Chapter 4 #4
An unknown gentleman entered my offices this morning with the claim of being the “new” owner of the Darcy estate.
He was well dressed and tall with blonde hair and dark blue eyes.
He indicated he was anxious to sell all his properties so he could move abroad.
When I told him it would take months to complete the sale, he threw the deeds on my desk and departed.
You did not mention anything about selling any of your holdings when you were last here, and I did what I thought best. He did say that Pemberley was in ruins which I did not understand.
I hope you are well when you receive this message.
Your servant,
M. Hartford
So it was Wickham who stole the contents of the safe and attempted to sell Pemberley!
* * *
An express arrived from the Darcys’ jeweller weeks after the date shown that it had been dispatched.
The reason became obvious when Darcy looked into the situation: when it could not be delivered to Pemberley, the missive had been misdirected back to Darcy House, and took weeks to find its way to the cottage!
He pinched the bridge of his nose since he would have preferred to have had the information earlier.
Yet when he read the missive, a relief of sorts overcame him—he had more proof.
The jeweller wrote about a gentleman who came into his shop trying to sell several items Mr. Carter had made exclusively for Lady Anne.
The shop owner had not been notified that Mr. Darcy wished to sell and wanted to be certain he was correct in his thinking.
He described in detail the man who attempted to sell them—he looked just like Mr. Wickham.
The letter weighed heavily in his hand as he released a huff of breath.
That Wickham was responsible for the theft and fire was now a certainty.
Darcy took up paper and pen and wrote to his cousin, requesting that he visit Carter’s shop and any others Mr. Carter thought might be involved.
He also asked Richard to assure them that he would buy back any jewels they had purchased, but to hold onto them until they could be reclaimed.
Finally, they were closer to recovering what was stolen, but the anger at his childhood friend was never far from Darcy’s mind.
Vindication was not always so pleasurable. It could be a bitter pill.
* * *
London
After receiving his cousin’s letter, Richard visited Mr. Carter and got a more detailed description of the man trying to sell the Darcy jewels. He, too, was now convinced it was Wickham.
“Sir, has the man returned to your shop?”
“Not yet. I told him I was a clerk and gave him a receipt for the items he left with me—he said he would return soon.”
“Have any of your fellow craftsmen tried to sell you any other stolen property?”
“Yes, Colonel, when I make articles as exquisite as Lady Anne’s jewels, though not easily visible to the naked eye, I engrave my initials on the back of each piece.
It is similar to an artist signing a painting.
Several merchants with less than stellar reputations saw my initials and came here to ask if I would like to buy the jewels back.
I took them on consignment, assuming the Darcy family would reclaim them one day. ”
“You have my appreciation, sir. Pray hold onto them until the thief can be apprehended.” Thankfully, Mr. Carter had recovered many of the Darcy jewels and connected their theft to Mr. Wickham.
He seethed as he walked back to his barracks.
His only wish was to find and punish Wickham for what he had done to his family.
Even Carter’s description was not enough proof that George committed the crime.
The thief would have to be caught in the act of selling the stolen items. It was time to call in a few favours.
However, if Richard should find his prey first, he would gladly wring his neck.
* * *
The following day
Richard had arranged to meet with several men who had served under him and now worked with the Bow Street Runners.
“A great deal of money and the Darcy family jewels were recently stolen. The crime was committed by a person who knew the estate well, but we need concrete proof to make an arrest. Perhaps if you are able to obtain a receipt from the jewellers where his ill-gotten gains were sold—if he had been brazen enough to use his real name. We need to find out how many jewellers are involved and have them describe the man who sold the stolen items to them. Here is a likeness of the man you are searching for. In order to take him into custody, he must be caught in the act of selling the stolen property. Mr. Darcy is a wealthy man, and you will be well compensated when George Wickham is securely behind bars.” Richard left the meeting confident that the Runners would not fail their former commander and do everything possible to find their prey.
* * *
Darcy could not concentrate on the book he was holding. There had been an issue on his mind for many weeks, so he rang for his housekeeper.
“Did you need anything, sir?”
“Mrs. Reynolds, I owe you an apology.”
“An apology?”
“I am ashamed of the way I spoke to you after the fire. I was not myself and you, more than anyone else, deserve my respect, not my abuse.”
“Mr. Darcy, I have known you since you were a kind, sweet-hearted boy. You were a caring, generous master until you suffered an unimaginable disaster. I am proud of you and always will be.”
“I do not deserve your forgiveness, but I am grateful to have it.”