Chapter 7
Darcy had received the reports from Cooper and Mrs Nicholls, but the account was less than encouraging.
Some folks had noticed a modest black carriage driving through town at dusk the evening before Darcy’s arrival.
The carriage was pulled by two brown horses, not particularly well matched, and the driver was described as “a stranger”—with no adjectives embellishing the description.
A tenant’s oldest son had noticed the carriage turning from the road into the approach to Longbourn’s manor house.
Several people noted its return through Meryton, when it was not quite yet full dark. It headed southwest on the London road.
Given the timing, Darcy was almost certain that it was linked with Elizabeth’s disappearance—but it also meant that he had very little to go on. Nevertheless, he had sent out orders for his investigator in London to mount a search immediately.
At that point, he was encouraged by his sister and his valet to eat dinner and get some sleep.
He had choked down a few bites and sent the rest back.
Although he laid down, he was unable to sleep.
His body could not remain in one position for more than a few seconds.
In an effort to tire his muscles, Darcy finally arose and paced the room for what felt like hours.
He tried to ignore his sour gut and laid down again, but it was no use—he could not lay still, let alone sleep.
He put on trousers, a daytime shirt, and his banyan, and Darcy began to walk all over Netherfield.
Finally, at first light, he returned to his room, washed his face, and dressed.
He was at a loss to know what to do with himself while waiting for the bonnet-decorating party planned for the early afternoon.
Even though he had never heard of any of Elizabeth’s sisters walking in the early morning, he rode the grounds and forest that lay between Longbourn and Netherfield Park, taking in Oakham Mount, in case anyone did.
He did not see or hear anyone, and with his head full of dreadful scenarios that he hoped were not likely, Darcy turned back to Netherfield’s manor house.
There he found an unexpected but welcome sight: his cousin Richard riding his gigantic chestnut steed up to Netherfield’s steps, wearing his red regimentals and a liberal coat of dust.
“Richard!”
His cousin turned, but instead of his affable smile, Richard’s stern expression made Darcy’s already-tortured stomach clench more violently.
Richard dismounted and handed the reins to one of the grooms hurrying towards them.
Darcy vaulted off Beorht, and when the two men met and clasped hands, Richard muttered, “I require brandy and a private talk with you.”
When they reached the study, Darcy said, “What have you discovered? Something about Wickham?”
Richard shook his head. “Ever since I first started monitoring the least reliable lieutenant in English history, he has remained in Brighton, still part of Colonel Forster’s regiment.”
Darcy handed him a glass of brandy and sat in the chair behind the desk. “Then what?” he asked.
Richard sat, facing him, and said, “My parents have something to do with Miss Elizabeth’s disappearance.”
“Dear God!” Darcy said. “My letter—?”
“They claimed grievous injury caused by your defection from their plans for you to marry Sarah or Margaret. They cannot believe you want your wealth spread elsewhere; they want it kept in the family. Basically, they wish to call you son-in-law, and it matters not which of their daughters you choose, as long as you choose one of them. I am almost positive they are wishing for access to your money and your sterling reputation.”
Darcy jumped to his feet and strode to the middle of the room so that he could pace. His stomach was doing stunts that made his entire body feel strange. He said, “No offence to your sisters, but your parents sound as unreasonable as Aunt Catherine.”
“My mother would be so insulted to hear you say that. After all, she would say, Sarah and Margaret are educated and have many accomplishments to their credit. Not only that, they are both healthy, so either could give you the heir you require. Marrying them would be prudent and delightful, Mother would say—because even she agrees that marrying our sickly cousin Anne would be everything abhorrent.”
Darcy shook his head. As he paced, he realised that he was clenching his fists so hard he was cutting into his flesh with his fingernails.
“I am surprised and dismayed that they were so upset by my choice, but that does not explain why you think they had something to do with Elizabeth’s disappearance. ”
“Yesterday I received your note. I was on my way to see my parents about my brother, so I decided that I needed to be alert to anything odd…just in case their pique had resulted in some sort of…intervention. Before I could even clap eyes on my parents, I heard my father saying to my mother, ‘It is about fourteen miles from Meryton.’ From your note, I saw that Meryton is the closest town to Longbourn, so I knew that they conspired to send her off somewhere.”
“And what did they say when you questioned them?” Darcy finally resumed his desk chair and studied his cousin’s perturbed expression.
“They shut up tighter than a clam. Claimed that they were doing business with a Sir William, whom they described as a knight who used to be a shopkeeper in the town of Meryton and had once served as mayor—well, never mind all that. I am sure it was just some garbage story that my father made up on the spot.”
Darcy said, “Actually, there is a Sir William in that town. And he was a shopkeeper and mayor…. He does not do business now, and I doubt that your father could be investing with him, or anything like that.”
“Any chance this Sir William fellow has something against Miss Elizabeth? Or that he could have some reason to despise the marriage?” Richard asked.
“Umm…from what I saw of him the past autumn, he considers the Bennets friends, and he thinks especially well of Miss Elizabeth. But I also know that he has a connexion to Lady Catherine. His daughter married our aunt’s pastor.
You remember him, I am certain: Mr Collins, the most obsequious toad of my acquaintance. ”
“Oh….” Richard closed his eyes briefly but then opened them and responded, “Yes, I remember Mr Collins all too well. And I believe that I met Sir William when he came to dinner at Rosings as a guest of the pastor.”
“That is right! You did meet him.”
“I only vaguely remember him. I remember he left Hunsford several weeks earlier than Miss Elizabeth.”
“He did,” Darcy confirmed. “At any rate, I doubt that your parents would be legitimately involved with the man. Still, I can imagine that Sir William might feel loyalty to our aunt and the Collins toad, and he might possibly be involved if there has been a gigantic conspiracy against my marrying Elizabeth.”
He turned to face his cousin. “I was certain, as I stood in Longbourn’s parlour, that Miss Bennet, Elizabeth’s elder sister, and Mr Bennet were part of a conspiracy to remove her from me—and maybe others in the Bennet family, as well.
If Sir William is involved, too, it would be because Collins and Lady Catherine de Bourgh are also a part of it.
And then you seem certain that your parents are in the conspiracy.
Bennets, Collins, DeBourghs, Lucas, Fitzwilliams—is this insane, to posit so many people wishing so strongly to intercede with me marrying Miss Elizabeth that they all become law breakers? ”
“Would it be breaking a law, Darce, to help Miss Elizabeth’s father relocate her somewhere safe and clean and then tell you a story to make you sad and jealous and angry, so your betrothal is off, the wedding does not happen, and you both eventually move on to considering others?”
Darcy’s heart clenched at those words, but then he lifted his head and said, “It just might be. Miss Elizabeth turned one and twenty last week.”
“Ahh…There it is. I wonder if my parents knew that they could be criminally liable for these actions?”
“Let us put our heads together and come up with a plan, after you refresh a bit. ”
While a footman showed Richard to a room, Darcy sent an express to his investigator, with the new information that the place where Miss Elizabeth Bennet had been taken may be fourteen miles from Meryton.
Reunited with Richard, Darcy reported everything he had done, so far, including the little that he had learnt. Then, he shared the plans Georgiana had for attempting to talk with the younger Bennet sisters away from their parents and eldest sister.
The plan evolved that Darcy would write to his attorneys in London to ask the question if he, as the intended of Elizabeth Bennet, could use the law to punish those who had kidnapped her.
While he worked on these letters, Richard would go to Longbourn and pretend to be standing in for his parents in a request for an update.
“I will see what I can nose out,” Richard said.
If he could not discover any leads worth investigating, they decided to wait until the young Bennets left for the bonnet trimming party, and then Darcy would go to Longbourn and try a more intimidating approach, reminding the Bennet parents that Elizabeth had reached her majority, and that Darcy, as her betrothed and as one of the wealthiest men in Britain, had standing with which he could threaten those who had kidnapped and presumably imprisoned her.
Darcy did not yet know if any of that was true, of course, but then again, neither would the Bennets.
“I suppose,” Darcy suggested, “I should make an appearance outside Georgiana’s bonnet party before my attempt at Longbourn, in case my presence prompts a confession from one of the Bennet sisters.”
“We may not wish to wait too many days before we move to more serious actions,” Richard suggested. “I do not suppose anyone involved wishes harm on Miss Elizabeth, but it seems to me that they are already deep into something that could redound to their discredit.”
Darcy felt pain in his shoulders and neck.
He felt that his body was readying itself for a physical fight that might never occur, and he tried to release the tension that would not help him use his judgment to actually solve the problem.
He addressed his cousin’s latest statement, saying, “The reason I am starting gently and discreetly is because I am positive that Miss Elizabeth would not wish to be the subject of rumours. It is preferable to get her back without scandal.”
Richard was about to leave for his attempt to gather information. He paused, turned to look Darcy in the eyes and asked, “You are quite sure that Elizabeth is not party to this disappearance? She wishes to be found?”
“Absolutely certain, cousin.” Darcy held Richard’s eyes, transmitting his assurance.