Chapter Sixty-eight

 

 

…a measure of mercy…

 

As he walked the long corridor to Fitzwilliam’s study, David couldn’t help but think of all that had happened in the past weeks. His uncle’s counsel and his brother’s words resonated in his mind. He knew it was hopeless to try and push Cecilia from his thoughts. It hadn’t worked before, so what made him think he could do it now? But just as he was contemplating what he might do, his pride rose to the surface. He shook his head as he remembered his uncle’s words …every generation has a victim. No, he would not go back. He would find a way to put her out of his mind. If he were to take the fall for his generation…then so be it! …I’ll not be the object of a woman’s whims. I’ll not be trifled with. If she lied to me once… she’ll do it again. Finally reaching his destination, he opened the door. Georgiana was already present.

“Fitzwilliam, I can’t believe Aunt Hilda did this to you. It was horrible and unforgivable,” Georgiana said.

David stepped inside and closed the door. “Hilda was loyal to the old way of thinking. She honestly thought she was doing the right thing. She hasn’t realized that times have changed and people no longer think as they once did. Still,” David shrugged, “that doesn’t excuse the harm she’s caused.”

“Yes, but her day of reckoning is upon her. Are we all in agreement? David? Georgiana?” Fitzwilliam asked, glancing between the two.

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

“I have the documents in hand. Let’s go,” Fitzwilliam said.

 

~*~

 

When her secretary announced that all three Darcys were waiting in the lobby, Hilda was more than a little surprised. She was terrified. As they entered her office, Hilda paused, taking in a long breath. “Georgiana, David, Fitzwilliam, how good to see you.” Her eyes narrowed as she looked from one to the other. “Now, to what do I owe the honor of this visit?” She pushed back in her chair and waited.

“I don’t think you will find it such an honor when you read this,” Fitzwilliam said, dropping a folder onto Hilda’s desk along with the letter she’d written to Elizabeth. “What do you have to say about this? You’ve seen it before, but the first time I saw it was when my wife presented it to me in South Carolina.” He bore down on her with eyes as cold as ice.

Calmly, Hilda opened the folder for a cursory look before glancing up to meet her nephew’s intense gaze. Opening her mouth to speak, she found herself interrupted before she could even begin.

“Did you think I would never find out? Did you really think you could get away with this?” he snapped. “You lied to me… and my wife! You saw that we were having disagreements, and you exploited our situation for your own purposes, didn’t you?” His lips curled into a steely smile.

Hilda blinked twice and swallowed hard. “Fitzwilliam, everything I did was for your welfare. I have always only cared for your wellbeing and that of this family.”

“Cared about me?” he shot back. “Have you any idea what you did to me?! If you cared, you would have seen to it that my wife returned with you instead of telling her those twisted half-truths about me and my family.” His blood boiled, incensed at her audacity. “How dare you, madam!”

She met his icy stare with one of her own. “What I did, I did for your own good—for the good of this family. All I have ever thought of was the welfare of my sister’s children. I wanted to preserve our family status and see to it that the Darcy name remains held in the highest esteem, as your father would have wanted. The grandson of an earl should not be married to an American—a low class woman!”

His temper erupted. “An American of low class? What my father wanted? Is that what you think?” He gazed at her in astonishment. “How dare you insult my wife! And furthermore, what about what I wanted? What about the welfare of my children! I am a man, Hilda—not a child who needs you or anyone else to look after him!”

“I was trying to save you. Fitzwilliam, I—”

“Save me from what? Those are my children, and she is my wife! You wished to save me by destroying them!” He stalked the floor in front of her desk. “Don’t you see that they are an extension of me? My blood—my family!” Fitzwilliam took a deep breath, steadying himself. “Listen to me, madam, and listen carefully, for I’ll only say it once—if you ever approach any member of my family again, I will have you before a magistrate. What you did was illegal. It was theft and forgery. Do I make myself clear, Hilda?”

She glared at him, causing him to chuckle in amusement. “Oh, and Aunt, there is one other small detail I need to mention. We are dissolving all business associations with Vanderburgh Banking, and henceforth, we are severing all family ties with you. You are never to set foot in my house, my office complex, or in any business or residence under my control. From this day forth, we are no longer connected. We’re through!”

She gasped. “You can’t be serious, Fitzwilliam! We are family! You cannot do this. It will mean billions. My financial status will collapse. I will be ruined,” she breathed out in disbelief.

“Oh, the bloody hell I can’t! Watch me.”

“What about all I have done for you—the money I secured for Pemberley?”

“It is already in the process of being repaid—every single penny!”

“Fitzwilliam, you will regret this,” she hissed.

“No, I don’t think so,” he laughed sarcastically. “What you did is unpardonable! Not only was the pain you caused me and Elizabeth inexcusable, but you jeopardized the well-being of my son and daughter, and for that, madam, I can never forgive you.”

As he was about to leave, he turned back. “Oh, and before I forget, Hilda, hand over the remaining pieces of stationery you took from my office. I’ve filed a legal affidavit reporting them stolen. If they turn up in a suspicious manner, things could get very ugly, very quickly. You wouldn’t like that, now would you?”

Swallowing hard, she reached in her desk to pull out the remaining sheets of letterhead. Neither said a word until the Darcys were at the door about to leave.

“Georgiana, David, are you in agreement with this?” Hilda asked.

Georgiana Darcy had remained silent up to this point, but she held her tongue no longer. “Aunt Hilda, your actions clearly indicated that you cared nothing for Fitzwilliam or for any of us. How can you claim to care about Fitzwilliam and inflict the pain on all of us that you did? It wasn’t you there picking up the pieces when he was in agony. David and I were. That’s not love and concern. That’s cruelty.” When she finished speaking, she stood by Fitzwilliam’s side.

David spoke next. “The pity is that you don’t even realize the serious damage you’ve done and what you’ve lost. Your financial loss is nothing compared to what your forgery and lies almost cost Fitzwilliam. Your loss is great indeed, but his would have been greater.”

“How dare you!” She stared defiantly at all three Darcys. “You will regret this, Fitzwilliam. This will not stand. I will not allow it. I will use every weapon within my means. You will beg me for forgiveness before I am through with you!”

Fitzwilliam marveled at her daring. That she thought she held any power or control over him, he found astonishing. It was apparent he would have to make things crystal clear. Handing the binder he held in his hand to Georgiana, he walked in a slow, deliberate stride back to Hilda’s desk. Placing both hands on its sleek surface, he leaned into her.

“Let us get a few things clear here, madam. You don’t have any choice in the matter. I choose whom I will and will not do business with,” he said in warning. “It could be worse for you. Do you understand what I’m telling you?” His eyes locked with hers. “Hilda, think of it this way. I’m extending you a measure of mercy, which is more than I’ve done for some, and more than you did for my wife! Consider yourself blessed. Your loss is only financial! At least I’m not prosecuting you for theft and malfeasance of my interests. Considering that I have the power to break you, madam, I would say you’ve made out quite well. Wouldn’t you agree?” A triumphant grin spread over his face.

“Besides,” David responded, “you can’t stop this. It’s done. And Fitzwilliam is right. Read the separation agreement. Your greatest nemesis, J.C. Hanover, International, has become our new banking partner.” He paused to allow his words to have their full effect. Seeing Hilda’s breath catch as the blood drained from her face, he spoke with an air of finality. “And you know they’d like nothing more than to bring Vanderburgh Banking to its knees. The Pemberley account is the only thing that has stood between you and them for years, and now they have it, and you, madam, are in trouble.” David looked upon his aunt with a mixture of pity and sorrow.

With that, the two brothers bowed slightly, and all three left, with their aunt’s demands for them to return ringing in their ears.