The earl sat heavily on a chair. “Your aunt will be furious. She intends for you to marry Anne.”
“But I do not and never have. Aunt Catherine does not decide who I marry. The supposed betrothal only ever existed in her imagination.”
“I think we all know that, Darcy. I hope you are prepared for her reaction when she discovers it.”
Darcy shrugged. “Aunt is free to feel however she wants. But she is not free to behave however she wants. If she insults my wife, I shall have little to do with her.”
The earl nodded thoughtfully than sighed. “Well, I suppose there is little to be done about it. This is not something that can remain a secret. You have to marry the girl no matter what.”
“It is not a case of having to do it. It is what I want to do. I will not have it said that I married the woman I love out of obligation.”
Darcy’s words grew sharper toward the end, and the earl held up his hands in mock surrender.
“Peace, Darcy. You young lovers are always so violent in your affections. You can rage about how much you love Miss Bennet, but there is no need. If you say you love the lady, I suppose it is the best outcome.” He fixed his gaze on Elizabeth. “And what about you, young lady? Do you return my nephew’s affections?”
Elizabeth’s face burned. She glanced at her aunt and uncle, then at Darcy.
“I do,” she said. Her face flushed even deeper at having to confess such feelings before a man she barely knew, but when Darcy’s face broke into a smile, she forgot all about anyone else and returned it. They both turned back to his uncle, their smiles triumphant and more than a little foolish. The earl spread his hands.
“Well, I see there is nothing else to be done. I shall go to my solicitor and tell him the outcome. I will also see if I can find out if you are married already or not.”
“We would like a second wedding either way,” said Darcy. “I will have no one try to claim I am not married to Elizabeth.”
“By anyone, you, of course, mean Catherine,” said the earl. “Yes, I suppose that is sensible. We cannot have any question hanging over your heir’s legitimacy. And I would imagine you would like to experience a ceremony that was not performed at gunpoint. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to see my solicitor.”
Chapter 35
After the earl left, Darcy returned to where Elizabeth sat with her aunt and uncle, her hand entwined with her aunt’s.
“I must apologise for my uncle,” he said. “He can be a little brusque even if he means well. I hope you were not offended by his manner?”
“Not at all,” said Mr Gardiner. “He has concerns for his family as we all do. He is every bit as worried for you as we are for Lizzy.”
“And you?” Darcy turned to look at Elizabeth. She grinned.
“Do not be silly. I have survived being abducted and dragged through the woods by a half-man, half bear. I can survive a little abruptness from a man I hardly know. Besides, I cannot blame him. As Uncle says, he knows nothing about me, and now I am his niece. Of course he will be concerned.”
Darcy gave them a grateful smile. “Thank you. Though I fear there will be more of that where that came from. Aunt Catherine will be furious. I say this, not because it will influence me, but because I want you to be prepared. She is rather dictatorial and likes to have her way. I will never allow her to speak ill to you, but I do not want it to come as a shock if some of her words get through to you.”
Elizabeth smiled cheerfully. “Once again, I remind you what we have just survived. A woman who will have little to do with us does not scare me no matter how much she likes to have her way. She cannot be worse than a gang of thieves.”
“I would not be so sure of that,” said Darcy. “I considered having the thieves write to her. Her response would have terrorised them.”
“I must thank you again, sir, for taking care of our niece,” said Aunt Gardiner. “I cannot bear to think what might have happened if you were not there.”
“You are very kind, Mrs Gardiner, but I assure you, Elizabeth took care of me just as much, if not more.”
“True,” said Elizabeth playfully. “If not for me, you would still wander around the woods as helpless as a babe. The rescue was all mine.”
As Elizabeth and Darcy smiled at one another, the Gardiners exchanged smiles. It was a relief to know that if their favourite niece was required to marry, she would be with a man she loved who clearly admired her and respected her. They could not have asked for a better outcome.
Elizabeth took off her gloves and removed her bonnet as she exchanged a laughing remark with her aunt. Though Darcy had declared even she must have had enough of walking to last her a lifetime, Elizabeth could not be satisfied without a turn about the park that afternoon. Darcy had remained behind to attend to some business that had built up in his absence. As Elizabeth passed by, the door to his study opened, and he came toward her. Elizabeth smiled at him, relieved to see him again, but her smile faded when she saw his troubled look.
“What is the matter?” she asked urgently.
“The magistrate is here. He wishes to speak with both of us. Come, it is easier if he explains it to you.”
Darcy took Elizabeth’s hand and led her into his study. An older, great haired man rose at once when she entered and bowed. Darcy introduced him as Mr Dawson.
“I am very pleased to meet you, Miss Bennet — er, Mrs Darcy — that is —“
“Mrs Darcy is fine,” said Darcy firmly. “Any Miss that remains is a technicality that will soon be taken care of. Please proceed.”
Mr Dawson nodded. “I am very glad you are both well. You have had a terrible ordeal, and it is not one most people would have come through so well. I must commend you both on your bravery. We have found Smith and Platt where you said they were. But I have something to tell you that might challenge your bravery a little further.”
Elizabeth cast an anxious look at Darcy. “What is it?”
“Miss — er, Mrs Darcy, you know we have been trying to find Jerry Shaw for a while. He has terrorised the counties around London for several years now, but he always escapes. You are the first people he has taken that got away from him. We know he has been seen in Kingston in recent days.”
Elizabeth drew a deep breath. “We wondered what had become of him.”
Dawson nodded. “We have watched him from a distance. But no doubt because of his encounter with you, he is careful. He has not visited his old haunts or interacted with his old friends. We need to catch him in the middle of planning something before we can bring him to justice. And we need to do it soon before he leaves Kingston. Once he does, who knows when he will return or who he might harm in the meantime.”
Elizabeth and Darcy exchanged looks. “What are you saying?” Darcy demanded. “I am not sure how we can be of any help.”
Dawson clasped his hands behind his back and looked thoughtfully at the rug as though trying to find the right words.
“Your uncle has explained much of your experience to me. I understand he married you and Mrs Darcy to obtain money from your uncle. I am wondering if there is any way we can make him believe there is a dispute between you. Perhaps one of you refuses the marriage now and that the other might have reason to hold a grudge against the other. If he believes so, it might persuade him to talk to one of you to gain an advantage.”
Darcy frowned. “If there is anyone he will approach, it will be me. My wife is out of the question.”
“But why would he believe you would hold such a grudge against me that you would need his help to get back at me? He will not accept that,” said Elizabeth. “My leaving would not cause you considerable harm. No, it has to be me. If he believes you abandoned me, he knows it would impact me.” She coloured and became very interested in a pattern on a cushion. “Besides, he has good reason to believe your leaving would cause me considerable distress and would force me to rely on help.”
Darcy raised an eyebrow. “And what might that reason be?”
<
br /> “I — might have led them to believe I was with child.”
Dawson shifted uncomfortably while Elizabeth’s face burned. Darcy stared at her in amazement. “How did that come about?”
Elizabeth waved her hand, still mortified at speaking so before an unknown man.
“They were trying to force me to drink with them. It was the only excuse I could think of.”
Darcy continued to stare at her. Dawson cleared his throat.
“Well, then I have to agree that Mrs Darcy has the best reason to want his help. If she is desperate and alone, ruined, without family and worrying about supporting her child, she will grab any help she can.”
“I could always say I went to Kingston because my family would not take me back. I went there to see if I could find work that would allow me to support my child.”
Dawson nodded. “Of course you will need money…“
“Preferably the father’s money. After all, it is the least he can do after he cruelly abandoned me and ran away to marry a woman of fortune. Leaving me all alone to make my way home, only to be turned away from my family’s door. While he swans about London, free as a bird, with nary a thought for his poor former wife and child…“
Darcy blinked. “You find it easy to picture me as a villain.”
Elizabeth grinned at him. “Do not spoil it for me. You would make an excellent villain, especially when you look stern and haughty. Besides, everyone loves a tragic tale of a virtuous woman deceived and abandoned by a heartless, wealthy man.”
“Yes, but do I need to be quite so…“ Darcy waved his hand vaguely.
Elizabeth nodded solemnly. “Oh, yes. If we are to convince him I have good reason to wish to help blackmail you for money, you need to be positively demonic.”
Darcy shook his head. “What am I saying? This cannot happen. You are not putting yourself before that man again. Who knows what he might do to you? No, I will not allow it. It is too dangerous.”
“Darcy —“
Darcy shook his head. “No. It is out of the question. I am sorry, Mr Dawson, but you will have to find another way to catch your man. You cannot use my wife as bait.”
Chapter 36
Dawson's face fell, but as he started to nod, Elizabeth spoke again.
"You heard what Mr Dawson said. Jerry will not stay for long. Within a week or two, he will have run away again and who knows who he might harm? The next people might not be as lucky as we were. Do you want it on your conscience when you read a story in the paper? Because I do not."
Darcy's face was set in rigid lines, but Elizabeth was not about to allow his stubbornness to surpass hers.
"This is the best way to catch him. I will not be in any danger. I am sure Mr Dawson will make sure someone watches me at all times." She glanced at the magistrate for his confirmation, and he nodded.
"Of course. There will be many on hand to be near Mrs Darcy. Someone will be nearby to hear their conversation. If Jerry tries to take Mrs Darcy somewhere to speak, they will be present. They will look like ordinary men, so they will not arouse any suspicion. But they will be armed. Your wife will be in no danger, sir."
Darcy's fist clenched on his knee. "Are you married?" he spat out.
Dawson looked a little taken aback by the question. "I — yes, I am. I have been married for ten years."
"And you love your wife, yes? Come, man, I know it is a delicate question, but you can answer it, can you not?"
Dawson swallowed. "Of course. More than anything."
"Then, you understand my situation. Would you allow your wife to do something like this? Would you sit there while someone suggests she put herself in harm's way?"
Dawson's face fell, and his fingers worked at the brim of his hat. Elizabeth watched him carefully, willing him to answer in a way that supported her. He gave her an apologetic look.
"I would not."
Darcy nodded in satisfaction and sat back in the chair. Elizabeth glared at him.
"But that is not all. You forget the wife's thoughts in all of this. If your wife had been in my situation, sir, and could prevent others from having to go through it at very little cost to herself, what would she do?"
Dawson hesitated, then directed his apologetic look at Darcy.
"She would do it in a heartbeat."
Elizabeth tried not to look too triumphant as she looked at Darcy whose jaw had tightened.
"But it is not true that the cost is little. The risk is too great. I cannot consent to this."
Elizabeth gave him a steady look. "Mr Dawson," she said, keeping her gaze fixed on her husband. "Would you mind if we spoke alone for a moment?"
"Of course." Mr Dawson left the room with the frantic relief of someone glad to escape a couple's argument.
As soon as he left the room, Darcy turned to Elizabeth.
"Elizabeth…"
Elizabeth shook her head. "Listen to me. I was fortunate. You came along just as they took me and thanks to that, they could change their plans in a way that meant they had good reason to keep me safe. Even at that, it was not guaranteed. I am sure you remember a few distressing situations…?"
Darcy grimaced and nodded. He made to speak, but Elizabeth continued. "Imagine if I had been alone? Imagine what they might have done to me? Wickham wished to release me unharmed, but we saw how little influence he had over them. If they had hurt me, there is nothing he could have done about it. They might just have killed him and then who knows what they might have done to me? The next person might not be so fortunate. They might not have a reason to ensure their safety. Someone is walking around right now with family and friends and a life, who loves and hopes and dreams for the future, who might have all that taken away in a moment if Jerry starts again. I will not allow that to happen."
Though Darcy's jaws were still tight, there was a look in his eyes that told her she was getting through to him. He shook his head, then rubbed between his eyes.
"The risk — if anything should happen to you —"
As Elizabeth watched him, her heart ached. She knew she would hate to see him put himself in danger and be forced to stand to one side and allow it. She leaned toward him and rested her hand against his cheek. His posture was still rigid, but he relaxed slightly.
"Did you not tell me how capable I was? Did I not survive Jerry when I was taken from our room many times?"
A slight flicker in Darcy's eyes told her she was getting through to him.
"Then what can go wrong now? Dawson's men will surround me. They will outnumber Jerry. I am still worth more to him alive than dead, so he has a good reason not to wish to hurt me. And it shall not be for long. Within a few days, I will be back to you, Jerry will be prevented from ever hurting anyone again, and we can plan the rest of our lives together."
Darcy sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "You are capable," he said reluctantly. "More than anyone I know. If anyone can manage this situation, it is you. But —"
Elizabeth nestled into him. At once, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him.
"I know," she said quietly. "Perhaps we can make it easier for you."
Dawson entered the room again with some trepidation. He looked around uneasily and gave a little smile.
"Is all well?"
Elizabeth still sat on the sofa while Darcy stood at the window with his back to the room. His hands were clasped behind his back and Dawson could find no sign of how their discussion had gone. Darcy turned around.
"My wife and I have discussed it. I agree with the necessity of it, no matter how little I like it. I cannot refuse Elizabeth a chance to do what she believes is right."
Dawson's shoulders slumped in relief.
"Thank you —"
"I do have some conditions, though."
"Of course."
"Elizabeth is never to be alone. Someone, preferably several someones, must be near her at all times. If he tries to take her somewhere alone, you are to intervene at once. Cause a disruption, I do
not care how you do it, but he does not take her anywhere alone."
Dawson nodded and glanced at Elizabeth. She gave him a quick smile.
"I am to be nearby."
Dawson whipped his head around at Darcy in alarm. "Sir, I do not see how that would work. Jerry will recognise you in a moment. It will ruin everything."
"It will not. I will make sure I am covered so he does not see me. This is not negotiable."
Dawson sighed and nodded though he gave Elizabeth a quizzical look. The lady seemed as though she were struggling not to laugh.
"The final condition is that if Elizabeth is in any danger, it ends at once. I do not care if it leads to his escape. Her life and wellbeing come first at all times."
"Of course. I can agree with that. Thank you, sir."
Darcy shook his head. "You should thank Elizabeth. She is the one who will not hear of not helping."
"Thank you, Mrs Darcy. You will be rendering us a great service."
"As you are doing for me. I am more than happy to have a chance to bring that man to justice."
Chapter 37
The man at the fruit stall leaned across to turn the apples as Elizabeth walked by. He caught her eye and Elizabeth was about to refuse the expected offer to buy from him when he spoke out of the side of his mouth.
“Jerry Shaw is in the alehouse. He has been there some hours, but his usual practice is to leave at this time. He will be here at any moment.”
Elizabeth tried to hide her surprise. Dawson had assured her he would have men about to watch over her, but she did not expect this. She pretended to be absorbed in admiring the apples when the man gave her a meaningful look. She glanced about and saw Jerry swing his way out of the tavern. His face was unshaven, and his clothes soiled. He was very far from the debonair, cheerful man who had taken her and Darcy. Her heart pounded, and she found it difficult to breathe. Until that moment, it had all seemed like a fine adventure, something she could play at. But now she was looking at him, she felt her hands tremble. Elizabeth’s instincts screamed at her to run, to get as far away from him as possible. He had not seen her yet. There was still time…
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