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Though she clearly did not wish to, Lydia nodded, and the man helping Wickham shoved her towards the back door of the boarding house.

Chapter 18

Lambton Inn

The weather had taken a turn for the worse and the temperature dropped so low as to make it impossible to stay outside for long. Still, being cooped up in their rooms for hours on end was taking a toll on the miscreants who had been following Elizabeth.

“I cannot stay inside another minute,” Sully announced whilst putting on the wig he used to disguise himself. Walking over to look into the mirror on the wall, he adjusted the wig, adding, “You may wait here, but I aim to walk to the bakery to purchase something to eat.”

Tired of his partner’s complaints, an irritable Drago came to his feet straightaway whilst simultaneously slamming his hand down on a letter lying on the table—a letter the maid had stolen from Wickham and given to them. “We cannot be seen by Wickham right now! This letter from Lord Addison to him makes it plain that our old friend has commandeered our arrangement with his lordship regarding Miss Bennet. Only it seems that he no longer seeks to simply frighten her away from searching for Lord Morgan’s killers; now he wishes to take her hostage for reasons unknown.”

“Unknown? If you ask me, that lunatic Addison plans to take Miss Bennet by force if she will not agree to marry him.”

“I would not be surprised. He seems more and more unhinged when it comes to her.”

Drago was silent for a second, contemplating Lord Addison’s state of mind, before continuing. “I have said nothing to you about it yet, but when my cousin called on me yesterday, it was to relate that Wickham is hiding a woman at her boarding house—one with a terrible scar on her face. She is likely Wickham’s wife and Miss Bennet’s sister, for George once said she suffered a horrific scar in a carriage accident a year or more ago.”

“What are we doing sitting here, then?”

“We are letting Wickham do all the work.”

“I do not take your meaning.”

“Whilst you were arranging to have our clothes washed this morning,” Drago said, making a show of pulling a piece of paper from his coat, “Sarah sent word that, according to the man George hired to help him, Wickham has left to fetch someone else. Most likely he is using his wife to lure Miss Elizabeth Bennet into a trap. That is why neither of us will make a move until Sarah notifies me that Wickham has returned to the boarding house with another hostage.”

“You place a lot of faith in that blackguard,” Sully declared. “What is to keep him from capturing Miss Bennet and taking her somewhere else entirely?”

“I doubt he has money enough to take her elsewhere. In any case, since Miss Bennet moved to Pemberley, we have no choice but to hope Wickham can successfully lure her away from those now protecting her.”

“I pray your cousin is not being played for a fool.”

“Sarah is not so reckless as to trust Wickham again; however, she also knows he is clever enough to make money out of others’ misfortunes. If he does manage to capture Miss Bennet, we will be the ones to benefit, with barely any effort on our part.”

“Humph!” Sully murmured. “I do not like the idea of depending on George for my next meal.”

“I do not, either, but at present we have no choice.”

London

Darcy House

Richard had managed to make it back to London in three days’ time in spite of the frigid weather that produced a few snowflakes. Eager to learn what had transpired in Town during his absence, he had refrained from sleep to make certain he returned as soon as possible. Barely had he entered Darcy House when he was approached by his cousin’s long-time butler, Mr. Barnes, who began taking his greatcoat, hat and gloves and passing them to a nearby maid.

Once finished, the butler said, “Excuse me, Colonel Fitzwilliam, but Mr. Darcy asked me to place this letter in your hands the instant you arrived.” Having said that, the servant removed a letter from inside his coat and handed it to the colonel.

“Thank you, Barnes.” Richard took note of his cousin’s fine handwriting on the outside of the folded letter before saying, “Am I to assume then that Darcy is not here?”

“Yes,” Barnes replied. “In fact, he is not in London. The master said the letter will explain everything.”

“Certainly,” Richard replied. Sighing from weariness he added, “Please have some warm water sent to my room. I wish to wash and change clothes. Oh, and as you may have guessed already, I plan to stay here whilst in town instead of with my parents. Meanwhile, I shall read this missive whilst the water is heating.”

“Very good, sir,” the butler replied. “A maid has already been sent to light a fire in your room,” he added as he turned to go towards the kitchen.

Richard had begun walking up the grand staircase when he suddenly stopped at a landing and turned. “Oh, and Barnes. Please tell Mrs. Barnes that I would dearly love to have some refreshments to keep me alive until dinner is served.”

“Of course!”

Once in the bedroom he usually occupied, Richard watched as a maid stoked the fire in the hearth After she left, he shrugged off his coat and hung it on a hook on the dressing room door, sat down near the fire in the overstuffed chair his cousin had presented him last Christmas, and removed his boots placing his feet upon the matching ottoman. Leaning back into the luxurious upholstery, he closed his eyes and was in such comfort that it was not long until he drifted off.