The more she thought about her lot, the more the sadness crushed her soul. Elizabeth could not understand what she had ever done to offend God that He would see fit to punish her to this degree.
Acknowledging she might never know His plan, her faith was as strong as it ever was, but she wished she knew why she had been chosen to suffer so.
Despite her inclination to sit and cry in her chambers, she decided to go for a walk. She drank most of her tea and consumed only one slice of toast. Elizabeth made for her bedchamber, removed her slippers, and laced up her sturdy half boots.
Plastering a smile on her face, she turned to her maid who was working on tidying the implements on the dressing table. “Loretta, please have John and Brian informed I intend to walkout soon,” Elizabeth requested. “I will meet them at the front entrance in ten minutes or so.”
Jennings could tell Her Grace was upset about something, but unless the mistress confided in her, it was not her place to ask.
She curtsied to the Duchess and exited the chambers to convey the request to the guards. When she spoke to them she debated whether she should mention her suspicion about Her Grace being maudlin, but she decided against sharing anything so personal with the two huge men. On her way back to the master apartments the maid passed her mistress on the stairs. Jennings did not miss the put-on smile displayed for her as soon as Her Grace had seen her coming up the stairs towards her.
She hoped the mistress would feel more like herself again soon. The Duchess was the kindest and nicest person she had ever worked for, hence Jennings hated to see the sadness she detected in Her Grace’s eyes.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Well Wickham, have you succeeded where your predecessor failed me?” the Duke demanded.
The man who used to procure what Hertfordshire wanted as far as married women went, had failed in his charge to bring Lady Jersey to him. He hoped Wickham was more resourceful. It would be a pity if he had to pay for him to be dispatched, but if he failed, he would join the others who had not done what he needed.
“I have charmed her lady’s maid…” Wickham began.
“What care I about her lady’s maid?” the Duke returned derisively.
“As such, I know Lady Jersey will be at home alone after church. Her husband will be away from Jersey House for at leastfour hours. I can have the maid suggest a walk to her Ladyship,” Wickham related.
The Duke’s face twisted in an evil smile. “No! Much better would be to take her in his house, on his bed,” Hertfordshire decided gleefully. “You will use this maid to ensure there are no footmen in my way when I enter the house and that Sarah De Melville will be in her husband’s bedchamber when I arrive.”
This would be a perfect revenge for the ages. Not only would he bed her, but in the hated man’s own bed. It would break Jersey’s spirit and he would never say a word publicly or call him out because it would unleash a scandal to dwarf all scandals.
If things went according to plan, as he was sure they would, Hertfordshire could see the ultimate ending would be Jersey taking his own life over the despondency of failing to protect his wife.
It was a great pity the man had an heir, otherwise he may have ended the line.
Wickham showed no emotion as he watched his master revel in his planned revenge. He would have to make sure that everything went according to plan otherwise his life would be forfeit.
“There will be a large bonus in this for you when I have taken my vengeance,” the Duke promised his man.
“If I am to make sure you will be unmolested at Jersey House some funds will be needed to bribe the footmen. The maid will not have the kind of influence we need. That means the men whofailin their duties will be sacked. They will need enough so they will be able to leave without a character and live well,” Wickham stated thoughtfully.
“How much do you need?” Hertfordshire enquired.
“I would estimate at least two thousand pounds,” Wickham responded.
The Duke rang for his secretary. “Prepare a bank draft in Wickham’s favour in the amount of four thousand pounds for me to sign,” he commanded. “Also a letter to my banker to verify I have authorised him to withdraw banknotes for the amount.” He waved the man away.
“It is far more than I will need, Your Grace,” Wickham informed his master.
“Rather you have more, than not enough. I will need a complete accounting of how you expended the funds and any balance is to be returned to me,” Hertfordshire ordered. “You know what will happen if I even suspect you are cheating me out of a single penny, do you not?”
“That is not something I would ever do, Your Grace.” Wickham bowed to show his deference.
Hertfordshire waved the man away. He was confident in his power to make anyone fearful enough never to cross him.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The three cousins allowed their horses their heads as they easily jumped the boundary fence between Pemberley and Castlemere.
As the youngest of the group, William at four and twenty, was beyond the age where his parents needed to know where he was at all times. Hence they had not enquired as to where he and his cousins were riding to that morning.
