Author's Chapter Notes:
So, my updates after this won't be as frequent. This is very much a WIP and this chapter is my last completed chapter. Portions of the next chapter are already written and I hope to have those up by the end of the month. Thanks for all the kind feedback and reviews. They are really motivation to keep writing. Do let me know if this is getting too melodramatic. Also, rest assured that Mary will get some respite after another chapter.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Love and Prejudice: Chapter 13
Mr. Darcy led Mr. Brambles to his private study. Darcy could not help but to be curious as to the nature of the business that Mr. Brambles wanted to discuss. He realized that it must have been of some import or urgency for Mr. Brambles to request an audience so soon after his arrival from town.
“Would you care for a scotch, Mr. Brambles?” Darcy offered the man once he was seated comfortably in an armchair by the fire.
“Why, yes. Thank you.” Mr. Brambles accepted the drink gratefully before taking a generous draught from the glass.
Darcy sat in the chair across from him, clasping his hands in his lap.
“So, what is it that you would like to discuss, Mr. Brambles? Was your business in London accomplished to your satisfaction?”
“Yes…and no. It is my business in London that I wish to discuss,” Mr. Brambles replied as he finished his drink and sat back wearily in his chair.
“As you are well aware, Lord Farthington, having no natural children of his own, settled the bulk of his estate onto his adopted daughter Mary. The estate in Sussex is not entailed and can thus be settled upon whomever Lord Farthington willed it to. As you can imagine, his decision to leave most of his property to an adopted daughter and the son of a close friend to whom he was nearly a stranger did not sit well with some members of Farthington’s family.”
“I confess, I had wondered about Lord Farthington’s decision. Mr. Peterson and his mother seem like fine people. Could he not have left his estate and Mary’s protection in their hands?”
“Yes, the Peterson’s are good people and Lord Farthington left them a generous bequest. However, the Petersons have a substantial estate and several properties of their own. Lord Farthington had originally contemplated leaving Mary in the care of the late Mr. Peterson should anything untoward happen to him. But, the elder Mr. Peterson passed some ten years ago and Lord Farthington had some reservations about leaving Mary in Mrs. Peterson’s care long term. Likewise, he thought it inappropriate for Mary’s guardian to be a single man.”
“I see. It does not appear that the Peterson’s harbor any resentment regarding Farthington’s decision.”
“Oh, heavens no. They both have expressed to me that they think the Sussex estate is the rightful inheritance of Miss. Farthington. No, the trouble is from Farthington’s American relations.”
“American relations?”
“Yes. Sometime before the rebellion, Lord Farthington’s uncle, Lewis Farthington went to the America’s to seek his fortune as he was the second son. He settled in Virginia and married a wealthy tobacco plantation owner’s daughter, a Miss Nancy Adams. As Nancy was the only child of Mr. Adams, upon that gentleman’s death, Lewis Farthington inherited the Adams Plantation, which was quite extensive.
“Lewis’s decision to move to the Americas and become a slave owner did not sit well with his brother Robert and the two did not speak to each other for several years. Upon his father’s death, Robert Farthington inherited not only the estate in Sussex, but sugar plantations owned by his father in the Caribbean on the isle of New Sussex. Robert ended the practice on New Sussex and instead instituted a landlord-tenant system in which his former slaves were given homesteads of their own where they grew sustaining crops in addition to sugar. In an effort to assuage the sins of his fathers, Robert also become a very vocal opponent of the slave trade in the colonies and of slavery here in Britain.
Matthew Farthington, being routinely exposed to the abolitionist speakers and activists whom his father financially supported and hearing the gruesome details of the accursed institution from a young age, was moved to do more than financially and politically support the cause, as you are well aware. He became an active abolitionist himself, choosing to settle permanently in New Sussex. Matthew Farthington petitioned his father to further reform the landlord-tenant system in New Sussex by giving the freemen ownership of the homesteads on which they worked and granting them equal status as the whites who worked on New Sussex. He brought in teachers and opened up a school and encouraged New Sussex to move from a plantation to a proper town. His vision was for New Sussex to be a model of the abolitionist movement, an experiment of sorts. He would create a community where the colored man and the white man lived as equals while still sustaining an agrarian based economy that was both profitable and equitable.”
“That sounds quite radical indeed. The implications of such an experiment go beyond the issue of slavery,” Darcy noted.
“Yes. Matthew’s stance was radical for the time, and is still quite radical today. At times he was at odds with his father as the idea of New Sussex caused a bit of a stir in Parliament. However, his father gave Matthew a good deal of deference when it came to the management of New Sussex.
Upon Robert Farthington’s death, Matthew came into his full inheritance and diverted more of his wealth to the abolitionist cause. All of the profits from New Sussex’s crops went to the support of a ship, Liberty, and a team of abolitionists whose primary goal was to document the institution of slavery throughout the colonies and the slave trade itself, in order to provide the press with first hand accounts aimed at swaying public opinion toward abolition.
One of his first trips on the Liberty was to Virginia and the plantation owned by his cousin Jacob Farthington. Matthew contacted Jacob in an effort to heal the breach between the two sides of the family. He was welcomed to Adams Plantation. While there, he worked to gather first hand accounts from the slaves and learned all that he could about the institution in the American colonies. He even tried to convince his cousin to emulate the model of New Sussex or to at least commit to freeing his slaves in his will.
During the months of his visit to Adams Plantation, Lord Farthington met and befriended Dinah, Miss Farthington’s mother, who worked as a slave in the Adams household.
Lord Farthington was unsuccessful in healing the breach in the family or in convincing his cousin of the rightness of the abolitionist cause. The cousins parted on less than amicable terms. However, Lord Farthington managed to purchase Dinah, who by the time of his departure was heavy with child. He intended to settle Dinah in New Sussex as a freewoman. However, she died in childbirth before reaching New Sussex. The rest of the history is known to you.”
Darcy sat back in his chair and took a generous sip of his scotch.
“While I find this history to be fascinating, I fail to see the connection to Miss Farthington’s legitimacy as Lord Farthington’s heir. From what you have related, the estate was not entailed and Mary’s closest relations, the Petersons, have not contested the will.”
“Exactly. Jacob Farthington’s son, Peter Farthington, through his agents, first attempted to challenge the will based on an argument that since Mary was not the natural legitimate daughter of Lord Farthington, any claim she had to the estate was second to Peter Farthington’s. When they failed based on this argument, they put forth an alternative. Peter Farthington’s attorneys claimed that the sale of Dinah to Lord Farthington was not legitimate and that at the time of her death, Dinah remained the property of Jacob Farthington. However, even if the sale was legitimate, the purchase price did not include Dinah’s child, who had been conceived while Dinah was the undisputed property of Jacob Farthington. Under this reasoning, Mary Farthington would be the property of Peter Farthington and any property in her possession belongs to her master.”
“Good God. Such arguments are insupportable! We are speaking of a woman, not a mare!” Darcy interrupted, disdain evident in his tone.
“Yes, you and I both agree that such language is quite inappropriate. But to the slave owner, a slave is merely another category of cattle and not a person.
Fortunately, I was able to persuade the court of the foolishness of such an argument and presented the original bill of sale proving the legitimacy of Lord Farthington’s purchase.”
“I wonder that such proof was even necessary,” Darcy exclaimed as he rose from his seat. “Slavery was outlawed in Britain years ago. I would think that a slave owner has no rights which a British court aught to respect.”
“Yes, the trade has been outlawed, but the institution is still allowed to prevail in the colonies and territories. However, there is no need to fear. Miss Farthington’s status as a free citizen in Britain is indisputable. I shared this information with you because, as her guardian, you should be privy to every legal challenge that may arise concerning Miss Farthington. As this suit was quite sudden and unexpected, and the exact nature of the challenge was not revealed to me until I had already arrived in London, I took it upon myself to see to the matter as part of the final settlement of Lord Farthington’s estate. I hope that I was not in error in making such an assumption.”
“No, your judgment was sound, Mr. Brambles. The successful settlement of the challenge is proof of this. However, in the future I would like to be informed as soon as possible of any legal challenges that impact Miss Farthington.”
Mr. Brambles sighed in relief before giving his agreement.
“My audience with you today was not just to inform you of this legal situation, Mr. Darcy. I also thought you should be made aware of the delicate nature of Miss Farthington’s future. The rift between Lord Farthington and his cousin was a great one, indeed. There was much animosity between the two gentleman that I fear may have also carried onto the son.”
Darcy’s brows rose in alarm at this statement. “Are you suggesting that Miss Farthington is in some sort of danger?”
Mr. Brambles finished his scotch before answering, his brow creased with worry.
“I am not confident of the nature of the danger to which Miss Farthington may be exposed, but I fear that this is not the last we have heard from Mr. Peter Farthington. Although the gentleman acted through his lawyers and was not present at the hearings, I have received word from him. The gentleman is in London and he was quite upset by the court’s decision. I have no evidence of this, but my feeling is that he could resort to means outside of the legal system to fulfill his objectives.”
At this, Darcy took to pacing the room, his look dark.
“What ‘means’ do you suspect he would utilize?”
Mr. Brambles shook his head. “Of that I cannot know. However, there are more ways for him to get his hands on Miss Farthington’s inheritance than by a legal challenge. While she remains unwed, her fortune remains vulnerable.”
Darcy stopped his pacing and regarded the man warily.
“Are you suggesting that Mr. Farthington would seek to wed Miss Farthington in order to gain her estate? I apologize, Mr. Brambles, but such a tactic seems rather far fetched.”
“Have you not heard of fortune hunters, Mr. Darcy? Mr. Farthington, as far as I could determine, is unmarried. Also, Miss Farthington’s estate makes her quite attractive to a certain set of men even if Mr. Farthington would not seek to marry her himself. The London gossip columns are already full of speculation about the new Farthington heir and her possible eligibility. I only bring this to your attention to caution you to take extra precautions in whom you allow to court Miss Farthington. Also, if you could arrange for a reputable gentleman to wed Miss Farthington, her estate would be secure.”
Darcy mulled over this last bit of information. His cousin Fitzwilliam’s intentions toward Mary began to look more desirable. While somewhat in need of a fortune of his own, Fitzwilliam was a good man and in no way a fortune hunter. Darcy was sure that his affection for Mary was genuine and that he had been honest in his pledge protect her. His objections to the match had been based on his desire to shield Mary from harm. He had not considered that encouraging the match could serve the same purpose.
“I thank you, Mr. Brambles. You have given me much to think on,” Darcy stated as he firmly shook the man’s hand. “Now, I am sure you are much desirous of the opportunity to refresh yourself after your long journey.”
Darcy watched the gentleman depart his study before sitting behind his desk and refreshing his drink. While Darcy was still confident of the rightness of his objections to Fitzwilliam’s suit, he began to realize that they were only one factor of many that he had to consider.
****************************
With the arrival of Mary’s relations, the group for the house party was complete. Three days of planned activities and frivolity awaited them before the commencement of the ball. Upon meeting Richard’s family, Mary had expected those three days to be quite a trial. Lady Letitia’s animosity towards her and the Viscountess’ scorn had been difficult to bear. Yet, the addition of the Petersons and Mr. Brambles to the party significantly lessened Mary’s anxiety. After refreshing themselves briefly in their rooms, Beatrice and Derek joined Mary, Elizabeth, Georgiana and Fitzwilliam for tea and refreshments. They made quite a merry party, with Beatrice regaling a captivated Mary with stories about her late father from his childhood interspersed with anecdotes about Mary’s escapades as a young girl that she had learned from Lord Farthington’s frequent letters.
Elizabeth noted during this time how Georgiana’s eyes often strayed from Beatrice and her animated story telling to admire Derek Peterson from who sat across the room debating politics with Richard. Elizabeth was pleased with Georgiana’s apparent interest in the gentleman, as her sister had so seldom expressed any interest in eligible members of the opposite sex. While Georgiana was still young and Elizabeth had not inherited her mother’s preoccupation with matchmaking, Elizabeth had begun to worry that Georgiana might be disinclined towards matrimony. She decided that she would do what she could to provide them both with ample opportunities to better know one another. Elizabeth made a mental note to alter the seating arrangements for dinner that night.
***************************
Mary sat in the music room at the pianoforte, leafing through the selection of music before her. The Peterson’s had retired to their rooms over an hour ago in order to rest before dinner and each member of the household appeared to be engaged in their own separate amusements. Mary knew that this would be her last opportunity to practice her music and enjoy a moment to herself before the events of the house party got into full swing. Finding a piece by Mozart that she knew by heart, Mary began to play. She soon found herself utterly relaxed as she lost herself in her playing. Mary had been so absorbed that she had not realized that she had gained an audience until their applause at the conclusion of the piece broke her from her reverie.
“That was very beautiful, Miss Farthington. You have very talented fingers.”
“My lord, I had not noticed you,” Mary exclaimed, startled by the presence of Richard’s brother. She made to rise from her seat, but was stopped by the Viscount.
“Would you indulge me with one more song, Miss Farthington?” he asked as he crossed the room and came to stand behind her.
He busied himself with the music on the instrument before her, leafing through the offerings until he found a piece to his liking. Mary found herself growing uncomfortable by the closeness of the Viscount. She could feel the heat from his body on her back and the fabric of his coat brushed against her shoulder as he reached around her to select the music.
“Would you be so kind as to play this song, Miss Farthington. It is my particular favorite,” the Viscount placed a few sheets of music on the stand before her, leaning down over her so that his breath fanned across her forehead.
“Of course,” Mary replied, shuddering involuntarily.
“Thank you. I shall turn the pages for you,” he announced as he sat at the instrument beside her.
“That…that is not necessary, my lord. I know this piece by heart,” Mary offered, her voice catching strangely.
“Indulge me,” the Viscount chuckled. “And please, no more ‘my lord.’ Gregory will do.”
Mary stiffened at this request. There were very few gentlemen with whom she was so familiar. She did not feel comfortable addressing the Viscount by anything other than his title and she was scandalized by the request. Mary knew that she was expected to give the Viscount permission to address her in a similar manner, but all of her good breeding and intuition rebelled against the idea. Mary felt that the Viscount deserved a stiff reprimand at the insult, but she held her tongue and began playing instead.
Mary endeavored her best to attend to her playing, however she was ever conscious of the Viscount’s close observation of her person. The gentleman gazed at her intently, his eyes moving from her own eyes to her lips before traveling lower.
“My lord, I feel that you are neglecting your duties as page turner,” Mary informed him, keeping her eyes fixed on the keys before her.
The Viscount chuckled again, his face so near Mary that she could feel his bourbon scented breath on her cheek.
“You are performing admirably despite my inattention to the pages,” he replied.
Mary could hear the leer in his voice and flinched involuntarily. Rather than recoiling at her response, the Viscount pressed himself closer to Mary.
“My lord,” Mary pleaded, hoping to convey her discomfort but not knowing how to word her request that he cease his behavior. She felt as if she were frozen, confusion and a rising panic warring for control of her emotions.
“Gregory,” he replied, abandoning all pretext of decorum and reaching towards her to fondle the simple necklace that adorned her neck. His fingers lightly grazed the top of her bosom, causing her to shudder in disgust.
“Are you cold, Mary?” he queried mockingly as he repeated the gesture, confusing her tremor for one of pleasure.
Mary stopped her playing and stood abruptly from the instrument.
“You should not address me so, my lord,” Mary stated, her voice surprisingly firm.
The Viscount simply smiled at her, his eyes suspiciously bright. He stood as well, effectively blocking her exit from the room.
“How should I address you, Mary?” he asked as he stepped toward her. “Call me Gregory and I shall call you by whatever name you wish.”
“Gregory!”
The Viscount turned to regard his brother standing in the doorway. His complexion was high and both of his hands were curled into fists as he stalked towards them.
“Richard,” the Viscount replied brightly. “Miss Farthington and I were just discussing music.”
Fitzwilliam looked at his brother, anger burning in his gaze. “I believe that your conversation was finished,” he ground out.
The Viscount smirked as he observed his brother’s barely concealed rage. Richard’s mouth was set in a thin firm line, his cheeks flushed and his eyes glittering dangerously.
“Thank you for a most enlightening conversation, Miss Farthington,” the Viscount said, his eyes never leaving Fitzwilliam’s face. “I hope to continue our discussion another time.”
Fitzwilliam glared at his brother before stepping aside and allowing him to pass.
Once he heard the door shut behind him, Fitzwilliam strode towards Mary and caught her up in a crushing embrace.
“Did he touch you?” he ground out through gritted teeth.
Mary shivered. She was relieved by his timely entrance and felt somewhat avenged by his ire. However, she had never seen Fitzwilliam so angry before and his aspect frightened her. The look in his eyes told Mary that he would gladly inflict physical violence upon his brother in that moment. Mary was ashamed to realize that she would gladly watch such a display.
“No, he did not compromise me.”
Fitzwilliam released his hold upon her to catch her face in his hands. He searched her face before asking her again.
“Did he touch you?”
Mary looked into his eyes, which had begun to cool from anger to deep concern.
“Yes,” she whispered.
The fire returned to his eyes.
“Please, Richard. I am alright,” Mary smiled a watery smile as she brought her hands to cover his. “He merely touched my necklace, nothing more.”
“He will not touch you again,” Fitzwilliam stated firmly.
“No, he won’t,” Mary agreed.
She reached for him, twining her fingers in the hair at the nape of his neck as she brought his face down to hers. She caressed his lips softly with her own, moving them delicately until he responded in kind. As the kiss deepened, Mary could almost feel his anger subsiding. His hands came to rest lightly on her waist and he pulled her flush against him as he feathered kisses across her cheek and jaw towards her neck. He stopped there, nuzzling her neck with his face.
“Forgive me, Mary.”
“You are not responsible for the actions of others,” Mary countered as she caressed his scalp with her fingers.
Richard sighed as he relaxed under her administrations.
They held each other for a few moments longer. Mary would have gladly remained in Fitzwilliam’s embrace until the disgust and anger caused by the Viscount’s actions had completely fled her.
“How do you do it?” Fitzwilliam questioned as he pulled back slightly from her embrace in order to look her in the eye.
“What do you mean?” Mary replied, a soft smile lighting her features.
“I had meant to comfort you and instead I am the one being consoled,” he explained as he tucked a stray loc of hair behind her ear.
“Why would you think that this does not comfort me?”
Fitzwilliam smiled gently down at her before capturing her lips in another kiss.
“Are you truly well, Princess?”
“I will be.”
***************
Richard dressed for dinner with efficient haste. The image of a frightened yet determined Mary being accosted by his brother was firmly fixed in his mind’s eye, causing his blood to boil anew. Richard had been aware of his brother Gregory’s past dalliances. When they were still young men living at Matlock, Gregory had taken a few maids to bed, one of whom had become with child and had to be sent away. Their father had been furious. However, his fury was not for the reasons Richard would have liked. Rather than punishing Gregory harshly, Lord Matlock had instead taken them both to London were he engaged the services of courtesans for each of them. Gentlemen of quality, his father had told them, do not force their attentions on lowly maids and instead engaged the services of professionals. Dealing with the bastard children that resulted from trysts with servants and the daughters of tenants caused unnecessary entanglements. However, courtesans knew how to plan for such risks of the trade.
Despite this lesson and Gregory’s regular use of courtesans, stories still reached Richard’s ears of his brothers continued dalliances with maids and young women who were similarly unprotected. Enraged over having to arrange for another young girl to be sent to Scotland and their family paid to remain silent, Lord Matlock had forced Gregory to marry or suffer the ignominy of being disinherited. Within six months Gregory was married to a woman of significant fortune and status who understood that the marriage was one of convenience. Gregory continued his affairs, although now he was much more discrete.
After checking his reflection in the mirror and determining that his appearance was acceptable, Colonel Fitzwilliam left his rooms with determined strides. After inquiring about the whereabouts of his brother from a servant, Fitzwilliam made his way to the billiards room.
“So, have you come to lecture me, little brother?” the Viscount questioned as he took a shot at the billiard’s table, his eyes never rising from his task.
“I have come to do no such thing as it would only be a waste of breath,” Fitzwilliam replied darkly as he stepped more fully into the room.
“You were always so self righteous when it came to such matters,” the Viscount continued as if Fitzwilliam had never spoken. “You always behaved as it you were above such ‘base’ desires while you simpered and made love to half the ton.”
“I have come to warn you, brother,” Fitzwilliam spit out. “It would be better for you if you left Miss Farthington alone.”
“And why would I do that? These house parties and balls are always such tedious affairs. I must have something with which to amuse myself and Mary is an obliging diversion.”
“You are only to address her as Miss Farthington. I am sure that the lady made that very clear to you this night,” Fitzwilliam stated firmly.
The Viscount let out a bark of laughter. “Lady Mary, indeed! I do not understand why you and Darcy are so keen to play along in this farce. Farthington was a bewitched fool to make slave his heir and attempt to make her a proper lady. It is all quite singular. Even my son is caught up in the delusion. Do you know he and the Darcy moppet call her a princess?”
“Brother, you would be wise to hold your tongue.”
“You know, the only proper explanation that I have been able to come up with these past few days is that the chit is really his by-blow. I can hardly blame the old fool. The negro is known to be quite passionate...”
“You forget yourself, Gregory!” Fitzwilliam cut him off angrily as he stepped close to his brother, his color high. The Viscount regarded his brother closely, a conspiratorial look soon overtaking his features.
“It seems that I have struck a nerve. Perhaps this is not your usual prudishness, is it brother? No, it is not at all. I take it that you already know of what I speak. You always did have trouble sharing your toys as a child.”
Fitzwilliam’s fist connecting with the Viscount’s jaw soon ended the discussion. Caught off guard, the Viscount fell to the floor from the force of the blow. Fitzwilliam stood over him, rage radiating off of him like a furnace.
“If you so much as think of touching her again, I shall forget that we are brothers. Do you understand?”
“Perfectly,” the Viscount snarled.
Without another word, Fitzwilliam turned and left to join the others for dinner leaving his brother to nurse a sore jaw and ruminate over his brother’s uncharacteristic behavior.