Page 70 of His Dark Heart
In the Hall, courtiers were scattered about like corn strewn for the chickens in the yard. They discussed business or gossiped in hushed tones, cast conspiratorial glances amongst one another, and made themselves more important than their positions deserved. William was nowhere to be seen. His steward, though, was at a table in conversation with Lord Keller.
“My lady.” Henry Drake stood and bowed. Lord Keller followed suit. “How may I be of service?”
“I have an urgent matter to discuss with my husband. Is he in the antechamber with Lord Bingley?”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Pray, would you inform him that I shall be in my study?”
Drake nodded. Elizabeth thanked him and made her way towards the closest door, which led to the room in which the High Lady attended her private business affairs. After she sat at her desk, she glanced over the letter once again. For certain, George's hand was upon the sheet, but in no way could he have afforded the luxury of such expensive paper. The one reasonable answer was that Caroline had persuaded him to write the letter when he had called upon her. Elizabeth frowned at the words once again, suspecting the so-called honourable lady to have influenced George's expressions as well.
“My sweet? You needed me?”
Elizabeth looked up and gulped a steadying lungful of air. She nodded and pushed the letter towards him as if it possessed a deadly venom. “That vicious bitch placed this in my hands today. She pretended she was performing a noble office, but I am cleverer than she credits me for. I honestly believe she influenced George somehow since he is not aggressive in the least, but she is a woman who has been tossed over, which makes her volatile and capable of much harm.”
* * *
With a hesitant look towards his wife, Darcy grasped the sheet and perused it. The words were angry, and his stomach turned when he read that George would pretend his wife had not lain with him. His body shook with rage at the thought of the scheming witch's influence. Elizabeth had no way of knowing the true power of Caroline's influence, but Darcy was all too aware. His foe would be more powerful with the witch manipulating outcomes.
“You do not think him capable of carrying out his plan, do you?” Darcy asked, tossing the letter to her desk as if it were poison.
“I do not know. The man who wrote that letter is not the man I loved. I have not encountered this not-so-bonny George. It concerns me that I cannot know what he can or will do.”
“He is obviously planning to call me out.”
“You cannot fight him!” Elizabeth cried.
Darcy's eyes narrowed. “If I am forced to defend myself, I shall, wife.” His voice was cool.
“Speak not to me like that,husband,” Elizabeth snapped. “I am only thinking of George's safety. He is but a shepherd and has not seen a single battle, unlike you. He would be a fool to call you out, but you would be cruel to answer that call. You are not so cruel.”
“You forget who I am,” he whispered.
She came around the desk, pulling his face to hers. “No, sir. I recallexactlywho you are. You are the good man I have come to know these last months. You arenotthe heartless bastard I once thought you to be. Do not pretend as though you are.”
“He means to steal you away from me. He knows what it is to live without you, and he plans to exact the same fate upon me.”
Elizabeth shook her head and kissed his forehead. “You need to confront that vile woman about this letter. I have not a shred of doubt she played a part in its conception and language. Lady Caroline is the one who plots to separate us. I shall be damned if I let her own a victory over me.”
Darcy's fingers skimmed Elizabeth's cheek then grasped her hand for a few precious moments. She smiled at him, warmth and affection shining in her eyes for a few moments before she ushered him from the room. Forgetting Lord Bingley entirely, Darcy sought Caroline out. His temper had boiled over by the time he found her.
“What is the meaning of the letter you gave my wife?”
“You are an astute man, my lord. Must I explain such a simple scheme to you? Your precious Elizabeth has maintained contact with her dear George, and they are plotting her escape.”
“And why would you allow yourself to be caught in this treasonous position, Caroline? What is in it for you?”
“Why the position of High Lady, of course. What better way to reward my loyalty to you than by bringing the plot against you to light?”
“You are unbelievable.”
“So you have told me many times while I laid beneath you.”
“I know Elizabeth has not continued correspondence with George.”
“Do you? Think about how she loathed you, Darcy. Think about her protests and her anger with her father. Think about the night she ran off with Wickham. Is it not possible they set a plan into motion to bring about your downfall? Wickham comes to call you out and kills you. Your widow, without an heir and secure in her position, remarries the love of her life, and all is how she wanted her life from the beginning, but for the lovely new manner of living you provided her.”
“Nay. She cares for me.”
