by Glenna Mason
“I thought I might just give him the twenty thousand pounds on the condition that he disappear.”
“But . . . “
“But I was afraid that he’d come back someday for more. I can’t trust Wickham to keep his word.”
“No. I see that,” Elizabeth said, taking his hand, leading him to the piano bench. “May I play for you?”
“Please. I can read music. I know when to turn the pages,” Darcy said, sitting down beside Elizabeth.
“Then will you play for me also?”
“I will.”
*****
A half hour later Elizabeth closed the piano and said, “Shall we take a short walk in the garden?”
“I’d like that very much.”
“You sing beautifully, Mr. Darcy.”
“As do you.”
“And you play . . . “
“Credibly?”
“Yes, credibly.”
“Your playing is most charming, Miss Elizabeth. You put your whole self into your interpretation.”
“I do love to play the piano.”
Elizabeth grabbed her hat from the hall clothes tree and, tying the ribbon under her chin, led Darcy through the French doors of the parlor.
“Oh, I see that Mr. Bingley and Colonel Fitzwilliam came to call also,” Elizabeth said, smiling. Bingley, the colonel and the other Bennet sisters were playing croquet just beyond the hedge.
“They were not far behind me.”
“I thought I heard a little commotion in the hall.”
Elizabeth placed her hand under Darcy’s arm and led him the opposite direction.
“Mr. Darcy,” she began and then hesitated.
“Yes?”
“Perhaps Mr. Wickham will hear of Colonel Fitzwilliam’s meeting with Colonel Forster and escape.”
“It is likely. That is why Richard went to the military headquarters this morning to request an afternoon meeting. He hoped the word might spread. Wickham has never taken my threats very seriously. However, he has great respect for the ultimatums of the colonel.”
“Good,” Elizabeth said, relieved.
“Richard even went so far as to seek out Denny and introduce himself. He told Denny he was looking for Wickham. Apparently Denny pretended not to know him and shrank away. I imagine Wickham has heard by now about the afternoon confab of the two colonels. Word of the conference would spread across the base within minutes.”
Elizabeth tightened her hold on his arm, happy at this news.
“However . . . “
“Yes?” Elizabeth queried, frowning.
“However, who knows when we’ll ever find Callie.” They both laughed in relief. Life might soon be back to normal.
“Would you like to see Oakham Mount?”
“I would.”
“It’s not close by.”
“Excellent.”
On their return trip Elizabeth once again broached the topic of George Wickham. “If Wickham escapes arrest, will we still be in danger?”
“We think not. Now that Wickham realizes that Colonel Fitzwilliam is not only involved, but also seeking his arrest for a hanging offense, he will disappear and find new game to fleece. Wickham is quite familiar with the colonel and fears him.”
“Oh.”
“He’ll take good care of Callie. Wickham is an excellent rider and loves horses.”
Elizabeth laughed. “So he does have some redeeming qualities.”
“Quite a few actually. If only he had let them outshine his foibles, Wickham would still be my friend.”
*****
At three in the afternoon, Colonel Fitzwilliam met with Colonel Forster. He not only had the ransom demand notes, but also letters signed by August Rollins and Lydia Bennet. The colonel had taken advantage of Lydia’s penchant for a red coat and asked her to sign a statement accusing Wickham of misleading her into an elopement.
Colonel Forster sent a corporal to find Lt. Wickham and order him to report to the office. Wickham could not be located.
“He was here this morning for reveille,” Denny explained, when called before his colonel. “Then I saw him again later, when he stopped by my duty station. I mentioned to him that some friend of his was on base, inquiring after him. He asked who and when I mentioned Colonel Fitzwilliam by name, Wickham turned and ran out the door. Didn’t even stop to salute Major Arnold, who came in just as he was leaving.”
“That is the least of his worries. Excused.”
Colonel Forster said, “Colonel Fitzwilliam, I apologize. I shall continue my search and advise you of its success, but I presume that my lieutenant of three weeks seniority has fled the service. Good riddance I say.”
“Yes.”
“Now could you let me in on your secret?”
“Secret?”
“Yes, the one that explains how you command such command over wastrels.”
They both laughed heartily.
“Stop in any time, Colonel Fitzwilliam. This has been a revelation,” Colonel Forster said, rising to shake Richard’s hand.
“And, Colonel Forster, be sure to visit me at the Honor Guard headquarters next time you’re in London. I’m at your command.”
They laughed heartily again.
*****
Saturday morning Baron Barnstable, the Earl of Carlisle and the Duke of Downs, their wives, sons and daughters joined four and twenty Longbourn area families for a hunt and breakfast at Netherfield.
The riders arrived on horseback; the others in curricle, landau or carriages.
The October morning was cool and cloudless, a perfect day for a ride across fields and fences.
“What! No hounds?” His Grace, the Duke complained.
“And no foxes. Just horses and riders.”
“Jolly ho! Let’s go!”
And off they went, rumbling across the downs, thirty strong at least.
Darcy had asked Elizabeth to ride along with him. “I’ll stay back,” he offered.
“No! No!” she emphatically replied. “Go have fun. Like you said I need practice. Maybe next time.”
“I’ll take that as a promise.” Elizabeth’s response was a smile. She wasn’t guaranteeing anything yet.
Unbeknownst to the hunt riders and their mounts, a lone rider and a mare watched the fun from a far hill. Wickham had hidden at the Spring Station for the past four days. It was time to move on. Someday though he promised himself he’d be at the head of that pack.
Wickham turned Callie and rode toward the north. He was on his way to the big city of London and Mrs. Younge’s boarding house. Wickham had no way of knowing that Darcy and the Bennet clan would soon be following him to London.
While the others rode, the Bennet sisters sans Jane entertained peers, gentry and commoners inside with dancing in the music room, billiards in the billiard room, and cards in the library and outside with croquet, badminton and lawn tennis.
Mary and Elizabeth took turns at the piano, playing reels and cotillions to entice dancers to the floor or to just have lively music pouring through the halls. Lydia led the badminton, and Kitty the lawn tennis. Everyone else helped himself to billiards, cards or croquet.
Meanwhile the dining room table burgeoned with hams, turkeys, cheeses, breads and pastries. The tea table was set at one end of the room with a choice of tea, coffee or lemonade. The bar was at the opposite side of the room with wine, whiskey and ale.
Just about noon a clattering cadre of hunter/jumpers clambered into the stable yard. The event took a raucous and rowdy turn when the Baron, Earl and Viscounts took charge on entering the foyer. Hardy laughter and ebullient shouts filled the air.
“I take it you all had fun,” Elizabeth whispered loudly to Jane, when the crowd surrounded the food and drinks tables.
“Yes. I’ve seldom had such an invigorating ride. The Duke may be sixty, but he apparently doesn’t know it. And the Baron kept us all enthralled with his antics—and quite the comedian, our Earl.”
Elizabeth was delighted to hear the tal
es of Jane’s morning. “We had a good time too. I even shot a round of billiards. That is the word, isn’t it—shot? And Mary sat in for several rubbers of whist. We both played the piano so the others could dance—mainly the children. Their parents seemed to prefer the drinks table,” she said with a smile.
“I saw Mr. Wickham,” Jane whispered quietly.
“What!” Elizabeth shouted, garnering several strange looks.
“Sh-h No one else recognized him. He was up on the far rise. I know it was he, because he was astride Callie.”
“Oh.”
“Don’t mention it to Mr. Darcy or Colonel Fitzwilliam, and I won’t tell Mr. Bingley. Let them have a glorious day. No use chasing after Wickham again. They’ve already spent hours riding all over the countryside, including three hour rides to and from London, searching fields and villages—all for us Bennets. Besides . . . “
“Besides?”
“Besides Wickham rode off north. He’s going to London.”
“Mr. Darcy says Wickham is afraid of Colonel Fitzwilliam.”
“As he should be.”
“Oh?”
“I have a feeling that the colonel has fallen in love with Kitty. He is a soldier, who fought in Portugal and Spain. He will allow Wickham no quarter, if Kitty is in any jeopardy.”
“I hope you are right. I want my freedom back—the freedom to linger in the lane, to climb to Oakham Mount, to wade in my stream.”
“You shall have it.”
Darcy and Bingley soon found Elizabeth and Jane in the parlor, where they were still cheerily conversing.
“Miss Bennet, may I lead you into our hunt breakfast?” Bingley asked. He peered back out into the hallway. The line extended almost outside the entry door. “Well, perhaps we’ll settle for some wine.” Bingley went to the corner cupboard and chose a fine bottle of claret and an equally respectable Chablis from France.
Darcy bowed to Elizabeth. “White or red, Miss Elizabeth?”
“I’ll try the white. Getting a blanc from France is a special travail these days. Might as well enjoy it, while we can.”
While Darcy poured, Elizabeth settled down on a settee. Darcy joined her there. “To London,” he said, clicking his glass to hers.
“To meeting Georgiana.” They clicked again.
“Miss Elizabeth, your father is an expert horseman,” Darcy remarked. “Your sister is a superb horsewoman.”
Elizabeth looked him in the eye. She could take a hint, especially such a broad one. “I promise to learn. It actually looked like fun—well, from a distance anyway.”
“May I teach you?”
“Certainly! I’d hoped you would volunteer,” she said, her eyes twinkling. “Shall we start as soon as we return from London?”
“Actually we can begin in London. Miss Catherine has requested that the colonel give her lessons in Hyde Park. There are no fences to jump or steeples to chase, but there are miles of riding trails, just waiting for you and your lessons. Can we join the colonel and your sister?”
“Yes, it sounds like fun.”
“Miss Bennet and I will just trot on ahead,” Bingley pronounced, smiling at Jane.
“What of Mary?”
“I’ve an idea or two of gentlemen, who will ride with Miss Mary. In fact I’ve posted a letter to one of them already to see if he is still in town.”
“Good then. Let’s shake on it.” They shook hands, laughing.
“Oh, no. We forgot Miss Lydia,” Darcy worried.
“Are you kidding? Lydia on a horse? We’ll send her shopping with Mama.”
“Good! Your father can come along as chaperone.”
*****
By the time the cavalcade of three carriages left for London Monday morning around eight, Colonel Fitzwilliam and his batman Lewis had already ridden ahead. The colonel went straight to his headquarters to request another week of leave. Miss Catherine was going to spend seven days in London; he needed to be free. He next sent Lewis over to Darcy House, where he’d be available to unload the colonel’s trunk, when the Darcy carriages arrived. But the colonel himself headed to Derby House, the London residence of his parents, the Earl and Countess of Matlock.
Richard Fitzwilliam swooped through the door, threw his hat at the footman and rushed to the breakfast parlor. He was in a state of excited exhilaration.
“Mother,” the colonel exuded, bowing over her hand and receiving a kiss on the cheek. “Father,” said, clasping his father’s hand in a firm grasp.
“Richard,” they greeted, a little disconcerted by this exuberant arrival.
“Mother, Father, I’m in love.”
His parents stared at him, incredulous at this sudden and unexpected news.
“Miss Allison?” his mother finally managed to ask.
“No, it must be Miss Stone,” his father guessed.
“Not either. I am in love with Miss Catherine Bennet of Longbourn, near the village of Meryton in Hertfordshire.”
“I’m not familiar with the young lady.”
“You shall be.”
“Good. It is time you settled down. Heaven only knows if your brother, Viscount Osmond, ever will,” the Earl declared.
“Tell us about her, Richard. When will we meet her?”
“She’s beautiful. About seventeen, and has no dowry.”
“I see,” the Earl answered with a distinct frown.
“And you will support her on your colonel’s salary, my dear?” his mother queried.
“Yes, if . . . “
“If . . . “
“If you do not help me.”
“Hmm.”
“Has she accepted your proposal?
“Heavens no! She doesn’t know I love her. Only I know I love her. Do you think I would court someone without your approval and support?”
“Monetary support, I presume.”
“She’s a gentleman’s daughter with four sisters and an estate entailed away to a distant cousin.”
“Oh, now the situation makes more sense,” the Earl said, with a sigh of relief.
“Very well, if we approve of her and she accepts your proposal, you may have the thousand acres of Aubrey Park, left to me by my mother,” the Countess decreed. “I’ve saved it for you and my future grandchildren.”
His father nodded his approval. “You may also have the Mayfair townhouse, which was willed to you by my mother, your grandmother, to be settled on you at my death or your marriage. You can live in it or rent it. Entirely your choice.”
“If you stay in the Regent’s Guard, you may wish to live in the townhouse and lease the house in Derbyshire on a temporary basis. An excellent steward is of course already in place to oversee the estate, its grounds and its income. The house is currently unoccupied except for a small staff,” Lady Matlock explained.
“Oh, my wonderful parents! I love you so,” Richard said, kissing his mother again on her cheek and grabbing his father around the shoulders for a hug.
“When can we meet her?”
“She and her whole family are coming to London today.”
“Good!”
Then he dropped the bombshell. “Half, including Miss Catherine, are saying at Darcy House and the other half at Mr. Bingley’s townhouse on Park Lane.”
“What?!” the two exclaimed.
“Oh, I forgot to mention a crucial piece of information: Bingley is in love with Miss Bennet, Jane, the eldest, and Darcy is in love with the second eldest, Miss Elizabeth. My love, Miss Catherine, Miss Kitty actually to her family and friends, is flanked by her sisters, Miss Mary and Miss Lydia.”
“What is going on in Hertfordshire?” the Earl asked jovially. “Something in the water down there?”
“I must admit I know very little of the county,” his mother admitted.
“I’d guess we’d better learn, my dear.”
“Ask the Duke of Downs, the Earl of Carlisle and the Baron Barnstable. They live nearby. I just rode an invigorating hunt with them on Saturday. They are thre
e fine horsemen.”
“I shall certainly do that, when the House of Lords reconvenes.”
“When are you returning to Derbyshire, by the way?” the colonel asked.
“Not until we meet the Bennet sisters.”
“You’re not usually here in October. I was surprised by your note that you’d come back so early.”
“Oh, we’re only here for a short visit. The cathedral had a special celebration this year for Saint Michael. The arch angel is a favorite of mine,” his mother said with grin.
“The Archbishop presided, so we felt obligated to attend, truth be known,” his father clarified.
“How providential,” Richard kidded.
“We shall hold a dinner dance later in the week,” the Countess planned. “A few of our friends, who also came for the commemoration, are still in town, but, most significantly, the Bennets are here. I wish to not only meet, but also to entertain them.”
“Thank you, Mother.”
“Shall we say Thursday? I’ll send the invitations around by hand this afternoon.”
“Tell Darcy and Bingley immediately, so they don’t plan anything else,” the Earl warned. “I am confident they plan to wine and dine the young ladies and their parents.”
“I’d better go then. They’ll be arriving at Darcy House within the next hour or two. By the way, Mother, just so I can plan, how much does this estate you’ve just gifted me net?”
His mother looked at the Earl.
“Not positive. I believe it is close to four thousand a year. Of course that could increase with an on sight owner at home supervising.”
“As I mentioned, Richard, my current steward, Mr. Lacey, is excellent. However, stewards are by their very nature conservative. It is the provenance of the owner to try new ideas to increase an estate’s income.”
“Four thousand sounds like an excellent starting point,” Richard said, bowing.
*****
Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam mounted his horse with a broad smile spread across his face. “Now I must win Miss Kitty’s love. My battle plan? A three prong attack: be charming, be available, wear my uniform.” He laughed. “How fortunate Miss Kitty prefers men in red uniforms with gold braid. But then so does Miss Lydia. I must avoid the latter at all costs—without upsetting her sister. Miss Lydia is trouble.”
The colonel entered Darcy’s townhouse a half hour before Darcy’s two carriages pulled up to the front door. He was stretched out in the library reading a Richardson novel when the voices in the hall alerted him. It had been decided by Jane that Kitty, Mary and Elizabeth would stay with Mr. Bennet at Darcy House, while she, Lydia and Mrs. Bennet would reside for the week at Bingley’s.
