Chapter Thirty-nine

 

 

…I’ve always loved you—never forget that…

 

Coming out of his first official Pemberley, PLC Board of Directors meeting, Fitzwilliam was elated. Preliminary voting results from the company’s emergency general meeting showed that shareholders would reelect Fitzwilliam Darcy and his brother, David, overwhelmingly. At the gathering, shareholders had lined up before microphones to express their support for the Darcy Brothers. Second quarter earnings were projected to be up, and third quarter profits looked promising. The vote was an overpowering vote of confidence. The opposition was crushed.

“We’ve made it! It’s finally over,” Georgiana exclaimed as she hugged her brothers.

“Yes, we made it. I’m officially CEO and Chairman of the Board. David is Vice Chairman and President of Darcy Enterprises, and you, little Sister, are President of Darcy & Winthrop Publishing of London. We still have a lot to do, but the battle is over. Next week we’ll meet again and decide on further offices, but for the time being, let’s go to dinner and celebrate. Tonight, I will sleep in my own bed at Darcy House. How about you, David?” he asked, turning to his brother. “Are you coming home tonight, or do you have a hot date with whomever it is that’s been ringing you?”

“No.” David grinned. “I don’t have a date, and believe it or not, I have no plans for any excursions in the near future. But I am staying here for the rest of the week. Father left me a set of journals which I haven’t had time to read. I think after dinner, I will burrow away with a good bottle of wine and read.”

Fitzwilliam laughed as they rounded the corner to his office. “You do that. Hilda and I have some business to discuss, and then I will meet you at Ledbury’s at seven. Finally, I have some good news to share with Elizabeth. I can’t wait tell her.”

“Congratulations, Fitzwilliam,” Hilda said, catching up with them. “Your position is secure. Next week, you can begin reorganizing the London offices. What do you plan to do with your uncle? His loan is due in a few weeks.”

“I’ve given that a lot of thought. Because of Samantha, I plan to allow him whatever allotted time he needs to repay, but I will insist he resign all of his offices, including his board position. If he, Stanley, and Wesley refuse, they will be voted out and fired. They are finished with Pemberley,” he flatly stated. “That goes for my cousins, too. They’ll receive their severance salary as per the by-laws, but I cannot and will not allow them to stay. It’s a promise I made to myself… and my father,” he murmured. “Come, Hilda, I need to talk with you. David,” he said turning to his brother, “I will see you later, and Georgiana, I’ll collect you in thirty minutes. We’ll return to Darcy House to prepare for dinner.”

“I’ll be waiting,” Georgiana said, continuing down the hall to her office.

Entering Fitzwilliam’s office, Hilda took a seat while he walked over to the drinks cabinet and took out a decanter of port. Pouring two glasses, he handed one to his aunt. “Hilda, I can’t tell you how relieved I am that this is finally over. I’ll ring Elizabeth tonight and tell her the good news. I know she’ll be relieved, too. Things have been tough for her, and now she can finally come home. I’ve missed her so much.”

Hilda eyed her nephew closely. “Fitzwilliam, you and Mrs. Darcy are not getting along, are you?”

He snorted. “That’s an understatement.” Taking a seat behind his desk, he continued. “I’ve been thinking a lot about us. I know what you and the others have said, but I should never have left her in Tennessee. Our relationship has suffered greatly over this.”

“You could not have brought her here. I fear you would not have been able to persuade the majority of the board if she had accompanied you.”

“I know, Aunt, I know,” Fitzwilliam said as he ran his hand over his face. “There was so much working against us, wasn’t there?”

“Yes, I’m afraid there was.” Hilda sighed. “Her family is very different from yours. Your father was highly respected throughout all of Britain, and not only for his business skills. Your father knew how to dress his public image. It makes a strong contrast against your wife’s family. You did the right thing by leaving her in Tennessee.”

“Yes, Elizabeth and I are from two different worlds. I do understand that, but she didn’t. However, now that this is over, I plan to put it all behind us as quickly as possible. I will introduce her to society, and God help the man or woman who harms her in any way.”

Sipping her wine, Hilda responded, “Your father has set the stage for her not to be accepted, and you very well may have a difficult time receiving invitations to social functions because of it. Your wife is tainted by negative publicity, and it will affect you.”

“Oh, I’m very well aware that it was my father that has caused this. I’m also well aware of how things work with the public perception of my image, the press, and what it all means, but I’ll not have my wife disrespected. I have the money and the means to do something about it, and you can be assured that I will do just that. No one will dare to say anything publicly. I cannot control what they might think or even what they say outside of my presence, but it had better not be said in front of me or her.”

“That’s all well and good, but what are you going to do about your wife?”

“What do you mean what am I going to do? I am going to send for her and bring her to London.”

Hilda eyes narrowed. “Has it occurred to you that she may not want to come? I could not help but notice how you were arguing. You had better be sure she feels as you do.”

“Aunt,” he chortled, “I know my wife. She may not understand what I’ve been through or all it has involved, but she will come. She is my wife, and we love each other. I’m going to ring her tonight and make the arrangements. I want you and a team of advisors to go to Tennessee. Tie up all loose ends and bring her home. I’ll send a letter explaining everything. She’ll come. She loves me. That’s the one thing I’m sure of.”

Hilda smiled. “I will do as you say. As it was with your father, your best interest is my primary concern.” She lifted her glass and arched a brow.

While they were talking, Mrs. Foulkes interrupted them. “Mr. Darcy, Mr. Metcalf has just called. He needs to see you as soon as possible.”

“Tell him I’ll be right there, Betty.” Turning to Hilda, he said, “Excuse me, Aunt. This will only take a minute.”

“Don’t bother with me. I need to return to my office. I’ll see you at dinner,” she said as he left the office.

Finally alone in her nephew’s office, Hilda seized the opportunity she’d been waiting for. Slipping over to his desk, she carefully opened his middle drawer, being cautious so as not to disturb the contents. After one quick glance at the partially closed door, she silently lifted several sheets of his personal stationery with his signature in place from the drawer. With the stationery safely secured in her legal binder, she left his office with a smile.

Later that evening before dinner, Hilda met with her team of advisors.

“Jones, I want you to draw up divorce arrangement papers for Fitzwilliam and his wife. Make a settlement for £7 million contingent on her not pursuing any other monetary claims against him. I want no loopholes. Should she refuse the payment, make the contract such that she cannot come back later demanding money.”

“I will do as you say, Ms. Vanderburgh, but you cannot force her to agree. If she does not choose to do so, it will all be useless.”

“Leave it to me, Jones. She will agree.” Hilda nodded. “The grandson of an earl should not be married to someone of lesser society, and I plan to do something about it.”

 

~*~

 

At midnight, London time, Fitzwilliam called Elizabeth. “Darling, it’s over. I’ve secured the company. It’s official. I’m now in complete control.” He leaned back on his bed, resting comfortably against the soft pillows. “I am firmly CEO and Chairman with no threat hanging over us. I’m sending for you next week. My Aunt Hilda will come along with two advisors.”

She hesitated for several seconds. “I’m not sure I will be coming to London. Too much has occurred between us. I’m not so sure I would be happy there.”

Rising up from his bed, he declared, “Elizabeth, what are you saying?! You can’t mean that. You’re my wife. Your place is here with me.”

“Is it? I’m no longer sure anymore. If you come for me personally, I’ll think on it.”

“I can’t leave, Liz. I have a very important board meeting that I cannot reschedule. It’s critical that I remain in London all this week and the next. I have meetings scheduled. For me to leave on an extended visit to America would undermine the hard-earned authority I’ve won.” Pausing briefly, he realized she needed reassurance. “You mean everything to me. Have I not told you that?”

“Not lately.”

“Elizabeth, I know this has been very hard on you. It’s been hard on the both of us, but nothing has changed. Hold on to what we have. You’re my world. I love you, Liz, and I need you. I’ve always loved you—never forget that. Please, come to London. Your place is by my side.”

“And what if I don’t?”

He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Oh, you’ll come. It’s been a long time for both of us, and we need each other. You need me as much as I need you. You’ll come.”

“You’re very confident in yourself, as per usual, and I suppose you’re still accustomed to getting your way. It seems you always get your way, be it in business or with me.”

“Have we just entered a time warp? I believe we’ve had this conversation before.”

“Yes, yes we have…a long time ago. You always go after what you want, and you’re used to getting it. I remember it well. I just wonder if you, as CEO, would pursue a math professor now.”

“And you think that I wouldn’t?”

“I have no idea. I hardly know you anymore. You’ve changed.”

He heard her choke back tears. Rubbing his brow, he took a deep breath. “Elizabeth, please, that’s not fair. Yes, it’s true. I’ve changed, but in essentials, I’m still the same man—the man who loves you—the man who needs you. Come home, Elizabeth. Please…I need you. I want you.”

“I don’t know. I’ll think about it.”

“There is nothing to think about. You’re my wife, and as my wife, your place is here with me. Hilda will be in Tennessee as soon as I can arrange it. I’m going to send a letter with her. It’ll explain everything. I communicate better in writing than over the phone. When you are here, I will make it up to you. I will not be able to take off and spend time with you at first, but I will make everything up to you. We’ll take a long holiday. Perhaps to Greece or the Virgin Islands. I promise. Have everything ready to go and close the house down in one week. I’ll be expecting you.”

“It’s too little, too late, Fitzwilliam.”

“I don’t believe that, and neither do you. Have you forgotten what’s it’s like to be loved—to be held? We need each other, and we love each other.” Feeling the weariness finally catching up with him, he said, “I’ve got to go now and get some much-needed rest. I’ll see you next week, darling. I love you.”

“I love you, too… I really do.”

“That’s my girl. Goodnight, love.”

“Goodnight.”

 

~*~

 

Once they were off the phone, Elizabeth made a pot of tea to sit and think on all that had occurred over the past few months. Being the wife of Dr. Darcy, university professor, had been one thing. They had been so close, with their lives together being one of contentment, but what would it be like as the wife of Fitzwilliam A. Darcy, CEO of Pemberley, PLC? It scared her to think about it. She feared she would be very lonely, and now that she was pregnant, she no longer had herself to think about.

An instinctive need to protect her unborn child was beginning to take form in her heart. She would meet with his aunt before deciding anything for certain, and she would also read the letter he promised to send. But in the end, her decision would be made based on logic and what was best for her and her little one.