An Incident at the Royal Rest Inn

A savage storm, two distressed young couples, and an exhausted nursemaid change the courses of two little lives. Twenty years later, it becomes the burden of Fitzwilliam Darcy to discover and reveal the truth. But who will thank him and who will despise him for his efforts?

Epilogue 4

Atlas and Joker

Somewhere else in the world… I would tell you, but then… (you know the drill) - 1819

Code-named Atlas, she passed her directions to the captain of the sloop and he complied. After several such adventures he knew to trust her instincts… or at least to follow her instructions. The leadsman whispered back his readings nervously as the rock walls of the inlet grew closer and the depths under the prow became shallower.

And then there was a feeling of relief as the passage opened up into a tiny hidden bay. The captain ordered a boat lowered and the unusual couple climbed in along with the boatswain and two sailors. In minutes they disappeared into the dark.

The captain ordered the sloop to be turned using the remaining boats until it faced the passage, in case they needed to make a swift retreat. Then they waited.

Hours passed and the sky began to lighten before gunshots were heard far in the distance. Tension rose and everyone prepared for a fight, but soon the boat emerged out of the dark, full of passengers. One by one the new arrivals were pulled aboard, then the couple, and then the sailors. Once the boat was secured, the boats towed the sloop out of the hidden bay, through the passage, and back out into the sea.

Captain Janovich did not know who had been retrieved. He would never know. He never wanted to know. It was better that way.

The couple he did know. The man had been a Colonel back when Napoleon was still causing trouble. Janovich had been second Lieutenant on a brigantine that had delivered the man to several islands in the Mediterranean and even dropped him onto deserted beaches in France. They called him Joker then because he was always having a laugh, often at the expense of some unsuspecting officer or noncom. Rumor had it that he was actually the son of a peer, but that seemed ridiculous.

He had been an odd bird then, but he became odder still when he started bringing this woman along. Who brings a woman on a mission into dangerous territories? But there they were. And as if to spit in the face of convention, they kept coming back alive and usually with their tasks accomplished.

Oh well, to each his own. After this trip Captain Janovich was expecting a frigate command. This odd couple were welcome their secret missions.

Pemberley, 1821

Lady Elizabeth enthusiastically hugged her sister Mary. "You've been gone so long this time! I won't ask, you probably won't tell me anyway… but are you home for a while?"

Richard Fitzwilliam picked up his nephew, Geoffrey Henry Darcy, Lord Tourleon, the Duke of Caerleon, and spun the giggling boy before hefting him up in the air and catching him. Richard didn't know what was more fun: thrilling his nieces and nephews or seeing the look of barely-concealed concern on his cousin's face. Richard put "Jeffie" down hugged his two beautiful little nieces, Jane Elizabeth and Mary Anne. A nurse stood by with his youngest nephew, Richard, who Mary was already reaching for.

"So, Richard, are you going to answer the Lady's question?" Darcy prompted.

"Actually, we are to enjoy an extended vacation and then we will visit ancient places. I won't say more, but Mary is reading Homer."

Darcy scowled, "The Ottoman's are brutal when they catch spies, Richard."

"I have no idea what you are talking about, Cousin. Shall we go in or are you going to keep an old man standing out in the cold. Mary and I have been gone for a while, so tell me, how is Prinny settling in as king?" Baron and Baroness Fitzwilliam followed the Darcy's up the steps and into Pemberley. Despite all of their combined estates, Pemberley would always be the place they called home.

Mary was still carrying baby Richard as they proceeded to the sitting room. Elizabeth smiled at the image, "You know, if you two would just stay home, you might still have a chance for one of those."

"And let Richard go off on his own? The man couldn't find his way down Grosvenor Square without a guide," Her husband looked back at her and she smiled prettily back at him. "No, Lizzy, this is what we do. We enjoy it."

The governess and the nurse took the children away to play on the grounds or return to their studies. Richard leaned looked at Darcy and then glanced casually at the waiting footman. Darcy turned, "Phillip, I believe that we are good for now. We'll ring if anything else is needed."

Once the man was gone and the door was securely closed, Richard said, "We collected some old friends of yours and brought them home. They're visiting family in Hertfordshire right now."

Elizabeth leaned forward, "Charlotte! How are they?"

Mary answered, "King Louis is failing fast. His brother Charles will be the next French King. He is King now in everything but name. The first thing he started doing is rounding up any potential political dissidents. Emile (Richard usually butchered the man's name, he had never forgiven the man for getting the better of his own men that one time), Charlotte, and their two children have been hiding in a cottage near the coast for two months. They sent word through a fisherman. The Prince had patrols on the coast, but we used an old smuggler's cove."

Richard added, "They're all fine, but emaciated. I don't think they could have made it another month. Emile won't be safe in Brittany for a long time. It will kill the man, but he has his family to consider now."

The Fitzwilliams enjoyed a leisurely visit at Pemberly, visited their relatives and their two estates, stayed at Bennet House in Brighton for a month, and then departed for foreign shores again. Greece was attempting to throw off the Ottomans. The British were unofficially supporting the effort.

Atlas and the Joker had people to meet and places to go. Nobody else understood the pair, but they were happy.

Charlotte, eMael, and their two children took up residence at an estate in Wales owned by the eight year old Duke of Caerleon, in an area with the same name. They worked from there to receive refugees after Charles X took the throne. eMael was a part of the July Revolution that finally overthrew Charles, but he died in the conflict. When France settled down again, Charlotte and Elizabeth were finally able to begin helping Brittany… but that is a story for another time.

Georgianna returns to Ramsgate

After Catherine "Kitty's" assault, Georgianna lost all enthusiasm for the season. She returned to Pemberley and refused to budge. Declaring that she would never marry.

One day she was riding the grounds of Pemberley astride, which she did whenever out of the public eye. As she rode over a crest she saw a runaway horse carrying a young girl of about seven. Kneeing her horse into pursuit, she chased the pair over fields and hills and streams until she finally caught the runaway horse within minutes of a dangerous ravine.

While comforting the terrified child she saw a man riding their direction at breakneck speed. His face transformed from terror to relief as he saw that his little Penelope was safe. Then he looked at the face of his daughter's rescuer and gave a wide smile, "Hello, Miss Darcy. It is wonderful to see you again. And thank you for saving my little girl!"

Mr. James Fitzsimmons took his little girl into his arms and held her tight. Georgianna looked at him for a long, long moment, and then blushed. As a child, when her father had taken her to the house in Ramsgate, she had developed a crush on the handsome son of a gentleman friend of her father. She was six. He was fifteen. She was in love.

"I… I heard that you married," Geogianna stammered, then got control of herself. "And this is your little girl?"

"This is Penelope… my little tomboy… who thinks that she is much older than she really is," He gave his daughter a stern look and she buried her head into his shoulder. "Thank you for saving her. She knew that she wasn't supposed to try to ride a full-sized horse, but Penelope can be both fearless and foolish at times." He used a finger to gently lift his daughter's chin so that she met his eyes, "You're all I have, Little Bit. Please don't do anything like that again."

He set the girl down and she ran over to look at the stream that dropped off into the ravine. "I lost Laura when Penelope was born. It hasn't been easy. With only a father to raise her, she's more boy than girl. We were in Lambton visiting with an aunt…"

James Fitzsimmons paused and truly looked at Georgianna for the first time, "You've grown quite beautiful, Miss Darcy…" He noticed that she became even more beautiful when she blushed, "Would it… could… May I call on you while we're in Lambton?"

Five months later Georgianna Fitzsimmons returned to Ramsgate. The return trip was much more enjoyable… she liked it so much she decided to stay.

The Darcys

The Dowager Duchess survived to see the birth and christening of the Duke of Carleon. Geoffrey Henry Darcy had his father's dark brunette hair, his mother's dark sparkling eyes, the promise of his father's tall frame, his mother's mischievous smile, and the dove birthmark. Before he completed his first year he had been presented to the British Royal court and the exiled French court. Thankfully things were changing in France and the Louis had little time or concern to spare for the tiny Duke.

As promised, the Argon's and the Fitzwilliams took an interest in the education of Lord Turleon, but the bulk of his education was left in the hands of his very capable parents. One trip was made to Brittany when he turned ten, but the political climate was dangerous and both Elizabeth and Darcy agreed that no further trips would be considered until much later.

Lord Turleon did become intimately acquainted with all of his British holdings as he and his siblings regularly visited their different homes. The Darcys also ensured that all of the children knew their history and heritage and understood the plight of the Bretons. Though they had to work carefully and often in the shadows, the Darcy's used their wealth and influence to help Isolde's people whenever and however they could.

Geoffrey went on to be a prominent political and financial figure. Jane Elizabeth attended a ball at Rosings, where she met and eventually Anne's oldest son and heir... thus polluting the shades of Rosings. Mary Anne caught the eye of Catherine's eldest and, after a long and storied courtship, became the next Duchess of Argon. But it was little Richard Darcy who reached the farthest. Taking after his "uncle" and namesake, he thrived on adventure, circumnavigating the globe in one adventure after another. Eventually he became an ambassador, representing British interests around the globe.

Elizabeth never regretted her decision to remove herself from royal consideration. To her mind Darcy was the best of men: the best husband, the best father, and her dearest friend. They raised their children to think and question and to value people from all levels of society. The managed their vast properties well, invested wisely, and promoted many innovations. They were received with pride into many homes, including the homes of the Royals. Though Elizabeth never exercised the level of influence of her great-grandmother, her thoughts, ideas, and assertions were given careful attention and consideration.

Darcy superseded his wife in death by twenty years in 1860. Elizabeth, though heartbroken, teamed with her eldest son and several grandchildren to work for several important causes, including the betterment of education in Breton and in the areas where the family held land. She became the favorite storyteller of all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, with tales of two girls switched at birth, heroic rescues from kidnapping and fires, and the mysterious handsome man who rescued a poor, neglected girl from an evil dragon.