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Wickham grabbed her elbow just as she took hold of the knob. “If you want your sister to remain … shall we say healthy, you will not walk away.”
Suddenly realising that Wickham was likely why she had not heard from Lydia, Elizabeth asked sharply, “What do you mean?”
A faux smile spread across his face. “I realised that to get your cooperation I would likely need an inducement, and Lydia was my first thought.” As Elizabeth’s expression changed to loathing, he added, “I promise no harm will come to her if you come with me willingly.”
“What reason do you have for kidnapping me?”
“Kidnapping is such an ugly word. I like to think I am merely holding you for a good cause.”
“What good cause?”
“Me, of course!” He laughed. “If all goes according to plan, I shall turn you in for a ransom and gain enough money to sail to the Americas.”
“Who would pay a ransom for me?”
“I cannot tell you until it is time to exchange you for the money.”
Elizabeth froze as though weighing what to do; therefore, Wickham added, “And, if you wish to keep the boy you brought with you to Lambton safe, you will not raise your protector’s suspicions. Otherwise, I may have to shoot him and the child.”
Wickham began escorting her out of the bakery and then to the right side of the building where a carriage was parked along the road. A driver was already in place and once they reached the vehicle, Wickham opened the door and pushed Elizabeth in. He followed, and the instant they were seated, the coach began to roll.
“There now! Was it not like I said?” Wickham declared. “You cooperated and no one got hurt. Remember that in the future.”
Elizabeth was already wondering how long it would be before the footman realised she was missing. Though pleased that no one had been hurt, still she prayed that someone would quickly notice her missing and sound the alarm.
Jesse had walked out of the confectionery shop to wait for the footman to join him. As it happened, he was just in time to witness Elizabeth’s abduction. Instantly, all the horrific events he had observed in the last year came roaring back to mind, and the steely grasp of silence pulled him back into its power. By the time the footman joined him on the pavement, he was staring across the street as still and silent as a statue.
In mere minutes the footman escorted Jesse back to the carriage and learned from the groom that Elizabeth had never returned. After questioning Mrs. Potter and finding that his charge had disappeared after ordering sweet buns that she did not wait for, he became alarmed. All attempts to get Jesse to provide any information about what he might have seen proved useless, and he and the groom began a thorough search of Lambton, taking Duke with them.
The boarding house
As Wickham pushed Elizabeth into the room where he was holding Lydia, she ran to her sister, who was lying on a bed with her arms and legs tied. “Lydia! Has he hurt you?”
Struggling to sit up, Lydia began to cry as Elizabeth pulled her into an embrace. “Oh, Lizzy! I am well, but I have no idea what Wickham means to do with us!”
“Do not be so simple-minded, Lydia! It is as I told you,” Wickham said tiredly. “All I want is to get my hands on the ransom I demanded for finding Miss Elizabeth. After that, you both shall be free to go wherever you like. As for me, I shall be off to the Americas before his lordship can stop me!”
“Who is this monster directing you?”
“You will learn soon enough.”
“No one is so senseless as to pay for something he does not have in hand,” Elizabeth retorted. “How can you possibly think we will escape?”
“I will do my best to help you; though I have no idea how many men he will bring with him.”
“You are deluded if you think you can take the money but not provide the prize,” Elizabeth declared.
“If you only knew how unsound Lord—” Wickham stopped, realising he was about to say more than he ought. “If you knew how irrational that man really is. He appears determined to have you, even though he is aware that you will never go willingly, so let us hope he is so addled as to be rendered harmless.”
“Surely he does not believe he can hide me forever, and I have friends who will search for me,” Elizabeth asserted.
“I happen to know that he owns a secluded, rundown estate in Kent. I suppose if he did manage to take you there, he might be able to pull it off. My suggestion is, if the worst happens, play along with his delusions until you have a chance to flee.”
“You promised to let us go before he could claim Lizzy!” Lydia cried.
“If I have learned anything, it is that things do not always go as planned.” Having said that, Wickham addressed the man he hired to help. “Cramer, tie Miss Bennet’s hands and feet whilst I wait … just in case you need help.”
“Are you leaving?” Cramer asked.
