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“Heavens! Does she suspect that Elise is Lizzy? If she does, she will do whatever she can to harm her! She has always hated Lizzy!”

Charles sighed, taking her hand and squeezing it. “It is obvious that she wrote that letter to Darcy, but sometime between sending the letter and leaving for London, she must have ascertained that Lizzy and Elise are one and the same. When the letter was sent, she was merely begging an invitation to Pemberley. But I have just today been informed that she is spreading vicious rumours in London that Lizzy is the cousin staying at Pemberley.”

At Jane’s shocked look, he explained. “My friend, Jonathan Mattson, wrote me a letter which I received by special express just moments ago.” Reaching inside his coat pocket, he retrieved the missive and unfolded it, beginning to summarize the contents.

“He says his sister—you remember Margaret?” Jane nodded absently. “Margaret told him that Caroline has, in her words, been telling everyone that will listen that she has to warn Mr. Darcy of a woman who is trying to take advantage of him. Caroline indicated that the woman was already at Pemberley, pretending to be a long, lost cousin.”

Jane began crying. “Why? Why would she do this, Charles? If she has read our letters to William, then she must realise that Elizabeth is not well, and that we are hiding her from...from him. Has she no compassion?”

“I can say with all confidence that she does not! She cares only for herself, sweetheart, and it looks as though she still will do anything to separate Lizzy from Darcy.” He hugged Jane, rubbing her back solicitously as she wept. “It will not help tremendously, I fear, but I shall go directly to London to attempt to undo some of the damage.”

“What can you do? The news has likely been spread far and wide by now. You know she is a part of that vindictive band of schoolmates who dearly love to tear people to shreds with their gossip.”

Charles stood and advanced to a small writing desk, throwing the note from Mattson angrily upon it. “I have already informed Darcy of the situation in a letter, which will go out in the morning by express. The day after tomorrow I intend to travel to London to notify Caroline that her allowance has been cut off completely. She will be moving to York, as soon as I can make the arrangements to live with our aunt, Bertha Caulfield. There she shall perform in whatever capacity our aunt desires—even as a maid, for all I care. I shall give Caroline’s allowance to Aunt Caulfield for her maintenance. And, as my aunt is always in need of monetary assistance, I am certain she will be happy to oblige me by taking in Caroline.”

“You would cut off her allowance and give it to your aunt?”

“I shall explain to my sister that in order for her to regain her allowance, she must call on all of her friends and acquaintances before she leaves London and confess that her own jealously caused her to spread the lies regarding Darcy. She shall affirm that the woman at Pemberley is truly Mr. Darcy’s cousin, Elise Lawrence, who is staying there to recover her health. If she does a credible job of making a laughing stock of herself and teaching others never to trust her again, then at the end of one full year, not one day less, I shall restore her allowance, and she can do with it as she pleases. In any event, she shall never get one penny more than the allowance from me or be welcome in my homes ever again.”

“How will you know if she complies—if she confesses or even changes the confession to favour her?”

“I will make it clear that she has to confess exactly as I stated and I shall find out the truth of it. She knows that I have trusted friends in London, who have sisters that are her acquaintances. I shall be able to gauge the genuineness of it.”

“And if she refuses? Caroline treasures her self-importance, after all.”

“If that is the case, I will tell her that I shall inform my friends that she is very jealous of Darcy, and that accounts for why she made up this lie about his cousin, and I shall ask them to pass that information along to their families and friends. Caroline knows she can put a better light on it, perhaps even be pitied for her jealousy, whereas I do not care how she is perceived. Whatever the source, the end result will be the same—she will be ridiculed. However, if I am left to handle the situation, she will not have the opportunity to redeem her allowance.”

“But what of Louisa? Will she not just take Caroline in?”

“Louisa shall be made to know that if she takes Caroline in, she will be aligning herself with someone who is no longer welcome in my homes, and therefore, she will not be welcome either. I daresay, Bertram will not be happy to have Caroline in residence, especially with no allowance, nor will he be happy to forgo my stock of imported brandy that he enjoys imbibing so freely. I do not think Louisa will be imprudent enough to choose her sister over me.”

“Oh, Charles, are you positive you want to take this course of action?”

“Darcy is like my brother, and Lizzy is dearer to me than my own sisters. It will be no sacrifice never to see Caroline again. And, if Louisa wishes to align herself with her, then so be it. I shall be the richer for not having to restock my brandy so often.”

London

Preston House

Wickham waited while two men backed out the front door, carrying a large settee, following their progress as they carefully made their way down the steps to deposit it in a large wagon. Shaking his head in wonder, he hurried up the steps behind them and into the foyer. There he stood for a moment, looking about, but Mr. Potts was nowhere to be seen. No one else appeared either to take his coat and hat. Hearing voices in the parlour, he quietly walked in that direction, taking pains not to make any noise with his heavy boots. In his line of work, keeping his presence a secret often came in handy. He had learned a good deal of useful information in that manner.

“I realise you have not been paid for three months, Clara. I am not a halfwit! I do intend to pay you—pay all the servants—just as soon as I receive the funds that I have invested. I have informed my banker, and I should have a draft this week. Please tell the others that they shall be paid by Friday, even if I have to get a loan from my uncle until I have my money.”

Wickham could see the maid’s face through the partially open door and she did not seem to be appeased. Striding into the room as though he were just arriving and had not overheard their conversation, he declared loudly, “Mrs. Preston, I hope I am not interrupting, but there was no one in the foyer to announce me.”

“Yes, well—” Cecile began, but Wickham continued undaunted.

“I stopped to see Mr. Stratton at the bank, and when he learned I was to meet with you today, he asked if I would mind delivering this.” With those words, Wickham pulled an actual bank envelope from the inside pocket of his coat. “He prays you will forgive him for not bringing it in person, as he would have been delayed until tomorrow.”

Clara’s eyes lit up upon recognising the envelope that Wickham handed to Cecile, who seized the opportunity. “You may go now, Clara. Please inform the others of our discussion.”

“Yes, Mrs. Preston,” the heavy woman replied, dropping a curtsey and nodding pleasantly towards Wickham as she turned to leave.

“Oh, and Clara?” The maid stopped and turned again. “Would you please ask Ives to take Mr. Potts’ place at the door and then bring us some tea?” The woman bobbed again before swiftly leaving the room.

“You could not have come at a better time!” Cecile sighed, dropping into one of only a few chairs remaining in the large room. She held up the envelope in question. “I do not suppose this is actually mine?”

Wickham shook his head and reached for the object he had used to his advantage on many an occasion. Then, looking about at the nearly empty room, he inquired. “What in the name of God are you doing? There are only half the furnishings in this room since last I visited. Are you selling your furniture to pay the bills?”