Voices in the Dark Page 16

  "So we must leave her to her fate. Now the question is whether there is any way to reclaim Rosings Park so it can be inhabited without danger when she is gone," Richard said.

  "Let us forge on and see," Lizzy said, taking the book for her turn at deciphering the handwriting.

  In the end they learned there was no way to completely cleanse the land. Laughter, love and kindness were the key to weakening the shadows. With no focus to provide them with direction and food they remained present, but in a state of near hibernation. All the same, they would be calling out for another person to take the place of the last ghost as a channel for their power.

  The book explained some of the ways one could draw on the power in the last section. William thought this was likely the section Lady Catherine had studied. It mentioned an attack like the one she had made upon them in the drive. It also warned that if the attack was turned back or did not complete its purpose the power would rebound and feed upon the attacker and anyone near.

  "That explains why our aunt, the housekeeper and the parson were all screaming as we left and now are reported to have had some kind of fit," William mused.

  "The parson should be removed from his place," Richard said. "How much control does Lady Catherine have after Anne and I marry according to the terms of Sir Lewis' will?"

  "As you know, she has the right to live at Rosings for the rest of her life and she receives one half of the profits of the estate, not the total income. Sir Lewis insisted that before her half is calculated all regular maintenance and taxes must be paid from the income. She has full management of the estate until Anne marries or turns thirty while unmarried, although the will suggests regular oversight of the accounts by my father and yours. Of course you and I have taken on that duty since my father's death. Once Anne marries, her husband has control of the estate. There is no entail, but it cannot be sold while Lady Catherine lives without her consent. If she does consent to sell, she is guaranteed one quarter of the purchase price."

  "I would think she would have insisted on Anne remaining unmarried as long as possible, so she retained full control of the estate," Lizzy said.

  "I expect she would have insisted on adding something to the settlement providing her with continued control of Rosings Park if Anne married William," Richard suggested.

  "She has hinted at that over the years," William said.

  "So, once Anne and I marry we can take control of the household and see whether the parson can be replaced with someone who can properly care for the spiritual needs of local people."

  "The living can only be revoked by the bishop once given. Of course, if Mr. Herbert is too overcome by his fit of nervous prostration a curate could perform his duties," suggested William.

  "That is a good option. Probably better than trying to explain to the bishop that our aunt is consorting with demons. I will have to go there and face her, you know," Richard said.

  "Not until you have healed some and not alone. Those things feed on pain as well as anger. When the time comes, I will go with you to cover your back. I know the running of the estate and can get you started," William told him.

  "We will all go," Lizzy said. "It takes laughter, love and kindness to weaken the shadows. Together we can find ways to apply that knowledge and make the situation better for all the dependents of the household."

  "It is agreed then," Richard said. "After the wedding, when I am better recovered and all of us are feeling stronger, we will go confront Lady Catherine and remove her capacity for harm. We may be able to get a curate in place before then, of course."

  "I will keep in touch with Johnson by messenger, so we have information on the household."

  "Very good. I think we need some distraction from all these heavy thoughts now," Richard suggested. "Would you ladies be willing to play and sing for us?"

  "I will play," Georgiana offered.

  "And I will sing," Lizzy added.

  With that they all moved to the music room to continue their various celebrations with music.

  Chapter 20: Settlements and Weddings

  With settlement in hand, William walked up the steps to the Gardiner house with Lizzy at his side. He had not wanted to bring her and have her further hurt by the behavior of her relatives, but she insisted she needed to speak with her aunt. The woman had been far more of a mother to her than Mrs. Bennet ever had.

  "I have heard from everyone else, but not a word from or about her. I need to know if her love and care was as false as all the rest." Lizzy told him.

  He wanted to protect Lizzy, but William had to let her come. He would have wanted the same in her place. If the situation was as he feared, he would comfort Lizzy later.

  William found the house well-kept and decorated with good taste. The servant showed them both to the drawing room where Lizzy introduced her aunt to William. Mrs. Gardiner struck him as an intelligent woman and William wondered if she was over-educated according to Mr. Gardiner's standards. Whatever her education level, she seemed pleasant enough that he did not fear leaving Lizzy in her company while was taken by a servant to Mr. Gardiner's study.

  The servant's announcement of his name took the place of a formal introduction between the two men. They began their business at once as neither man was inclined to waste time on small talk.

  "Your note said you wish permission to marry Lizzy, Mr. Darcy."

  "I do, Mr. Gardiner. Since she is not yet of age and you are her closest male relative, I thought it best to come to you. I have brought her settlement and a document I have prepared saying you consent to the marriage. Will you sign them?"

  "My wife tells me you are a man of great wealth and consequence in Derbyshire, with an estate near Lambton where she once lived. Why would you want Lizzy? She has no connections, no wealth, nothing to recommend her."

  "She has the best recommendation of all – I love her. Just because you do not value the company of a well-read and educated woman to provide intelligent company, not to mention her beauty, kindness and bravery, does not mean no man will. Actually, though, what does it matter to you why I wish to marry her? You made it clear to her that you have no concern for her well-being. If she were already of age I would not even be here. Sign the two documents and your part is complete."

  Mr. Gardiner reddened a bit at William's comment but said nothing as he took the two documents. He signed the notice of consent and handed it back quickly. He scanned the settlement document with increasing amazement.

  "These numbers are incredible. How can you settle so much on her?" he finally said.

  "Mrs. Darcy will a have position to uphold. Her personal allowance and the provisions for possible widowhood are appropriate. This document is based on my mother's settlement and the estate can support it without strain." William said primly.

  As Mr. Gardiner signed the settlement without further question, William continued, "You were justified in your anger at Mr. Bennet's failure to provide for his family, but I cannot understand your deliberate cruelty to a young woman who has loved and looked up to you her entire life. To behave so, especially at a time when she was already mourning the loss of a parent, is unconscionable."

  William signed his spot on both copies of the settlement then took the documents from the desk as Mr. Gardiner looked at him sharply but with a hint of embarrassment. "She has tried to make excuses for your behavior. She says that you were only protecting yourself from her mother by not showing any kindness at that time, but what kind of man tells his grieving niece that she is silly, useless, unmarriageable and not worth his time because she has no father to pay her way?"

  "She told you that?" Mr. Gardiner asked in surprise.

  "Reluctantly, but yes, she did. She had told me of your visit in general terms before, but I asked for the specifics of your conversation this morning before we came. Despite your behavior then, she is extremely grateful for what she sees as your kindness in selling her father's books and arranging for the cottage and dowries, but we both know that was
not done in kindness, was it? You knew it would be bad for business if your colleagues found out you had done nothing to help your widowed sister and her children and this was a way to do so with no cost to you."

  "As you say, it was business," Mr. Gardiner said angrily. "Neither Phillips nor I were willing to support the pack of them out of our own pockets, although it seems you could afford to. Have you met my sister, Mr. Darcy?"

  "No. Nor do I have any desire to do so. I have certainly heard enough about her. Do you know, or care, she refused to allow Lizzy or Mary to live at the cottage you provided for all of them and told them she did not care where they ended up?"

  Mr. Gardiner had the grace to look embarrassed, although he was still angry. "I did not expect that. The girl was supposed to keep my foolish sister from spending everything at once."

  "That is the main reason Mrs. Bennet refused to take her. She did not want her daughter to control her spending. You should never have expected Lizzy to take that role. You put them both in an impossible situation, even more so because you knew of the animosity your sister held for Lizzy and Mary. Mary was fortunate Mr. Collins agreed to marry her."

  "More fool him to take the sourest and plainest of the bunch. Of course, it was clear from the letter he sent to ask for her dowry that the man is ridiculous."

  "I have no doubt he is, but he did marry the other one you said was unmarriageable and before you found Bingley to take Jane off your hands."

  "You know Mr. Bingley?"

  "I have known him for several years. I hope you insisted on a good settlement. He can be rather flighty and fickle. Of course, she is off your hands now and you probably do not care one way or the other. As for Mary, Lizzy says her sister respects Mr. Collins and has made a good match. For all his flaws, her cousin did provide Lizzy with a place to go instead of simply throwing her into the street to starve as her mother would have."

  "I sent her first interest payment to that place in Kent. She never bothered to respond."

  "If she had received it, she would have responded. Remember, she feels grateful to you. My aunt has all incoming and outgoing mail read and only lets through what she chooses. Her servant kept the money and destroyed the letter that mentioned it I am sure."

  "Your aunt?" Mr. Gardiner asked with a raised eyebrow.

  "You do not deserve the story of how Lizzy and I met. Just know that I recognize her for the treasure she is and will do all within my power to make her happy."

  "Her dowry was not listed in the settlement. Do you want it?" Mr. Gardiner asked abruptly.

  "Divide it between the two youngest. From what Lizzy tells me they will need it."

  "As you wish. Are we done here?"

  "Almost. We plan to marry tomorrow at ten in the morning. Lizzy wondered if you would give her away."

  "I have work to do which is already being delayed by this meeting. I have signed the documents. As you said, that is all you need. I want no further contact with her."

  Darcy quietly said, "You are as short-sighted as you are unkind. However, I am glad of it, as I would rather not maintain the connection. I doubt you realize how much you resemble what I have heard of the foolish and irrational pigheadedness of your sister." Mr. Gardiner's expression darkened but he said nothing as William continued. "It is your choice and you will have to live with your own conscience and decisions. Thank you for signing. I will let you get back to your work."

  William returned to the drawing room to find the two women sitting silently. He could tell both were upset. Clearly the interview had not gone as Lizzy hoped.

  "Are you ready to leave, my dear?" he asked Lizzy.

  She stood and went to join him. "Yes, William. There is nothing for me here," she said sadly.

  He offered her his arm. Rising, Mrs. Gardiner saw them to the door where they politely said farewell before returning to their carriage.

  Despite the presence of the maid who had accompanied them for propriety's sake Lizzy sat close next to William and leaned against him for comfort all the way back to Darcy House. He knew they would need to talk on their return.

  ~o~

  William and Lizzy joined the others in the library. Richard dozed in a chair by the window while Anne and Georgiana read quietly nearby. Taking seats in a far corner William waited for Lizzy to talk.

  "Did he sign the documents?" she asked after a pause.

  "Yes, and I told him my opinion of his behavior to you. He made no excuses or apologies. I also informed him he was short-sighted not to want a connection. Had they been true friends to you, he would have reaped the benefits to his business through us."

  "Aunt Gardiner said much the same thing he had, although she was less blunt about it. She told me I imagined the close affection I thought was between us. Something about how she said it makes me think he told her what to say. She did not have much to say about Jane, either, although she told me Jane met Mr. Bingley through one of my uncle's connections. He thought her beautiful and my uncle quickly worked a deal to procure the marriage. Kitty will not be coming to stay with them. Mama does not want to let her leave. Aunt Gardiner thinks Kitty is probably acting as more of a maid to Mama and Lydia which is why they want to keep her."

  "Did she even attempt to explain your uncle's attitude?"

  "She did not. She just looked uncomfortable and changed the subject. Will they be at the wedding?"

  "No. He says he is too busy, and I am glad of it. If you do not mind, I have a different idea for how our wedding should be celebrated without him to give you away."

  "Will you tell me? Or is it a surprise?"

  William told her his idea. She approved. Later, so did Richard and Anne.

  ~o~

  At ten o'clock the following morning, the Reverend Mr. Samuels began the first of the two weddings he would perform that morning. Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy stood smiling before him as Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam escorted Miss Elizabeth Bennet down the aisle before taking his place as best man. Miss Anne de Bourgh and Miss Georgiana Darcy stood up with Miss Bennet as her witnesses.

  After the ceremony ended and the newlyweds signed the register, the second ceremony began. This time Mr. Darcy provided escort before acting as the Colonel's best man and Mrs. Darcy took her place as one of the witnesses for Miss de Bourgh. Soon the Fitzwilliams were married as well.

  It was an unusual day for Mr. Samuels, but he performed the ceremonies with good cheer. He clearly saw the love the two couples bore for each other. It was a pity they had no one else to share the ceremony with them. As he tided the church afterwards, his thoughts were occupied with a genuine wish for great happiness in their lives together.

  ~o~

  William and Richard had marriage announcements published in the next day's papers. Both took great pleasure in writing to Lady Catherine to inform her of the two weddings. William had the letters delivered by messenger along with a copy of the newspaper folded open to the announcements which had been circled to make sure she saw them. The messenger was also to check with Johnson on the status of the household and in particular on whether a curate was needed to take Mr. Herbert's place.

  "I have a friend who was recently ordained and is looking for a position. His name is Miles, but we all called him Mr. Smiles due to his unfailing good cheer. I think he might be a good fit to redeem Hunsford," Richard told them as they discussed the matter one afternoon.

  "You think he will bring laughter and kindness to the place?" Lizzy asked.

  "I think he cannot help himself."

  "Lady Catherine had one of the footmen who acted as curate to provide services for the staff since they were not allowed to leave the property," Lizzy reminded them.

  "What did you think of him?" William asked his wife.

  "He might do well somewhere else. He was too much under Lady Catherine's control to remain either at the house or in the village in the capacity of curate, although he preferred that role to his other position as footman."

  "Perhaps I can help him to another
place," William suggested.

  "I will arrange a place in Hunsford for Mr. Miles," said Richard. "He will not be entitled to the tithes unless Mr. Herbert resigns the living, but I can make that up to him with housing and a salary. I am sure he can handle my main requirements, which are to ignore any directive from Aunt Catherine and to report only to me and then only about issues that actually require my assistance."

  ~o~

  The Darcys and the Fitzwilliams prepared to go to Pemberley together once they had things at Rosings under control. William's messenger, Danny, had returned from Pemberley with a number of items that needed attention, and some would require handling in person. William took care of what he could while they waited to hear back from Johnson, who would be promoted under Richard's leadership.

  William also arranged for a little entertainment. The five of them attended both a concert and a play. Anne decided she liked to experience the performance of a play much better than just reading one, although she also said she would always feel a particular fondness for reading "Taming of the Shrew" after the silly way they had read it as they had distracted themselves from the dark book.

  When William's messenger to Rosings Park returned, he bore a letter so full of anger and expletives that William and Richard were surprised it did not simply burst into flames. The gist of it, as if they had any doubt of her reaction, was that she was most seriously displeased. Her threats of retribution seemed to have no teeth so long as they were not at Rosings where she could set the shadows upon them. That still left them with the problem of improving conditions at the house.

  Along with the letter came Johnson's report, which William shared with the others. "He says Lady Catherine remains in her rooms, attended only by her personal maid. She sends for food regularly but does not even venture to the drawing room. He also says Mrs. Porter is still confined to her bed and is largely unresponsive. One of the maids is caring for her."

  "I never particularly liked Mrs. Porter," Anne said thoughtfully, "but she ran the house efficiently."

  "Johnson reports a senior maid named Betty has taken over the duties of housekeeper and the inside staff are not well pleased."