by Webb, Brenda
William next addressed his uncle about a different concern. “Though it pains me greatly to say this, I must be forthright. I cannot rest easy knowing that Edgar is in charge of the investigation of Lady Catherine. We have never been close, and since I did not bow to his wife’s superior judgement concerning Gisela, he and the countess have shunned me… not that I ever desired their company. But I have reservations about how earnestly he will seek to expose plans meant to harm Georgiana or me.”
The earl coughed self-consciously, a twinge of embarrassment making his voice falter. “Well… yes. I understand why you are hesitant to trust him or me, for that matter. I was wrong, Darcy. It was improper of me to use my influence against you because I did not agree with your choices regarding marrying Anne or snubbing Gisela. Eleanor, Edgar and Frances were wrong as well. I have told them that I intended to apologise, as should they.”
William looked stunned as the earl placed a hand on his shoulder. “I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me… to forgive us all. Richard has informed me of your attachment to the young woman who helped to save Georgiana, and I intend to support whatever you decide in regard to Miss Bennet. And if it helps to calm your misgivings, Edgar knows the truth must be exposed in order to save the family!”
“Besides,” Richard chuckled, “I sent two of my trusted sergeants with him to make sure that everything that is found is preserved. Quarles and Benedict report only to me, not Edgar!”
William relaxed a bit, enquiring of his cousin, “And what have you learned of Wickham?”
“It is as though he vanished from the face of the earth.” Richard lamented. “There is not a pub, an inn or a brothel in England that one of my men has not searched in our quest to find him. Not even the lure of a large reward has brought the cockroaches from out of the walls. I am convinced that if most of these beggars and thieves knew where he was hiding, we would already have him in chains. My guess is that if Gisela is involved. We suspect she is helping to hide him.”
William covered his face with his hands, rubbing his eyes in exhaustion as a headache began. “Georgiana is secure, but I fear for Elizabeth’s safety. She foiled Wickham’s plan to get rich, and Gisela would delight in doing harm to her in order to pay me back. Wickham has the means and Gisela the money. It is a double threat.”
“You speak as though Miss Elizabeth no longer resides at Darcy House?” Richard declared. “Surely you can see to her safety here, and with our aunt and Georgiana in residence, there can be no real scandal.”
“Her father came for her yesterday. They are now at her uncle’s house in Cheapside and will return to Meryton tomorrow. Frankly, I cannot fault the man for removing her as far from me as possible. If it were Georgiana, I would do the same.”
“Have you warned her of the danger that surrounds her?”
William began to pace. “I have tried to impress upon Elizabeth the seriousness of my concerns, but she is not easily intimidated.” Just at that moment there was a knock on the door and he called out, “Come!”
The door slowly opened, and Marshall Landingham stuck his head inside. Seeing his cautious expression, William offered a slight smile. “You are welcome to join us. We were discussing Wickham and my dear wife.”
Landingham entered then, crossing the room to where the others were gathered. His expression gave away the fact that his was not a courtesy call. “I thought that I should hurry here to tell you what I have learned just this morning.”
No one spoke, so he continued. “The detective I hired to spy on Gisela called on me early today. It seems that she has packed and shipped numerous trunks of household items to Weymouth in the last several days. And she gave a bonus to those servants who had worked for her the longest before dismissing every last one of them. Early this morning she was observed leaving for parts unknown in a coach.”
Concerned looks passed between the occupants of the room.
“This does not bode well,” Matlock said sombrely. “Why would she dismiss her servants unless she did not intend to return?”
“And why would she not advise you where to send her allowance, Darcy?” Richard added. “After all, she pretends to rely on that stipend.”
The door had not been completely closed, and Mr. Barnes peeked inside, knocking on it at the same time.
“Yes, Barnes?”
“This parcel was just left on the doorstep by an urchin, sir. Blakely tried to catch him, but the lad was much too quick. There is no address to indicate who sent it.”
Nodding in frustration, William reached for the parcel. There was only the name Darcy across the front of it, written in a man’s hand—a hand he would never forget. Wickham! A feeling of dread washed over him, and for a moment, he could not move.
His hands shook as he sat down at his desk and broke the seal. A letter and a silver necklace fell onto the desktop. Everyone else exchanged worried glances as he gingerly lifted the chain and his face paled. His voice was barely a whisper. “Elizabeth.”
Impatiently, Richard grabbed the letter and began to read silently. Then he read it aloud.
Darcy,
Should you wish to see Miss Bennet again, you will do as I instruct.
Gather two hundred pounds in gold coins and the Darcy jewels. Keep in mind that I know what comprises the collection, as I was often privileged to see your dear mother wear them. If you love this woman, you will not be stingy when you fill the bag.
At daybreak on Monday, proceed to the graveyard at the church near the village of Teddington, an hour below Richmond. A large oak tree stands at the rear of the yard. I will leave instructions in a knothole on the backside of the tree that shall instruct you where to leave the ransom. When you have delivered it, you shall find directions to another site where you will find a map directing you to Miss Bennet.
Do not cross me on this, Darcy. My people are watching you, and if you involve others, I shall know. If you do not come on Monday, I shall be forced to sample the charms of your little minx and then leave her corpse for you to discover.
George
“Teddington? Why the devil would he pick a place as obscure as that?” Richard roared, once he finished reading. “I have been through there, but the village consists of only four or five shops, as I recall, and there are very few estates nearby, as the land is almost unsuitable for farming. Where could he hide Miss Bennet in that Godforsaken place?”
Just then the Earl cried out, “Stillwater! Gisela’s father had a hunting lodge near Teddington called Stillwater. I accompanied him there once, and it was the most inconvenient site in all of England. The manor was not grand, but it was sufficient for his purposes, and it sat on a huge cliff, the back facing the valley below. There was only one large attic on the top floor, and Montgomery had the windows removed, a door installed and a balcony constructed so he could walk out on the roof. He called it his crow’s nest. From a cousin in the navy, he procured a ship’s telescope, and he enjoyed showing his guests the view. He claimed he could see deer in the next county with that glass!”
“I remember hearing tales of his hunting parties, though I never attended. Nevertheless, I do have some knowledge of that area of the country, as my cousin used to live near there,” Landingham offered.
The Earl quickly added, “If he is taking Miss Bennet to Teddington, Gisela must be involved. Do you know if she still owns that place, Darcy?”
Every eye focused on William, though he had removed to the window while Richard read the note and remained eerily silent the entire time. As he stared into the distance now, the only sign of his fury were his clenched fists. And just when the Earl began to think he should repeat the question, his nephew answered.
“I confess that I have no idea. I never wanted anything to do with the properties that belonged to her, and I did not bother to learn where they were.” He whirled around, his eyes ablaze. “Do you think you could still find this place?”
“Yes, it was isolated, but I can find it, I am sure! In fact, I
know a road that approaches Teddington from Hampton. Wickham will likely watch the usual route from Richmond to Teddington, so we could head to Hampton and double back. In addition, I have a friend, Lord Percival, who has an estate between Hampton and Teddington. I have no doubt he will let us headquarter there, and he just happens to be in Town now. Say the word and I shall make the arrangements!”
Landingham walked towards William. “We are with you in this, Son. Whatever you say to do, we will do. But may I be so bold as to make some suggestions?”
“Please do.”
“As I see it, you must act quickly before Wickham realises that you know where he is taking Miss Bennet. There is no need to secure the ransom, as we shall surprise him days before it is due. And, if I am correct, the Darcy jewels are probably at Pemberley, which would take too much time to retrieve.”
William nodded.
“Obviously, whoever goes with you must not be seen in case he is not lying about the spies, so I suggest that we set out after dark tonight. If we travel together, any highwaymen will be loath to set upon us. It is only a two-hour journey by day, so we should easily make Percival’s estate before morning. Wickham expects you to arrive with the ransom in four days, but he will have settled into Stillwater and started to relax. We should storm his hideaway tomorrow evening right before dark. We will have time to plan our execution while we travel.”
“I agree,” William stated almost too calmly. “I am not willing to wait, and your suggestions make sense. We shall leave in an unmarked coach after dark. As many of us as are able will fit in the vehicle, a few others can ride alongside without drawing too much attention. When we stop for horses, I shall have my driver handle the changes so none of us are seen. Two other coaches will leave an hour later, taking the same circuitous route, and bearing those marksmen we ask to join us.”
“Why so many coaches?”
“I wish to transport Miss Bennet back to London by coach, and I just imagine that after we are done, most of you would favour a coach instead of a horse.” He turned to Richard knowing that he was an excellent strategist. “What is your opinion of the plan?”
“In truth, I could not have devised a better one. I say we start now to make arrangements. After all, we have only until dark!”
William looked purposefully towards his godfather. “I know that I can rely on you, but you have not fully recovered from your wound at Wickham’s hand. I would not have you hurt again. Send some of your men if you wish, but please do not attempt to accompany us. I will not be offended.”
Landingham stepped up to William, laying a hand on his shoulder as he looked him directly in the eye. “I never thought that you would be offended if I did not come. You are not that kind of man, I am proud to say. But you must understand that, as part of my family, I wish to be with you. I may not be as young as I once was, but I am still an excellent shot, and I shall not be gainsaid on this matter.”
William nodded, trying to swallow the huge lump that had formed in his throat. Then burying his emotions, he addressed the others.
“We need to restrict our recruits to those who are excellent shots. We shall, of necessity, use as few men as possible when we slip through the woods and surround the house.”
“I have two trusted footmen with me in Town who are fine shots!” Landingham offered.
“I have three that can hit a fly at one hundred feet!” Matlock boasted.
Shaking his head at his father’s claim, Richard stated his plan to have several fellow officers help them, including Colonel Neilson. “My men are good marksmen, used to moving by night and keeping out of sight.”
The earl bristled. “Why does Nielson have to be included?”
Richard shrugged. “Just because you do not favour him for Alicia does not mean he is not an excellent soldier and a good man.”
William intervened, which silenced the Earl. “I shall welcome his help, Cousin.”
Without warning, the door flew open, slamming back against the wall as Mr. Bennet shuffled into the room with his cane. He was followed by an ashen Charles Bingley and an exasperated Mr. Barnes, who threw up his hands, exclaiming with great frustration, “I was going to announce them, sir, but this gentleman—”
Obviously beside himself with fear, Mr. Bennet loudly interrupted the butler as he hobbled towards William.
“SIR, I DEMAND TO KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE DONE WITH MY DAUGHTER!”
~~~*~~~
Chapter 41
On the road to Stillwater
The farther from London they travelled, the more the coach settled into a steady rhythm. For the most part, it swayed from side to side in an orderly manner until it came upon one of many deep ruts in the road with teeth jarring consequences. George Wickham paid such small inconvenience no mind, for he had travelled in far worse fashion since leaving Pemberley years before. The more the miles passed with no signs of being followed by Darcy or his minions, the more he began to relax.
Tight knots of tension eased in his neck and shoulders, and he laid his head back against the top of the cushioned seat and closed his eyes. A smile crossed his lips. Extremely pleased would not do justice to describing how he felt at that instant. All that had seemed to go wrong that morning had been made right the minute Miss Bennet reappeared in the park. That had to be a sign that his luck was changing! And after all, he had managed to abscond with Darcy’s lover basically right under the man’s nose!
It is up to you to take the next step, Darcy! We shall see how much you really care about this woman.
Subsequent to seizing Miss Bennet, it had simply been a matter of stopping across Hyde Park from Darcy House on the way out of town and waiting for the owner to return. He was not about to take a chance with the ransom note. Darcy had to be the one to open it.
There were enough carriages stirring by that time, so their coach went unnoticed, sitting on the side of the park in the steady rain. A quarter-hour later, he observed Colonel Fitzwilliam and Lord Matlock being admitted to the house. When they did not come back out forthwith, he felt certain that Darcy was in residence. Immediately, he sent Grady to find a street waif to deliver the package while he safely observed everything from the window of the coach. The selected messenger did as directed, knocking on the door and dropping the package on the doorstep the minute it was opened. The footman made a valiant effort to catch the boy, only to admit defeat when the lad disappeared into the murky shadows of the landscape.
Imagining Darcy’s expression upon opening the package and having the necklace fall out, Wickham’s lips curled into an evil smirk as he closed his eyes.
What are you thinking now, old chum? Do you still believe you hold the winning hand, or has it penetrated that obstinate brain of yours that the woman you love is under my control? Despite your power and wealth, you could not prevent it. All that remains is how much of your wealth you are willing to forfeit for her return.
Opening one eye, he peered at the woman in question—Miss Elizabeth Bennet. He had expected there would at least be some tears shed by now, but not one sound had escaped his captive since she had been tossed inside the coach. And while she sat motionless in the corner, her eyes covered and a gag in her mouth, she did not appear to be overly frightened.
Judging from the way she attacked me at Ramsgate, she is most likely too headstrong to be afraid. Good Lord, Darcy has met his match—a woman as pig-headed as he!
After the show of affection that he had witnessed in the park, he knew Darcy well enough to know that he would track him to the ends of the earth if he dallied with this woman while she was under his power. Thus, he had absolutely no desire to pursue his normal predilection with regard to her. No… no matter how appealing the thought might be, he would not give Darcy an indisputable motive to pursue him after he fled England.
That bit o’muslin 19 is not worth it! I shall follow my plan to extort what I can from my old friend and flee the country as soon as possible.
Perhaps, he reasoned, if Darcy got Miss B
ennet back unharmed, he might be so relieved that he may well forget the ransom paid in favour of spending his time in more pleasurable pursuits. Glancing again in her direction, he studied what little of her face he could see.
Nevertheless, one thing puzzles me. I cannot fathom why Darcy chose her for a lover.
From what he had seen of Miss Bennet at Ramsgate and just now in the park, he would allow that she was pretty, but she was certainly not beautiful. She was definitely not the kind of woman he would have chosen for a lover if he were Darcy. After all, the Master of Pemberley could have his choice of women, all of them as beautiful as Gisela had been in her youth.
There is no accounting for taste!
His chuckles had drawn the attention of Agnes, the old woman that he had brought to watch Miss Bennet. Wickham had known her for years, as her son had been one of his partners in crime until his death at the hands of an unwilling victim. Finding her had been easy, as she always begged outside one pub or another on the seedier side of Town. Eager to make a tuppence without too much effort, she had agreed to the scheme straightaway.
As Wickham closed his eyes again, Agnes proceeded to undertake her own examination of the young woman sitting next to her. Convinced that she was only helping Wickham in order to survive, she was surprised that a small twinge of guilt pricked her conscience, and for a fleeting second she regretted her part in the affair. After all, her father had been a vicar, and he had raised her better than that. Then remembering her current station in life, she pushed all kindly thoughts to the back of her mind.
Ain’t no need ta dwell on what might’ a been. There ain’t no goin back. Besides, tha lady ain’t gonna git hurt if she don’t do nothin’ stupid!
~~~*~~~
London
Darcy House
William’s Study
