Page 91 of Heiress of Longbourn (Pride and Prejudice Variations)

Darcy House

London

1 st December, 1815

Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy rolled over in bed and squinted in confusion at the windows. They were not quite in the right place, which made no sense. Why…

A soft chuckle from her right made her turn back, and she glowered playfully at her beloved husband, who was leaning on one elbow, gazing at her lovingly. A moment later, he leaned over to plant a warm kiss on her lips, which she returned with enthusiasm before lying back down again.

“It appears I was too tired to go back to my own bed last night,” Elizabeth murmured, provoking another laugh from her husband.

“I do not mind in the least, I assure you,” Darcy answered, running an affectionate finger down his wife’s cheek. “Indeed, I would say that we should permanently turn your bedchamber into a Chinese art gallery except that I disturb you at night when I toss and turn.”

“A Chinese art gallery?” Elizabeth inquired in bewilderment.

“Of course, my love,” Darcy answered, sitting up and pasting a superior expression on his face. “We are Darcys, after all, and our mansion here in town should be at the cutting edge of fashion. If our great Prince Regent is determined to use Chinese fashion for his pavilion in Brighton, we should also have at least one room in our home decorated with Chinese artifacts.”

Elizabeth cast her eyes heavenward and then rolled carefully out of bed. The movement made her bite her lip as her head swam for a few seconds, but she recovered before her husband, who was very observant, noticed.

“Yes, naturally we wish to follow the Regent in all things,” she said merrily, and then gasped in dismay as she caught sight of the clock. “Oh, it is almost ten o’clock in the morning! It is so late!”

“Do you have plans for today?” her husband asked, grabbing his dressing gown and ringing a bell for his valet.

“Anne and Richard are coming at noon,” she explained, “and it is on League business, so if you can attend, that would be advantageous.”

“I can,” her husband promised. “I assume you will be in the nursery with the baby?”

“Yes,” Elizabeth agreed, opening the door which led into her own bedchamber. “I hope that David slept well; the poor dear’s molars are coming through, which makes him fussy.”

“Poor babe.”

***

“Anne, Richard!” Elizabeth exclaimed, smiling happily at her two cousins by marriage. “Do come in!”

The Fitzwilliams walked into the large, airy nursery at Darcy House and gratefully took a seat on a small couch near the fire, whereupon Richard carefully unwrapped the bundle in his arms and laid his three-month-old daughter in his wife’s tender embrace.

Elizabeth squealed softly at the sight and rose to her feet with her own little boy, Master David Darcy, almost two years of age, in her arms. She walked over to peer down into the face of the infant and shook her head incredulously. “I know that Susanna is substantially bigger than she was at birth, but she is still so little!”

Anne shot an amused look at David, who was gazing with toddler intensity at his little cousin. “I suspect that is because your own son is growing rapidly as well, Elizabeth, and by comparison, Susanna looks tiny indeed. I hope David is well?”

“He is,” Elizabeth agreed, planting a kiss on her son’s head. David had been born bald but was now sporting a full head of light brown, curly hair. “He is teething, which is hard on him, but his nursemaids said he slept quite well last night.”

Anne looked down at her own little one and sighed. “I look forward to Susanna sleeping more, though she is only waking up once a night. I am thankful for naps.”

“Me too,” Elizabeth said, and smiled as a maid entered the room with a tea tray and a platter of biscuits. She carefully lowered David to the ground and the little boy, after being discouraged from pouring tea all over himself and his mother, ran off to ride a wooden rocking horse placed in the corner of the room.

Darcy entered a few minutes later and, after ensuring that no servants were lingering nearby, took his place next to his beloved wife. This naturally excited David very much, and Darcy soon found himself holding his little son in his lap while attempting to sip from a cup.

“I am certain Susanna will wish to nurse soon,” Elizabeth said, “so perhaps we should discuss business.”

“Definitely,” Anne agreed, running an affectionate hand over her daughter’s bald head. “Richard, perhaps you can explain the situation?”

Richard Fitzwilliam nodded and asked, “Have you ever heard of a Mrs. Hannah Scofield?”

Darcy shook his head, but Elizabeth narrowed her eyes thoughtfully and said, “I believe that I met her at a ball last year. Is she approximately five and forty years of age, a widow, and distantly related to the Adburys?”

“That is the woman,” Anne said grimly. “She is second cousin to old Lady Adbury, who is also a widow, and acts as her companion. Now mind you, we are not entirely certain of the details, but several members of the League have been hearing whispers of servant girls going missing, and we are quite certain that Mrs. Scofield is involved.”

“Disappearing?” Darcy demanded. “From where?”

“The women in question are all servants here in London, and they have two other characteristics. Firstly, none of them has family who live nearby. Secondly, they are all handsome. Something is happening to these girls, and we need to find out what it is.”

“What do you wish us to do?” Elizabeth asked in a troubled tone. Her years of working with the League of the Golden Daffodil had taught her that terrible things happened to young women, especially to girls of the lower classes.

“We are requesting that you hold a dinner party a week or so before Christmas,” Anne explained, looking down as her infant opened one sleepy eye before closing it again. “Mrs. Scofield is, as you said, a connection of the Adburys; if you invite her along with Lady Adbury, we can nudge her toward a trap.”

The Darcys glanced at one another and Elizabeth said, “We are happy to do that, though I must request that you not include Lydia in your plans. I know she is well trained, but this mission sounds too dangerous for my little sister.”

“We will not,” Anne promised. “I would not care to do so even aside from the danger; she is already known to the ton as your sister, and Mrs. Scofield might recognize her.”

Baby Susanna chose this moment to open her eyes, stare into her mother’s face, and let out a squawk of hunger, bringing the meeting to a close.