“Of course, Miss de Bourgh came to Liverpool because of my earlier request,” Harwood blustered.
“Which Miss de Bourgh had already refused, if I heard you correctly?” Worth’s voice overrode Harwood’s.
A flash of anger showed on the lieutenant’s face. “Yes, she refused. Anne knew her mother would object to our union.”
“Let us for the moment give some credence to the possibility that you misunderstood the lady’s intentions,”Worth retorted. “Might it be in the realm of reason that Miss de Bourgh had another reason to travel to Liverpool besides the inducements of your charms?”
Suddenly, Anne chimed in softly. “May I ask, sir, if I so feared my mother’s disapproval, how I might then oppose her? First, I was afraid, and then I was not. Afraid…not afraid. I am seven and twenty, sir—not a child to be punished for misbehavior.”
“Exactly, Miss de Bourgh,”Worth asserted.
“No matter the circumstances,” Darcy parlayed his farce,“should we not consider Harwood’s offer? After all, if Anne’s reputation is in tatters…”
Worth took the reins once more, just as Harwood began to preen. “So Miss de Bourgh refused your overtures. Then you assumed her appearance in Liverpool meant that she sought you out as her affianced?”
“She came to me in Liverpool!” Harwood protested.
Worth smiled confidently. “I am sure she did. Miss de Bourgh was in a strange city, so she turned to a person she considered a friend—an acquaintance who might do the gentlemanly thing and see to her needs without creating a compromising situation.”
“And that is what I did. Did I not, Anne?”
Lady Catherine’s voice sliced through the conversation. “Lieutenant Harwood, I must insist that you show my daughter proper respect by not using her Christian name as if you were an intimate.”
“But we are intimates, Lady Catherine,” the man asserted. “Less than an hour ago, Miss de Bourgh called me Robert before all those in attendance in the morning room.” He gripped the chair arm tightly, indicating his irritation.
“My cousin did as the lieutenant described,” Darcy confirmed. “Perhaps Harwood has a case, Aunt.”
Lady Catherine asked hotly, “Why do you choose to support this scoundrel, Darcy?”
He had only discussed his intentions of portraying the devil’s advocate with Worth, but in order to weaken Harwood’s defenses, Darcy recognized the need to give the lieutenant a false sense of security.“I certainly do not agree with the lieutenant’s methods, but it appears he is offering my cousin an honorable alternative.”
Lady Catherine harrumphed in disgust.
Worth interrupted, “May I ask, Miss de Bourgh, if you have ever verbally agreed to the lieutenant’s suit—either at Rosings or in Liverpool?”
Darcy had warned Anne regarding her legal response, and although her cousin’s apparent support of Harwood confused her, Anne still followed Darcy’s advice. “No, sir.”
“I object!” Harwood exclaimed, nearly coming out of his chair with anger.
Worth laughed. “This is not a trial, Lieutenant.”
“It certainly has the feel of one!” Harwood blustered.
“I am sure no one wished to place you on the defensive, Lieutenant,” Darcy soothed him.“Having always known such opulence, it is difficult for us to see our lives as others might.”
Worth leaned back, following Darcy’s carefully worded suggestion of not appearing so aggressive. “I agree, Mr. Darcy,” he said cannily. “We are jumping the gun. I simply wished to establish early on that, although Miss de Bourgh held an acquaintance with the lieutenant, she neither considered herself engaged nor did she encourage the gentleman to make arrangements for a wedding. Obviously, such an agreement was out of the question. A special license was impossible for Lieutenant Harwood, as he is not part of the aristocracy. Therefore, he would have to take the traditional route of first establishing residency before the banns may be called. Most parishes require a minimum of a fortnight and often as long as thirty days to indicate a resident. He, by his own words, spent only a few days in Liverpool before your cousin’s arrival. Add to the residential time the three weeks to call the banns. Surely, the lieutenant is not accusing Miss de Bourgh of being the type of woman who would spend five to seven weeks with a man she had previously refused. And if the lady so feared her mother as to seek a clandestine meeting, Miss de Bourgh could not possibly believe she might avoid a confrontation with Her Ladyship for such an extended period of time.”Worth knew firsthand that Anne had no knowledge of these facts at the time, but she certainly would not say so now.
“Then if Miss de Bourgh did not come to Liverpool to seek my companionship, why, may I ask, did she travel in the winter and alone?”
“As her business was of a personal nature, I refuse you knowledge of my daughter’s purpose,” Lady Catherine declared. “However, to suggest that Anne came to see you demonstrates a certain conceit. I knew of and sanctioned her departure for the western coast. She traveled with my blessing, as well as my instructions. Unfortunately, my daughter made a poor decision when her maid became ill, and she left the miserable girl behind. Anne has explained to me that she did not wish to disappoint me by not fulfilling the first task I had ever assigned to her. As my daughter will soon come into her inheritance, I wished her to begin learning of the many holdings belonging to her father.”
Harwood charged, “Then why did you create such a scene when you discovered Miss de Bourgh at the Salty Sailor?”
Lady Catherine wrinkled her nose with the memory of the inn where she found Anne—a seedy establishment close to the water-front. “I was admittedly distraught not to find Anne where she was to stay. Little did I know that Mr. Worth was out of town on business, and she could not reach him for the proper arrangements. Needless to say, I was beside myself with terror for my child’s safety. I behaved improperly, I admit, but I was beyond reason by the time I extricated her from your choice of lodging for a lady.” Her glare made the lieutenant flinch, and Darcy realized why he admired his aunt. She had that Fitzwilliam tenacity, which his mother had exhibited, along with his uncle and both of his male cousins. Lady Catherine’s fierceness when someone attacked her own softened Darcy’s opinion of her sometimes-rude behavior.
“I was in Newcastle in consultation for an upcoming trial. Her Ladyship had assumed I would be able to meet Miss de Bourgh in Liverpool, as my main practice centers are in Cheshire and Manchester,” Worth offered. “As I understand it, when Miss de Bourgh realized her cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam was not also in Liverpool, she sought the only person she knew in the city: you, Lieutenant.”
“Then it is this family’s position that Miss de Bourgh traveled to Liverpool for reasons unrelated to our relationship?”
Lady Catherine actually smiled. “It is, Lieutenant Harwood.”
Harwood saw one of his claims on Anne dwindle away, but defeat was not in his vocabulary. “However, the facts remain that your daughter, Madam, did travel alone and did come under my care while in Liverpool.As such, Miss de Bourgh has been compromised. I will, therefore, present myself to you as an honorable suitor for Miss de Bourgh’s hand. Although she may see me in an unflattering light at the moment, I am certain I will eventually win her affection. I hope, Miss de Bourgh, that you accept my humble plea.”
Lady Catherine could not resist tweaking the gentleman, “And you will, in return, accept Anne’s inheritance.”
Harwood leveled a steady gaze on the woman.“I assure you that is not my main motivation, but any man would welcome such a dowry from his wife.”
“Well, you shall not have it. I will disown Anne if she makes such an alliance!”
“Now, Aunt,” Darcy cautioned. “Let us not make idle threats which could hurt my cousin.” Darcy wanted to keep Harwood at Pemberley until he heard from Colonel Fitzwilliam. He could not have his aunt send the man away too quickly. “I suggest we invite the lieutenant to join us for a day or two. It will give Anne time to seriou
sly consider Harwood’s suit.” He held a hand up to quell any protests ready to be voiced by his family or Worth. “And it will give us time to determine how to address the lieutenant’s honest request.”
“But Darcy!” Lady Catherine insisted.
“You must trust me, Aunt. I promised Anne my protection, and I will brook no resistance.”
Harwood’s shoulders straightened, and he gazed at the assembled group triumphantly. “Thank you, Mr. Darcy, for your confidence in my character.”
Before anyone else could object, Darcy rose, effectively ending the conversation.“We shall meet here tomorrow, an hour following the morning meal. Harwood, I am assuming your room suits you.”
“It does, Mr. Darcy.” Harwood also came to his feet.“I believe I shall return to my chamber. Miss de Bourgh, I pray you will honor me with a few moments of your time later this afternoon.” Anne did not say a word—did not move—and Harwood accepted her silence as agreement. “Good morning.”The lieutenant strode confidently from the room.
Silence filled the study. When Darcy was sure Harwood had actually returned to his room, he crossed to the door and closed it. Immediately, three voices exploded, each drowning out the other, and each more irate. “Darcy, what means this?” Lady Catherine demanded.
“As I said previously, you will need to trust me. I have a plan, and although it may seem like madness, it is far from it.” His calmness soothed some of their initial concerns.“I cannot explain at the moment, but it was imperative to detain the lieutenant.”
“Well, whatever you plan had better work,”Worth warned.
Before any other discussion could occur, a rapid knock at the study door interrupted them. “Come!” Darcy called to the closed portal.
A distraught-looking butler opened the door. Seeing the dazed and astonished scowl clearly displayed on Mr. Baldwin’s face, Darcy crossed to him immediately. “What is it, man?”
“It is Lucinda Dodd, sir,” Baldwin rasped out. “Everett in the gatehouse sent word that he found Lucinda’s body along the incoming rise.”
“I prayed never to hear those words.” Darcy’s lips thinned in a frown. “Send someone to instruct Lord Stafford to meet me in the foyer.Tell him we are taking a walk outside and to dress accordingly.”
“Yes, Mr. Darcy.”
Darcy turned to Worth. “I would ask you to join His Lordship and me if you would,Worth.We have another mystery on our hands.”
Twenty minutes later, Darcy, Lord Stafford, and Worth joined Darcy’s men along the edge of Pemberley Woods.“You found her, Everett?”
“Yes, sir. I sees vultures circling from the gatehouse so I walks in this direction to see what those carrions found. I’s expected a deer or even a sheep, but I’s never thought to discover no Miss Dodd.”
“And you have touched nothing?” Darcy demanded, his hands tightening into fists at his sides.
The gatekeeper’s candid response added to Darcy’s frustration. “I be sittin’ the girl up wheres she slumped over, but that be it, sir, besides checkin’ to sees if Miss Dodd be breathin’. She ain’t, sir.” With a nod of his head, Darcy dismissed his servants to their duties, except the two who would take the body back to the main house. He knelt beside the body, trying to determine the woman’s condition.
“A woman’s silk stocking about her neck,” the viscount noted.
Worth touched the offending item. “It must be the mate of the one we found cut to pieces in Mrs.Wickham’s room.”
“The girl’s been strangled. See the marks on her neck.” Stafford untied the leg wear and then pointed to the bruising along Lucinda’s throat. “Mrs.Wickham?” he suggested.
“My wife’s sister admits to arguing with Lucinda, and although one woman could easily strangle another, it does not explain how the body came to be found so far from the house. In addition, I am convinced that Mrs. Wickham, although self-centered, is no murderer.” He glanced toward Pemberley. It was nearly a mile from the turnpike road to Pemberley’s front door. Lucinda’s body rested halfway between the road and the house. It made no sense.
Worth tried to reason out the possibilities. “Do you suppose that your maid tried to escape the house—ran away in terror—and collapsed at this point?”
Again, Darcy looked at the way they had come. Distinct prints—footprints of his men, hoof prints of Harwood’s horse, and footprints of his, Stafford’s, and Worth’s—lay along the curving drive, but no trace of a lady’s shoe showed along the entrance pathway or even across the smooth, pristine surface of the gently rolling wood-land defining the park.“I observe no female footprints.” He took a close look at her footwear. “Lucinda wears the typical half boots.”
Worth and Stafford also took a close look at the footwear and estimated her shoe size. Viscount Stafford stood slowly and surveyed the surrounding area. “It appears that your gatekeeper came from the left,” he said, pointing to the obvious boot prints leading to and from the body.
Worth followed his train of thought. “And those are ours and those of your servants,” he offered as they assayed the evidence. “I see no others.”
“Nor do I,” Darcy remarked, “but I do see a trail of sort—from the waterfall toward the trees. Notice how this area is scored—no longer smooth—like someone tried to erase his tracks.”
“Exactly.” Adam Lawrence braced himself against the wind. “Let us spread out and follow along the edges of these marks—see where they lead.”
Moving meticulously along the three-foot-wide pathway, they each took a step, sinking deeply in the snow, and then paused, trying to discern anything unusual. Step. Pause. Step. Pause. Step.
“It was probably a tree branch or a broken limb from a bush.” Worth pointed to several branches currently stabbing the roughened surface. “Broken from the icy weight and the snow.”
“Makes sense,” Darcy noted as he took another step.
“It seems our trail leads toward that copse of trees.” Stafford gestured as they approached dense woodlands.
No one spoke as they crossed the open area and entered the tree line. Even there they found the dense snow’s scratched surface. Then suddenly, it stopped—no more markings.“It is just some hedges and a boulder.”Worth looked back to see if they had made a wrong turn.
“There has to be something,” Darcy grumbled.“Keep your eyes open and watch where you step.”
Again, they moved carefully—looking for another trail—another clue. After several long, agonizing moments, Stafford called out, “Here!”
As quickly as the deep snow and strong wind would allow, Darcy and Worth joined the viscount. “What is it?” Worth asked as he knelt beside Stafford.
“Here,” he said and pointed to the upper branches of a bramble bush. “Threads. Probably from the maid’s dress.”
“And here.” Darcy said. He was kneeling close by, holding the lower branches of a Spanish oak. “See, Stafford, it is the same shape as we found on the tree by the cottages.”
Stafford’s mouth twisted in an all-knowing smile. “The square heel. When we find the man with the square-shaped heel, we will find your murderer, Darcy.”
CHAPTER 16
A SUBDUED ATMOSPHERE enveloped the evening meal. Another death. The murders had taken their toll on the group. Despite how often they tried to put it all behind them—to resume their lives—death reared its ugly head and dragged them all back into the abyss. The serving staff performed their duties—an upper house English servant never neglected his responsibility—but without enthusiasm.
Elizabeth joined Darcy, realizing he needed her support.Tonight, he placed her at his right hand, rather than at the other end of the table. He could reach under the cloth to touch her hand or squeeze her knee—to reassure them both of their affection and their unity. The party dwindled to a handful. His aunt, along with Anne, had chosen to take the evening meal in their chambers. Georgiana kept her cousin company. In addition, distraught over the news of the maid’s demise, Lydia Wickham had sent word
that she would dine alone.
When Lieutenant Harwood entered the dining room, the rest of the guests had begun their meals. “I apologize for my tardiness, Mr. Darcy.” Against propriety, the man offered no explanation for his lateness.
“Please join us, Lieutenant.” Darcy gestured to a chair beside Adam Lawrence.When the man had settled, Darcy made the introduction. “Mrs. Darcy, may I present Lieutenant Harwood.”
Harwood nodded an acknowledgement. “It is pleasant to have your acquaintance at last, Mrs. Darcy. Colonel Fitzwilliam speaks so highly of you.”
“My cousin, the good colonel, is one of my wife’s greatest admirers,” Darcy remarked to the rest of the table.
“Our Edward is most generous in his regard.” Elizabeth blushed while slipping her left hand into Darcy’s right.
Darcy drew the lieutenant’s attention to the lady on the viscount’s right. “I might also take the liberty, Harwood, of making you familiar with Mrs. Williams.” The woman slowly raised her chin to meet the lieutenant’s steady gaze.“I am afraid Mrs.Williams escaped the morning room before you joined us, and you had no opportunity to make the lady’s acquaintance.”
Elizabeth’s hand tightened around Darcy’s fingers, alerting him to the fleeting look of surprise crossing Harwood’s face.“I am honored, Mrs.Williams,” he mumbled in apparent awkwardness.
“As am I, Lieutenant. My late husband served this great country’s navy, and I am forever pleased to know any man who takes up the call to arms.”
Harwood looked about. “Am I to assume Miss de Bourgh has chosen not to join us?”
“My cousin and my sister, Miss Darcy, have promised to become members of our party a bit later—for some light entertainment. My sister has agreed to grace us with several musical selections. I hope you will honor us with a song, Miss Donnel.You have a most pleasant voice.”
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