Page 24 of Secrets Across the Sea
Staffordshire, England – 1812 – Day 12
That evening, with the guests all gathered in the drawing room, Miss Umbridge having just concluded her aria, Lady Catherine stood before them, calling for silence and their attention.
“I have a fine idea as to entertainment,” she announced, her person all but bouncing in excitement. “Tonight I only mean to set you into pairs, but tomorrow morning, after we have eaten, we are to have a grand game. A list of items to find and clues to lead you to them will be provided to each team–a sort of hunt, if you will.”
Murmurs of excitement from a few of the guests filled the air; a satisfied smirk forming on the Grand Lady.
“In the meantime, we have teams to pair. I will call a name at random, and that person may choose their partner from those not already selected. Are we all agreed? Then excellent, I will begin with Miss Umbridge, in thanks for her splendid aria.”
“I choose Reverend Moore,” Miss Umbridge announced, her face aflame as she glanced toward the man in question.
“Lord Brayburn?” their host asked.
“Ah, how about Miss Bennet. If that is acceptable.”
A nod of acceptance from Jane, and Lady Charmane turned to face the rest of their group.
“Now then, as we shall be missing three of our gentlemen tomorrow, I fear the number of women to men has increased. Therefore, Miss Elizabeth, who would you care to choose?”
Eyes roaming across the faces of those present, Elizabeth frowned as she observed Lord Ramsgate’s vulgar leer in Mary’s direction.
“Mary. I choose Miss Mary,” Elizabeth hastened, Mary’s audible sigh of relief heartening. It would be far more interesting to take on the search with her than any of the rest in any case. Lord Brayburn, the Reverend, and Miss Umbridge were some of the only decent persons amongst those who would be playing, and they were already paired up.
Thus, the remaining guests were made into groups. Lord Ramsgate with Miss Edmund, and Mr. Thomson with Miss Wordsworth–neither man pleased given their deep-set scowls.
“Shall there be a prize?” Miss Wordsworth questioned at the first opportunity; the way she leaned in Lady Charmane’s direction, positively mercenary.
“To the first group shall come a great surprise,” Lady Charmane answered, gaze fixed on the Bennets long enough to make Elizabeth squirm in her seat. "But I dare not allow any more questions,” she continued, hands raised in mock defense. “For I am incapable of keeping secrets when pressed. In fact, once, many years ago, I wished to surprise my husband with a gift, though I felt certain he knew I was hiding something. Instead of allowing any interrogation, I avoided him a full three days! It was the only way I would be able to keep my secret, you see. I would not wish to avoid all my guests to keep this one secret, now would I?”
Moving toward the pianoforte, Lady Charmane motioned for Miss Wordsworth to play, the furrowed brows of all attesting to the strange nature of the lady’s behavior. Unusually strange at that.
It explained a lot. Her hiding from them as she had. Still, were it anyone else, it would seem a remarkably peculiar reaction to wishing to keep a secret. Though… for Lady Charmane, perhaps it was not quite so odd.
Mamma, no doubt, had sworn her to secrecy, and this eccentric woman had taken that promise with all due seriousness. And some undue as well.
Gaze lifting to their host, Elizabeth started when the lady’s eyes met hers, the small turn to her lips unsettling. What did she mean by a great surprise? Elizabeth wondered as Lady Charmane’s eyes continued to bore into hers. Whatever the meaning, suddenly she did not wish to know.
∞∞∞
Staffordshire, England – 1812 – Day 13
Rubbing her arms as she observed the Darcy carriage pull away, Elizabeth prayed the two days would pass with all speed.
“Come,” Jane said as she laid a hand on Elizabeth’s cool skin, “Lady Charmane’s game is meant to start.”
Nodding, Elizabeth watched as the carriage traveled out of sight before turning to follow her sister.
If nothing else, this game would make time pass. And winning might just be the way to speak with Lady Charmane alone, though it would not do to hope too greatly. Not with anything that involved the Grand Lady.
“Ah, we are all here!” Lady Charmane cried as the Bennet sisters entered. “Come, let us go over the rules and then you may have your clues.”
Taking a seat beside Mary, Elizabeth observed the animated expressions of their host with wide eyes, her enthusiasm beyond anything they had previously seen.
“Now then,” Lady Charmane said, her expressive brows and waving hands distracting. “As we discussed last night, you are all set into pairs. The rules are rather simple. No working with anyone from another team. No stealing of another team's objects or clues; any theft will immediately lead to expulsion… from the game, not from my home, of course.”
Coughing, she continued, “Where was I, oh yes, no collaboration, no stealing… No following other teams–this falls under the same heading as stealing and leads to the same results. Let me see, was there anything else? Items may seem unimportant, but they connect at the end... Oh, and items may be found indoors or outdoors, though due to the cold, most are indoors and none of those outside will extend to the woods or any areas not immediately around the house. Ah, and you get one clue to start, each item you find will lead you to the next item and clue–there will be enough for everyone, so no taking an extra item or clue unless you wish to be disqualified. There, that should be everything.”
Waving them to her she shouted, “Stand with your partner and I shall hand you your envelopes. Do not open them until I say. Now then, is everybody ready?”
The pairs each agreeing, the Grand Lady ordered them to begin, the sound of tearing paper filling the air as each pair began to read their note.
Huddling next to Mary, Elizabeth scanned their clue.
You may get lost, but do not fear, where you enter is not always where you will appear.
A head of marble. A foot of bronze. Still, it is just beyond.
Crouch down low, down to your toes, and what was lost you soon will hold.
Motioning with her head toward the door, Elizabeth made her way to the hall, her sister close behind as they sought a quiet corner.
“It must be in the maze,” Elizabeth hurried, her eyes darting this way and that toward the empty space. “This one is easy enough that we will not have much time. I wore my boots to see Mr. Darcy off; if only I had thought to wear my pelisse.”
“I have my boots too. Here, either let me start toward the maze whilst you grab our coats, or we can go together in hopes that we reach the object before we are too cold.”
Drawing nearer to Mary as two of their opponents headed toward their rooms, Elizabeth whispered, “You get our pelisses and gloves, and I will begin our search–I will not have the Colonel do me harm because I allowed you to catch cold. Quick as you can now, and I will meet you outside.”
With reluctance, Mary turned toward the stairs, Elizabeth moving in the direction of a back entrance to avoid being seen. Past the library, around the stairway, and through a narrow passage, Elizabeth at last came to a modest wooden door, the draft coming from it a welcome sign.
Bracing herself for the cold, she pushed open the door, the gust of wind as biting as she had expected. Trodding through the packed snow, Elizabeth kept her head down as she made her way around the side of the house to the maze, the lovely green hedges covered in a heavy layer of white.
Standing at the tall entrance to the maze, Elizabeth rubbed at her arms as her breath pooled in the air.
“Let us find the answer,” she whispered to the silence, everyone else likely dressing for the trek outside.
At least they would have the advantage, even if it was uncomfortably cold.