“Let us discuss this business,” said Lord Matlock when they had all taken their seats. “As you are all aware, based on our concerns for Mrs. Younge’s behavior, I engaged a man to investigate her. I received the report this morning, and it has revealed certain truths about her of which we were unaware.
“As I have no patience for long explanations, I shall come out and state it. Mrs. Younge is not a gentlewoman.”
Whatever Darcy expected, he was uncertain that he had imagined such a blunt statement. Elizabeth was in a similar strait, as she stared and regarded the earl through wide eyes.
“Not a gentlewoman at all? How can that be?”
“There are those who can pass themselves off as gentlefolk, Mrs. Darcy,” said Fitzwilliam. “The son of my late cousin’s steward comes to mind. You remember Wickham, do you not?”
Darcy, to whom he directed this last question, nodded, remembering the man against whom Fitzwilliam had warned him several months ago. It was fortunate, in Darcy’s estimation, that Wickham seemed to have taken Fitzwilliam’s warning to heart—either that or he had decided there was nothing to gainby approaching Darcy as he had his predecessor. Other than the report of his joining the regiment in Meryton, Darcy had heard nothing of Wickham since the one incident at Pemberley.
“Wickham possesses the manners of a gentleman,” continued Fitzwilliam, “though not the means nor the nobility of one. This Mrs. Younge appears to be the same.”
“Then what are her origins?” asked Darcy.
“Mrs. Younge hails from the Manchester area, a small town to the south of the city. Her father was a merchant of some repute, and it appears that his wealth allowed her to mingle to a certain extent with the local gentlefolk. When he passed on, he left the bulk of his fortune to his son, who carried on the business, though Mrs. Younge had an adequate dowry. It seems she became estranged from her brother and came to London, where she married a man who turned out to be a gamester, one who gambled away most of her fortune.
“Mrs. Younge owns a house in a poor section of London, all she had left when he died, and before becoming Georgiana’s companion, she supported herself by letting rooms in her establishment and collecting rents. Why she left that life to pass herself off as a lady’s companion, I cannot say, but those she provided as references know nothing about her. She is a fraud and nothing less.”
“Then we must protect Georgiana, Kitty, and Lydia,” said Elizabeth, a decisive note in her voice. “Given her efforts to get Georgiana away from us, I cannot imagine her motives are pure.”
“Perhaps you are being a little hasty, Mrs. Darcy,” said Fitzwilliam.
The look Elizabeth gave Fitzwilliam suggested curiosity. “What do you mean?”
“Just that we do not knowwhyMrs. Younge passed herself off as a gentlewoman.”
“Does it matter?” was Elizabeth’s blunt question.
“It does, because there may be some danger of which we know nothing. If we incarcerate Mrs. Younge without learning what it is, that danger will persist.”
“You speak of Mrs. Younge’s attempts to induce us to allow the Ramsgate scheme.”
Fitzwilliam nodded. “It seems there is more at play here than a woman attempting to defraud us by portraying herself as something she is not. Given her insistence, I suspect there are others involved—I mean to find out who they are.”
“I apologize, Colonel Fitzwilliam, but I cannot agree.” Elizabeth shook her head—Darcy knew from experience that when she felt herself in the right, as she did now, there was no moving her. “That exposes Georgiana and my sisters to continued danger, which is something I will not allow.”
“Thompson is capable,” argued Fitzwilliam. “Under his watchful eye and the scrutiny of us all, there should be little risk.”
“You had best capitulate now, Colonel,” said Mr. Bennet, his fond gaze finding Elizabeth. “When my daughter gets that look in her eye, there is no gainsaying her.”
“In this case,” said Lord Matlock, “I must agree with Mrs. Darcy. I understand what you are saying, Anthony, but you are thinking strategically. The most important consideration is Georgiana’s safety—next to that, discovering any potential confederates is a secondary consideration.”
Though it was clear he was not in complete agreement, Fitzwilliam subsided. “Then we had best act to separate them at once.”
With a nod, Darcy summoned the housekeeper, instructing her to assign another footman to take Thompson’s place and ask the burly footman to attend them. Mrs. Mayfield did notunderstand what was happening, but she was an excellent servant and carried out her instructions at once.
“Mr. Thompson,” said Darcy when the man stood before them, “we have discovered some disturbing details about Mrs. Younge. Go to Miss Darcy’s room and escort Mrs. Younge here so that we may question her further. Miss Darcy should join Miss Kitty and Miss Lydia and stay with them for the moment. If she asks, tell Miss Darcy that we will explain as much as we can but that she should remain with the Bennet sisters for the moment.”
“Very well, Mr. Darcy,” said Thompson, bowing and leaving the room. “I shall return with Mrs. Younge at once.”
“Good man,” said Lord Matlock as he departed. “There is no one in your employ more trustworthy, and no one more imposing. A good servant does not question their orders, but Thompson is more apt to obey without question than most.”
“Jameson trusted him implicitly,” added Fitzwilliam.
The wait was not long, for Thompson soon returned, trailing Mrs. Younge, his watchful gaze ensuring she did not try to escape or other such foolishness. The way the companion held herself, head high, shoulders squared, her posture erect to the extent that Queen Charlotte herself could take notes, one might never think she suspected anything amiss. It was all a façade, Darcy thought, for the woman must know they had unmasked her. Darcy looked at Thompson, who nodded to assure him that all his instructions had been carried out. Before Darcy could speak, Elizabeth rose and excused herself.
“I shall join Georgiana and my sisters; I do not suppose you require my presence.”
