Chapter Twenty-Three
Georgie Porgy Made Them Cry
Butterbell and Rowan took their commission seriously. They spent many rotating hours watching the Lieutenant and learned much about his proclivities. Each morning, they would share their findings with Lizzy and Darcy before practice began.
This particular morning, their reports somewhat disturbed Lizzy. The information, much to Lizzy’s amusement, was presented in alternating dialogue.
“He play cards,” Butterbell began.
“He cheats,” Rowan added.
“He kiss young girls,” Butterbell continue.
“Take to his room.”
“Promise marriage.”
“He no marry them.”
“Run up debts, he does,” Butterbell frowned as he revealed this information.
“He no pay ‘til bad man give money,” Rowan huffed. “Master Darcy used to pay.”
“Is this true?” Lizzy turned to Mr. Darcy waiting for his reply.
“Yes. It is true.”
“Can you not do something to stop the man?”
“He was my father’s godson, and despite his immoral behavior, which my father never learned about, my father thought highly of the man.”
“Why did you not enlighten your father to his godson’s unscrupulous conduct?” Lizzy frowned at the thought of Mr. Darcy not informing his father.
“It was not that simple. My father would hear no criticism of Wickham. Wickham charmed him; he made my father laugh. As my father’s illness worsened, it was harder to reveal the truth about Wickham.
Even before my father took ill, I tried to share what I knew, but Wickham would then explain how it was a misunderstanding, and that I was just jealous because he made friends easier than I did. ”
“That is still no reason to protect him. The man needs to pay for his injustices. We are none of us above the law, and especially above the law of the Creator. Cheating, stealing, and immoral conduct with young girls is all against the Creator’s law.
I know when he faces his final accounting he will be punished, but how many people should he be allowed to harm before that happens? ”
Darcy looked down feeling ashamed of his previous actions to protect the man, but he did not know how to undo the harm the man had already caused.
Lizzy turned her attention to both brownies and instructed them to continue watching the man. Later, Lizzy planned on requesting Butterbell to find a way to protect any young girl the lieutenant tried to lead astray.
“We continue practice now,” Butterbell said with some cheer. “You able to make ward last longer this time. I know not how the ward will help, but I think will work.”
Lizzy just smiled and then began creating the ward around Mr. Darcy one more time.
Butterbell and Rowan laughed as they watched Darcy use his power to cause the grass and weeds grow, but since the ward kept his power inside, the grass and weeds began to grow up the man’s legs.
Both brownies wondered if the greenery would have wound all the way up his body if the ward had not broken-down minutes later.
“That one lasted longer than any of the rest,” Darcy declared.
“But not long enough if I am to meet the Eliminator.”
“Are you sure he will find you?”
“From what Nature shared, I am almost positive it will occur in the near future. I must be prepared,” Lizzy declared, and then she huffed. “It is so frustrating that I can only make this particular type of ward temporary.”
“I think we need to stop for the day. Maybe what you really need is a short holiday,” Darcy said as he approached her. “I suggest we take a drive together tomorrow. There must be some points of interest in the area. I could request Netherfield’s cook to prepare us a picnic basket.”
“Chicken,” Rowan cheered.
“Lemon and apple tarts.” Butterbell added his favorites.
“Do you have a delicacy you would like included Miss Elizabeth?” Darcy asked with a low chuckle.
“Lemon tarts are a favorite, but so are chicken and pheasant; however, it is highly unlikely for the cook to have any fresh pheasant available.”
“Until I ask, I cannot be sure. I will also have her add cheese and whatever fresh fruit she has available.”
“Then Butterbell and I will return to Longbourn to prepare for tomorrow’s outing. In the morning, I will be watching for you through the front window.”
“Rowan and I will arrive as soon as possible,” Darcy replied with a pleased smile. “Will Ben and Joseph be attending us?”
“We need more food,” Butterbell observed.
“Only Ben will accompany us. Joseph leaves tomorrow for an extended visit to his family.” At Darcy’s questioning look, Lizzy added, “Joseph’s father broke his leg leaving all the farm work to his younger brother who is only four and ten. I gave Joseph leave so he could go and help his brother.”
“How long will he be gone?” Darcy asked.
“About six weeks.” Lizzy replied. “If he needs to remain longer, I have already informed him his leave will be extended.”
Lizzy did not add that she had already paid Joseph for the six weeks he would be gone. She would never deduct money from his pay just because of a family emergency.
After being collected by Mr. Darcy and Rowan, Lizzy directed Darcy’s driver to the nearest set of ruins where the couple spent an hour roaming through the remains of what local historians claimed was castle. Ben walked the perimeter of the ruins ever watchful.
“Some legends say that King Arthur once stayed on this site, but I have my doubts about the claim,” Lizzy shared while they were walking through what might have been an entry hall.
“Why do you doubt it?”
“The remains are not old enough to date back to King Arthur’s time,” Lizzy said. “Furthermore, Butterbell assures me there was no King Arthur in this area.”
“No, was not,” Butterbell declared.
“Who did the castle belong to?” Darcy had directed the question to Miss Elizabeth, but Butterbell answered before she could.
“Old Earl Netherland. Many generations past. Family die out; lose earldom. Far off relative comes; hates castle. Falling down it were. Build Netherfield. Want old king give new title. Did not.” It was the most Darcy had ever heard Butterbell say at one time.
“It was a large castle,” Darcy observed.
Lizzy pointed out the rooms she knew about but speculated about other spaces.
“No one currently living in the area was around when the castle stood,” Lizzy explained.
After carefully navigating the fallen debris for an hour, Butterbell declared, “Time to eat,” and Rowan quickly agreed.
Darcy and Lizzy just laughed as they made their way out of the ruins. Lizzy was pleased with how mild the weather was for November as she sought out a smooth, shaded spot to lay down the blanket provided for the feast.
Before opening the picnic basket, Lizzy warned, “No taking the food before I set it out on the blanket.” If she had not, both brownies would have put their hands in the basket and pulled out what they wanted.
After the food was displayed, Ben took his portion and sat on a stone wall nearby.
When everyone had eaten their fill, the remains were packed up.
Lizzy and Darcy then spent more time wandering around the area while Rowan and Butterbell declared a time of rest after eating so heartily.
Ben sat on a stone wall watching the couple since they always remained within his line of vision.
During their walk, Darcy resolved to ask a question he had been wondering about for some time.
“Why do you refer to Joseph and Ben by their first names?”
“As you know, it is important to keep my identity secret. The best way to avoid having others track me through my traveling companions is to use first names only. My grandmother taught me that rule. Moreover, it is easier to remember the rule if I refer to them by their first name at home. I am less likely to slip and use their last names when not at home.”
“That does make sense, and I applaud your grandmother for the advice,” Darcy replied.
“Yes, my grandmother was an extremely wise lady. I still miss her.” Lizzy added the last with wistful tone.
“Can Ben and Joseph see the brownies?” Darcy had not noticed either man showing recognition of the brownies’ presence, but he did wonder.
“No, although they both wish they could. They have great respect for the brownies because of the stories I share with them.
“I thought brownies could make themselves visible to humans, if they chose?”
“No, they can only become invisible when necessary. Butterbell wishes he could make his presence visible to Ben and Joseph.” Lizzy smiled as she looked toward Ben. “Butterbell likes and respects both men, so it saddens him that he is unable to interact with them.”
Darcy thought about the fact for a few minutes before he said, “Maybe one day you could use the power to make them visible to those who cannot see.”
“Butterbell already tried to do that, but found it impossible,” Lizzy explained.
Both remained in quiet thought until they crossed over a stone wall; then the couple began discussing the history of the area in a little more detail.
Late in the afternoon, the party packed everything back in the coach and headed home.
“I believe we should alter our practicing tomorrow. Maybe work on other ways to use the power and allow a time of respite from our regular practice of weaving a ward.”
“I agree. You are improving, but I feel you are pushing yourself more than you should,” Darcy said. “I want you prepared but not overtaxed. It would be worse if your effects failed because you tried too hard.”
“We agree,” Rowan and Butterbell said in unison.
“Practice fun way to use power,” Butterbell added.
“We spend day watching Wickedman,” Rowan declared. “Might see him doing something new.”
Lizzy, Darcy, and the brownies spent three more days, after their holiday to the ruins, practicing.
Lizzy practiced not only her wards, but her ability in manipulating the trees, bushes, and water.
She was not sure what good it would do, but she felt it important to work on those areas of the powers as well as the wards.
Darcy too practiced. He made flowers and grasses grow even though it was not the right time of the year.
When Lizzy would bring forth little ponds from the earth, Darcy would make flowers grow around the boarder of the pond.
The brownies, when the couple would create ponds and flowers, would dance around the area in celebration of nature.
On the fourth day of this type of practice, Rowan whispered to Darcy, “Wickedman back.”
“Where?”
“Over by trees.”
Without fully turning in that direction, Darcy carefully found a way to look without being seen. He noticed a splash of scarlet among the tree branches.
“We have company,” Darcy said softly to Elizabeth.
Lizzy looked toward Ben and realized he too saw the intruder.
“I know,” Lizzy replied. After a little thought, she said, “We need to do something out of the ordinary. The man is among the trees. Without leaves, he cannot hide well, but the bare branches give me an idea.”
Darcy saw a sly smile cross her lips, but rather than speak, he watched to see what she would do. At this point, Ben had walked nearer to them, so he too heard Lizzy’s words.
“Watch the trees.”
As Lizzy closed her eyes, she directed the power already around her to move toward the trees and then begin to move the branches.
Darcy did turn toward the woods, and he saw some of the branches begin to sway.
Then some of the branches seemed to reach down toward the patch of scarlet.
As he continued to watch, the tree limbs began a dance, touching the man and then moving away.
At first, Darcy was sure Wickham did not notice the limbs brushing against him, but then one seemed to wrap around his arm.
This action made Wickham jump back and take notice of what was happening around him.
Darcy began to chuckle as he watched the man turn and rush away.
“I did not know you could do that,” Darcy proclaimed.
“It was a matter of directing the wind and then manipulating the tree branches. I have only tried it once before, but it seemed easier this time. I believe it is because I am working directly with nature,” Lizzy explained.
“See Wickedman run?” Butterbell declared through his laughter.
“Funny,” Rowan agreed.
Even Ben smiled at the sight.
“I think we are done for the day,” Lizzy proclaimed. “Maybe we can try again tomorrow.”
All agreed and walked slowly back toward Longbourn.
It was the last time Darcy and Lizzy saw Wickham while practicing Lizzy’s warding attempts.