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“Marie and Andrew?” Elizabeth looked at her other sister.

“We may be needed in Derbyshire,” Andrew shared. “I have received a note from Elliot indicating that Tony had some questions about his father and would likely be ready to ask them in a day or two. He requested a further week to ten days away from Oxford and the dean granted his request.”

“Even if we have departed before you talk to Tony,” William said, “you are more than welcome to join us, and we will be in town for at least two days. I wrote to Mrs. Spencer this morning asking her to open the house and prepare for a potentially large group, so even if you join us after we get there or arrive before we do, you will be welcome.”

“Thank you, William and Elizabeth, we will inform you as soon as we have made a final decision,” Marie smiled lovingly at her sister.

“I know you said that Tony seemed to be doing well,” Lady Anne stated, “but could it be that he hid his true feelings from his mother?”

“Could be, mother, but Elliot will let us know if Tony needs additional support,” William responded.

After breakfast all of the family, save the Ashbys and Lady Catherine, joined the men who had helped them so much in the ball room.

After a nod from William, Elizabeth stood and addressed the ten men.

“As the target of their nonsensical schemes, I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart. I want to single out the three men who were our eyes and ears for nigh on four months. Without your strength and dedication, this would not have ended as it did today.”

“It were our duty and a ple’ser, yer Grace,” Jones said, speaking for all three Dennington men.

“Captain Burnett,” Richard addressed the soldier directly, “you are a tribute to the uniform, and General Atherton will know that. As a thank you,” Burnett started to protest that there was not need, but one look from the Earl of Brookfield was enough to quell it.

“As I was saying, the General told us how you were scrimping and saving for a colonel’s commission.

Our gift for you is the rank of colonel.

From today onward, you are Colonel David Burnett.

” Burnett was astounded, and grateful seemed such a trite word to describe how he felt for the generosity of these men, but it was the only word he knew that fit the emotion overwhelming him.

After a hearty thank you from the brand-new colonel, he saluted and took his leave to commence his journey back to his unit in London.

After the door closed, William stood up and addressed Barlow and his men.

“We agreed on fifty pounds per man for this task did we not?” All six nodded.

“We have decided to increase it to the five hundred each, more than our late miscreant offered you.

The six men were dumbfounded as they had just been awarded life-changing amounts of money.

It was money that would make sure that they and their families would have good food on the table for a long time to come, and more than that, their children would be able to wear good, even new clothing.

Just when they thought it could not get better, the Duke of Hertfordshire stood.

“In addition to the five hundred pounds you will each receive, I have employment for you with our companies at a minimum of fifteen pounds per month,” Lord Thomas offered the six men.

All six accepted without much thought and were handed a card with the name and direction of the Duke’s man of business.

They were to report to him in Liverpool in a fortnight.

With profuse thanks Barlow and his men headed to the stables after being handed a bank draft for the promised amount each.

The six floated on air more than rode away from Pemberley.

Only Jones, Forester and Tibbson remained in the ballroom. “We don’ need that much money, yer’ Grace,” Jones said for all three.

“Do not worry yourself Mr. Jones, you are not to receive five hundred pounds” the owner of the shipping line said.

“You will receive two thousand pounds each in bank draft now,” Lord Thomas raised his hand to silence the protests the three were about to make.

“In addition , each of you will receive a legacy of ten thousand pounds that will be invested with Gardiner and Associates for fifteen years on your behalf. That will give you about seven to eight hundred pounds per annum.” All three men who prided themselves on never allowing anything to surprise them stood speechless with their mouths hanging open.

If they had lived multiple lifetimes, they would not have imagined earning such a sum.

“After fifteen years,” Lord William continued from where his father-in-law left off, “you may do whatever you choose to with the principal. If before then you need capital, you may apply to our cousin, Mr. Charles Bingley, who runs the company. If the application has merit, he will help you.”

After the truth about the massive fortunes they were about to receive actually sunk in, the three gave profuse thanks.

They would not refuse such a gift as they were pretty sure that had they done so, their wives would have them hung, drawn, and quartered.

Their children would be educated and have much better lives than most of their station, with chances even opening up to them that they could only have previously imagined.

The family thanked them for their selfless service of protecting the Duchess of Derbyshire.

As the three left the ballroom, they handled the drafts they were given as if they were precious new-born, they were carefully carried and coddled, in a gangly, manly way.

The sight of which, made the ladies in the room laugh.

The men were in awe, even without the legacy that they had invested for each of them, they were left with more money than they could have ever imagined earning in their lifetimes.

On the way out of the ballroom, the three Dennington men met Biggs and Johns who added their voices to those that had thanked them for protecting their mistress.