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Morning found Darcy up early and at the stables, conferring with his head groom about Sergeant Parker’s requirements.

He then breakfasted and left the house to go to Gracechurch Street, where he knew the family would not yet have started breakfast, which they regularly ate at ten.

He sent in his card and asked particularly to speak to Mr. Gardiner, who soon emerged to greet him.

Mr. Gardiner’s smile grew serious as he took note of the look on Darcy’s face.

He showed his unexpected visitor directly into the small, crowded room he used as an office.

Darcy began without ceremony. “Everyone is in good health, but I bring you bad news.” He squared his shoulders and went on resolutely.

“Elizabeth disappeared while out walking day before yesterday. An extensive search is being carried out in the neighborhood surrounding Longbourn, but thus far it has been unavailing. There is some evidence she may have been brought here to London.”

Mr. Gardiner stared at him, speechless. “You are saying that Elizabeth is lost?” he finally managed.

“Precisely. I cannot tell you how deeply I regret being the bearer of such news, sir. Everything possible is being done to find and recover her, both here and in Hertfordshire. We are in daily communication between here and Longbourn.” As he had with Benjamin Parker, Darcy put Mr. Gardiner in possession of all the facts that had been gathered so far.

He ended by saying, “I hope to hear from Mr. Bennet tomorrow, and of course I will keep you apprised.” He passed one hand over his eyes.

“My next question is an obvious one. How may I be of service in this?”

“There is a woman, a Mrs. Younge, and I believe she has had a hand in this as well as George Wickham. She has a rooming-house in Edward Street. It may well be that with your connections in commerce and the City, you would have access to news that I might not hear. Acquisitions of property would be interesting.”

“I will listen for news and talk concerning any enterprises involving the acquisition of new property. And I will do so with the utmost discretion.”

“Would you do me the honor of calling on me at home at about one this afternoon? Parker will be there, and we can take counsel together.” The two men shook hands, and Darcy took his leave.

His next call was on Bingley at the house in Grosvenor Street.

He was shown into the breakfast parlor where Bingley and Mr. Hurst had just begun to eat.

“Darcy!” cried Bingley, getting to his feet. “Have you breakfasted? How do you get on with the plans for the wedding?” His open face took on an expression of deep shock as Darcy gave him the news about the loss of Elizabeth.

Surprisingly, it was Hurst who spoke up first. “Damned savages whoever they are,” he observed with considerable asperity.

He set down his coffee cup with a sharp clatter before continuing.

“I barely know Bennet. Only met the man two or three times. But, by God, he has the right to enjoy his own manor without having his children carried off one by one from beneath his nose. I don’t know who’s doing it, but they should be found and shot. ”

Bingley, much more quietly, asked Darcy how he could best be of service.

He listened carefully as Darcy outlined his request that he return to Netherfield.

“Mr. Bennet is a capable man, and well known in the district,” Darcy concluded.

“But there is no one else of his standing who may be relied on. The Lucases should be kept at arm’s length in this, and Mrs. Bennet’s relations are incurable gossips. ”

“I shall give the orders immediately. Stay where you are, Darcy. I will be back directly.”

He was as good as his word, returning to Darcy within fifteen minutes. “A man is leaving as we speak to alert the housekeeper, and I leave this afternoon at three. I shall wait on Mr. Bennet without delay.”

“I want to reassure you about your own sister, Bingley. Two of my men are leaving for Bath today. Their orders are to keep a discreet, watchful eye on her for her own protection.”

Bingley’s face took on an expression of deep concern as he and Darcy shook hands. “I am grateful for that, Darcy. Do not worry. Miss Elizabeth will be found. She must be found.”

Longbourn, Hertfordshire - Tuesday, August 4, 18__

Darcy’s express arrived at Longbourn as Mr. Bennet was preparing to ride out to search. “He confirms what we are already doing,” he informed Jane and Hill, who stood with him in the front hallway.

“We will continue to search for the cart and any signs of a carriage. Mr. Darcy has men ready to act on any information we gather. He has told your Uncle Gardiner,” he shook his head sadly at Jane.

“And Wickham will be watched without interruption, twenty-four hours a day, when he is finally apprehended.” He turned to Hill.

“Please let them know to be ready in the stables for men and horses at any time.” Hill bobbed a curtsey and left.

He took Jane by the hand. “Now, Jane, how is your mother faring? And how are you?”

“I am fine, Papa. The other girls are helping a great deal, and we have managed so that one of us is always with her. Mary is continuing to record the areas searched, though she is running out of places to send people. She is now doing that work from a corner of the kitchen.” Jane sighed.

“I only wish I had better news about Mama.”

“I do not hear any hysterics from upstairs.”

“There are none, Papa. The doctor was here again yesterday. He now believes Mama has suffered an apoplexy of sorts—a slight stroke from which she may recover with care. Her powers of speech are affected, but there is no paralysis. Mama was shocked—truly shocked—by all of this. In fact,” here Jane put her hand over her eyes, unable for a moment to continue.

“In fact, last night she awoke from a dreadful nightmare. All she could say was, ‘My babies!’ It was pitiful to see and hear. During the day, she mostly sleeps or turns her head to the window and weeps silently. I am not to give her any more laudanum, and we are trying to soothe her with warm milk and chamomile tea. Her appetite will not be tempted.”

Mr. Bennet placed his hands on his daughter’s shoulders and kissed her forehead. “And I have neglected her shamefully,” he said quietly. “I will come and sit with her this evening and try to calm her fears. These events would be trying to any mother.”

“Or any father, Papa.” Jane squeezed his hand. “I am going upstairs to rest now so that I can be ready for the night watch.”

Mr. Bennet stared unseeingly out of the window in his study. He was startled to see a rider coming up the drive and recognized the man as owner of a neighboring farm. Moments later, Mrs. Hill was showing the man into the study.

“Sir, they have found something important,” the man began. “Tis a cart, abandoned in a ditch on William Archer’s property, just behind the hedgerow. They are waiting for you before they proceed to inspect it.”

Bennet clapped the man on the shoulder and shouted for his horse.

The pair were soon on the way to Archer’s farm.

Archer was waiting for them when they arrived, together with a small group of neighboring farmers and gentry.

Bennet noticed, and nodded to, Jem and Tim Hill, who seemed to be playing a leading role in any neighborhood investigations.

“I was out in my fields at daybreak,” Archer began as Bennet dismounted. “I found the cart just where it is now, behind the hedgerow, down low in the ditch.”

“Good work, Mr. Archer.”

“I also found this, sir.” Archer held up a small lady’s glove in York tan. “It was near the edge of the road. I have marked the location with a large stone, and I have prevented folk from meddling in the area. I thought it might be the mate to the other glove that was found.”

"Thank you.” Mr. Bennet turned to the Hills. “The first order of business is to send for young Ezra Croft and his father.”

When Ezra arrived, proudly seated on his father’s saddlebow, his shrill voice piped up immediately. “That’s the cart, sir. That’s the one, and with the rags that was in it.”

Mr. Bennet dismounted and lifted the boy down from his father’s horse. “Good boy, Ezra. Now, do you think you can walk over there with me without disturbing any of the dust or dirt?”

“Yes, sir!” The boy reached out his hand, and Mr. Bennet somewhat awkwardly took it. The pair walked over to the cart where Jem and Tim awaited them. “These are the same rags, sir. All brown, like. You should look at what’s underneath because that’s where she was.”

The Hills had already begun examining the cloth. “This is a horse blanket, sir.” began Jem. “And it’s covered with gray hairs, so it might have belonged to the horse that Ezra saw.” He removed the blanket and spread it carefully on the grass by the hedge.

Mr. Bennet uttered a strangled oath at what was revealed.

A lady’s bonnet, straw, embellished with sea-green ribbons, lay crushed on the bed of the cart.

He looked more closely and saw strands of silky dark hair entangled in the rough wooden boards.

Wordlessly he pulled as many of the strands as he could find, wound them carefully into a tiny skein around his fingers, and placed them in his pocket with the glove.

He held the bonnet in his hand. It was a few moments before he could speak.

“Mr. Archer? Do you have a shed or outbuilding where this cart could be kept undisturbed?”

The farmer’s voice was subdued. “Yes, sir. I have a shed where it can be kept under lock and key. Tell me when you are ready for us to move it, and you shall have the key to keep, sir, and welcome.”