Page 21 of Mission to Meryton (Pride and Prejudice Variation #25)
“Mr. Darcy? Mr. Wickham?” Elizabeth asked in confusion, staring at the two visiting gentlemen.
“Miss Elizabeth,” both men chorused, bowing synchronously.
Elizabeth turned her gaze on her father, who looked thoroughly unsettled. What could have brought Wickham to her father’s library, especially in the company of Mr. Darcy, with whom he was not on good terms? She asked worriedly, “Is something wrong, Father?”
“Something is indeed very wrong, Lizzy,” her father asserted, gesturing to a seat near the fire.
“Sit, my dear, and you gentlemen must sit as well. Please explain the situation to my daughter from the beginning, Mr. Wickham. I believe this old man’s mind needs a second retelling in order to grasp the pertinent facts. ”
“As you wish,” Mr. Wickham replied, sitting down across from Elizabeth as Darcy took a seat next to him.
Elizabeth noted, with bewildered fascination, how very different the lieutenant looked tonight.
He was dressed not in his garish red coat but in a sober black jacket and trousers.
His face was not gentle and winsome, but stern and determined.
“Miss Elizabeth,” he said gravely, “before I tell you this situation, I must ask you to keep what I tell you in complete confidence. The fewer people who are aware of this information, the better.”
He stopped, obviously waiting for assurance from her, and Elizabeth, filled with confusion, shifted her gaze to her father, who nodded reassuringly.
“Very well, I will be silent on this matter,” she promised.
“Thank you. Miss Elizabeth, I am not a lieutenant in the militia, but a member of the Regulars, and I am attached directly to the security forces, which serve the Crown in an undercover capacity.”
Elizabeth blinked incredulously and asked, “Are you saying that you are a spy, Mr. Wickham?”
“That is a reasonable description of my work on the Continent,” Wickham stated. “Here in England, my role is to counter the work of foreign spies on British soil.”
“What does that have to do with us, sir?” Elizabeth demanded. “I also do not understand how Mr. Darcy comes into all this. I was under the impression that you and Mr. Darcy were ... on less than good terms.”
Darcy sighed at these words and Wickham glanced fondly at his old friend.
“In truth, Darcy and I are excellent friends and indeed, compatriots. He naturally has a great many responsibilities as master of Pemberley, but he has assisted me on several missions on England’s shores.
When your sister, Miss Lydia, informed me that Darcy had insulted you, I deliberately chose to suggest that we were at odds in the hopes that I would be seen as a man outside the fringes of society to some degree. ”
Elizabeth turned wide eyes to Darcy, who looked profoundly uncomfortable as he said, “I did apologize for my rude words at the Meryton assembly, Wickham.”
“Of course you did,” Wickham declared, his expression lightening. “Darcy really is a very decent fellow, Miss Elizabeth, I assure you.”
“We do not have all the time in the world, gentlemen,” Mr. Bennet pointed out, his tone rougher than usual.
“My apologies, sir, of course. Well, the truth is that French agents are desirous of stealing your family’s tulips, Miss Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth stared at Wickham incredulously for a full minute before gasping, “Our tulips, sir? They obviously have great value ... but why would the French care about flowers? How do you know of this matter? I do not understand in the least!”
“As to why, we do not know,” Wickham admitted.
“I will not give you details of how my superiors learned that something was afoot in Hertfordshire, but suffice it to say that Darcy was sent down to determine the lay of the land, and I came here as soon as my last mission was complete in Portugal. Darcy noted your family’s disproportionate level of income and told me of the tulips as soon as he learned of them from Bingley . ..”
“Does Mr. Bingley know that you are a government agent, Mr. Darcy?” Elizabeth asked sharply, her eyes on the taller man.
“He does,” Darcy admitted. “Indeed, he is not actually holding the lease on Netherfield, I am. He is not a direct agent of the Crown, but we thought it more likely that we would be accepted in society if he were the nominal master of Netherfield. He obviously is far more genial than I am in company. In truth, after the dreadful impression I made at the assembly, I am wondering whether I am truly cut out for this business. Perhaps I should give up my feeble attempts before I do real damage.”
“Nonsense, Darcy,” Wickham returned with a fond grin at his old playmate.
“You are intelligent and provided much useful information, and your connections make it possible for me to rub shoulders with men and women across high society. But back to the tulips – the French have stolen estates and art and fine horses as bribes and payoffs to those loyal to their cause, or in an attempt to create such loyalty. I am merely speculating, but I suspect someone of importance in Holland wishes for the Bennet tulips. Since you and your family have succeeded in concealing your horticultural triumphs, Lieutenant Pratt was sent to discover who was growing the precious flowers.”
“Lieutenant Pratt!”
“Yes, regrettably, he is a French agent. Furthermore, Bingley saw Pratt prowling around behind your stables yesterday while speaking with your father. Pratt knows where the tulips are, and is plotting to steal them.”
“Can you not arrest him then?” Elizabeth demanded in distress.
“I could, but I do not wish to. There are others involved in this plot, and I do not know them all. I have already won Pratt’s attention, and he has recruited me to assist in taking the bulbs, though I am quite certain he intends to dispose of me before paying me as he has promised.”
Elizabeth’s head was whirling and her fine eyes grew large, which Darcy found, even in this intense moment, quite distracting. “Dispose of you, Mr. Wickham? As in murder you?”
“Yes, quite.”
“What do you wish from us?”
“We wish to keep you and your family and servants safe,” Darcy said firmly. “That must be our main priority. When Pratt makes his move, we need you and your father to ensure that family and servants do not get in the way.”
Elizabeth looked at her father, who now wore a most unusual look of anxiety on his face.
“This is why I insisted that Mr. Wickham tell you of this affair, Lizzy. You know more about the habits and antics of your mother and sisters. It is a great responsibility, but you must assist in keeping us all protected.”
“I assure you, Father, that my courage always rises with every attempt to intimidate me. Very well, what must I do?”
/
Darcy,
Events are moving faster than I anticipated.
Pratt approached me in the wee hours to inform me that we will be stealing the tulips tonight.
I will need your assistance, along with that of your footmen, as I do not believe I can summon a trained team from London by this evening.
Can you please inform Mr. Bennet, personally, that the robbery will occur tonight?
Wickham
/
“Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy,” Mrs. Bennet exclaimed enthusiastically as the two gentlemen entered the Longbourn drawing room. “You are here in good time!”
“I find it most difficult to stay away from Longbourn,” Bingley said with a smile at Jane, who blushed rosily. “I do hope we are not intruding excessively?”
“Not at all, not at all!” the matriarch declared hospitably. “Please, sit down and we will have tea.”
Bingley eagerly took his place next to Miss Bennet and Darcy sat down next to Elizabeth, who laid down her book and smiled nervously at him. “Are you well, Mr. Darcy?”
“I am well,” he declared. “May I ask what you are reading?”
“I am reading Matthew Henry’s commentary on Acts.”
“Ah, a most interesting tome.”
“It is, though I confess partly I am reading it to provide fodder for an ongoing disagreement with my cousin, Mr. Collins. Given the current situation here at Longbourn, I think it best if he spends as much time as possible at Lucas Lodge courting my friend, Miss Lucas, and the more prickly and contentious I am, the more he wishes to be elsewhere. We recently argued over whether it is appropriate to ever openly disagree with our social and religious betters, with Mr. Collins taking the position that it is wrong to disagree with anyone of superior rank or position.”
“Such as Lady Catherine de Bourgh, my aunt.”
“Precisely,” Elizabeth agreed ruefully. “Mr. Collins is of the view that Lady Catherine must be venerated and obeyed under all circumstances. I am prepared to throw Acts 5:27-30 at him, not that I think he will pay attention.”
“That is a thoroughly valid passage,” Darcy agreed. “All must be willing to obey God over man if necessary, though I would argue most of the time that it is honoring God to honor those in positions of authority over us.”
“Most of the time, I agree,” Elizabeth said sternly, “but it is not right for a man, or woman, to disdain all personal responsibility when ordered to do something ungodly. In any case, my quarrel is not with you, nor really Mr. Collins. I merely seek to make Longbourn less charming than Lucas Lodge for the time being, to keep my cousin safe, you understand.”
Her eyes sparkled beguilingly at him but he, lowering his voice, said softly but gravely, “That is certainly a noble effort on your part, Miss Elizabeth. Do you know of your cousin’s plans for today? Tonight the robbery will commence.”
Now her eyes were dark with worry. “Tonight! So soon!”
“Yes. Wickham sent me a message in haste, and I have informed your father. My two footmen and I will come tonight to assist Wickham, but you and Mr. Bennet must keep your family and servants indoors and safe.”
“Do you know what time the miscreants will come?”
“Not precisely, but it will be after the sun sets, though that is early at this time of year.”
“Well, this is rather odd!” Mrs. Bennet exclaimed, her loud voice breaking into Elizabeth and Darcy’s quiet discussion.
“What is odd?” Jane asked, turning her attention from her suitor.
Mrs. Bennet was holding a paper and frowning at it.
“This is a letter from Colonel Forster inviting us to dine with him and the officers tonight. Apparently some of the officers went hunting yesterday and gathered a great quantity of birds, and they are desirous of sharing their bounty. The Lucases are also invited, and … oh, and the Netherfield party as well. It is certainly very short notice. I am not quite sure that it is convenient for us. Do you intend to go, Mr. Bingley?”
Bingley grimaced comically. “I do not know, Mrs. Bennet. I left Netherfield before any invitation came from the colonel.”
“I think it would be neighborly to attend,” Elizabeth suggested. “Colonel Forster and the militia have provided pleasant society these last months, and it would be unkind to disdain their invitation.”
“I love woodcock and pheasant, Mama!” Lydia cried out. “Oh, do say we can go!”
Mrs. Bennet nodded amiably. “Very well, my dears. We have no other plans for tonight. I do hope you gentlemen will attend tonight’s feast.”
“I would not miss it for the world,” Bingley replied fervently and turned back to Jane.
Darcy chose not to respond, his mind working busily. The most likely explanation to this sudden invitation, which would remove the Bennets from Longbourn for the evening, was ...
“Colonel Forster is an enemy agent?” Elizabeth hissed softly as the volume of talk rose again to drown out her soft words.
Darcy gazed at her with respect as he responded quietly, “It seems likely, unless someone else manipulated him into hosting this party.”
“I will make an excuse to stay home tonight,” the girl murmured, “and my father and I will make certain no servants are in danger. The Lucases will also attend the colonel’s party, no doubt, and Mr. Collins with them, so my cousin will not be in the way.”
“Excellent,” Darcy murmured, taking a deep breath to calm himself. “Do promise me that you will be cautious, Miss Elizabeth, and stay inside for your own safety.”
Elizabeth smiled, though her eyes were worried. “I promise, Mr. Darcy. I have no desire to die heroically for my king or my tulips.”
/
“Oh, that smells wonderful, Charlotte,” Lady Lucas declared as she bustled into the kitchen at Lucas Lodge.
“Thank you, Mama,” Charlotte replied, using the back of her hand to wipe off her nose, which was sprinkled with flour. She made a mental note to wash her face before she appeared in the sitting room where Mr. Collins was, no doubt, talking with her father.
“Charlotte, we have received an invitation to dine with Colonel Forster and the officers tonight, and Mrs. Bennet sent over a message indicating that the occupants of Longbourn will attend as well. Your mince pie smells delicious, my dear, and I believe we will serve it at luncheon tomorrow since we will be gone for dinner. I have no doubt that Mr. Collins will be most impressed with it!”
Charlotte Lucas frowned thoughtfully as she absently wiped off her hands with a cloth. “Mama?”
“Yes, my dear?”
“I wonder if we could persuade Mr. Collins to stay here with me tonight, with a maid for propriety, while you and the rest of the family attend the gathering with the officers.”
Lady Lucas tilted her head and inquired, “Why?”
Charlotte Lucas sighed deeply. “Mama, Mr. Collins must return to Kent in a few short days, and he has not yet asked for my hand in marriage. I believe he wishes to offer for me, but something is holding him back. Perhaps if we are alone, or nearly alone, he can come to the point. If not, I will set aside all hopes of becoming the mistress of the parsonage at Hunsford.”
Her mother was not a particularly bright woman, but this simple explanation resonated deeply.
“My dear Charlotte, that is very clever of you! Sometimes a gentleman needs a little shove in the right direction. Indeed, your own father required encouragement before he asked for my hand. You are a wise young woman.”