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The Marquess of Netherfield, along with his three sisters who were in residence at Longbourn and the Hills, met the carriages that arrived from Town.

James went directly to his sister Marie and enfolded her in a hug, asking for himself if she was feeling better.

He was very pleased to take note that there did not seem to be any outward physical signs of the trauma that Marie had endured.

She assured him that while she still grieved for the babe that would not be, she was as well as could be expected.

As keen as the men were to start the interrogation, they agreed that they should wash, change, join their wives for tea, and share what they knew so far with them.

One angry Bennet lady, more than any of them, wanted to face the men.

Angering multiple Bennet ladies was not something any of the men were willing to do, so they complied knowing that the prisoners would not be going anywhere.

At the summation of the tea and treats from Longbourn’s kitchens, Lord Thomas requested that his butler summon the head guard to the drawing room. When the man entered, he bowed to those within.

“Standish, is it not?” Lord Thomas asked.

“Yes, your Grace, that is correct,” Standish responded, impressed that the owner of the shipping line knew who he was.

“I trust that all three are well enough for my son-in-law to talk to them?” Lord Thomas asked with a sardonic smile.

“They are, your Grace,” the head guard smirked. “None too happy, but that was not our concern.”

“Did they say anything on the journey that you think useful?” Bennet asked.

“Not that I noted, your Grace,” Standish said as he searched his memory. “Not that I heard, and if they had said something to one of my men it would have been reported to me right away.”

“Have you met my son-in-law the Earl of Brookfield, the former Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam?” Lord Thomas asked as he inclined his head toward Richard.

“I have not had the pleasure, your Grace, but like so many other officers, I do know of his exploits,” Standish said as he gave Richard a half bow which was returned with an incline of the head.

“What do you say that we move this conversation into the barn, gentlemen,” Richard suggested, and none present disagreed.

Lady Elizabeth tried to use the same logic she did when she asked to be in the meeting with young Tony, but in this instance both her father and husband said no and were supported by her brothers.

She begrudgingly understood the reasoning for her not being present, and was mollified when her husband promised that he would tell her all when they had time to themselves later.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

The three prisoners were unshackled from the chains that connected to the wall and unceremoniously dragged by the manacles to stand in front of men who would decide their fate.

Their interrogators were sitting on chairs facing them with looks of disgust from all.

Richard, who the three were intimidated the most by, because of the fury in his visage, did not speak right away as he gave them time to contemplate their futures, or lack thereof.

“Which one of you is McLamb?” Richard demanded.

The offender raised his hand slowly. More than anything Richard wished that he had his sabre; he would have liked nothing more than to run the dastard through.

He brought himself under regulation after a short time as he breathed deeply. “Why did you murder my man?”

McLamb mumbled something that none of the men could hear. One of the guards moved toward him menacingly so he repeated it loud enough for all to understand, “Me cap’n ordered it.”

“So Clay Younge is God? When he gives and order, you have to obey and do not have the ability to ask yourself what is right or wrong? Before you give me all sorts of excuses,” Richard growled, “you could have knocked him out or bound and gagged him, yet you and your band of misfits would have been long gone before he was discovered,” Richard spat at the man.

“I will wager that you are one of those bullies who likes to inflict pain on helpless people.

“You big, brave man,” Richard drove his fist into the man’s stomach causing him to double over gasping for air.

McLamb would have fallen to the floor if it were not for the two guards holding his arms. “You had these two wasted human beings,” he pointed angrily at the accomplices, “hold sergeant Hamms down while you did the deed; showing him mercy never entered that evil mind of yours.

“Hamms served with me on the continent and survived untold hell, returned to his wife and children whole, only to have his life stolen by the likes of you in a most cowardly fashion. The rope is too good for you. If I had my way, I would use you to sharpen my skills with my sabre.”

“I can…tell ya…about the…cap’n’s plans if…you spare me,” McLamb said as he tried to regain his breath in a vain attempt to save his neck.

“There is nothing that you can tell us that we do not already know,” Lord Thomas glowered at the prisoners as he stepped forward.

“My men who captured you are the crew members that your captain took on to replace you, so we will know everything that we need to know, and from a source that we can trust.”

“We also have the advantage of young Tony álvarez, who was most forthcoming and told us about all of the half-witted plans that were made before he left Bundoran,” Lord William added, relishing their shocked looks at the mention of Tony.

“The yung-uns not dead?” one of the men blurted out.

“No. Unlike any of you, he has a conscience and could not sit idly by and do nothing. If you had one, then you would not have a date with the hangman in the next week or two,” Lord William informed the criminals who only now fully understood that they had no leverage, and their lives would be in the hands of a judge and jury at the Old Bailey.

The accomplices had a sliver of hope at transportation rather than being hung, but it was fifty-fifty at best.

Richard turned to his family, “There is nothing to be learned here, so much for an interrogation. We know much more than they could tell us as we have our own men in the crew. We could have gone home as we have learnt nothing new from these snivelling weasels. At the very least, I had hoped to see some expression of remorse for what was done, but I do not believe the man is capable. Do any of you want to ask them anything?” The five shook their heads.

“That being the case, Standish,” Richard called the man over.

“Yes, my Lord,” Standish offered.

Richard whispered in his father-in-law’s ear and received a nod of agreement from the man, and then turned to the head guard, “Could I impose on you and your men to escort this trash to the Old Bailey?” he requested.

“That will not be an imposition, Lord Brookfield,” Standish replied snapping a smart salute to the ex-colonel, “it will be our pleasure to serve you.”

“You have all of the statements from the witnesses as well as their confessions, correct?” Richard confirmed.

Standish nodded allowing that the Earl was correct.

“One more thing, Standish. Make sure that none of the three are allowed contact with any but yourselves and that they are not, under any circumstances, allowed to send letters to anyone .”

“It will be so, your Lordship,” Standish replied.

“There is a way to make sure that they have no chance to repeat what they heard today,” Lord Thomas offered. He saw the comprehension on William’s face, but the others looked at him, quizzically.

“What do you mean Thomas?” Reggie asked.

“I will write an express to our cousins,” he offered, watching as understanding dawned. “In it I will explain that these men are part of the plot to harm Lizzy. The Regent will order them to the Tower to pay the price for treason.”

There was quick agreement that it was for the best. Richard called Standish over to supply him with the new destination. The two accomplices would soon find out that there would be no transportation, and the sentence would be carried out in a few days, rather than weeks.

With their remaining future decided, the three were dragged back into the room and the chains on the wall were reattached to their manacles. On the morrow as the sun rose, they would be back in the open cart that had transported them to Longbourn for one last journey.

As they walked back toward the manor house, Lord Matlock put his hand on his younger son’s shoulder.

“I know that you wanted to do the deed yourself, Richard,” his father condoled.

“Remember, we never want to be like these men, we follow the law, and you did that today no matter what your own desires were. If one of them had been stupid enough to try something, I would have handed you the sabre myself son. I am very proud of you my son. Do not forget that within a few days they will lose their heads.”

“Any one of us would have happily performed the task, father,” Andrew said seriously, “even though none of us served with the late Sergeant Hamms in the army like Richard did.”

“It will be up to the Tower’s executioner to make them pay the price for their crimes,” Lord Thomas pointed out.

“If any of these schemers get near my sister…” James spat out with anger.

“No one with malevolent intentions will be allowed near my wife, James,” William said with certainty. “As soon as we receive the group’s final plans from our men, we will know how and when to act.”

“At the very least I can inform Mrs. Hamms that her husband’s murderers will face justice,” Richard said with resignation. “Some men just do not have honour, and it has nothing to do with their class. I have seen the lowliest privates display bravery and honour and Lords with none.”

“Let us return to the women who love us, brother,” Andrew offered as he placed his hand on Richard’s shoulder. “Do not waste anymore thoughts or energy on men who deserve none.”

When the men entered the drawing room, Lord Thomas requested that the three younger women excuse themselves. Once they had departed for the music room, he informed the remaining ladies what had decided. With the fate of the three sealed, it left only the group in Bundoran to deal with.

As they would depart for Pemberley the following day, Elizabeth asked her husband to accompany her on a walk to Longbourn village’s parsonage to visit her friend Charlotte.

When Charlotte’s housekeeper answered the knock, Lady Elizabeth quietly asked her to allow her to surprise her friend.

The lady agreed and informed her Grace that the mistress was in the day parlour.

Charlotte Pierce looked up expecting to see her husband or the housekeeper, and instead their stood the Duke and Duchess of Derbyshire!

“Eliza, beg your pardon, your Grace,” Charlotte teased as she knew from their letters that her friend did not desire any formality between them.

“I did not know that you would be here, what a good surprise.” She looked to her friend’s husband.

“Welcome to our home, your Grace. Mr. Pierce is in the study if you would like to join him while Eliza and I catch up.”

“I am happy to see you as well, Charlotte,” Elizabeth said as they hugged. “Is there something that you have forgotten to mention in your letters to me, Mrs. Pierce,” Elizabeth asked as she arched an eyebrow and looked at her friend’s belly after they had hugged.

“My intention was to inform you in my next letter Eliza, it was but a few days ago that I felt the quickening,” Charlotte shared her happiness.

“Before this conversation proceeds any further,” William said, “I think that I would enjoy talking to your husband, Mrs. Pierce. If it will not be an imposition.” Charlotte rang for the housekeeper and asked her to show his Grace to Mr. Pierce’s study.

Once the door closed the two friends sat on the settee close to one another. “How are Emma and Paul taking the news that there will be a baby in the house soon, Charlotte?” Elizabeth enquired.

“They are both most excited, Paul demands a brother, while Emma wants a sister,” Charlotte smiled as she thought about her children, currently on a walk with their nursemaid.

“I am certain that Sir William and Lady Lucas are happy at becoming grandparents again,” Elizabeth stated with surety. “Did Frank pluck up the courage to ask Miss Poole for a courtship?”

“Yes, he did,” Charlotte nodded, “and she happily accepted. My Christopher told me about some criminals being held in one of the barns, what did they do?” Charlotte asked her friend.

Elizabeth told her the story of the murder, and then about the plans that the blackguards were trying to make to kidnap her.

Charlotte was mollified when Elizabeth explained that they were, and would continue to be, aware of all plans, and that those still conspiring would never be allowed to hurt anyone.

The two filled each other in on the happenings since their last exchange of letters, and Elizabeth was saddened that due to Charlotte’s being with child she and her family would not be able to visit Pemberley later that year.

When the ladies had completed their tête-à-tête, Charlotte rang for the housekeeper and ordered tea, asking that their husbands be summoned to join them.

The men entered the drawing room just before the refreshments arrived.

Little Miss Pierce and young Master Pierce came down to greet the guests after they had washed and changed after their walk.

They both loved ‘Aunt Eliza’, and begged her to tell them a story.

Their aunt explained that there was not time on this visit, but the next time they visited each other, she would tell them a very long story.

After tea, the Darcys returned to the manor house and enjoyed the evening among family very well indeed. There was no talk of plans, criminals, or accidents, they simply enjoyed being in company with loved ones. On the morrow the four families travelling north left Longbourn in convoy.