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Elizabeth’s smile dimmed. Memories of the whipping her mother had administered when she was found at the coach station made her wince. “No, Papa, but, I was only going to London to find employment. When I had lots of money, I would have come home.”

He tried to smile. “We can get by without having you work, my dear.”

Lizzy frowned. How could she tell her beloved Papa that she had heard her mother tell her Aunt Phillips she would like to send her to live with distant relations so there would be more for the rest of her sisters?

“I truly love the present, Papa. Now I have my very own chest in which to keep the clothes I made for Martha.”

“Ah, yes. Martha.” Her father sighed, remembering the rag doll that Elizabeth had fashioned by herself. “How is Miss Martha?”

“She is sad sometimes. But I talk to her, and I remind her that things will get better once she grows up.” Lizzy swept a lock of unruly hair from her forehead, looking up with the dark, bright eyes her father adored. “That is true, is it not? Things will get better when she grows up?”

Mr. Bennet directed a long, thoughtful look at her. “Yes, Lizzy. Things will get better when Martha grows up. You see, this little trunk is called a dowry chest. Martha should put all the things in it that she loves, and the things she will want to take with her when she marries. One day a handsome prince will fall in love with her. They will marry and go to live in a beautiful castle. And they will both be happy for the rest of their lives.”

Lizzy had smiled her lop-sided grin, jumped down and run over to get the bag that held all Martha’s belongings from under the bed. Then she had sat by her father’s feet on the floor and put everything in the chest.

The sight of the small case affected Lizzy more than she had thought it would when she set out to find it. It was the only familiar item she found among her belongings when she gained awareness of her surroundings at Northgate. Suddenly tears streamed down her cheeks unabated. Realising where her thoughts had surely turned, Mrs. Drury set the treasure down and pulled the young woman into her arms, rocking her as she smoothed her hair gently.

“Please do not cry, Miss Elizabeth. You are safe now, and there is a good man who wants to protect you. Do not let old memories ruin your present happiness.”

Elizabeth pulled back, sniffling and wiping her eyes. She wanted so desperately to confide her plans to this wonderful woman, but she could not for fear of jeopardising everyone’s safety, and if she were truthful, fear of her disapproval. After all, while choosing to leave a cruel husband might not be frowned upon by some, choosing to become another man’s mistress would be condemned by all.

“You are correct. I should remember my old philosophy—think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure.”

Mrs. Drury patted her arm. “And look to your future. If Mr. Darcy has any part in it, it will be a bright one.”

Pemberley

On horseback

As William travelled from one tenant’s farm to the next he reflected on the letter in his pocket from Richard. It seems that Richard had had very little time to dwell on anything other than his duties since he had returned to his post and he was looking forward to a few weeks leave after his next trip to London and hopefully solving the mystery of the count.

He had related that he had heard from his father and the men hired by Lord Matlock had not been successful in locating the man who had married Anne. Other than repeating that he had apparently fled England shortly after he had cleaned out her bank accounts, these detectives had nothing to add. Their excuse was that the count had apparently used many aliases and it made tracking him difficult if not impossible and they believed that he would never dare to return to England.

William had often pondered the similarities between Anne’s husband and Stefano, but Elizabeth never seemed to fit in the puzzle. He and Richard had both been of the opinion that the men were similar in character, but the time frame between Anne’s marriage and Elizabeth’s abduction was so close as to make it almost impossible for one man to accomplish. And while Anne had a fortune to plunder, Elizabeth certainly did not. Even so, the detectives William had his solicitors hire to investigate Stefano had not uncovered anything new and his whereabouts were still a mystery—just as mysterious as Anne’s husband.

In this same letter, Richard went on to mention that one of his old army acquaintances now ran a detective agency and he was of the opinion that they should seek his assistance. At the end of the missive he had concluded, “I would enjoy helping you find Stefano and ridding England of the blackguard.”

So would I, cousin, so would I, William thought as he kicked Onyx into a trot.

On the road to Derbyshire

They were still miles from Lord Greenwich’s Derbyshire estate. Gwendolyn Waltham had thought it a streak of good luck when Lord and Lady Greenwich decided to return to their country home directly after she had resolved to try one last time to seduce Fitzwilliam Darcy. But now that they were caught in this monstrous storm, she was not quite sure it was luck after all.

It had rained steadily for the last five miles, and the roads were beginning to become impassable, as wheels slipped into deep ruts caused by the coaches that had gone before them. The horses were having trouble keeping their footing as well. As they pulled into the last coach stop before Lambton, the innkeeper informed them that the bridges ahead were likely to be unusable, as streams and rivers easily overflowed their banks in this type of deluge. The inn was old and quite small, and the only accommodations he could offer them was to spend the night sitting at the tables in the common rooms, as all the bedrooms were taken.

These circumstances cemented the plan that had been forming in Lady Waltham’s mind as they got closer to the place she really wanted to be—Pemberley. There was no argument from the elderly couple when she informed them of the benefits of travelling on to Mr. Darcy’s home. They were accustomed to Gwendolyn’s taking charge of arrangements while they travelled, and that was one reason they encouraged her company. Thus, it was late evening when Lord Greenwich’s coach pulled up to Pemberley’s front entrance in a driving rain. Several footmen ran out to assist the occupants into the house, while Mr. Walker sent for Mrs. Reynolds and went to the library to inform Mr. Darcy.

William had come home just in time for dinner, as he had promised Elizabeth, and they had retired to the library afterward. They were sitting on one of the sofas, while William explained everything that had happened that day, from the newborn colt at Mr. Cramer’s homestead, to his difficulty in finding a place to cross the swollen stream on his way home, when Mr. Walker interrupted their conversation with a knock on the door. Immediately, William moved to the sofa opposite Elizabeth and called out, “Come.”

Mr. Walker entered and bowed. “I am sorry to have to disturb you, sir, but visitors have just arrived. I have shown them to the drawing room.”

“Visitors?” William stood. “In this downpour? Good Lord, they must be drowned.” He reached out to take Elizabeth’s hand. “Would you rather not be introduced? I would introduce you to the world as the woman I love, if it would not offend you. But I do not wish to embarrass you or harm you in any way.” He lifted her hand to her lips. “If you wish, you are my dearest cousin, Miss Lawrence.” He smiled lovingly. “And until we remove ourselves from Pemberley, you shall be introduced as such to outsiders, unless, madam, you do not wish to be on display.”

“I believe it is time to meet the world again.”

He took her hand. “I am glad. Come, my love.”

As William led Elizabeth towards the drawing room, they could hear the newly arrived party talking animatedly about their dilemma and upon reaching the interlopers, found Lord and Lady Greenwich standing in the doorway, effectively shielding Gwendolyn, who was inside the room, from William’s view. At William’s approach they both quieted and turned to face him.