Chapter 8 #2
The footman who had been sent to consult with Lodge, the investigator based in Lambton, returned to Pemberley with disturbing news: the man had not been seen for almost a day, and his wife was worried.
Darcy swiftly reached out to tenants, field hands, and residents of Lambton and Kympton, forming search parties to scour multiple areas.
He utilised a long-established chain of communication, including the ringing of church bells in Lambton, Kympton, and Pemberley Chapel, to summon searchers.
Darcy himself, once the search was underway, rode to Lambton to interview Mrs Lodge; based on what she said, he decided to ride towards Lymeston.
She insisted that he take a garment belonging to the missing man and their bloodhound to aid his search.
Darcy asked Mrs Lodge’s manservant to arrange that a message of his intentions be sent to Stevens, who was in charge of coordinating communication amongst searchers.
On his way out of the market town, Darcy chose two large men from a search party, and the three rode towards the construction site that would become the new Shirethorpe.
There were not yet any structures built, and after a quick search of the surrounding forests, Darcy led the threesome to the old Shirethorpe.
The ride would usually take two hours, but of course it lasted far longer as they came across hunting cabins, dense copses, and other places where someone could be hidden.
The bloodhound’s lack of interest as well as the evidence of their own eyes convinced the men to keep travelling.
Once in Shirethorpe, Darcy found that people were eager to help him.
The mayor explained that he had heard a dozen rumours of efforts by “the great master of Pemberley” to help the townspeople if they were really forced to relocate; so far, only two abandoned buildings had been taken apart and carted away.
A quiet passing of word through the town of Darcy’s need for help resulted in almost a dozen searchers gathering in the town centre.
The mayor, who in his seventh decade was quite rotund, declined to join the search, but he promised all the help he could muster.
He arranged for horses he owned to accompany the different groups of searchers, in case they found Lodge, and he suggested that the quarry should be searched—because, he claimed, the quarry had been officially closed as of that very morning.
Darcy and the two from Lambton rode to the quarry with four men who had worked there, accompanied by an extra steed and of course Lodge’s dog.Thanks to the latter, it was not long before Darcy heard the three short whistles that meant discovery.
The man that one of the quarrymen had found trussed and gagged was indeed Lodge, and everyone pitched in to untie knots and ply the man with water, cured meat, and a hearty swig of gin.
Darcy decided that it would be safest to leave the duke’s land as soon as possible, so once Lodge was replenished enough to ride the mayor’s horse, Darcy made ready to leave.
He thanked the Shirethorpe quarrymen and requested that they spread the word to all the other Shirethorpe searchers that the missing man had been found alive.
Then Darcy, Lodge, and the two Lambton residents rode out; when they finally passed the gully that marked the boundary of the duke’s land, Darcy delegated the chores of riding to each of the churches to ring the “found” bell signal.
He accompanied Lodge to his home in Lambton.
Mrs Lodge was relieved and grateful to see her husband returned and safe; she sprung into action, asking her manservant to take the stallion back to the mayor of Shirethorpe, serving the men tea, rubbing salve into Lodge’s chafed wrists, and ordering a meal.
Finally, Lodge asked his wife to allow the men some privacy, and Darcy eagerly accompanied his investigator into the man’s small study.
Darcy began, “Before you tell me what happened, Mr Lodge, I think I should tell you about a note that was delivered to Pemberley.” He quickly outlined the facts and the steps he had taken to investigate the claimed kidnapping.
Lodge frowned. “Oh, my God. I wish I had more information for you. I saw a man following that youth you sometimes use to carry messages—Billy, he is called—and I followed the follower, to ensure Billy’s safety and perhaps learn if the man pursuing Billy had been ordered by the duke.
I used all caution, remaining back, minding my steed’s noises, but suddenly I lost sight of those I followed.
I hesitated, trying to determine if it would be best to take another route to Pemberley, to check whether or not Billy had returned, or if it would be better for me to abandon silence for speed to try to catch up. ”
Shaking his head ruefully, Lodge said, “I had decided to take a different path to Pemberley, but then I felt terrible pain as I took a clout on my head, and when I woke up I was tied up as you saw. I never did find out anything about the man I followed, or whoever took me into that quarry—but I think you and I can be certain that the duke was involved somehow. I saw evidence that the things you have been doing on behalf of the people of Lambton and Shirethorpe have made you into a kind of folk hero that His Grace could never hope to be.”
Darcy shrugged. “The mayor hinted as such. I suspect that the duke would not actually order a wealthy couple be killed and a gentlewoman be kidnapped, just because some of his people like me better than him; I suspect that he wants me missing in action for a while, perhaps so he can make the acquaintance of my intended, or perhaps he wishes me soundly beaten and then abandoned by a road, so that if I am robbed or killed when in that weakened condition, it will not be traced back to his orders. Or…. What do you think he plans?”
“He is evil enough for any of those thoughts, I give you that, sir.” Lodge shook his head and admitted, “I find it difficult to imagine what could motivate him to do anything, but as for my kidnapping, I wonder if the duke even knows of it. It would be quite damning, if I died, for my body to be found on his land. I think that the man he hired to follow Billy, for whatever reason, may have worried about me and acted on his own.”
Darcy rubbed his face with both hands. Then he asked for anything that Lodge had determined earlier to report and finally took his leave.
When he reached Pemberley, he checked in with his senior servants, thanked all for their help that day, and ordered cider and ale to be delivered as thanks to all the tenants and nearby residents who had stepped up to help search for Lodge.
He was glad to receive a report from Richard that Wickham was exactly where he ought to be, with no reported time gaps that would allow a long jaunt to the Lake District.
Georgiana took one look at him, when he checked on her, and flung her arms around him. “You look exhausted, Brother,” she said.
“I have been better, though I have also been worse. I hope very much to receive word that Elizabeth will soon be back.”
It took hours more of waiting, fretting that he was sitting in comfort in Pemberley while Elizabeth may be God-knows-where, waiting for him to ransom her—but finally the rider who had taken his message and Elizabeth’s book of poetry to an inn in Kirby Lonsdale returned.
The rider, a young man named Taylor, was brought to Darcy’s study.
Darcy had no idea what expression he wore, but Taylor hurried to assure him that all three travellers were well and had experienced no unexpected messages nor attempts of violence.
Even though he had expected this news, the relief Darcy felt made him glad that he was sitting behind his desk; he was certain he could not have stayed standing, so great was his rush of emotion.
“And I am to give you this, sir,” Taylor said, a huge smile on his face.
What he held out in his hand was not a simple folded-and-sealed letter; it was a rather thick packet of papers folded at least three times, making a neat parcel that had been artfully sealed with red wax that had been moulded into the shape of a pair of lips.
Darcy blushed with more pleasure than embarrassment, and he thanked his servant with a measured look and the words, “I gather that you know that the delightfully playful woman who gave you this message for me will be the mistress of all my properties, and that she is also a serious leader, someone who is capable of making tough decisions, someone who deserves your obedience and respect.”
The young man adopted a solemn expression as he nodded. “Yes, sir, I do know all of that. I—I saw in her expression, as she read your message, the anger against those who would hurt you, the steel in her voice. She is…well, you have chosen a wonderful…”
He floundered, and Darcy took pity on Taylor, who seemed to be attempting to express fervent admiration for his soon-to-be mistress. He nodded as he said, “Yes, I have chosen very well indeed. And I chose you for this task because I know I can count on your discretion.”
Taylor nodded and before long retreated to the kitchens for his delayed dinner.