Page 27

Georgiana savored the sight of the fall scenery from the window of her well-sprung carriage.

It was so much nicer in the country than in London, at least in her opinion.

“Do you think William will mind that we arrived early without informing him?” She questioned her cousin who rode his giant golden charger Achilles alongside the carriage.

She smiled to see him riding today, as his injury in battle had prevented him from riding for some time.

Colonel Theodore Fitzwilliam had wasted no time leaving London once they had completed the preparations.

“Of course not! He is missing you something fierce, if my guess means anything. I think it is ruder that we have not informed our host, but Charles Bingley has invited me to come any time I wish. I am not regretful of coming when we did.” He knew they were very close to Bingley’s leased estate as they turned off to the property some minutes ago.

He was getting sore and would be glad to walk around.

Mrs. Ansley was pleased to see her charge so enthusiastic. “Miss Georgiana, it is wonderful to see you so excited. I think this visit to the country will be an agreeable change for everyone.”

“I believe so, Mrs. Ansley. Even accounting for Caroline Bingley, I think we will quite enjoy ourselves.” Even though she knew her comment was not exactly polite, Georgiana could not remove the smile from her face.

It would not do to lie, after all. She precariously leaned out of the window, her fingertips tingling from the cold air as she attempted to get a view of the residence they were visiting.

Her cry of surprise had everyone looking at her in alarm. “Is that not Crumpet?”

There on the path before them was an admittedly grand dwelling that must be Netherfield.

Yet the dignified building was not what had them all concerned.

It was the fact that her brother’s horse was there in front of it.

There was also a little boy trying to get on the horse, struggling in vain as he was a small boy, and the horse was rather large.

Theodore instantly became alert at the sight and spurred Achilles forward.

He had helped to train Cadmus himself, and he knew the horse would not let just anyone on his back and could injure if necessary.

That Cadmus was patiently waiting for the child to mount and not shying away meant something significant.

Theodore dismounted his horse and approached the pair, moving slowly, not wanting to startle either of them.

“That is a mighty big horse to mount without help, little man.” Theodore was close enough to see the evidence of tears and an injury on the boy’s face.

Kiernan dropped to the ground from where he had been trying to pull himself into the saddle.

He turned to see a man behind him, followed by a horse even bigger than Crumpet.

“Oh! Help me! You have to help. Mr. Darcy sent me for help, but the mean lady kicked me out and locked the door. Are you Mr. Bingley?” Wiping at his face, he tried to hide the evidence of his tears.

“I am Theo, little man—Darcy’s cousin. Did you say he needed help?

What is happening?” His military mind was instantly alert and ready for action.

He also looked over the boy, who seemed to be having a very tough time of it.

Mud coated his clothes, and his hair was in disarray.

One side of his face was swelling from a blow, and his light brown eyes seemed wild with fear.

“The soldier hit Miss Elizabeth, and she fell off the edge of the cliff. Mr. Darcy said he was going to climb down to her, but he would need a long rope and more men to get her back up again. I rode all the way here like he said, but when I went inside to ask for Mr. Bingley and to get help, the angry lady started screaming and threw me out of the house. We have to help them! We just have to!” Kiernan wailed.

He peered over the lad’s shoulder and saw that the carriage had arrived, and Georgiana and Mrs. Ansley had positioned themselves by the convenience.

They would see to the lad while he did some yelling.

“Do not worry, little man, we will help them. I will get the rope and some men, and we will rescue your Miss Elizabeth. Can you wait here with these ladies for a bit while I gather what we need?”

“Yes, sir.” Looking at the ladies, Kiernan was glad they both seemed much nicer than the horrible screaming one.

A pale pink dress adorned the younger girl.

Between her clear blue eyes and pale blond hair, he thought she looked like one of the princesses from the stories his mam told.

The other lady was older but not as old as his mam, and her smile was so reassuring he almost felt like crying again.

Mrs. Ansley felt her heart go out to the poor thing. He had obviously had a time of it and yet was trying to be brave. “You have had quite the adventure today, it seems. What is your name, sweetheart?” Wetting a handkerchief from a canteen of water, she wiped some of the mud from his face.

“I am Kiernan Anderson, ma’am.” Kiernan relaxed under the careful ministrations of the nice lady.

Once his face was clean, she could see the full extent of the fresh bruise on his face.

A puffiness was forming near the corner of his eye, expanding down his cheekbone.

It had yet to change from an angry red to the darker purple color that was sure to come.

“It is nice to meet you, Master Anderson. I am Mrs. Ansley and the lady beside me is Miss Georgiana Darcy, Mr. Darcy’s little sister.

It sounds like you have been very brave today.

How did you get this mark on your face? It looks very painful. ”

“The angry lady called me a disgusting urchin and hit me before she threw me out of the house.” His voice was barely a murmur; his shame at being called disgusting hurting more than his face did.

Georgiana reached over to stroke his hair out of his eyes.

“You are nothing of the sort. I find you gallant, much like a knight riding to the rescue of a fair maiden. Her actions were reprehensible.” She glanced at Mrs. Ansley and noticed the fire snapping in her eyes before she quickly shuttered them.

It would not do to upset the child, but Georgiana had a feeling Caroline Bingley would soon have an awakening.

Colonel Fitzwilliam marched around the outside of the manor house in search of the stables.

Even if it had not been Darcy requesting aid, one did not turn away those in need.

Caroline Bingley had always annoyed him, but to throw out a child in need of help was beyond the pale.

He quickened his pace when he saw a stable hand.

“You there, do you work for Bingley?” Theodore’s air of command always prompted a quick response, which was what he needed.

“Jonah Moore at your service. I am one of Mr. Bingley’s grooms, sir. How may I be of assistance?”

Theodore liked the ready way Jonah responded. “Darcy has sent for help. It sounds like someone knocked Miss Elizabeth off a cliff. We need rope, and Bingley needs to be alerted. Is there a physician in the area?”

Jonah’s mind flew over the number of things they would need to do to rescue Miss Elizabeth.

“There is only an apothecary in town, Mr. Jones, but he is very skilled. I will send a boy to fetch him and bring him here. We have a suitable length of rope in the stable. I will gather it. Mr. Bingley is inside. I will have him brought out to you. Do I need to gather some men to help?”

“I believe if you get Bingley, the three of us should be able to accomplish the rescue. My cousin and her companion are in the carriage in front of the manor house. We had plans to surprise Bingley and my cousin Darcy by arriving early for our visit. I am going to speak with my men, if you could send Bingley to meet me there.” He wished he knew how far the lady had fallen, because it might change how they needed to proceed.

“I will send him out to you at once.” Jonah turned and rushed into the building.

Theodore returned to find Georgiana encouraging the boy to drink from the canteen of water they traveled with.

It looked like she also had the food hamper open.

The boy could probably use something sweet as well.

He made eye contact with Mrs. Ansley in order to let her know he wanted her to meet him at his horse while he checked his saddlebags.

“How is the lad faring?” he asked while strapping on his pistols.

“His name is Kiernan, and he is doing better after some reassurance and water. He rode all the way from somewhere called Oakham Mount. There, a soldier tried to kill Mr. Darcy but seems to have knocked a lady off a cliff instead. I do not quite have the complete picture, but it sounds dire. Upon reaching what he thought was help, an angry lady, who I assume was Miss Bingley, struck him and threw him from the house. This after calling the poor boy a disgusting urchin!” Mrs. Ansley did not hide how furious she was, even though she modulated her voice so as not to be overheard by the child.

“Mr. Bingley will meet us out here and the groom is gathering rope. I am going to leave Jacob and Hugh here with you and Georgiana. Please arrange with the housekeeper to have a room prepared for the lady. I do not know what condition she will be in when we return with her, but the apothecary is being sent for.” He was grateful that Mrs. Ansley was cool under pressure, as they would certainly need it today.

“I suspect you will take young Kiernan with you so he can lead the way. I will make sure that he has eaten something before you go.” With a quick nod of her head, she left to see to the child.

Theodore moved to whisper to the grooms who had once served under him. They doubled as guards, and he felt comfortable leaving the ladies in their care. He had only just finished informing them of the situation when Bingley came hurrying down the steps.