The sudden change from a frightened sheep to a ravening, protective beast was most amusing, as the grins on her husband and father’s faces attested. Mr. Bennet spoke to hide their mirth and ensure his wife understood that her protective instinct was most welcome.
“With you hovering over them, I cannot but suppose no attacker will dare come within a city block of your daughters.”
A resolute nod was her response, for Mrs. Bennet had heard nothing of irony in Mr. Bennet’s voice. “Victoria will also assist,for I know my daughters are as good as her daughters in her eyes.”
“That they are, Margaret,” replied Mrs. Darcy, her eyes shining with diversion. “If we handle it correctly, the girls will not even know we are restricting their movements.”
Mrs. Darcy turned to William. “Can I suppose you do not mean to inform them of the potential danger?”
The two men shared a glance. “To own the truth, we have not discussed the subject.”
“There are advantages and disadvantages to each,” mused Mr. Bennet. “Ensuring the girls are aware of any potential troubles will make them more observant, but it might cause excessive apprehension.”
“Will it keep them safer?” asked Elizabeth. “If a man can harm one of them, a little extra caution will assist, but I cannot imagine it will prevent him from doing as he pleases.”
“Perhaps we can instill that vigilance without speaking of the matter openly,” said Mrs. Darcy. “The world has dangers enough; instruction to take care in all situations will be enough without bringing them excessive worry.”
“We may even use the intrusion as an example without being more explicit,” suggested Elizabeth. “The girls are not deficient—they know there are those in society who are not benevolent.”
William glanced at Mr. Bennet, who shrugged his agreement. “Then that is what we shall do.”
The impromptu meeting adjourned, Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Darcy left together to return to the younger girls, while Mr. Bennet wandered off to the library to resume his reading unless Elizabeth missed her guess. Soon, she was left alone with her husband, not hesitating to perch herself on his knee at his invitation.
“What do you think of this business?” asked she as she leaned her head on his shoulder, his arms snaking about her.
“There appears to be more happening than we were aware,” said William. After a pause, he added: “To own the truth, I wonder if there is yet more than we know.”
Concerned, Elizabeth pushed away again and regarded him, eyes searching. “What do you mean?”
With a shake of his head, tinged with a hint of frustration, William said: “I am uncertain. These past months, from the news of my inheritance to this latest interruption of our peace, all seem connected, but there are pieces of the puzzle we still lack. I cannot help the premonition that we still have more to discover.”
“The identity of our mysterious invader, for example,” said Elizabeth, again leaning against him.
“Among other things.” William sighed and drew her closer. “This appears to have been a coordinated plot against Georgiana, Elizabeth.”
“Does that not suggest someone known to her?”
“I cannot imagine who it might be,” said William. “The familiarity of the intruder with the house seems to suggest as much.”
“Then I suppose there is nothing we can do but protect her as best we can.” Elizabeth shook her head. “I cannot suppose Kitty and Lydia are in any danger.”
“Unless this mysterious conspirator decides they present a viable path to getting what he wants. If ransom is his game, any of the three would be sufficient.”
Thereafter, they fell silent, the full implications of the danger making itself known to them both. They drew together for comfort, staying in that position for some time, two souls united, worried, but determined to protect what they were building together.
Chapter XXXIV
Darcy house became something of an armed camp in the ensuing days. As he promised, Fitzwilliam had contacted some acquaintances, and that had resulted in several capable men entering the house and providing extra security. Whereas they had entrusted one footman to prowl the halls at night, now there were at least four men hard and serious, searching for anything out of place, poised to act to protect the family should they discover something. There were few outings in those days, as the family stayed close to home, and while this was not planned, it rendered them better able to protect the girls, any of whom might now become targets to unscrupulous men.
No one in the family had much heart for revelry in those days, and invitations to soirees, balls, parties, and other such activities received a polite but firm refusal, and while the family heard nothing, soon their absence from most society became known.
“There have been whispers, as we might have expected,” said Lady Susan during a visit almost a week after the event. “Charity, my youngest daughter, told me of a rumor of a breach into Darcy’s house, but the details were not well defined.”
“I suppose it was too much to ask that the event remain unknown to society,” grumbled Darcy, feeling annoyed by it all.
“News travels on wings of thought, Darcy,” said the lady, offering him a warm smile. “Endure it as well as you can, and recall that it might have been worse.”
Though unfortunate, Fitzwilliam’s questioning of Mrs. Younge revealed nothing they did not already know.
