Chapter 21

21

D arcy cherished the woman lying alongside him, her hair draped across his chest. Twirling a thick mahogany strand between his fingers, he knew without a shadow of a doubt that he would do anything for her. Little did she know that she had him in the palms of her small hands. Vowing to protect her and the children to the fullness of his abilities, he considered their next step.

“Elizabeth, are you awake?” he whispered.

She stretched, her toes running from his knee to the arch of his foot. “I am.”

He kissed her forehead. “I have been thinking.”

She leaned away from him, her eyes sparkling, her voice teasing. “Have you now? How odd for Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy to think?”

“Minx.” He smiled, raising her hand to his lips, kissing the inside of her wrist. “You cannot distract me, woman.”

She snorted. “Ha!”

His heart filled with tenderness for her alone.

“Elizabeth, what if we allow Lord Armstrong to believe that he has won, that all the trump cards are in his hand? ”

Her expression instantly changed to serious contemplation.

“Are you thinking that if we do, then there would be no reason for him to unleash Mr. Wickham?”

“Yes. I am not too proud to admit that my ability to keep Wickham from spreading rumors is non-existent now that he is under the influence of Lord Armstrong. He has no reason to fear me.” Darcy knew it only took a small flame to light a forest fire. The damage a small lie could do would be irreparable.

Elizabeth suggested, “Then let us think about this long-term. Let us say that something is discovered during our investigation of Lord Armstrong that disqualifies him from having the children. What can be done with Mr. Wickham?”

Darcy scoffed. “For the first time, I will step back and allow Richard to decide. My cousin’s view of justice is black and white. The second Wickham attempted to coerce Georgiana into a carriage heading to Gretna Green, he sealed his fate. I am confident that Richard will not kill him, but he will change Wickham’s ability to utilize his good looks and charm in seeking his advantage at the cost to others.”

Elizabeth sat up, bringing the quilt with her, exposing Darcy’s side to the cold. “Are you suggesting that your cousin would break Mr. Wickham’s nose and shave him bald?”

His eyes popped open. “You think Richard should do this?”

She grinned. “I would. For what lady would want his company if his nose looked like the twisted River Camel on the Bodmin Moor in Cornwall? He is terribly proud of his hair, the way he flips it around, drawing attention to it. And if his smile resembled one of the dark caves in the Northern Dales from no front teeth, well, he would lose all his charm.” She returned next to him, “You should not worry that I would ever attempt to do the same to you should you anger me since I find that I enjoy being wed to a handsome man, a far more handsome man than I ever found Mr. Wickham to be.”

“I am relieved,” he teased, while in the back of his mind, grateful never to feel her sense of justice against his person.

“Fitzwilliam.” In almost a whisper, she said, “What say we invite Lord and Lady Armstrong to Darcy House today where they can see the twins. They cannot fail to notice the differences between the size of the children and how Charlie is weak and lethargic compared to Clara. Perhaps they will not be as eager to plan a future around a little one whose chances of survival are as small as he is.”

He pondered her suggestion, then replied, “The element of surprise would not hurt.”

Elizabeth expected Lord Armstrong to be severe-looking. What she did not expect was how much older he was than his wife. Although his features were plain, he had an air of authority that would draw attention in any room.

Lady Armstrong was as Elizabeth remembered. Elegantly dressed in black, wearing her arrogance like an overcoat, the same as her husband. At least she overtly mourned her brother. Disdain radiated from them both.

Elizabeth stood confidently next to Darcy, who was at least three inches taller than Caroline’s husband, was at least thirty years younger, and was masculine from his thick wavy hair to his polished shoes. When she caught Caroline’s eye, Elizabeth made sure that she was not the first to look away.

“Your note said we would see the boy,” Lord Armstrong barked. “Where is he?”

Darcy said, “Before the nurse brings Charlie down, there are a few details that you need to know. First, the physician assured us that it is not unusual for newborns to suffer various illnesses soon after their birth. Charlie spent two days with a high fever. We feared he would not survive. The doctor said that it would not be until he reached his fifth year that it would be safe to plan his future. Added to that, they are twins. They both suffer when they are separated. Therefore, Clara will also be brought down.”

“You refer to him as Charlie?” Lady Armstrong asked, ignoring her husband’s glare. “I called my brother the same when we were young.”

“Caroline! That is enough.” Lord Armstrong turned away from his wife.

Although Elizabeth had little sympathy for the lady, no wife should be treated disrespectfully in front of others.

Elizabeth shot her husband a look. They had discussed in detail all the possibilities that might happen with the Armstrongs in their home. The result would be that there would be nothing in their speech or demeanor to indicate that they could take Charlie to their house. Thus, Darcy ignored the exchange and proceeded as planned.

Refusing refreshments, Lord Armstrong said, “You call him Charlie. That appellation will end the day we drive away from here with him in my carriage. He will, from then on, be forever known as the Honorable Malcolm Marcus Armstrong. The sooner we break his ties to his past, the better for him. Now, we are not here to socialize. Just bring the boy.”

How dare he! Had Jane lived, she would have been heartsick. As it was, Elizabeth was livid. Glancing at her husband, she realized that he fared little better.

Throughout the whole of the exchange, Caroline Armstrong remained motionless, her expression unchanged. How did she feel about her husband stealing the identity and heritage of her brother? Was she in agreement, wanting all evidence of Bingley’s existence erased, considering her recent elevation in rank?

Elizabeth looked closer, seeing a small crack in her armor. Blinking her eyes rapidly to contain her tears, Lady Armstrong did indeed feel the sting from her husband. Glancing away so she did not make the lady uncomfortable, Elizabeth softened her opinion toward her. However, Lord Armstrong firmly remained the enemy.

Very little time passed before the door opened, and Mrs. Carter and Mrs. Congden entered with the babies. Clara was wrapped in a light pink blanket. Charlie was in blue.

Lord Armstrong stood, approaching Mrs. Congden. “Let me see his face,” he demanded.

The nurse pulled down the blanket and loosened the cloths wrapping him. Charlie stirred, his mouth pouting like his sister. He whimpered and mewed like a kitten.

“He is not much of a boy.” Lord Armstrong stepped back. “My wife will hold him.”

Caroline’s reaction was not unexpected. If it was even possible, her body stiffened further. “I will observe him, but I am not prepared, my lord.”

Elizabeth moved to the nurse, taking the baby into her arms. Resting him on her shoulder, she demonstrated how to hold him safely, something Lady Armstrong apparently did not know how to do. Elizabeth waited while a silent battle played between the lord and lady.

Finally, he commanded, “You will hold him, I insist. It is time you are good for something, Lady Armstrong.”

Elizabeth felt the man’s insult to her core. To have a husband publicly demean his wife as worthless was not to be borne.

Caroline lifted her chin even more, her eyes a death glare, as she stared at the man she wed, waiting for Elizabeth to bring the baby near.

Carefully, Elizabeth placed Charlie against the lady’s shoulder, moving Caroline’s arms so they supported his head and body.

Charlie must not have appreciated the rigidness of her wool garment since he immediately drew back. The nurse came to her rescue, bringing a soft cloth to tuck between the babe and Lady Armstrong’s pelisse.

Apparently mollified, Lord Armstrong addressed Darcy.“I understand your invitation today means that you realize you have lost the fight. However, I am not a man to go back on my word. You and your wife shall have your thirty days with the lad. From the moment he comes into my possession, you will have no more contact with him. He will be mine to train for the position he will enjoy as an adult. He will no longer be a Bingley.”

Elizabeth studied Caroline. Her husband’s words must have been a blow. Yet, she stood erect, her arms in the correct position but her heart as distant from the boy as it was from her husband. Except… Lady Armstrong’s eyes were so tortured that it hurt Elizabeth to look at them. When the lady’s fingers began rubbing Charlie’s back, Elizabeth knew in her heart that if Lady Armstrong’s situation with her husband were less confrontational, she would allow herself to love the baby .

After his initial view of Charlie, Lord Armstrong ignored his wife and child. He never once acknowledged Clara.

Elizabeth was ready for them to leave.

When Lady Armstrong startled, holding the baby precariously away from her, Elizabeth knew what had happened. Sure enough, a telltale damp stain appeared on her sleeve.

Lady Armstrong held the baby out to Elizabeth. “Take him, please.”

“No!” Lord Armstrong bellowed, making both babies cry. “Control yourself, Caroline. You will hold him until you are used to it.”

By then, Elizabeth had taken Lady Armstrong’s choice away. Ignoring the baron, instead of returning Charlie to Caroline, she handed him to Mrs. Congden, directing both nurses to return the babies to their shared cradle.

“You need to control your wife, Darcy. She oversteps, and you do nothing. I had not heard you were weak.” Lord Armstrong sneered. “A real man knows how to keep his wife in her place.”

Darcy smiled at Elizabeth. “My wife’s place is at my side. A real man cherishes and protects his wife. Only a weakling would treat her with scorn.”

“Ha!” Lord Armstrong grabbed Caroline’s arm. “You know nothing. We will return in twenty-nine days to take the boy.”

Lady Armstrong flinched, causing Elizabeth to worry at the force of her husband’s hand.

“Come, Caroline,” Lord Armstrong commanded in the same manner he would call his dog.

Darcy, who would never tolerate the mistreatment of anyone in his house, said through clenched teeth, “For as long as we have Charlie in our home, he will be treated with kindness and respect. Your behavior increases my reservations of your suitability to be his guardian. Until the Court insists upon removing him from us, Charlie Bingley will be surrounded by family who love him. I bid you both good day.”

Lord Armstrong hissed, “You will rue the day you went up against me, Darcy. Once this is settled and we have the boy, I will cut you publicly should you ever approach me.”

Darcy gestured to the open door. “As will I.”

Once the Armstrongs departed, Darcy reached for Elizabeth’s hand. Her heart tore into tiny pieces at the idea of that man having control over little Charlie. She was revolted by his coldness, enraged by his selfishness, and devastated that the lad would be reared in a bitterly cold atmosphere.

Unable to restrain her tears, she asked, her voice small in the grand room, “Is it really so bleak? So hopeless?”

Darcy pulled her into his arms, holding her until she drew strength from him. When she pulled away, she saw that his eyes were on fire.

“I refuse to believe any child would deserve the level of neglect they will face with either Lord or Lady Armstrong. Until something can be found out about them that would stop their petition for guardianship, I suggest that we arrange for your parents and sisters to leave with the twins in twenty-four days on the fastest ship in the fleet. That way, they are long gone before the Armstrongs return to claim Charlie. The children will be protected.”

She rejoiced with his response. “Very well. Though, if Papa and Mama have discussed Italy with my sisters, their destination is no longer private. Anyone who wanted to know anything that was happening with Kitty would know all within a minute of asking. They mean well for the most part, but neither can control their tongues when they should keep silent. We must think of somewhere else they can go that will be good for all of them and where we can travel each year for the next fourteen years.”

Darcy bent to kiss her cheek, his grin mischievous. “I know exactly where it should be.”