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“I see no reason to stay. I plan to leave Margaret and Abby here until we figure out how many maids will be needed to handle all three children and assist Lady Morgan with her recovery.”

“I am grateful for your thoughtfulness regarding Lady Morgan. I do not believe most of your friends in the ton would have been so diligent.”

“Regardless of how it came to be, Lady Morgan is engaged to my nephew, so her care became my responsibility when he was not available,” Lady Matlock declared. “Alas, in any case, I must relinquish the baby and his mother’s care to others tomorrow.”

“Why is that?”

“A lecture is planned for our garden club at Kew Gardens. I cannot miss it, as I am in charge.” At Richard’s nod, she recalled something else she wished to know. “By the way, have you heard from Darcy again?”

“No, but I intend to send him a letter today advising him that the child has been born. The court is poised to make a ruling on Lady Morgan’s case soon after that event, and the barrister Darcy hired thought that if the babe were a boy he would inherit everything his father had when he was killed.”

“Let us pray Lady Morgan will not prove a hindrance when Darcy declares their engagement is over,” Lady Matlock replied.

“I think we should first pray that Darcy has the gall to call if off!”

“Sadly, I have to agree.”

Lambton

The inn

Not a sound could be heard as William, Mr. Wilburn and the servants poised to help them stood armed and ready at the door to Lord Addison’s accommodations. When Mr. Wilburn gave a nod, William knocked on the door and the manservant who had accompanied Lord Addison to Lambton opened it. Seeing the pistols drawn and having no idea why he was being treated thusly, the valet immediately stepped back with his arms raised in surrender.

Simultaneously, Lord Addison walked out of the adjoining bedroom. Shocked to see his valet with his hands in the air whilst William and one other man trained their guns in his direction, and a third riffled through his satchel where he kept his important papers, Addison’s temper rose quickly. Knowing no one except Fitzwilliam Darcy, he addressed him.

“Mr. Darcy, what right have you to go through my things! What is this about?”

“I believe you know exactly what this is about,” William replied heatedly. As he waved a hand towards the constable, he added, “Let me introduce Mr. Wilburn, the assistant constable in Derbyshire. He is here to arrest you for the kidnapping of Miss Elizabeth Bennet and her sister, Lydia Wickham.”

“I have no idea what you are talking about,” Addison replied. Though he seemed unperturbed, William could see the fear in his eyes as he glanced about the room.

Just then, Mr. Wilburn, who had picked up the satchel and dumped the contents on a table in the middle of the room, held up a letter. “This is a letter from Mr. Wickham advising Lord Addison to come to Lambton and bring three thousand pounds if he wants to collect Miss Bennet!”

Lord Addison turned crimson but could not think of what to say as William told him to turn around so that he could tie his hands. As he complied, Addison said, “I have plenty of money now that my aunt has died. I would be willing to pay a substantial amount to make this all go away. After all, no harm has been done. What say you, Darcy? Would ten thousand pounds be enough?”

After tying the villain’s hands, William shoved him into a chair. “No harm done, you say?” Grabbing the collar of Addison’s shirt with both hands, William pulled him upward, almost cutting off his air. “Both Miss Bennet and her sister could have been killed during an argument between Drago, Sully, Wickham and his hired man! All four were shot during the fight, with only Drago surviving. Miss Bennet suffered a shot to her arm whilst trying to escape Drago and nearly froze to death in the woods afterwards! Yet you claim there was no harm done!”

Mr. Wilburn placed a calming hand on William’s shoulder. “Do not let him upset you, Mr. Darcy. We have all the evidence we need to hold him just as accountable as Mr. Wickham, so allow me and the others to escort him to the gaol whilst you decide what to do about his servants.”

William shoved Addison back down in the chair and took a deep breath. “You are right. I shall speak to all the servants to see if any seem to know of his plan. Then, you and I shall decide what to do about Lord Addison’s coach.”

“It would be nice to use it to return him to London. These old bones had much rather ride in a comfortable vehicle than a rented one,” Wilburn said with a wink.

“I shall meet you at your office after I have finished interviewing the servants.”

“I will wait there until you arrive before I go home to sleep in my own bed tonight. Also, I believe that now that we have two important prisoners in custody, we need two more guards. There’s an old couch one can sleep on, and I have a small bed at my house that could be moved in for the other.”

“I agree. Since Harrigan and Osborne are excellent shots, I shall have them stay.”

Pemberley

That evening

Since William was still reluctant to speak to Elizabeth, he was glad that Lydia ran to greet him in the foyer the instant he returned from Lambton. That would allow him to tell her what he needed her and Elizabeth to know about returning to London.

“How are you today, Mrs. Wickham?” he asked. “Have you completely recovered from your ordeal?”

Lydia came closer to whisper, “Surely you know I am not Mrs. Wickham. George and I never married, but I often call myself Mrs. Wickham because of Emma.”