by Anne Louise
It was almost dark when Darcy awoke. He was lying on the floor inside the stone gatehouse, but he could not escape. The walls were stone and the door could not be opened. Darcy saw a tin cup and a plate of bread and gravy and read a note written by his captures.
To our guest,
We will give you twenty-four hours before we return. Enjoy your stay.
Darcy saw his predicament. There were no windows except the small openings between some of the stones and the openings were the size of an apple. He inspected the ceiling and it was made of stone. It was as if he was in his own tomb, but that thought registered.
When he heard the floor creak under his feet, Darcy had figured out how he would escape. He stomped on that spot until he saw it give way and pulled at the loose plank on the floor until he could remove it. When he did, Darcy saw a large hole and tested the depth with the wood he removed earlier. The hole was large enough for him to begin to dig out toward the side of the gatehouse, but it would soon be dark.
He wondered why there was a hole in the ground but figured it had been there for years, and may have been dug by children using the gatehouse as their fort. He figured the owner, rather than filling the hole completely, put new planking over the hole. For some reason, such thoughts did not bother Darcy as it provided him the means to escape.
With the weather warmer than normal, he knew the ground was not frozen and could be dug and so he grabbed part of a plank and began digging, throwing removed dirt onto the floor above. As the digging continued, he loosened enough dirt and collected it on his shirt to speed up the digging. There was no thought that he would wait until morning to dig. This was his best opportunity to escape and he would not waste it. Darcy had always been a determined man but he worked like three men that night, though he was nearly exhausted. He was aware that if he did not escape, the gatehouse would likely be his tomb. Finally he broke through the ground and observed the nearly full moon, but next a cloud obscured the moon and he made his escape, and followed the way he came in.
The night was cold, but Darcy was warm from the exertion, and only later did he consider he was poorly dressed for early January on a mostly cloudless night. During his trip from the gatehouse, he saw no person as he hugged the road and walked for what seemed like hours until he spotted a house. As he approached the house he could see a man and a woman inside. Now he heard a dog bark and saw the door open and he called out for help.
A man came out to see what the commotion was and had a pistol pointed at Darcy.
“Please, I need your help.”
“You are shirtless in this weather? Why are you here, and you had better explain yourself?”
“I was kidnapped and locked in the stone gatehouse about five miles away, and I dug my way out. My name is Fitzwilliam Darcy.”
“Of course you are, and I am Napoleon,” said the man. “Further, where is your identification?”
“It was taken after they knocked me out. I live in town with my sister.”
The woman next walked over to inspect the man. “And where else do you live? Do you have another home?”
“Yes, that home is called Pemberley, in Derbyshire.”
The woman began to believe he might be telling the truth, but asked another question. “And how long have you been married?”
“I am not married.”
“Nathan, I believe the man is telling the truth. Look at those gentleman’s riding boots. I am surprised the men who captured him did not take them.”
“Look, this letter is the only proof that I have. It is this letter the kidnapper sent to me.” Darcy pulled the letter from his pocket and the man reached for it and saw the dirt.
“Nathan, he is dirty, from digging. Look at the letter.”
“Oh, I believe he is Mr. Darcy. Look at that welt on his head. You are fortunate to be alive and we will hep you.”
“Good, I need all the help I can get. What time is it? They took my watch too.”
“It is nearly one in the morning.”
“You were up very late.”
“Yes, we are trying to decide if we can make our rent this month.”
“I will take care of it for the next year if you help me.”
“We do not want to profit from helping you, said the man.”
“But your thoughtfulness will be rewarded.”
“You can come inside and get cleaned up and we will feed you. I have some larger clothes that you might fit into, now come inside.”
Darcy thanked them and told of the particulars of his capture.
“Those people told you wrong, Mr. Darcy. Old Mr. Burgess died almost two years ago. The present owners are a young family with two children.”
“Then this is all part of the plan to kidnap me and hold me for ransom?”
“Yes, I would not be surprised if the kidnappers left you there to die. It is likely they have already sent off a ransom letter.”
“The kidnappers wrote that they will return before this evening. I need to visit the local magistrate.”
“I will take you to see him before noon. Mr. Darcy, it is not often that we have guests. This is my wife, Rachel, and I am Nathan Smithwick. Please sit for some food and later my wife will draw some hot water for a bath.”
That night he slept on the floor. He could see the light from the moon and he prayed that Georgiana and Elizabeth were safe. Finally, he was asleep and remained that way until morning.
“Mr. Darcy, you may join us for breakfast if you wish?”
“Thank you, but I have imposed enough.”
“You will need to eat. This may be a long day for you. It surely beats army food.”
“So you were in the army?”
“Yes, but I was injured. My back still gives me fits. If I had not been injured I would have stayed longer, but that was not possible. I almost died in a firefight and my commanding officer rescued me and carried me back to our lines, but this new work is too hard on my back.”
“Who was the officer who saved you?”
“Oh, you would not know of him. His name is Colonel Fitzwilliam.”
“I may have heard the name before.”
Darcy did eat a piece of toast and had a cup of coffee and thanked them.
“Mr. Darcy, we should leave now to visit the local magistrate.”
“They travelled by horse and Darcy, now dressed as a laborer and without his formal stovetop hat, donned the hat of another and they went to the magistrate’s house.”
“Sir, this gentleman is here to report a crime.” Darcy and the others looked around, and seeing no person within hearing range, Darcy spoke.
“Sir, I am Fitzwilliam Darcy and yesterday I was kidnapped.” The man looked on aghast to hear such news as Darcy told of his ordeal.
“I can see now that you are Fitzwilliam Darcy. I am Thomas Blackman, the local magistrate. Have you any current plan other than to find those responsible and have them drawn and quartered?”
“Yes, sir, here is my plan. I suggest you post guards to hide near the gatehouse just in case the kidnappers return. Mr. Smithwick believes they have already left and will soon deliver the ransom note to my home in town. My plan is to catch the next coach to town and to go to my friend’s house. Of course, I shall tell my sister and other family about this, but I want these people to believe I am back in the gatehouse. Will you help me?”
“That is a splendid plan, Mr. Darcy, and I will get to it right away. So they took most of your clothes plus your watch and your money and your hat and your poor horse?”
“Can you describe your horse?”
Darcy had no trouble describing Hercules.
“So he is not a poor horse, after all, and is a black stallion. It should not be difficult to find such a horse.”
“The men that took him will never be able to ride him. He responds to no man but me.”
“Mr. Darcy, I am providing you with twenty pounds which I expect to be repaid. Here is my address and I have your own.”
“I will forward your money once I arrive back in town.”
“Do you suspect who has done this to you?”
“No, it is a mystery.”
“We will find your horse. Leave it to me, sir. Now if you hurry, you have time to catch the next coach to town.”
After thanking the magistrate, Mr. Smithwick showed Darcy to the coach station and soon Darcy climbed aboard and watched as Nathan Smithwick took his own horse in tow and returned home.
Darcy barely said much to any of the riders. Normally he would have been involved in some conversation but this was not to be. He enjoyed riding unnoticed, though he saw how a poor man could be discriminated against by one almost as poor. Once the coach arrived, he paid for a ride to Charles Bingley’s house. He was fortunate that Bingley was home.
“You are alive! Just two hours ago your sister received a ransom note and after seeing her uncle, she came here.”
“It is all a crazy story! Before I have to repeat it to Georgiana, would you go and bring her back here?”
“Darcy, she and her uncle just left, and they said they were returning his home.”
“Then you must take me there.”
“I will Darcy, but first we will stop at Darcy House to get you proper clothes.”
“No, Bingley, I will explain later, but we must leave now.”
Minutes later the two men arrived at Darcy’s uncle’s home and watched as Georgiana ran to greet her brother as they embraced.
Soon the doors were shut and all the servants were sent away. Darcy asked if they had paid the ransom.
“No, Darcy, but I spoke with the local magistrate and visited with that detective friend who your father once used.”
“You mean, Mr. Jennings, do you not?”
“Yes, that is the man. He is due here and you must speak with him, but tell of all that has happened, and get out of those awful clothes.”
Just then Mr. Jennings was led into the room.
“Darcy, whatever happened? He next described receiving the letter and riding out to meet with the attorney about purchasing the property and told of his being knocked unconscious and how he escaped.”
“Then it is good that you escaped. They probably never intended to return for you.”
“I did meet with the local magistrate, a Mr. Blackman, and he arranged to have men watching for any people visiting the place, and he agreed to look for my horse.”
“Good grief, Darcy, they took your clothes, your money, your horse and nearly your life. What do you recommend we do?”
“That is the very question I want to ask you?”
“The people who did this to you are in town. You should stay at your uncle’s house and keep out of sight. As long as we act like we want you returned, we improve our odds of finding these people.”
“Georgie, I will take you home later, and you will pick some clothes and other things you need. It is not safe to stay at Darcy House without your brother.”
“Yes, Uncle, I will do that.”
Darcy later thanked his friend, Mr. Bingley, but told him he would stay at his uncle’s house.
“That is the best choice, Darcy, and you can be near Georgiana. Your uncle’s house is closer to Darcy House and logistically speaking, this house makes more sense for catching the people who are responsible.”
After those words Bingley left, but he promised to drop by on the morrow and would do whatever was needed to apprehend those responsible.
“Have you spoken about your desire to one day purchase a home on the coast?”
“I have, Jennings, I spoke with my housekeeper, Mrs. Pierce, but you do not believe that she…”
“No, Darcy, but someone else may have heard the conversation.”
“Yes, we did hire a footman a few months ago. He came with good references.”
“Darcy, we both need to speak with your housekeeper. Mrs. Pierce should return here with Miss Darcy. You must know that I will have some of my men watch Darcy House and carefully follow anyone who might be suspicious. Mrs. Pierce must be aware of these measures and know that you are well, but no one else must know anything of this sordid mess.”
“Georgie, you look upset.”
“I am still upset, William. After reading the ransom letter, I wrote to Elizabeth and told her.”
“That means she will come to town. I wish you had not written to her, but I understand your desire to reach out to her.”
“Darcy, Georgiana cannot return to Darcy House until this is resolved. Miss Elizabeth is welcome to stay here. It would be good for both of them.”
“That is kind of you, Uncle, but she may wish to stay with the Gardiners. Her eldest sister may already be visiting with them.”
“Then I can see both sisters,” Georgiana said, a brief smile forming on her face, but she was still clearly upset that she had written to her friend so soon.
“Georgiana, please let your brother read the letter from the kidnappers.”
“You are right, Uncle.” She next handed him the letter and Darcy began its perusal.
Miss Darcy
Be not alarmed that anything bad has happened or will happen to your brother if you cooperate with us. We are holding him nearby and he is being looked after and is comfortable.
Attached is his brief missive that he wrote for you.
Unless we see a sign that you will cooperate and meet our demands, we will kill your brother.
You must light a lantern and place it beside the boxwoods hear the front walk to indicate you will meet our demands. We will watch for the light and you have twenty-four hours to agree.
We demand twenty-thousand pounds in cash and you will receive other letters with instructions.
If we do not see the lantern, you will never see your brother. Later, if you contact the authorities, and if you do manage to ever see him, he will not look the same. It would be a shame if that handsome face were to be scared, but your money will prevent that from happening. Be on the lookout for other letters and further instructions.
“Georgie, I never wrote a missive. Let me read what I supposedly wrote.”
Dearest Sister,
Presently I am well and comfortable, and will be released as soon as you satisfy these demands. Please do not tell Mrs. Reynolds.
Your Loving Brother
F. D.
“Did you catch that, Jennings? The missive speaks of the housekeeper at Pemberley, Mrs. Reynolds.”
“I did catch that and it may turn out to be very important. This is tough business that we are dealing with. I would like a few words with you in private.”
“Of course, let us move to my uncle’s study?” Darcy next told the others he needed to talk privately with Mr. Jennings and the two stepped out of the room and spoke.
“Darcy, it is good that Georgiana is to stay away, but Mrs. Pierce can help us. With your sister away, the servants will unburden themselves with all manner of gossip. I propose that I stay at Darcy House and say that I am an attorney asked to manage your finances and estate matters.”
“What is the advantage for you saying there?”
“If others at Darcy House are involved, I might discover who they are. I helped your father at Pemberley but never visited him in town, so I should not be known. Any people from Darcy House who are involved would interpret the reason for my presence is to put the money together to pay the ransom.”
“They will all be suspicious, but Georgiana has told no person, even Mrs. Pierce, but did ask her to have a servant ready the carriage for her.”
“I am certain her countenance must have alerted anyone there who was involved in the kidnapping.”
“Very true, it seems that we have to wait for the rumors to learn if someone at Darcy House is involved.”
“That may be, Darcy, but someone there or another person knowledgable of your family might also be involved. One thing I will do is look over your father’s diary and other papers and read anything he may have written about the Burgess estate.”
“Darcy, if someone perused those diaries recently, I will be able to tell. Also, I expect that many of your papers and your own diary may also have been perused.”
“Yes, that also concerns me.”
Darcy next told of his meeting Miss Bennet and spoke of writing of her in his diary and told the man where he could find it.
“Then you and Miss Bennet may both be in danger, will you not?”
“Yes, Jennings, she would be a likely candidate to be abducted, and so would any of her family.”
****
“I can see you care for her. At least the other Bennets are in Hertfordshire.”
“Her eldest sister, Miss Jane Bennet, is in town.”
“You need not worry. Let Georgiana and a maid and myself leave now and we will return with Mrs. Pierce. Whilst there, I will speak privately with Mrs. Pierce and she can show me where I can find these files that we have been discussing.”
The man next accompanied Georgiana and went to Darcy House. As planned, Georgiana was saddened and others watched as Mrs. Pierce and Mr. Jennings entered the study and locked the doors. Georgiana had been briefed earlier to be watching for any servants who might be listening.
Georgiana collected her things but also sent the maids and other servants downstairs as she collected some of her brother’s clothing and put everything into her trunk. Mr. Jennings found the papers and carried them away, but before that, placed some papers nearby that he could later observe to see if they had been perused after they left Darcy House. Mrs. Pierce then told the others that she would return soon but that the study and the bedrooms would remain locked.
When they arrived at Darcy’s uncle’s house, Mrs. Pierce hugged Darcy and cried.
“I am so sorry, William. Are you hurt?”
Darcy told her of the kidnapping and Mr. Jennings explained that he would stay at Darcy House to entrap others who might be involved.
“Mrs. Pierce, one of the things that I wish to speak with you about is the letter that Mr. Darcy received prior to going to meet the people who ultimately kidnapped him. He told me that he had mentioned to you that he was considering purchasing a large property near the channel.”
