“It also means we must take greater care to protect the girls,” said Mr. Bennet.
“And for that,” said Darcy, “I will pledge the resources of the Darcy family.”
A knock at the door interrupted their discussion—at Darcy’s call, Mrs. Mayfield entered the room.
“I beg your pardon, Mr. Darcy,” said she. “Given the excitement of last night, I checked to ensure everything was in order and discovered that a key is missing from the cabinet in my office.”
Darcy exchanged concerned glances with his fellows. “Can I assume it was the key to the east door?”
“It was,” confirmed the woman.
“Have Mr. Monroe summon a locksmith at once if he has not already. If the man cannot come today, have him post a guard at that door tonight. Can I assume the key will not work in any other door?”
“It will not, Mr. Darcy. I shall inform Mr. Monroe.”
When the woman left, Darcy raised an eyebrow, and Fitzwilliam did not hesitate to respond. “We have our means of entrance and a likely suspect for the missing key. The question is why she passed a key to her confederate.”
“I suggest it was a contingency against the possibility of Mrs. Younge being unmasked,” said Bennet.
Fitzwilliam eyed the other man and nodded. “Mrs. Younge does not strike me as the kind of woman who would forward another’s schemes if she could not benefit from them.”
“She might agree if her confederate threatened her,” said Bingley.
“Or they had some other devilry in mind,” said Fitzwilliam. “She could have assisted him if she were still free, for example, which might have improved her chances of success.”
“Either way,” said Lord Matlock, “we have nothing more than conjecture.”
“Which is why I shall speak to Mrs. Younge at once,” said Fitzwilliam.
“Do you suppose she will reveal anything?” asked Bennet.
“Perhaps not,” said Fitzwilliam. “The longer we press her, the more chance there is of breaking her.” Fitzwilliam offered an evil grin. “It is too bad we are more civilized now than we were a century ago. An hour on the rack would induce her to speak, I will warrant.”
“You would put a woman to the rack?” asked Darcy, bemused.
“To protect my family, I would do much.”
“Then you must restrain your bloodthirsty tendencies, Anthony,” said his father. He turned back to Darcy. “I trust you have already seen to the increased security of the house?”
“There will now be multiple men patrolling the halls at night,” said Darcy with a nod.
“A few extra men would not go amiss,” said Fitzwilliam. “I have some contacts that would provide you with several stout and trusty lads.”
“That would be for the best,” said Darcy.
With that, they adjourned, and Fitzwilliam excused himself at once. Mrs. Younge was not a woman to crack easily, but Fitzwilliam meant to start the process. It may take some time, but he knew that in the end, she would speak out of self-preservation if nothing else.
“THAT IS MOST SHOCKING!” exclaimed Mrs. Bennet later when William explained the situation to them. “To think a snake was in this house the whole time!”
Mrs. Bennet’s fretting was not beyond Elizabeth’s experience. For her part, Elizabeth was not unmoved by the event; that Mrs. Younge had been plotting against Georgiana for some time was no surprise, though she had not imagined the extent of it. That they still did not know the truth of the matter was not comforting, though she knew that Colonel Fitzwilliam would do what he could to provide them with those answers.
“What shall we do, William?” Mrs. Bennet continued to moan. “Our daughters and dear Georgiana are in danger from that woman’s confederates!”
“That Mrs. Younge is now discovered is an encouraging sign, Maggie,” said Mr. Bennet. He was not a tactile man, but when he reached out to grasp her hand in his, Mrs. Bennet seemed to take strength from it. “With Darcy’s men aroused to the danger, a man will not penetrate the house again.”
“When the girls go out,” added William, “we will ensure they have adequate protection. We will need to take care, but our measures will protect the girls from any danger.”
Mrs. Bennet offered a decisive nod. “I shall also protect them—no attacker will come close except they must pass through me!”
