Page 97 of Midnight at Pemberley

“That be somethin’ to view, Colonel.” He picked up another bundle and moved to the other side of the cemetery.

Edward watched as Elizabeth struggled with the large bags of salt and millet. “Gordy, leave those if you would and assist the lady instead. She will explain what she requires of you.”

Edward’s newest recruit followed his orders. “Let me be helping ye, Ma’am.” Gordy took the heavy bag from Elizabeth’s arms.

“Oh, bless you, Gordy.” She wiped perspiration from her forehead with her handkerchief.

“Ye jist be tellin’ Gordy what to do, and I be doin’ it. Colonel there tell me to he’p ye.”

Elizabeth looked up to see Edward continuing to place the staves. “I will thank him later. Now, Gordy, if you will follow me, we want to place a stream of salt all around the inside of the graveyard.”

“Seems like a mighty big waste of salt, Ma’am, but I be doin’ what ye ask.” Using a knife, he cut a small hole in the bottom of the bag and walked slowly around the perimeter of the site.

“Make at least two rounds, Gordy. The spirits cannot cross the salt line, so I want no breaks in the markings,” Elizabeth instructed him.

“Yes, Ma’am.” He continued his slow trek, meticulously filling in the uneven flow.

Darcy asked, “Where shall we place the millet, Elizabeth?”

“Have Peters use a ladle to scoop millet onto both the head and the foot of each grave and before the gate of each crypt.”

Darcy smiled at her, squeezing her hand. “Yes, my love.”

They brought in wooden stakes and several bags of coins to hide in a church alcove until they required them. “Everything is set!” the colonel called out to the group. “Gordy and Peters, you two stay here. We will send food and drink. You are to make certain no one else enters the cemetery. The three of us will return long before it is time for the confrontation.”

“Yes, Colonel.”

“Gordy,” Darcy asked, “do the villagers understand they must rebury those we release tonight?”

“I be tellin’ ’em all. We be not understandin’ how ye be doin’ all this, but they come on the morrow. I’s sees to it.”

Darcy, Edward, and Elizabeth returned to the inn. Not wishing to speak of what the night might bring, they took their meal in Darcy’s room, away from curious travelers. They ate in near silence, each consumed with his thoughts. At length, the colonel said, “I believe I will take to my bed for a few hours. It is likely to be the last rest I will have for some time. If you two will excuse me.” He left with a half bow.

Darcy and Elizabeth remained in silence until Darcy said, “I wish I had not agreed to this. How can a man place his wife in danger and still call himself a man?”

“I am not a weak woman. You, in fact, taught me to use a sword and to ride,” she protested.

Darcy protested, “I should not have encouraged your behavior.”

“Mr. Darcy, you fell in love with me because I was different. Did we not settle this earlier?”

Darcy moved to kneel before her. “God help me, Elizabeth, I truly do love you, and although I know you to be more capable than many men with whom I am acquainted, I cannot bear to place you in peril.”

“Do not worry. Remember, Edward will protect me.”

Darcy felt a pang of jealousy at hearing her refer to his cousin on such intimate terms. “It is my province to protect my wife.”

“We return to the same argument. Edward Fitzwilliam recognizes me as capable. Likely, it is his experience on the battlefield that permits him to see a person’s true worth. Even though you profess to claim me exemplary, you cling to antiquated ideas. I gave you my heart months earlier. May I remind you, my husband, it is my love for you that brought me here!”

Darcy closed his eyes in submission. “Is there nothing I may say to change your mind?”

Elizabeth gently touched his face in a soft caress. “No, Sir. Your cousin will go tonight, with or without me. I cannot permit him to do this alone. You must concentrate your efforts on Wickham. Edward deserves some consideration for all he has done for us.” Elizabeth brushed her lips across Darcy’s. “Now, I will follow your cousin’s example. I intend to take to my bed. Would you join me, my husband?”

Darcy emitted a deep sigh of resignation. He was not certain he could ever be the type of man Elizabeth required, but he knew without a doubt he could not permit her to leave him. “Holding you, my love? How could I refuse?” Darcy scooped her into his arms and carried her to the bed. He reverently lowered her to the pillows, following her down. “Remind me why I should stop the curse,” he murmured as he trailed a line of kisses down Elizabeth’s neck. He hovered over that one spot which tempted him, sucking gently with his lips and then expelling his breath over it to make her shiver with desire. Her breathing became shallow. Boldly she slid her hand down his back, and Darcy groaned. He returned to her mouth. “Elizabeth, you consume me.”

Darcy and Elizabeth arrived at the small chapel a few hours before midnight. They sent the others away, not wishing to involve innocents in what could potentially be indiscriminate slaughter. It would be difficult enough for the villagers who already mourned the loss of their loved ones to do so again. Those defeated tonight must be staked and reburied tomorrow.

The colonel looked up from the pew upon which he reclined when the Darcys made their entrance. He had returned several hours earlier to check the security around the church and the grave sites.