Chapter Twenty-Three #2
Tears misted Elizabeth’s eyes. “Do you know of Mr. Wickham, Colonel?” Her bottom lip trembled with the memory.
“I am aware of the menace Mr. Wickham created for my cousin.”
“Yesterday, I received two letters from my eldest sister, the one you met at the wedding. She reported the disappearance of Lydia, our youngest sister. A man disguised as Colonel Forster, the commanding officer of our local militia, convinced my father to allow Lydia to attend Christmas festivities in London with himself and his wife. Through putting details together, it is quite obvious the man who took my sister was no man at all. It was George Wickham. My family, at first, suspected an elopement. But as another officer is accused of a heinous murder similar to the ones that brought your cousin and me together, Mr. Darcy and I are confident Wickham committed the murder and also made my dear, sweet Lydia one of his own.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam added cautiously, “And this brought unfair accusations on both your parts?”
“Oh, Colonel, I said the most hurtful things to William.” Her tears flowed easily now. “How could I have been so foolish? It was not Darcy’s fault, but I stormed out, and now I know not what to do.”
“I suspect we should order you more tea, and you will tell me everything.” He handed her his handkerchief and motioned the innkeeper over.
“Mr. Witherspoon, Mrs. Darcy is my cousin’s wife.
” Elizabeth knew he protected her reputation with his explanation.
“Imagine my meeting her along the London Road! We will catch up on family news for a few minutes, so please freshen the lady’s tea and ask your good wife if she has any of those delicious bread rolls that I love. ”
“Immediately, Colonel.” The man made his way to the back of the inn.
For the next hour, Elizabeth told Darcy’s cousin how her own family was part of the curse, how she met Darcy, how Wickham killed the barmaid and Miss King in Meryton, how she and Darcy fought Wickham and Amelia Younge in London, how they studied the books for knowledge of vampires, and how Mrs. Annesley believed Elizabeth’s dreams were the key to defeating Wickham.
“The dream from last night haunts me even now. William fought Wickham’s followers and lost. It was so real, Colonel, that I expected to see a bloody body at the foot of my bed. ”
“Where is Wickham?” Fitzwilliam demanded.
“His carriage was seen leaving London and heading north. Recently, Darcy received a report from Bramwell’s men saying Wickham has a house above Chillingham.
William did not want to follow Wickham there.
He feared placing me in danger. I read the report, though.
Wickham keeps himself isolated from the village.
He would not require supplies such as a normal man would, and the village took note of his hermit-like habits.
Reportedly, the neighborhood burned Wickham’s ancestral home two hundred years prior—or at least, that is the legend—when Leána’s hunger became his.
They attempted to destroy his evil with the fire.
It goes without saying, no one in the hamlet realizes Wickham is the same creature of old.
They think the current Mr. Wickham is a descendant of one of their ancestors who were attacked.
His new house is built on part of the original land, which makes sense because a vampire requires earth from his homeland to survive.
William and I thought the ashes we found in the room Wickham used in Mrs. Younge’s house must be from the foundation of that original house.
It was after the fire that he swore revenge on the D’Arcy family. ”
“Then my cousin has left for Chillingham and Stanwick?”
Elizabeth froze. “He would not! William cannot face Wickham alone!” She started up from the table, but the colonel’s hand on her arm stayed her.
His words were ominous. “Mrs. Darcy, you know my cousin as well as anyone. Can you imagine his sitting at Pemberley while Wickham flaunts his possession of your sister?”
Regret claimed her heart. “I taunted him about removing Lydia’s head to release her soul.
” She sat down heavily. “William said he would do whatever was necessary to end my sister’s wanderings.
” Elizabeth grabbed the colonel’s hand. “We must assist him. William cannot defeat Wickham alone. My dream says so. I must return to Pemberley immediately.”
“Darcy is not there!” His words spoke the truth she did not wish to acknowledge. “If you departed Pemberley at noon yesterday, I would venture to say Darcy departed for Northumberland shortly afterwards— by this morning, at the latest. Our return to Pemberley would be fruitless.”
Agitated, Elizabeth asserted, “I must go to Northumberland.”
“We will go,” the colonel said, taking command.
“First, we must lighten your coach so we can travel faster. Have your maid pack you one case, enough clothes for a week’s journey.
Darcy will have traveled by horseback, which means he will arrive at least a full day before us, but he must come across Derbyshire.
We have more of a direct route to Newcastle.
” The colonel was planning battle maneuvers.
“We must stay together at some inns along the way, so I pray, my dear, you are not missish. I will make a pallet on the floor. In some areas, it would not be safe for you to stay alone.” He picked up his gloves.
“I assume Darcy provided you funds before you departed Pemberley.”
“I have my pin money, and William presented me a draft for a hundred pounds.”
“Perfect! We will leave your maid and the excess baggage here. I will send word to Pemberley for someone to retrieve her. Your coachman and I will take turns driving the carriage. Even with that, it will take us four to five days to reach the Scottish border. Hurry. We must be on the road.”
The colonel took over the dismissal of the maid’s services, over the woman’s protestations.
Elizabeth paid for their food, the horse’s feed, and a room with board for the maid for two days.
She asked the innkeeper to pack a basket from which the three of them—she, the colonel, and Peters—could partake on the road.
Within thirty minutes, they traveled north. “Thank you, Colonel.” The words broke the smothering silence.
“My dear, no thanks are necessary. Darcy is my family.” He changed his seat to sit beside her.
“What I require, Elizabeth, is for you to tell me everything you know about vampires. I must know what the books say, what your intuition tells you, and what Mrs. Annesley believes to be your role in Darcy’s fate. ”
Elizabeth realized the colonel assigned her employment in asking for her insights, but she was grateful for his interference.
Moreover, how much she knew of vampiric legends and facts amazed her.
After two hours, he took over the reins, and Peters climbed into the carriage.
The coachman made his apologies to Elizabeth, but explained the colonel wanted Peters to rest for they would not stop until nightfall.
Then the man curled up on the opposite seat and went immediately to sleep.
Elizabeth followed suit. She had slept very little the night before, and she would require all her wits to assist Darcy.
She settled into the luxurious seats of Darcy’s coach.
They reminded her of him—warm and comfortable.
She turned her head into the material and inhaled deeply.
She fancied she could smell the sandalwood he wore.
Breathing in deeply, she closed her eyes and attempted to feel Darcy’s arms about her. “Protect him, God,” she whispered.
That evening, the colonel registered them as man and wife at a rowdy inn along the main road. They took a room over the bar, both of them expecting little sleep because of the noise. They had supper in a semiprivate room with two other couples, so their conversation remained light.
“Will the Matlocks not wonder of your late arrival?” she whispered.
“I sent word to my family that I was unexpectedly called to Newcastle. My parents are accustomed to my position interfering with family obligations.”
She asked with a sad smile, “Would you tell me about William’s life? Surprisingly, I know little of his childhood.”