Chapter 3 #2
With the sleeping babe in her arms, Fanny walked back towards the Goose and Gander Inn.
She knew Thomas would have questions, and all she could offer was the truth.
Someone had sent this child away to be murdered for some nefarious reasons of their own.
God had led Fanny to this babe, and she would not allow any harm to come to her.
When Fanny walked into the private parlour where Bennet and their children were eating, Bennet did not notice that Fanny was carrying something. It took some moments before he saw what she was holding, which he was able to see was a babe. He looked at his wife questioningly.
“I found her abandoned in the woods,” Fanny stated. She did not want to say more with Jane and James in the room. She wordlessly handed Thomas the scrap of paper she had found on the dead man.
Bennet’s eyebrows shot up into his hairline when he read the words.
He looked at the possessive way Fanny was holding the mite and knew that, especially with the words written on the paper, his wife would not relinquish the girl to anyone.
“We will protect her, Fanny.” He turned to Nurse who had been concentrating on their two older children.
“Sophie, will you take Miss Jane and Master James to run around before we board the coach again?”
As soon as Nurse ushered the children out of the parlour, Bennet turned to his wife. “Tell me everything, Fanny.
Fanny did just that. “Thomas, someone wanted to kill this sweet babe! What kind of parents send something so dear away to have her murdered? If I was not supposed to be her mother, then God would not have led me to her. The writing was that of a woman! A mother! It is unconscionable!”
“In that case, we cannot mention that you found her to anyone. Anyone who pays another to murder their child does not deserve any children. Wrap her in your coat, and we will take her to the coach. Once you are seated, I will collect Sophie and our other children. As soon as everyone is on board, we will depart. We will have to explain to Sophie why no one can be told, so she will not mention this when she returns to Grantham.” Bennet paused. “Do you have a name in mind?”
“Elizabeth Rose for Mother. Little Lizzy has similarly coloured hair, and her shade of green eyes is close to your mother’s. That is, unless you object?”
“No, I do not. I think this will cheer Mother significantly.” Bennet cogitated for some moments.
“We will have to decide how we explain this to Mother and Penelope. When they were here for James’s birthday, there was no sign of an impending birth.
Besides, I would guess she is four to six months of age. ”
“What of the dead man in the forest? Should we tell the landlord?”
“No, Fanny. I am sure he will be discovered anon. If we mention him now, then the magistrate will want to question you, and we could be here for days. Our aim is to protect Lizzy, so we must leave as soon as may be.”
“We will need to purchase some cloths to use as napkins in one of the towns we travel through.” Fanny remembered something.
She uncovered Lizzy’s left ear. “Do you see the birthmark? It looks like a little crescent moon. I am certain that all the parents wanted was to be rid of her, so there will never be anyone searching for a babe with that mark behind her ear.”
With Lizzy close to her chest, Fanny stood and allowed Bennet to drape her coat over her shoulders.
Bennet stopped to pay the landlord while Fanny continued on to the coach, where she waited for her husband.
A minute or two later, Bennet helped Fanny to board.
Then he helped Sophie catch his two older children, and once the nursemaid was in the carriage, he handed in Jane and James.
When the door was closed and the Grantham footmen were on the bench, Bennet struck the ceiling with his hand.
Thanks to their running about outside before and after the meal, it was not long before Jane and James were slumbering.
Sophie was too well mannered to ask why Mrs Bennet had her coat on.
Once the coach was well past the edges of Gainsborough, Fanny allowed the coat to fall off her shoulders. There was no missing the way Sophie’s eyebrows raised, but she was too well trained to question her master and mistress.
Between them, keeping the volume of their voices low so as to not wake Jane and James, Fanny, with some assistance from her husband, explained how she had found Lizzy and why she and Mr Bennet had decided to act as they had to protect the little mite.
As Sophie could read, she was handed the scrap of paper.
“Someone wanted to murder this precious child!” Sophie exclaimed. It was a statement, not a question.
“That is why we cannot let anyone know where I found Lizzy, and for the same reason, we said nothing about the dead criminal I discovered. We intend to protect and care for her to the best of our abilities,” Fanny explained.
“That is why we must ask for your absolute discretion in this matter. We do not want this poor dear to be placed back in harm’s way,” Bennet added.
“Then I will say not a word about her,” Sophie promised. “I know the coachmen and footmen. I will speak to them, and they will say nothing about a babe to anyone.”
Two hours later when they arrived in a small town, Bennet took his two eldest children out of the coach before they noticed the babe. Sophie went into the town to purchase cloths to be used for napkins, and Fanny remained in the carriage with the blinds down as she fed Lizzy.
When Sophie returned with cloths, Fanny changed Lizzy and left her with Sophie and joined the rest of her family in the inn.
On reboarding the coach, Jane and James both stopped and stared at the gurgling babe bouncing on Sophie’s lap.
Once they were underway again Bennet and Fanny explained that Lizzy was their new sister.
As predicted, Jane was very excited to have a sister, and James was happy as long as he was able to play.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
By the end of the first day, the searchers found no trace of the carriage with the man who had kidnapped Lady Bethany. The problem was there was not one set of tracks left by wheels, but many.
On the morning of the second day, the Osbornes were joined by the Fitzwilliams and Darcys.
Ladies Elaine and Anne were doing all they were able to try to make sure their friend did not lose hope.
By the end of the second day since Bethie was taken and no trace of her or her abductor had been found, it was hard for Lady Amelia to remain hopeful.
She was aware that no ransom demand had been received.
The three men were in Leeds’s study. “Matlock, I hate to say this when you are related to the de Bourghs, but in the absence of a letter demanding a ransom, I believe that this is de Bourgh and your sister. It was no secret how displeased they were when Bethie was born, lived, and grew healthier.”
“As much as I would like to say that my sister and brother-in-law would not lower themselves to this level to gain the title after you, I cannot and still remain honest,” Matlock responded.
“Is there not a requirement that the body of the Leeds Dukedom’s heir apparent must be seen before de Bourgh can once again be the heir presumptive?” Holderness enquired.
“There is. Hence, every day that we do not find our dear girl murdered is one where hope remains alive,” Leeds replied.
“If I ever find out this was them, I will want to be the one who swings the axe to separate them from their heads.” Leeds paused.
“Matlock, you would not try to have the sentence commuted if it is discovered that this is the handiwork of Sir Lewis and Lady Catherine, would you?”
“No, I would not. If de Bourgh and Catherine have sunk this low, then they deserve the consequences they receive,” Matlock insisted.
“I am with Matlock. I hope the de Bourghs did not have a hand in this but like my brother-in-law, I would not put it past them,” Holderness stated.
“I also would not attempt to intercede if it is them. Anne and I spoke about this and she too suspects that Catherine is responsible for this despicable act.”
“My primary concern is recovering Bethie,” Leeds revealed. “It will break my Amelia’s heart if we do not find our daughter. I will be no less affected than my wife.”
“All we can do is pray that Bethie is safe,” Holderness stated.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Three days later word reached Leeds that a body had been found in the woods near Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.
The report stated that the man had a bullet wound in his back.
Also, it stated that although no babe had been found, a soiled napkin had been left on the seat of the carriage, and there were some blankets on the floor.
The footman, Tom, who had seen the carriage and the criminal, was sent to identify the conveyance and the dead man. He recognised both.
Unfortunately, no trace of Lady Bethany was found in the area. The local parish and all of those for more than twenty miles around were visited and asked if a babe had been left with them. No clues to where she was were found.
The only thing that gave Leeds and his wife a little hope was the fact that someone had changed Bethie. That was not the action of one who meant her harm.
Notices were sent to papers in the counties surrounding Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. All that the Osbornes and their friends could hope for was that someone who knew something would respond to the notices and the offered reward.
Men were sent to question Mrs Becky Younge’s family as well as the former nursemaid who had recommended her.