Chapter Twenty-Four
Show Me First Your Penny
Two days after the sighting of Wickham among the trees, Butterbell and Rowan decided to follow Wickham around for the day.
The evening glow had only begun when Butterbell and Rowan returned to their homes.
“Where have you been all day?” Lizzy curiously asked Butterbell. He normally did not disappear for an entire day, but when he did, he always came back with an interesting story.
“Follow Wickedman today,” the brownie informed her.
Lizzy was glad they were sitting in her room where no one would bother them.
“What did you learn?”
“Much,” Butterbell began. “He buy items at stores; not pay. Large ‘mount money he owe. Strolled town, charmed young ladies. Made them giggle. Promised his love. He no love anyone but self. Bad man. Drank with fellow officers. Still not pay.” Butterbell shook his head in remorse. “Very bad man.”
“Anything else?” Lizzy wondered if Butterbell discovered why Wickham had been watching them.
“Yes. Late in day, he leave town. Walked to south; met same bad man in the woods outside town. Butterbell and Rowan no want to be seen. Not close enough to hear. Other man . . .”
Lizzy noticed Butterbell shivering; a sign of something bad touching him.
“He badder than Wickedman,” Butterbell finally explained.
At the same time Butterbell began speaking to Lizzy, Rowan, sequestered in Darcy’s room, shared the same story.
“Other man;” Rowan explained, “black power round him. Very bad, very bad. Wanted to leave. Butterbell said must stay, see what happens.”
“Black power?” Darcy had never heard the term before.
“Yes. Bad power. Brownie sees it black.”
“What color is good power?” The concept of power being seen as colors was new to Darcy.
“Creator power many colors. Bright, sunny, beautiful. Used wrong, just black.”
“What happened between Wickham and this other man?”
“Talk long time. Other man mad; Wickedman shout at him. Shout back and forth.”
“We hear some of loud words,” Butterbell shared. “Bad man most angry. Said ‘Find out.’”
“Keep your voice down,” Lizzy warned because Butterbell had shouted the words. “We do not want to wake the family.”
“Yes. Must not wake,” Butterbell agreed.
“What happened next?”
“After yelling, talk normal, but much anger. Angry faces. Wickedman finally seemed to agree with bad man,” Rowan told Darcy. “Then bad man speak long time. Before they finish, bad man hand Wickedman paper.”
“What did Mr. Wickham do after the other man gave him the money?” Lizzy asked.
“Return town. Go to shops; gave money owners,” Butterbell explained.
“He was paying his debts,” Lizzy mused. “Why did the other man give Mr. Wickham money, and why did Mr. Wickham actually pay his debts?”
“Know not. No trust very bad man. No trust Wickedman.”
Lizzy smiled at Butterbell. “Neither do I.”
The following day, the foursome met at Oakham Mount.
Lizzy knew it would be the perfect spot for her to speak to Mr. Darcy and both brownies without being overheard.
No one could come close enough to the spot without being seen because the trees did not grow up the side of the mount, and the few on the mount would not hide anyone either.
Ben remained at the bottom of the hill to make sure no one disturbed the meeting he knew was taking place.
“Who do you think Wickham was meeting?” Darcy asked, having an idea but wanting Elizabeth’s opinion.
“Either an agent of the Eliminator or the Eliminator,” Lizzy replied. “This is what Nature was warning me about. His family has been looking for my family since the beginning of the struggle to keep the brownies safe. He nearly found my grandmother once.”
“Peachy tell ‘bout time,” Butterbell offered. “Happen a’fore Miss go around with Old Miss. He in area she warding. He try eliminate brownies of area. She warded a’fore he reach them.”
“Did he see her?” Rowan tone conveyed his concern.
“No,” Lizzy and Butterbell said together.
“Good!” Rowan replied.
“Wickham must be working for the man. That is why money changed hands. I am guessing Wickham was being pressed to pay his debts,” Darcy suggested.
“More than likely. He has been watching to determine if I might be who he is looking for,” Lizzy replied. “I must practice more, but every day we will find a different spot to work. Maybe we can keep him from seeing more than he needs to see.”
“Do you think we can dissuade him from believing you are the one he is looking for?” Darcy asked hopefully.
“No. Nature is never wrong. He will find me and force a meeting.” Lizzy paused in thought. “Grandmother once told me it was only a matter of time before the man found our family. Of course, she hoped that time was in the distance future.”
“Be soon?” Butterbell asked.
“I believe so,” Lizzy replied as she watched her three companions frown.