Elizabeth left Mr. Darcy after he took some broth. He was stronger than the day before and he was awake and happy for her company. For now, it was all she might hope for after the fever of the night.
Once downstairs, she called for a footman before going into the breakfast room for her morning meal. The servant came without delay.
“Have you any letters from the Gardiners this morning?”
The footman nodded and drew a missive from inside his waistcoat. “I did not wish to interrupt you while you were tending Mr. Darcy. We did have a visitor earlier, but she was turned away. It was Lady Hull, I believe.”
“Very well. Thank you for your consideration. Mr. Darcy is better this morning.” Elizabeth hid her surprise at the mention of Lady Hull. The woman was likely on a mission to snoop about for Lady Matlock.
“I am pleased to know it, Mrs. Darcy. The whole house is worried for him. We hope he is well very soon.” The footman gave a small bow and left her to read her letter.
Elizabeth took it into the breakfast room and fixed a plate of bread and jam with an apple. The ham did not appeal to her so early in the day and she meant to ask that Cook serve it again at luncheon. She sat and opened her letter to read while she sipped her tea.
Elizabeth,
Richard and Mr. Harley are well and will stay with us until Dr. Brixton lifts the quarantine.
You must know that Lady Matlock came only a short time ago asking that Richard be sent with her to stay at Matlock House. She was furious when I refused and told her she must speak with you before I might consider such a thing.
I do not know how she found out about the quarantine, but I suspect it was through servants that gossip between the townhomes on Grosvenor.
Do not be alarmed, Richard is safe with us and Mr. Harley will not allow him out of his sight. We will not allow him to leave for Matlock House unless it is your express wish.
All my Love,
Madeline Gardiner
Elizabeth fought the anger that rose like bile. How dare Lady Matlock attempt to remove Richard from the Gardiners! Thank goodness she had sent Mr. Harley along, for he would not countenance such a thing.
He well knew Lady Matlock’s dislike of Elizabeth even though she was now married to Mr. Darcy. She supposed the woman would never rest until she pried Richard away.
Reading the letter again, Elizabeth doubted very much that servants had been the ones to carry news of the quarantine to Lady Matlock. It must have been Lady Hull who rushed to tattle her news at Matlock House.
No matter, she knew the Gardiners and Mr. Harley were sufficient to the task. There was no other family in London she could turn to for help.
Though Georgiana was at Fitzwilliam House with Kitty, Lydia, Mary, and Mrs. Bennet, she could not see the sense in having Richard taken there. Lady Matlock would come after Richard at Fitzwilliam House. Her mother and sisters were no match for the determination of Margaret Fitzwilliam.
Richard was safe for the time being at Gardiner House in Cheapside, but she wished with all her heart he was home with her at Darcy House.
Elizabeth finished her breakfast though the food, excellent as it was, tasted no better than sawdust in her current mood. Being trapped at Darcy House without her son caused her much distress.
She thought of telling Mr. Darcy of his aunt’s nefarious plans but it would only alarm him and endanger his recovery. She would bear it alone and shield her husband for his own good. He might deal with Lady Matlock when he was well.
At Matlock House, the earl was angry beyond measure. He had come home from his club early and found out about his wife’s attempts to bring their grandson to stay with them.
“Margaret, you drove Richard away with your behavior and we lost him forever. We now have another chance with young Richard and you must stop with these attempts to remove him from his mother. I will not stand for it. I should send you home to Derbyshire, but with Georgiana to wed soon at Pemberley and the trouble at Darcy House, your presence is required.”
Lady Matlock fumed at her husband’s belligerence on the matter. “Reginald, I am not responsible for Richard cutting us from his life. He was thoughtless and cruel to do so and to marry beneath his station. The only saving grace in all this mess is the boy. Why should he not stay with us until the quarantine is lifted? He is our grandson. We have stronger ties with him than the Gardiners.”
The earl took his usual seat before the fireplace and lifted a glass of port to his lips. His wife had been difficult since the birth of their sons many years ago.
He wondered at the changes in her and thought that childbirth had taken the joy from her. She had once been like Georgiana—young, happy, and in love.
“My dear,” he said, for he truly thought she cared for their grandson, “have you written to Elizabeth and offered to keep the boy?”
His wife glared at him. “I have not. She would refuse me outright and I will not beg her for the favor of seeing my only grandson. I have the right to see him, you know.”
“Yes, indeed you do my dear. But the way you have gone about asserting that right is wrong-headed. You must see it, Margaret. Can you not allow logic to rule instead of your emotions? He could be upstairs right now had you simply humbled yourself before Elizabeth.”
Lady Matlock made a disagreeable noise and stalked from the room. Her husband was truly foolish if he thought for one moment she might consider employing cordiality in her dealings with Elizabeth Darcy.
Mr. Harley would keep close to the boy but she had seen the park across the street from the Gardiner home and thought perhaps she might take her carriage there in the afternoon. Her footman could easily overpower the old butler and she would take Richard and be off with him.