Chapter 42 #2
“Thank you, lad,” Fitzwilliam said, offering a nod of gratitude.
Though he attempted to ask a few more questions, he refrained from pressing too hard.
After gathering as much information as the boy could provide, he handed him a coin for his trouble and hurried towards Darcy, who was just finishing his conversation with the blacksmith.
“Do they have another horse you can borrow, Darcy? Or will your horse be ready soon? I am ready to be on my way,” Fitzwilliam said.
“My horse will be ready to ride within the hour. What is the matter, Richard?” Darcy asked as he studied the expression on his cousin’s face.
Fitzwilliam lowered his voice as he motioned for Darcy to walk with him and the two men moved a further away.
“Andrew passed through here a few days ago with some rough-looking men,” he said, gesturing at the lad standing near his horse.
“From what the boy overheard, they are heading to a cottage in Scotland—I would expect they would head to the one leased to keep him safe. However, their intentions appear far from protective. It seems they plan to harm him, perhaps even leave him for dead, after extracting whatever they want from him. They know they cannot get the money he owes, so it appears they aim to make an example of him. Though why they have chosen Scotland for this purpose, I cannot yet say.”
“Will you make your way to Scotland then?” Darcy asked, taking several moments to examine his cousin carefully. “Let me send a note to Pemberley, and I will join you. You do not need to do this on your own.”
“There are some people I can contact who are on my way; men I knew in the army and who have since retired,” Fitzwilliam explained. “I know you would prefer to return to your wife.”
“While there is no doubt that I would rather be with my wife, I cannot, in good conscience, allow you to face what is likely a dangerous situation alone,” Darcy said, raising his hand to stop his cousin from speaking.
“I know you are a colonel in His Majesty’s Army and have encountered countless situations like this one.
But even then, you would have had others with you—men who could support you and help if the situation required it. ”
“I will not refuse your company, Cousin. I will still try to contact a few of the men along our way who might be able to join us. Perhaps others on our route may have seen those we seek, and the lad was able to provide a fairly good description of the men with Andrew. If I know my brother, he will be reluctant to spend days in the saddle, and I am uncertain how long those men will tolerate his complaints,” Richard replied.
Darcy nodded his agreement. “You might be correct, Richard. Come, let us go to the inn so I can send Elizabeth a note letting her know I will be delayed. Then, I will accompany you north, at least until you have found others who are better equipped to help you on what might turn out to be a rescue mission. You will need to take care, for the men who have him might decide to use you to encourage your father to find a way to pay what is owed.”
“I will be cautious, Darcy,” Fitzwilliam assured him. “I have planned many an ambush while on the peninsula. I dare say I am more prepared to do battle than some hired thugs for the owners of a gambling den in Dartford.”
“That might be true, Richard, but you have been trained to fight honourably. I do not believe that will be true of these men,” Darcy objected.
“Soldiers might be trained to fight honourably, Darcy, but they know to ignore their training when death is on the line. I will be well, but I know better than to risk myself unnecessarily. You worry like an old woman, Cousin,” Fitzwilliam teased.
Darcy shook his head. “I have always worried about you, Richard. You know I have long viewed you nearly as a brother, and I worry for you each time you leave England for some far-flung battlefield. This is no different than that, except now I know a little more of what you are facing. I urge you to be careful.”
Fitzwilliam clapped Darcy on the shoulder, his grin fading slightly as he regarded his cousin.
“I truly appreciate your concern. You have always been the steady one, keeping me grounded when I might have rushed headlong into trouble. I give you my word—I will not take unnecessary risks. But I must act quickly if Andrew is in danger. You would do the same if it were me or Georgiana, or now, Elizabeth.”
Darcy inclined his head, acknowledging the truth of Fitzwilliam’s words. “You are correct; I could do no less. However, you must keep in mind that these men are likely desperate. Desperation makes them unpredictable, and unpredictability makes them dangerous.”
“I know,” Fitzwilliam replied firmly. “Which is why I will not go alone for long. Once we reach the next sizable town, I will gather men willing to assist. Scotland is vast, and I will need all the help I can muster to locate Andrew in time.”
Darcy frowned but nodded. “Good. I will write to my investigator as soon as we stop at the inn. It is possible he will uncover something to aid you further.” He hesitated, then added, “I shall ensure that Elizabeth understands the reason for my delay. She will worry, as I do.”
“As will my mother,” Fitzwilliam said grimly. “I dread the lecture I will receive when she learns of all this.”
“Lady Julia has a right to be concerned,” Darcy countered. “Andrew might have his flaws, but he is still her son—and your brother. She deserves to know he is in jeopardy.”
Fitzwilliam sighed heavily. “You are right, of course. I will write to her as soon as I can; however, I doubt she will find much comfort in knowing the full truth. For now, let us make haste. The sooner we begin, the sooner we can put an end to this.”
Darcy nodded. “Agreed. Let us secure what we need and set off without delay.”