Mr. Darcy's Bite (9 page)

In the past few days, Lizzy had experienced emotional highs and lows and everything in between, and what had happened to the male wolf trying to feed and protect his family could easily have reduced her to tears. But she was determined to fight off such dark thoughts, and she arose from the bench, and after stepping in front of Darcy, she pulled him up with both hands.

“Let us return to the house so that we might invite Anne and Georgiana to join in planning our wedding. I shall need all the help I can get as there is so much to think about, including when and how to tell your aunt Catherine that we are engaged.”

***

On their way back to the house, Darcy and Lizzy roughed out some of the details of their wedding breakfast. Because of the colder temperatures, it would be necessary to have the reception inside, but Darcy assured her that his staff would go to Hertfordshire to take charge of ordering and preparing everything necessary to host such a celebration.

As they entered the drive leading to the house, they had to give way to an express rider. Darcy looked puzzled. He could not imagine what message was so important that it necessitated hiring an express rider, and he wondered if it was another of his aunt Catherine's ploys to have Anne return to Kent. The last time his cousin had been away for any length of time, his aunt had written a letter stating that there had been a disaster at Rosings. When Anne returned to Kent, she found that the drains had backed up after a storm and the kitchen was flooded, which, of course, she could do nothing about. Aunt Catherine was never happy when Anne was away, and not just because of the obvious selfish reason of not wanting to be alone in that large house, but also because she genuinely feared that she would outlive her daughter. Despite her shortcomings, Darcy's aunt loved her daughter and worried more about Anne's health than anything else.

When they arrived at the entrance, Jackson was talking to the rider, and he immediately handed the letter to Mr. Darcy, who opened it as soon as he stepped into the foyer.

“Dear God!” he said as all of the color drained out of his face.

“What is the matter, Mr. Darcy? Is someone ill?” Elizabeth asked, and when he did not answer, she continued to question him. “Is there a death in the family?” What else could account for his shocked countenance?

After handing the post to Mr. Jackson, he explained, “This is a letter from Mr. Underhill. He is the manager of the Council operations on the estate in Scotland where Rupert and Teddy have been staying. Apparently, they were found running around in the woods unclothed.”

Lizzy let out a sigh of relief. “Oh, that is not so very bad. They are both lads, and this can easily be explained as the antics of two foolish young men.”

“I wish it were that simple, but there is more. Rupert was shot in the arm. He is not seriously injured, but the man who shot him insists that he was shooting at a wolf.” Lizzy felt her heart drop into her stomach. “I must leave for Scotland immediately.”

Darcy had handed Uphill's letter to Jackson because his butler would know exactly what to do, and once he had informed Mercer of events in Scotland, his manservant began packing for what would be an arduous and lengthy journey. When Darcy had banished Rupert to the wilds of Scotland, he had sent Teddy and Mercer with him. It had taken the trio six days to get there. Even if the roads were in good repair and the weather cooperated, he would be gone a minimum of three weeks. There was no time to lose because they were racing against the rising of the next full moon.

Darcy pulled off his neckcloth and threw it on the bed before quickly discarding his linen shirt, fine leather boots, and tan breeches, exchanging the clothes of a gentleman for a man who would be spending his nights at a string of coaching inns paralleling the Great North Road to Edinburgh.

After giving Mercer some final instructions, he went downstairs to find Elizabeth. What the devil was he going to say to her? She already understood some of the dangers that wolves faced, but this episode threw a harsh light on just how vulnerable they were on a daily basis. The irresponsible actions of one wolf hundreds of miles away might put others in jeopardy, including his own family. Until he knew what Rupert had said to those who had found him, he could not rest because if that idiot had panicked and blurted something out, the trail would lead directly to Pemberley. And what right did he have to ask Elizabeth to join him in sharing such a life? He should have heeded the advice of the Council to take a she wolf as a bride from among the German or French wolves who had settled in Herefordshire near the Welsh border after fleeing the Continent because of Napoleon's endless wars. But when he had set out in search of a wife, he had stopped at Netherfield Park to visit Charles Bingley at his new country estate and had been coerced into attending a local assembly, and the rest, as they say, is history.

In order to make sure that their conversation could not be overheard, when Darcy went downstairs, he gestured for Georgiana, Anne, and Elizabeth to follow him into his study, and he quickly assessed the situation. His sister had been crying, Anne looked gaunt, and Elizabeth had such a look of bewilderment on her face that it hurt to look at her. Addressing the three ladies, he summed up his plan, which was simple. He must get to the Underhill estate as quickly as possible, recover Rupert and Teddy, and return to Pemberley before the next full moon.

“After I am on the road, Jackson will send word to Lord Granyard detailing what I know of the events in Scotland and ask that he have his men keep watch for any unusual activity near Pemberley. I am not anticipating any trouble, but since we do not know what Rupert might have revealed when questioned, I will err on the side of caution.”

Both ladies nodded, signaling that they understood the possible consequences of Rupert's actions, but Lizzy remained silent. It was only her eyes that revealed how alarmed she was and that she comprehended the gravity of the situation.

“Georgie and Anne, I would like to speak to Elizabeth alone.” After the pair had left the study, Darcy sat on a chair across from Lizzy, but he made no effort to reach out to take her hand or to console her in any way. It was as if some fault in the earth had opened up, creating a chasm between them.

“Elizabeth, I am in a race against the lunar calendar,” he explained, “so I must leave now.”

Lizzy, who was trying hard to keep the fear out of her voice, asked him how long he would be gone.

“If all goes well, three weeks. We will need at least a week to get there, plus however long it takes to resolve the situation. Then, I must allow for a few days' rest before returning to Pemberley, and everything depends on road conditions and the weather.”

“It seems to me that you are racing headlong into danger. Is there no one who can go to Scotland to deal with this matter who is less easily recognized?”

“No. I must take care of this myself because Teddy is a member of my pack, and it was at my direction that he went with Rupert to Scotland. I will not rest until I know that he is safe. Rupert does not have an ounce of common sense, but I am hoping that his being shot has so frightened him that he has kept his mouth shut. However, there are no guaranties, so I must go.

“As for our discussion this morning, we did not have time to put our plans into action. No announcement was made; therefore, no explanation is required. In the next few weeks, you will have ample time to reconsider, and please know that you owe me nothing. You are not bound to me. But I really must go.”

After he left, Lizzy went to the window in the drawing room and watched as he made his way to the stables with David and Goliath at his heels. He never looked back.

***

Lizzy did not know how long she had been staring out the window when Anne came and put a shawl around her shoulders. What she saw when she turned around and gazed into the face of the daughter of Lady Catherine de Bourgh was a steely resolve. Anne would stand watch until her cousin returned and resumed his role as master of Pemberley.

“Until today, I never understood why the Darcy crest was not emblazoned on the carriages. Because it is necessary to respond to emergencies such as this, William does not want anyone to know who is in the carriage.”

“Yes, William must travel anonymously. However, he does want people to know that he is a gentleman. Because of his rank, as evidenced by the quality of his conveyance, he will not be approached by strangers, and no one will ask questions.”

“Where is Georgiana?” Lizzy asked.

“She is with Mrs. Brotherton. Because Teddy is a member of William's pack, Georgiana has developed an affection for him that is, to say the least, unusual between a mistress and one of her servants.”

“I had forgotten that Mrs. Brotherton is Teddy's mother. How awful for her.”

“She is a strong lady who believes that all will turn out all right because her son is a sensible lad.”

“I know that Mr. Darcy speaks highly of him, but it is because of the actions of another that he is in trouble.” Lizzy finally asked who this young man was and why such risks were being taken on his behalf.

“Of course, you would not know about Rupert. William is very cautious when it comes to sharing information about those under his protection, but let us return to the study where a fire is burning and we can be more comfortable.”

Lizzy sat in the chair closest to the fire—Mr. Darcy's chair—but it brought no comfort or warmth. She recalled his last words. “You will have ample time to reconsider. You are not bound to me.” With such uncertainty, it would be impossible to go forward. She understood that he had uttered those words out of concern for her, but she was unhappy that he had anticipated that she would reconsider his offer at the first sign of trouble. Did he believe that her love for him did not match his own?

“Elizabeth, do you drink brandy?”

“No, but I am thinking about starting,” she answered. In three days, she had known the depths of despair, only to have her spirits soar when she realized how much Mr. Darcy loved her and how deeply she was in love with him. But now, she was at the bottom of the well again—with only a hint of sunlight—and she reached out to take the glass from Anne.

“You asked who Rupert was, so I shall tell you. His grandfather is the king.”

Lizzy gasped. “Oh, no! Not
that
Rupert. He is only twenty years old, but he is already fodder for the gossip pamphleteers.”

“Yes, he is
that
Rupert.”

“The newspapers have reported that he is in Ireland. If only he were.”

Rupert was one of the many illegitimate children fathered by the Prince of Wales who were scattered about the country. All that was known of his mother was that she had died giving birth to him.

“With such a history, no wonder he was banished to the country. But with reporters following him everywhere he goes, is it not possible that Rupert could lead prying eyes directly to Pemberley and Mr. Darcy with disastrous consequences?”

“Rupert's coming to Pemberley was arranged by the Council, and so many precautions were taken when he was brought here. It is unfortunate that this task fell to William because he did not want to take him in. However, you can imagine how difficult it was to say no to the heir to the British throne. When he finally agreed, William made it clear that if Rupert misbehaved he would be turned over to the Council and that it was highly likely he would be banished to an area of British North America near Hudson Bay where a mixed werewolf/wolf colony lives. Because the hunting is so good, I understand that it is a wolf's dream come true, but if you are a wolf for only a few days a month, it can also be a frozen version of hell.”

Lizzy could feel her anger rising. From what she had read about Rupert, a year or so in a place of endless winter might be just what was required to straighten out so misguided a youth.

“Mr. Darcy spoke briefly to me about the Council. What do you know about it?” Lizzy asked Anne.

“We have already spoken about the gathering in Scotland in July. It is at that time that a leader is chosen from all the wolves living in Britain, Scotland, and Wales. He, in turn, chooses two counselors—one a werewolf and the other fully human. For a two-year term, the three serve as judge and jury to all those werewolves who do anything that jeopardizes the wolf population. Even for those with royal blood, you are allowed only one mistake. This is Rupert's second.”

“Does Mr. Darcy go to these gatherings?”

“Not every year, but he does try because he does so enjoy them. While he is at the Underhill estate, he is completely at ease. It is my understanding that there is a mix of werewolves, their families, and trusted associates. It was at such a get-together that William met the brother of a werewolf who would be attending Cambridge, and so arrangements were made for them to share a room.”

“But how could Mr. Darcy go to university?”

“When he enrolled, he claimed to have asthma, a disease that restricts passage of air into the lungs, so he would leave Cambridge, feigning illness, at different times of the month, not just at the time of the full moon, so that no one would be suspicious of his comings and goings. Of all the things William has endured because of his being part wolf, it was his inability to play cricket at Cambridge that bothered him the most because he is an exceptionally talented batsman. Because of his ‘illness,' William could only be an honorary member of the team, and he had to stand by and watch as those inferior to him played a game he loved. Although he was permitted to practice with them, he could never play against Cambridge's competitors, and it nearly drove him to distraction. But at these gatherings in Scotland, he does play cricket and, recently, a number of them have taken up the game of golf.”

“None of this surprises me,” Lizzy said, with a half smile. Although it pleased her to think of the athletic Mr. Darcy standing on a cricket pitch, it was probably something she would never see for herself because he had decided
for both of them
that marriage would be too great a burden for her to bear, and that thought brought on a wave of fatigue that completely sapped her.

“Anne, I am so tired. I can hardly think. Will you please excuse me?” She went to her bedchamber.

After untying the ties on the drapes around the bed, she climbed into her cave. Even though she had burrowed deep into a mound of quilts, she was still shivering, and she found that the only way she could get warm was to curl up into a ball, very much like a dog would—or a wolf.

***

Lizzy would have preferred to stay in her bedchamber for the remainder of the day, but with Mr. Darcy's sudden departure and Georgiana being closeted in her room with Mrs. Brotherton, if she did not go downstairs, it might invite comment from the servants. Besides, it seemed cowardly. If Mr. Darcy would not retreat from his responsibilities as the head of the Darcy family and the leader of his pack, she would not hide under her bedcovers, and so she rang for Ellie so that she might dress for supper.

When Lizzy went into the drawing room, she found Anne, Georgiana, and Mrs. Brotherton having a lively chat. There was no sign that this was a family in crisis. In fact, the atmosphere was definitely positive—almost cheery. What had happened while she had been resting?

“Oh, there you are, Elizabeth. You look so much better now that you have rested,” Georgiana said, greeting her guest. “Mrs. Brotherton will be joining us for dinner, which should be ready within the half hour. Anne has just asked that I perform a piece that she is particularly fond of,” she said as she walked to the pianoforte.

Anne gestured for Lizzy to sit on the sofa with Mrs. Brotherton. It was obvious that Georgiana's lady's maid had something to share and that Miss Darcy's playing was meant to prevent their conversation from being heard by others, but with Mr. Jackson standing nearby keeping watch, she did not see how that could happen. Obviously, everyone was exercising an abundance of caution.

“Elizabeth, I think you will be very interested with what Mrs. Brotherton has to say. As Teddy's mother, she has been in regular correspondence with him since his arrival in Scotland. She is very hopeful that everything will end well and the only harm done will be that we all had a good fright.”

Lizzy was puzzled. What intelligence could Mrs. Brotherton possibly have? She was not aware of any messenger having come from Mr. Darcy, so what could account for it? Lizzy looked eagerly at Mrs. Brotherton and asked her to explain the reasons for her optimism.

“First, Miss Elizabeth, I want you to know that when Teddy arrived in Scotland, he went through weeks of training so that he would know how to act in almost any situation. Second, those two young men are not alone by any means. There are those who work for the estate manager as well as members of the community nearby who are ready to act in case anything goes wrong on the estate.”