Page 22 of Cousin Elizabeth
“But she would be compromised regardless! You would not have to marry her! I cannot stand the thought of you laying with her. No, Henry! Do not hurt me that way.” Bernice began to boohoo, even though not a single tear was shed.
Henry was a consummate actor himself. He had fooled and charmed people his entire life. Should he pretend he believed her false cries? Yes. Best she thinks she had fooled him and he had a heart. Which he did not. “Oh, my darling. I understand. I cannot even imagine you with another man, no matter the reason.” He patted and stroked her back as they hugged and began kissing again. It was several hours later before they solidified their plans. He told her to watch for the boy who had given her the note and use him to send communications back. Tommy was going to make a killing in runner fees.
~~~~~
Another tall, blonde man, who was similar in description to the Henry Blake currently residing in Ramsgate, received a missive from a friend who he sometimes gambled with.
My friend,
You might be interested to hear, a certain man who was responsible for your losses, is in Ramsgate. Also recognized, is a Miss Darcy with a large group of lovely ladies. I will attempt to garner an introduction. Such beauty is seldom seen, even in London. Might other of them be heiresses? I could use one.
You might also be interested to know, there is a gambling house where you might win your recent losses back. I have been having great luck there!
Come visit soonest!
Reggie
Rage passed over the man’s mind and he saw red. ‘That is where the scoundrel absconded! And Georgiana Darcy is there? I would bet my last dime he is there for her. I must do something!’ He paced and paced nearly wearing a hole in the carpet. By the early morning hours, he realized there was nothing for it. He would have to ride to Ramsgate and foil the scoundrel himself. He had been a bane to his existence since childhood, constantly leading him into trouble. No one really trusted him anymore. Darcy and Richard had been his closest compatriots as children, but now,neither trusted him nor gave him the time of day. Well, he had finally seen the light. His other friend had set him up and cheated him. This would be taken care of before summer’s end. On his honor…what there was left of it.
~~~~~
Bernice was able to put on a good store of laudanum forher megrims, and Henry was able to find a small coach and a sturdy horse for their escape. He had let her believe that they would simply abduct the girl and ask for ransom, but his plan was to leave Mrs. Young on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere and drive on to Gretna Green with the little mouse. He would compromise her quite thoroughly on the way. Ah, how he’d laugh in Darcy’s face when he showed up with the cowering chit and asked for the dowry of thirty thousand pounds. Maybe he would even arrange for anaccidentso Pemberley would be inherited by his wife, becominghisat last! He had always coveted Pemberley, even as children when they all played together there.
Tommy had been running messages back and forth and letting Mr. Smith read them all first. John Smith had the twin footmen watching everything closely. He was keeping Beth informed, but they were unsure what exactly to do. Should they send a missive toMr. Darcy? He was dealing with the aftermath of the fires at Pemberley. Should they let the colonel know? He had just been reassigned to King’s Guard, so may not be free to do anything. Write the Countess of Matlock? That seemed like a stretch. So, they decided to talk to Mr. Bennet.
“Uncle, there is an issue we are concerned about.”
“Well, do share it with me. I have become bored with my daughters being so happy and well occupied.”
“Someone is conspiring to abduct Miss Darcy for her dowry. She is being closely watched. We are aware of the culprits but are unsure if we should contact some of her family. Her brother is tied up with the fires. Her other guardian was just promoted and is working directly for the royals. I would be afraid to write to Lady Matlock; I only met her the once. Do you have any advice?”
Thomas Bennet was rarely surprised or shocked. This was one of the rare cases. “And you only tell me this NOW?! How long has this been going on?!”
“Well, since the week we arrived, I suppose. Mrs. Young is in cahoots with a man calling himself Henry Blake. Our runner doesn’t believe that’s his real name. He apparently has mail thatwas written to different names. It could be stolen mail. We do not know.”
“You have waited more than a month to tell me of this?!”
“Ummm, well yes. You and Mrs. Russell have been enjoying yourselves, and we did not want to interrupt…”
Mr. Bennet looked embarrassed. “Who else knows about this?”
“Well, Lizzy, Lydia, John here, of course, the twin footmen, the Rileys, Jackson, Smithers, the Fredricks, so I suppose most of the servants nearby….”
“The rest of your cousins?”
“No. There was no reason to upset them.”
Thomas Bennet rubbed his face up and down with both hands while he got his equanimity back. “Pemberley is too far. I will send an express to Colonel Fitzwilliam. He is a full colonel now?”
“Yes. He wrote Gigi last week of his promotion and reassignment.”
The express was sent within the hour, but since the colonel had changed quarters, he did not receive it until it was too late.
Chapter Twenty
Tommy was let into the kitchen at The Rock House (which was named that because it was made entirely of local rock) and sat at the table for a meal. He had become a favorite of Cook and the Fredricks. One of the footmen was sent to find John while he ate.
“What do you have for me Tommy? Have their plans advanced?”
