Chapter Fourteen
The coach and four that used to belong to Viscount Rosemont pulled up in front of Darcy House.
There were no insignia or other telling markings on the coach, but the four matching greys could not be missed.
It was unfortunate, in London at least, that it did not take much to start rumors back up.
In several gossip rags the next day, rumors of TF from S (which was inferred to be Theodore Fitzwilliam from Staffordshire where Rosemont Estate was located) having lost his coach and four in a card game (which he did not, he had to sell it to cover some losses) had been banished to a Scottish estate (he was not, he was at his own estate).
Despite the inaccuracy of the rumors, Beth, Mamie, and John were very welcome at Darcy House.
Fitzwilliam and Georgiana Darcy, as well as Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, waited at the top of the stairs for their guests.
Since it was a lovely day at the end of May, there were many people out walking on the prestigious street.
No one noticed a rather fine-looking man, with blond curls just showing under his hat, standing near a lamp post staring as the group disembarked.
If hate and envy was a color, that man would have been bathed from head to foot in it.
When the visiting group entered the house, the man turned and stalked off, shoving anyone aside who got in his way.
“I am so happy you all will be going to Ramsgate too! This summer will be ever so much fun! I just wish Will and Richard could stay the summer with us.” Gigi’s face warred with a pout and an ecstatic grin. It was very amusing to witness!
“Now sprite, I will come and spend a week or so with you in July. My general requests my help with some troops in Brighton. The town is overrun with redcoats, and some order needs to be put in place before Prinny shows up at his palace. I may be ordered back to London at any time, but I will do my best to visit this summer.”
“And I am needed at Pemberley. I have been away too many months. I will be with you as soon as I catch up on everything. Likely toward the end of July or beginning of August. It is not like you will be alone there.”
“No, I will not! Beth will be there and all of her cousins! I cannot wait to meet them!”
“We should trade off carriages at every stop so you can get to know my cousins before we even arrive at the seashore.” Beth suggested with a wry grin at William.
William just grimaced. He did not do well with strangers. He never knew what to say, nor did he catch the tone of their voice and whether they were being serious or teasing. It took him awhile to become comfortable around new people. Maybe he should just ride his horse the whole way?
“That will be pure torture for Darcy. Maybe you should just ride that evil stallion of yours the entire way.” Richard slapped him hard on the shoulder.
“I am sure…..” just as he began his answer, a loud knock was heard at the door. They had not even made it out of the foyer yet.
“Express for Mr. Darcy!” was what everyone heard. Radison handed a very disheveled rider some coins and took the missive. Darcy took it right out of his hand and ripped it open.
“What is it man?!” Richard shook his arm when Darcy did not answer right away.
“There has been a fire at the steward’s house. There were also two barns that caught fire. Vetter says it might have been set a purpose. I need to go now. Richard, would you be able to escort Georgiana to Ramsgate?”
“I should be able to take a couple of days. I will go now and talk to the General.”
“There will be plenty of people to escort Gigi if Richard cannot. You go on cousin. We have things under control. All will be well.”
Darcy actually hugged Beth all on his own and ran up the stairs to get his things yelling orders all the way.
Georgiana looked a bit worried, but walked Beth and Mamie to their suite, and left John with a footman to show him to his room and told him to meet them for tea in the blue parlor in half an hour.
Jackson had gone off to the kitchen after taking all the small luggage up.
The trunks would be stored in a locked room in the mews overnight and then loaded back onto the carriage in the morning.
Since there was not much spare room at the Gardiner’s house, the maid and footman the Bennet’s brought would stay the night at Darcy House.
They should arrive shortly, and Mrs. Radison would see to them.
Darcy was ready to go about the time everyone else was meeting for tea, so he said a quick goodbye to all at once.
“I will write you as soon as I know anything. I am riding Zeus, so both carriages will still be available to you Georgiana. Do as John and Mr. Bennet tell you. I trust John to have good sense, and even though I have not met Mr. Bennet, he has daughters and will know things. Really, I must go. Write me often cousin… Gigi.” He gave both his sister and cousin a hug, shook John’s hand, and bowed to Mrs. Russell.
He did not notice Mrs. Young was not in the room.
All were quiet and drank their tea for several minutes. Mamie looked around the room with some confusion. “Where is Mrs. Young?”
“Oh, I was to give her regards and excuses. She has a megrim and hopes she will be well in the morning. She has taken to her bed and wishes not to be disturbed.”
Which would have been a fine excuse if she actually was in her bed, but during the pandemonium of the guest’s arrival, she managed to sneak out without anyone noticing.
She walked several blocks before hailing a hack to take her to a small inn near Cheapside.
Since she had walked the opposite direction she had the driver take her, she was fairly confident if anyone was following her, they would have lost her along the way.
She walked up the rickety stairs and knocked softly on the last door in the hall. The door was ripped open by a handsome blond. Bernice held up both hands, “All is not lost, I assure you! Do calm yourself.” Her compatriot stepped back and let her in the room.
“Our original plan will not work. How will I ever get Georgiana on her own?”
“It may take a bit more time than we planned, but we have all summer. It is a small, seaside town. The servants will become lackadaisical. The girls will become bored and rebellious. The youngest Bennet sounds like she has a chip on her shoulder, from the letters I’ve read sent to the brat by the American.
I might be able to work on her. We will likely have many more opportunities for your revenge than we originally planned.
You know how loyal and honorable Darcy and the colonel are. I have high hopes.”
“I hope you are right. Unfortunately, I need money now. I do not have enough to spend all summer in Ramsgate waiting for my chance.”
“Tut tut. I brought you these. The brat will never miss them. She has more jewels than sense, and her maid isn’t much brighter.
You should be able to pawn these for more than a hundred pounds.
If you behave, that should last you for the entire summer.
I already confiscated enough clothing to last you for quite some time.
The Darcys have so much, they will never miss anything. ”
“Too true. Thank you, Bernice. I will see you in Ramsgate within a sennight. You will write me at your cousin’s.”
Mrs. Young was able to sneak back into her room and send for a tray right around the supper hour. No one would be the wiser that she had been out most of the day.