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Elizabeth let him guide her back into the building, and when they reached the door to the apartment where the women were staying, she brushed what remained of the tears from her face before pulling the key from her pocket. As she unlocked the door and began to step inside, William held fast to her arm.

When she turned to see why, he leaned in to give her a soft kiss that—unable to resist—she returned eagerly.

“Just remember,” he murmured quietly after the kiss, “that no matter what transpires, we will always love each other, and nothing will ever change that.”

Unable to speak, Elizabeth nodded before he pushed open the door, and she walked inside. Sliding the latch across the door, she leaned back against it and closed her eyes for several minutes, attempting to digest what had just transpired.

Please God, let there be a way out! Help Jane realise that William does not wish to marry her and let her call off the engagement.

Afterwards, Elizabeth returned to the bedroom where Lydia lay sleeping. Climbing into her bed, once she had buried herself beneath a mountain of blankets, the memory of being in William’s arms returned, and it was much longer before Elizabeth finally fell asleep whilst dreaming of kisses that were not interrupted by Jane.

Chapter 24

London

Four days later

Once William’s coach reached the outskirts of London, he explained to his passengers that they would first be following Lord Addison’s coach to army headquarters, where the prisoners would be turned over to General Lassiter for trial.

“After I am certain the prisoners are secure, I shall escort you to Lady Morgan’s townhouse, before proceeding to Darcy House with Mrs. Annesley.”

“Oh?” the elderly companion replied, her brows rising in question.

“Yes. I would dearly love for you to stay at Darcy House with Georgiana for a time. My sister has been quite low-spirited since—well, I am certain you know how long it has been. I thought to fetch her from Matlock House so that you and she may reunite and perhaps reminisce about happier days.”

“I would dearly love to see my sweet girl again,” Mrs. Annesley said, her eyes suddenly shiny.

“Excellent! I believe seeing you is just what she needs and I am grateful you have agreed to come.”

All the while they were talking, William’s coach was following Addison’s vehicle down one street and then another before stopping in front of a large, walled-off assortment of buildings in the northern section of London. These structures held not only the army headquarters, but also a courthouse and a gaol where prisoners were confined until their trials were held.

As the coach came to a halt inside the gated walls, William stepped out of his vehicle to join Mr. Wilburn, who had just exited Lord Addison’s coach. As he approached the constable, Wilburn was ordering the shackles on the prisoners’ ankles be removed so that they might walk unhindered.

Suddenly, Colonel Fitzwilliam stepped out of a nearby building and upon spying William, he cried, “Darcy!”

Once he reached William’s side, he ran an arm around his cousin’s shoulder and gave him a pat on the back. “Am I glad to see you, Cousin! When I did not hear back from you in a timely manner, I feared the worst. In fact, I had just decided to go to Lambton to find you when I received your letter saying you were returning to London.”

“I apologise for being such an unreliable correspondent, but I had my hands full with important matters in Derbyshire.”

“I can only imagine.” Richard leaned down to peer inside the coach. “I see you have Lord Addison in hand. Dare I ask if this is Drago or Sully—the blackguards you mentioned in your letter? And where is Wickham and the other one?”

“I did not have time to explain everything in my letter, but once they all ended up at Younge’s boarding house in Lambton, a quarrel ensued between Drago, Sully, Wickham and his hired man. Wickham, his ally and Sully were all killed.”

“Too bad they did not live long enough to hang.”

“To hear Mrs. Wickham tell it, George did not set out to harm anyone. He only wanted to make a few pounds by ransoming Miss Elizabeth. She swears he meant to let her and her sister go after being paid. Can you believe that?”

“I know George Wickham well enough to know that whatever he was doing was against the law and for his own benefit. And I have no doubt that should he have lived, you and I would have encountered him again the next time he needed money.”

“I cannot disagree with you. In any case, this time his luck ran out.”

Seeing the sorrow in William’s expression, Richard added, “A situation that I cannot be sad about, and neither should you be.”

William sighed. “Nevertheless, I will always regret that George never became the man my father thought he was.” He shrugged. “In any case, I understand why you had rather he was dead than left alive to torment us anew.”

Suddenly, he changed the subject. “How is it that you knew to meet me here today?”

“As I said before, I had no idea when you might arrive or that you would be here; I am here because I had to report to General Lassiter this morning. Oh, and please allow me to thank you for making the general very pleased with me. He knew you were assisting me with the investigation of Lord Morgan’s murder, and now that you have secured those responsible, he insists on giving me credit for their capture as well.”