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“Sir,” interrupted Parker. “Are you gentlemen aware of the nature of those houses?” Both men shook their heads. “The presumption in the City is that they constitute a house of ill fame,” said Mr. Gardiner.

Parker continued. “The plainer house serves as a residence for young women who are employed by the proprietor. The more elegantly appointed of the two is, at first glance, a discreet gaming-club. Admission is by invitation only, and it is frequented by the usual assortment of gentlemen and hangers-on who fancy themselves proficient at deep play. And deep play is what they get.” He paused and lit his pipe without requesting permission.

“The first two floors are dedicated to gaming. The upper floors—it is said that any vice that can be devised by the depraved mind of man is available. For a price, of course.” He squared his shoulders.

“I have not succeeded in infiltrating either house as yet. I have both places under constant watch. I have also not been successful in catching glimpses of Madame Charpentier or any of the girls. We believe they traverse adjoining back gardens to go from one house to the other without being seen from the street.”

Darcy’s eyes burned. “I, too, have encountered the name of Madame Charpentier during my work this morning. She has purchased several properties in various districts around London, though her name did not arise in conjunction with Audley Street.” He turned to his desk, scribbled a note, and rang for the footman.

“Deliver this, wait for an answer, and bring it directly back to me,” he said.

And turning back to the other two men, “My solicitors will know.”

The conversation turned to Longbourn. “I have had a letter from my brother this morning,” said Mr. Gardiner.

“The news is not good. My sister has had a slight stroke. Although there is no paralysis, she has for the most part lost her ability to speak. They are doing everything in their power to keep her spirits up, and her physician believes she may yet recover.”

“I am grieved to hear it,” replied Darcy. “Taken individually, either of these abductions would be a terrible burden for any mother. Taken together, they must be overpowering indeed. I can scarcely imagine what she is going through. ”

“Or what you are going through, my friend.”

Darcy struggled to conceal his tortured feelings. “Where there is life, there is hope. My connection with Elizabeth is such that I honestly believe she is still alive. Were it otherwise, I believe that I would somehow know of the loss.”

Wordlessly, Mr. Gardiner poured two glasses of wine from the decanter and handed one to Darcy. When he had seated himself, he replied quietly. “I feel exactly the same connection to my own wife.”

Darcy sipped his wine and observed, “Bingley will arrive at Netherfield late today. He will wait upon Mr. Bennet at the earliest opportunity to offer his services with these efforts. Now that the bulk of the search has shifted to London, Mr. Bennet will no doubt wish to come here. However, I feel he could be of most help in the neighborhood of Longbourn. There are several investigations yet to close. On the other hand, she is his child.”

“Let me see what I can do,” replied Mr. Gardiner.

He was prevented from saying any more by the arrival of the butler. “Mr. Winters, sir.”

Darcy stood to greet the soberly dressed elderly man. “I did not expect you to come in person, sir.” He turned and introduced Mr. Winters to Mr. Gardiner as his family’s solicitor.

“Mr. Darcy,” began Winters. “I wonder if I might have a word with you privately.”

“Is it regarding our present investigation? If so, Mr. Gardiner is Miss Bennet’s maternal uncle and has my complete confidence in this matter. Sergeant Parker is already known to you.”

“Certainly.” Winters sat and accepted a glass of wine from Darcy.

“The information you requested concerning the ownership of the recently sold properties in Audley Street was readily available,” Winters began again.

“However, the information is profoundly disturbing, and you should be prepared for a shock, my dear boy. The properties were acquired by, and are presently owned by, your aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.” Dismay and concern mingled on Winters’ face as he leaned forward.

He had been looking after the affairs of the Darcys for many years.

The blood left Darcy’s face, and he sat immobile for many long minutes. It was Parker who finally broke the silence. “Thank you for coming, Mr. Winters. Is there any other information we need to be acquainted with?”

“No,” replied Winters. “That was all we could develop at such short notice. We will, of course, continue our discreet inquiries. I will wait upon Mr. Darcy in person rather than sending one of the younger partners.” Winters stood and laid a hand as frail as parchment on Darcy’s shoulder—a liberty he took because he had dandled the infant Fitzwilliam Darcy on his knee many times—and said, “I know this has been an unimaginable shock, especially coming on the heels of the abduction. But do not give up hope. Continue to fight the good fight. It is my belief that the victory will be yours.” Darcy briefly laid his young hand on the old man’s, and Mr. Winters bowed silently to the other two men, turned, and left the room.

“He and my father were schoolboys together,” said Darcy thoughtfully.

Then he squared his shoulders, set down his glass, and sat up straight.

“My aunt has a brilliant fortune, wisely invested. It unites her husband’s considerable holdings with her own.

I have long suspected her of designs on my fortune, or simply of a desire to unite the two families more closely.

But I never regarded her as openly malevolent.

My suspicions in that direction have tended more towards George Wickham, whose desire for revenge is well known to me.

” He paused for a moment. “It certainly bears out the observations of Miss Mary Bennet. Collins is my aunt’s dupe. ”

Parker raised his eyebrows, and at Darcy’s nod, proceeded with the careful ritual of lighting his pipe. Mr. Gardiner poured wine for himself and Parker, made certain Darcy’s brandy was topped-off, and settled back in his chair. Only when the pipe was lit and drawing did the sergeant continue.

“Sir, how long has your aunt been promoting the purported engagement between yourself and her daughter Anne?”

“As you know, my mother died when I was just ten years old. My father died five years ago. Nothing was said during either of their lifetimes. I never heard of the idea until shortly after my father’s death when I was twenty-three.

My aunt has made it up out of whole cloth, conjured it out of thin air.

When she first advanced it, it astonished everyone including my uncles on both sides of the family and my cousins. ”

“When you came down from Cambridge, you were introduced to London society?” “Yes. My father was in the beginning stages of his final illness and remained at Pemberley. I was taken under the wing of my uncle, the Earl of Matlock.”

“I take it you became acquainted with several young ladies of good family?” “Of excellent family, Sergeant Parker. Considering the size of my fortune, this can come as no surprise.” Darcy felt the impatience of his speech, remembered Elizabeth’s reproofs, and resolved to be more forthcoming.

“I received many invitations, most of which I accepted. I made many social calls and danced with a steady stream of young ladies at private balls and parties and of course at Almack’s.

In this I did not differ from most young men blessed with fortunes. ”

“And thinking back to that first London Season, do you recall what became of any of those young ladies?”

Darcy thought carefully for a moment. “A number of them made good matches and are presumably happily married. I have remained good friends with one of those ladies and her husband, who is an old schoolfellow. We dine together occasionally when I am in town. One died tragically in a horseback riding accident at a house party at someone’s estate in in the country.

One developed a debilitating illness, and as far as I know returned with her father and half-siblings to their home in Martinique. Of the rest, I have no idea.”

“What about more recently, sir?”

“The only young lady to show a sincere interest recently, aside from Miss Bennet, is Miss Caroline Bingley of whom we have spoken at length.”

Parker refilled his pipe. Mr. Gardiner, noticing that glasses were empty, quietly replenished them and took his seat.

“Sir, I have observed you and Lady Catherine since first entering your employ three years ago. She has but one idea in mind. That is the enhancement of her daughter’s fortune by the acquisition and addition of yours, including Pemberley.

The fact that you are a near relation is naught but a piece of good luck that she believes will save her a great deal of work.

Miss Anne de Bourgh is to be the wealthiest, most dazzling young woman in all of England. ”

Parker stood and took a turn about the room as he continued talking.

“This is not a frivolous or baseless assertion, Mr. Darcy. She is a cold-hearted and single-minded woman, impatient with anyone who gets in her way for any reason. It is my belief she has absolutely no sense of the humanity of others. If you look around Covent Garden or walk down Drury Lane and converse with the unfortunate young women there, you will find a handful of girls who have somehow incurred her wrath and who are now being punished. They are for the most part country girls, girls who took posts at Rosings as maids and were too pretty or too bright. However, at least one is a gentleman’s daughter. ”

“I cannot believe what you are saying,” said Darcy. “Yet it is all too plausible. Aside from seduction, or blatant abduction, how does one ruin a gentleman’s daughter? It cannot be easy.”