“Lyddie, it isnotmy estate,” Elizabeth corrected. “It is one ofhisestates.”
“He is not here so surely we can go and see the castle and the lake. I have never seen a castle before,” Lydia complained.
“One day, sooner rather than later, I hope, I will be able to show you the estate,” Elizabeth placated.
Before she could return to her debate with William, a footman from the house approached. “Your Grace,” he bowed deeply. “The master instructed me to inform you an express has arrived for you, which has been redirected from Castlemere.”
“Smithers, thank you for relaying the message to Her Grace. We will be right behind you,” William stated. He turned to Lady Elizabeth. “I assume you would like to see who sent you an express.”
“I hope it is not fromhim,” Elizabeth responded, “but yes, I think I must.”
He stood and extended his hands to assist Lady Elizabeth in standing. As neither was wearing gloves, William felt a frisson of pleasure when he held her dainty hands in his much larger ones.
“Would you like me to accompany you, Dearest?” Jane enquired.
“You remain where you are,” Elizabeth looked between Jane and Andrew while the former blushed becomingly. “I am sure this big, brave, gallant man can escort me all the way to the house. If he suffers from hessian in the mouth again, John will be close by.” Elizabeth inclined her head to Biggs who was watching over her.
With a dimple-revealing smile, William offered his arm to Elizabeth. It was less than two hundred yards to the manor house.
Mr. Reynolds informed Her Grace and Master William that those who had remained in the house were in the green drawing room and the express was there as well. They thanked the butler and made their way to the indicated drawing room.
After greeting those seated in the room, Elizabeth looked around for her express and spied a silver salver on the sideboard with a missive thereon. She picked it up and her eyebrows shot up in surprise when she saw the name of the sender.
“What is it, Lizzy?” Madeline asked concernedly.
“If this is accurate,” Elizabeth pointed to the name on the outside of the letter, “it was sent to me by Mr. Wickham. I cannot imagine why he would write to me.”
“At least you know your husband has no idea you are at Pemberley,” Lady Anne stated. “The letter was directed to Castlemere.”
“That is the same conclusion I reached,” Lord Matlock agreed with his younger sister.
“The only way you will know why that man wrote to you is to open and read it,” Gardiner told his niece.
Elizabeth sat on an unoccupied settee. No one missed how William stood and watched Elizabeth protectively. She opened the letter, smoothed it out, and then began to read.
29 March 1807
London (By the time you read this I will no longer be in Town)
Your Grace,
Please excuse my presumption in writing to you, but I think you will agree when you read what I have to say, it had to be done.
It gives me the greatest pleasure to inform you that your husband is no longer alive.
Elizabeth sat frozen in place. She read and reread that line five times before it registered. As soon as it did, she beganto sob uncontrollably as she felt a millstone lift from around her neck. Could it be true? She so wanted it to be true.
Without thinking, William sat next to Lady Elizabeth and pulled her into his arms as she sobbed. He watched as the offending letter fell from her hand and floated down to the rug. “What did he say that upset you so much?” William asked, trying to control his anger at the steward’s son.
The rest of the occupants of the room were all standing with concerned looks. No one mentioned the impropriety of William embracing an unrelated married woman.
“Please…read…it…aloud,” Elizabeth managed between sobs.
William stood and picked up the missive and skimmed it before he read it as she asked. “This upset you?”
“Cannot…believe…it…true,” Elizabeth averred as she fought to control her emotions.
William understood. She was not mourning him; they were tears of relief.
