“Did you not say Mr. Wickham appeared repentant when he spoke to you?”
“Yes,” I nodded, “but he is a gifted deceiver. I fear I shall never trust myself to know when he is being truthful.”
“If only we could know for certain where they would …” Elizabeth stopped, her eyes growing wide and her jaw falling open.
“What?” I asked. When I received no response, I shook Elizabeth’s arm. “What is it, Elizabeth?”
“The Colonel asked the wrong Bennet sister.” She continued to stare into space for another minute before taking my hand and leading me back to the others.
“Jane!” Elizabeth called as we approached her sister. “Did Mr. Bingley leave word on how to contact them should we need them?”
Shaking her head, Jane glanced at the older ladies beside her then back to her sister. “He said there would be officers coming and going. I suppose we could pass a message through them.”
Elizabeth turned up the path toward the house and hurried inside with me still in tow. As she reached the front hall, she called out causing servants to rush forward.
“Mrs. Nicholls.” Elizabeth stopped before the housekeeper, laying a hand upon her chest as she tried to catch her breath.
The housekeeper glanced toward the other servants and they returned to their work before she met Elizabeth’s gaze. “Yes, Miss Elizabeth. How may I be of service?”
“We must get word to the gentlemen and have my sister Kitty brought here from Longbourn.”
The older woman looked sceptical, but Elizabeth laid a hand upon her arm and looked at her beseechingly.
“I believe my sister, Kitty, may know where they have gone without being aware of it. If so, the gentlemen may be able to limit the number of locations they must search. Please, send someone to Longbourn to bring her here.”
“Would it not be better for one of the men to go to her?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “If we send someone to Longbourn and another to the gentlemen, they can both arrive back at Netherfield at the same time.”
“I see your logic. Very well, I shall do as you say.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Nicholls.” Elizabeth relaxed a bit and gave the woman a heartfelt smile.
Turning back, we found the others approaching.
“All will be well.” Elizabeth said reassuringly.
I hoped it was true.
***********
Elizabeth paced in front of the windows that looked out over the front entrance to Netherfield while I watched from my place at the pianoforte. Having just completed a simple piece I knew from memory, I took a moment to shuffle through the sheet music while I observed my friend.
“Lizzy, will you not play for us?” Jane asked. “Your pacing is exceedingly distracting.” She glanced toward Mrs. King who sat on a sofa by Mrs. Annesley wringing her hands.
Releasing a long sigh, Elizabeth moved toward the instrument and began leafing through the music.
“Shall I play another while you look?” I asked timidly.
“Yes, please. I fear my mind is not on music at the moment. Hopefully someone will have arrived by the time you have finished.”
Tears shone in her eyes as she spoke and I gave her a reluctant smile before placing my fingers on the keys. The light melody I had chosen, hoping it would dispel the gloom in the room, seemed instead to be overcome by the atmosphere and turned hauntingly sad. Uncertain what to do to correct it, and not wanting to simply stop and draw attention, I was thankful when the door opened and Mr. Bennet entered the room.
“I understand you may have news?” he asked as he crossed to his second daughter.
“Not yet, but I believe Kitty will be here any moment and she may be able to assist.” Elizabeth replied hesitantly.
“Mr. Bennet.” Mrs. King’s voice was soft, but filled the room, stopping him from responding to his daughter. “Have you found my Mary?”
With a gentleness none had ever seen from him, he knelt before her. “Though we have searched several possible locations, we have found no sign of her. The others continued on while I returned to speak to Elizabeth.” Taking her hand, he met her gaze. “No stone is being left unturned. We are determined to find her.”
“Thank you,” she whispered as tears slipped down her cheeks.
The sound of a carriage approaching the house caused all to turn toward the windows. Elizabeth rushed forward and looked out.
“It is Kitty!” she called. A moment later, her countenance darkened as she turned back to the small group. “And Mother.”
Mr. Bennet heaved a sigh as he pushed himself upward. Straightening his coat, he stepped into the hallway in an attempt to intercept his wife and daughter. Elizabeth and I followed behind him until we stood in the doorway.
“Mrs. Bennet.” Mr. Bennet bowed to his wife as she reached the top step. “I am surprised to see you here.”
“I could not allow Kitty to come alone. It is only right that I should be here.” The handkerchief, clutched in her left hand as always, began fluttering about as was its wont while tears filled its mistress’ eyes. “It is my Lydia who is missing also, Mr. Bennet. Only I can understand what Mrs. King is feeling.”
I watched as Mr. Bennet glanced about before releasing a fatigued sigh. “Come, come, get out of the hallway,” he groused.
A tug on my arm caused me to follow Elizabeth back into the room so we were out of the way when the others entered. Mr. Bennet escorted his wife to the sofa where the older ladies rested before he looked back at the others.
“I will speak to Kitty in the study. I ask the rest of you wait here and remain calm. Hysterics will not improve the situation.” This last was said to his good wife, who appeared properly chastised and dropped her gaze to her lap.
“Papa.” Elizabeth stepped forward. “May I come with you? To the study? I may be able to help Kitty remember some detail she would deem unimportant.”
After appraising her for a brief moment, Mr. Bennet nodded his approval then turned toward me. “Miss Darcy, will you also accompany us? Your experience may be of assistance.”
Happily surprised, I simply nodded and followed the others from the room. As we entered the study, Elizabeth stepped quickly to her father’s side.
“Is there truly no sign of them?”
Mr. Bennet ran a weary hand over his face. “None. It is as though they simply vanished.” He turned toward Kitty and motioned her forward. “What say you, Kitty? Have you any idea where your sister, Mr. Wickham, and Miss King have gone?”
Looking as though she had been accused of murder, Kitty’s eyes grew wide as she shook her head. “I had no idea this would happen. I know nothing of their disappearances.”
Elizabeth stepped forward and took her sister’s hand. Leading her to an overstuffed leather chair, she urged her to sit before kneeling in front of her. “Kitty, no one has suggested you were involved. I thought, since you and Lydia spent so much time together, you may know where she would go.”
“Yes, Kitty.” I stepped forward and laid a hand upon my friend’s arm. “You told me once Miss Lydia had many secrets only you knew. Could one of them be helpful in finding her and Miss King?”
A crease appeared between Kitty’s brows as she appeared to think very hard upon the question. A moment passed, but she said not a word.
“Perhaps the two of you stumbled upon a secluded area during your walks?” Elizabeth suggested.
Kitty shook her head. “We mostly walked to Meryton or Lucas Lodge and home, no farther.”
Mr. Bennet released another sigh. “Well, your logic was good, Lizzy, but I fear I must return to the search.”
“Wait!” Kitty cried as her father turned toward the door. “There was nothing we found, but the soldiers were discussing a place.”
“Yes?” the others all urged in unison when she paused.
“I am trying to remember,” Kitty snapped. She pushed herself from the chair and walked around the outskirts of the room, to the hearth and back. �
�That Captain who is always finding things for them to do sent the officers out to an area for … oh, what did they call it? They were to scout out the area for something.”
“Yes, what of it?” Mr. Bennet asked in exasperation.
“Mr. Wickham and Mr. Denny separated from the others. They said they found a place to hide until the drill was finished and they could rejoin their battalion. Wherever it was, they could see the others, but their presence was unknown. No one noticed their absence.”
For the first time, a hint of a smile crossed Mr. Bennet’s lips as he stepped forward and embraced his daughter. “Well done, Kitty! I shall return and find Captain Jacobs. I am certain he will know the event you described.” Grabbing his hat, he rushed out the door and called for his horse.
Elizabeth, Kitty, and I followed at a slower pace, reaching the front door as he mounted his steed.
“Remain inside until you hear from us, but know that your assistance has been invaluable.” He winked and waved before urging his mount forward. We stood and watched until he disappeared from sight, leaving only a cloud of dust in his wake.
“I hope they find them soon,” Kitty whispered.
We all exchanged an anxious glance before turning back inside and climbing the stairs in silence, but as we drew closer to the drawing room, Mrs. Bennet’s voice was heard clearly. Hesitating, we listened as the woman attempted to encourage her friend.
“I am certain the gentlemen are looking in the wrong area. Why would they still be here in Hertfordshire? They must be on their way to Scotland. How else can Mr. Wickham marry my Lydia? I just do not understand why they chose to take Miss King with them.”
“Mrs. Bennet.” Mrs. King’s voice sounded much firmer than it had since the disappearance of her daughter. “Mr. Wickham has been paying court to my Mary, not your daughter. They shall be the ones to marry once they are found.”
“I suppose we shall see whom the gentleman prefers.” Mrs. Bennet’s voice was crisp with irritation, though her next statement seemed to drip with honey. “Oh, I have been meaning to give your daughter some of Mrs. Hill’s cream. It does wonders for nasty freckles.”
“Oh dear,” Elizabeth muttered as she quickly entered the room.
I was about to follow when Kitty laid a hand upon my arm. Looking back, I found my friend’s eyes wide and unfocused.
“What is it, Kitty?” I asked in great concern.
“I have just thought of something else. There is a log, a hollow log that Lydia found a fortnight ago. She said it would be perfect to place secret messages or to hide things until they were needed.” She turned to look at me. “What if she told Mr. Wickham? Maybe there is something there now.”
We turned and looked toward the drawing room, but the volume had only increased as the mothers defended their offspring and the eldest Bennet sisters, with Mrs. Annesley’s assistance, attempted to calm them. Before we could decide what to do, Jane stuck her head out the door as though searching for us.
“Oh, Kitty, Georgiana. Please have Mrs. Nicholls bring some fresh tea.” She glanced back over her shoulder before looking back to us and speaking a bit softer. “And perhaps some sherry or laudanum.” With that, she returned inside, closing the door behind her.
Kitty and I exchanged a glance and nodded. Going in search of Mrs. Nicholls, we delivered the request. Then, when no one was looking, we gathered our outerwear and slipped soundlessly out the nearest door.
Chapter Twenty
“Are you certain you know where we are going?” I asked again as I looked about the unfamiliar landscape. It felt as though we had been walking for hours and I knew we had been missed by now. A frustrated sigh was the only response, but Kitty seemed to pick up her pace and I had to walk faster so as not to lose her.
The further we went, the thicker the woods became until branches were a constant obstacle and we were forced to slow down for fear of snagging clothing or tripping over roots. I was about to question the wisdom of our decision once more, when I saw the trees begin to thin as I looked ahead. Moments later, we stepped into a small clearing and Kitty ran toward an old tree that was leaning precariously.
“How did you and Lydia find this place?” I asked as I looked around. It did not appear to be near either Meryton or Longbourn, but I had lost my sense of direction some time ago.
Kitty glanced back over her shoulder as she pointed straight ahead. “Longbourn is just a short distance that way. Papa wanted us to work on our studies one day, but Lydia was determined not to do so. We spent most of the day in these woods.” She pointed to the left. “There is a stream and berry bushes that way. The juice spoiled our pelisses. Mama was more upset than Papa when we returned.”
“Oh,” I muttered as I looked about.
“I think there is something here!” Kitty called out as she reached into the log.
“Is it safe?” I asked, leaning backward. “There aren’t any animals in there, are there?”
Kitty yanked her hand back and leaned forward to look inside. “I don’t think so,” she said hesitantly.
Leaning from one side to the other, she looked into the opening from different angles until she appeared certain the tree was uninhabited, and then she reached inside again. This time when she removed her hand, it held a folded sheet of paper.
I rushed forward and peered over her shoulder as she opened it. We read it together.
My Darling George,
Papa is determined I am not to attend the ball. You must come to Longbourn and rescue me. I have everything you asked for, but I will not leave it here. You must come for me.
All my love,
Lydia
“Oh, what a fool!” Kitty cried.
I took the note and read it through once more. “I do not understand. When did she leave this here? And why is it still here?” I looked about. “Is there an easier way to this place?”
“Yes.” Kitty nodded as she pointed to the right. “The road is just through those trees. The path we took is the fastest on foot from Netherfield.”
“So if they were in a carriage, they would have taken the road. Perhaps Mr. Wickham arrived after Lydia left the note, but before she returned to Longbourn.” I tapped the paper against my other hand as I surveyed the area.
“I wonder what he asked her to bring.” Kitty mumbled to herself.
“Probably money. From what Brother has told me, Mr. Wickham is always in need of funds.” Taking a deep breath, I looked around once more. “We must get this to the men.” I bit my lip. “But I was not to leave Netherfield.”
“What? Why not?” Kitty’s eyes opened wide in alarm.
“My cousin fears Mr. Wickham did not go to Scotland as he wishes to have me instead of Miss King. She has only ten thousand pounds where my dowry is thirty thousand.”
“Oh, dear,” Kitty whined as she looked around. “Do you think he might be near? Would he hurt us?”
I shook my head. “Mr. Wickham is only concerned with his own wellbeing and pleasure. If he were to injure someone, it could mean terrible consequences for him.”
“And what of Mary and Lydia? Are their reputations not now ruined? And if Lydia is ruined, my sisters and I will also be tainted by association.” Kitty’s breathing became rapid and her hands flew to her chest as her eyes took on a glazed appearance.
“Kitty!” I moved to her side and took her hand. “Look at me! You must not faint!”
Anxiously, I looked about, still unsure of where we were. Kitty said Longbourn was straight ahead. I pulled my friend forward, pushing through the trees and hoping to see something familiar. We walked a short distance when I heard voices and turned toward them. As we broke into another clearing, two gardeners planting shrubs along a newly excavated path leapt to their feet.
“Lordy, Miss Kitty, you did give us quite a start.” The closest man took a step closer to them. “’ere now, are you unwell?”
“Please, can you help us to the house?” I asked.
Leaving their tools, the man
who had spoken took Kitty by the arm and began leading her while the other ran ahead for assistance. As the house came into sight, I saw Mrs. Hill rushing toward us.
“Miss Darcy! Miss Kitty! I thought you both were to stay at Netherfield.” She motioned for Kitty to be taken to the nearest bench and sat down beside her. “Here Miss, just take a deep breath.” She waved a bottle of smelling salts under Kitty’s nose and the girl shook her head. “Now, deep breath until your head has cleared.”
Kitty complied with a grimace before turning away. “I am better now, Hill, I promise.”
The normally kindly housekeeper turned back to me with a frown before returning her gaze to my friend. “Tis fortunate for you I always have salts in my apron for your mother or I don’t know what would have become of you. What are the two of you doing traipsing over the countryside unescorted? Have you not been told there are unsavoury people about?”
The warmth flooding my cheeks told me I was certainly a deep crimson in colour. “We thought we could be of assistance.”
“Oh, did ya now? By causing everyone concern and making the men go looking for you?”
“How …?”
“They’ve been here, that’s how.” Mrs. Hill took Kitty’s arm and helped her to rise, then turned us toward the house. “Samuel stayed behind in the event you might show up here. I’ll send him after the men.”
“Oh, please, have him take this note to my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam,” I pleaded. “It is why we left Netherfield.”
“What’s that you’ve got?” Hill took the note and read it before shaking her head and continuing on her way. “That child has certainly burned her bridges this time,” she muttered under her breath. She shook her head once more and spoke a bit louder. “I dare say this weren’t worth risking yourselves over. Where did you find it?”
“There’s a hollow log in the woods,” I responded softly. I had hoped we would find something to lead the men to Mr. Wickham. Perhaps Mrs. Hill was right and it was all for naught.
Georgiana Darcy, Matchmaker Page 19