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“And you had Duchess, who if I am not mistaken is thoroughly enjoying Pemberley’s pastures.”

Jesse took a deep breath before replying, “I am glad she no longer has to work.”

Elated that he was conversing, Elizabeth continued, “Do you think Duchess is jealous of the pony?”

Jesses violently shook his head. “I feed her apples each day before I turn her out to pasture. She is happy.”

“That is very considerate of you.”

Jesse did not reply but instead began to gently stroke Duke’s head.

Not wishing to press her luck, Elizabeth decided the boy had said enough for the present, and they rode the rest of the way to Lambton in silence.

Lambton

At last, the coach carrying Lydia came to a halt about a mile west of Lambton at what was once a successful boarding house owned by a decent couple named Younge. Now dilapidated, with peeling white paint, it was the property of their wayward daughter, Sarah, who, being their only child, had inherited the establishment upon their deaths. Years had flown by since then, and Sarah Younge, who was nearing two and forty but looked ten years older, spent every penny the boarding house earned on drink instead of repairs. A blight on the nearby village of Lambton, it was now used mostly by those wishing to hide from the law, or to indulge in liquor in the company of questionable ladies.

Seeing the coach approach, Sarah Younge went out to greet the occupants only to stop abruptly upon seeing George Wickham driving the vehicle. “Wickham, I thought I told you never to darken my door again!”

Wickham dropped to the ground from the vehicle. As he approached the proprietor—a tall, thin, greying woman he had once thought pretty—he leaned in to give her a hug.

Sarah held up both hands. “Do not touch me, you scab! You still owe me for the last time you were here. Take your business elsewhere!”

Reaching into his coat pocket, Wickham pulled out a bag, reached inside it, and proceeded to drop several fine coins into his palm and stretched it towards her. “Here, my good woman, this will pay for what I owe you at present.”

Miss Younge did not hesitate to take the money. “You will also pay me in advance if you wish to occupy a room today.”

“Now, Sarah, you know I always make good on my debts!”

“Only when you need me again!” she declared.

As a mean-looking chap climbed out of the vehicle, she leaned over to look inside the coach. “Who is that?” Abruptly, she straightened. “Never mind. The less I know, the better. How long will you be staying?”

“My plan is to stay here for a se’nnight, at most. Once I have this woman’s sister in hand, I expect to receive several thousand pounds. When I do, you will receive a hundred for your trouble.” Wickham dipped into his purse again, pulling out more coins. “This should cover everything until I get paid.”

Sarah Younge took the coins and counted them before saying, “Our arrangement will be same as always. If caught, you will swear you rented the room for yourself and sneaked the woman inside without my knowledge. Do we understand one another?”

“Yes. Yes. Whatever you say!” Wickham declared, sighing loudly.

“Good! Then take the coach around to the back and bring whoever is inside it through the back entrance.”

For now, the boarding house was Wickham’s only hope of keeping Lydia hidden until he could capture Lizzy, so he did as Sarah asked.

By the time the coach doors opened behind the establishment, Lydia had managed to spit out the rag stuffed in her mouth. As the man riding inside dragged her from the vehicle with her hands still tied in front, Lydia confronted Wickham.

“How did you know I had left the charity, George? Or what I was wearing, for that matter?”

“I had only to speak of Miss Elizabeth’s situation, knowing you would go to her. Once you left the charity wearing widow’s weeds and carrying Emma in a basket, I was never in doubt of your identity. In fact, the black gown helped me follow you.”

Lydia huffed, “I should have known you would lie to get me involved in another of your schemes!”

“Oh, it is no scheme. I did not lie about the gentleman paying me to find Miss Elizabeth. Moreover, I thought you would be useful as an incentive to force your sister’s cooperation.”

As Wickham talked, Lydia looked up at the three-storey shabby building and shuddered. “You will not be able to keep me here. I will make certain no one gets any sleep for as long as you attempt to.”

Wickham tilted his head towards the other chap who quickly stuffed the rag back into Lydia’s mouth; however, this time he tied the ends behind her head, effectively silencing her. “Take her to whatever room Sarah points out, Cramer. Then tie her ankles just as securely as her hands. She must not escape.”

To Lydia he said, “The only time your hands will be untied and the gag removed is when I allow you to eat. Take heed to my warning though: Should you try to scream for help, seeing that you eat will be the least of my concerns. And keep in mind that those residing here are often hiding from the law and only concerned with saving themselves. Do you understand?”