Page 54 of The Colonel's Ungovernable Governess
“Anyway,” Edward continued, “Mr. Jessie is set to guard Marksham until we can turn him over to a proper sheriff or magistrate. I forgot to ask who is available in the area.”
“I will see to it,” Darcy promised.
“That leads me to a task which should be addressed immediately if you are to know peace of mind. Less than a dozen of Lord Stephen Jennings’s staff remain at Babbington. I have instructed Mrs. Murray to gather the two dozen or so Philip Jennings brought with him from his estate and report to the servant hall in a half hour so you two might present them their walking orders. I have also given Mrs. Murray permission to rehire individuals she thought would restore the household to proper order. She has written to Mr. Purdy to return as the butler.”
“My father trusted Mr. Purdy,” the boy said in quiet tones.
Edward nodded his approval. “It might be best if you do not tell Jennings’s servants the man has deserted them. Permit them to discover the truth the hard way. I am confident Mrs. Murray will not provide them a letter of reference.”
Darcy said, “It appears we will share another teaching moment, my lord. This is the type of business a lord of the manor must oversee if he wishes to know peace in his household.”
The boy swallowed hard, but his shoulders rolled back into place as if he was prepared.
“I would appreciate it if after Mrs. Darcy has arrived and is able to assist you with a variety of matters that you might also provide Vincent a lesson on estate books. I fear Jennings has escaped with a large chunk of the earldom’s profits. I asked that the land steward call upon you and Vincent in the morning. You may also be required to summon the boy’s man of business.”
“Lord Babcock and I will practice our arithmetic skills. You do what you do best, Colonel, and I will assist Lord Babcock in managing the estate.”
“I was counting on your expertise,” Edward said with a grin. “I have sung both your and Elizabeth’s praises to Mrs. Murray. I warned the lady when you cock an eyebrow to run away fast.”
“Could you teach me to cock an eyebrow, sir?” the boy asked.
“It is a refined skill,” Darcy declared, “but we may practice it together.”
“I wish to speak to Mr. Harwell, and then I will set out after Jennings.”
“We will watch over Miss Lambert, sir,” the boy declared.
“I know, but I should have suspected something was afoot,” Edward shared in shame. “It was my responsibility to protect my brother’s household in his absence.”
Darcy said, “Go say your farewells to the woman. Explain your absence, but assure her that you will return soon.”
Chapter Twenty
Jocelyn knew when he had caught her hand. She had been drifting in and out of a long dark shadow. She was aware when Mr. Darcy assisted another man who had a deep male voice. They had turned her over so the other man could administer to her wound. She had wished to crawl closer to Mr. Darcy, for he was excessively warm, and she was so cold. Now, the man who had haunted her dreams for the last few weeks held her hand and stroked her arm, while heat again slid into her chest.
“I must leave you in the care of the Darcys, and I beg you to listen to their advice. I wish to return and find you well, my—”
She knew he meant to say “my girl,” though she would prefer he said “my love.”
“I am to give pursuit of Philip Jennings. I captured the man who shot you, but, now, I must locate Jennings and his family, all of whom are reportedly seeking passage to Italy, but I imagine anywhere in Europe will do. I do not know how long I will be gone, but I charge you with coming back to us. I cannot consider a day without you as part of this family. We all require your wisdom and your stubbornness. We all require you.”
Jocelyn wished to open her eyes and assure him she would never leave him. If she could wake, they could be together. They were promised to each other, but he did not know her true identity. Yet, all she could manage was to wrap two fingers about his thumb. What felt to be a warm drop of water landed on the back of her hand before he lightly kissed where their fingers were joined. He stood then and placed her hand back across her body and covered it with a blanket. Even so, the warmth of his touch eased back into the cold spiral taking her downward into the darkness once more.
* * *
Edward had not been surprised to discover no one within Babbrooke Place, Jennings’s manor house. Not even a servant could be located within. Though the main door was locked, the servant entrance was not. As he made his way from room to room, all he discovered was chaos. Drawers had been dumped on the floor, as if whoever upturned the items had searched for specific items. “Likely something which could be sold for cash. However, it was what he found in the master’s study which made him sad. “This will devastate the children.”
Three portraits leaned against the wall. Something sharp had been taken to each canvas. Ripping. Slicing. Edward wished his father was near. The earl would know who to contact to restore the portraits or manage a repair until a new portrait could be painted. “Another task for Darcy to undertake. Thank God my cousin is always prepared to assist me.” With a sigh of resignation, Edward began his search once more. In a little over a half hour, after securing all the doors and windows, he was again on the road. He did not think Jennings truly meant to travel to Hull, but he had to start somewhere. When he reached Hull, he must send Captain Carlson a message regarding his need for an extended absence. He would send a message to Matlock also, to apprise the earl of what had been exacted against Lindale’s stepchildren.
* * *
It was late in the day when Edward reluctantly claimed his horse again. As Darcy had predicted, the Jennings family found no ship available at Hull that would serve such a large party of passengers. Most ships were commercial, not passenger oriented.
“Told his lordship he must either travel to Scotland’s coastal ports or to London. His lordship’s family said it would be easier to find shelter in London,” the harbormaster explained. “The fellow provided me his calling card.” The man dug through a small metal box to come out with a card.
Edward accepted it to read, “Lord Stephen Babcock.” He slipped it in his pocket. Apparently, he would be chasing a dead man, as Philip Jennings obviously meant to steal his brother’s identity. Likely, Jennings found a stack of cards in his brother’s desk at Babbington Hall.
He provided the harbormaster several coins for the man’s troubles, before returning to the town for a meal and few hours of sleep. As Jennings was traveling with his wife and children, they would be doing so at a slower pace.
