Chapter Fifteen #2
“This ribbon is one that my sister Kitty gave me when she was little. She also likes pink. One year my three younger sisters all took ill at the same time. Jane and I took care of them, and Kitty gave each of us one of her pink ribbons when she felt better. I should be happy to share it with you if you like. It will look quite lovely in your hair.”
“I would like that, Mama,” Anna said, smiling up at Elizabeth, who took the ribbon and began weaving it with her hair into a long braid.
“There, what do you think?” Elizabeth asked when she finished.
“It makes me look very pretty, Mama, just like you when you wear my ribbon with the roses.”
Elizabeth had told Anna how Jane weaved her favourite ribbon into her hair for the wedding and how much her papa liked it. While William was gone, she had been wearing it to please Anna and to let her know how important her gift was on her special day.
Moments later Elizabeth was surprised when she saw her daughter’s brows furrow and her little mouth turned down in disappointment. “What is it, Anna?”
“Grandmamma says she does not like too many ribbons or laces. She says they are friv … friv…..”
“Frivolous?”
“Yes, Mama, frivolous,” Anna repeated.
“Frivolous means unimportant or unnecessary. In one respect she is correct, for you are quite lovely just the way you are and need no adornments to make you look pretty.” She kissed Anna on the top of her head, adding, “However, on occasion it is very nice to wear something special, or to try on pretty things like we are doing now. Do you not agree?”
“Yes, Mama.” She smiled broadly while looking in the mirror and touching the ribbon in her hair.
Then, moving her hand to her chest, Anna touched the emerald cross which Elizabeth had allowed her to wear while sitting at the vanity.
“I love Papa’s necklace, too, but I do not think it is frivolous.
It sparkles and it is green, like your eyes. ”
“You are very observant, Anna.” Elizabeth chuckled. “Papa says that is what inspired him to buy it for me. And when we wear his lovely gift, we should ask God to bless him for his kindness and pray that he and Aunt Georgie are having safe travels on their journey back to us.”
Being an obedient child, Anna closed her eyes and folded her little hands in her lap while quietly saying the words. When she finished she looked up again and smiled sweetly.
“Thank you, Anna. Your prayer was very fine. Since Papa’s express said he and Aunt Georgie would be home tomorrow, I have asked cook to prepare a special treat for our dinner.
I understood from one of the maids that we have summer apples in the store room and cook has agreed to make us apple tarts. ”
“Papa likes apple tarts. They are his favourite.”
“I know. He told me so when he visited our family at Longbourn and we had them with tea. I wonder…. Mrs. Potter says you have some very pretty dresses in your closet which Aunt Eleanor bought for you. I think it would be nice if we both looked our best when Papa comes home. We should ask Molly to help us fix the pink ribbons in our hair.”
Anna clapped her hands in excitement. “Oh, yes, Mama! And do you think she could help us with Dolly and Janie’s hair too? I would also like them to have pink ribbons.”
“What a lovely thought! We should look through our ribbons in the morning and choose the best ones for all four of us.”
At that moment there seemed to be some commotion in the hallway, with several servants talking in raised voices. Then there was a frantic knock at the door. When Elizabeth called out “Come,” it was Molly, accompanied by Mrs. Potter, who both rushed into the room.
“Ma’am, we just learned that the barn is on fire,” said her maid, a little out of breath.
“Oh, dear!” Elizabeth replied in alarm. “What is being done to remedy the situation?”
“The workers are tending to it, and some of the tenants have been called over. Her Ladyship has asked for all of the house servants to help with the water buckets and to bring other necessities lest anyone be hurt. Most of the animals have been freed, but the blaze is quite large. May we go and see what we can do to help?”
“Of course, please do. Anna and I will go to the balcony and watch from there. Please, be careful.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Darcy,” they both answered leaving quickly.
“Mama, I am scared for the kittens.” Tears began to form in her eyes. Anna and Elizabeth had stopped by the barn on Wednesday and old Jackson had shown them the new litter. “What if their mama could not get them out of the barn in time?”
“You are not to worry, sweetheart,” Elizabeth said, picking up the child and walking through the door and down the dimly-lit hallway towards the balcony which overlooked the barnyard. “Their bedding was very close to the door, and I am sure Mr. Jackson would have seen them to safety.”
“I hope so.”
“My goodness,” Elizabeth said, as they continued. “I can smell the smoke from here. It is so strong it hurts my eyes.”
“It hurts my eyes, too, Mama.”
“We will not stay long.” On reaching the end of the hallway and stepping outside onto the balcony, both Elizabeth and Anna cried out when they saw how extensive the flames were.
Holding Anna even closer, Elizabeth said, “The smoke is getting stronger. Let us return to my room and pray that no one will be hurt in such a blaze. It looks quite dangerous. I know you are concerned for the kittens, but it is best we stay in the house for now. Papa would not be pleased if we went out to the barn and were in harm’s way. ”
“No, Papa would not be pleased, not one bit!” A sardonic laugh filled the hallway as an unknown man approached Elizabeth and Anna.
Elizabeth quickly put Anna down, telling her not to say a word, and stood in front of the child shielding her from the man. “And who might you be?” she said with force.
“Me? Why I am George Wickham, at your service, Mrs. Darcy. Surely your HUSBAND has spoken of me.” Again he laughed, though his eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared.
Elizabeth gasped. “You!”
“Ah, I see my reputation precedes me,” he sneered. “Since I was recently deprived of Georgiana’s dowry, I am here for the child.”
“You are mad and will keep away from my daughter!”
“Your daughter,” he drawled. “Ha! Too bad she looks nothing like my Anne. From what I could see in this darkness, that child is sadly the spitting image of Georgiana. I suppose that idiot dotes on her just as he does his sister.”
When Wickham attempted to push Elizabeth to the side and grab the child by the wrist, Elizabeth pushed back at him, slapping his face. “You will keep your distance, sir!”
Stunned, Wickham let out another laugh, saying, “I see Darcy chose a spirited wife this time! I should think a bit of your skirt might be quite pleasurable.”
“You would not dare! My husband would kill you!”
“I doubt that, my dear,” he drawled, stepping closer and running his finger down her cheek until she pushed it away.
“Still, I doubt he would be willing to pay my full price if he knew you were infected with the French Disease.” He laughed ruthlessly.
Then, reaching for his knife, he stated, “Very well. At the present, I have no time for flirtations. Nevertheless, you will both be coming with me, and so much the better, since that will double my price.” Again he waved his knife.
“Be forewarned, Mrs. Darcy, I killed Georgiana’s companion with this weapon and will have no issue using it again if you do not cooperate. Do you understand?”
Elizabeth nodded, not saying another word.
“Bring the child and take me to your rooms. We shall need funds for where we are going.”
Turning and bending over Anna, Elizabeth whispered that Papa would come and that she must be brave.
Having concealed the emerald cross down the front of Anna’s high-necked dress and hidden her wedding ring along with the broach into the child’s pocket, she picked up her daughter.
Holding her close and praying he would not discover her hidden jewellery, she curtly said, “This way.”
Wickham followed Elizabeth into her bedroom where she stated with defiance, “What little money and jewellery I have are in the top drawer of the dresser. Most of my belongings were left at Darcy House.”
“Get it, and be quick.”
“Mama,” Anna whimpered.
“You must be quiet, sweet one.”
Twirling his knife as he spoke, Wickham said, “Put her down and do as I say, or I shall not hesitate to use this!”
Whispering more words of comfort, Elizabeth placed Anna on the vanity chair, where the little girl immediately reached for her dolls and held them tight. Walking to the dresser, Elizabeth did as he requested, putting everything on the bed for him to inspect.
“Darcy is as rich as Midas, and you mean to tell me this is all he has given you?”
“As I said, we had not planned to stay long, and most of our things are back in Town.”
Wickham pulled a small sack from his jacket and quickly filled it with what Elizabeth had put on the bed. As she moved to where Anna was sitting, he said, “Not so fast, next we go to Darcy’s room. Bring the child.”
Amongst William’s personal belongings, Wickham found a purse containing some coins along with a little paper currency, though it was nothing he would call substantial. He rummaged through several drawers, strewing the contents on the floor and found no more than a few cuff links and a watch fob.
Disgusted, he ordered, “Get your traveling cloaks. We are leaving now!”
Elizabeth did as she was told, and within minutes the three of them had left the family wing by way of the servants’ access.
Once out into the night, he hurried them along the drive and across the green for some distance until they reached a dilapidated carriage, which was hidden in the trees.
Along the way, Elizabeth hoped there would be someone who might notice them or someone she could call out to, but it was not to be.
Everyone was preoccupied with the fire. As soon as they were inside the vehicle, Wickham signalled the driver to leave.
William would be beside himself when he arrived and found them gone and with only Wickham’s message resting on her pillow.
Darcy,
Did you think you would be rid of me so easily? Be prepared to pay twice what I would have garnered with Georgiana’s dowry. I will send word to Darcy House when I am ready for the exchange. Make haste.
GW