Chapter 2
As the carts pulled up to the door that led down to the coal cellar, five men walked back from the stables knowing that their planning and forethought had prevented a potential disaster for their family. They entered through the kitchen entrance, where Mrs Reynold stuck her head out of her office.
“Master, you are not going to change before you see the family in the green drawing room, are you?” she inquired.
“We are not very clean and smell of horse,” the master returned.
“I would suggest that all of you go to the drawing room first and let your family see you before you bathe and change. There will be hot water delivered for all five of you in twenty minutes,” she promised.
As much as he wanted nothing more than a good soak in his bath, George Darcy recognised the wisdom in his long-time housekeeper’s words. He nodded to Mrs Reynolds, and he and the four others headed for the drawing room.
“George, William!” Lady Anne exclaimed as she saw her men enter. They were dirty and not very fresh smelling, but all she cared about was the visual proof that both of them and the other three were well.
“Itch!” Seventeen-year-old Elizabeth launched herself into her brother’s arms after reassuring herself that Will was also not hurt. At the same time, Andrew and Perry were enfolded in their wives’ arms.
“What happened to your hands, brother?” Elizabeth asked as she stepped back and lifted both his hands on which the knuckles were still bloody.
“We all need to go and bathe and change, and then we will tell all,” George interrupted in a raised voice to stop the torrent of questions before they started.
“If Itch is anything to go by, then you all need a good hard scrub,” Elizabeth teased as she held her nose, mocking her brother about his ripe odour.
“She has your sardonic wit, Thomas,” Tammy said quietly to her husband, who nodded his agreement.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Once McLamb and the other men adjusted to the dim light of their temporary home, they saw a man was already being held in the cellar.
The woman had told McLamb with pride about her secret spy at the estate and how her victims had no idea of his presence.
From the spectacular failure of their plans, it seemed the spy was not a secret to the estate’s inhabitants after all.
Once the guards checked that each man’s irons were secure, the heavy metal door was locked. McLamb cornered the man that was there before them. “Did you tell ‘em what we were about?” he asked menacingly. If he felt the man had betrayed them, he would not see another sunrise.
“No, one of ‘em guards were workin’ as an under-driver, and ‘h was stealin’ me messages an’ writin’ ‘is own. I ‘as no idea ‘ow he knew, but I never tol’ no one!” Jones told the man. Jones did not know who the man was but guessed correctly that he was the leader of the rest of the prisoners.
“‘Ow come you ‘ad no idea ‘e was onto you?” McLamb asked. The glare in his eyes warned Jones not to lie.
“They let me alone until t’is mornin’; jus’ after the coaches left, they clapped me in irons and throwed me in ‘ere,” Jones rushed to explain.
“‘Ave you ‘eard what they will do wif us?” McLamb asked.
“Nothin’,” Jones answered, “I be Jones.”
“McLamb,” came the reply. McLamb knew that over forty guards had accompanied them back from the site of the botched ambush, and there were highly likely more at the estate.
Since they were all in irons and in a windowless room with a heavy metal door, McLamb knew they had no chance of escape; their only hope was for transportation rather than a date with the hangman’s noose.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
By the time a broken and battered George Wickham was hauled into the gaol at Lambton, he was barely alive.
The younger Mr Harrison was summoned to examine the prisoner.
He felt no sympathy for the wounded man as he knew what he had done before escaping all those years ago.
His father had treated Lady Elizabeth alongside Mr Finch, and he knew how gravely injured she was because of the actions taken by the pathetic wretch moaning on the cot.
When he was done, he expressed the opinion that he doubted that the man would be alive to keep his appointment with the gallows come morning.
In his examination, he had found three broken ribs.
When he was informed that the man had angered one of the Fitzwilliam brothers who had punished him with his fists, he understood how his ribs could be broken, especially when he heard that one blow had caused his body to strike a tree trunk with great force.
Considering that he was still breathing, the Fitzwilliam brother had exercised much restraint.
Ben Harrison was sure that, had a man hurt his sister like this one had Fitzwilliam’s sister, he would have finished the job and felt no remorse once it was done.
He could see the bruising on the abdomen that was increasing, indicating internal injuries.
He told the constable that the only thing to be done was to summon the pastor to give him last rites.
Not only would he not survive the night, but the doctor also doubted that he would survive the hour.
The vicar was sent for, but before he arrived, George Wickham breathed his last breath, finding some measure of peace at last.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Catherine de Bourgh was in high dudgeon and could not believe the degradation that she was suffering.
The carriage conveying her to London had made a stop in Lambton where a maid joined them.
Her bonds had not been loosened, nor had the gag been removed.
When they stopped to rest at some dingy inn that, as Lady Catherine de Bourgh she would not have been caught dead in, the maid took her to the necessary and was helping her, as even then she was bound and gagged.
When they stopped to eat and drink, she was warned that if she said one word when the gag was removed to feed her, it would be replaced without delay.
As soon as it was removed, she started to yell and vent her spleen; then, as she had been warned, it was replaced within seconds.
To the vituperative woman, it was a heavy punishment indeed to have to hold her peace.
An hour later, she was warned again. This time she remained silent long enough to drink some water and then was about to start screeching again but was pre-empted when the gag was put back in place.
She was not a happy woman but still thought, as she always did, that she was a victim and was always right.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
By the time the men returned downstairs after bathing and changing, it was only a few minutes before Douglas announced the meal; no one had a proper meal earlier as they waited anxiously to hear what had happened.
Much as she disliked her curiosity not being satisfied, a sentiment shared by almost all who had not been at the confrontation, Elizabeth told herself that she could wait until after dinner was over.
Elizabeth was next to Will, so he was able to offer his arm with much pleasure, and they entered the large dining parlour together. William pulled out a chair for Elizabeth next to Andrew and across from Jane and Perry. He took the seat on her other side before Richard, or his sister claimed it.
Richard saw that Will had seen through his intention to claim the seat next to Lizzy, so, with a big grin on his face, he went around the table and claimed a seat next to Jane while Georgiana sat next to her brother.
“Will, can you not tell us anything, brother?” Georgiana asked plaintively.
“There will be no discussion on that subject at the table,” said George Darcy.
Georgiana was but three seats away from her father when he issued his instruction with a mild rebuke before Will could formulate a reply. “After dinner, there will be no separation, and you will hear all and be able to ask your questions.”
With a slight pout, Georgiana dropped the subject, not willing to gainsay her father. Thankfully, the rest of dinner passed quickly, and all were soon heading for the drawing room.
The story was told from the moment that the leader of the libertines yelled out “stand and deliver” until the men returned home.
As the tale was coming to an end, Douglas knocked, holding a silver salver; the master beckoned him over.
The note was from young Mr Harrison, who had attended the prisoner at the Lambton gaol.
“George Wickham succumbed to his injuries sustained during the botched attack today,” the master of Pemberley announced with no emotion.
“It is normally sad when someone dies but not in this case! I am not sorry that he is gone and will never be able to hurt another,” Elizabeth stated. Everyone agreed with her.
“According to the doctor, he broke some ribs when he hit a tree, and there was nothing to be done about the internal bleeding. In the end, he did not swing, but he did pay the price he owed for murder and attempted murder,” Andrew stated after he took the note that his uncle offered him. “Our former aunt will join him soon.”
“I am guessing that my sister did not enjoy being bound and gagged,” Lady Anne stated. “It is my estimation that she does not realise the severity of her situation and thinks that with the force of her will, she will be able to extricate herself from these troubles.”
“It is hard to believe how some of the men threw their lives away trying to go for their weapons. Did they not see the overwhelming odds arrayed against them?” Ian Ashby asked.
“Part of it was that I think they felt they had nothing to lose; it is also possible that they were confused. Either way, they paid with their lives,” Richard surmised.