Page 26 of Lord Lonbourn's Daughter
“No, I suppose not,” Darcy relented.
The viscount rose and offered his arm to Lady Elizabeth. He was gone a few minutes while the ladies were escorted home.
“Who is Wickham?” the Earl of Longbourn demanded to know.
Darcy gave him the abbreviated version of his dealings with the miscreant: that he was his father’s favourite and godson; his depraved ways at Eton and later at Cambridge; the inheritance his father had left him and the living he had forfeited only torequest it after he had been paid three thousand pounds in lieu of its value. He did not add that he doubted Wickham was the author of the abduction. At this point, nothing was certain, but Wickham had neither the means nor the brains for such a costly and complex operation.
Nothing new was agreed upon, yet there was comfort in knowing he had his family’s support.
#
The Earl of Longbourn startled when a letter was brought to his study on a silver salver. His name was written in a hand he recognised. His fingers trembled slightly as he tore off the unmarked wax seal.
“Mr Schneider? Call Mr Darcy over here at once. Tell him there is no time to lose!”
Chapter 10 Wedded by Force of Virtue
Darcy fought the impulse to run when he received the Earl of Longbourn’s winded butler with the news that he must come at once. He grabbed his hat on his way out and hastened as much as he dared without breaking into a full run. Longbourn must have heard something from the kidnappers.Dear God, let it not be someone’s dead body. I can countenance anything but that!
#
The Earl of Longbourn studied the faces of his daughter and Mr Darcy. They had not responded as he had expected to the demands in the extortion letter. Not at all! Neither had voiced any opinions, and their expressions revealed no signs of outrage.Intriguing indeed!
Elizabeth’s mouth opened as if to speak, but no sound emerged. She shut it abruptly and blushed bright red, which was another quite telling sign.
Mr Darcy was rubbing his chin, effectively covering his mouth, but his eyes gave him away. A light had been lit—one ofhope. He was not exactly smiling, but there was certainly no fury that he could detect.
This was interesting… He wondered who could bear the silence the longest. His daughter won the competition; Mr Darcy spoke first.
“This is grave, very grave indeed. I must add that if the signature GW refers to whom I think it does, he is not a man to be trifled with. Yet, I cannot imagine he has the mental capacity nor the means to arrange this on his own. He must be working with someone, or for someone, of greater consequence.”
The Earl of Longbourn decided to give his daughter and probable future son a reprieve and questioned Mr Darcy further about this Wickham fellow’s history and habits.
“Ralph, the groom at Ramsgate, asserted that the kidnappers’ carriage boasted a set of four perfectly matched greys. The horses belie the idea that Wickham could accomplish this by himself. He simply does not have the funds.
“The other three men were described as formidable but poorly dressed ruffians. I have even greater doubts that they have the understanding or capital necessary. There must be someone else behind this, but I cannot for the life of me, especially taking this new development into consideration, imagine who it could be. Who would benefit from my marriage to your daughter?” Mr Darcy asked in bewilderment.
“Someone who loathes both of us, judging by the turn of their phrasing,” the earl determined.
“May I see it?” Mr Darcy enquired.
“Certainly!”
The earl handed him the letter, written in the same feminine hand as the previous note. He could hardly bring himself to believe what it contained.
… We shall release Lady Catherine Bennet as soon as Mr Darcy and Lady Elizabeth are wed.
May I suggest a special licence?
I know neither Mr Darcy nor Lady Elizabeth will look upon the union with favour, but their disinclination must be overcome if they want to see all their sisters returned alive and well.
So far, no harm has come to the girls.
The mutual dislike between Mr Darcy and Lady Elizabeth, from the moment they met, is commonly known in society.
May I offer the comfort that their common trait of stubbornness will guide their relationship?
Mr Darcy’s rude remarks must be fought with Lady Elizabeth’s sharp tongue to gain the felicity they both are so deserving of.
