Page 17 of Through the Eyes of Love

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An hour later,Richard entered the cottage. “It is just as I thought. I walked around the back of the house and found a window that had been forced from its frame. All the library windows were shattered by the heat of the fire, but that particular window was placed against the stone wall and remains intact.”

“Wemustfind that miserable rat and see that he pays for the many years of agony he has inflicted on my family.”

“I shall start the search as soon as I get back to town. Rest easy, we shall find him no matter how long it takes. George Wickham will live to regret ever harming the Darcy family.”

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Several dayslater

Darcy stared out the drawing room windows without focusing on anything in particular. A knock on the door disturbed his solitude. “Go away!”

Disregarding his command, Mrs. Reynolds poked her head into the room. What did she want now?

“Sir, a courier from Mr. Hartford’s office has arrived with a satchel. I offered to take it from him, but he was instructed to place it inyourhands.”

“Very well. Let him in but show him to the door as soon as possible.”

Within minutes, the courier had departed and Darcy opened the bag. The deed for Pemberley and all his other properties were within, as well as a letter.

London, 15 July 1811

Sir,

An unknown gentleman entered my offices this morning with the claim of being the “new” owner of the Darcy estate. He was well dressed and tall with blonde hair and dark blue eyes. He indicated he was anxious to sell all his properties so he could move abroad. When I told him it would take months to complete the sale, he threw the deeds on my desk and departed. You did not mention anything about selling any of your holdings when you were last here, and I did what I thought best. He did say that Pemberley was in ruins which I did not understand. I hope you are well when you receive this message.

Your servant,

M. Hartford

So itwasWickham who stole the contents of the safe and attempted to sell Pemberley!

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An express arrived from the Darcys’jeweller weeks after the date shown that it had been dispatched. The reason became obvious when Darcy looked into the situation: when it could not be delivered to Pemberley, the missive had been misdirectedback to Darcy House, and took weeks to find its way to the cottage! He pinched the bridge of his nose since he would have preferred to have had the information earlier. Yet when he read the missive, a relief of sorts overcame him—he had more proof. The jeweller wrote about a gentleman who came into his shop trying to sell several items Mr. Carter had made exclusively for Lady Anne. The shop owner had not been notified that Mr. Darcy wished to sell and wanted to be certain he was correct in his thinking. He described in detail the man who attempted to sell them—he looked just like Mr. Wickham.

The letter weighed heavily in his hand as he released a huff of breath. That Wickham was responsible for the theft and fire was now a certainty. Darcy took up paper and pen and wrote to his cousin, requesting that he visit Carter’s shop and any others Mr. Carter thought might be involved. He also asked Richard to assure them that he would buy back any jewels they had purchased, but to hold onto them until they could be reclaimed. Finally, they were closer to recovering what was stolen, but the anger at his childhood friend was never far from Darcy’s mind. Vindication was not always so pleasurable. It could be a bitter pill.

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London

After receiving his cousin’s letter, Richard visited Mr. Carter and got a more detailed description of the man trying to sell the Darcy jewels. He, too, was now convinced it was Wickham.

“Sir, has the man returned to your shop?”

“Not yet. I told him I was a clerk and gave him a receipt for the items he left with me—he said he would return soon.”

“Have any of your fellow craftsmen tried to sell you any other stolen property?”

“Yes, Colonel, when I make articles as exquisite as Lady Anne’s jewels, though not easily visible to the naked eye, I engrave my initials on the back of each piece. It is similar to an artist signing a painting. Several merchants with less than stellar reputations saw my initials and came here to ask if I would like to buy the jewels back. I took them on consignment, assuming the Darcy family would reclaim them one day.”

“You have my appreciation, sir. Pray hold onto them until the thief can be apprehended.” Thankfully, Mr. Carter had recovered many of the Darcy jewels and connected their theft to Mr. Wickham.

He seethed as he walked back to his barracks. His only wish was to find and punish Wickham for what he had done to his family. Even Carter’s description was not enough proof that George committed the crime. The thief would have to be caught in the act of selling the stolen items. It was time to call in a few favours. However, if Richard should find his prey first, he would gladly wring his neck.

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