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The following morning Jones presented the six ex-soldier ‘outlaws’ to Clay Younge.

The Captain was most impressed by the men that he saw.

Although somewhat scruffy in appearance from their life of keeping ahead of the law, he did not miss that all six were well built men that he imagined would be most useful if things went wrong and he needed someone to allow him time to retreat for escape.

Jones introduced Barlow to Younge who would talk for the rest, being a former corporal and the leader of the group. “Jones ‘ere tells that you ‘ave a job that pay us five ‘undred a man,” Barlow said without preamble.

“That be right,” Younge confirmed, not missing that he had to be careful as this man did not look like one who would tolerate being lied to.

He simply omitted that he had offered his crew one thousand each once the ransom was paid, and made no mention of the amount that he would demand for the return of the victim.

“As long as y’ willin’ to do what be needed, no matter what. ”

“We will do anything for five ‘undred,” Barlow shrugged.

“If that be the case, then we ‘ave us an accord,” Younge extended his hand to his newest crew member.

Barlow schooled his face to hide the disgust that he felt for the man who had issued the order to have Hamms murdered so flippantly.

He and the other five had all served with the sergeant and would take much pleasure when the blowhard opposite him got what was coming to him.

“When we leave ‘ere?” Barlow asked as it would not do for Younge to get wind that the soldier and his mates were already knew the details of the plan.

“On the morrow, first light,” Younge informed him.

“An’ where we goin’?” Barlow followed up with the next logical question.

“To a gran’ estate in Derbyshire,” Younge replied, leaving out the name of the estate. “You un’erstan’ we be gonna take a woman for ransom?”

“Yeah, we does,” Barlow responded with a nonchalance, as if kidnapping the mistress of a huge estate was an everyday activity for him. Younge did not mention the rank of his intended victim, and Barlow did not ask any more questions.

Feeling much better about the prospects for success with such men to command, Younge dismissed the men.

The six and Jones went in separate directions, but met two hours later at a pre-determined spot just out of town behind a thick stand of poplars.

Jones was joined by his two shipmates and the nine men greeted one another with the warmth and camaraderie of those who shared the experience of combat on behalf of King and Country.

“That oaf ‘as no idea that ‘e will be off to the tower as soon as ‘e tried ‘is ‘airbrained scheme, do he, Jonesy?” Barlow asked with an amused grin. “Thinks ‘e‘s a general, that one, an’ ‘e‘s anything but.”

“Yeah, ‘im and the álvarez woman bowfth thinks they be so clever,” Forested derided. “I canna’ wait until we go back t’ Coastal Trader an’ our shipmates an’ never see them bunch ag’in!”

The men talked for a while about their strategy to make sure that no real harm came to the ‘Duchess’ when Young ordered them to take ‘her’ captive. There was raucous laughter at the thought of the looks on the faces of the two criminals when they got their first look at the captive’s face.

Both groups returned by circuitous routes to their respective lodgings to prepare for the early morning departure toward Pemberley.

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

Once the men had alighted from their carriage in Pemberley’s internal courtyard, they stood and watched as their men assisted the footmen in removing their trunks to their chambers.

Darcy was thinking how much emptier Pemberley felt without his duchess by his side when he was snapped out of his reverie by a question.

“Is our ‘duchess’ in residence?” Richard asked Douglas, his smirk proof he was most amused.

“Yes, my Lord,” Douglas gave a bow. “The person is in the chambers that the master instructed Mrs. Reynolds to assign.”

“Please have our duchess join us in the master’s study in,” Richard looked to William for confirmation, “an hour should suffice.” William nodded his agreement.

An hour later, the men were waiting in the master’s study with cups of coffee and a selection of pastries on a platter when there was a knock at the door. Darcy issued the instruction to enter.

In walked a man dressed in the colours of the Royal Dragoons whose epaulettes indicated him as a captain.

He marched smartly into the study as if on parade and stood at attention where he gave a smart salute.

“At ease, Captain,” the former colonel ordered.

The man did as was ordered, but even as he stood easy, he maintained his bearing as one of his majesty’s officers.

Captain David Burnett was taller than Elizabeth by about four to five inches.

This did not concern the men much because from their cross-examination of the witnesses, they had confirmed that Mrs. Younge had only seen her briefly; Elizabeth was leaning over Darcy after he was shot, so her real height was distorted.

Captain David Burnett was blonde, but he would be wearing a dark wig so that too was no issue.

He had mutton-chops that would have to go, and although he was slight, there was no mistaking that he had wiry strength.

Richard remembered his former commander, General Atherton’s, amused comments when he replied to the letter Lord Brookfield wrote requesting to ‘borrow’ one of the general’s soldiers.

Even had the situation not involved dukes and earls, Atherton would have granted his former officer’s request as he had the utmost respect for him and had written a glowing letter to back up Wellesley’s application to reward Richard to the Regent.

General Atherton had selected Burnett for both his physical attributes and his quick, tactical mind, asking if he would volunteer for the special assignment.

At first the Captain thought that his general was jesting with him, but as soon as he understood that the situation described was deadly serious, he had volunteered without further considerations.

The Captain had arrived at Pemberley two days previously, he was the fourth son of a minor gentleman, so he was awed by the sight of the house that met him as he crested the rise in the drive on his trusty mount.

Richard saw that the man was still tense.

“Sit, Burnett,” he ordered. The officer complied and was offered a mug of coffee.

Burnett savoured the taste of what was without a doubt the best coffee that he had ever tasted.

He partook in a flaky, fresh raspberry pastry as he waited for the Earl of Brookfield to talk.

“The General has informed you what we face has he not, Captain?” Richard asked and the officer nodded curtly.

“There are now only two criminals that will be making their way here…” Richard filled him on the developments since the schemers landed in Oakenholt, and how the inside men had scared off the bulk of the crew replacing them with men that worked for himself.

Burnett was impressed at the amount of planning that had been undertaken and understood why the men before him wanted the two apprehended in the act so there would be no question of guilt.

“You are not too much taller than my wife,” the Duke of Derbyshire informed the officer, “but I am afraid that your facial hair will have to go. We have a wig for you that is very close to my wife’s hair colour, and one of my mother’s old day dresses for you to wear.

We also have a pelisse to hide your shoulders; this will do a good job of fooling anyone watching us from a distance into thinking you are the real ‘duchess’.

” He agreed. “Though I would wager that one of our men will be doing the reconnaissance as the criminals seems to shy away from the dirty work.” He added as an afterthought.

“I understand, your Grace,” Burnett said respectfully. “My wife does not love my sideburns so she for one will not repine that I am to shave them,” he said with a grin as he thought about his beloved wife.

“In that case, I believe that all is ready. Do you have any questions for us, Captain?” Richard asked.

“When do you expect the hapless bunch to arrive at the estate, my Lord?” Burnett asked.

“Our intelligence indicates that they will leave Oakenholt on the morrow and should be here by the following day. The men know to ‘find’ the ‘abandoned’ hunter’s cottage where they will stay,” The Earl of Brookfield informed the officer.

“We have men who will be watching them, and we expect to receive a note from our men who are part of the crew within a few hours of arrival. Jones has been told where to leave a note and one of the watchers will retrieve it.”

“As soon as we know they are present, we will go for walks together, and you,” the master of the estate filled in, “will go for a solitary ramble before you break your fast. Younge and the álvarez woman will believe that we have relaxed, because from their perspective we have heard nothing of them for months.”

“I understand, your Grace,” Burnett stated. “I am to allow your men on the inside to take me, and I will be bound with a covering over my head when I am presented to the two masterminds?”

“Yes, Captain, that is correct,” Lord Thomas said. “Even though my Lizzy is married to this tall fellow here,” he indicated his son-in-law, “as her father I thank you for the part you will play in bringing this charade to a final conclusion.”

With all of his questions answered Burnett left the men in the study. “Are we sure that Tony understands that his mother will be executed for treason?” Andrew asked.