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Drago seemed to consider her threat before waving his pistol towards Lydia. “Get out of here before I change my mind!” he cried. “And my generosity will end if you steal one of my horses.”
“She cannot escape with her hands and feet tied.”
Drago went to Sully and pulled a knife from his boot, which he used to cut the ropes on both their hands and feet. Lydia immediately embraced her sister. “Oh, Lizzy! I cannot leave you with this … this wretched excuse for a man!”
Instantly, Elizabeth pushed her sister to arm’s length. “You must think of Emma! Besides, I shall be well. Remember, I am the key to his fortune.” Giving Lydia a quick kiss on the cheek, she continued, “Now, leave while you can! Go to Pemberley; they will take you in.”
Sniffling, Lydia glanced to Drago. “If you hurt my sister, Mr. Darcy will hunt you down and kill you!” Then, resignedly, she ran out of the room.
As soon as she was gone, Drago picked up an unused pistol lying beside Sully and tucked it in his waistband. “Remove Wickham’s cravat and tie it around my leg above the wound to staunch the bleeding.”
Elizabeth was slow in responding, prompting Drago to add, “Be quick about it, or I shall make it a point to kill your sister before she reaches Lambton!”
Once his wound had been attended to, Drago grabbed a pelisse lying on the bed and tossed it to Elizabeth. “Put this on. We leave now!”
Pemberley
William’s stomach had begun to churn as soon as the coach began down the long drive to the manor; moreover, upon reaching the front steps and seeing one of his carriages parked there unattended, his anxiety soared.
Stepping out of the coach before a footman could intervene, William shivered at the chill in the air, accompanied by a misting rain, before running up the front steps two at the time. Upon reaching the portico, the footman who usually guarded the door opened it before he could knock.
“I thought I heard another vehicle approaching,” he said. “Welcome home, Mr. Darcy,”
“It is good to be home, Davis,” William said curtly. “Where is Mrs. Reynolds?”
“She and Mr. Walker are in the front drawing room meeting with …”
The door was open, and voices could be heard coming from there, so William rushed towards it without allowing Davis to finish. Inside was not only his housekeeper and butler, but also two men and a boy who looked to be about ten years of age.
“Mr. Darcy!” the housekeeper exclaimed upon seeing him. “It is fortunate that you are home, sir. We were just arranging a party to search for Miss Bennet!”
William’s heart clenched. “I thought she was here.”
“She has been staying here, but Harrigan,” Mrs. Reynolds waved at the footman, “and Marshall,” she nodded towards the groom, “lost sight of her whilst they were all in Lambton.”
Being very weary, William could not make sense of how they could have lost her. Turning to Harrigan, he said, “Suppose you start at when you arrived in Lambton and tell me everything.”
After the footman explained what had occurred, William took note of the child who was now hiding partially behind the housekeeper. “Is this the boy Miss Bennet took into Lambton?”
Pulling the boy forward, Mrs. Reynolds ran an arm protectively around his shoulder. “Yes. This is Jesse. He has suffered many shocks in his short life and sometimes has trouble expressing his thoughts when he gets frightened.”
“Does he know anything about Miss Bennet’s disappearance?” William asked.
The housekeeper shook her head. “Harrigan said he has not spoken a word since they discovered Miss Bennet missing.”
William stooped to look the boy in the eye as he addressed him. “You realise that Miss Bennet is in great danger, and if you witnessed anything … anything at all … you must tell us now.”
Jesse stared straight ahead, not uttering a word, which prompted William to continue. “Surely you care for Miss Bennet as a friend. Knowing her as I do, I am certain she has treated you kindly. If you have any knowledge of what happened to her, now is the time to speak up.”
Still Jesse kept silent, so a flustered William stood and turned to address his butler. “Mr. Walker, fetch Osborne and Decker. Tell them to dress as for a hunting party and to bring their weapons. Harrigan, you and Marshall will also need heavier clothes and your weapons. I swear it feels as though there is sleet in the air already.”
“We had just decided that Harrigan would call at the old constable’s office as they began a search for Miss Bennet,” Mr. Walker interjected. “I understand that Mr. Wilburn is on his way back from Sheffield and could very well have arrived by now. If so, he would be of great help.”
“I agree,” William replied before addressing the housekeeper, saying, “Is my hunting bag still packed?”
“I make certain it stays prepared, sir,” Mrs. Reynolds replied. “All that is needed is for Cook to add fresh food and water.”
“Have her also add a flask of water and a flask of brandy,” William said. Stalking towards the drawing room door, he added, “Mr. Walker, send Adams to my dressing room straightaway. I aim to change into hunting clothes and boots and leave in less than half an hour. Oh, and find Duke. Though he may not be able to follow a scent in the rain, he could be useful.”
