Wickham is going to attack Bourne House! Who is there besides the children and Arabella?” she gasped. “Why would they do such a thing? And where is Wickham keeping Darcy?”
“That colonel knows,” said thecomte. “He is planning to attack the caves near Beachy Head – your young man is there. That is where that Wickham came from tonight. I saw him near there this afternoon. The locals never go there, the caves can be dangerous.”
“Colonel Allen? But he is one of them!” exclaimed Elizabeth.
“Not Colonel Allen. The other colonel. Her ladyship’s nephew,” said St Germain.
“But Colonel Fitzwilliam is away on a mission for the war office!” said Elizabeth in confusion.
“We must go to the little sister,” St Germain said decidedly. Elizabeth followed him back into the ballroom as he made a beeline for Georgiana and Lydia, who were waiting worriedly with Mrs Annesley.
“Georgiana, do you know where to find Colonel Fitzwilliam?” asked Elizabeth directly as she approached the younger girl.
Georgiana started in surprise at the unexpected question. “Do not delay, for the sake of your brother,ma petite,” St Germain said sternly. “The need for secrecy has passed. Your brother’s time is near.”
Georgiana squeaked in terror, and looked at Elizabeth in fear. “You must tell me, immediately, Georgie. There is not a single moment to lose,” Elizabeth encouraged.
Georgiana composed herself, and said, “There is a forgotten shack on the far end of Peas Hill. It is just past the giant oak, set back far from the lane, you can hardly tell that it is there, but a cluster of poppies marks the entrance to the path that leads to it. Lizzy, he is hardly ever there, and once you go there he will not be able to return.”
“It cannot be helped, Georgie. Darcy is being held in some caves by Beachy Head, and someone must tell Richard immediately,” Elizabeth said firmly. She then looked about her and realised that thecomtehad disappeared. “How am I tomanage all of this on my own!” she stamped her foot in frustration, then told Georgiana and Lydia to stay put, and left them.
Elizabeth approachedLady Gordon when the lady happened to be alone. “Lady Gordon, I have a serious problem, and I know not who to turn to for assistance,” she began.
“My dear girl, I told you the very day we met that if you ever needanything, that I am your grateful servant!” exclaimed Lady Gordon.
As much as Elizabeth was far too well bred to ever call in a favour, she had no choice. “Lady Gordon, I am certain you heard about the incident with Lord Carlisle’s carriage two days ago?” When that lady nodded, Elizabeth took a breath and said in a low rush, “I have just learned that they may be in danger again. Lady Carlisle is alone at Bourne House with the children and servants, and I must find a secret haven for them for the night.”
“My dear, you must have them taken to Gordon Lodge immediately!” the lady gasped, ready to leap into action.
“Wait! Lady Gordon, we still know not where the threat comes from! It must be a complete secret! I have a suspicion that the villain is here in this very ballroom, and that the other members of Lord Carlisle’s family are in danger as well,” Elizabeth begged.
“A plot against the foreign secretary’sfamily!” Lady Gordon breathed. “Miss Elizabeth, the Gordons of Eastbourne will do our duty! What do you need?”
“Could you please send one of your servants to your estate with all haste, informing them to expect the occupants of Bourne House, and that your manor must becompletely surroundedbylit torches. As many as possible. It may keep the house safe this night,” Elizabeth said. “You should find an excuse to call for your carriage as quickly as possible. You and Sir Charles must either stay here at the ball until the very end, or leave immediately, I fear the streets may not be safe within the hour, perhaps two.”
“I will do it my dear, of course, but whatever do you mean?” asked the lady.
“I am sure I do not know at all what I mean, Lady Gordon, but you will have my gratitude for your help,” Elizabeth said earnestly.
“I shall not even send a servant,” Lady Gordon declared. “I shall turn my ankle, and demand my carriage forthwith. It will not be unbelievable. I am not known for being graceful on the dance floor.”
Next, Elizabeth went to Ashley. “Lord Carlisle, I cannot spend the time confiding everything I have just learned, but there is to be an invasion by sea tonight, and your family, as the relations of the foreign secretary, seem to be the target of a plot,” she attempted to explain in a rush.
“That seems to be nothing new considering what happened two days ago, but is there some new particular threat to my family, Miss Elizabeth?” he asked sharply.
“I have just learned that Bourne House is to be attacked tonight, and that Colonel Allen and Lord Amesbury are involved,” said Elizabeth. “I have arranged in secret for everyone to be given refuge for the night at Gordon Lodge. You must go to Bourne House immediately and move Lady Carlisle and the children as quickly as possible. Take Priscilla with you, I am not certain, but I believe the family here is a target as well. I will have William round up the rest and follow you. Lord Carlisle, Gordon Lodge must be surrounded by as many lit torches as possible, that is some sort of signal devised by Wickham to make some houses safe. You must ensure it as soon as you get there.”
Ashley thanked Elizabeth profusely for his family, and went in search of Priscilla. Elizabeth went in search of her cousin. “William, I have learned something about Darcy, and I have also learnt that Bourne House and its occupants are to be attacked tonight, and that we may not even be safe here in Lord Amesbury’s House.”
“Cousin!” said William in shock. “What are we to do?”
“William, this must be a complete secret. You must not betray anything. I am to go with Lord Carlisle and Priscilla to move Arabella and the children. You must persuade Lady Catherine to feign a collapse, and have the family make their goodbyes immediately. You will go straight to Gordon Lodge. Lady Gordon is going ahead, they will expect you. Once you are there, none of you must leave. Cousin, there is going to be an invasion of the French by sea tonight. They are coming to look for something. You must make certain that the family stays inside Gordon House, and that it is surrounded by as many lit torches as can be found as quickly as possible when you get there. The men said the torches are a signal not to attack.”
William’s mouth worked up and down in shock, “But, Cousin!”
“William, there is no time! I must go!” Elizabeth’s cousin stood slack jawed as she left him, and a few moments later, when he had gone to do her bidding, she snuck out the French doors, into the garden, and away from the house, heading in the direction of Peas Hill. She had done her best, and warned who she could, but now, she must help Mr Darcy.
When Elizabeth reachedthe small cluster of poppies on Peas Hill, she turned into the barely discernible path, and made herway through the darkened overgrowth to the tiny shack that Georgiana had described. She knocked lightly on the door, then after a moment, pushed it open. It was not much of a place to sleep; Elizabeth cringed to think that Richard had been obliged to stay there.
