Beside Two Rivers

26





Back in the lonely wing, inside the neglected room, Darcy approached her father’s bedside. Propped up on pillows, he made short, quick efforts to breathe, his flesh moist. She laid her ear against his chest and listened. Soft gurgles of liquid infected his lungs. Earlier in the morning, he seemed better, but now he had returned to the struggle.

Mrs. Burke drew up behind her. “He has not improved, miss.”

“When I woke this morning, he seemed better.” That he could regress so quickly worried Darcy. She laid her hand across her father’s brow. His skin felt cool to the touch, yet perspiration beaded on his skin. “He needs a doctor. Tell me where to go and I’ll bring him back.”

“The closest I imagine is hours from here. I haven’t known a doctor in these parts since I was a young girl. There isn’t enough time to find one.”

Darcy bit her lower lip. “I need to send word to Fairview and ask my mother and Mr. Brennan to come.”

Mrs. Burke stepped back to Darcy, her hands folded over her breast. “Oh, no, miss. Mr. Langbourne will be returning.”

“How can you be sure?” Darcy asked.

Mrs. Burke hesitated. “He told me so. I know him well enough to say he would do your father harm. He hates him that much, and Eliza as well.”

“But he is too ill to travel, and how would I get him there? I need Mr. Brennan.”

“I will go to Reverend Reed.” Mrs. Burke stepped through the door. “He is close by and will help us.”

Darcy nodded in agreement. “Please, hurry and bring him back.”

“I’ll go right away, Darcy. Now don’t you worry. We will see your father through,” Mrs. Burke said, as she hastened out the door.

Hayward lifted himself and reached out to touch Darcy’s arm. “I must get to Eliza. No more waiting.”

“No, Papa. You are not well enough.”

He reached for his boots. “Help me with these, child.”

She snatched them up and put them behind her back. “You must wait. The vicar is coming, and with his aid we will leave for Fairview.”

He looked up at her, his eyes glistening with hope. “I will see your mother at last? You swear it?”

She touched his cheek. “Yes.”

Mrs. Burke had not been gone a quarter of an hour when Darcy heard the beat of a horse coming down the drive. Her heart swelled, hoping it were Ethan. She rushed to the window and looked down. Disappointed, and fearing for her father, she drew back when she saw Langbourne swing down from his saddle. Mrs. Burke had been right.

The front door slammed shut. The sound reverberated throughout the old house, and the anxious churning in Darcy’s chest trembled through her limbs. She hurried away from the window and to her father.

“Papa.” She placed her hands on his shoulders. He looked at her. “Langbourne has returned. You must stay quiet. Do not attempt to move from the room.”

“I do not care if he finds me. He took my letters and I want them back.”

“Please, Papa. Stay here until I return. You shall have your letters one way or the other.”

Faint as it were, she heard Langbourne call out for Mrs. Burke, then for her. He deserved to wait. He had taken her mother’s letters, treated her father cruelly, and she would not hurry to his beck and call. The urge to confront him brimmed over as her hand gripped the door handle.

She went out into the narrow hallway and down the servant’s stairs at the rear of the house. Her steps soundless, she approached the landing. Down to the next floor she went and within reach of the broad staircase that led down to the first floor a shadow crossed the wall below. With a catch of her breath, she froze. Dread prickled over her skin. A blast of winter, a heartless soul, had returned to the house. His shadow grew larger and Langbourne halted a few steps below when their eyes met.

Hatless, his hair looked uncombed, wisps curling about the edge of his neckcloth. His eyes were weary and he narrowed them upon sight of her. “Confound it, Darcy. This house is like a tomb. Where is everyone? Why did you take so long?”

“I did not hear you at first.”

“I called for Burke. She should have met me at the door.”

“I sent Mrs. Burke on an errand.”

The skepticism in his gaze did not escape her, and she feared he would ask what kind of errand. Then what excuse would she make to satisfy him? “An errand?”

“Yes. To post a letter.”

“She should be in the kitchen preparing supper.”

Lowering her eyes, Darcy moved on. He followed and made his way ahead of her, causing her to stop short. It unnerved Darcy, the way his eyes scanned her face.

“I have not told you, Darcy, how pretty I think you are— with the way your hair falls over your shoulders, how the light catches it. It is enough to drive any man mad.”

She felt her face burn, at once stung with anger. How dare he treat her in this way, bar her from going on, speak to her with such unbridled lack of inhibition. “You should not say such things.” She moved. He stopped her. She had to keep her head, think how to escape without causing alarm. Defiant, she folded her arms and stared at him.

“Do not be so offended,” he said.

She glared. “Your compliments should be reserved for your wife—or your mistress.”

He laughed. “Charlotte is not pretty. Why should I lie to her? As for my mistress, she is, and she knows how to please me.”

Darcy frowned. “How can you live as you do? How can you have no conscience that it is wrong to betray Charlotte? Did you not mean the vows you made before God?”

“Ah, now you would preach at me? Charlotte is as cold as death and always complaining of illness. If you would see her beneath her chemise, you would be shocked at how frail a woman she is. She has given me no heir. And does she care? Not a whit.”

“Let me pass.”

He circled his fingers around her wrist. “You should meet Rowena. Some call her a harlot. But she is a kind and gentle soul, and faithful. She is the only woman I willingly provide for. Without me she would starve, or be enslaved to another man.”

“Why are you telling me these things?”

“I would have taken care of your mother if she had let me. I hope she lived to regret it.”

Darcy jerked away and breathed out a sigh of frustration. She hated his words, the manner in which he looked at her, the smell of wine on his breath. If only Ethan would walk through the door.

Langbourne inched forward, and she would have tripped back if she had not put her hand on the banister to steady herself. “I do not wish to hear any more of this. Let me by.”

“You are frightened of me, aren’t you?” he said.

“Not at all.”

“Then why are you trembling?”

“I am cold.”

“Why do you withdraw from me?”

“You are too close …”

“Not close enough, I’d say.”

“I wish to go to my room and you are preventing me.”

“Only because I have news to tell.” Langbourne leaned back against the wall and put one boot upon the step in front of Darcy. “I have decided to close the house. I may even sell it. Everyone is to leave and settle at Meadlow.”

Darcy’s throat tightened. She supposed he believed it was generous of him. “Not I, Mr. Langbourne.”

He pulled away from the wall. “You will do as I say.”

“I will do as I wish. You have no authority over me.”

“I am your only male relation while you are here, and you are under my roof. You will obey me. Besides, you might enjoy Meadlow before you return to America. Unless, that is, you are prepared to go now. Have you enough to pay for return passage?”

She had not thought of this. She’d come with so little money, and the coachman who took her overland charged her more than what the ticket was worth. One gold coin would not buy her way home. But it did not matter. She’d marry Ethan.

“I’ll give you what you need,” Langbourne said, “as long as you take Madeline’s care into your hands and accompany her, with Mrs. Burke of course. I can use a new housekeeper.”

“Grandmother is too frail to leave Havendale. She has lived here most of her life and it would kill her to leave.”

“Nonsense. She will have Charlotte for company, and I plan to move Rowena to a residence near Meadlow to keep me company.”

Shocked, Darcy’s mouth fell open. “That would be deplorable. How could you?”

“Gentlemen do it all the time. Charlotte will not care. What is important to her is to live in a fine house, have pretty clothes, and money to spend. She would be glad to be free of her wifely duties.”

Disgusted, Darcy looked away. For a moment that seemed forever, he stood over her—a menacing shadow of a man. She had to control herself, and if she made the appearance that she would submit to him, he’d leave her alone. As soon as they could get away, she would be far from his demands.

Madeline’s call saved her. “Grandmother needs me.”

She hoisted her hem and tried to pass him. He bowed short, then stepped aside. With a sweep of his hand, he gave her leave. She went on and thought of her father suffering upstairs. What would Langbourne do if he knew his old rival had defied his warning to stay away, and instead lay sick and dying in an unused room?

She prayed Langbourne would retire, that he would not hear the minister’s arrival. If there were a way, some plan she could use to keep him from seeing the vicar with Mrs. Burke, she would use it.

Darcy wondered what risks she would take, what danger she would face to defeat Langbourne’s plans for her. For in his eyes burned lust unfulfilled, and in his heart were rooted jealousy and resentment. She knew he hated both her parents, and realized that she had become the object of his revenge. He would hurt them through her if he could.

She had to hurry to her grandmother, explain what the hours ahead held for both of them. Madeline’s eyes were wet with tears as Darcy gripped her hands. “I cannot go to Fairview with you, Darcy,” she said. “I cannot go anywhere.”

“But if you do not come with us, Grandmother, Langbourne will move you to Meadlow.”

“You mustn’t worry, dear. It was in my husband’s will that I live here for the remainder of my days. Langbourne cannot force me. Now, you must do what you can for your father. Besides, you and Mr. Brennan have an understanding. You love him and he loves you. That is where you belong.”

Darcy kissed her grandmother’s cheek, wishing she could convince her to leave with her. She heard the grind of wheels approach, looked out Madeline’s window, and watched the minister’s wagon draw up at the rear of the house. A man alighted from the driver’s seat and handed down Mrs. Burke, who hurried through a servants’ back door.

She turned back to Madeline. “The vicar has come, Grandmother. I don’t want to leave you.”

“Must I order you, child? Be off with you.”

“I shall kiss Papa for you.”

Madeline touched Darcy’s cheek. “God bless you, Darcy.”

In a burst of emotion, Darcy threw her arms around Madeline and held tight. Madeline drew her back and kissed her forehead. “Go now,” she said, patting Darcy’s cheek. “I shall pray for your safe journey.”