A determined Fitzwilliam Darcy tempered his anger as his carriage carried him to Longwell and Sons. Alighting from the carriage with singular purpose, he walked into the oak-trimmed lounge of the law firm and boldly announced his presence. The poor clerk at the desk frantically searched his ledger for signs of an appointment for Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, panicking when he saw no such notation made and worried how angry the man would be if the oversight were his doing. Not realizing the young clerk's predicament, Darcy began to bark orders that he would see Longwell, Sr. immediately or take his family's business elsewhere. The clerk nodded and scurried away deeper into the building to offer immediate apologies for the inconvenience to his employer.
Octavius Longwell, Sr. commanded the clerk to show Mr. Darcy to his office and not to bother with refreshments. As he waited for his wealthiest client, the old solicitor had little doubt about the matter coming before him. Long time counsel to the Fitzwilliam, de Bourgh, and Darcy families meant he alone was privy to the many intrigues and secrets the grand lineage kept as skeletons in the closet. But all legendary families had their secrets. As far as Longwell, Sr. was concerned, he knew where his bread was buttered. The Darcy holdings were more than double that of the de Bourgh and Fitzwilliam families put together.
Offering his hand in greeting as Mr. Darcy entered, Longwell, Sr., showed the man in and shooed the clerk away, closing his office door in a meaningful manner.
"I have come to discuss deeply personal matters, matters that will not leave this room upon my exit except as I expressly request. Is that understood?"
The solicitor inspected the young man who had become Mr. Darcy in his own right. Octavius had known Fitzwilliam since he was a boy, coming to the offices with his shyness causing him to hide behind the legs of his father. The boy was gone, and the man he'd grown to was quite formidable.
"You have my full discretion and confidence."
"Even from members of my own family?" Darcy asked firmly.
Longwell, Sr. smiled. "You are not the first heir to a considerable estate needing protection from his own family, sir. Tell me, how I may be of service?"
Darcy detailed funds he wished set aside for Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam to draw upon, the details of a marriage settlement with his cousin, Miss Anne de Bourgh, and a trust of one thousand pounds for Miss Elizabeth Bennet. The marriage settlement would go a long way towards convincing his family members he was to marry Anne until his and Richard's plan could go through.
At the mention of the last name, Longwell, Sr. faltered for a moment in his note-taking and stared at his client.
Darcy did not offer an explanation, but he did add one last thing. "The trust is to become ten thousand pounds if an official document of my marriage to my cousin, Anne de Bourgh is submitted to you as a claim for my estate."
The seriousness in his tone and demeanor left no doubt in Octavius' mind that this was a young man truly afraid his family might resort to murder in order to take what was rightfully his. Other families of the realm, he might well behold resorting to such bloodthirsty tactics, as it was an ugly business he had dealt with on a few occasions in his long career. But the Fitzwilliams, they were hardly a cruel bunch save for perhaps the second son, Richard, whom Darcy so obviously preferred.
"Are you certain, Mr. Darcy, that such an extravagant precaution must be taken?"
Fitzwilliam Darcy considered his business concluded and rose from his chair.
"You do not know my Aunt Catherine. Have the documents pertaining to Miss Elizabeth Bennet delivered to number Twenty-Seven Gracechurch Street attention to Mr. Edward Gardiner as soon as you are able, tonight preferably. Gardiner and my cousin Richard are to be trustees of the fund." Darcy returned his gloves to his hands in preparation to leave. "Have the documents for my marriage settlement with Anne delivered to my town home first thing on the morrow."
Octavius Longwell, Sr. hastily scribbled the instructions given him. As he finished he glanced up to bid farewell to his client, but Fitzwilliam Darcy was already gone.
Coming in February 2015, Darcy and Elizabeth take on the formidable Lady Catherine de Bourgh in Kent! Stay tuned for A Virtue of Marriage, Book 2 of the Moralities of Marriage series.