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Though Richard was not entirely convinced he should keep it a secret, he nodded, which pacified Elizabeth.

Suddenly, Mr. Hill was on the pavement giving directions to an employee of the inn who had rushed out to help. “Take the trunk to Miss Bennet’s room.”

Afterwards, the old servant opened the carriage door and held out a hand to help Elizabeth from the vehicle. Once on the pavement, she turned to offer Richard a faux smile. “Do you still intend to accompany me to Goodwin tomorrow in search of the Stevensons?”

“I do. I shall have a groom return this carriage to the livery today, and we shall borrow one of Darcy’s vehicles tomorrow. Will eight in the morning suit you?”

“Eight o’clock is perfect,” Elizabeth answered.

Soon the carriage began to roll away, and once it was nearly out of sight, she entered the inn alongside Mr. Hill.

Unfortunately for George Wickham, he had missed Elizabeth’s return to Lambton by only a few hours. By the time she and the colonel arrived, he was on his way back to London. Having charmed one of the maids at the local inn, he had succeeded in learning that Drago had paid the inn to hold any mail that might arrive for him until he and Sully returned from Sheffield. Fortunately for George, said maid was also in charge of sorting the mail.

As it happened, after only a few compliments and a bouquet of wildflowers, plus the lie that he was on his way to Sheffield to join Drago and would be happy to deliver any mail in person, the maid had produced a missive that had arrived only the day before—one that made it clear who employed the miscreants.

Once outside the inn, Wickham had quickly broken the seal to read:

Drago,

I am livid that even though I paid you sufficiently to make the journey to Derbyshire, I have not heard a word from you since. Have you abandoned all pretence of locating Miss B and convincing her of the wisdom of relinquishing her search for those responsible for Lord M’s death?

She needs to realise that she is entirely without a source of income, which should ensure that she sees the folly of not accepting my offer of marriage. That mission is of the utmost importance and must be accomplished immediately.

If you do not write within the week, I will be forced to hire someone to find you, collect what I paid you thus far and do the job you failed to accomplish.

I hope that will not be necessary. Reply straightaway if you want to remain in my employ.

R. Addison

Cargile Townhouse

London

Wickham smiled from ear to ear. Well, you are in luck, Lord Addison! I am just the man to convince you that I can succeed where Drago failed. Then, once you have handed over the funds to facilitate a search for Miss Bennet, I will not only find her, but I will also hold her and demand a ransom for her return.

Laughing aloud, he thought: What an amusing coincidence that absconding with another Bennet sister will allow me to escape England, and with a fortune to boot!

Afterwards, he had rushed to gather what few clothes he owned and boarded the next post-coach leaving for London.

Lambton

The next morning

True to his word, Richard was at the inn at precisely eight o’clock the next morning, having arrived in one of Darcy’s elegant carriages. Elizabeth tried to convince Mr. Hill to remain at the inn to rest that day, but he would not agree. Therefore, the old servant was waiting for Richard with her in the lobby of the inn. Seeing him arrive through the windows, they met him on the pavement before he could enter the establishment.

“My goodness!” she exclaimed. “What a beautiful carriage! I think I could become accustomed to riding in a vehicle this lovely.”

“If you think the outside is lovely, wait until you see the interior and experience its comfort,” the colonel declared as he escorted her to the carriage door and helped her inside. Mr. Hill again chose to sit atop the carriage, so Richard gave directions to the driver before joining Elizabeth in the vehicle.

Once seated across from her, when the carriage began to roll, he boasted, “I take advantage of my cousin’s equipage every chance I get, for they are superior to even my father’s. One would think an earl would have excellent carriages, but Father is not as concerned about appearances as my mother is. She chides him quite often regarding the need for a newer carriage, but he is adamant that he will replace it only after he has got good use out of the current one.”

Richard chuckled. “I believe that issue is the only one Father feels he has a say in, and he can be stubborn when he wishes to exert his authority.”

Elizabeth could not help but smile. “If he lets her have her way occasionally, then he cannot be so bad … or I should say not as bad as some men are.”

Richard’s eyebrows rose, and his lips curled in a smile. “You seem severe on all men, Miss Bennet. Or could there be one certain man you have in mind?”

Instantly he watched his companion’s expression change to a frown and regretted his jest. “Excuse me. I should not have brought up my cousin today, since you have sworn me to silence regarding him.”