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A heavy oppression seemed to brood upon the air as William traversed the short drive to the Morgan townhouse in his well-appointed carriage. Anticipation had deepened into anxiety—a state he had barely managed to rein in by the time he was admitted to the house. Catching a glance at himself in a mirror as the housekeeper showed him to a drawing room, he noticed that his hair was in a dishevelled state—no doubt a result of constantly running his fingers through it. Whilst pacing the room as he waited for Lady Morgan, he began trying to smooth it down. At the same time, he reproached himself once more for the predicament in which he found himself.
Richard was correct. Even though Lady Morgan is the perfect example of the type of woman I envisioned marrying merely to beget children of my own, I should never have agreed to a sham engagement with Elizabeth’s own sister. Regrettably, Lady Morgan seems to think my offer to help means I wish to marry her, and I cannot expel Elizabeth from my heart unless I cut ties with her and her family.
Suddenly, the drawing room door flew open, and Jane rushed in. It was obvious she had been crying, for her eyes were red-rimmed, and she dabbed at them with a handkerchief whilst exclaiming, “Oh, Mr. Darcy! Something dreadful has happened! Lydia was here and she said … she said Lizzy—” A sob kept Jane from continuing.
William struggled to maintain self-control as he interrupted. “What about Elizabeth?”
“Someone is paying Wickham to find and hold her. Lydia has just left for Derbyshire, for she means to find her first!”
Hearing the name Wickham, a tumult of heated emotions had filled William’s heart, and, for a moment, he appeared to stare into space at something only he could see. Then, crossing the room, he gently took hold of both Jane’s shoulders, praying she could not feel him trembling. “Please calm yourself, Lady Morgan. It will not help the child if you get upset. Come. Sit down and tell me all that Lydia had to say.”
Taking a deep breath, Jane complied by sinking into the nearest chair. “I-I know I must not be making sense, but I have not been this upset since … since David was—”
Striving to calm his racing heart, William yanked a nearby bell-pull. “I can only imagine,” he murmured, “but please try to remain calm.”
A maid appeared at the door almost instantly, so William began barking instructions. “Have Mrs. Harris prepare tea for Lady Morgan and tell her to add the herbs that Mr. Graham ordered to calm her nerves.”
The young maid appeared to be too stunned to act, so he added forcefully, “Immediately!”
As the now-terrified servant rushed away, William turned his attention back to Jane. “Now, start at the beginning and tell me everything.”
Jane managed to relate all that had occurred since Lydia turned up on her doorstep earlier wearing widow’s clothes. Once she had finished, she silently awaited his reply.
Instead of speaking, he began to pace the room anew. Richard had mentioned asking Elizabeth to stay at Pemberley after he left for Hertfordshire, but William had no idea if she had acquiesced. This went on for several minutes before he stopped in front of her to say, “My cousin is on his way back to London. I received a letter this morning. Richard should be here in three days, four at most.”
Jane struggled to her feet. “Oh, Mr. Darcy! My sisters’ safety cannot await the colonel’s return. Wickham will surely learn that Lydia has left London and follow her in hopes of locating Lizzy. I fear they are both in jeopardy.”
“Richard said he planned to ask Elizabeth to stay at Pemberley after he left for Hertfordshire, but heaven only knows if she agreed.”
“My sister can be obstinate when she thinks anyone is trying to force her hand.”
“How well I know.”
Still, very aware that if Elizabeth needed protection, he could not wait until Richard reached London to have him handle it. William blew out a frustrated breath. “I imagine Wickham appeared at the charity hoping Miss Lydia would flee and lead him to Elizabeth. Either that, or he intends to hold Lydia as bait to force Elizabeth to cooperate.”
Jane looked startled. “I would never have thought of that; but it makes perfect sense! You do intend to go after them straightaway, do you not?”
“I shall leave at daybreak. That will give me time to send an express rider ahead to arrange horses along the route and make the journey go by faster. I shall leave a letter for Richard at Darcy House loosely explaining the situation, but I will tell him to call upon you if he wishes to know all the details.”
Jane nodded and held a hand towards William. “I knew you were too much of a gentleman to refuse to help me.”
Overcome by a peculiar kind of anguish that he could not share with Jane, William took her hand, but instead of placing a kiss thereon, merely held it. “If I am to prepare for the journey, I must be off.”
“Certainly.” Suddenly Jane rose upon tiptoes to place an unanticipated kiss on his cheek before murmuring, “Please take care. I shall worry about you, too.”
Disappointed that William did not appear moved by her affectionate farewell, Jane watched as he managed an awkward reply. “Should you need anything whilst I am away, please feel free to contact Lord or Lady Matlock. I shall inform them of the circumstances and ask them to be of service to you should the need arise.”
“Th-thank you. I shall.”
Without another word, William exited the house looking as though he were carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
As she moved to a window to watch his carriage roll down the street, Jane was left reflecting on William’s behaviour. She had noticed him using her sister’s Christian name more often than not, but that was easy enough to explain. Who had not forgotten decorum when shocked by circumstances so devastating?
As for why he had not returned her affectionate farewell, she chastised herself. You knew he was not a demonstrative man when you first met him in Meryton. Taking a deep breath, she added, to secure someone of his character and fortune for my children, I can learn to live with that.
Dismissing entirely Lydia’s warning about William’s feelings for Lizzy, she went upstairs to check on the children.
An inn at Derby
