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When Elizabeth stayed silent, she continued. “I learned many hard lessons after I ran off with George. One was that men who are truthful and love unselfishly are rarer than gold. Fitzwilliam Darcy is such a man, and the most foolish thing you will ever do is to toss away that kind of devotion for the sake of someone else ... even Jane.”

Having said that, Lydia walked over to pick up her book and resume her place in the window seat.

Chapter 22

Pemberley

William was so distraught that he decided not to have another conversation with Elizabeth until she sent word that she had changed her mind about him marrying her sister. Thus, the next day he focused all his efforts on catching up with estate matters that he had neglected whilst away and being ready to capture Lord Addison as soon as he arrived in Lambton. To that end, he asked Mrs. Reynolds to report to him every evening regarding Elizabeth’s health, instructing the servant not to interrupt him unless his guest took a turn for the worse. Meanwhile, he spent his days in his study.

For her part, Elizabeth was heartsick. She had hoped they might at least part as friends, but she knew if she kept to her plea that Fitzwilliam marry Jane, nothing good would come from speaking to him again. Moreover, Lydia made her even more miserable by taking every chance to insist that Jane could never make William happy. It had got to the point that Elizabeth asked Lydia not to sit with her if she intended to bring that up; thus, they spent hours together with Lydia reading silently.

Lambton

Dressed almost as grandly as a member of the royal family, Lord Addison arrived in Lambton in what appeared to be a new coach to take control of what he wanted most in the world: Elizabeth Bennet. No woman had ever captivated his interest as she had whilst flatly refusing his offer of a courtship. For her impertinence, he meant to make her pay.

From Addison’s point of view, George Wickham’s letter demanding three thousand pounds ransom for Miss Bennet and insisting he come to Lambton to make the swap had been the last straw. Once he had Elizabeth Bennet under his control, he would make certain that Wickham did not profit from stabbing him in the back; however, this day his main concern was transporting his prisoner to his neglected estate in Kent without anyone being the wiser.

Unfortunately for Lord Addison, he had no idea Wickham was dead or that he was walking into a trap when he exited his coach in Lambton and walked into the inn to arrange for rooms for himself and his new valet. Secretly observing his every move were Harrigan and Osborne, servants William had placed at the inn to watch for the cad, along with Mr. Wilburn, who happened to be enjoying a cup of tea at a table in the public room of the inn when he spied the dandy arriving. Eagerly waiting to hear the name he gave the clerk, Mr. Wilburn was certain they had their target once Lord Addison had done so

Having agreed to inform Mr. Darcy the minute Addison arrived and to wait there until he could return to confront the man, Wilburn waved the servants from Pemberley over to his table. Quickly they sent the young groom who roomed with them to fetch the master as they joined the old constable in having a cup of tea whilst they waited.

William’s study

As he was going over tenant concerns with his steward, Mr. Sturgis, William received a note from Mr. Wilburn. Quickly scanning the missive, he remarked, “We shall have to finish this later. It seems Lord Addison has arrived in Lambton.”

Since the steward knew about the master’s entanglement with those suspected in the killing of Lord Morgan, as he stood to leave he said, “If I may be of service, I shall be glad to accompany you.”

“Thank you for the offer, but we have enough men to accomplish what we must.” Then William smiled wryly. “Besides, I cannot afford to lose a good steward.”

“Now I am not sure if I should be happy for the compliment or worried for those of you involved.”

William tried to laugh, but his smile did not reach his eyes and as Sturgis went to exit the room, he cried, “Wait! I need you to contact Mrs. Potter. Since you handled the sale of the bakery and she is familiar with you, will you please speak to her about continuing to run the bakery until Miss Bennet and her sister can take over management? I feel certain that General Lassiter will want both ladies to testify against Lord Addison, and they will have to wait to assume ownership of the bakery until that is settled. As I am already paying her to stay and help the new owners learn how to run the bakery, explain that I need to extend her stay by a few months.”

“She was very appreciative of how you helped her out before and even expressed her wish to somehow repay you for your kindness, so I foresee no problem with asking her to stay a little longer.”

“Let us hope she agrees.”

“I have every reason to believe she will.”

Having said that, Mr. Sturgis exited the study and William prepared to go to Lambton.

London

It was not yet daylight when the butler at Darcy House knocked on Richard’s bedroom door to inform him that his presence was wanted at Lady Morgan’s townhouse. Puzzled as to why his mother would send for him so early, he nevertheless rose, got dressed and quickly ate what Cook had prepared for breakfast.

Once he arrived at the townhouse, he was again taken aback by who answered the door. This time it was one of the younger maids—one whose name he could not recall.

She seemed very nervous as she curtsied, saying, “Your mother has been expecting you, Colonel Fitzwilliam.”

“Mother always expects me to appear the instant she needs me.”

“I do not know why milady is so vexed about your not being here sooner. There is nothing a man can do when a baby decides to be born ... with the exception of Mr. Graham, of course!”

“Are you saying the baby is on its way?”

“No, sir. I am saying the baby is already here, and a fine, handsome lad he is! I would not know, but Miss Catherine said he is the spitting-image of his father.”

“Are they both well? The babe and his mother?”