Page 73 of The Shades of Pemberley

Had Darcy not been watching her, he might have missed the slight grimace from the woman at the mention of Ramsgate, furthering his opinion that she had made that last application unwillingly. What that portended, Darcy could not say, but the reaction, though minuscule, was significant in his mind.

“Given our knowledge now about your background, I must wonder what you meant by insisting on the Ramsgate holiday. What is your game, Mrs. Younge?”

The woman was cool—that much was irrefutable. One less certain of themselves might have devolved into angry denials, protests of innocence, or even exclamations of disbelief. Mrs. Younge did none of these, though she confessed nothing.

“I beg your pardon for contradicting you, Lord Matlock,” said she, “but I have no notion of your meaning. There must be some mistake.”

“Do you suppose I am witless?” growled Lord Matlock. “My man traced your history to the house you own on Edward Street, your marriage to a gamester, and through that to your origins near Manchester. What are you hiding?”

“You are mistaken.”

What followed was an hour of fruitless interrogation, in which each of them took a hand in questioning her but received no answers for their efforts.

No matter how much they asked, cajoled, or even threatened, Mrs. Younge would confess to nothing, for she continued to protest her innocence against all evidence to the contrary.

After a time of this, Lord Matlock became disgusted with her and called the butler into the room, instructing him to send for the Bow Street Runners.

When Mrs. Younge departed in their custody, he turned to the others in the room, an eyebrow raised in question. Darcy did not hesitate to respond.

“She is far more skilled in keeping her countenance than I expected, but I am certain she is lying.”

“That is without question, given what we know,” agreed Lord Matlock. “Do you have any observations to share?”

“When you mentioned Ramsgate the first time,” said Mr. Bennet, “she did not appear pleased with it.”

“I noticed the same,” said Darcy. “The last time she pushed the scheme, I had the distinct sense that she was acting contrary to her wishes in the matter.”

“Which suggests she was receiving outside pressure,” said Fitzwilliam. “That would further imply that she has a confederate and that their goal was to get Georgiana away from us.”

“Ransom?” asked Lord Matlock.

Fitzwilliam shrugged. “Ransom is a plausible explanation. Compromise to force a wedding may be another motivation. Had I any notion of a connection between them, I might almost expect Wickham to be up to his neck in this business.”

Lord Matlock considered this and shook his head. “I can ask the investigator to dig further to see if there is a connection, but he said nothing in the report.”

“It was nothing more than an idle thought,” said Fitzwilliam. “This is the sort of intrigue Wickham might contemplate, but there is no proof he is acquainted with Mrs. Younge.”

As Darcy did not know Wickham so well as the other two men, he could say nothing. However, he had a healthy respect for their knowledge and instincts, so he did not pursue the matter.

“The question is where that leaves us,” said Mr. Bennet.

“For the moment, with few answers,” was Lord Matlock’s curt reply. “The Runners will hold Mrs. Younge until she confesses, or we can have her transported for impersonating a gentlewoman.”

Fitzwilliam shook his head. “I would not advise that, at least until we exhaust all chance of inducing her to speak. We may even convince her it is in her best interest to tell us all in exchange for transporting her when the alternative is hanging.”

“I have little liking for abusing my authority in such a way,” said the earl. “Let us keep the notion in mind against greater need. For now, she can remain under the Runners’ watchful care.”

With that agreed, the two men excused themselves and departed. Upon mutual agreement, Darcy and Bennet made their way above stairs to find Elizabeth and the younger girls, for they would wish to know what they had discovered.

THE NEWS WAS OF NO surprise to the girls, and while the situation caused some consternation, a little encouragement stiffened their spines.

Kitty and Lydia were in no danger so far as they knew, but the news that Georgiana had been a potential target of the woman she had trusted to educate her came as a shock, even considering Georgiana’s ambivalence toward the woman.

“Do not worry, Georgiana,” said Kitty with all the confidence of a girl of seventeen. “Lydia and I will stay with you and ensure no one with ill intentions comes close.”

Lydia chimed in her agreement to this statement, and while Georgiana favored them with a grateful smile, she did not respond.

The family stayed at home for the rest of the day, sharing comfort, and by the time the following morning arrived, Elizabeth thought Georgiana’s assurance had returned.

The hour had not even reached noon when Mrs. Bennet and Lady Susan arrived for a visit.

“Lizzy,” greeted her mother as she walked in, though her focus was on the girls.

Mrs. Bennet approached them and sat nearby. “How are you, girls? I hope this business with your companion has not distressed you to excess.”

“Not at all, Mrs. Bennet,” smiled Georgiana, showing her backbone. “She is gone, so I do not suppose I must concern myself about her anymore.”

“That is well, my dear, though the way I understand it, some danger might still exist.”

Turning to Elizabeth, Mrs. Bennet said: “Lizzy, I will be returning to your house—the servants at Lady Susan’s house will deliver my effects this morning. As the girls are now without a companion, I shall take Mrs. Younge’s place.”

Nonplused, Elizabeth regarded her mother, uncertain about her meaning. “You mean to become the girls’ companion. Do you suppose I am incapable of seeing to their needs?”

“Nonsense,” was Mrs. Bennet’s firm reply.

“You and your husband have responsibilities in society, while I have had my fill. As their mother, I am best positioned to see to Kitty and Lydia’s needs, and Georgiana requires a confidante.

You are an excellent elder sister, Lizzy, but your focus cannot always be on them.

“I also sent an express to Victoria yesterday, and she responded this morning. She will join us here tomorrow to assist.”

“As it happens,” said Lady Susan, her significant look suggesting she had some hand in this decision, “I support your mother in this. After this business with Mrs. Younge, it would be a relief to us all to have your mother look after Georgiana and your sisters.”

“Your thoughtful offer is welcome to us all, Mrs. Bennet,” said her husband.

While Mr. Bennet’s sense of humor was often laden with more than a few shades of sarcasm, in this instance, he watched his wife with what could only be called approval.

Mrs. Bennet nodded as if it were nothing more than her due.

Then she turned an arched brow on Elizabeth as if in challenge, one Elizabeth had no intention of accepting.

“Of course, you are welcome to stay here, Mama. I am not so enamored with society that I cannot take a hand myself, but your help—and that of Mrs. Darcy—is most welcome.”

“Very well,” said Mrs. Bennet. “Come, girls, I should like to sit with you for a time to learn how you have been occupying yourselves of late.”

Three dutiful ladies followed the matron from the room, leaving bemusement in their wake, for Mr. Bennet caught Elizabeth’s eye and winked, while William looked on Lady Susan, a sense of speculation provoking her to grin. Lady Susan nodded in answer to his unspoken question.

“Yes, I had something to do with this situation, William,” said she.

“Even without my encouragement, Mrs. Bennet was determined to be of use the moment Jacob brought word of Mrs. Younge’s deception.

I guided her to inform Mrs. Darcy of the situation, as I cannot suppose that another pair of eyes will go amiss, and she is better versed in the subjects the girls yet need to learn.

“I apologize for saying as much, Mr. Bennet,” added Lady Susan to the gentleman in question.

“No offense taken.” Mr. Bennet’s jovial response included a wink, not that Elizabeth had expected anything else. “My wife is a good woman and a loving mother, but her education is limited.”

Lady Susan nodded. “The question then becomes what we are to do about a companion.”

“Might I assume his lordship does not mean to publish Mrs. Younge’s incarceration?”

“That would not be prudent. It is better to put her away and avoid any perceived stain on Georgiana’s education.”

Elizabeth nodded, understanding her point. Society could be cruel for the slightest provocation.

“Then it would be best to wait to replace her.”

“Is there a need to replace her?” asked Lady Susan. “As she now lives with you and William, you can be her guide. Perhaps we may engage a woman to provide daily lessons, but I am uncertain whether a companion is necessary.”

“For that, I believe we should wait until matters settle,” said William. “Once we learn the truth of Mrs. Younge’s ploy, we can determine the best way to proceed.”

With that decision, Lady Susan soon excused herself, leaving Elizabeth alone with her father and husband.

“Had I known of the intrigue I would endure when I married a man of the first circles, I might have reconsidered.”

William fixed her with a grin. “I apologize, Elizabeth, but I shall not give you up now that I have you. If intrigue is to be our lot, you must learn to live with it.”

“Do you not suppose it adds a little spice to our lives?” asked Mr. Bennet, an unbelievable expression of innocence accompanying his question. “We need a distraction in the face of our presence in London, as dangerous a nest of vipers as I have ever seen.”

“It is far more dangerous than I expected.” Elizabeth considered the matter. “Do you suppose we need to restrict Georgiana’s movements for the moment?”

William considered her question. “As we have nothing but suspicion, I do not think we must deny her any ability to move out of the house. When she goes, Thompson will accompany her, and I will assign another man to support him. So long as she remains nearby, there should be little danger.”

“I do not suppose anyone will be brazen enough to attempt an abduction,” said Mr. Bennet. “Mrs. Bennet will stay nearby too, and she will be as fierce as a tigress defending her cubs.”

“And my mother will join her,” added William. “For the moment, we are safe enough.”

Elizabeth turned to her husband. “How long do you intend to remain in London?”

“As you know, I would depart this moment if we did not need to uphold our position in society. There is no need to wait to partake of the dregs of society in June, but I had meant to stay at least until the end of May.”

“Which is yet another three weeks,” nodded Elizabeth. “If you wish to depart earlier, I have no objection.”

“Then let us reconsider in a week or two,” said Darcy.

“Very well,” said Mr. Bennet, rising to his feet. “Then I shall excuse myself. While I know my wife might consider my presence unnecessary, I can assist with the girls’ education.”

“Given the number of times you complained about my education,” replied Elizabeth, “I am surprised you would submit to the same with three young ladies.”

Mr. Bennet grinned, his eyebrow quirked in challenge. “Perhaps you might think so, Lizzy, but that is only because I could not induce you to sit still for five minutes together.”

“I am quite recovered from that affliction, Papa.” Even Elizabeth could confess to a little primness in her tone. “Unless I am mistaken, I am the best educated of my sisters.”

“That you are, my dear. Yet you were a trial on our patience when you were a girl, for you wished to run with the boys rather than learn your letters. Lydia is also more than a little fidgety, but she has settled since coming to London.”

With that and a last wink, Mr. Bennet departed from the room.

When he was gone, Elizabeth turned an arched brow on her husband, daring him to comment on her father’s words.

William, proving that he was as intelligent as any man alive, laughed and refrained, instead taking her into his arms and holding her close.

“I shall say nothing, my beloved wife, for when you were five years old, I was at Eton or engaged in hijinks at home.”

“Good,” said Elizabeth. “I would not wish to punish you for speaking out of turn.”

“Never,” averred William. “I value your love too much to jeopardize it with poor attempts at humor.”

Elizabeth nodded and became serious. “I am still concerned about this situation, William. Mrs. Younge will not confess, and that establishes her guilt in my mind. She was not working alone. It is fortunate you never agreed to her requests, for I shudder to think what might have happened if we had allowed it.”

“I never had any intention of agreeing.”

Drawing back, Elizabeth regarded him, her gaze searching. “As I recall, the last time she raised the subject, you put the matter to Georgiana.”

“Yes, I did,” agreed William. “My purpose was to learn if she would reveal anything. There was little chance of Georgiana agreeing on the scheme, particularly when she knew of Mrs. Younge’s opinion of Kitty and how it would separate her from her friend.”

“Then that is well,” agreed Elizabeth. “Let us consider when we might retire from London, William; I have little taste for revelry.”

“Do you not suppose all of society will look down on us and assume we are overwhelmed by it all?”

A sniff of utter contempt told William her feelings on the subject. “I care little for what they say, William. Let them gossip and speculate based on nothing more than rumor and hearsay. Those who matter will not allow such silliness to guide them.”

Her husband, it appeared, could not agree more.