Saving Jane
Page 7
“Very well, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth said nodding her head at the man and stepped closer to Mrs. Annesley. “I am very pleased to meet you madam. You will find Miss Darcy to be a sweet girl who wants to please her brother more than anything else in her life. She is gentle and bright with a thousand questions each day.”
“And how do you find her manner?” asked the lady. “Does she follow her brother’s strictures and rules?”
“Without reservation Mrs. Annesley,” Elizabeth said before she leaned in and whispered, “Though I wonder if he approves of me as an influence on her some days.”
The lady laughed and whispered in return, “Miss Bennet, I believe Mr. Darcy asked for your attendance to approve of me as companion for his sister.”
Blinking in surprise, Elizabeth lead Mrs. Annesley to a window near the street where they spoke for several more minutes before Mr. Darcy joined them again.
“Miss Bennet, I did not mean to keep you overlong,” he apologized. “Mr. Gardiner requires that I keep to our agreed schedule for your visits as close as possible.”
“I understand Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth agreed. “Mrs. Annesley, I believe that Miss Darcy will thrive under your charge.”
“And with your continued friendship Miss Bennet,” the lady added.
“Come ladies,” Darcy said leading them to the door that lead to the foyer where he bowed as Elizabeth was helped into her pelisse by Jones. As Elizabeth tied the ribbon of her bonnet under her chin, she looked up to see Mr. Darcy leading Mrs. Annesley deeper into the house to meet Georgiana. But for a moment, he turned back toward her and winked again.
++**++
Chapter 10.
Mr. Wickham’s Plans
“Who is the chit that Georgiana has taken to keeping in company?” George Wickham asked his companion sitting in the carriage up from the Darcy house. “I saw her face in the window of Darcy’s office with the new lady’s companion the other day.”
Edith Marlborough, often called ‘Mrs. Young’, moved closer to George before she replied. “Millie reports her name is Miss Bennet. She lives somewhere on Grace Church Street. Miss Darcy and the girl play pianoforte and talk about books when she visits.”
“Is Millie reliable?”
“She is a kitchen maid and she is as reliable as an extra five shillings a week can make her.” Edith slipped a hand through Wickham’s arm. “While you were in Bath, I spoke to Millie on each of her half-days and have the schedule the ladies are keeping. Georgiana has not been out of the house without her brother for three weeks.”
“Dora’s fortune is mine,” he said. “The cousin in Bath will no longer be a thorn in my side.”
Edith asked, “Why don’t we sail for the West Indies or Lisbon? With Dora’s seven thousand pounds, we could live very well for years.”
“There are many thousands to be had from Darcy.”
“George, your scheme to elope with Miss Darcy was well-crafted but Darcy would never agree for us to go to Ramsgate. And I have mentioned that the girl spoke kindly of you the few times you came up in conversation.”
“Edith... Edith...” he said condescendingly, “We can have no sentimentality when convincing someone to hand over a fortune.”
“I know,” she sighed.
“We must stop by Rothschild’s for the money before late,” he said. He rapped on the roof of the carriage and called, “Head for the city and take us to Rothschild’s bank.”
The carriage started down the street with the two passengers discussing travel to a warm city before the cold of winter closed the ports. Traffic was heavy in ‘the city’ – the financial district of London – but the carriage arrived at Rothschild’s House before the middle of the afternoon.
“Come along Mrs. Wickham,” George said as he handed Edith down from the carriage. “Our fortune waits within.”
He had married the cow and suffered her attentions for a month to finalize the papers before plying Dora with inheritance powder in a massive dose to end his time in marital purgatory. Then her cousin in Bath had demanded an inquest – only the promise of five hundred pounds had managed to get the local magistrate to hush up the questions regarding the poisoning of Dora Wickham.
A quick trip to Bath and the sudden disappearance of the cousin – the man would not return to Bath for at least twelve months with his unwitting volunteering for duty onboard HMS Defiance – had eliminated all of the impediments to Wickham’s inheritance. But when they stepped out of the banking house almost one hour had passed and the constabulary was waiting.
“Mr. George Wickham, you are arrested for the murder of Mrs. Dora Wickham. Take him,” the lead man ordered his underlings.
Thinking quickly and realizing he could not escape the current number of men, Wickham played the role of a wrongfully accused man. “My dear, be brave.”
Edith realized his game and allowed tears to fall, all the while clutching a valise with almost four hundred guineas and cheques for almost six thousand more guineas from Rothschild’s.
With almost one hundred guineas on his person, Wickham immediately considered how he could bribe his way out of the gaol in London. Edith loved him and Wickham did not fear that she would flee with the funds.
++**++
Chapter 11.
Mr. Darcy’s Letter from a Scoundrel
The afternoon was dry but cold; Elizabeth completed her work with her aunt and dressed for a visit with Georgiana. When the Darcy carriage arrived at Grace Church Street, she climbed in with the aid of the footman and the trip through the streets of London was quick with Elizabeth anticipating the time she would spend practicing a new duet with Georgiana. Mr. Darcy’s applause the previous visit had been most appreciated.
When the carriage pulled to stop in front of the Darcy house and the footman opened the carriage, Elizabeth stepped down to the street and then turned to climb the steps to the door. But she was interrupted; a woman dressed in mourning with a full black veil covering her face came up to her and thrust a letter into her hands while crying out, “For the love of Christ, Miss Bennet! Ask Mr. Darcy to help George! He is falsely accused and will hang if Mr. Darcy does not to save him!”
“Get off with you!” the footman said, breaking between Elizabeth and the stranger in widow’s garb. But the woman turned and fled down the street, leaving Elizabeth perplexed and shaken.
“Forgive me miss,” the footman said. “I did not see her approaching you.”
Watching the fleeing woman for a moment, Elizabeth told the footman, “No one would make much of a widow in full mourning walking down the street. Think nothing of it.”
When she turned the letter over to determine the direction, she found there were two names written in a man’s strong hand, ‘G. Wickham’ and ‘Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy’. Elizabeth’s face grew sombre and she began to climb up the stairs to Darcy House as the door opened and the master came out.
++**++
“Miss Bennet, what has occurred? I saw the lady approach you and my footman. Are you well?” he asked most solicitously.
“I am well sir, but I am perplexed.” She handed the letter to him and watched his face go stormy when he read the direction.
Glancing at the footman, Darcy ordered, “Tell me all that you heard and saw.”
“Sir, I helped the young lady from the carriage, folded up the step and closed the door. Immediately when I heard the woman’s voice behind me, I stepped forward to separate her from Miss Darcy’s visitor.”
“What did she say?” he asked the footman who swallowed hard.
“Mr. Darcy, the lady was wearing full mourning with a heavy veil. I did not pay her any attention.”
Elizabeth looked at the footman and said, “Your man was most quick to come to my aid and I am unharmed. It would have been improper to approach someone in deep mourning in any case.”
“Sir,” the footman spoke up. “I thought that I recognized the woman’s voice – it sounded like Mrs. Young who used to be with Miss Darcy.”
“May we go inside first Mr. Darcy?” Elizabeth asked. “The air is cold.”
“Yes of course,” he replied and led the way into the house. As soon as the door was closed, he turned to Elizabeth again.
She considered carefully before answering his question. “The lady called out and thrust the letter in my hands. She begged me to ask you to help someone named ‘George’. She said that he had been falsely accused and would hang. She insisted that only you could help him.”
While Elizabeth was speaking, Darcy examined the letter, his scowl growing deeper when he noticed Wickham’s name on the paper.
“Thank you Miss Bennet,” he said. “Please go to my sister and enjoy your visit. I shall review the letter and see if I can make any determinations.”
++**++
From her seat near the pianoforte, Miss Annesley asked, “Miss Bennet, will you tell us what distracts you so this afternoon?” Hearing her companion’s question, Georgiana stopped playing and looked up from keyboard.
Twisting around to face her hostess and the lady’s companion, Elizabeth sighed and explained. “Something very unusual happened in front of Darcy House when I arrived this afternoon.”
“Please tell us,” Georgiana asked, now curious.
“When I stepped from the carriage, a woman dressed in mourning approached me and gave me a letter she wanted me to pass along to Mr. Darcy. She said that someone named ‘George’ was going to be hanged if Mr. Darcy did not assist him.”
“What was her appearance? Her face?” Georgiana asked.
Elizabeth shook her head. “She wore a heavy mourning veil. I could only truly tell it was a woman by the tone of her voice.”
The door to the music room opened and Mr. Darcy came in, the letter in his hand. Behind him in the hallway, Elizabeth noticed that the butler and housekeeper waited in attendance. Mr. Darcy left the door open, an unusual occurrence in the house where the family highly prized their privacy.
“Brother, you are early. We shall not have tea for another half-hour,” Georgiana said, rising and approaching Mr. Darcy for a hug. Mrs. Annesley and Elizabeth rose to curtsey.
“Forgive the intrusion sister, ladies, but I must speak with Miss Bennet about the lady outside the house this morning.”
“Elizabeth had just informed us of the meeting,” Georgiana informed her brother. “She does not gossip but Mrs. Annesley recognized her spirits were not very high and asked her to tell us of her troubles.”
“I am sorry Georgiana,” Elizabeth apologised. “It was just so sudden and unusual. I do not know what to make of it.”
“Miss Bennet, did the woman call you by name?”
Elizabeth slowly nodded and watched Mr. Darcy’s face grow sombre before he turned to his sister.
“Georgiana, this is very important. Think back to when Mrs. Young was with us. Which maids or footmen did she befriend? Was there anyone particular she talked with regularly among the servants?”
From the pianoforte, Georgiana bowed her head for a moment before answering, “I think the only maid she ever spoke to – other than my lady’s maid – was Millie Smith. The girl wants to be a lady’s maid and Mrs. Young allowed Millie to help her dress each morning.”
Mrs. Annesley looked up and added, “Mr. Darcy, the girl has approached me several times about helping me with my gowns but I have not made use of her services. And I have found her in the passageways behind the rooms more than once when I have gone to the kitchens.”
“Mrs. Annesley, you do not have to use the servant staircase,” Darcy admonished his sister’s companion.
The lady smiled but nodded her head in acknowledgement. “Thank you sir, but it is much easier to reach the kitchens from the servant stairs.”
Darcy stepped to the door and asked Mr. and Mrs. Jones into the room. The butler and housekeeper were sombre, and Georgiana and Elizabeth exchanged worried glances.
“Miss Darcy and Mrs. Annesley confirm your conclusion Mrs. Jones,” Darcy told his staff. “It appears to be Millie who is telling tales to Mrs. Young.”
“The girl has had many new ribbons and extra coins for sweets,” Mrs. Jones replied. “What shall I do sir? Dismiss her?”
“No,” Mr. Darcy said quickly. He paused in thought for a moment and then asked, “When is her next half day?”
“Tomorrow, sir. She leaves after luncheon and must be back before ten when the outside doors to the kitchen are locked.”
“I do not know the girl – I would not recognize her,” Darcy told the housekeeper. “What could I tell a man to find her on the street if he was to follow her?”
Mrs. Jones thought for a moment before answering. “She wears a yellow shawl about her shoulders and her house cap out into the weather on her half days. If you want her followed, the man could find Millie on the street without fail.”
“Thank you Mrs. Jones.” Darcy glanced at Elizabeth and gave her half a smile before turning to his sister. “Georgie, you must not speak of this to your maid in any manner. Not a word.”
She glanced at Mrs. Annesley and Elizabeth before nodding most solemnly.
“We shall speak of this to no one outside of this room,” Mrs. Annesley confirmed.
“Miss Bennet, when it is time for you to return home, I wish to accompany you to Gracechurch Street – I shall speak to Mr. Gardiner regarding the letter.”
“Certainly Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth agreed and rose to curtsey once again when he bowed and swept from the room, followed by Mr. and Mrs. Jones.
The three ladies were quiet for several long minutes until Elizabeth stood up. “Shall we attempt the duet again Georgiana? I believe I can rise to the challenge this afternoon.”
“Bravo, Miss Bennet,” Mrs. Annesley said to encourage both of the young ladies and she helped Georgiana find the proper sheets of music.
++**++
The footman and coachman stood before Mr. Darcy’s desk as he asked them questions regarding other carriages on the street in front of the house in recent days and any pedestrians that appeared on the street regularly.
“I do remember seeing a coach setting on the street several times last week – in front of Lord Grey’s house but the house is closed for the year. But it has not been there in the last three days.”
“Have you noticed any coaches or stragglers on the street around Miss Bennet’s home on Gracechurch Street?”
“The Gardiner footman always comes to the carriage to help Miss Bennet sir, and I have time to look up and down the street for pickpockets and beggars. There are not any beggars around the house and I have not seen anyone or any coach follow us when we make the trip.”
Darcy nodded. “I am glad to hear that you are paying attention to the streets when you travel with the family and our friends. Hereafter, when my sister and her companion are out, a second footman is to attend the carriage.”
The coachman remained silent but lifted his coat to display the loaded pistol he carried at all times. Darcy nodded again and added, “Carry a musket under the seat as well. I shall carry a pistol under my coat for the next few days.”
++**++
When tea was delivered, Elizabeth joined Georgiana and Mrs. Annesley at the table but they did not wait on Mr. Darcy.
“My brother must have more information than he shared with us,” Georgiana commented.
Mrs. Annesley answered, “If he wanted us to know more, he would tell us.”
Elizabeth frowned for just a moment but then drank some tea to hide her mouth. She was not at home and her opinion was not asked or needed.
‘I would want to know all,’ she decided. ‘Just because I am a woman, does not mean that I cannot deal with the world and the failings of other people.’
Lifting her eyes from the table in front of her, Elizabeth caught Mrs. Annesley’s expression – one of admonition to protect Miss Darcy. Inclining her head in acceptance, Elizabeth turned to Georgiana and
asked, “What is your choice for the next Mr. Shakespeare’s works to read and discuss?”
“I should like to read the sonnets,” the young lady replied.
“I do not have a copy of the sonnets here in London. I shall have to visit the bookseller to find a copy.”
“Would you rather read another of the plays?” Georgiana asked.
Now Elizabeth grinned. “Indeed not. This will be an excuse to attend the bookseller and find any new books in addition to a copy of the sonnets.”
++**++
When it was time to depart, Elizabeth hugged Georgiana and exchanged curtsies with Mrs. Annesley. She made her way to the front door to find the door to Mr. Darcy’s office standing open and the gentleman giving final instructions to his secretary before going out. His coat and hat were in the hands of the footman following him around and Elizabeth grinned. ‘If he takes one step backwards, he will land a top the footman and mash his hat.’
Mr. Jones stood with Elizabeth’s pelisse and bonnet. She took the bonnet and after slipping it over her hair, she tied the ribbon under her chin.
“Miss Bennet, I see you are ready to depart,” said Mr. Darcy as he approached with his coat on by this time.
“Yes Mr. Darcy. Georgiana and I completed the duet to Mrs. Annesley’s satisfaction this afternoon. We can perform for you at any time in the future.”
Standing at her side, Darcy took the pelisse from Mr. Roberts and helped Elizabeth into the garment. Then he put his hat upon his head and offered his arm. Surprised, Elizabeth took the proffered limb and they stepped through the front door, down the steps and up to a single Darcy carriage. An unknown maid sat in the carriage to provide the chaperone for the two to travel together.
“Mr. Darcy, it is not necessary for you to escort me home,” she whispered as they approached the carriage.
He answered quietly, “I needed to see your uncle concerning business matters this afternoon. I shall visit with him at his warehouse after delivering you to your door.”
“That is very kind of you, sir,” she replied. “Thank you.”