Chapter Nine
The search was methodical. Darcy and Thatcher searched inch by inch for any signs of disturbance—footprints, a makeshift shelter, a new path, anything that might indicate someone was living in the woods.
As they did, the others moved in from the outer boundaries of the woods on horses.
But as the second hour wore on into a third, they found nothing that would indicate anyone was living here.
Darcy had hoped to find some clue, some evidence to confirm Miss Bennet’s fears and justify his own concerns. But the forest remained stubbornly silent, offering no hint anyone had ever been there. He stopped to look around the wet ground, unmarred by any disturbance they had not caused themselves.
“Sir,” Thatcher said, breaking the heavy silence, “perhaps we’ve been searching in the wrong place. It’s possible the one behind these thefts is not hiding in the woods at all. He may be staying elsewhere and moving around the estate so we cannot locate him.”
Darcy frowned, considering Thatcher’s words. It was true they had focused their search on the most forested area, for it was the best place for a thief to hide. But what if they had miscalculated?
“To what end?”
Thatcher lifted his shoulders. “I do not know. But I am convinced someone has been watching us when Miss Bennet takes her walks.”
The other men reached them, Thompson speaking for them all when he reported that they had found nothing.
“If you do not mind a bit more time in the cold,” Darcy said to them all, “we might follow the path Miss Bennet takes each morning, just to be certain. Thatcher can show us.”
Thatcher nodded. “It runs out of the woods, along the river.”
“Lead on,” Darcy said. It was best to be thorough.
Elizabeth paced the drawing room. When she reached the window, she stopped for a few moments to look out beyond the gardens before she resumed her circuit.
A soft knock at the door made her pause, and she turned as Mr. Riggs entered.
“Mr. Darcy to see you, Miss Bennet,” he announced.
Elizabeth’s heart skipped a beat. “Please, show him in.”
Moments later, Mr. Darcy stepped into the room, his expression grave. Elizabeth felt a mixture of relief and concern. He would not appear so serious had he not found something, so she was not imagining things. But if she was not imagining things, then she and Hollydale had a problem.
“Mr. Darcy, thank you for coming. Have your men been offered refreshments?”
“Yes, your cook is quite persuasive.”
Elizabeth smiled wanly. “Was your search . . .?” She did not know what to ask, precisely.
He glanced around the room, his brow furrowed. “Is your mother not with you?”
“Not at the moment.” Mamma was deep into planning the refurbishments they would take on in the spring.
“Miss Bennet, perhaps you should sit.”
She shook her head. “I will not faint away, Mr. Darcy. Judging by your hesitance, I presume you found something?”
Darcy hesitated, one hand already outstretched to help her to a chair and nodded. “We did. Just past the woods, where the path curves.”
“Near the bridge?”
Seeming to accept she did not wish to sit, he dropped his hand. “On the bank beneath it. Not under the bridge, but to the far side of it. It is a small sort of hole, hollowed out in the bank. Because it is under you as you walk, you would not see it unless you were searching for it.”
“Like a cave?”
“Far too small for that. More of a hidden cache. And it is filled with many of the items you say have gone missing from Hollydale.”
A shiver ran down her spine. “Why would someone take those things just to hide them on the property?”
Mr. Darcy’s reply was firm. “That is what we need to learn. Is there a vagrant who intends to haul everything off to sell? Is it some misguided prank?”
“You did not find the person who has been taking things, then?”
“No, I am sorry to say we did not encounter him.” There was something in his voice that made her understand such a meeting would not have gone well for the thief. “I hope you do not mind, but we decided to leave the items there. We are hoping to catch the man when he returns for them.”
“I do not mind.” The discovery of the hidden items only deepened the mystery. “I shall hire more men to keep watch, I suppose.”
Mr. Darcy’s brow furrowed. “I have already instructed my men to keep watch on the house. Thompson will report to Thatcher.”
“Thank you, sir. That is a comfort.”
His nose was red, and he was surely cold after spending three hours outside searching the property. “May I offer you some coffee, sir?” She had noticed he preferred it to tea.
“That would be most welcome, Miss Bennet,” he said.
“Please sit,” she said. “I will ring for a maid.”
That done, she returned to find Mr. Darcy standing, holding his hands out to the fire.
“Are you warm enough?” she asked, moving to the wood stacked neatly to the side of the hearth.
“We can build it a little higher.” She paused when she recalled she ought to have called a maid to do it, but they had so few staff and she disliked calling anyone away from their work for so trifling a thing.
Fortunately, Mr. Darcy had not noticed her blunder.
“No, I thank you. It is sufficient.” He rubbed his hands together and then turned to face her.
“Miss Bennet, I hope you do not think me forward, but I am concerned for your safety and your mother’s.
Might you both consider staying at Pemberley until Mr. Bennet returns? ”
“I . . .”
He frowned. “I neglected the most important part. My sister will be arriving from school tomorrow, and with your mother there as well, it will all be quite respectable.”
“Is your sister’s school concluded so early? Does not the term end next month?”
He stiffened a bit, and Elizabeth chastised herself. It was none of her business.
“My sister wished to come home, Miss Bennet, and so I obliged her.”
“You are a generous brother, Mr. Darcy.”
“I hope so. But you have not answered my question. I admit, I would feel better were you and your mother not here alone.”
Rather than being frightened by the day’s revelations, as any sensible woman would be, Elizabeth felt a rush of warmth at Mr. Darcy’s protectiveness.
Really, what was wrong with her? “I do thank you for your concern, sir, but it is not necessary. There is so much happening in the house that requires my presence that I cannot leave it just now.” She squared her shoulders.
“And even if that were not the case, Hollydale is my home, and I do not intend to leave it at the first sign of trouble.” Mr. Ellis had made her mistress of this estate—she would not behave as anything less.
His frown deepened, and he pursed his lips. “Then perhaps . . . you will think me improper, Miss Bennet, but I wonder if it be amenable to you to have my sister and me stay at Hollydale for a time? I made a promise to your father, and I would not like to break it.”
He had arrived at a compromise without much thought, and Elizabeth wondered if he had anticipated her refusal. “I would not wish to impose, and while the house is certainly in better condition than it was, I cannot expect it is as comfortable as Pemberley.”
“It is more an imposition on your part than on mine and my sister’s,” he insisted. “Georgiana will miss her pianoforte, but otherwise she will not mind. I have written of you and your family’s arrival at Hollydale, and she is anxious to meet you.”
Was this his way of asking if she might be willing to be introduced to his sister?
Elizabeth considered the embarrassment of putting the Darcys out of their own home against the comfort she would take in having them here.
Mr. Darcy had been in control of his estate for years, young as he was, and he appeared to know how to handle any situation.
“I appreciate your vigilance, Mr. Darcy. I accept your offer to stay here at Hollydale with your sister. Until we understand what is happening, I admit it would make me feel safer.”
Mr. Darcy’s expression softened slightly. “My sister and I will return tomorrow. May I leave Thompson and my other men to keep watch? Thatcher and Freedman should remain with you and your mother.”
Elizabeth frowned. “Do you think that necessary?”
He shook his head. “Probably not, but I admit I would rest easier knowing they were here.”
Part of being a conscientious mistress was also knowing when to accept help. Papa was not here, and he would want her to accept. So she did. “Very well.”
He relaxed a little. “Thank you.”
The coffee arrived, and she poured Mr. Darcy a cup. He did not linger long afterward. Elizabeth was sorry to see him go, but he had already spent much of the day here on her behalf and would be back tomorrow.
No sooner had Mr. Darcy mounted his horse and ridden away than Mamma emerged from the back of the house. “Was that Mr. Darcy’s voice I heard?” she inquired.
“Yes, Mamma.”
“Why did you not invite him for dinner, Elizabeth? He is handsome and rich, and I think he has taken a liking to you.”
“Papa asked him to visit us, Mamma, that is all.”
“Oh.” There was disappointment in the word, but Elizabeth’s mother soon rallied and waved a letter at Elizabeth. “Jane has decided to remain to help your father with the girls. Hopefully, there will be no snow, and they will all be able to join us for Christmas.”
Elizabeth sighed inwardly. She longed to see Jane.
“It will give him a chance to speak with you more, though, will it not?”
She had missed the first part of the sentence. “I beg your pardon?”
“Mr. Darcy. He will be here regularly.”
“He will. In fact, Miss Darcy has returned home from school, and they will be staying with us for a visit. They will arrive tomorrow.”
Mamma’s eyes grew alarmingly wide, and her words were panicked. “Tomorrow? But we are not ready for visitors. The house, Elizabeth, the house!”