth rocking one of the babies. When his wife spoke silly nothings to the child, the little one cooed the sweetest sound, reminding Darcy of Georgiana as a newborn. How he only wished a painter was present to capture the moment.

The scene was a foregleam of the serenity they would have in their homes should their petition meet with success. No, he needed to be more positive. They simply would not allow the children to be stripped away from them. Darcy had no idea how he would comfort his wife should they lose to Lord Armstrong.

Tugging at his sleeves, he entered the room to discover it was Clara in her arms. The sweet little girl was focused entirely on her aunt, trying so hard to follow the movement of Elizabeth’s mouth. The noise from the corner indicated that Charlie was busy nursing.

His entrance distracted his wife. “Fitzwilliam, we are both aware of the sort of mother that Caroline Armstrong would be. There was not one occasion in Hertfordshire when she considered anyone other than herself or what she wanted or felt she deserved. Would she take one look at the children and fall in love? I am confident that the answer would be ‘no.’ Instead, the first time one of the twins spit up on one of her silk dresses or accidentally entangled their little fingers in her hair, she would snap at them.”

“If she chose to spend time with them at all,” Darcy added. “More likely, she would deliver them immediately to the nursery, and there they would stay until they were old enough to be shown well in public.”

“Like a French poodle,” Elizabeth scoffed.

His wife hugged the girl to her chest, rubbing Clara’s back. “That could be eighteen months or more. Can you imagine doing that to a child?”

He shook his head. “I cannot.” He sat beside her, trying and succeeding to get Clara’s attention turned to him. He brushed his fingertip over her soft cheek.

“We received a message from Sutton. Lord Armstrong plans to file his petition this afternoon. My uncle, Richard, and I will go as soon as my horses are hitched to file ours first. Pray for success, Elizabeth, for, like you, I simply will not tolerate anything less.”

She leaned against him, the baby’s head resting on his shoulder. “Then I will pray for the judge to be a fair man, one who values the emotional state of children even more than their financial care. I pray that you, your family, and Mr. Sutton will have the exact words necessary to state our case clearly and effectively. And I will pray for you to bring me good news.”

“Elizabeth,” he whispered.

It did not matter to either of them who instigated the sweet kiss. Clara, apparently not happy to be pressed between them, bumped her head against his chin. He felt Elizabeth’s smile on his lips.

“I do believe that the little lady insists on your full attention, sir.”

Kissing the little one on the forehead, he then did the same to his wife, departing Darcy House with a smile.

Less than an hour later, his happiness deflated. When Darcy, Lord Matlock, and Colonel Fitzwilliam entered the Offices of the Court, Gilbert Hurst, Bingley’s brother-in-law, along with his attorney, waited. What was he doing there? Had Lord Armstrong changed his mind and decided to send Hurst to do his bidding?

Tipping his head toward Darcy, Hurst declared, “You and Caroline’s husband thought you were the only two with interest in those children, but I am here to declare that Louisa and I have just as much right to Bingley’s property, if not more than either of you. My petition for guardianship of the children and trustee of Bingley’s wealth is prepared. You are too late.”

“No, we are not too late. Nor will I stand here and state my case. We will see you in court.” Darcy turned away from him, cutting Hurst, as did his uncle and cousin.

When it was their turn to present their petition, Mr. Sutton addressed the clerk.

“Good sir, do you know whether this case will be assigned to the next judge in line, or will His Honor the Lord Chancellor be presiding?”

The clerk glanced over the paperwork before looking at the attorney. “In cases such as this, the chancellor, the Honorable Lord Hendricks, will preside.”

“I am pleased with this information, young man. Lord Hendricks is known to be a man of justice whose first concern is the children.” Mr. Sutton nodded to Darcy. “According to reports, Lord Hendricks refuses to be bought, nor is he influenced by rank. This is good news. Have you heard the same, Lord Matlock?”

“Yes, indeed. I would want none other to oversee this petition.”

The clerk’s mouth gaped open. “Yes, well, I will be sure to tell the chancellor that you said so, my lord.”

“See that you do.” His uncle had no need to posture. His authority spoke for itself.

When the paperwork was gathered, the young man asked that they be seated before disappearing into an office at the back of the room.

“What does this mean?” Darcy asked the attorney after stepping away from the others.

Sutton shook his head. “This means that we are in trouble. Having both of Mr. Bingley’s brothers-in-law filing separate petitions weakens our case further. Unfortunately, I suspect that in the end, it will not matter which one of them wants it more since Lord Armstrong can use his la triomphe card, Prince George.” He huffed in disgust. “Additionally, your uncle and my attempt to remind the chancellor of his fundamental responsibility by claiming he has a reputation for justice was a ploy. Lord Hendricks is an ambitious man who can be bought.”

Darcy’s gut twisted in anguish. “I will not let them go without a fight.”