“There is everything for me to do in London!” she cried. “Will you not need my comfort after enduring God-only-knows-what for the sake of my family?” She caught his face in her hands and forced him to meet her eyes. “Even if I spend day after day alone with none but the servants for company, it shall be far preferable to having to spend my nights without you. Indeed, Fitzwilliam, I want no distance between us. I am going with you. You are my husband, my life. My place is with you.”
He considered her words for a long moment before placing his hand upon her cheek and nodding once. “As you wish,” he said, “but I will not have you venturing out alone. You will not so much as leave the house for any reason without my protection, do you understand?”
Elizabeth brushed her lips upon his hand. “You have my word. I will do nothing you do not think is best. I wish only for us to remain together.”
“Let us inform your father, then, and be off. We have not another moment to lose.”
The trip to London passed silently, and as Darcy’s carriage rolled through the streets of their Mayfair neighborhood and on to Darcy House, Elizabeth felt herself relax, if only a little. They were now home and would, hopefully, within several short hours, meet with Colonel Fitzwilliam, to whom Darcy had dispatched an express just moments before they left Hertfordshire. She only prayed it had reached him and he would be available to meet with them that evening.
She need not have worried on that account, for they had no sooner set foot in the front door than they were informed by Mrs. Hildebrandt that the colonel had been awaiting their arrival in Darcy’s study for the last hour.
Darcy bade his father-in-law proceed without him then pulled aside his anxious wife. “I know you wish to attend this conversation, Elizabeth, but your resting yourself is more important. I will not have you placing yourself or our unborn babe at risk.”
Over her vehement protests, he continued, “No. I will not hear another word. I beg you would rest. It would greatly ease my mind to know you are taking every precaution. Please, dearest, do this one thing for me, and I promise I will keep nothing from you.”
Elizabeth addressed him with narrowed eyes. “You promise, no matter what happens, to tell me all?” she demanded.
“You have my word.”
She sighed. “Very well, Fitzwilliam. I will try to rest for one hour, but I cannot promise I shall be successful.”
“That is all I ask.”
He brushed his lips against hers, and she returned the gesture before saying, “I expect you to come to me as soon as your plans are decided.” Then, with a parting glance, she turned and left him.
Darcy watched his wife retreat up the staircase and out of sight before he made his way with haste to his study, where he found Colonel Fitzwilliam in deep discussion with Mr. Bennet.
“Darcy,” he said, “I was just telling your father-in-law that I have dispatched eight of my most loyal men to search for Wickham and Miss Lydia; however, I do believe our best bet might be to venture to Mrs. Younge’s. What think you? Surely, she must have some idea of the blackguard’s whereabouts.”
Darcy poured three glasses of brandy and handed them around. “I agree, though he has other acquaintances in Town, as well, who may prove useful to us.”
The colonel nodded and drank slowly from his glass before saying, “We must prepare ourselves. I do not expect to find them tonight. Her virtue—”
“Her virtue is likely no longer an issue,” said Mr. Bennet with disgust. “Forgive me, Colonel, but I can have no illusions that my youngest daughter will be returned to me whole. Not after their conduct the other night, and certainly not after what that scoundrel dared to attempt with my Lizzy.” He swallowed the rest of his brandy and slammed his glass upon Darcy’s desk. He settled his angry gaze upon his son-in-law and, in a voice of deadly calm, said, “I want them found, and I want him to suffer. I hardly care what means are employed to achieve this, so long as it is brought about. I care very little for charges of desertion or for his debts to area merchants. He has insulted two of my daughters, and I intend to see him punished, once and for all.”
Mr. Bennet tore his gaze from his son-in-law and took several steps toward the fire. Leaning his forearms upon the mantle, he took a deep breath and said, “You warned me, Darcy, of the very great danger that scoundrel posed to my family, yet I failed to heed your words of caution, even after all that had transpired in Meryton. You showed me you were more than willing to assume responsibility for Elizabeth’s protection, and I confess, I was quite content to allow you that honor. It now appears to have been the one sensible decision I have made where my daughters are concerned.” Mr. Bennet laughed ruefully and passed his hand over his eyes. Then, cursing softly, he said, “If I had only bothered to follow your example and exert myself with the rest. There is no excuse for my neglect. The fault for Lydia’s brashness and impetuosity lies on no man’s shoulders but my own, and for once, I am feeling the full weight of it, as I certainly ought.” And with that, the elder gentleman excused himself and quitted the room.
Darcy strode to the nearest window and stood with his back to the room. Colonel Fitzwilliam exhaled slowly and fixed his cousin with a look of grave concern. “What is this about Wickham insulting your wife, Darcy? Is it true?” he asked.
Darcy nodded. “He laid his hands upon her, as well as his vile mouth.”
“But no more?”
“No more!” Darcy spat, his temper immediately rising. “Is that act alone not enough to make a husband wish to see that bastard hang? He assaulted and terrified my wife! He threatened to force himself upon her should they meet again! She is with child! And even if she was not, I cannot allow further harm to come to her at his hands. No, when we capture Wickham, I will see him punished, as I should have last summer at Ramsgate. I know not how but, as God is my witness, Fitzwilliam, this time he will pay for his crimes.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam slowly nodded. “Then there is much to be done. I do not expect to hear from my men until the morrow, unless there is some unforeseen development tonight. Do you think Mr. Bennet intends to challenge him?”
Darcy shrugged and raked his hands through his hair. “I know not, but surely we must discourage such a measure. He is upset, and rightly so, but his family will suffer acutely if he is not successful. Though Lydia is hardly a favorite of his, the same cannot be said for Elizabeth. She has not recovered her spirits since that villain accosted her, and I am certain her feelings have not escaped Mr. Bennet’s notice. If it were up to me, I would have pursued him and put a bullet through his worthless heart in Hertfordshire, but I hardly think Elizabeth would condone such an act.” Darcy sat down behind his desk and held his head in his hands. “Indeed, I know for a fact she would not. Whatever we do, Fitzwilliam, we must take great care. Wickham must be punished, and the less Elizabeth knows of it, the better. I do not wish to distress her further.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam traced the rim of his glass. “You do not intend to force a marriage then, Cousin?”
Darcy snorted. “My sister-in-law cannot marry that blackguard. I will pay to increase her dowry if need be or hide her away in the countryside until after her confinement if it comes to that, but her father and I are in agreement—Lydia cannot be shackled to that piece of filth for the rest of her life. God knows, as do you and I, whatever Wickham would do to her would hardly be pleasant. Nor will I have that scoundrel associated with my wife in any way.”
“Fair enough,” Fitzwilliam said, glancing at the mantle clock. “It is now nearly supper hour. When would you care to pay a call upon Mrs. Younge?”