The Ashes of Longbourn (6 page)

             
Bingley aided his betrothed to stand as she took two handfuls of dirt to scatter over the graves.  Then Bingley wrapped his arms around the woman he loved, allowing her to sob until she had no more tears.  They returned to the carriage and began the ride back to Netherfield, each finding comfort in their simple embrace.

             
                                          ~~~~~~~ ** ~~~~~~~

Chapter
5

             
Colonel Fitzwilliam arrived in Scotland on a chilly, rainy day.  He had the directions to the home of Rebecca Winthrop’s daughter and it had not taken him long to find it.  As he rode up to the house, Richard took a deep breath to steady himself for what was to come.  The news that he came to bear Darcy would bring a great deal of pain to his cousin.

             
Dismounting his horse, he handed the reins to a stable hand that came running towards him.  The front door of the house opened before he was able to knock.  He gave the butler his name and that he wished to see Darcy, and the butler assisted by escorting Richard to a sitting room.  Darcy was seated at the desk in the room, and was startled to see his cousin.

             
“Richard, I did not expect you to come here.  What is the news from Matlock? Is the family well?”

             
“All of the Fitzwilliam family members are well.  I do come bearing some news though.”

             
“Would you like a glass of port to help warm you up after riding in the rain?” Darcy motioned his head towards the sideboard where glasses and a bottle of port were placed.

             
Richard nodded his head.  “I believe you will need a glass as well.  The news I bring is not pleasant.”

             
Frowning, Darcy poured two glasses of port and handed one to his cousin.  The men took seats near each other and Richard gathered himself after taking a long draw from his glass.

             
“William, I was in Town last week on leave when I happened to run into Miss Bingley on the street.  She told me of a tragedy which took place in Hertfordshire.”

             
“Elizabeth…please, tell me that she is well.”

             
Richard shook his head.  “I wish I could Cousin.  I truly wish I could.  The entire Bennet family died in a fire.  Longbourn burned to the ground.”

             
Darcy was inconsolable. He rose from his seat, yelling. “No, you are wrong.  This cannot be true.  Miss Bingley did not like the Bennet family, she made it up.”

             
“William, her brother is at Netherfield.  Of all people to know what is happening in the neighborhood, it would be Bingley. Also, after hearing the news, I went to Matlock House.  Father had newspapers from the previous week sitting in his office.  I looked through them and found this article.”  Richard pulled a scrap of paper from his pocket.  It was an article from a newspaper, speaking of the tragic fire which destroyed Longbourn, taking the lives of the Bennet family and some of their servants.  Darcy became lightheaded and began to collapse when Richard caught him and assisted him to the nearby sofa.

             
“No, I cannot believe that she is gone. I cannot believe that Elizabeth is dead.  It cannot be true.” Darcy began to cry out as he stood and walked towards the window.  “It cannot be.  I would know if Elizabeth were dead.  I would feel it in my heart if she were gone. SHE CANNOT BE DEAD!” he screamed out as he struck the window with his fists, breaking the glass. 

             
Richard rushed to his cousin’s side as Darcy continued to strike the window and the wall near it, as blood began to flow from the cuts the glass made.  Fortunately, Richard was larger than his cousin and he was able to wrap his arms around Darcy from behind, holding on to the grieving man.  The butler and two footmen came running into the room to assist Richard.  Rebecca Winthrop came hurrying down the stairs when she heard the commotion.

             
“Richard, what are you doing here and what is the meaning of all this commotion?”  Mrs Winthrop asked.

             
“Forgive me, ma’am, but I came bearing terrible news and my cousin is overcome with grief.”

             
“What news, is it your parents or siblings?” Rebecca could not believe that her nephew was being subdued and had obviously broken the window, seeing the glass on the floor and the bleeding cuts on Darcy’s hands.

             
“Ma’am, I would ask you to lead us up to the rooms William is using and send for laudanum so that we can sedate him.  If we do not, he would most likely do himself further harm.  Once he is sedated, I will tell you what happened.”

             
Rebecca nodded her head.  “Mrs Wilson, bring a bottle of laudanum to Mr Darcy’s room as well as bandages.”

             
Once in Darcy’s rooms, the men continued to hold Darcy until a dose of laudanum was poured into his mouth and he was made to swallow.  They could feel Darcy relaxing as the medication took effect. Finally, Darcy could struggle no longer and the men placed him gently on the bed.  Rebecca and Mrs Wilson began cleaning Darcy’s hands and put salve on them before bandaging them.  While the ladies worked, Richard told Darcy’s aunt of Darcy’s plans to court Elizabeth Bennet, of their not speaking of the courtship until Darcy was able to speak with her father, and then, the tragic news of the fire and the family dying.

             
Rebecca was amazed by all that she had heard.  If it had not been for Georgiana taking ill, Darcy would have been at his friend’s estate, and perhaps everything would have been different.  The fire, the deaths, perhaps a slight change of circumstances could have prevented the incident.  Her heart broke for her nephew’s loss.  After losing his parents while he was still so young, Fitzwilliam Darcy knew plenty of the pain that comes from the death of a loved one.  And after all the years of being chased by every woman in society, for him to finally find a lady who loved him for the man he was, not for his wealth and connections, was truly amazing.

             
Tears dripped from Rebecca’s cheek and splashed onto her nephew’s bandaged hand.  “I cannot believe that fate could serve such a blow to someone who has already lost so much.  No wonder he lost his mind downstairs.  It will be quite difficult for him to recover.  This Miss Elizabeth must have been an incredible young lady to have earned such regard from William.”

             
“She was truly a wonderful young lady.  Her death leaves a void in the world.”

             
“You had met Miss Elizabeth?”

             
Richard nodded.  “When Darcy and I were at Aunt Catherine’s at Easter.  Miss Elizabeth was staying at the parsonage near Rosings, as her father’s cousin is the clergyman and his wife is Miss Elizabeth’s dear friend.  I was quite impressed with her.  If I were not the second son and had a choice in my future, I might have offered for her myself.”

             
Rebecca wiped the tears from her cheeks.  “I had best go to Georgiana and inform her of what has happened.”

             
“I will stay with William.” Richard replied. 

                                                        ~~~ ** ~~~

             
Rebecca returned over an hour later to check on her nephew.  Her eyes were rimmed with red for the tears that she had shed with Georgiana.  “How is he?” She asked Richard.

             
“He is still sleeping, for the moment, though he has been tossing and turning a great deal.  I wish that I could take the pain away for him, he deserves to have joy in his life.”

             
“Georgiana is devastated as well. She is fearful of what will happen to her brother.  She told me that her greatest fear is that he will give up on life.” Rebecca’s heart was heavy from the pain she knew her family would feel for some time to come.

             
“Perhaps it would be a good time to take a trip, see new places.  Perhaps it will help to ease the pain.”

             
“Richard, it is clear that you have never been in love.  My own Benjamin died ten years ago and not a day goes by that the loss and pain is not there.  You just learn to push yourself to keep going.  But I do agree, now might be the perfect time for a holiday.  As soon as Georgiana and my daughter are better, I will make arrangements.  I believe that William has spoken of traveling to Denmark.  Or we could go to Italy or even the Americas.  So long as we avoid France and Spain for the time being, travel should be fine.”

             
“I will not be able to go with you, as I will need to return to my duties within a fortnight.  But I will keep in touch with you the best I can.”

             
“Richard, you have always been a most devoted cousin and friend to William and Georgiana.  I am grateful for the fact that you took leave and came in person to speak with William.  You are a good man and I will pray for your safe return from the battlefield.”

             
“You are too kind, Mrs Winthrop.”

             
“After all these years, I believe it is only fitting for you to call me Rebecca. We are, after all, nearly family, ever since my brother married your father’s sister.  Gerald always spoke kindly of you.  He claimed that after his beloved Anne, you were the best of the Fitzwilliam family.”

             
“I thank you, Mrs…Rebecca.  If you would not mind, I would like to wash up and change clothes before William wakes.”

             
“Would you like a tray brought up as well.  We had some wonderful beef earlier and I am certain that there is some left.  And some bread.”

             
“That would be wonderful, Rebecca.  Thank you.”

              The next week Richard stayed by his cousin’s side.  Darcy went into a deep melancholy, so deep that his family was afraid he would do himself harm.  As time came when Richard’s leave was nearly over, he prepared to speak to his cousin.

             
“William, I must return to duty in two days.  What will you do? Will you travel to Netherfield to speak with Bingley?”

             
“I cannot speak to him now.  His grief must be as painful as my own, as Miss Bennet was his betrothed. I cannot go there.  Perhaps when time has eased some of the pain, but now is not the time for me to travel there.  I cannot travel to Pemberley either.  I had asked Mrs Reynolds to have the Mistress’s rooms cleaned and redone for Elizabeth.  I cannot see the rooms; they will stand empty for the rest of my life.”

             
“Where will you go? Will you stay here?” Richard asked.

             
“Georgiana has wished to travel; perhaps we will go to Italy or Sweden. I do not know.  We could even go to the Americas.  Our estate in Ireland could be prepared as well.”

             
“So you will travel the world with nowhere to call home?”

             
“My home disappeared in a fire in Hertfordshire.  I will never have a home without her.”

             
“I ask that you keep us aware of where you are traveling, so that we know that you are safe.” Richard knew that it would be for the best Darcy to spend some time away from England.  It did not stop him from worrying about his dearest friend.

             
“I will, as I know your mother would send out people to search for me and have me skinned alive if she did not hear from me.”

             
“Father and I would join her in doing so.  And you know that if you have need of me, all you need do is to send word and I will be there.”

             
“And I pray that you will not see battle and keep yourself safe from harm.”

             
“I always stay near the generals; they know the safest places to be during a fight.” Richard smiled.  “Mother has told me that if I were to be injured or killed, she would never forgive me and she would make certain that I regret it.  I am not certain as to how she would make me regret it, but I learned long ago to never underestimate Mother when she has a head of steam.”

             
Darcy smiled slightly.  “Yes, I can see Aunt Rachel having you stuffed and placed in a corner of the music room.”

             
“Do not dare say such a thing, especially within my mother’s hearing; she does not need your assistance in this matter.” Richard said as he laughed a bit.  “Now, on your travels I wish for you to find a token to send to me.”

             
“I will do so, though I wish you could travel with us.”

             
“As do I, for I am not looking forward to the trip that my future will bring to me.”  Richard stood and made his way to the door.  “Please take care of yourself, Will.  I know you are in pain, but I do not believe that Miss Elizabeth would wish for you to stop living.”