A Mutual Accord

Chapter 33

CHAPTER 33

T he men left to attend to their practise, and the ladies departed in the carriages to see to their outings. At the appointed visiting hour, the usual crowd fell upon Bourne House. Mr Woodhouse arrived, without his daughter, whom he claimed was resting. Sir Albert Swinton and Lord Bexley both called and resumed courting Anne in earnest.

Anne had no interest in either gentleman since she still had no intention of marrying. She had improved her strength since her stay in Hertfordshire, but she was still by no means a strong or healthy woman. The cessation of her tonics had improved her health more than anything, but Anne would never consent to wed or bear a child. She intended to ask her cousin Richard to find a bride, bring his family to reside at Rosings Park to run it for her, and inherit upon her death. There was also the possibility of living at Pemberley or Matlock with her other relations, that is if her cousin Darcy ever wed and made it acceptable for her to live in his home. It was obvious that the day would not be long in coming.

Lord Lennox called upon Priscilla, who bore his attentions with impatience and irritation. It seemed at each visit, that the man was more interested in her father and brother than he was in herself. He asked endless questions about her father’s injury, and whether or not he was well enough to correspond with his party regarding parliamentary meetings. Did she think he would journey to Eastbourne to visit her aunt soon, or to London for the general elections in October? Priscilla found such inquiries tedious and banal, and could not understand why the man cared. She offered to send an introductory letter to her father to open correspondence with the young earl if he wished to pepper her father with questions about his business.

Priscilla did not realise that Sir Albert and Lord Bexley were peppering Anne with similar questions, as well as pointed questions about Richard’s activities, which Anne knew even less about than her uncle’s condition. After several intrusive inquiries, Anne firmly told both men that she was not her cousin’s keeper, and had no notion of his whereabouts. The men were all of an age, and both noblemen claimed that they were only curious about the colonel’s travels since they had all parted ways at Cambridge.

Georgiana and Lydia were disappointed to find Miss Fletcher unable to receive callers. “She danced last night at the assembly, her father is rather put out with her for wasting her strength, miss,” confided the maid who answered the door. “The comte has been called, and it is hoped that he will administer another elixir.”

The girls thanked the maid, and returned to their carriage. “Let us go to the confectioners, and the library, Georgie. I crave a tin of chocolate drops? 1 , and we can see if they have any of those prawlongs? 2 you enjoyed so much last time,” said Lydia.

Georgiana agreed, and when they arrived at the library, she sent a local boy with a message to find her brother at the shore where he was practising cricket with the other men, and inform him of her change in plans. It would not do for him not to know her whereabouts, considering that Mr Wickham might be in the vicinity. Georgiana had not mentioned seeing the man to Lydia, who had not confessed to her adventure following him, so sadly, the others did not know for certain that he was present, and who he was meeting with.

Georgiana perused the volumes in the library, as Lydia searched for a book her father had instructed her to read and discuss with him by correspondence, if she could find it. Mrs Annesley was engaged in a discussion with the proprietor and his wife about a novel she was looking for. Suddenly, Georgiana gave a squeak as she was grasped firmly by her arm, and dragged into a darkened corner.

“Richard!” she gasped. “I knew it was you! My brother did not believe me!”

“Darcy needs to begin taking you seriously, poppet,” Richard answered in semi-outrage. “I shall tell him so again, directly.”

“Says the man who just called me poppet,” she giggled.

“Georgie, you are old and wise enough for me to give keen attention to your every concern, but you will always be poppet to me,” her cousin said endearingly. “Even when you are an old crone with four dozen grandchildren.”

“What are you doing here?” she asked. “Brother said you were on a special assignment.”

“ I am on a special assignment. I cannot tell you the nature of it, poppet, but I fear I must ask for your assistance. There are some men visiting Bourne House regularly, and I must get closer to them, in order to learn their intentions.”

“Do you mean the noblemen who are attempting to court Anne and Priscilla?” asked Georgiana. “Priscilla says they are rakes, every single one.”

“I fear they may be worse than rakes, Georgie, and I have my suspicions regarding why they have turned up here without warning, and begun to curry favour with the ladies of our family,” explained Richard. “Do you know what they talk about?”

“They ask a great many questions about Lord Matlock and his injury, his contact with parliament and the war office, even though he is missing the session, and there may have been at least one inquiry as to your whereabouts, I believe the gentlemen claimed to know you from school.”

“ Know is a generous description. I would say I knew of them ,” said Richard. “They were not of my set. Their families have all been in trouble financially for many years, and such boys could cause trouble with their cunning and desperation to make good connections at school. Their sort was likely to compromise one’s sister on a visit to one’s home. I avoided young men like them, sons of gamblers and degenerates, they were all as troublesome and reckless as their forebears, every last one. Will you assist me to hide in the house, Georgie? I wish to observe their behaviour amongst my kin,” Richard asked. “I cannot approach your brother. He is being followed, and so is Aunt Catherine. I have not determined why yet, so you must not tell them. The followers do not appear aggressive, they are just watching, and I mean to learn the reason.”

“I will help you, but I do not believe that I am skilled enough to do so without Torrens suspecting something. He has become excessively observant about security since everyone became aware that Aunt Catherine is ill, and that Anne needs extra protection. You know he will be certain to catch you out in a moment,” worried Georgiana.”

“There is no chance he will not tell Aunt Catherine. He is entirely loyal to her,” Richard said, thinking aloud.

“Not if we get to her first,” said Georgiana with a mischievous smile.

“Georgiana, the more who know, the more likely that I should be exposed. I am at liberty to create my own allies, and find those I trust for help, but our aunt…” Richard shook his head in uncertainty.

“Our aunt trusts me, and she trusts you. That is enough,” insisted Georgie. “I have become quite close with her since our time at Netherfield. She depends upon the solace she receives from me that comforts her in the absence of my mother’s support. I too, have learned to confide in her, as unto a mother, and I have received nothing but love, approval, and support from her. Though she still is not always tactful, I know she would help me with anything. If I confide to her that you cannot share your mission, but that you are nearby in the service of your duty, and require the assistance of Torrens, she would instruct the man to follow your every command, and to keep silent on the matter. I am certain of it. Aunt may not show it, but she is proud of your service to the Crown. You, cousin, your service, is an example of our family’s devotion to His Majesty, and Aunt is a proud Englishwoman who would do anything required to assist you in your duty.”

Richard hesitated, weighing the danger. He believed his cousin was right. He would take the risk; his aunt would be so proud of any small service their family could contribute to The Crown, that she would do what Georgiana asked. “I am proud of you cousin, for your insight,” he said. “I shall wait for you in the back of the garden tomorrow morning for our aunt’s answer.”

Georgiana spun about as her companion’s voice suddenly was heard behind her. “Miss Darcy, what on earth are you doing back here?”

“Oh!” gasped Georgiana. “Miss Annesley, you quite startled me! I was just taken by a whim of fancy, exploring this curiously darkened little corner.”

Richard had already somehow disappeared into thin air, though she could not fathom how he had escaped. She followed her companion obediently back into the centre of the shop. Lydia had located her book, and it appeared interesting enough that Georgiana offered to read it with her, and they could discuss it together, as well as with Mr Bennet by post. The ladies took their volumes and continued to the confectioners, where Georgie purchased some prawlongs for herself and Richard, who enjoyed them greatly, a packet of licorice for her brother, and a tin of marzipan for her aunt.

It was an eventful day. Georgiana seemed to trip over intrigue at every turn. Later that afternoon, whilst she read in the garden, she heard whispers from the other side of the hedge, and she drew silently closer in curiosity.

“You finally have something for me?” said a rough voice from the other side of the hedge.

“I do,” came the voice of Marigold, an upstairs maid who had accompanied the family from Rosings, and had been with the family for years. “As ye know, sir, me brother works fer Lord Matlock. He writes that ‘is lordship receives and sends a packet of letters from Downing Street an’ ‘is Majesty every day.”

“Of course he does! He’s the Foreign Secretary, and this country is always at war! He is fortunate that His Majesty does not demand his resignation, having been away for so long. You better not have wasted my time coming here to hear about expresses from the PM.”

“No sir. Me brother got ‘imself a copy o’ the key to ‘is lordships study, an’ ‘e’s been takin a packet or two o’ letters every night when the ‘house goes to bed. It’s ‘is job to douse the candles and lock up at night, an’ ‘e’s the first about in the mornings, being lowest footman. ‘E takes em at night and copies ‘em, and returns ‘em in the morning afore anyone’s about. Got a whole packet o’ them ‘ere, sir. It took longer than we wished because ‘e had to travel through two villages to send ‘em without being known an’ questions asked. An’ I had to retrieve ‘em from the post under a false name. If such a parcel come in the post, there’d be questions, the ‘ole house would be curious, sir.”

“If your brother has that sort of access to Lord Matlock’s papers, we will send someone to stay in the area to retrieve them. I will meet you here tomorrow at this time to give you instructions of how they will approach him,” whispered the man in a rough voice.

Georgiana was appalled as she moved quickly away from the hedge to avoid detection. Traitors! Traitors and disloyal servants in the houses of Matlock and de Bourgh! The scandal would be terrible, and her aunt would be enraged. Georgiana could not tell her yet. No one could know but Richard.

Later that evening, after all parties had retired to bed, Georgiana visited her aunt in her suite. “Is all well, niece?” Lady Catherine asked kindly. “You are not in any trouble, are you? If you are, I am grateful that you trusted me enough to come. You always may. I will always be here for you, the daughter of my dear sister Anne. You can tell me anything, without fear. I will always help you, even if I do not agree with your actions.”

“I thank you, aunt. I am so grateful to know I always have your support. That is why I came. Not because I am in trouble,” Georgiana said in a rush. “I hope that I am smart enough never to find myself in trouble, but because I know I can trust you when I need help.”

“What is it, Niece?” Lady Catherine asked encouragingly.

“Recently, when I was out with my brother, I was certain I saw my cousin Richard,” Georgiana told her aunt. “I told my brother, who did not believe me. But it was Richard, and he approached me yesterday secretly at the library.”

“What nonsense, Darcy, not believing you! You are not some flibberty-gibbet!” snorted her aunt in derision. “I will have a word with that boy. You are nearly a woman, and old enough to be considered with a measure of respect. Your grandmother was a mother by your age! What is my nephew Fitzwilliam doing in Eastbourne? I thought he was on a special mission for the war office.”

“He is on a special mission, and so you must wait to speak with my brother, for Richard requires our discretion,” explained Georgiana. “I have no idea what his mission entails, but he requires access to this house, he is watching someone who visits us regularly, and must follow them in the service of his duty. I can assist him, but I know we will not escape Torrens’s notice.”

“And Torrens will tell me all. Was it your idea to come and seek my secrecy?” asked Lady Catherine, as Georgiana nodded. “That gratifies me. Is it the comte he is watching? Go and tell the footman in the hall to summon Torrens.” Her niece did so, then returned to her chair, and their conversation.

“I do not believe it is the comte . He did not mention him,” Georgiana evaded, not wishing to give away anything Richard had asked her about the younger men. He had not given her permission to share his inquiries.

“And you will not tell me who he did mention. That is intelligent of you. You must give him any aid that he requires as long as it does not put you in peril. All he has asked for is access to this house when we are having visitors?” said Lady Catherine.

“Yes, Aunt,” Georgie affirmed. Her aunt instructed her to pour each of them a glass of wine from a decanter on a nearby table while they waited. After a few moments, they were joined by the butler.

“Torrens, you have been a trusted retainer of this family for decades,” said Lady Catherine.

“It has been my honour, your ladyship.” The butler bowed respectfully. Torrens was the epitome of the perfect English butler. A tall man, topping six feet, he was never anything other than impeccably turned out. He never spoke out of turn, and when he did speak it was in a deep, distinctive baritone. He ran the household to perfection, and with his expertise, Lady Catherine never had troubles with her staff. When Georgiana was a small child she had been terrified of him, though she acknowledged now that there had been no good reason for it. He was an extremely proper and stern, but kindly man.

“Our family must now demonstrate our complete trust in you, Torrens. I am certain you will not disappoint me,” continued Lady Catherine. “My nephew, Colonel Fitzwilliam, is in the vicinity, on a special assignment in service to the Crown, and requires our assistance and utmost discretion.”

“I would consider it a privilege to assist Colonel Fitzwilliam in his duty, your ladyship,” Mr Torrens assured her.

“You will allow him access to this house whenever he requires it. You will help him enter and exit without detection. Whatever he requires of you, you will do. If he sends you a message through Miss Darcy, you will follow it implicitly and without question. What he and the Crown require most from you is your utmost secrecy. You will not report his movements, nor his requests, to me, nor to anyone else,” Lady Catherine directed.

“I understand, your ladyship. I am proud to do my duty to the de Bourgh family, and to my country. I shall wait for Colonel Fitzwilliam to approach me, and follow his instructions implicitly.” Mr Torrens bowed again and left the room.

“Tell Fitzwilliam that I am gratified that he trusted me with his confidence, Georgiana, and that he shall not regret it; whatever he requires, I will provide,” Lady Catherine instructed her niece as they bid one another good night.

“Thank you, Aunt; I will,” Georgiana promised as she withdrew to her own room.

1 ? Chocolate drops were a popular sweet in the Regency, and were similar to the chocolate nonpareils that are sold in stores now.

2 ? Prawlong is an earlier term for pralines, a caramel covered confection containing almonds, and sometimes hazelnuts or pistachios. Early settlers in New Orleans adapted the recipe for pecans.