Page 28 of Cousin Elizabeth
Darcy recognized the carriage and was expecting the worst. He couldn’t imagine why his cousin Beth would leave Ramsgate and come here, so he was shocked when Richard and Theo stepped out, with Ratcliff close behind. “What are you doing here?! Umm…welcome to Pemberley. Now what are you doing here and how did Theo get the carriage back?”
“It’s just on loan. Beth let us borrow it. We have a long story. Do you mind if we stay for a bit?” Richard clapped Darcy on the shoulder and started for the front door.
Darcy squinted his eyes at Theo. Viscount Rosemont bowed much lower than someone of his rank would bow to a gentleman farmer,no matter how rich. “I apologize for not writing and asking for an audience. I hope the news I bring will give you some form of peace. I apologize for any past misunderstandings between us and ask your forgiveness…cousin.”
William stared him in the eye for a minute complete before answering, “We are family. If you are sincere, then you are forgiven. Please enter.”
Ratcliff just gave a cheeky grin and trotted up the stairs and in the door. Theo gestured for William to enter before him, which raised Darcy’s eyebrow. This would be an interesting day.
~~~~~
“WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME! WHY DID NO ONE WRITE ME!” Darcy bellowed as the story of the planned abduction was told.
“WE ARE HERE TELLING YOU NOW!” Richard bellowed back. “You are four days away from Ramsgate, and I was in town. Bennet knew I could get there faster than you, but he and John had everything under control. Wickham is on a ship to India. He likely will never return. It was all taken care of before I even got there.”
“And what was your part in this Rosemont?”
“I did not even know Gigi was in Ramsgate. No one in the family writes me anymore. Reggie wrote and said Wickham was there and using my alias that we made up in Cambridge. We all had them, remember? He was there running up debts again under Henry Blake. I rode there from Rosemont, and I did not find out family was there until after I saw Wickham carried off.”
Darcy looked at Richard, who gave a slight nod showing his belief in his brother’s story. “What happened to Mrs. Young?”
“She was turned over to the constable until her trial. Some of Gigi’s jewelry was found in her luggage, so she’ll be tried for thievery. She will be branded and deported. Mrs. Young was warned if she said anything against the family, her charges would be for conspiracy to abduct a gentlewoman, with the sentence of hanging.”
Darcy just looked pensive and a bit offended but nodded and said nothing more.
“Now it’s your turn. Tell us about the fires.”
“Mr. Vetter had the magistrate look over the three fires before I arrived. Once they were cooled, of course. Each has a centralignition point that seems suspicious. At the steward’s house, it looked like a fire was intentionally set in the office. Luckily, I have copies of all the estate books, so Vetter will be able to copy them. What was most troubling was the safe was ajar. Vetter says he never leaves it open, even to walk into the next room. There were burnt papers inside, but no sign of the small bags of coins he keeps in there. It looks like a theft that was supposed to be covered up by a fire.”
“What about the barns?”
“Very random. They occurred within hours of the fire at the house.”
“Could it have been Wickham? Do we have any idea when he arrived in Ramsgate? Could he have a confederate here?”
“The magistrate, Mr. Vetter, Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds, and I have been questioning everyone. We have turned up nothing. One person said they thought they saw Wickham around that time in Lambton. We may never know.”
All four men sat silently for some time before Richard finally said, “That is enough for today. I am tired and dirty. I want a bath and a shave Ratcliff, and then some food and good wine.”
“Of course. Let me call Reynolds. Did you bring your valet Theo?”
Darcy had not called Theo by his first name in years. It nearly made him tear up. “Um…no. He is at Rosemont. Do you mind lending me someone?”
Darcy was used to his cousin making demands, not asking politely. “Of course. Reynolds will assign someone to you.”
~~~~~
They had just finished a leisurely meal on the terrace and were enjoying another glass of wine. “Well, I believe I have done all I can here, for now. I best go on to Ramsgate and spend some time with my sister. Gigi said in her letter that Beth, John, and Mrs. Russell plan to spend some time here at Pemberley. I had promised Bingley I’d help him with his leased estate after harvest here. Harvest in Hertfordshire is later than at Pemberley.”
“Bingley leased an estate in Hertfordshire? Where exactly?”
“Near a town called Meryton.”
“Ha! Did you know that is near Longbourn? The Bennets estate.”
“I did not. I look forward to meeting them.”
“There are five beautiful daughters. It is a good thing they’re only related by marriage! Theo couldn’t keep his eyes off Miss Bennet. She is acting mistress of the estate. Miss Elizabeth is a beauty but is probably too clever for me. Now the third one? She’s quiet and demure. Nearly a twin to Miss Elizabeth in beauty. I think she’d suit me. I have some leave coming. Do you think Bingley would mind if I visit?”
