Chapter 25
The Plot is Revealed
It was a subdued group who gathered for supper.
The cook, a woman who had found this position with the help of Elizabeth’s grandmother, had been warned of the threat to the family, particularly Elizabeth.
She was determined to ensure that everything served in her kitchen was safe to eat, and the party took comfort in that, but there was still much to discover.
Richard brought several additional men with him tasked with finding and tracking Wickham.
Their first assignment was to discover where he was staying and then to keep an eye on him.
Another man was charged with seeing what he could discover about Jane Bennet, which was slightly more complicated.
She rarely left her house, and her meetings with Wickham most often occurred in the drawing room, in plain sight of the Bennet family.
No one knew how to learn more about Jane and Wickham’s plans, as there was no way to get anyone else inside the house.
“We could speak to Mrs. Hill,” Elizabeth suggested once she recovered from her tears and joined Lady Anne and the gentleman. “She is the housekeeper and would let us know if she hears anything. She could encourage the maids to eavesdrop and report anything they hear.”
The gentlemen looked at each other for a moment and shrugged. “It could not hurt to try it,” Richard replied. “You cannot visit Longbourn; however, if you give me a note, I will ensure it gets to her. She can keep a secret?”
“Yes, extraordinarily well,” Elizabeth laughed, her first real laugh since that afternoon. “Mrs. Hill was always a great help to me when I would try to avoid Mama’s anger and worked with me to circumvent Mama’s threats. She was the one who would help me escape the house when I needed to.”
“Does she want a new position?” Fitzwilliam asked. “You know we will need to replace the housekeeper at Oakridge soon. The one we have there presently wants to retire soon, if you recall.”
Elizabeth considered this and informed her husband that Mr. Hill would also need a position. They decided to consider that idea soon, as right now, they needed to focus on ensuring the safety of their family.
Georgiana joined the family for dinner, and the conversation remained focused on lighter subjects for her sake.
After dinner, the entire party moved into a drawing room where the ladies entertained them with music. The gentlemen talked quietly together, though Fitzwilliam remained near the ladies, particularly his wife.
Finally, Lady Anne told her daughter it was time for bed, so mother and daughter retired to their chambers with Elizabeth following behind. “I am tired, Fitzwilliam; however, do not feel you must join me immediately. I know you want to speak to the gentlemen,” she whispered.
Reluctantly, he sent his wife upstairs ahead of him. “I will not be long, my love,” he said, kissing her before releasing her hand.
Richard and George laughed at the look on his face as his wife exited the room. “You are utterly lost, Fitz,” Richard teased his cousin. “You will never find me looking like that over a woman.”
Darcy scowled at his cousin. “I am delighted with my wife, Richard. You do not know what you are missing.”
Richard scoffed, and the topic turned to more serious matters. “What should we do about Wickham? My men are ready to grab him and deliver him to the press gang, or do you want to see what he will do first?”
“Take him now,” Fitzwilliam stated. “Make sure he still has the belladonna and capture him. I prefer that he not endanger my wife.”
“But if we wait until he acts, we can have him arrested and hung,” George replied. “He apparently has no qualms about murdering someone.”
“Under no circumstances will we use my wife as bait,” Fitzwilliam protested.
“I am not suggesting we do so,” George retorted.
“I am merely suggesting we allow him to get caught in the act. We have people watching him; he cannot do anything we do not know about. The Hills at Longbourn are keeping an eye on things there and have already given us an account of a meeting between Wickham and Miss Bennet.”
“What?” Fitzwilliam barked. “Why have I not been told of this before?”
“Because we just learned of it after dinner,” Richard replied calmly.
“Learned what exactly?” Fitzwilliam demanded.
“Wickham’s plan,” Richard said.
“How do you know his plan already?” Fitzwilliam asked again.
“He and Miss Bennet were discussing it right before Mrs. Hill. They either did not realize she was present or assumed she could not hear them,” Richard chuckled.
“Wickham has never been particularly observant.” Quietly, Richard proceeded to brief both Darcys about what was overheard, and they deliberated strategies for apprehending the duo in the act.
Two nights later, there was an assembly in Meryton. The Darcy party originally planned not to go, but Richard convinced them this was the best way to encounter Miss Bennet and Wickham, allowing both groups to implement their plans.
Unsurprisingly, it was Elizabeth and Lady Anne who finally convinced Fitzwilliam to allow them to put this plan into motion.
When Fitzwilliam apprised his wife of Richard’s intentions, he was adamantly against allowing Elizabeth to put herself in harm’s way.
However, she had dismissed all his objections, promising to be careful and reminding him that he, George, Richard, and the guards would all be there to ensure Elizabeth was not hurt.
She would not eat or drink apart from the food they brought to the event themselves, and several people would be watching Jane and Wickham both before and during the event.
Fitzwilliam was unhappy, and his face had transformed into a stone mask as they travelled to the assembly hall.
It was one Elizabeth had seen on occasion before they wed, though rarely since, and she recognized it as a reflection of his discomfort in this situation.
He was concerned for his wife, and Elizabeth was determined to force him out of his doldrums before they left their carriage.
“If I had to judge based on the face you are presently making, I would guess you had been forced to marry me and were most displeased by it,” she whispered, not wanting to disturb the other occupants of the vehicle.
Her words had the desired effect as he looked down at her, startled. “Never displeased, dearest,” he whispered back. “I love you so very much.”
“Then you must demonstrate it, darling. That scowl you wear gives the impression you are not madly in love. Smile at me; stare at me if you must—but smile!” she commanded.
He emitted a soft chuckle, audible only to her.
“I worry for your well-being. My cousin and brother have assured me everything will be well, and they are closely monitoring the situation,” he sighed deeply.
“They have made it clear my sole duty tonight is to ensure you have an enjoyable evening. I must admit, I find it challenging to assume the role of jester rather than being granted the opportunity to safeguard you.”
Elizabeth laughed. “You are hardly a jester, dearest Fitzwilliam,” she cajoled.
“And you are safeguarding me. You will be by my side all evening; our role is as important as the rest. We must lull them into feeling safe so they will act, and Richard and his men will ensure Wickham will never harm another.”
“But you run the risk of being harmed,” he insisted.
“I do not,” Elizabeth replied. “We have been over this.”
“I do not like it,” he stated.
“I know, but all will be well,” she told him. “Now, let us go into the assembly hall. I want to dance.”
Fitzwilliam struggled to adjust his visage to contentment, and Elizabeth laughed at his effort.
Hearing her, he smiled softly as the carriage halted.
“I must remember that sound any time I am tempted to frown. You will have to repeat it often to bolster my spirits this evening,” he remarked as he disembarked from the carriage after his mother and brother and turned to assist her.
As she placed her hand in his, he promptly kissed it, and his countenance underwent another transformation, now radiating his profound love for his wife.
“That is the expression I hope to witness for the remainder of our lives, Fitzwilliam. When you look at me that way, it will make convincing everyone of our happiness quite effortless,” Elizabeth replied in a soft tone. “Now, ‘once more into the breach’,” she declared with a carefree air.
Entering the assembly hall, Elizabeth was quickly inundated with old friends.
She spoke to them all, introducing them to her husband and his family.
George and Lady Anne were personable and friendly, while her husband greeted everyone seriously, allowing his wife to speak and charm them.
After some time, both Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam observed the arrival of the Bennets, and a palpable tension filled the air between the two groups.
“Will they approach, do you think?” Elizabeth whispered to her husband. “I cannot see them for the crowd.”
“They seem to be discussing it,” Fitzwilliam replied, equally as quiet as his wife. “They are looking this way and gesticulating.” Elizabeth spoke to another former neighbour, and after a moment, Fitzwilliam spoke again: “Ahh, they are beginning to move this way. Your mother is leading the charge.”
“Smile, Fitzwilliam,” she hissed. “We are happy, and they can do nothing about it.”
“Lizzy!” her mother exclaimed as she drew near, her initial warm tone swiftly transitioning into a reproachful one.
“I must say, I was utterly astonished to see you here tonight. I am astounded you arrived in Meryton without notifying your family of your presence. Why on earth have you not come to visit us?”