by Ted Bader
“Perhaps, it is only someone following from Pemberley.”
“No, I am quite sure Mr. Darcy does not suspect my coming in this direction. He has never sent an escort before.”
“And, if he were an escort, would he not show his face?”
“I agree,” her aunt said. “Fortunately, if he is a highwayman, he appears to be alone and our weapons seem to have scared him off.”
For the remainder of the trip, they took only the briefest of stops. Sarah periodically turned around to look out the back of the carriage and fancied she saw the dark figure tailing them several times. At dusk, it was with relief for both passengers when the carriage arrived in front of the Royal Pheasant Inn. Both ladies had placed their wigs on and Elizabeth had just placed her facial accouterments on. Before getting out, Elizabeth asked, “How do I look?”
Trying to restrain a laugh, Sarah replied, “Everything is in order. You do not look like the mistress of Pemberley.”
Mrs. Busby met them at the door. “Good evening, ladies. Welcome to the Royal Pheasant.” She curtseyed to Mrs. Darcy and then also to Sarah. She stared for a moment at Sarah, who dropped her head. “How long will you plan to stay?”
Mrs. Darcy replied, “One night.”
“We are fortunate to be able to offer you our finest room.” In a soft, conspiratorial voice she added, “And, you need not worry. The mattresses were recently aired and fresh linens put on this morning.”
“Wonderful. Sar. . . I mean, a friend told me I need not bring my own linens to your establishment, but could trust you to provide a clean room.”
“I am pleased to hear our reputation has spread. We do try to keep things in proper order.” Leading them towards the main room of the inn, Mrs. Busby continued, “Now, would you like tea served while we finish preparing your quarters?”
Both of the visitors nodded affirmatively as they followed their hostess towards a sitting area in the large room. They were seated across from each other on two large sofas. Jenny brought the tea service. While Elizabeth was distracted by the arrival of the refreshments, Mrs. Busby came over and whispered into Sarah’s ear, “You cannot fool me, Miss Sarah Bingley.”
Sarah turned toward the innkeeper and smiled, saying quietly, “It is so good to see you again. Please keep my secret?”
“Of course, my dear. I am sure you have a good reason for your disguise.”
Indicating Elizabeth, Sarah said more loudly, “And this is Mrs. Elizabeth. . . Wilson.”
Mrs. Busby smiled and softly said, “Have no fears mum. The party you are interested in is out back beating the rugs.” Leaning in closer and pouring the tea, she whispered, “Do you wish me to tell Maria anything?”
“No. No. . .” Elizabeth gasped. “Please do not tell her anything about us.”
“As you wish, but Miss Bingley had better stay out of sight or Maria will easily recognize her.”
“There is one thing, Mrs. Busby. Have your man be on the lookout for a black coated horseman who may arrive later. We think we have been followed since we entered Yorkshire.”
“Yes, my lady.” Mrs. Busby winked at Sarah and returned to the kitchen.
Jenny came in a few minutes to inquire about the service. Mrs. Darcy asked, “Are you Jenny?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“Do you like it around here?”
“Mrs. Busby treats us well. We work hard, but we have not great wants.”
“Is there anyone else your age?”
“Yes, Ma’am. A girl named Maria.”
“What is she like?”
“A lovely orphan girl, she is.”
Mrs. Darcy’s facial expression clearly encouraged Jenny to continue, “I have helped her begin her service here. Lord, she did not know how to do anything, but she is a fast learner and educated. She is helping me to learn how to read and write.” Glancing guiltily toward the kitchen, Jenny asked, “Is that all Madam wishes to know?”
“Yes, thank you very much.”
As Elizabeth finished her cup of tea, Sarah noticed her aunt’s nose was beginning to droop. It was all Sarah could do to prevent herself from laughing. Sarah pointed her own nose to give a hint to her aunt, who immediately readjusted her nasal appendage.
Mrs. Busby came to show them to their rooms and asked, “I presume you will be wanting your supper in your room,” she then lowered her voice, “I think you would be recognized if you stay down here.”
“Indeed,” was Elizabeth’s consenting reply as she looked cross-eyed at her nose.
Upon entering their second floor room, Sarah followed her aunt to the window at the back. Looking down, she saw what she thought was Maria, with hair pulled back and covered with a scarf. She watched as the slender body repeated swinging the long-handled beater at the rug, creating clouds of dust.
“I never thought I would see my daughter work that hard,” Elizabeth sighed after watching awhile. “Not that I think it is wrong; it is just something I did not think she would ever want to do.”
“Does it help to observe her?” Sarah asked.
“Yes. Seeing Maria, the inn, and meeting Mrs. Busby will help to calm my imagination and dissolve my anxiety.” Elizabeth sat down and began again, “I suppose I am becoming an old worry-wart. I cannot help being concerned about the futures of my children--wondering if they will marry or not.”
Sarah remained silent. A thought of Andrew as the unwary prey of Laura flitted through her mind.
“John gallivants all around the world on merchant ships” Elizabeth paused, “Did you now he is leaving soon to command another ship?”
“No. I did not.” Sarah entertained a brief, depressing vision of Andrew being continuously pursued, since John would not be there to distract Laura from her intent. She forced her thoughts back to what Elizabeth was saying.
“Oh, and when John does leave, Andrew plans to go to London to finish his work at the Royal Society and do other things--I am not sure what his full intentions are.” Elizabeth smiled, a somewhat melancholy expression, “That means Mr. Darcy and I would be alone, were it not for your sister Laura. We have not been truly alone since our honeymoon and in some ways I look forward to it; but, it will certainly require a lot of adjustment in my daily routines and I will miss all the children dearly.”
Sarah quickly shook off thoughts of what else Andrew might be doing in London--surely not looking for a an academic position or a home for himself and Laura--it could not have progressed to that stage without Elizabeth knowing. . . or, could it? Trying to divert Elizabeth’s attention away from her own children and sadness a bit, Sarah asked, “How is Laura doing?”
Elizabeth paused for a moments and said in a more cheerful voice, “Your sister is much improved since leaving your Aunt Caroline. Her vanity and restlessness seem to have lessened. She is content to be at Pemberley and practice her dancing and drawing.”
As Elizabeth turned back to the window, Sarah’s mind returned to her rumination during the day that Elizabeth could have been her mother-in-law! What a disappointment: Elizabeth would have been the best of all possible mother-in-laws. A feeling surfaced in her heart, one that was often recurrent, that she had made a mistake in refusing Andrew and that her chance for marital happiness had passed her by.
A noise in the hall below interrupted Sarah’s musing. Mealtime in the inn was beginning.
Sarah went to the door and opened it partway, with Elizabeth close behind her, and peered out. She closed the door, pressed her back against it, and said, “I think we could safely watch the supper by standing against the wall of the balcony. The servants will be so busy taking care of the patrons that they will not look towards the balcony as long as we are quiet.”
“Let us do so,” her aunt replied as they walked stealthily onto the balcony. Five men were seated at the table. One was an army officer in his bright red top, while the remainder were dressed in dark overcoats that all seemed to match. Except for the officer, they did not appear to be gentlemen; in fact, they acte
d surly during the meal and placed many demands on the servants. Maria and Jenny performed their duty of serving the food.
Elizabeth whispered, “It galls me to see such low-life rant at Maria.”
Suddenly, one of the men stood, and grabbed Maria to accost her. All the men stood and Mrs. Busby was about to whack the offender with her ladle, when she was grabbed by both arms and restrained by two of the rude foursome. The first man also grabbed Jenny by the arm and pulled her toward the table.
The fourth man, evidently the leader, was very fat and began to chuckle. The officer had stepped back into the shadows. Alarmed, Elizabeth commanded, “Go and get Mr. Riggs and tell him to bring his pistol. Maria is in danger.”
Sarah began to hurry along the balcony when she heard the fat man say, “My sweet little ones. How would you like to find out what real men are like?” He put his hands on the table after beckoning Maria to be brought forward.
A bright glint of steel flashed and a sharp thud brought a sword onto the table, a hairbreadth away from the fat man’s hand.
Pulling it back, a young officer emerged and said, “I am Captain James Gray. If you do not let these women go, the next move of my blade will separate your hand and arm.”
The fat man turned and chuckled, “But, sir, there are four of us and one of you.”
“All the better. When I end up skewering you, no one can say it was not fair.” The captain pulled out a pistol with his other hand and aimed it at the two men restraining Mrs. Busby. “Now, which of you wants to die first?”
The two men released Mrs. Busby’s arms and she quickly retreated behind them.
The captain turned back to the fatman, but before saying anything, two loud cracks and thuds were heard behind him. He glanced toward the sound. Mrs. Busby held a heavy pitcher in each hand as she stood over the two outlaws.
Maria kicked her captor in the shins as Jenny jumped on his back and clawed his face. He fell, moaning, to the ground, trying to shake her off.
The captain, who had been holding the fat man at bay with his sword now turned to face him and said, “Now, do you wish a sword, so we can say you were armed?” With a sly smile he added, “Though, it would be a pity to mess up the floor with your innards for these hard working women to clean up.”
“I am your prisoner, sir,” was the scowling, uneasy reply of the fat man as he raised his arms.
Mrs. Busby said to Jenny, “Go and fetch the constable.”
Sarah was only part way down the steps from the balcony when the scene had already resolved itself. She turned around and stepped quietly back to Elizabeth. They watched as the Captain tied the hands of the four highwaymen and the constable took the villains away.
Mrs. Busby, Maria and Jenny then expressed their gratitude to the Captain by serving him a repast fit for a king. At one point in the meal, while Maria was serving him, the Captain looked at her intently and said, “You look familiar to me. Do I know you?”
“It is unlikely, sir.”
“What is your name?”
“Maria.”
“Your surname?”
“Harwood,” she answered with a shaky voice.
“The Christian name seems familiar, but not Harwood.”
After this exchange, Maria allowed Jenny a much greater presence in front of the officer than herself. This was not difficult to accomplish, as Jenny was clearly enamored with the handsome junior officer. He seemed to enjoy Jenny’s continual hovering--many gentlemen had respectfully described her as “a handsome young woman” and “pleasing to the eye.”
After the evening activities were over, Sarah and Mrs. Darcy finally retreated to their room.
Sarah mused aloud, “I wonder if those were the highwaymen who were following us.”
“Possibly. Though the rogue following us seemed taller than any here tonight. . . but, that may be due to the fact that we were looking down on them this evening.”
Elizabeth sat down and continued, “Now, I am both vexed and anxious. How can I leave Maria in this dangerous situation? Yet, how can I ask her to return home?”
Sarah remained thoughtful and quiet.
A soft knocking was heard at the door. Sarah arose and let Mrs. Busby in. The innkeeper curtseyed and said, “I am so sorry, my lady, about the lateness of your supper. I suppose you saw the commotion in the dining room?”
“Yes.”
“This is the first time in my seven years as proprietor of this inn that anything like this has ever happened. Captain Gray said he would arrange for an officer and gentleman to dine here every night for the next few months to help scare away any felons in the future.”
“Do you think the highwayman who followed us was part of the gang?”
Mrs. Busby smiled broadly, “No, Ma’am. Your spy is none other than Mr. Reynolds. I spotted him outside a few minutes ago.”
Elizabeth produced her first relaxed smile of the day as Mrs. Busby said, “Your supper will be here any minute.”
Jenny brought the meal and the two ladies partook of more food than expected. With the meal finished, they were soon in bed with all light extinguished.
Elizabeth asked, “What do you think I should do about Maria?”
After a pause, Sarah said, “I think you need to let her go. The Almighty cares more about Maria than you or I ever could.”
After a further pause, Elizabeth said, “I now understand the feeling my father had in letting me marry Mr. Darcy. . . Sarah, you are a wonderful niece, your beauty of mind and wisdom far beyond your age.”
“Thank you. I love you, Aunt Elizabeth.”
“And I love you. I appreciate your being with me through this trial of mother’s love. Good night.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
The next morning, Mr. Riggs assisted Elizabeth and Sarah into their waiting carriage. As Mr. Riggs closed the door, Mrs. Darcy said, “Do ask that fellow across the street to come and talk with us.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
The tall, black-cloaked man came over to the carriage but kept his face turned away, and with an obviously altered voice said, “Your driver said my lady wished to see me.”
“You no longer need secrecy, Mr. Reynolds.”
A sheepish looking, surprised, Mr. Reynolds turned toward Elizabeth. “How did you know?”
“Mrs. Busby spotted you yesterday.” With a kind voice, she asked, “Will you not join us in the carriage on the way back to Pemberley?”
“Thank the Lord,” the elderly servant said. “I was dreading riding all that way on horseback again. I almost froze to death last night sleeping in the livery.”
Once he was seated, Mrs. Darcy continued, “Now, tell us Mr. Reynolds, who sent you to spy on us. Was it Mr. Darcy?”
“No, Ma’am. Mrs. Reynolds sent me to follow your carriage. I do not believe Mr. Darcy knows anything about your adventure.”
“Good. And please, see to it that he does not learn anything about it when we arrive home. I feel foolish for coming.”
Mr. Reynolds nodded, “You may depend on me; but, Mr. Darcy would understand that a mother needs to know her child is safe and well-cared for.”
“Yes, he sometimes seems to understand my thoughts even before I do.” Here the carriage took off and Elizabeth finished, “At least I do not think Maria discovered our presence while we were here. She has such a desire to prove herself that she would be quite upset with me.”
That evening, after supper, Elizabeth was working on an intricate embroidery piece, while Mr. Darcy was reading the Times. Sarah sat quietly working on a poem, having agreed to spend the night at Pemberley before returning home. Laura had excused herself to bathe before bed.
From behind his paper, Mr. Darcy innocently inquired, “Elizabeth, how was your visit with Maria?”
Elizabeth answered absentmindedly, “Fine,” and then became very quiet. After a moment she asked, “Who told you? Mr. Reynolds promised not to.”
He lowered the paper and smiled tenderly at his wife, “No one
needed to tell me of your true destination.”
“How did you find out?”
“My dear Lizzy, for the week prior to your departure, you spoke of nothing else except Maria and your concern for her welfare. The cover of your visiting relatives in Hampshire was rather transparent--especially to anyone who loves you and understands your mother’s heart. I was tempted to ask to go along. . . a father worries about his daughter, too, you know.”
Elizabeth smiled at him, “Sometimes I forget what a tender heart you have. I should have told you where I was going so you wouldn’t have to worry about us too.”
“With the disappearance of Mr. Reynolds, I knew that you were being looked after, so I didn’t worry about you and Sarah overly much; but, I hope you know I would like you to share all your concerns with me.” He glanced at Sarah. “Miss Sarah, perhaps you will tell me how my daughter is faring.”
“She looks very tired; but, she also looks quite happy. The proprietor seems to be quite pleased with her work.”
“Does the inn seem a safe, respectable place as we were told.”
Elizabeth and Sarah glanced at one another, then Sarah said, “It has a very good reputation. The rooms a quite clean and the meals are tasty. There was an incident when we were there. . . .”
“What kind of incident?” Mr. Darcy asked as he jumped up and began to pace. “Did this incident involved Maria?”
Lizzy set aside her needlework and went to her husband. Grasping his arm she explained, “Maria is fine. She has many people watching out for her welfare.”
He drew her into his arms and said, “Thank God. I should have known you would not have come home without her if she were in any real danger.”
Sarah slipped out of the room as Elizabeth settled into the lap of her long-time beau and began to give him details about their adventure.
Chapter Thirty
At the next mid-week Methodist class, as Sarah finished reading aloud the final scriptural verse, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint;” she looked up and, to her surprise, she saw Andrew Darcy sitting behind Mr. and Mrs. Hand. She tried not to stare. As the class progressed, she noted that his countenance revealed close evaluation of the proceeding. At one point, his eyebrows were furrowed and his face was perplexed while she responded briefly to a question. She was determined to talk to him after the closing prayer, but when the heads were raised at the end of the meeting, Andrew was no longer present.
