by Wendi Sotis
Ana said, “We rode Blossom and Quickfire for part of our journey from Pemberley to London, and Papilio was brought down more recently with a few additional workmen. Neither of us can sit in a coach for an entire trip. If the weather does not allow Fitzwilliam to ride for a good portion of the way, he becomes quite cross.”
Elizabeth smirked. She enjoyed hearing information about Mr. Darcy that he might not volunteer himself.
As the ladies were about to mount their horses, two figures entered the barnyard. Elizabeth looked over her shoulder and smiled. Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley approached. Elizabeth was a little disturbed by how good it was to see Mr. Darcy again.
“Good morning, ladies,” Mr. Darcy said, and Mr. Bingley echoed.
Elizabeth patted her horse’s neck. “I am delighted to have the opportunity to ride Papilio again, sir. Thank you.”
Mr. Darcy bowed his head. “Where are you headed for your ride?”
Elizabeth looked at Ana. “Which way would you best like to explore?”
“Whichever is your favourite path,” Ana answered.
“My absolute favourite is a footpath, but that is better accessed from Longbourn, so we shall have to discover its beauties another day. My preferred riding trail begins over there.” She gestured to the left, and towards Oakham Mount. “Both the walking and riding trails end up in the same place, but the route is quite different.”
“Perhaps we shall see you at some point during the day,” Mr. Darcy said. “We are headed for the Smiths’ farm first, and then to two others, but we shall travel more directly across the fields to save time.”
Simons, the enormous footman that Elizabeth had become accustomed to guarding them while at Pemberley, appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. She had forgotten that Ana had told her that Simons always travelled with the Darcys.
“Good morning, Mr. Simons,” Elizabeth called out to him. “I had not realised you were coming with us.”
Simons tipped his hat.
Mr. Darcy said, his tone a little defensive, “It is always best for ladies to have an escort.”
“I have no objection, though I cannot imagine our needing his services here. I walk and ride alone almost every day and have always been safe,” Elizabeth said with a smile.
Mr. Darcy bowed his head but did not instruct Simons to change his plans.
The gentlemen helped them mount their horses, wished them a good day, and headed into the stables.
Allowing the ladies to get ahead of him, Simons followed at a bit of a distance so that the ladies could talk without his overhearing.
“While I love my family and friends, it is nice that we are just the two of us today. It is almost like old times, except now, I get to show you my favourite haunts instead of the reverse. I was just thinking… I hope you will not be disappointed. Hertfordshire is much different than Derbyshire.”
“I will enjoy seeing where you grew up,” Ana answered.
Oakham Mount was not far, but Elizabeth took Ana on a path that wound through the woods and crossed some lovely streams. They waved to several tenant farmers and workers repairing their houses and barns. When they reached the highest point of Oakham Mount, the ladies dismounted.
Elizabeth pointed out to Ana the smoke coming from Longbourn’s kitchen chimneys while Simons quietly carried over a hamper that had been attached to his saddle. He assisted in spreading a blanket, took a package of food wrapped in a red kerchief from the treats the ladies unpacked, and retreated to a well-used tree stump off to one side, near where the horses were grazing.
As he was such a large man, it surprised Elizabeth that he was so skilled in remaining unobtrusive. In fact, before long, she forgot he was there at all.
About half-way through their meal, they waved to Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley, who crossed the field below them. Elizabeth assumed they had just left the Smiths’ and were on their way to the Wilsons’ farm.
A while later, Ana said, “The scene from here is lovely. Have you ever sketched this view?”
She opened the hamper and started rifling through it. Elizabeth assumed she was looking for her art supplies.
Elizabeth chuckled. “To do so would have made me happy as a youth, but I found out the hard way that I am not talented at any medium I have tried thus far. The results looked nothing like what you see before you. I used to sit for hours and hours here making my best attempt, just over there—”
Elizabeth turned to indicate where Simons had settled. Her breath caught. There was nothing there but the tree stump. Not Simons. Not even the horses.
The hair on her neck bristled. She rose to her knees and looked around them.
There was absolutely no sign of their escort or their mounts
A breeze blew a long strand of hair across Elizabeth’s face. At the same moment, the red kerchief that had held Simons’s meal tumbled from behind the tree stump, continuing off into the woods. It lifted and snagged on a dead bush, waving in the wind like a warning flag.
Elizabeth’s heart thumped.
She had seen Simons at work. He took his job as protector seriously. He had stood on duty outside every room they had entered at Pemberley, and the few times they had taken a tour of the gardens closest to the house, he had remained only a few steps away. Elizabeth was confident he would never purposely leave Ana here in the wilderness. Which proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that something was very wrong.
Ana looked up from the hamper. “I cannot find my drawing supplies. Perhaps Mrs. Curtis packed them in my saddlebag.”
Ana started to return items to the hamper.
Elizabeth stood and took a few steps to her right, then glanced again towards the stump. The breeze kicked up once more. Leaves went tumbling, revealing a boot and part of a leg jutting out from under a bush just behind the tree stump.
Someone must have incapacitated Simons!
She was sure he must be injured… should she leave Ana and go help him?
No. If someone had harmed the Darcys’ guard, it could only mean one thing: Ana was in imminent danger. Simons himself — and certainly Mr. Darcy — would want Elizabeth to take Ana away from here immediately. They would have to send someone back to help Simons once they reached a safe place.
Ana asked, “What is it, Lizzy? You have become dreadfully pale.”
Elizabeth shook her head, her mind racing. What should she do? Which way should they go? Without their horses, they would have to go on foot.
“If you are unwell, Lizzy, I shall just finish re-packing the hamper, and we will return to Netherfield,” Ana said, apparently still not aware that anything was truly amiss.
“Leave it, dear. We must go,” Elizabeth whispered, trying her best not to panic the young lady — or herself. She reached out a hand to help Ana up. “Now.”
Ana rose, her brow furrowed.
The breeze blew from behind her now. Elizabeth detected a hint of cloves and almonds waft past her. She sneezed.
She had been correct in her assessment of the man she had met the other day, after all. Drake was Wickham!
CHAPTER 23
Elizabeth was angry with herself. If only she had trusted her instincts when she had first met Drake, she and Ana would not be in this predicament.
It dawned on her that Lydia and Kitty had complained Lieutenant Drake had not been in the village lately. She searched her memory… only now did she realise Drake had not been seen in public since Mr. Darcy and Ana arrived in the neighbourhood.
Wickham might have changed his name to Drake, but he had not altered his heart or habits.
Elizabeth startled when a twig snapped behind her. She turned but could see nothing. There were so many thick-trunked trees in the area, he could be hiding behind any one of them.
Something had happened between Wickham and the Darcys in the past. Although Mr. Darcy never told her the particulars, he had been afraid the man might do harm to Ana.
And now that same man was close enough that Elizabeth could smell his cologne on the bre
eze.
The hair on her arms stood on end.
She had to take Ana away from here. But if a giant like Simons was unable to protect Ana from Wickham, how would she be able to do so?
It mattered not; she would find a way. She had to.
Only a few seconds had passed since she had realised something was wrong, but everything had changed; it felt like a lifetime.
“Lizzy? What is wrong?” Ana hesitated as she looked around them. Standing, she knocked over the hamper. Her voice was full of anxiety when she asked, “Where is Simons? Where are the horses?”
Mr. Darcy had not wanted Elizabeth to tell his sister Wickham was near when they were in Derbyshire, but now, she had to. Elizabeth needed Ana to be aware of the danger.
Elizabeth said, very quietly, “Wickham.”
The colour drained from Ana’s face. Her breath began to come so quickly, Elizabeth was sure her friend would swoon. What she would not do for a handful of her mother’s salts at this moment!
“You brought him here?” Ana gasped, backing away.
Goodness! What happened to her in the past to make her suspect such a thing?
They had no time for a long discussion about this now.
“Ana, no! I promise I did not.”
She gently took hold of the girl’s arm and led her down the slope of Oakham Mount towards Longbourn. The descent towards Netherfield was too steep to take quickly, and they would have to pass through the woods where she suspected Wickham was hiding.
“I know not what threat this man poses to you, only that your brother told me he is a threat. There is too much to explain now. What you need to know at this moment is that I believe Wickham has incapacitated Simons and we are in danger.”
“Georgiii-anaaaa!” a deep voice called out in sing-song.
Elizabeth could not tell from where it came.
Ana pulled away and froze, her eyes wide with fright.
“We must flee, Ana. Please, trust me,” Elizabeth said quietly.
It seemed forever before Ana nodded and held out her hand to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth took hold of her hand again, lifted her skirts, and started walking faster. Thank goodness the seamstress at Pemberley had shown Elizabeth the secret of the detachable riding train, for they had both discarded theirs before sitting down to eat. It would be much easier to escape without them.
“Geooorgieee,” Wickham yelled.
Elizabeth examined the landscape. There he was! Behind them, coming down the path. Fast.
Elizabeth said, “We need to move more quickly, dear.”
Ana turned to look behind them, tripped, and went tumbling down onto the ground.
Elizabeth scrambled to help her up, but Wickham was upon them before they could get started again. He grabbed Ana by the shoulders and tore her away from Elizabeth.
Ana’s tight hold on Elizabeth’s hand caused Ana’s fingernails to slice Elizabeth’s tender flesh.
Blood dripped from her hand. Elizabeth ignored it.
“Get away from her!” Elizabeth cried and lunged forward, trying to pull Ana into her arms.
“Stand back, woman,” Wickham twisted away from Elizabeth while hauling Ana against him. He looked down at his captive. “Haven’t you told your friend about our elopement?”
Elizabeth gasped. Ana had eloped with this man?
Pushing against his chest, Ana declared, “We did not elope.”
“Ah, that is true.” He smiled. “But you were quite willing before your brother interfered and put a halt to our plans. Finding you again has changed that. We leave today.”
“I refuse.” Ana managed to push hard enough to put a little space between their bodies. “You are no gentleman. I never want to see you again.”
“Georgiana, Georgiana! That is no way to talk to your future husband. I will not stand for it.”
Wickham’s full attention was on Ana. If Elizabeth could just slip away, while he was looking for her, she could sneak up behind him. When she was younger, she had been exceptional at hiding from her playmates. They could never find her. She would end up leaving her hiding place, sneaking around, and jumping out to scare the boys.
She took a half a step off the path.
Ana said, “I was listening when Fitzwilliam confronted you. I heard everything you said — what your intentions truly were. You wanted my dowry, not me. I will not come with you.”
“I’m afraid you will have no choice in the matter. You both will come away with me without causing any further fuss…” He pulled out a pistol and pointed it at Elizabeth’s chest. “…or she dies.”
Ana screamed, “No!”
Elizabeth froze. So much for her idea. Even if he was a bad shot, he could not miss at this distance.
“Well, I certainly would not harm you before we’re married and risk that lovely dowry of yours. If you do not come willingly, perhaps I will need to use Miss Elizabeth’s discomfort to convince you. I stand to lose nothing by shooting her.” He cocked the pistol.
“Do not harm her!”
“Then do as I say.” His tone was deadly serious.
Ana stopped struggling.
He uncocked the pistol.
Elizabeth closed her eyes, though briefly.
Wickham used the pistol to point into the woods. “Let’s go. That way.”
Elizabeth walked ahead, and Ana followed. Wickham brought up the rear. At least with Elizabeth’s presence throughout this ordeal, Ana would not be compromised by being alone with Wickham before she could figure out a way to free them.
They walked for a minute or two before Ana asked. “Is Simons…?”
“Your guard is worse than dead.” Wickham smiled wickedly. “He is unconscious and tied up. It will take some time before he awakens, but once he does, he will realise what has happened and will live the rest of his years tortured by his failure today. And your brother — Ho! I have left some clues that will make him suspect Miss Elizabeth was involved with my plans, similar to how Clara Younge was involved with our elopement. Not only will Darcy have lost his sister, but he will be plagued with regrets at the memory of ever trusting you, Elizabeth Bennet.”
Elizabeth’s stomach churned.
The look of satisfaction that crossed Wickham’s face told Elizabeth that causing Mr. Darcy such a considerable amount of pain was more important to him than anything he had mentioned so far, more so even than the money.
What a malicious, evil man!
Clara Younge must have been the Mrs. Younge she had heard mentioned as Ana’s former companion. No wonder Mr. Darcy had found choosing a new companion for Ana such a difficult task.
Elizabeth straightened her spine. She could not go back in time and prevent Wickham from injuring Simons, nor could she avoid the resulting guilt Simons might experience. However, there was absolutely nothing that would convince her to allow Wickham to succeed in this scheme, and in torturing Ana and Mr. Darcy for the remainder of their lives as a result.
Another minute of walking. Now that the panic had ebbed a little, Elizabeth was more aware of her surroundings. Something was hitting her leg with every step. Oh, it was the apple she had saved for Papilio. She should hold onto it in case they needed food at some point. If they were going to Scotland for an elopement, who knew when they would stop for food.
She refused to think along those lines any further. It would not come to that.
She knew these woods like no one else did. Every tree. Every bush. She would find a way to keep Wickham from taking them to Scotland.
Ana was now next to Elizabeth, and Elizabeth caught her gaze then raised the corners of her lips slightly. It was the best she could do to promise Ana that all would be well, that she would not allow any of what he predicted to happen.
Ana’s shoulders relaxed, almost imperceptibly.
“Behind her, Georgiana, not next to her.”
Ana dropped back.
A few minutes later, Wickham was becoming winded. Obviously, he did not tramp for miles in
the woods every day. From all their walks in Derbyshire, she knew Ana could well keep up with her. Elizabeth raised her skirts a little higher and increased her pace. She could hear Ana and knew that she remained directly behind her. She glanced back and saw that Wickham was struggling to keep up.
Elizabeth had to get him talking. That alone might do him in. Something he could boast over, for he seemed to enjoy doing so. “What clues did you leave to incriminate me in your scheme?”
“I wrote you some letters,” he choked out between heavy breaths. “Sally placed them in your rooms and took a page from your journal to put in with my things back at camp.”
“Sally? Our maid?” She had been with the Bennets for years. “How did you manage to get her to do such a thing?”
He spoke sporadically between breaths. “As soon as I saw the Darcys were here, I knew I had to get to someone in your household. Sally loves me. I told her about your breaking my heart while at Pemberley. She was quite sympathetic.”
Elizabeth almost laughed. “I was fairly sure I broke one or two of your toes, and I was glad for it, too. However, I had nothing what-so-ever to do with your heart.”
“You met him at Pemberley?” Ana asked.
Oh, goodness. She forgot that Ana did not know about that. She really hated all these secrets! “He accosted me, and I escaped from him. It was why your brother was so careful about your safety after the ball. Somehow, he had a mask exactly like Mr. Darcy’s.”
“No one told me.” Ana sounded wounded.
“I know not why your brother wished to keep this knowledge from you. I suspected he thought it would frighten you. Both you and your brother had secrets that I was obliged to keep.”
Wickham was coughing now. “Slow… down.”
Elizabeth did, but only a little. She did not feel bad about his discomfort — not a bit. She would wait a few steps and gradually speed up again.
What page from her journal could have been taken that Sally could think would convince Mr. Darcy she was in league with the man?
She shook off the thought and sped her steps. Ana kept up; therefore, Wickham was obliged to do the same.
