Page 35 of Lord Lonbourn’s Daughter

Elizabeth was relieved to hear that he had treated Lydia well.

She had no complaints, but he knew nothing of the viscount’s motives.

In his mind, it was just a prank. He had assured himself that no real harm would come to the girls and had asked no further questions.

He knew nothing about the dead footman as he had stayed outside while Mrs Younge escorted the girls into the carriage.

He was supposed to conceal his presence at Ramsgate from Lydia and was assigned to drive the carriage to their first stop.

Georgiana had continued in her aunt’s barouche box.

Kitty was sent away in the carriage Mr Darcy had left in Ramsgate, and Mr Wickham had hired a carriage to convey himself and Lydia to Coldstream.

He had never heard of any extortion letters and knew nothing of their content.

Mrs Younge had not returned to her lodgings after Georgiana had disappeared from Lady Catherine’s townhouse, that much was clear. He had not heard from her since Ramsgate and had no idea whether she was conspiring with the viscount or not.

“Mr Schneider will put Wickham in a storage room in the cellar until I have decided what to do with him. Two men will be guarding him at all times. You all must be as exhausted as I. I suggest we get some sleep and resume our search for the viscount on the morrow,” Lord Longbourn suggested tiredly.

“I shall return to Matlock and see what I can find,” Richard pronounced. He swiftly turned to Jane and kissed her hand before he left.

“I propose we do as his lordship has suggested and retire, Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth nodded and followed her husband to their own home. She could see that he had a headache by the strain of the muscles around his eyes. The arguments and Lydia’s constant wailing must be particularly contrary to his recovery.

They parted in the hall and went to their separate chambers to prepare for the night.

Having donned her nightgown, Elizabeth could find no peace.

She tried to listen for clues as to whether Mr Darcy was still up and intended to join her, but she could hear no sound from his room.

Uncertain whether she should disturb him when the dawn was already upon them and he clearly had a headache, she paced back and forth.

Restlessness overruled her tired body, and she tried to walk it off as was her habit when she was feeling distressed.

Jane was clearly in love with the colonel.

She could see the difference in her sister’s behaviour towards Mr Bingley as opposed to Richard.

She liked Mr Bingley and enjoyed his company, but she loved the colonel to the point of distraction.

Her serene countenance cracked when he was near, and she could see glimpses of her sister’s soul.

A lesson learnt about how little you really knew about your nearest relation’s inner life—a foreign world you should not pretend you knew the contents of.

Heaven only knew she had secrets of her own.

Her father had proved he might be an obstacle to Jane’s future happiness. He was not pleased with the colonel at present, but Jane should be able to choose her own heart’s desire, not be used as vengeance towards the Fitzwilliam family.

The thought hit her that Mr Darcy may not have retired at all. It may have all been a ruse to sneak out and join his cousin on his chase to hunt down the viscount. She would not put it past him to deem such an endeavour a manly pursuit.

The door handle was most tempting. She eyed it and was drawn towards it. She could just peek inside to see if Mr Darcy were, in fact, in his bed. It had long been quiet; he was surely asleep if he was in there at all.

Decided on a course of action, she turned the door handle and stealthily opened the door. The room was dark, and it was difficult to tell whether there was a person in the bed, but the curtains were not drawn. It could be empty.

She tiptoed closer.

“Elizabeth, will you not join me?”

“Yes!” What else could she say, having been found spying upon her husband.

Mr Darcy lifted the cover beside him in invitation.

“It is difficult to sleep with so much unresolved,” he admitted.

“You are very quiet when you are awake,” Elizabeth remarked.

“Were you spying on me?”

Elizabeth chuckled to cover her embarrassment. She could not lie but was even more opposed to confirming his assertion.

Mr Darcy lifted his arm to allow her to cuddle up to his warm body and rest her head on his chest. His arm enveloped her, and his hand drew lazy circles on her back.

“You may close your eyes now, Elizabeth. I can see those beautiful green orbs shimmering in the dark.”

Elizabeth thought it prudent to do as he implored or be caught ogling her husband’s strong profile.

She had found a slight dent on his nose in the shadows of the night.

His chin was strong, though. With the image glued to her retina, she did not need to watch him any longer, he was etched upon her inner eye.

#

“Darcy! Wake up! Get your sorry arse out of bed. I have important news to report. I know where Montgomery has taken off to.”

The door had hit the wall with such force that Elizabeth had bolted up into a sitting position before her eyes had opened. A hand tugged her down into the warmth she had jolted from.

“Go away, Richard!”

“Bloody hell, I did not consider that you might have company. I beg you to pardon my interruption of your sleep, Lady Elizabeth.”

“Your language in front of a lady leaves much wanting, Richard. Now shoo, before I reconsider having you for a brother.”

“Did you not hear me? I know where Montgomery has travelled!”

“Where?”

“Wingerworth, the Duke of Chesterfield’s estate. We must hurry.”

“That is almost as far away as Pemberley. Travelling there requires planning. Go to sleep, Richard, we shall deal with this when we have rested. Get out!”

“Yes, I shall, but I am tired of riding back and forth—”

“Take any bed in my house but the one I am sleeping in. Good night!”

“Good night, Darcy. Again, I am sorry, Lady Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth mumbled her acceptance of his apology in the hope that he would go away.

“Should we not rise and travel north, Fitzwilliam?”

“No,” he whispered and kissed her upturned lips with gentle strokes.

“We need to sleep, and so does the colonel.” She did not manage to reply before his lips resumed their gentle touches.

“We must take your father with us, and I am loath to wake him after his late night.” The kiss deepened; he was such a considerate man, although it was delivered with high handedness.

He tended well to the people under his care…