Page 20 of Lord Lonbourn's Daughter
“No, Lord Longbourn sent one of his own vehicles.”
Darcy believed the man who had spoken up was the groom. He was immediately suspicious as he doubted Lord Longbourn had ordered the girls home or sent his carriage, particularly not without informing him.
“What kind of carriage?”
“A big black barouche, sir, no markings or crest, sir,” a young boy hastily replied.
“Thank you! What is your name?”
“Ralph, sir.”
“Thank you, Ralph, you are a very observant lad.”
“The ’orses were fine, sir.”
The boy must be the stable hand since he had noticed the horses.
“How fine?”
“A perfectly matched set of four greys, sir.”
Which mollified him slightly. No riffraff could afford a matched set of four.
“What about the driver? I assume there were footmen as well. Did you recognise any of Lord Longbourn’s men?” Darcy enquired impatiently.
“I wouldn’t know, Mr Darcy, but it was none o’ our local lads. ’Ad a London accent, they did, I swear, sir.”
“Were you present when they left?”
“Aye, sir.”
“How many were there?”
“I counted four stout fellas, sir, but only the driver left with the carriage. The three ruffians remained, and I ’ad a gag in me mouth before I could talk, sir.”
“Did all the men speak with London accents?” It was best to be thorough and gather as many facts as possible.
“No, sir, the driver was from the midlands.”
“I heard none with a midlands’ accent,” Mrs Hill protested against the groom’s assertions. She appeared agitated and eager to speak.
“The driver didn’t go inside, Mrs Hill.”
“Did you see whether the ruffians engaged with the driver at all?” he asked Ralph. Perhaps the driver and ruffians were unrelated as they had a different accent.
“Not once they were ’ere, but they all arrived in the barouche box.”
Mr Darcy handed him a half-crown for the important information. This was no random riffraff who had happened upon a wealthy-looking house to rob. This reeked of planning, means, and a working mind. He counted two footmen.
“Where is the last footman?”
“I do not know, Mr Darcy. We have not seen him since we were tied and left down here, but he was stationed at the door.”
“I entered from the front and found the door unguarded.” Darcy scratched his head. Nothing made any sense.
“I am concerned that Mrs Younge and Miss Darcy have yet to return, Mr Darcy.” Mrs Hill interrupted his thoughts. “After we received the message from his lordship stating that the Longbourn girls were needed at home, it was agreed that Mrs Younge and Miss Darcy would escort them halfway to London. Lord Longbourn would meet them at the inn. Your sister and her companion would then return to Ramsgate. The ruffians robbed us after the girls had left, but I cannot help worrying…” Mrs Hill admitted.
Mrs Long sniffed loudly but said nothing.
