Chapter 26

26

T he nursery was quiet since Charlie slept. Clara was still with her grandfather in the library. Likely, the little lady slept too.

“Come, Lizzy.” Her mother gestured to the chair next to her. “Let us take these few quiet moments to speak.”

If the rumor were true that the American politician Benjamin Franklin designed the rocking chair, Elizabeth would forever praise him, for there was nothing like moving back and forth in time with her mother’s matching chair. Every nursery should have at least two.

“Are you well, Mama?” Elizabeth had never seen her as serene.

“Yes, daughter, for your father convinced me that Darcy has somehow arranged to keep the children here. We will not need to journey to the southern coast of America to protect them. For this, I will be forever grateful to you for agreeing to marry him. You know, Lizzy, I fretted when your papa told me that you were to wed Mr. Darcy. Of course, I saw the sense in you following this course, but you have always been my most insistent child. You’ve always seen matters so clearly from your point of view.”

“A point of view that has not always been correct, I admit.” Elizabeth wondered at her mother’s attitude. Why had she never displayed this reasonable, caring side of herself to the family? Not once since her arrival at Darcy House had she fussed or complained about her ‘poor nerves’ or called for her salts. Instead, she rarely ventured from the nursery, insisting on quiet and calm.

Her mama chuckled. “You have always been so confident in your opinions. Do you recall when old Mr. Thorn’s prize ram broke through the fencing to visit our ewes? Although his social calls increased the flock of Longbourn’s sheep by more than one healthy lamb, you thought he attacked our poor, defenseless animals.”

“I was only six.” Elizabeth recalled how upset her father and Mr. Thorn had been when she picked up a staff and hit the ram, keeping him away from the ‘ladies,’ as Mr. Thorn called them.

“What about the time you argued with your father’s former university tutor that the sun moved around the earth instead of the other way around because you watched the sun come up and go down almost every day? You fairly insisted that your opinion was based on science.”

Elizabeth scoffed. “How could I possibly know that he was a professor of the subject at Cambridge? Besides, I had just lost my two front teeth when we had that discussion. I was horrified every time I lisped, which I did each time I uttered the words ‘science’ and ‘sun,’ which, unfortunately, I did often, if I recall.”

Mama patted Elizabeth’s leg. “You had the most intriguing ideas for a young child. Jane used to ask me why your brain worked so differently from hers. I never had a good enough answer, I fear. However, you both shared the same large heart that tenderly looked out for others.” She wiped the corner of her eye. “I miss my Jane dearly. Little Charlie’s nose turns up at the tip, just like Jane’s did when she was anewborn. He is as calm as she was as a baby. Now, Miss Clara is very much like you in being confident that she already knows everything there is to know and that the world revolves around her. Gratefully, like you did with Jane, she is willing to share her throne with her brother.”

“Mama! Is this what you think of me?” Elizabeth was flabbergasted.

“Of course I do. If you were to ask your father, he would agree.” She grinned. “Oh, do not get me wrong, Lizzy. For the most part, you grew out of being completely convinced that your way was the best, although I had not thought you did until I watched you with your husband. Right now, you are both fighting shoulder-to-shoulder on the same side of a critical issue. Nevertheless, I foresee years and years where you will butt heads like that old ram when your opinions differ. It is obvious to all that you both have a passionate nature. Thus, your battles will be spectacular.”

Unsettled and slightly anxious, Elizabeth considered her mother’s words.

Before she could express her concern, her mama added, “These battles will have little bearing on your happiness, though. The best part will be when you make up, convinced that peace is more important than disagreement. When you each set aside your viewpoint for the sake of the other, it is like weaving another thread that binds you two together. After a while, you just might find yourself deliberately provoking him just to reconcile with a passionate kiss. I know that your father and I do. ”

What? “Mama, I would rather not think about you and Papa….”

Her mother’s knowing smile made the muscles in Elizabeth’s middle tighten.

“Men like Darcy, whose expectations of himself, that he remains in control under any circumstance, are amazing when they finally allow themselves to be unrestrained. I see the way he is with the children. His love for them is complete. I now see the way he is with you, too, Lizzy. He holds nothing back. Because of this, you are a blessed wife.”

“I am, Mama.” Elizabeth rocked her chair. “Just as I feel strongly, I love strongly. Fitzwilliam does as well. Because of this, I foresee a magnificent future. One we want to share with our families. His heart is big enough for all of us, Mama.”

Again, her mother patted her thigh. “I know.”

Lord Armstrong kept Darcy and his uncle waiting for almost thirty minutes before a footman showed them to his study.

The room was very much like the man, an imposing facade with little substance. His bookshelves were nearly as empty as Bingley’s had been at Netherfield Park. A chessboard sat on a table in front of the window next to a roaring fire. A game was in progress. At a glance, Darcy saw how White could capture the queen in two moves.

Lord Armstrong offered them no courtesies. Darcy and Lord Matlock expected none. Instead, he remained standing behind his desk, the fingers of his right hand toyed with an unlit cigar.

“Did you bring him?” Armstrong finally asked .

“We did not, nor will we.” Darcy felt the pull of his coat when his shoulders pressed back.

“The decision from the Lord Chancellor is that the boy will be given to me no later than tomorrow. I do not suppose you are willing to sacrifice your reputation by trying to flout the Court’s orders.”

“I am not.” Darcy stepped forward, knowing Armstrong would view it as an act of aggression.

“Then, why are you here?” Placing the cigar on the desktop, Armstrong crossed his arms as if he were completely free of care. “What do you hope to gain? If you believe that I have changed my mind, I have not. If you are hoping for my sympathy that your little wife will be heartbroken to have the boy taken from her, I have no sympathy.” Lord Armstrong drew up to his full height, his voice stern. “The lad is mine. His fortune is mine. Anything to do with his past and future is mine to decide.” He came around the desk to stand before Darcy. “You are wasting my time, the both of you. Come back when you have him. Or better yet, I shall have my carriage prepared to follow you to Darcy House to retrieve the child now.”

Lord Armstrong’s chin lifted in the same attitude that his wife displayed upon her first arrival at Darcy House. “Then, our business will be concluded to the satisfaction of the court. I shall never acknowledge you again.”

“You will not have Charlie today or tomorrow. In fact, I propose that you will not ever have the opportunity to spend one second alone with him until he is of an age to decide for himself who will be his guardian.” Darcy refused to address Armstrong by his title.

“Ha! Do you dare?” Armstrong sneered. “The most powerful man in the Kingdom listens to me.” He poked himself in the chest. “Besides Prince George, I have at my beck and call a surfeit of dukes and earls who would not hesitate to bring you to your knees, Darcy. You have no title. Your only claim is a kinship with the house of Matlock, a paltry earldom at best.” He glanced at Darcy’s uncle before continuing. “Your politics, your wealth, and your connections mean nothing. Only you and those who belong to you foolishly believe you have any authority in Town. Anyone important knows differently.”

Darcy’s lip twitched. Richard said it was one of his worst tells when he played cards since it always meant he had the upper hand. Still, Lord Armstrong would not have known this.

He glanced at his uncle before he said, “Neither of us has any desire to remain here. However, before we leave you might be interested to know the results of our investigation of you.”

Armstrong’s face turned as red as a ripe tomato. His hands fisted at his side. “My reputation is spotless!”

In as condescending a tone as was possible, Darcy said, “The salient point is the conclusion of our investigation, which was just confirmed immediately prior to our arrival.”

Armstrong blustered and fumed. “There is nothing to incriminate me. You can have found nothing more than a stranger needing a gift from your purse to tell whatever lies you asked of him.”

“You may have done this with Wickham. I do not work that way,” Darcy replied calmly. “The person we spoke with has documentation provided by you to confirm the details of the charges of egregious immorality that will be brought against you.”

“What, what?” Lord Armstrong’s body fairly shook from his anger.

“The two of us spoke with Mr. Burt, an attorney at… ”

“I know where he works. What I wonder is what you think he could tell you that would keep the Court of Chancery from giving me the boy, for there is nothing in my past that would prevent me from being his guardian.”

Darcy arched his brow but said nothing.

In the same manner as Mr. Burt, Darcy could smell his sweat and see tiny beads of moisture gathered on Lord Armstrong’s upper lip and forehead. Red splotches appeared above his expertly tied cravat.

Lord Armstrong yelled. “I am not, nor have I ever been, a hardened criminal. I am a god-fearing man. I would never and have never committed an immoral act not typical of my peers. Therefore, you are pushing against the wrong man, Darcy, hoping I will bow before your false claims. Well, I will not.” He poked his index finger in Darcy’s chest. “I will personally see that you pay for what you are attempting here today.

Darcy grinned. “This is your last chance to give up any claims to Charles Alexander Bingley II, or we will take our charge against you directly to Lord Robert Hendricks.”

Armstrong turned away from them, throwing his hands into the air. “You are for Bedlam if you think I am concerned with anything you believe that you discovered. I have nothing to hide.”

Without invitation, Darcy and his uncle moved to the sofa and sat. Ignoring Armstrong, Darcy asked Hugh Fitzwilliam, “Tell me, Uncle, what would happen if the House of Lords discovered that a baron in their midst was profligate?”

His uncle shrugged. “Why, nothing, I suppose. There are too many who are recklessly extravagant and wasteful with government resources. ”

Armstrong spun to face them. “This is what you are accusing me of? Are you mad?”

Darcy replied, “No to both of your questions. I am not accusing you of profligacy, and I am not mad.”

Turning his attention back to his uncle, he asked, “What if a man was unnecessarily cruel? What would happen then?”

Shaking his head, Lord Matlock said, “Again, there would be no consequences.”

“Hmm.” Darcy tapped his chin. “Finally, what if it was discovered that a Lord was living a life so secret that the shame of his conduct would reverberate throughout society, affecting all those he was close to…such as the Regent? What if it was something the public and lawmakers viewed as disgusting? Something so repugnant that the punishment would destroy a man’s life?”

All the color drained from Lord Armstrong’s face.

Before the baron could act, Darcy said, “Bigamy.”

“I will have Burt’s hide,” Lord Armstrong roared. Swaying weakly, he collapsed into a chair, his breathing shallow. “What do you want to keep this secret, Darcy? Name it.”

“I expect you to contact the Lord Chancellor to withdraw your petition before tomorrow. I expect you never to attempt to contact Charlie until he is an adult male capable of taking his own stand for what is right and wrong. I expect you to politely withdraw from Society, making whatever excuse you deem necessary. Additionally…” Darcy and his uncle stood. “I expect that you never speak to me or my wife again.”

Without looking up, Armstrong nodded. “Done. You could ruin me. ”

Before departing, Darcy turned back and said to the broken man, “That is not my purpose. I only want both children.” He paused when Armstrong banged his fists on the arm of his chair. “I do not care what you do in private. The only reason I condemn you is because of your callous attempts to use your influence to remove a newborn infant from a loving family. It is this act alone that I cannot condone. I promise you that if you drop your petition to the Court of Chancery and any attempt to gain custody of Charles Bingley’s son, I will keep my silence.”

“I will.”

“Then have your carriage readied. We will follow you to the Lord Chancellor’s office. I care not what you tell Lord Hendricks as to the reason why you are withdrawing. We will see this matter done today.”

In less than an hour, Darcy and his uncle did not look back as they departed the house, nor did they speak until they were underway.

Finally, when they were several streets away from Armstrong House, Lord Matlock said, “I am proud of you, Nephew. By addressing the issue the way you did, you protected Lady Armstrong from her husband’s wrath, for I do not doubt that he would make her already miserable life intolerable.”

Nodding, Darcy said, “As soon as we leave Chancery, I want to be home. I want to be surrounded by sweetness and innocence. I need Elizabeth.”

Darcy looked like he fought Napoleon and his whole army when he joined Elizabeth, her parents, two wet nurses, and several other servants in the nursery. Cook reluctantly handed Clara to Darcy, melting some of his tension and exhaustion.

He reached for Charlie, too, and Elizabeth loved his reaction when both babies settled against him. She cherished that about him, how he found peace and contentment with his family.

Music from Georgiana’s playing filtered up to the family rooms, soothing them. Still, all eyes studied Darcy, wondering what occurred at his meeting with Lord Armstrong, but no one said a thing.

Elizabeth surveyed his every muscle, every movement. He kissed the top of Clara’s head, andthen he did the same to Charlie, holding his lips in place for a long moment. When he looked up at her, she noticed the gleam in his eyes. We must have won!

Finally, he smiled.

“It is over,” his voice rumbled from his chest. “It is well and truly over. My uncle and I followed Lord Armstrong to the Chancellor’s office and witnessed his petition being torn in two. I have in my possession the order proclaiming Richard and I guardians and Richard, Thomas Bennet, and I as trustees of their estate. The children stay with us.”

Her heart felt like it might burst.

Cook squealed, startling the twins awake.

Her mother wept happy tears.

Her father sighed. “Thank the Lord,” before resting his hand onDarcy’s shoulder.

When Mrs. Price asked if she should plan on the Matlocks’ arrival, Darcy nodded.

Elizabeth said, “Yes, they will be here soon. Cake and punch for all.”

Darcy added, “If my wife and I could have a moment?”

Immediately, one by one, they left the room. Elizabeth sat in the chair next to him and began to rock, matching his steady rhythm. She reached out to him, her fingers clasping the arm holding Clara.

“Thank you, Fitzwilliam. Bingley trusted you to keep his family safe. Jane agreed with his choice of you and Richard as godfathers. Their trust was not misplaced. Not once did you give in to despair, nor did you give up the fight.” She barely kept from gushing. Swallowing hard, she forced her breathing to even. “I cannot help but think that had Caroline Armstrong not arrived with her damning information, you would still have prevailed. I love you more than words can express, you dear man. You are truly a man among men. I will forever be proud that I am your wife.”

When he kissed Clara again, Elizabeth heard him whisper, “I think she likes me.”

She smiled. “I most certainly do.”