Chapter 21

K nowing time was of the essence, Richard was on his way to Longbourn within minutes of receiving the express calling him to London. Even had it not been someone claiming to have proof of how and why Uncle Robert died, Richard would not ignore an urgent summons from his father.

He would miss his Mary while he was away, but he fully intended to return as soon as may be, especially as there had been talk of inviting his family to join him at Netherfield Park to spend Christmastide with the Bennets and their extended family.

Hill showed Mr. Fitzwilliam into his master's study without delay. Bennet was pouring over some correspondence when Mary's suitor was shown in.

"I have come to take my leave," Richard began without preamble. "My father needs me in London, but I will return as soon as the need for my presence is no longer pressing."

Not for one second had the thought Fitzwilliam was abandoning them, and more specifically Mary, entered Bennet's consciousness. There was no mistaking the two had fallen off the precipice of love. Although he was inquisitive about what would cause Fitzwilliam's father to summon him with urgency, Bennet knew he could not ask if the man did not volunteer the information.

Bennet pointed to one of the chairs in front of his desk. Richard sat. He felt he owed his future father-in-law an explanation. "Bennet, you remember the day I told you and your wife about my cousin's father dying with suspicious circumstances?"

"Yes, you mentioned you believed that blackguard Wickham, who caused Sir William to break his arm, and stole his horse when he fled, was the one who caused your uncle's death," Bennet recalled. "Have your conjectures been confirmed?"

"Not yet, but Father writes some man has contacted William…" Richard saw Bennet's questioning look. "That is what we call Darcy. The note claims to know who was behind the murder and for a sum, he will turn the proof over to my cousin."

All Bennet could do was sit back in wonder. Knowing Fitzwilliam had many connections among the military, he understood why the Earl was demanding his son's presence in London. "When do you depart? I assume it will be very soon. You have time to take your leave of my wife and daughters, do you not?"

"My coach followed me here as I will leave as soon as I have farewelled the ladies of the house," Richard averred. As if he had conjured his conveyance, there were the sounds of an arriving carriage from the drive.

"Let us join the ladies in the drawing room," Bennet stated as he stood and led Fitzwilliam out of his study.

Cilla and her daughters were in the drawing room working on clothing for the less fortunate in the parish when her husband, followed by Mary's suitor entered the room. There was no missing the serious looks on their miens. "Thomas is all well?" Cilla asked concernedly.

Hearing the worry in their mother's voice, Jane, Elizabeth, and Mary ceased sewing and looked up, waiting for their father's reply. Mary saw how serious the normally jovial Richard looked and could not but pray it was not bad news regarding their courtship. She censured herself for that thought. Richard was not a man who would renege on a promise without a reason. Also, she knew from their time together that he was as attached to her as she was to him. She relaxed as her certainty regarding the man she was rapidly falling in love with reasserted itself.

By the time Richard had explained his reason for the urgent journey to Town, Mary was chastising herself for allowing doubts to plague her, even if it had only been for a moment.

"I had no idea Mr. Wickham was so very bad that you suspect him of being a murderer," Elizabeth said. "At least Sir William is well on the road to recovery after that criminal stole his mount." Elizabeth's thoughts fixed on the tall, dark, handsome, rude, arrogant man who had never apologised for his words at the assembly. He had experienced so much loss in his short life, first his mother and then his father. Perhaps that explained part of the reason why he was the way he was. That being said, it did not excuse his ungentlemanlike behaviour. Many people, like Mama, had lost both their parents and did not behave the way he did.

"I must away," Richard stated regretfully with his eyes locked onto Mary's.

Once Cilla presented him with an invitation for his family to join them for Christmastide, the Bennets accompanied Richard to his coach so they could farewell him in the drive. After taking his leave of all except Mary, the other Bennets stepped back allowing the courting couple to have a few moments of relative privacy.

"As much as I do not desire to be parted from you, I must answer my father's call," Richard told Mary as he took her hands in his own.

"Of course you must," Mary agreed, "as long as you remain safe and come back to me as soon as you are able. I am looking forward to meeting your family members who will be able to join us for Christmastide."

As much as Richard wanted to kiss Mary's enticing lips, he settled for a kiss on each of her hands. With her parents and sisters standing close by, not to mention Biggs and Johns as well, Richard resisted his desire to turn her hands over and allow his lips to linger on the pulse of each wrist.

He entered his coach and Johns closed the door he had been holding open. Biggs had taken charge of Invictus, who would be kept in Longbourn's stables until Richard returned. He gave a final wave to the assembled Bennets, and then Richard struck the ceiling. With that, he was on his way to Town.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Bingley's carriage departed the inn much later than he had wanted thanks to having to acquire clothes for Wickham. When they finally were underway it was past one o'clock rather than just after dawn as Bingley had planned.

As much as he wanted to be rid of the man, Wickham claimed he had posted a letter to a good friend who unless she received regular prearranged words in letters from him, would make sure all of the papers and gossip rags were regaled with the story of Darcy's betrayal at Bingley's hands.

Not wanting to speak to Wickham, Bingley pretended he had fallen asleep minutes after the coach began to move.

Wickham was sure the man was feigning sleep, but he cared not. Every turn of the wheels took him further and further away from the Spaniard and his reach. He smiled to himself as he considered how gullible Bingley was to buy his tale about sending letters. The man had not even thought to confirm he had sent anything in the post with the landlord. Bingley's stupidity had gained him a comfortable bed for the night, the outfit he was wearing, one more, and a new pair of boots—what luck a man had not collected his from the cobbler and they were of a size to fit Wickham, and best of all, transportation away from London and álvarez.

He had no plans for what he would do after they arrived in Scarborough four days hence. Wickham had some ideas of demanding some funds from Bingley and then disappearing for a while to formulate his plans of revenge. Soon enough the motion of the coach lulled Wickham to sleep.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Less than four hours after departing Longbourn, Richard's conveyance halted in Grosvenor Square outside of Matlock House. At the rest stop, Richard sent an express to Colonel Whitfield and Lieutenant-Colonel Sisley before he was underway again. As long as they were at the barracks, he expected them to arrive at his parents' house within the hour.

The butler, who had served the Fitzwilliams—starting as an under-footman—since before Andrew had been born, bowed in welcome and then took the proffered outerwear. "The family is in the primary drawing room, Master Richard," the old retainer intoned.

"Thank you Jeeves, it is good to see you," Richard averred with a smile. He thought he noted the normally stoic man's lips twitch up for a moment. In an instant his inscrutable mask was back in place.

"Richard!" his mother exclaimed when he entered the drawing room. Lady Matlock was soon pulling her youngest into a warm and welcoming hug. "We will speak about your Mary later," she said next to his ear so only Richard could hear. He nodded his agreement.

"Thank you for coming so promptly," Darcy said tentatively, "after my behaviour…" Darcy stopped speaking when his cousin raised his hand.

"There will be plenty of time to discuss that," Richard insisted. "There is nothing which would have kept me away if I am able to assist catching the basta…" He remembered his mother, Marie, Anna, and Charity were all watching hi m intently, "…I mean, those responsible for Uncle Robert's murder." He looked around. "Where is father?"

"Our pater is in the study and will join us soon enough," Andrew stated as he pulled his younger brother into a bearhug. "You look good little brother."

"That is enough boys," Marie interjected. "Come greet your sister Richard, with my girth I will not be standing to hug you."

Next to be hugged were Anna and Charity, who was Marie's youngest sister. Before Richard could take a seat, the Earl entered the drawing room his voice booming as it was wont to do. "Richard my boy, it is good to see you and you made good time." Lord Matlock clapped his son on the back.

Before he could answer, Jeeves announced the two officers; Richard made the introductions. Anna and Charity were released to their companions and made their way to the music room prior to the start of the discussions.

Darcy began telling of his first letter from the same writer exposing Bingley. Richard's eyebrows shot up. He had long suspected that was the truth of the matter, but he was surprised it had finally come to light. Then Darcy went on to speak of the newest letter with the demands for payment.

"It is just as well you did not have the lad followed," Colonel Whitfield stated. "Unless someone is well versed in the arts of surveillance, an inexperienced follower is easy to detect, especially for a wily street urchin."

"What do you suggest Whitfield and Sisley?" Richard enquired.

"We have men under our command who are expert at their craft. I suggest we have some stationed near Mr. Darcy's house so the next messenger can be followed back to the man or men who have sent him," Whitfield proposed.

"But will not their uniforms make them rather conspicuous?" Darcy questioned .

"If they were in uniform, then yes, that would be true. They will look like anything but soldiers," Lieutenant-Colonel Sisley explained. He turned to his fellow officer. "I suggest six men who can follow as a team so even if the lad notices someone, he will never see the same man twice."

Colonel Whitfield agreed without any modification. He looked at the men in the room; each gave his nod of assent. "The best of our men and their Lieutenant will report to Darcy House within an hour or two. If a new message arrives before the officer informs you his men are in place, just delay until he does."

"It will be as you stated," Darcy agreed. "I will return to my house."

"And I will join you," Richard insisted.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Seeing the way his cousin was pacing like a caged wild beast, Richard said nothing about Hertfordshire, or his courtship of Mary to William. There would be time for that once this situation was resolved satisfactorily. He respected William's desire to keep his own counsel and not speak at that moment. His cousin was never the most loquacious man, but this was far beyond that.

Richard could only imagine the emotions roiling within his cousin. Like William, he had never believed Robert Darcy's life had been ended by an accident. Until now, there had never been any proof to support the hypothesis his uncle had been murdered. Like everyone else in the family, Richard was convinced the one responsible was none other than George Wickham. The profligate libertine had never made a secret of his anger toward Uncle Robert after the latter had withdrawn as his patron and godfather. No one had taken the talk of revenge seriously until the day Uncle Robert had been found dead on the estate.

Slightly more than two hours after the meeting at Matlock House, a Lieutenant Shaughnessy was shown into Darcy's study. "My men are in position," he reported. "Instruct your butler to nod before he closes the door if a boy comes to the house with a message in the script of the others which have been sent to you."

Darcy agreed and had Killion summoned so the Lieutenant could explain his orders himself. They did not have too long to wait, less than two hours after the soldiers were in place, a young boy, no older than eight or nine, covered in dirt, and with tattered clothing arrived at the door with a note in hand.

Like the previous time, the butler accepted the missive and sent the boy to the kitchens. The prospect of a warm kitchen and good food caused the lad's eyes to grow as big as half crowns. Killion nodded before he closed the door, and then made his way to the master's study where the three men were waiting. He handed the soiled paper to the master and withdrew from the study pulling the door closed behind him. As soon as the door was closed, one of the Thompsons took up station in front of it to make sure no one could eavesdrop.

With Richard reading over his shoulder, Darcy unfolded the grimy page.

Toff Darcy

If you ave our ?3,000 redy, send confimation back wif ta lad. A place ta leave our money will be sent in a day or two.

"I should send a note back telling them the funds are here, should I not?" Darcy asked the Lieutenant.

"Exactly, but do not seem too keen. The lad is in the kitchen, is he not?" the Lieutenant verified.

"He is," Darcy confirmed.

"Allow him to enjoy the heat and fill his belly before we send him back on his way," the Lieutenant suggested. "Not only will it be the best food in quantity and quality the boy has enjoyed for many a day, he will be thinking about the luxury he has just experienced and not be nearly as vigilant as he would normally be."

Taking what he had been told to heart, Darcy rang for Killion. He told his butler to quietly inform cook to allow the lad to eat as much as he wanted and to offer him some of her custard tarts for dessert. Once the butler had left the study to convey the master's orders, Darcy sat and wrote his response.

When the urchin left Darcy House with the return missive in hand, the very last thing he was interested in was whether or not he was being followed. The nice rotund lady had sent him on his way with one of her delectable custard tarts to eat as he made his way back to St. Giles. Never once did he pay attention to the fact he was being tracked by a group of men who all looked like beggars or labourers.

He arrived at the Rolling Stones Inn a little after he had licked the last crumbs of the sweet treat from his fingers. Much happier than he had been before he left the sordid inn, the boy walked up to the counter and handed the return note to Mr. Michael Jagger, the landlord.

"No one followed ye?" he demanded.

"No, Mr. Jagger, I did as I were told," the boy insisted. He hoped it would not be long before he was to deliver another message to the house on Grosvenor Square. Never had he been so well-treated as he had been there.

Neither the landlord nor the urchin noticed the three men who entered the inn, seemingly unconnected one with the other. One of the men made his way to the taproom, one made like he was looking at an old newspaper on a table near the counter, while the third went up the stairs to the second floor where the chambers were located. The three men left outside positioned themselves so they would be able to see all egresses from the inn.

The landlord handed the boy the pennies he had earned and then after telling his wife to watch the counter, made his way up the stairs and rapped on a door. Peters answered the prearranged sequence of knocks. He took the note from Jagger and locked the door.

He turned to take the note to Harris when the same knock sounded on the door again. With no good cheer he unlocked the door and before he could open it very wide, it was pushed back with great force knocking Peters to the floor. A pistol's barrel was shoved in his face as two more men quickly took Harris into custody.

The three soldiers in the chamber bound and gagged the two. Next they searched the room and collected everything. The proof they needed was found under the mattress of one bed. The room was put to rights and then, with lengths of rope they had with them, they lowered the two criminals out of the window to their fellow soldiers below.

The men who had been upstairs exited the inn at staggered times and soon they, their comrades, and the two captives were on their way back to Darcy House. The landlord was none the wiser his friends, who had promised him two hundred pounds for his assistance, were gone.

Later when Jagger went to check on his friends , he found an empty chamber and assumed they had betrayed him and cheated him out of the promised funds. "I get no satisfaction when I trust men like that," the landlord whinged on his way down the stairs.