Page 89 of Midnight at Pemberley

“Aye, it does. It is as if a person steps back in time to when life itself was ruthless.” His expression said he feared he had said too much. The colonel tapped on the carriage’s roof to tell Peters to pull up. “I think I will spell Peters for a bit. I want him well rested for the last part of the journey.”

Wickham patiently watched at the village inn throughout the day, but there was no sign of reinforcements on Darcy’s behalf. Darkness surrounded the village for some two hours, and no one remained on the roads. Feeling secure, he sauntered off towards his house. Evidently, Darcy had told the truth about his wife’s withdrawal of her affection. Wickham once thought that impossible, and he even considered how he might kill the two of them together. Now his only concern was how to dispose of Darcy. Wickham had no wish for Darcy to become a vampire. He had no desire to continue the struggle between them. That meant killing Darcy the traditional way, without the benefit of feeding. Unfortunately, that decision also meant he must keep the others away from his prisoner.

A little after nine of the clock, the Darcy carriage rolled into the courtyard of the Blue Dragon in Stanwick. With the stops and the darkness, the seven or eight hours they had estimated turned into nearly ten. “I will see to the room,” Fitzwilliam muttered as he assisted Elizabeth from the coach.

“If William has a room, I will be staying with my husband.” Although she meant him no offense, the colonel recoiled, as if slapped.

Even so, as they had on several occasions during their journey, they pretended not to notice the discomfiture. “Ah, I no longer must sleep on a pallet.”

Elizabeth knew instant sympathy. Impulsively, she caressed his cheek. “I am sorry, Edward. I will forever be grateful for your interference and your gentlemanly concern. Although our staying together was awkward the first evening, I truly took comfort in knowing you were close. I will never be able to repay you for your kindness.”

He slowly turned his head to kiss her palm, and something primitive passed between them. He said with tenderness, “I could not permit you to travel alone. Nor could I, in good grace, permit you to encounter danger.”

She recognized the tone of his voice as a man who had come to care for a woman, but she could not return his growing interest, for she loved her husband. “We should go inside and learn something of my husband.” Elizabeth accepted the colonel’s proffered arm as they entered the inn, but she kept her touch light.

Just as with all the other places they frequented over the past few days, the innkeeper greeted them at the door and jumped to meet their needs. They decided prior to leaving the coach that the colonel would ask discreet questions. “My cousin and I were to meet in Stanwick,” he spoke aristocratically. “I escorted his wife, so they might enjoy a holiday. Would you tell me, Sir, if Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy is a guest at this inn?”

The innkeeper glanced at the registry. “We have a Mr. D’Arcy.” He turned the registry so the colonel could see the name. “He registered yesterday. Be that whom you seek, Sir?”

Elizabeth noted that the colonel quickly recovered from the surprise of the name. “That appears to be he.”

“Very good, Sir. I be afraid no one saw Mr. D’Arcy today. The maid reports his bed remains unused.Yet Mr. D’Arcy’s belongings be still in the room. He paid for three days, so I kept the gentleman’s personal things intact.”

Elizabeth’s fingers tightened on the colonel’s arm, and he brought his free hand to rest on hers. “Did my cousin speak to anyone of note?”

“The gentleman walked ’bout the village upon his arrival. He sat for some time with Mr. Bruce. Bruce be pro’bly the most knowledgeable man in the area, lived here forever he has.” The man puffed up with importance. “We be thinkin’ Mr. D’Arcy be attendin’ the St. Cuthbert dance last night at the assembly, but old Bruce say he not be there.You not be thinkin’ somethin’ bad happen, do ye, Sir?”

The colonel smiled with confidence. “Most assuredly not. My cousin is a learned man—very interested in history. More than likely, he found himself in conversation and forgot where he was. I am certain he will return later with tales of the border wars with which to regale us all.”

“Mr. D’Arcy be findin’ plenty of those.” The innkeeper chuckled as he made arrangements for their baggage. “I be puttin’ the lady’s things in her mister’s room. You be needin’ one of yer own, Sir?”

“That would be excellent. A comfortable bed would take care of all my travel woes.”

“Ye be starvin’, too, I ’magine.”

Elizabeth looked about her. “If it would not be too much trouble, something hot would be most appreciated.”

“You and the lady take yerselves into yonder room. Me wife find ye some meat pies and some tea. She be happy to serve ye there.”

“Thank you, Sir,” the colonel responded. “Ask your kind lady to turn my tea into ale, if you would.” He maneuvered Elizabeth towards the private room. “And our coachman requires provisions, as well as our cattle.”

“All be seen to, Sir.” The man moved away to do their bidding.

When they were seated in the private dining room, they dropped the pretense. Elizabeth released her breath. “At least, we know William is here. I was surprised he used the old spelling of the family name.”

“Very astute of Darcy.”

Elizabeth looked anxious. “I suppose so.”

“It appears I will be spending time in the taproom after we dine. A few rounds of drinks should loosen the local tongues.”

“Where do you suppose William is now?” She spoke softly, although they were the only two in the room.

The colonel took her hand in his. “I doubt if Darcy waited for long before he approached Wickham’s coverture. Knowing your husband, he went through the front door.”

“Would you have approached it differently, Colonel?” she half teased.

“I would wait and watch and choose the right moment.” He laughed at himself. “I suppose Darcy’s way is the more honorable one.”