Chapter Twenty-four
“This is a mighty fine carriage your cousin loaned us. Comfortable. Good springs. Smooth ride. And them horses! Fine pieces of flesh!” Ratcliff had been the Colonel’s batman for years and knew the viscount well enough to tease him.
“Careful John, or you’ll be riding up with Smithers.” Richard chortled.
“I thought his name was Jack.” Theo gave a perplexed look at both of them.
“Good lord man! Most coachman go by Jack or John because you high in the instep prigs don’t bother to learn their names! Beth asked his real name and that’s what he prefers to go by.”
“Oh. I…well…I thought his real name was Jack. Never thought to ask. One more thing on my list.” Theo let out a gusty sigh and stared out the window.
Richard looked at his brother like he was a complete stranger.
This Theo was a stranger. His brother had been an entitled, arrogant, spoiled brat since he was breeched.
He was the eldest of all the boys who played together every summer at Pemberley.
That was where Theo and Wickham became thick as thieves.
They were always playing pranks on the other boys and managed to charm their way out of getting into trouble with the adults.
Often, they conspired to make sure Darcy was blamed.
Nothing William said would convince his father, so he learned to take his punishment stoically. Silently.
After Darcy’s father passed on to his reward, Wickham was given his inheritance of three thousand pounds, escorted off the estate, and told never to show his face there again.
For his aunt and uncles’ sake, he attempted to get along with Theo, but the viscount lived such a dissolute lifestyle, that they had no contact other than family dinners.
They did nothing but recognize each other in public.
Of all his friends, only Reggie could be labeled a true friend.
All the others were hangers on like Wickham.
They wanted to be seen with a future earl.
They wanted the free drinks Wickham always talked him into buying.
They wanted to win his money when he got too foxed to pay attention to his cards anymore.
His brother and cousin Darcy has chosen the straight and narrow path.
The honorable path. Not Theo. No. Not him.
Now he had to cut his way through the brambles and dig his way out of the humongous hole he had made for himself.
What was a little teasing. Nothing at all.
He had so many apologies to make. So many.
~~~~~
“Finally! I thought we’d never arrive! Look, there are a great many workmen at the steward’s house. It looks like the back third is being reconstructed.”
“You say there was also two barn fires the same week?”
“I believe he said within a day of each other. Mr. Vetter suspected arson, last I heard.”
Darcy recognized the carriage and was expecting the worst. He couldn’t imagine why his cousin Beth would leave Ramsgate and come here, so he was shocked when Richard and Theo stepped out, with Ratcliff close behind.
“What are you doing here?! Umm…welcome to Pemberley. Now what are you doing here and how did Theo get the carriage back?”
“It’s just on loan. Beth let us borrow it. We have a long story. Do you mind if we stay for a bit?” Richard clapped Darcy on the shoulder and started for the front door.
Darcy squinted his eyes at Theo. Viscount Rosemont bowed much lower than someone of his rank would bow to a gentleman farmer, no matter how rich.
“I apologize for not writing and asking for an audience. I hope the news I bring will give you some form of peace. I apologize for any past misunderstandings between us and ask your forgiveness…cousin.”
William stared him in the eye for a minute complete before answering, “We are family. If you are sincere, then you are forgiven. Please enter.”
Ratcliff just gave a cheeky grin and trotted up the stairs and in the door. Theo gestured for William to enter before him, which raised Darcy’s eyebrow. This would be an interesting day.
~~~~~
“WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME! WHY DID NO ONE WRITE ME!” Darcy bellowed as the story of the planned abduction was told.
“WE ARE HERE TELLING YOU NOW!” Richard bellowed back.
“You are four days away from Ramsgate, and I was in town. Bennet knew I could get there faster than you, but he and John had everything under control. Wickham is on a ship to India. He likely will never return. It was all taken care of before I even got there.”
“And what was your part in this Rosemont?”
“I did not even know Gigi was in Ramsgate. No one in the family writes me anymore. Reggie wrote and said Wickham was there and using my alias that we made up in Cambridge. We all had them, remember? He was there running up debts again under Henry Blake. I rode there from Rosemont, and I did not find out family was there until after I saw Wickham carried off.”
Darcy looked at Richard, who gave a slight nod showing his belief in his brother’s story. “What happened to Mrs. Young?”
“She was turned over to the constable until her trial. Some of Gigi’s jewelry was found in her luggage, so she’ll be tried for thievery.
She will be branded and deported. Mrs. Young was warned if she said anything against the family, her charges would be for conspiracy to abduct a gentlewoman, with the sentence of hanging. ”
Darcy just looked pensive and a bit offended but nodded and said nothing more.
“Now it’s your turn. Tell us about the fires.”
“Mr. Vetter had the magistrate look over the three fires before I arrived. Once they were cooled, of course. Each has a central ignition point that seems suspicious. At the steward’s house, it looked like a fire was intentionally set in the office.
Luckily, I have copies of all the estate books, so Vetter will be able to copy them.
What was most troubling was the safe was ajar.
Vetter says he never leaves it open, even to walk into the next room.
There were burnt papers inside, but no sign of the small bags of coins he keeps in there.
It looks like a theft that was supposed to be covered up by a fire. ”
“What about the barns?”
“Very random. They occurred within hours of the fire at the house.”
“Could it have been Wickham? Do we have any idea when he arrived in Ramsgate? Could he have a confederate here?”
“The magistrate, Mr. Vetter, Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds, and I have been questioning everyone. We have turned up nothing. One person said they thought they saw Wickham around that time in Lambton. We may never know.”
All four men sat silently for some time before Richard finally said, “That is enough for today. I am tired and dirty. I want a bath and a shave Ratcliff, and then some food and good wine.”
“Of course. Let me call Reynolds. Did you bring your valet Theo?”
Darcy had not called Theo by his first name in years. It nearly made him tear up. “Um…no. He is at Rosemont. Do you mind lending me someone?”
Darcy was used to his cousin making demands, not asking politely. “Of course. Reynolds will assign someone to you.”
~~~~~
They had just finished a leisurely meal on the terrace and were enjoying another glass of wine.
“Well, I believe I have done all I can here, for now. I best go on to Ramsgate and spend some time with my sister. Gigi said in her letter that Beth, John, and Mrs. Russell plan to spend some time here at Pemberley. I had promised Bingley I’d help him with his leased estate after harvest here.
Harvest in Hertfordshire is later than at Pemberley. ”
“Bingley leased an estate in Hertfordshire? Where exactly?”
“Near a town called Meryton.”
“Ha! Did you know that is near Longbourn? The Bennets estate.”
“I did not. I look forward to meeting them.”
“There are five beautiful daughters. It is a good thing they’re only related by marriage!
Theo couldn’t keep his eyes off Miss Bennet.
She is acting mistress of the estate. Miss Elizabeth is a beauty but is probably too clever for me.
Now the third one? She’s quiet and demure.
Nearly a twin to Miss Elizabeth in beauty.
I think she’d suit me. I have some leave coming.
Do you think Bingley would mind if I visit? ”
“You know Bingley, the more the merrier. Would you like an invitation too Theo? Miss Bingley might leave me alone with a viscount in her home.”
Theo grimaced. “It might be worth it, and I do owe you some payback. Yes. I would appreciate an invitation.”
“I doubt there is much entertainment in Hertfordshire.” William gave Theo the side eye.
“Cousin, I no longer gamble or chase loose women. Those days are over. I will do as my mother and father have been asking me to for the last decade. I will find an acceptable wife and set up my nursery. I will spend a month or two in London during the season and spend the rest of my time at Rosemont trying to fix the neglect that I have allowed since I took over.”
“What has happened to you? Not that I am complaining.”
“Life happened to me and betrayal.”
The light of the sun was slowly diminishing over the horizon, and Richard and Ratcliff decided to head off to bed.
Theo sat quietly next to Darcy as the stars came out.
It was a beautiful night. Warm, but not hot.
A gentle breeze was blowing. Finally, Theo said with little aplomb, “I have a daughter.”
Darcy had just taken a sip of his wine and nearly choked. He coughed for a good minute before he gasped out, “What?!”
“You are the only one I have told, William, so I would appreciate your confidence in this matter. I have written in my will that you will be her guardian if anything happens to me. Thought I should let you know.”
“Who…but…who is the mother?”
“Do you remember the young debutant that chased me around two seasons ago? Lady Jessica?”
“Yes. She chased me too. Her father was the impoverished baron you used to play cards with.”
“Yes, that’s her. Her father lost badly to me at cards one night while we were drinking heavily. Said to take his daughter as payment, and she seemed welcoming, if you know what I mean.”
“I really don’t, no.” Darcy growled.
“I am sorry. Of course you do not. You’re a good man, Darcy.
Anyway, I woke up the next day, and she assumed we were to be married.
I was likely still drunk when I disabused her of the notion.
Her father, right to her face, told her she was just my winnings, and I did not have to marry her.
Anyway, long story short, they left for Scotland the next week.
I heard nothing of them until almost a year later.
She came to me at Fitzwilliam House with a babe in arms. The girl is quite obviously a Fitzwilliam.
She even has the birthmark. Lady Jessica’s father drank himself to death while they were in Scotland.
He left her with almost nothing to live on.
She was ill. Very ill. She died less than a week later. ”
He took a long sip of his wine and refilled his glass.
“There I was, with a babe in arms and a dead woman in my guest room. Dr. Henry had been kind enough to try and save Lady Jessica, but he said there was nothing he could do. He did find a wetnurse for the little girl though. Wickham and I were still friends…I thought…and he helped me find a woman who would raise my daughter as her own if I could set them up in a home. I bought a little place in Cheapside. Got her a maid of all work, a cook, and a footman. My man of business checks on them regularly. I stop in occasionally to see her. She’s… .precious.”
“Is that the betrayal you spoke of?”
“No. That was Wickham. He came to me, broke as usual, and asked me for money. I told him I had spent all my ready on setting up a household for my daughter, and he threatened me.”
“With what? Going to the papers? Telling your parents? Many gentlemen have by-blows.”
“That’s what I told him! I kicked him to the curb and told him to never come back!
That is when he began using my false name and acting like…
well…like a good for nothing viscount. He let it slip that Henry Blake was actually Viscount Rosemont.
The first time a creditor showed up at my door, I was shocked.
Wickham showed up the same day and said if I did not help him, he would ruin me another way.
I suppose having the butler really throw him to the curb was not the best choice.
Wickham went all over the city losing money in the name of Henry Blake.
Some very bad men cornered me one day. That is when I had to sell the coach and four.
Father received an anonymous letter telling of my losses at some of the worst gambling hells in and around London.
And so…I was banished to Rosemont. You know the rest. Seeing Wickham carried off to his doom made me happier than it should have, I suppose. ”