Page 36 of A Letter in the Wind (Mayhem and Scandal Collection #1)

In their chambers, Elizabeth explained to Darcy everything his family had threatened. In turn, he recounted his change of heart and the confrontation with his family. There was no lie he would not confront, no darkness that he would not dispel for Elizabeth’s sake.

After dinner, they apprised Georgiana of the events. As the shock and stress wore off, exhaustion consumed them. Darcy suggested an early bedtime, and everyone agreed. His heart burned with inexpressible joy to have Elizabeth in his arms once more.

At breakfast the next day, they read newspaper articles all about the immorality of the Fitzwilliams and the Ichabod Society. Later, while Elizabeth was resting, Darcy drew his sister aside.

“I think we should tell Elizabeth about your experience last summer.”

“Must we?” Georgiana asked with a deep blush. “She will think me so very foolish.”

“No, she will not.” Darcy squeezed his sister’s shoulder. “She has something to tell you, too. This is a chance for healing for both of you.”

Reluctantly, Georgiana agreed, and it was discussed after dinner.

“Elizabeth,” the younger girl began. “William has counselled me that I should confide in you, and after thinking about it, I think he is right. I have had no young lady to speak to about something that has weighed on me for nearly a year.”

“Well, my dear, go on.” Elizabeth gave Georgiana her full attention and smiled.

Georgiana looked at Darcy, and he nodded encouragingly. “Last summer, I went to Ramsgate while William visited Scarborough with Mr Bingley. I had begged to go; several of my friends planned to be there. I had recently left school and felt very grown up. A woman was hired to accompany me, but we did not know her well. I assured William I did not need a governess and knew how to conduct myself.”

She buried her face in her hands for a moment. Darcy watched with concern as she took a few minutes to compose herself. When she was ready to continue, she lifted her head. Her cheeks blazed red with a few tear streaks, but she took a deep breath and met Elizabeth’s eyes.

“I was gravely mistaken. A gentleman that I previously knew arrived in town. After several calls, it was easy to think he paid me special attention and no longer saw me as a little girl.” Georgiana turned a deeper shade of red. “Mrs Younge encouraged this belief. She frequently invited him to visit and dine with us. She arranged for us to be at the same outings. He was charming, and I soon believed I was in love.”

Georgiana glanced at Darcy and then to where he held hands with Elizabeth. The girl sighed and then seemed to be calm. Elizabeth squeezed his hand. He had told her nothing about his past with Wickham. She merely trusted that there was a good reason Darcy hated him. Of course, Elizabeth had her own reasons to hate the man. Darcy observed her as Georgiana finished her tale. While Elizabeth might guess the direction of his sister’s story, she would undoubtedly be surprised to learn who the culprit was.

Georgiana twisted her hands in her lap. “Within a fortnight of first seeing him again, he proposed and insisted on an elopement. He said William would never approve of him, and if I really loved him, I would marry him anyway.”

“Why would William not approve?” Elizabeth asked and glanced at Darcy. “If you already knew him, he must be from the same circle. Granted, you are quite young, but you said William would not approve of the gentleman, not the entire circumstance.”

“I did not know it then, but William had protected me from so many details about our parents that would have been too painful for a child to know,” Georgiana answered. “He grew up with this man and saw him slide into dissipation. My father, his benefactor, had not seemed to notice or be concerned. Now, we know that it was with my father’s encouragement and under his tutelage that he became a degenerate.” She let out a deep sigh. “William and my suitor had argued many times over the years, and he hoped never to see him again.”

Elizabeth leaned forward and squeezed Georgiana’s hand. “I am very sorry you were taken in by a scoundrel, but it happens to many young ladies. You obviously did not go through with it. What happened?”

“William arrived the day before we were to depart. He wanted to surprise me. He seemed so happy to see me that I could not grieve him with an elopement. I was certain that William could not be so unforgiving and hard. The past could be mended. I was full of romantic nonsense.”

Elizabeth finally turned her eyes from Georgie and looked at Darcy. Her brow furrowed, and an unvoiced question lay behind her eyes. He discerned that she was beginning to piece the evidence together.

“You are doing well, sweetheart,” Darcy encouraged his sister. “Do not be afraid.”

“Thank you.” Georgiana seemed to focus on something in the distance. “When I confessed all to my brother, he was immediately upset. I believed he was angry with me, but later I realised he was not. The man had targeted me. He never loved me and only desired money and revenge. He confessed to it all and abandoned me, calling me a silly little girl. How could I have been so stupid?” She dried her eyes and lifted her chin. “I hated myself until I recognised the Ichabod insignia the other day. He had one as well. He was more wicked than I could ever imagine.”

“That is correct, Georgie. You are wiser now but must understand that it was not an ordinary case of seduction. He was trained in the evil arts.” Elizabeth left Darcy’s side and embraced her new sister. “Thank you for telling me.”

For a moment, Georgiana clung to Elizabeth, drawing feminine comfort she had never had. It made Darcy’s breath catch. Both of them had needed Elizabeth so much.

“My love,” Darcy said despite his voice cracking with emotion. “Do you recall how I was not angered although you had kept Lydia’s elopement from me?”

“Your sister eloped?” Georgiana asked in disbelief. “That is why she was not at your wedding?”

Elizabeth slowly nodded. “You are not the only one to be carried away with romance and charm. I am so happy you were saved from a lifetime with that terrible man. I only wish we even knew where Lydia was. It is all but certain Wickham did not marry her.”

Georgiana stiffened. “George Wickham?”

Elizabeth released Georgiana, and they stared into each other’s eyes for a moment. Elizabeth let out a sob and consumed Georgiana in a fierce embrace. She began crying aloud, “ You are safe. Thank God. Thank you, God, for protecting Georgiana.”

The ladies cried and rocked in each other’s arms for several moments until all their emotion was spent. Darcy had come behind them and placed a hand on each shoulder. He waited until they were ready to turn to him. At last, the tears slowed. He moved to the settee and sat next to Elizabeth, drawing her into his arms. “We will find Lydia, somehow. With God’s help, she will be saved.”

“I will pray with you,” Georgiana said.

They took a moment right then as a family to pray for the safety of Lydia Bennet and all the other girls harmed by the Ichabod Society. After a few minutes, they agreed to retire for the evening.

*****

As Darcy was required to testify at the trial, they stayed in London through the rest of the season. The ton was afire with gossip regarding the Ichabod Society. A new rumour emerged every day. Unfortunately, even the most terrible ones were not exaggerated. Richard was removed from the case because he was too closely related to matters. It also limited Richard’s ability to uncover proof of Ingalls’ involvement.

The courts pushed for the trial to be completed before Parliament closed for the summer as many lords and MPs were embroiled. There was talk of passing a law that could enforce stricter punishments, even for those not implicated in treason.

Lady Fitzwilliam was forced to testify against her son. However, once on the stand, she surprised everyone by providing testimony and evidence against her husband. Darcy was astonished that she had enough maternal feelings to protect her eldest son. It certainly did not seem as though that ever extended to Richard.

The court scurried to produce new charges for Lord Fitzwilliam. There was little doubt that he would hang. He confessed to it all and showed no remorse. He did not appear to follow his wife’s idea to save James. Instead, it seemed that he felt beaten. Anything he said against Ingalls was dismissed due to lack of evidence.

Meanwhile, the ton decided that Darcy and Elizabeth were its new darlings. The papers were full of stories about the young and honourable couple who had been wrongly maligned only a few days before. Darcy hated the hypocrisy of it all.

Additionally, Ingalls behaved as though he were a saint, and people should revere him. In his version of events, he uncovered everything. He had rid himself of his enemies and restored his family’s legacy by shifting all the blame to the Fitzwilliams. Darcy often wondered what his purpose was. Surely, he did not intend to cease his ways and live morally. Perhaps Lord Fitzwilliam was correct. When one head was cut off, another would emerge. Sadly, Ichabod was not the first club with such values and would not be the last.

In the middle of May, the Prime Minister was assassinated. Officially, the culprit was a disgruntled civil servant who merely desired to avenge himself on someone in the government. Even so, many citizens feared French spies were behind it, so Richard was returned to the Ichabod case. He hated spies, but his more significant concern was finding the location of girls kept for Ichabod’s rituals.

In Early June, he pounded on Darcy’s door. When he arrived at the redecorated study, he did not even spare a greeting before shouting. “Come with me now!”

Darcy was behind his desk trying to read a report from his steward but truthfully wondering when he could reasonably squire his wife away for a private moment. “What on earth is going on?”

“We have found him , and now we have a location. Come with me.”

Darcy immediately stood and threw down his quill. He left a message with the butler that he was going out with his cousin and would be back at some point.

Once in the carriage, Darcy looked at Richard. “Do I understand you rightly? You have found Wickham and now know where the girls are kept?”

“Yes.”

“Has he said anything about Ingalls?”

“Not yet,” Richard answered in a determined voice and fisted his hands. “But he will.”

Although he did not smile, Darcy could tell he was relieved. They steeled themselves for what they would find. Darcy prayed for their safety and the girls’ recovery.

They stopped in front of a warehouse in Seven Dials. Darcy’s eyes shifted uncomfortably. This is not an area he would ever venture on his own. Still, he supposed he was safe with Richard and his choice of most rugged soldiers.

Richard banged on the delivery door and called for them to open. When there was no response, he signalled for it to be knocked down. Once inside, it took several moments for their eyes to adjust to the darkness. A group of ladies huddled in a corner. They looked terrified and showed signs of abuse. Finally, a young one stepped forward.

“Who are you? What do you want with us?”

Darcy’s eyes almost fell out of his head. His heart leapt for joy at the same time that his stomach cringed at what he saw. “Lydia? Miss Lydia Bennet?”