Voices in the Dark

by Jaeza Rayleigh

  “William?” Lizzy asked with a lift of the eyebrow.

  “Her brother, Fitzwilliam Darcy. He is the cousin my mother wishes me to marry.”

  “I see. And your mother reads your letters before she gives them to you?”

  “She has all the post read by Mrs. Porter, not just mine. Nothing comes in or out of this house, but she knows of it first.”

  “I am glad the subject came up. I had thought to write Uncle Gardiner so he could send my first interest payment here. I am glad I did not as the request might have caused suspicion.”

  “I am sorry I did not think to warn you earlier,” Anne said. “If he sent you funds, they would probably never reach you anyway. Have you sent or received any letters?"

  "I sent a letter to Mr. Collins and Mary when I first arrived to let them know I traveled safely and to thank them for their consideration. I did not truly feel grateful at the time, but it was the polite thing to do. Despite the situation here, my gratitude has increased as I have reflected on the matter, so I am glad I wrote to them. I have not sent or received any other letters."

  "A letter of thanks is the kind of letter that would probably be allowed to go through as long as it contained no complaints about the household."

  "No, I kept it very simple, noting the pleasant journey, my thanks for the use of the carriage and company of the maid, my gratitude for the position and a small amount of praise for the house and your mother since my cousin would expect that."

  "I am sure it did you no harm in my mother's opinion either," Anne said with a smile.

  "Why do you think your cousin's letters might not be getting to you? She knows they are read, does she not?"

  "She does. Either there is a problem she references that my mother does not wish me to know about or Georgiana has stopped writing for some reason. Both possibilities worry me."

  "I understand your concern. Unfortunately we are helpless to solve the problem while we remain here. You can contact both of your cousins as soon as we reach London. I suggest you continue to write on your normal schedule while keeping your letters innocuous enough they might get through."

  Anne agreed with Lizzy. They discussed ways she could ask about the lack of letters without appearing overly worried or saying anything that might be objectionable to Lady Catherine.

  It had not occurred to Lizzy that her letters would not be considered private. As she told Anne, she was thankful she had not written to Mr. Gardiner. Writing with either a request for her allowance, since was never allowed to leave the house and had no reason to spend money, or to ask for his help in town would have betrayed their plans.

  The ghost surprised her on her next visit with a discussion of betrayal in response to a ballad she sang. Lizzy had thought a great deal on the subject since her arrival at Rosings. While she was still hurt by the behavior and attitude of her uncles, she could better understand them now. Jane's defection without so much as a word of explanation made directly to her still rankled. For the rest, Lizzy had practiced so well the art of tamping down her negative feelings that she could hardly muster anger or hurt over the behavior of her father and mother.

  Lizzy was serious as she told the ghost it was not so much of a burden as the various betrayals felt at first. While she had previously been very cautious in sharing personal information, she thought no harm would come of her explanation if she simply avoided giving names.

  Perhaps Lizzy had known her father too well, for the ghost was more emphatic about the shameful nature of his lack of planning than Lizzy, who considered it highly selfish instead of simply shameful. She did not mention her opinion of her father's selfishness but went on to tell the rest of the events leading to her arrival at Rosings.

  The evident sympathy of the ghost helped ease any lingering hurt. He surprised her with his admission to reading Fordyce and even more when he stated her education was enticing rather than a drawback. She had yet to meet a living man who believed the same. In fact, since her uncle insisted her education made her unmarriageable Lizzy had often wondered if her father, like her mother, had deliberately punished her for not being a son. He must have known the education he gave her would make her less desirable to most men of their station. On reflection, it seemed the kind of thing he would do, especially since it also annoyed her mother. No matter what his motive, she did not regret the education she had received, no matter what the cost to her chances of marriage.

  Lizzy found her own sympathy engaged when the ghost told of the behavior of the friend he had thought of as a brother. He must have felt as she had on learning Jane was not the close confidant Lizzy thought her to be. And then to lose another friend to betrayal! It was too sad. As he started to say something about his aunt, Lizzy heard her name called. In a panic she apologized to him, hardly knowing what she said. She slipped through the hedge and ran for the kitchen door.

  "Where were you, Miss Bennet?' the messenger asked sharply as she came up.

  "I had walked to the far side of the garden and was sitting between two plots. I am sorry you had to shout for me."

  "Lady Catherine has summoned you."

  "Thank you," Lizzy said with a courteous nod before making her way to the drawing room by the quickest route. Another second summons – she wondered what it meant.

  ~o~

  "You were in the garden again," Lady Catherine declared. Lizzy nodded.

  "Hmm." Lady Catherine looked at Lizzy intently as if trying to learn all her secrets. "Why?" she finally asked.

  "It is a pleasant place and I enjoy sitting outside in the fresh air. I often walked outside when I was at Longbourn."

  "So that much of Mr. Collins' account was true."

  Lizzy nodded again then kept her eyes slightly lowered.

  "Do not make it such a frequent habit. Once a week should be sufficient, not every other day."

  Lizzy allowed a small burst of frustration to draw the shadows even as she nodded acceptance. She knew Lady Catherine would be watching for a response.

  "Read from the fourth paragraph down," Lady Catherine said, handing Lizzy a book. Opening to the marker Lizzy found the paragraph and began to read while letting the shadows feast just a tiny bit more.

  Chapter 12: Revelations

  With amazement, Lizzy realized the mystery voice was not a ghost after all. Thankful she had stopped to enjoy the quiet of the afternoon for a moment before making her presence known with a burst of song, Lizzy listened to the well-known voice of Lady Catherine sound faintly in her ear.

  "You must see this continued stubbornness is doing you no good, Fitzwilliam. Why will you not do your duty and marry Anne?"

  "Because that is not my duty. It is only your desire. My duty is to care for Pemberley and my sister," said the ghost voice.

  "And how can you do that from this cell? Make no mistake; I will not relent. You stay here until the marriage takes place. Meanwhile your estate is without your management and your sister mourns her missing brother. That is not doing your duty."

  "This entire situation is of your creation! Why do you insist on a union neither your daughter nor I desire? Why is it so important to you?"

  "It was the fondest wish of your mother that you and Anne marry..."

  "You lie!" he interrupted. "My mother told me she had no particular wish for me to marry Anne and my father said the same. What is the truth? Why are you doing this?"

  Lady Catherine's voice echoed cold and hard, "It was your mother's desire and mine. That is enough for you to know. You will obey. You will marry Anne."

  Alerted that she was hearing the voices of living beings, Lizzy had quietly searched for the source of the sound. As the argument reached this point, she found it. The inner roof of each stone lion's mouth was pierced by a hole covered with a rusty metal mesh. Lizzy guessed they were ventilation shafts of some sort to the room where Anne's cousin was now held prisoner. Their holes were probably not intended to carry voices but did so very well. Mindful the sound could be heard both ways Lizzy
decided to retreat. She would speak with Anne to consider what help they could give the imprisoned man.

  ~o~

  "She has William imprisoned and will not release him until he marries me?" Anne said in horror.

  "Keep your voice down, Anne," Lizzy reminded her, hoping the exclamation had not been overheard.

  "I am sorry Lizzy. Surprise overcame me. I had not thought my mother to be so bad as this. And William has always been so careful. She must have overpowered him somehow during his trip almost three months ago. It is no wonder I have not received any letters from Georgiana. She must be frantic for news of her brother and has probably mentioned his disappearance in her letters."

  "Is she someplace safe?" Lizzy asked.

  "She should still be at school. William planned to remove her in July and send her to Ramsgate or Brighton in the company of a paid companion."

  "July is almost upon us. We must rescue him when we make our own escape."

  "Yes, we cannot leave him imprisoned here."

  "Do you have any idea how to get to where he is being held?"

  "From your description he must be in a back portion of the wine cellar. I would expect the only way to get there is through one of my mother's private passages."

  "Behind the doors guarded by soldiers with an upraised sword?" Lizzy asked.

  "Exactly. Even I am forbidden to enter those areas."

  "Do you think they are locked?"

  "Most will be, but I think I know how you can get in. The hard part will be to find and free him without getting caught. Even if the way down is not locked, his prison will be."

  "I can pick locks," Lizzy volunteered. "I will just need to bring the right tools along."

  "How did you learn to pick locks?" Anne asked in surprise.

  "Simple. I found instructions in a book and practiced on nearly every lock at Longbourn until I became good at it. My youngest sister often stole any of our possessions she liked and would lock them in her trunk or in a cabinet in her room. When something of value went missing, I would wait until she was gone, steal the item back and return it to wherever it belonged. Arguing with her or trying to get her to return items herself was pointless. She was likely to simply destroy the item in a fit of temper. There were some things I must have stolen back from her a dozen times before she finally gave up.

  Lizzy almost smiled at the thought that Lydia and Lady Catherine seemed to have some behavior in common. Both felt they could take what they wanted, and both wanted to win more than anything else. Now the same skill that had defeated Lydia would be used to defy Lady Catherine.

  "I hope you will be able to find William quickly and free him. I hate to think of him locked away like that."

  "What is your idea for getting into the private passages?"

  "The servant's passage to my mother's room is not likely to be locked, since the inner door to her chamber will be. You can pick the lock on the inner door in safety as you will be out of sight. If you take her private stairs behind the drawing room, there is another flight that goes down to the cellars. You will need a lantern, though. It is sure to be dark."

  "That could be difficult. I will have to see what I can find without raising suspicion."

  "I hope you can. This is more than just our adventure now. William has so many responsibilities. I am sure he has been greatly missed by more people than just Georgiana."

  "We will free him and all three of us will escape together," Lizzy said with determination. "And with a man for company on the journey, you and I are more likely to arrive at your townhouse safely."

  "That is true. He will also be able to help me access my allowance right away."

  "I think Mr. Herbert will visit next on the day after tomorrow. Do you feel strong enough to try then?"

  "I am. I must be."

  "Do your windows open? I thought instead of carrying the trunk down I could lower it on a rope – assuming I can find a rope," Lizzy said with a grin.

  "I think you will have enough trouble finding the lantern," Anne said. "Only the small windows in the corners open. They are not big enough for a person, let alone a trunk."

  She looked past Lizzy quickly and added, "I think it is time I dismiss you, Miss Bennet. I find I am tired after our discussion. Perhaps I shall call for you tomorrow."

  Lizzy stood and curtsied before leaving. It was just as well they had been interrupted. She had much to do before the parson arrived.

  ~o~

  Finding the lantern proved easier than Lizzy expected. Taking possession of it without getting caught would be the true challenge. Several oil-filled lanterns were stored in a room off the lower dining hall for the servants. Lizzy spotted them on her way to dinner when one of the men opened the storeroom door.

  Too many people went in and out of that area during the day for Lizzy to take a lantern undetected. She would have to try very early on the day of their escape and hope no one spotted her as she picked the lock. If it looked too dangerous, she would just have to take a few candles from the upper halls and hope to keep one lit through the entire rescue.

  The other problem, she had realized, was how to get the trunk to Anne so she could pack her things, then how to get herself, Anne and the trunk past Clara and Betty. They were not supposed to leave Anne unattended, after all.

  "You must bring the trunk down very early in the morning while everyone is still asleep," Anne suggested when they met briefly the next day. "Put it in the sitting room under the corner window. I will place blankets and a couple of cushions in the spot which you can use to disguise it. Later I will find a way to add my belongings and be ready to leave before the parson arrives. When you rescue William, send him on to the stables to harness the ponies to the phaeton while you come get me. Together we will get past Betty and Clara."

  Lizzy still thought the plan was insane and so full of holes there was little chance it could work. She wished she could ask Mr. Darcy for his suggestions, but she knew better than to try another trip to the garden to speak with her ghost. It had only been two days since her last visit and Lady Catherine had limited her to once a week. If she went, someone would notice and pass on the news.

  Lizzy feared oversleeping that final, critical night, so she napped a little in the afternoon once she had attended Lady Catherine. That evening she did not intend to sleep after everyone retired for the night. While the other servants were still awake and moving around in the corridor Lizzy finished packing the trunk.

  Her books now occupied the shelves in the closet. Lizzy was sorry to leave them behind, and not just for the sentimental value. Books were valuable and these could have been sold for coin enough to pay for a few weeks lodging and food. She knew they were too heavy to carry and would take up too much space in the trunk. Hopefully Anne would have some lightweight items of value to sell if they could not get to her allowance right away. The books would have to stay behind.

  She took her clothes and the small personal items like her hairbrush and hairpins. She left a cloak and bonnet out for when the time came to leave. Her money was distributed in a few hiding places on her person as always. From the first, she had not been willing to leave her funds in the room for fear of theft. Lizzy’s reticule sat with the cloak and bonnet. It contained her lock pick tools, which she would carry with her when she took the trunk to Anne. Before returning she would try to get the lantern and would need her tools for the lock on the storeroom door.

  Once packed, Lizzy blew out her candle, not wanting any light shining through the crack beneath the door to betray her wakefulness. Gradually her eyes adjusted so she could see in the faint moonlight coming in from the window. Lizzy sat in the near darkness, waiting for the household to settle into sleep. Without clock or watch she could not accurately tell the time, but the movement of the moon across the sky helped her judge the passage of the hours.

  When Lizzy thought the hour late enough that all would have retired, yet too early for the kitchen staff to be up, she made her move. Although the t
runk, being cheaply made, was relatively lightweight even with her belongings inside, Lizzy knew it would be awkward to carry by herself, especially down the stairs in the dark. Twisting one of her sheets to form a rope of sorts, she tied it to the handles on either side of the trunk to make a carrying strap she could sling across her shoulders. The trunk was still somewhat awkward, but at least she would not drop it as she went.

  The hallway was dimly lit by a few candles widely spaced among the sconces. A light film of the hungry shadows drifted lazily about, perhaps drawn by the dreams of those slumbering. Lizzy concentrated on breathing evenly, not wanting to draw their attention and possibly that of Lady Catherine through them.

  With light and careful steps she made her way to the back stairs. Her sling worked well, although she would probably be bruised from where the trunk bumped against her with every step. Slowly she went down each stair, keeping her balance and making sure each foot was firmly placed before taking the next step. The hungry shadows swirled here as well, though more lightly than in the hall above.

  It seemed an age before Lizzy reached the next floor down and entered the family wing. She made her way down the corridor to Anne's suite. Thankfully, more candles were allowed to burn the night away here. Being beeswax instead of the tallow the servants used, these gave a brighter, better smelling light.

  Very few of the shadows drifted around the empty rooms, but that changed as Lizzy neared Anne's door. Even had she not known the correct door she could have guessed it from the layers of shadow flowing back and forth under the door like waves on a beach.

  As Anne told her it would be, the door was unlocked. Lizzy entered the sitting room taking care not to bang the trunk against the door frame. She closed the door behind her, then stood still for a time letting her eyes adjust from the dim light in the corridor to the even dimmer moonlight filtering in from the windows.