Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
O nce the ladies had gone, Elizabeth glanced at the rest of her party before breaking into quiet laughter. “Well, that was certainly interesting,” she remarked, her voice still laced with amusement. “I have not been to London in years, but I cannot imagine anyone would find such behaviour acceptable, no matter their standing in society.”
Georgiana smiled shyly, and Anne allowed herself a small, satisfied smirk. Elizabeth’s laughter had broken the tension, and the three women seemed to relax in the absence of Lady Blackwell’s overbearing presence.
Mrs. Gardiner, who remained quiet during the exchange, shook her head with a bemused smile. “Interesting is one way to put it, my dear,” she said, her tone mild but edged with disapproval. “I daresay Lady Blackwell's conduct is not something to aspire to, regardless of how entrenched she believes herself in society. That kind of arrogance is more often mocked than admired behind closed doors.”
Elizabeth grinned at her aunt’s words. “Rightly so,” she agreed. “If this is what passes for respectable society, then I think I will not regret missing more of it.”
Anne, who had maintained a composed facade throughout, finally allowed herself a soft laugh. “I cannot say I am surprised. Lady Blackwell seems to act much as my mother does, believing that others must view her pronouncements as absolute truth.”
They kept the conversation light while they finished their tea and cakes. No one else approached them, but they did notice that eyes were constantly on them. Soon, they finished and made their exit.
As the ladies stepped out of the tea shop, Elizabeth felt a sudden unease. The atmosphere seemed to shift, and she glanced over her shoulder, noticing two men lingering in an alleyway, their eyes fixed on the group. Their presence struck her as odd for the middle of the afternoon, and an instinctive sense of danger crept over her.
"Do not look now, but I believe we are being followed," Elizabeth whispered to Mrs. Gardiner, her voice low and cautious. Mrs. Gardiner immediately tensed, her gaze sweeping the street. Anne, sensing the change in mood, glanced towards Georgiana protectively. Instinctively, she stepped closer to the younger girl, signalling to the four footmen who were walking discreetly behind them to move closer and keep a watchful eye on the men trailing them.
The footmen, alert and well-trained, responded quickly. Two of them subtly shifted their positions: one walked a few paces ahead, blending into the crowd but keeping a sharp lookout, while the other moved slightly to the rear, ensuring no one could approach from behind. The remaining two kept their watchful positions, flanking the group to the sides. Though their presence was unassuming, it offered a layer of protection that went unnoticed by the general public.
Mrs. Gardiner kept her voice steady, masking her concern. "Let us continue as if nothing is amiss. We should make our way to the carriage quickly, but without drawing attention."
As the group quickened their pace through the bustling streets, the two men behind them mirrored their movements, narrowing the gap. The crowded thoroughfare offered some cover, but the men were closing in with alarming speed. Just as they neared the corner, a third man stepped forward, blocking their path.
“Excuse me, ladies,” he said, his voice dripping with false politeness, “but I believe you have dropped something back there.” He gestured to the empty ground behind them.
Mrs. Gardiner stiffened, and Anne instinctively gripped Georgiana’s arm protectively. “Leave us be, sir,” Mrs. Gardiner said firmly, attempting to step around him. “We have not dropped anything.”
The other two men emerged from behind, cutting off their escape. “Now, now, no need to make a fuss,” the first man sneered. “We’ve been sent to escort two of you ladies somewhere a bit more… private.” He pointed towards Elizabeth and Georgiana. “You two are to come with me. Someone wishes to speak with you,” he growled, and the men moved closer.
At that moment, the footmen found their path blocked by a cart passing through the street. Though they were still aware of the situation, the brief obstruction delayed their immediate response.
Before the men could make another move, a commotion erupted behind them. Darcy and Mr. Hargrove, having completed their business and eager to rejoin the women, appeared just in time to see the men closing in. The footmen manoeuvred around the cart, positioning themselves on the opposite side of the group to create a protective barrier. Two footmen subtly blocked the path of the men in front, while the others ensured no one could approach from behind.
Without hesitation, Darcy stepped forward, his eyes narrowing dangerously. “Unhand the ladies,” he commanded, his voice low but filled with authority.
The man blocking the women’s path turned to face Darcy, a sneer on his lips. “This does not concern you, sir,” he said, clearly underestimating the fury simmering in Darcy’s eyes. The other men, startled by the sudden appearance of the gentlemen and guards, hesitated, glancing between them all as if calculating whether this scheme was worth continuing.
Darcy was not one to waste time on threats. With lightning speed, he grabbed the nearest man by the collar, yanking him away from the ladies and throwing him off balance. “I will not repeat myself,” Darcy growled, his fists clenched, prepared to do far worse if necessary.
Mr. Hargrove, observing the escalating situation with a determined expression, intervened decisively. His imposing stature and resolute demeanour signalled that the women were under his protection. Seizing the second man’s arm, he twisted it firmly behind his back, eliciting a cry of pain. Meanwhile, the third man’s attempts to flee were thwarted as the footmen, having cleared a path through the chaos, arrived to reinforce the others, ensuring that order was restored.
Two of the footmen stepped forward and took charge of the would-be kidnappers from the gentlemen.
“You chose your targets unwisely,” Hargrove warned, glaring at the men.
“I am uncertain that is true,” Darcy replied. “Did you not hear what was said? Bowers, Sinclair, escort these men to my townhouse and guard them. Richard is due to arrive this afternoon, and he will be most interested in learning what he can from these men.”
All the ladies, particularly Georgiana, paled upon hearing this. The fact that they had been targeted had escaped her notice until that moment as she replayed what had been said. Mrs. Gardiner put her arm around Georgiana’s waist, keeping her upright. “There, there,” she said quietly. “We will be in the carriage soon.” Raising her voice, she continued. “It is best that the rest of this conversation occurs in private, gentlemen. Perhaps we ought to return to our carriage.”
Darcy and Hargrove both nodded, with Darcy taking his wife’s arm and Hargrove doing the same. The two remaining footmen flanked the group, assisting each of the ladies into the carriage once they arrived at its side. Darcy had a quick conversation with the men before climbing in after Hargrove and sitting in between his wife and sister.
“Are you well, Sprite?” he asked his sister, returning to the nickname he had used when she was a girl.
Shakily, Georgiana replied. “I am, Brother. Just a little… shocked, I suppose. I know you have always insisted that a footman go with me, and I knew such things did happen, but I am astounded that it happened to us, in broad daylight, in full view of everyone on a city street. I could be wrong, but other than you and our guards, I am not certain anyone else even reacted.”
“I am not certain that the interaction went unnoticed, but everything was done in a relatively discreet fashion to avoid notice by the crowds,” Mr. Hargrove replied. “Had you raised your voice, you would have drawn more attention to yourself. Fortunately, your brother and others arrived before that became necessary.”
Elizabeth gripped Darcy’s hand a little more tightly. “Who were they? What did they want? The one man mentioned someone else wanting to have a talk with us—do you think that Lady Catherine could have sent someone after us again?”
Darcy shook his head. “It is difficult to say at this moment, but their intent was clear enough. They wanted to separate you from the crowd, perhaps for ransom, or worse. It was a poorly planned attempt, but dangerous nonetheless.”
Anne, still visibly shaken but trying to remain composed, looked from her husband to Darcy. "Do you truly think Mother had anything to do with this?"
Darcy’s expression darkened, his mind turning over the possibilities. “It is difficult to know for certain. We know she is unhappy and promised retribution. I do know that she left our house to go to her brother’s house, but I waited for Richard to arrive before I spoke with my uncle.”
He paused, thinking. “We will see you ladies safely back to Darcy House, and I will begin to make inquiries into who might be behind this. As I said earlier, Richard will arrive today, and I have little doubt that he will be able to learn more from these men, but for now, I want to see what they will reveal when I question them. Hargrove, you will join me?”
Hargrove nodded, and the carriage fell into a heavy silence for the brief ride back to Darcy House. The joy they shared earlier was now overshadowed by the gravity of the situation and the realisation that there was more trouble yet to come.
Much to Darcy’s relief, Colonel Fitzwilliam arrived at Darcy House only a half hour after the family returned home. Less than an hour later, they had a clear answer of who was to blame for the attempted abduction and the answer surprised no one.
“Lady Catherine is even greater a menace than I initially thought,” Fitzwilliam said to Darcy as the two made their way back to his study after interrogating the two men.
Darcy shook his head in obvious frustration. “Indeed. Her lack of subtlety and her willingness to endanger others in pursuit of her aims astonish me. As much as I hate the thought that she would harm my wife or sister in any way, I am grateful that she is so inept in her planning and hires people who are even more foolish than she is. Thankfully, her overconfidence and her poor judgement in allies have worked against her.”
Fitzwilliam nodded thoughtfully, his gaze darkening. “It is hard to fathom how far she is willing to go. The men were far from tight-lipped, which is fortunate. They admitted their instructions without hesitation nearly as soon as I began to press them.”
Darcy’s jaw tightened. “As if her repeated attempts to interfere in mine and Anne’s lives were not enough, she is now willing to stoop to outright criminal behaviour. This is the second time she has attempted to kidnap my wife, and this time she intended to capture my sister as well. First Wickham and now these two men who she found God knows where. I shudder to think what could have happened if we had not arrived when we did.”
The colonel gave a small, grim smile. “She underestimated both your vigilance and your resources, Darcy. At this rate, she is digging her own grave. We must keep a close watch for desperation breeds recklessness. How do you wish to proceed? You have in writing her plan to kidnap your wife and could easily bring charges against her.”
“Agreed. While I take no pleasure in exposing her, it might soon become necessary to prevent any further harm.” Darcy paused, his expression hardening. “This is no longer just family discord. Lady Catherine is leaving me no choice but to act.”
He narrowed his eyes, lost in thought. “I hate the idea of a public trial. Tempting as it is, bringing charges would create a scandal. Such exposure could harm our entire family, and I prefer not to risk our reputation over one person’s desperate actions. Besides, Lady Catherine’s status as the daughter of an earl and her influence, while waning, would make such a legal case difficult and distasteful. I would rather keep this matter contained if possible. We should speak with your father to see what he suggests.”
Fitzwilliam’s face hardened at this. “I know I wrote to you that my father knows more than he is letting on. Before I left for Hertfordshire, I overheard him speaking to himself. He may not have assisted his sister with her plans against you, but he was aware of them and did nothing to stop them. I would dare say that both he and our aunt are worried about what happened to Wickham since neither of them have heard from him. You should also know that Wickham did not survive even to board the ship. He died from the injuries he sustained on the final leg into London.”
Darcy raised his brow in question.
“Despite the bullet wound in his shoulder, he still attempted to escape. He did not get far, but was injured when they recaptured him. He was sufficiently weakened already and did not survive long after that,” Fitzwilliam replied, his voice hard.
Closing his eyes for a moment, Darcy nodded as he remembered the boy who had been his friend all those years ago. “I confess, I am relieved it was not my bullet that was responsible for his death. Regardless of how he turned out, he was once my friend. As terrible as it is to say, society is most likely better off without him wreaking havoc. However, let us return to our original topic of conversation. Your father was aware of his sister’s plans against my family?”
Fitzwilliam nodded. “He was, although I cannot be certain when he knew. It is possible he did not know until after the fact and simply did not want to say anything to you because he did not wish to upset you. However, he was annoyed by your marriage because he had a candidate in mind for you already. He might have intended to use his knowledge of Georgiana’s near-ruin to manipulate you into a marriage that benefited him.”
Darcy groaned at this and ran his hands through his hair. “How could forcing me into marriage have impacted your father? He has plenty of influence in Parliament and is well aware that I have little interest in politics.”
“He may have political influence, but he is broke,” Fitzwilliam said, his voice flat. “My investigator learned that my brother has bankrupted not only his own estate but our father’s as well. Despite all his efforts to keep it secret, there are murmurs beginning within the ton . Be wary of him, especially if he offers you any investment or business opportunities. As much as I may not want to believe it, I am convinced he would sacrifice any relationship—yours included—to save his own reputation and secure his finances. My father sees alliances as assets and your wealth as a solution. Marrying you to a woman of his choosing would have secured him both an influential connection and a way to access your fortune, however indirectly.”
Darcy shook his head, his face clearly showing his shock. “The man I thought I knew would not have done so, but perhaps I do not know him that well. Did you have any inkling of this?”
“I did not,” Fitzwilliam replied. “However, as you well know, my loyalty is to you, as my brother in spirit if not in truth. You and I have always been much closer than I have been to Andrew since my parents preferred me to be at Pemberley rather than Matlock whenever it was possible. That is why I am telling you all I know. Perhaps it is only a slight advantage, but forewarned is forearmed. I wish I could assure you that he would stop, but I fear he will grow desperate. He could marry off my brother, which might help to some degree, but unless he changes his ways, few women would want to marry him and even fewer wealthy fathers would bind a daughter to him. Without you to marry off, it is possible he will attempt to set his sights on me.”
Darcy stood silently for a moment, deep in thought. “Then we shall proceed as though he is desperate. If he attempts to use the threat of scandal, I will make it clear that I will not tolerate any further schemes or interference. He may be family, but I will not allow him to meddle in mine.” Darcy’s voice was steady, with just a trace of regret. “I never wanted our family to become fractured in this way, but if he seeks to force my hand, I shall not hesitate. What will we do about Lady Catherine?”
The colonel’s expression became grave. “If we wish to avoid a public scandal, our best course is to cut her off from any leverage she might still have. Father sent her to Matlock, although I wonder whether she truly went since she managed to hire those men to kidnap Elizabeth and Georgiana. Send a man to discover if she has gone there, and then we must find a way to prevent her from sending letters or having any contact with anyone. Banishing her seems too easy an option for her, but I am not certain what else we might do. Lady Catherine is not one to see reason, Darcy.”
His jaw tight, Darcy glared at his cousin. “Regardless, she will not have any further opportunities to harm my family. I will inform my servants to remain on alert, and perhaps we can impress upon the woman a final warning, making it clear that it would be foolhardy to attempt another scheme.” He sighed, shaking his head. “Her funds should be limited, since I doubt your father is able to give her much, according to what you have discovered, but we should attempt to discern what her schemes might be. Can we find a trustworthy servant at Matlock to report her activities?”
Fitzwilliam thought about this for a second, then a grin broke out on his face. “I know just the person,” he replied. “We will stop her, Darcy. Family or not, we will not allow her to harm anyone in our family.”