“I said no such thing,” Martha’s eyes glittered dangerously. “Only that your father’s principles would have destroyed enterprises that had enriched half the county.”
“Enterprises such as smuggling?” Elizabeth asked with continued innocence.
“Among other things.”
“And my mother? What threat could she possibly have posed to business?”
“Your mother was… collateral damage,” Martha admitted with chilling indifference. “She always put too much sugar in her tea, so unfortunate as she would have tasted the bitter foxglove… particularly on that final evening.”
Elizabeth’s blood ran cold at this casual confession of poisoning,but she maintained her performance. “How interesting. You seem to have quite extensive knowledge of that evening’s events. Almost as though you were present during their final moments.”
“I happened upon them in time to rescue you.” Martha clasped her hands. “It was too late for them, but not for you. As gratitude for saving your life and bringing you back to Pemberley, you must marry George. Only then will I give my testimony as to what I saw and know.”
Madame Evro shot Martha a warning glance. “Perhaps the night is inauspicious. The spirits have been disturbed, particularly the young lady’s parents. We should depart before retribution comes…”
Rumsey suddenly moved to the window, his skeletal costume making him appear like a harbinger of doom.
“Torches,” he announced grimly. “A large party approaching from the direction of Pemberley. Armed men on horseback.”
“Impossible,” Martha snarled. “No one knows we’re here.”
“Someone does,” Rumsey replied, drawing a pistol from beneath his robes. “And they’re coming fast.”
Elizabeth’s heart leaped with hope even as she maintained her expression of confusion. “How mysterious! Who could wish to disturb our lovely ceremony?”
“The same interfering fools who have plagued this family for generations,” Martha spat. “But they’re too late. The ceremony proceeds now, with or without cooperation!”
“But you cannot force—” Collins began.
“I can force whatever I choose,” Martha interrupted, producing her weapon. “Sign the register now, girl, or watch your precious cousin suffer the consequences.”
Elizabeth glanced at the pistol pointed at Collins, then at the approaching lights visible through the window. Darcy was coming—she could feel it with certainty that transcended logic. But he would arrive to find her either married to George Wickham or dead from resisting.
Unless she could cause a distracting diversion.
“Very well,” she said with apparent resignation. “I shall sign your register. But first, I must have one final blessing from the spirits of this place. Surely you cannot deny a bride her last request?”
“Make it quick,” Martha growled.
Elizabeth gathered the registry, the pen, and ink, walking around the room as if communing with supernatural forces. In reality, she was positioning herself near the cottage’s rear exit, calculating distances and timing.
“Oh spirits of Rose Cottage,” she intoned dramatically, “grant your blessing upon this union and protect all who dwell within these walls!”
As if summoned by her words, the sound of hoofbeats thundered outside, growing rapidly closer. Rumsey cursed and moved toward the front door, his pistol raised.
“They’re surrounding the cottage,” he shouted. “Armed party, at least a dozen men!”
Martha’s face contorted with rage and desperation. “Then we finish this now. Sign the register or I’ll shoot Collins where he sits.”
“Very well…” Elizabeth dipped the quill into the inkwell and flung the ink at Mrs. Wickham, splattering her face. “Oh my, in my excitement, my hand slipped.”
Rumsey’s pistol exploded in a flash as he fired at the approaching riders. Collins screamed and toppled the chair he was tied to. George dove for cover, and Martha wiped her ink-stained eyes, stumbling blindly into the fire.
Elizabeth bolted for the rear door, slipping into the darkness as shouts erupted both inside and outside the cottage. She raced down the path toward the lake, her white silhouette gliding like a ghost beneath the giant harvest moon. And the Pemberley clock tower tolled the midnight hour.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
MOONLIT HIDEAWAY
