Chapter Twenty-Four #2
She found the mixing bowl, measuring cups, and flour and before she knew it, she was rolling out dough and cutting cookie shapes, joking, and laughing with the ladies in the kitchen, telling them stories of her cousins and life at Longbourn.
It was then her husband returned from Matlock House.
She looked up and smiled, holding back laughter at his surprised expression.
“You are just in time. These cookies will be ready for tea in about half an hour.”
One of the kitchen maids tapped her arm and with a nod of her head indicated she would take over and that she should go with her husband – their employer.
Elizabeth handed over the cookie cutter and moved to the sink where a bowl of water sat.
She quickly washed her hands and accepted a clean cloth another maid handed her to dry her hands.
With a pat to her bun, to ensure no curls had escaped, she moved forward and slid her arm around William’s, looking up at him to say, “Would you kindly escort me to the drawingroom?”
“I would, but you forgot something.”
At first, she was alarmed at his formal tone and worried the women in the kitchen would get in trouble over her impromptu baking session.
Becoming apprehensive over his continued silence, she gave a start when he pulled a linen handkerchief from his pocket and gently wiped her cheek, before kissing her on the forehead.
“We cannot have you frighten Burke and Mrs. Whittaker with flour on your face. We must keep this little secret amongst ourselves.”
She pressed a little closer to his body and grinned when the cook harrumphed behind them.
“The likes of us will no’ tell tales, Mr. Darcy. Yer wife’s a right pip and she’s welcome in my kitchen any time.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Pennyroyal. Please have someone bring tea when it is ready to the yellow drawingroom.”
They walked in amicable silence toward what was becoming one of her favorite rooms. Most likely because it was smaller and more intimate.
She was bursting with curiosity over what transpired at Matlock House but knew she had to wait until they were alone.
They sat together on one of the smaller settees, a fact which pleased her to no end, and she began to pepper him with questions.
He raised his hands in mock surrender after a few minutes.
“Elizabeth! Take a breath and let me answer at least one of your questions before you launch another one.”
“I am sorry, William. I hate not being in the mix of things and my imagination, if you are not already aware, is quite active. I had several scenarios running about in a continual loop. None of them pleasant, I assure you.”
“There is not much to say. Lady de Bourgh,” – he ignored his wife’s raised brow at the name he now ascribed to his aunt – “was subdued with little effort and she is now on her way to Wyndhaven Castle where uncle has employed an army of servants to ensure hers and our safety.”
Nothing would induce him to tell his wife the invectives his despicable aunt had spewed out when she was forcibly confined and drugged.
“I would assume, now that your aunt has been successfully muzzled, we do not need to hide our presence in London and move forward with the second act of this play?”
“Yes. Your uncle safely delivered Jane and the boy to the Gardiners.”
Her brow furrowed.
“Jane is in town?”
“Bennet decided to take the whole family to Bath, and Jane did not wish to be parted from a certain cousin of mine.”
“Bath! Uncle has never wanted to go to Bath. He has always said it is a place where people with no brains go to drink brackish water in the vain hope it will cure all their ills.”
“Primarily, this ploy was to distract his wife from asking why you and I, along with Richard left so early without so much as a fond farewell. He suggested a holiday in Bath because your aunt and youngest cousin have always expressed a desire to go sea-bathing. They are unaware Bath is landlocked. Also, he needed a valid reason for coming to London to drop off the lad who agreed to act as a decoy.”
They had barely taken their seats when Burke opened the door and announced, “Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, and Miss Bennet.”
“Thank you, Burke,” Fitzwilliam said. “Please let Mrs. Whittaker know there are three more for tea this afternoon.”
“We were not expecting you.” Elizabeth looked to Uncle Gardiner while Jane sat in the chair closest to her. “Why have you come now? Everything is set for tomorrow.”
“Richard suggested we bring Jeb tonight so that he is on the premises. This way, if anyone is watching the house, there will not be unexpected activity tomorrow morning before your normal walking hour.”
“You are not worried they will notice one of your servants is not with you when you leave?”
“Truthfully, Lizzy – who notices servants?”
“A sad but true observation.” She brightened as the door opened and the tea cart was wheeled in. “Thank you, Mrs. Whittaker.”
The housekeeper acknowledged her mistress with a polite smile, which met her eyes this time, and Elizabeth felt a moment of small satisfaction. She waited until the door had closed and the family was left alone before she brought up the next point which worried her to no end.
“What if they do not take the bait?”
“We will repeat the procedure the next day, and the next. We know it will be this week, we just do not know the day.” William said and reached for one of the cookies she had made.
She noted the kitchen had put them on a very elaborate plate and knew they were trying to mark this occasion. Jane also placed a cookie on her plate.
“Given the men are still operating under her original orders and plans, and Lady de Bourgh’s impatience for any task she sets before her inferiors, I can almost guarantee these men will make note of where Elizabeth walks and her behavior patterns the first day and implement their plan the second day – weather permitting.
They do not want to be seen loitering about the park. ”
“It would not surprise me in the least if one of their men appears as a gentleman. What better way to get closer without giving rise to suspicion?”
“Jeb will have to keep his chin down and the bonnet secure. We will have to tie the ribbon in such a way as to hide his Adam’s apple.” Aunt Madeline said and Elizabeth appreciated her practical side making its appearance.
“Lizzy,” Jane said suddenly and Elizabeth worried that her sweet cousin was becoming overwhelmed by all the talk of nefarious men and dark deeds. She reached over and placed her hand on Jane’s as a form of comfort.
“Are you uncomfortable with this discussion?”
“What? Oh! – No. No, indeed.” Jane looked around at all the expectant faces and then covered her mouth with her fingers. Her eyes sparkled with humor. “These cookies taste just like the ones our cook makes.”
“Oh, Janie.” Elizabeth impulsively leaned over and gave her a quick hug. “They should as I used Mrs. Pruitt’s recipe this afternoon.”
“You made them?” Jane asked.
“I could not bear not knowing what was going on and had to do something with my hands as I could not go for a walk, and you know how I pestered Mrs. Pruitt on rainy days to take me in hand.”
“Yes, I do. You will be pleased to know Mary has begun learning how to make your bread recipe. She missed the loaves with the raisins in them.”
“That mistake had a delicious ending.”
They finished their tea and Jane and the Gardiners stayed to dine.
All too soon they were left alone and William asked her if she would play for him before they retired for the night.
She knew he was worried about the next chapter in this nightmare and decided to play music to soothe him.
She began by playing Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No.
14. William joined her on the piano bench and as she played, he gently pushed aside some errant wisps of curls and kissed the spot where her neck met her shoulder.
Her fingers stumbled at times, and when he nudged the edge of her gown aside and undid the buttons on the back of her dress so that it gaped slightly, allowing him access to the portion of her body she knew he had a fascination with, she gave up completely and turned in his arms. He slanted his mouth over hers and drove all sane thoughts from her mind.
Reluctantly, he dragged his mouth from hers and touched her forehead with his.
“May I come to you tonight?” he asked, his voice deep and hoarse.
“Yes,” she whispered as he took her mouth once more with his.
***
In a move that surprised them all, the hired men attacked ‘Elizabeth’ the first morning. In relating the story to family, the next afternoon, Darcy kept the talk of violence to a minimum, but to his uncle, the earl, he repeated the full story.
At the first large grouping of shrubbery on the walking path, Jeb was grabbed from behind and a foul-smelling cloth was pressed against his nose and mouth.
He instinctively held his breath and managed to wiggle so that his nose was no longer covered.
He felt a bit woozy but managed to stay alert although he pretended to fall into a faint.
He was carted off to a large carriage. Only one of the hired men entered with him and soon they were careening down the road on their way to their hide-out.
Darcy, Richard, and his men followed at a distance.
Unbeknownst to them and the hired thugs, Jeb had several knives strapped to his inner thighs, and being a strong young lad – from working hard in the stables as well as being an avid hunter – he dispatched the thug in the carriage without the man making a sound.
Jeb then commandeered the man’s pistols, made sure they were ready for firing, and waited for the carriage to stop. Only once did he have a tremor of fear and that was when one of the men called out to make sure all was well within the carriage.
Jeb had lowered his voice and called back, “We’re good.” He had dared not say more in case they realized the voice was different. After riding for an hour, and having turned off the main road, they had come to what looked like an abandoned farm.
Darcy told his family that once he realized they were headed for this farm, the colonel had his men fan out and ordered them to approach from all sides, to ensure no one escaped.
Then he, his cousin, and five soldiers followed the carriage, trying their best to stay out of sight.
They had just crested a ridge where the road led down to the house proper when shots rang out and chaos erupted outside the carriage.
Jeb had taken down two of the men, proving he was a very good shot, and, in the pandemonium, Richard’s men effectively subdued the remaining scum.
These three ne’er do wells would not see dry land for many months following their impressment.
Both the earl and Darcy, so pleased with young Jeb, rewarded him with one hundred pounds.
Elizabeth knew Jeb had a sweetheart in one of the maids at Lucas Lodge and had always wanted a farm of his own.
She wished him well and told him she expected an invite to his wedding.
He had blushed furiously at her gentle tease but promised he would not forget.
He then shook William’s hand and thanked him most profusely for his generosity.
“Nonsense, Jeb. Without you, I may have lost my Elizabeth and she is more precious than rubies and all the things I may desire cannot compare to her.”
“Miss Lizzy… pardon… Mrs. Darcy’s respected by all who know her, sir. I couldna lived wif myself iffin I didna help.”
Both she and William stood on the steps of Darcy House and watched until the carriage taking Jeb to Longbourn turned the corner and disappeared.
Finally, she could breathe easily and enjoy being Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy.
Well, she could breathe easy once her presentation was over, and she met the patronesses of Almack’s and gained their approval.
Then… she huffed out a little happy sigh, in a little over three months, they were off to Pemberley!
Her attention was diverted when William turned her around and led her into the house, straight up the stairs into his bedchamber and she did not see the lower levels of the house for almost a week. Not that she was complaining. Not by a long shot.