Chapter 8
Eight
Sure enough, Billy’s return was accompanied by the heartening news that Elizabeth was, indeed, coming back to him; Gardiner wrote, “She tells me that she has to inform you of a positive response to your enquiry. I, of course, have no idea to what she refers, and here I give you a wink, but know that I wish for you and my niece the greatest happiness.”
Darcy had already experienced great happiness when she had said that her answer was going to be yes, and that she was already certain of it even though her aunt cautioned her to wait.
He felt that he did not have the capacity to be even happier, but somehow he managed to feel an entirely new flood of happiness.
Elizabeth Bennet was going to marry him!
And in just four days she would be back!
Darcy dove into his usual work with so much motivation, he sped through his ordinary tasks and was able to put into motion other important projects.
He wrote extensive details on a marriage settlement and changes to his will, which he sent to his attorney.
He also sent out several letters to begin the hunt for a secretary.
He authorised a Lambton resident named Theodore James to hire people for a local northern-Derbyshire newspaper, and he arranged for a bank account to be set up for the purpose.
Finally, he furthered the project of building a new school by quietly inviting the leading citizens of Shirethorpe to a meeting in Lambton.
So passed the first day of waiting for Elizabeth. However, his second hyper-productive day was completely derailed when he received another express.
“Sir,” his butler said. “An express for you. It looks…irregular, so I detained the rider for questioning.”
Connors was not one to detain anyone, so Darcy became instantly concerned.
He briefly noted that the message looked irregular because it was quite bedraggled—smudged, spattered with mud, the wax seal smeared rather than stamped.
The direction was written in an unknown hand; he quickly broke the seal and cast his eyes to the bottom of the message.
The signature there claimed to be George Wickham—but Darcy knew that miscreant’s signature all too well, and it looked nothing like that.
He quickly read the message and jumped to his feet, heart pounding.
I have Elizabeth Bennet. If you want to see her alive again, bring ten thousand pounds to the White Stag inn, which is located on the Kendal to Penrith road, just outside of Ambleside. You have two days.
Darcy felt slightly dizzy but, as he rushed out of his office, he was already asking Connors, “Is the rider in your office?”
“Yes, sir.”
The express rider was very young, and his wide eyes and frown indicated anxiety, although Darcy noticed with satisfaction that Connors had given him a plate of food and a tankard of (he presumed) ale. The youth stood and bowed.
“What is your name?” Darcy asked, trying not to be so impatient that he made the youth frightened enough to be incapable of truthful replies.
“Tom, if you please, suh.”
“Well, Tom, what can you tell me about the man who sent this express?”
“Nothing ’t all, suh,” Tom gulped out. “I were given’t by me boss, and he said to change ‘orses ever’ chance I got; ’twas a rush order. I never saw the gent’ who paid, suh.”
Darcy was certain that the youth was telling the truth; after getting the name of Tom’s employer, he said, “Very well, Tom. Be certain to treat your horse to one of the apples from the kitchen, and safe travels.”
Darcy raced back upstairs and rang for Stevens. He began changing into riding clothes even before his valet arrived, but his thoughts were moving faster, even, than he was.
Should I go to Barclays Bank in Lambton and pull out ten thousand pounds? How in the blazes did Wickham come to know of Elizabeth? Can Barclays even gather that much money in such a short period of time? But I must try—
Wait, is it a trap? It could not be Wickham, could it?
He would either use his own recognisable handwriting or would use another man to write it, or at least disguise his hand—but in those cases, he would not sign the note!
Plus, Richard is working to get Wickham out of the militia and into the regulars, to be shipped overseas—so the reprobate is nowhere near the Lake District—and again, how could Wickham even know about her—or about her trip to the Lake District?
But, then, who would know? Could the duke suddenly know her first name and her destination? Could he have sent someone to follow the Gardiner’s carriage? But they left before he even called and found out that they were gone. Maybe someone followed Billy?
By the time he was in riding clothes, and Stevens was attempting to neaten the mess Darcy had made in the dressing room, he had almost convinced himself that the duke had assigned men to watch him, as he had done, and was therefore responsible for Elizabeth’s abduction.
Of course, the duke would know that Wickham was Darcy’s nemesis; everyone in the county knew that.
Still, even if the duke was the one responsible for removing Elizabeth from her relations, Darcy would have to gather the money and travel to the inn mentioned in the note.
Or…maybe Elizabeth had not been abducted.
Darcy imagined that even the most entitled duke would not wish to order the murders of two well-to-do English people in order to kidnap a lady; and the trouble of subduing and kidnapping three adults, one a man, would hardly be practical.
If Elizabeth had been kidnapped and the Gardiners left alive and free to act, certainly they, too, would send an express informing him of such.
Perhaps this note was meant to send him far from Pemberley, while the duke (or some other evil-doer?) set some other plan in motion. Once Elizabeth had arrived, finding Darcy gone, would the duke visit again? And then he would…what?
Darcy asked Stevens to meet in his study in a quarter of an hour, and he arranged for Morris, Connors, and Mrs Reynolds to also attend the meeting.
While he waited for them, he wrote an express to Richard, succinctly narrating the occurrences of the morning along with his speculations as to who had done what.
“Please let me know if Wickham has gone missing, or if you discover any fact or rumour that may pertain to the situation.” He rang for a footman to send the express promptly.
When the team of his most trusted servants arrived, Darcy relayed the happy news that Miss Elizabeth Bennet was going to marry him. He saw genuine joy in their eyes, and some relief, as well. Stevens murmured, “Thank God,” so softly, it was obvious he did not mean to be heard.
“The bad news,” Darcy informed them, “is that today I received a note purporting to be written by George Wickham, announcing that he has kidnapped my intended and requires an enormous sum of money as ransom.”
Mrs Reynolds queried, “Purporting?”
“Exactly.” Darcy appreciated his senior servants’ intelligence and decorum. Making an announcement of the kidnapping of the woman who was soon to be mistress would certainly cause outcry in most households, to no one’s advantage.
He briefly explained that several pieces of evidence indicated that the use of Wickham’s name was a ruse, and the entire allusion to kidnapping may, in fact, be a trick meant to lure him away from Pemberley and possibly into a trap.
He explained, “I have no evidence for my current theory about the person behind this note, so do not spread this idea unless you have very good reason, but it did occur to me that it could be the Duke of Lymebourne.”
Connors and Morris looked incensed. Mrs Reynolds looked anxious, and Stevens, surprised.
Darcy said, “I have already reached out to Colonel Fitzwilliam concerning Wickham. My further intentions include contacting the man hired to send Tom, the express rider who carried the note to Pemberley; contacting the local investigator who was watching the duke on my behalf; checking for any local rumours about Wickham; sending several armed men to the White Stage inn near Ambleside; checking with magistrates and apothecaries in the Lake District, in case there has been an abduction; and sending a messenger to the inn where my intended and her relations should be spending the night, tonight, to ensure if all is well with them and, if so, to inform them that there has been an attempt to make problems here, warning them to take utmost caution in regards to any approach by strangers or messages from anyone, including myself.”
He looked around at his loyal servants and added, “If anyone has additional or alternative suggestions, you have my full attention.”
Mrs Reynolds said, “Although I suppose that both Miss Bennet and Mr Gardiner know your handwriting, I suggest you send this with your letter you send to the inn.” She withdrew a small volume of Wordsworth’s poetry.
The soft leather cover had several scuffs and the sort of dark, shiny patina that was evidence of frequent use.
“The maids found this under the furniture in the guest bedroom Miss Bennet had used, and I was going to give it to you today with the suggestion that you find a way of returning the volume to her. It will certainly convince her that this message is from you, even as you warn her to be sceptical of future messages from you.”
Darcy took the book, stroking the cover, loving the fact that his soon-to-be bride loved reading poetry. But a surge of resolve flooded him as he considered anew the possible explanations for the note and the possible actions he should be taking at this very moment.
He checked for further ideas and then delegated various tasks to each of his servants. After they hastened away to carry out his plans, he once again picked up paper and pen to write a warning to Gardiner…and Elizabeth.