Page 45 of Shields and Roses

"I am amazed he has not found out yet," Bennet said. "According to Viscount Rand, he has been searching diligently. While our connections have agreed to go along with your request and not tell him, I am sincerely amazed that no one else has told him or helped him make the connection."

Lizzy shifted in her chair and looked away from the other two. Leaning forward, she took up the poker and stirred the fire slightly as they waited to see if she would respond. Replacing the poker in the stand, she sat back again but still did not look at them as she said, " But that still does not tell us why you chose to break with Lady Catherine now."

Bennet chuckled again, "True enough. You know that, in addition to protecting you and your sisters, Rand and I have been concerned about what Lady Catherine might do to harm Richard, Miss de Bourgh and even young Mr. Darcy. Our whole supposed break was meant to keep her believing all was going as she planned so she would not take more drastic or underhanded measures against any of you. Just as your visit with the Damasks provided an appropriate moment to release Miss Stanton from service, other events make this a good time to begin forcing her hand. Jane's betrothal would inevitably push Lady Catherine to take some kind of action. You and Mary will remain safely guarded by family members. Miss de Bourgh is protected by Rand's agents and by family connections. Finally, Richard has confirmed he will be retiring from the military soon. By manipulating Lady Catherine into making an outward break with our family, we push her activities further into the open. That way, we can keep a closer eye on her while better protecting all of you."

"How did you prompt her to do it?" Lizzy asked.

"When I released Miss Stanton from service, Lady Catherine wrote a scathing letter to your Mama. It was no more than we had expected, and I was inclined to ignore it at first. However, when Rand and I discussed how to make the break, we decided to use that letter as a catalyst. I wrote to Lady Catherine, implying that I had just seen her letter. I expressed outrage at the way in which she communicated with your mother and essentially told her to mind her own business. It was the letter I have been wanting to send to her for years. Every word was designed to make her lose her temper." Bennet laughed.

"I take she behaved as predicted?" Edward asked, grinning.

"She was livid," Bennet replied. "Whatever plans she may have had could not outweigh her anger at what she characterized as my gross ingratitude and blindness to the great advantage she had offered my family through our connection to her. In her letter she declared all ties to us shattered beyond repair, just as we hoped she would."

"What happens next, Papa?"

"We continue to be vigilant, Lizzy. Rand had already alerted Sir Barnaby to the situation and when he came here, I confirmed that he would stand by Jane even if Lady Catherine began to circulate more rumors about you girls. Once the marriage takes place, Jane will be safe. All three of you will still need to be cautious while you are in London with the Gardiners. The Damasks, Lord and Lady Sheldon and the Cathcarts will help guard and guide you even as you all enjoy the various social events. We will counter every move Lady Catherine makes."

"I think you enjoy this whole situation, Papa. It distracts you from the daily challenges you face." Lizzy said, smiling indulgently at her father.

"You know me very well, my dear. However, as I said, your safety and that of your sisters is more important than any game. I will not take unnecessary chances."

"And I will do my best to keep you girls safe while you are in London," Edward added. "Madeline and I want you to have fun, to make new acquaintances and connections and, perhaps, find a good match, but we will not sacrifice your safety."

"Meanwhile, I will be here missing you yet again," Bennet said, smiling despite the wistful look he gave his daughter.

"And I will miss you as well, Papa, but we have a few weeks before you lose my company yet again."

"She is correct, Bennet," Edward said. "Now, let me pull up the table and I will watch you two play a game of chess."

Soon the trio in the study were engrossed in the game.

Chapter 27: Wickham

"How dare he?" Lady Catherine fumed. She slammed one hand down on the arm of the chair, even as she crumpled the letter she had been reading in the fist she made with her other hand. If anyone had been close to her, they would have heard the frustrated growl that rumbled from her throat.

Fitzwilliam Darcy had no right to defy her plans. She had made it clear he was destined to marry Anne. There should be no reason or room for question. He would marry Anne. Given that truth, he certainly had no business attending balls and parties searching for some mystery girl. First Bennet defied her and now this! It was not to be borne!

The letter crackled in her hand as she pounded both fists against the arm of the chair. The sound reminded her she had not yet finished reading. Perhaps there was something else George Wickham had reported that could be of use to her. Blowing out a raspy huff of air, she unfolded the wad she had made of the paper and began to read from just past the salutation.

...As you have instructed, I maintain my close connection with your nephew and monitor his actions when he is in town. Darcy is normally so predictable in his habits there is little of any note to report. He largely keeps to himself, attending only those social events he cannot find even the flimsiest excuse to avoid. However, all that has changed in the past month.

Since Darcy and Bingley arrived from Derbyshire shortly after the New Year, they have attended nearly every ball or dinner party of note. Your nephew is still far from being the life of the party, but he does appear to have become more sociable. He even dances more than the absolute minimum number of sets he can manage without insulting his hosts. More than that, he now talks to people and even appears to be making himself agreeable with them. And everywhere he goes, he asks about a woman he is hoping to find. Miss Rose is her name.

I learned that he ran across her at an event in Derbyshire last autumn and was smitten. After they danced, he somehow lost track of her and did not see her again that night. So far, he does not know who her people are or where she lives, but he is desperately trying to find her. Clearly this is no simple flirtation, since he is not the kind to trifle with a lady's affection. I cannot imagine why she would not come forward if she knew he was seeking her out, but she has not. All I can think is that she has not heard because Pemberley and his money are an irresistible draw. In his current mood I can imagine him making her an offer as soon as he does find her. Since I have heard you intend him for your daughter, I thought you ought to know and, of course, I am ready to act to your advantage in this matter.

To that point, however, if you wish me to spend more time keeping track of him and monitoring or thwarting his success finding this woman, I will need more freedom of movement than the clerk's position I now hold allows. I cannot mingle with those who have the best information or watch your nephew's actions while constrained by the hours I am expected to keep at the law office. If I were able to instead depend on a larger allowance, I could move freely among Darcy's peers and seek to find Miss Rose myself on your behalf. I suspect it would be best for your plans if steps were taken to prevent him from ever finding her or her from finding him.

Please let me know how you wish me to proceed. As always, I am your obedient servant.

Lady Catherine growled to herself again at the news that her nephew was showing obvious interest in a woman other than Anne. However, this time she continued past the first mention of Miss Rose and finished reading the letter.

Her fingernail began to tap against the chair arm as she thought over what she had read. Wickham was correct about Darcy's habits. Lady Catherine knew of her nephew's dislike for social occasions. For him to attend balls and dinners clearly signaled some great change had come over him. An infatuation with some pretty face was reason enough. Gaining information of this sort was exactly why she continued to keep Wickham on a retainer. It was a pity he had provided no more information about the girl, although it was probably enough to know she was not one of the Bennets. If Miss Rose surfaced and thought of taking Darcy and Pemberley for her own, Lady Catherine would crush her.

Wickham's request for a larger allowance in return for tracking down the girl was a transparent ploy to get away from having to work for a living. She knew he would like nothing better than to set himself up as a gentleman of leisure and would not have any sense of urgency around finding this Rose chit so long as he was being paid. No, she would set another agent on that trail.

The fingernail stopped tapping for a moment as a thought struck Lady Catherine. He was correct that his position as a law clerk did limit his usefulness. She would not support Wickham in idleness in London, but there was a far more appropriate place to send him. His ability to charm was his greatest skill. Charm could help her.

Smiling grimly, Lady Catherine set aside the letter and rang the bell for the servant. She had orders to give and arrangements to make. This might have been just the idea she was looking for.