The old woman nodded, “Exactement.”
“The Emperor learned of the location of the jewel from the spy, Huguenin,” said St Germain. “The sale of this stone could restore the King of France to some semblance of wealth, werehe to return to the throne. The possession of this stone would distinguish Napoleon amongst other rulers. It is time for the jewel to hide again, until it can be restored to the royal family.”
“What isyourtrue interest here?” asked Elizabeth. When thecomteraised a brow, she continued. “It cannot just be a good deed.”
Thecomtesmiled and shrugged his shoulders. “It has a flaw.”
“The stone?” Elizabeth and Darcy said simultaneously, peering closer at the jewel.
Thecomtenodded. “I think I can remove the flaw, it would make it even more priceless.”
Thomas Bennet laughed. “All of that, and your only interest is scientific?”
“The quest for perfection is endless, whether in stones or in souls. Yet perhaps what we call perfection is simply the reflection of the infinite within each,” replied thecomtemysteriously. “There is also to consider the safety of my old friend,” he nodded toMadame du Barry. “Her lover played the generous host to me many times. The least I could do is escort his lady to safety.”
“How gallant,” said Elizabeth. She wanted to like thecomte. And considering the remarkable gifts he had bestowed upon her and her husband, she felt that sheoughtto like him. But it was often difficult to sense if he was truly a friend, or if he might not also be a bit of a villain. It was obvious that her father and husband felt the same. Elizabeth suspected that the man had played both parts many times in his life, and that the lines of good and wicked might be rather blurred for a man of his supposed age and experience.
“We should depart,” announcedMadame, rising to her feet. “Our time has been much occupied byMadame D’Arcy’scuriouspepe.” Suddenly there was a frantic knocking on the door. Darcy went and opened the door a crack and peered out.
“Darcy, I know he is in there,” growled Lord Matlock. “Iwillspeak with him!” Darcy was not in the habit of standing in his uncle’s path. He stepped back to allow his uncle into the room, and the rest of the party turned back to find empty chairs, and an empty room.
“I’ll be damned,” Thomas Bennet exclaimed as he rushed to the open door that adjoined the library to the study, finding no one on the other side. “Downrightuncanny!”
Elizabeth Darcy rolledover the next morning to gaze upon her sleeping husband. Much had happened to her since thecomte’sand his guest’s most recent disappearance, and the fact that Lord Matlock had turned Netherfield and the surrounding area upside down without a trace of thecomteorMadame du Barry, was the least interesting of it all.
Perhaps a half hour after the departure of thecomte, a messenger accompanied by the Royal Guard arrived at the wedding breakfast with four invitations for the heroes of Eastbourne. Elizabeth, Darcy, Richard, and William opened the missives and stared at one another in front of all of their guests.
“It is an invitation to St James for an event in our honour in one week’s time,” said Elizabeth, to the surprise of her parents and all of the wedding guests.
“I am to beelevated!” gasped William in disbelief. “Elevated to baronet!”
“What?” shouted his wife and father-in-law, tripping over themselves and each other in their haste to see for themselves.
“So am I,” said Darcy and Richard simultaneously.
“I am to receive the Regent’s Cross?1,” said Elizabeth.
“How about that,” said Matlock, taking his son’s invitation and skimming over it. “I knew about the Regent’s Cross. You are all to receive it, save Richard. He shall receive a military medal and a promotion as well as this elevation. Good for you, son. I could not be more proud.”
“What the devil is the Regent’s Cross?” demanded Bennet. “I have never heard of it!
“It is a brand new medal, created specifically to award the heroes of Eastbourne, and those thereafter who exceed expectations in regards to their civic duty,” Matlock explained. “It is for civilians who demonstrate bravery and selflessness for king and country. I believe Tom Tyler will receive it as well.”
“I knew how it would be when I heard that our Lizzy and our William were heroes!” crowed Mrs Bennet, quite understandably. “How grand my daughters will be! Lady Darcy! Lady Bennet! How well that sounds!”
I wonderhow Jane’s night was, Elizabeth wondered as Fitwilliam’s fluttering eyelashes returned her to the present. Her husband woke and smiled to find her watching him. He wordlessly pulled her back into his arms, and Elizabeth forgot about her sister, medals, elevations, and everything else for some days.
The End
1 The Regent’s Cross is a completely fictional medal created for this story because there were not suitable awards for civilians at this time.
EPILOGUE
Eastbourne 1826
Lady Elizabeth Darcywaited in the front of the crowd with her husband and her sisters for the ribbon to be cut at the opening of Eastbourne’s new school. Mr MacArthur was no longer mayor. He had made way for Mr Johnson, the owner of the general store, who stepped forward to make a speech.
“Ladies and gentlemen, fourteen years ago, Eastbourne was attacked. We lost many, and for a time after, we suffered through the grief and rebuilding together. One of our heroes was a young man, just a boy in the year 1812, and it was due to his bravery that the coast and the town was warned. His reward was his education, and the provision for his future, which he has seen to admirably. There is another here, who would like to say a few words about Mr Tyler. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present, Sir William Bennet.”
