Chapter 30 Into The Night
She could do nothing except wait and pray that he would continue drinking.
She finished the pecans and, lacking any other occupation, she considered what to do next, for she did not risk turning her attention fully upon him. She did not wish to rouse suspicion, so she poured more water into her glass and drank it slowly.
To occupy herself further, she lifted her sleeve and examined the laceration. It was not bleeding. Not deep. It would not require stitches.
She had begun considering what might have inflicted the injury when the man spoke, his words thickened by drink.
“Pardon me, missy. When I grabbed hold of you, I did not expect you to weigh so little, and we both fell into the back of the cart. Your sleeve caught on the iron tines of the hay fork. It tore the cloth and scored your arm.”
Mary looked at him in surprise. She had not expected an apology.
“It is not deep, sir. It shall heal quickly, particularly now that it has been cleaned.”
She drank more water while he took another swallow from the bottle.
His speech was very slurred, and he slouched down low in the chair.
She spoke with care. “Sir, you need not answer if you prefer not to, but I should like to know why I was taken from Rosings Park.”
His eyes narrowed. “Your mother made a bargain with the devil, missy. They stole our goods, and no one steals from the Aldington Gang without paying for it.”
“The Aldington Gang?”
“You have never heard of us? We move goods from France into every part of England.”
Mary inclined her head in acknowledgment. “Ah. I understand. And my mother somehow became entangled in the affair.”
“We were close behind them, and we reckoned they had to hide the goods quick or lose them.”
“And they drew my mother into it to conceal the contraband for them.”
“Yes. Never fear, Missy. As soon as your mother hands over the goods, we shall return you home, safe and sound.”
Mary lowered her eyes and drank more water. “Thank you, sir. That is a comfort. I am certain the goods shall be recovered soon.”
She fell silent and remained motionless, taking occasional sips of water while panic raged within her. Every passing moment threatened the arrival of another smuggler who might destroy her chance of escape.
At last, her captor’s eyes drifted shut.
A minute later, his body sagged against the chair, and his mouth fell open.
Mary rose with care, took up the candlestick, and slipped through the door. The key remained in the lock. She closed the door behind her, turned the key, and slipped it into her pocket.
Then she lifted the candlestick and surveyed her surroundings. Fear rose sharp and sudden in her stomach, leaving her frozen in place, too frightened to venture farther.
Only one path lay before her, a long corridor stretching into darkness. A violent nausea rose to her throat. She bit down hard on her lip. Under no circumstances would she cast up her accounts now. Trembling, she forced herself forward.
She moved as quickly as possible without drawing notice, though no sound came from anywhere within this part of the building. The corridor continued ahead, but a stairway descended to her right.
Mary approached the edge and peered downward. The stair twisted into blackness below.
Down and down she went until at last she reached a door.
She lifted the latch and eased it open barely wide enough to slip through. The hinges creaked loudly enough to stop her heart. She froze and held her breath.
Cold mist swept against her face.
A gust of wind extinguished the candle, though she no longer required it. She pulled the candle free but kept the heavy candlestick in her hand to use as a weapon.
She crept along the rear of what appeared to be a castle. Upon reaching a hedge, she followed it toward the woods bordering the green.
Once concealed among the trees, she looked back.
She had been held captive in a castle.
The chamber where they confined her was in the back of a smaller building, not the castle itself.
Mary turned and fled deeper into the woods. She picked her way with care lest she stumble and suffer another injury. At length, she came upon a footpath. One direction led back toward the castle, so she took the other.
After what felt like an hour, lights flickered ahead through the darkness.
A village, perhaps.
Did she dare approach?
What if the village sheltered the very men who had abducted her? Might the inhabitants consist entirely of smugglers and those loyal to the free trade?
Still, she took the risk.
She dared not remain exposed to the cold night air, nor to men without conscience.
Then her gaze traveled above the rooftops, and in the distance she saw a church steeple.
Relief swept through her.
She would slip quietly to the parsonage and beg for assistance.
Jane and Elizabeth clung to one another upon the couch in Elizabeth’s bedchamber and prayed.
They prayed for their sister. For her life. For mercy that no violence would be committed against her person.
Jane wept while Elizabeth struggled to offer comfort.
“Dear Jane, I am certain Mary remains safe for the present. The gang wants its goods returned. That alone prompted them to seize her. They believe she belongs to a wealthy and well-connected family. They will not harm her unless they lose all hope of recovering the contraband.”
A sharp rap sounded upon the door, startling both sisters.
They looked up as the Fitzwilliams entered the room.
“Ladies, we have spoken with Ben, Annie’s friend. He believes the goods have most likely been concealed within the caves. Ben, his brother, and two trusted servants from Rosings have already gone to search for them. I shall join them as soon as I have changed my clothes and boots.”
Richard looked between the sisters before continuing.
“Miss Elizabeth, I have dispatched an express to Darcy. I instructed him to remain in London until he hears from me. If the goods are found and your sister is returned to us safely, he is to contact the Board of Customs. Should we fail to locate the goods, he will return and assist in the search.”
Both sisters had risen to their feet.
Anne crossed the room and threw herself against Elizabeth.
“Lizzy, I would never willingly have brought this calamity upon your sister. It should have been me.”
Elizabeth drew Anne nearer. “It is not your fault, Annie. Pray be at ease. Perhaps the missing goods shall be discovered within the next few hours, and this nightmare brought to an end. Sir, do we know what was stolen?”
“Not yet. I have written a note which is being delivered to the post office now. The gang should receive it by morning, though if anyone at the post office in Westerham belongs to them, they may receive it tonight. I requested a description of the missing goods. It may prove to be the barrels of brandy Darcy discovered in the old ruin, but we dare not make assumptions and worsen matters further.”
Richard adjusted his gloves.
“For the present, we must await confirmation. Meanwhile, Drake and a trusted servant are opening every cellar beneath the kitchens in search of contraband, and we continue examining the caves. If you will excuse me, I must return to the search.”
Anne motioned toward the doorway, and Georgiana Darcy peered timidly into the room. Tears streaked her face.
“Lizzy, you must hate the very sight of us.”
Elizabeth released Anne and held out her hand.
“Come here, Georgiana. I do not hate you nor anyone else. This is no one’s fault, perhaps not even Lady Catherine’s.
They may have forced her to conceal the goods.
You must remember that your aunt and cousin were two unprotected women.
Lady Catherine acted for the safety of herself and her daughter. ”
Georgiana crossed the room and settled beside Elizabeth, wrapping her arms tightly around her.
“All shall be well, you will see. The colonel and his men are doing everything within their power. Our task now is to remain strong and keep our courage. And we may pray.”
Beaumont volunteered to join the search when he learned from Richard what had occurred. Together with Richard, Ben, and two trusted servants, he helped search cave after cave along the base of the bluffs.
Most proved not to be true caves at all, merely hollows and depressions in the rock, but some stretched deep into the earth and required far longer to examine.
The men labored throughout the night.