The servant cleared his throat. “Sir, if you are receiving guests, Mrs Gardiner is here.”
Darcy’s eyebrows raised, but she could not understand his now shaken expression. “Yes, I thought I heard her voice.” He seemed to recognise Bingley’s man because he said, “Did you bring her?” A nod. “And does anyone in that house know she is here?” A shake. Darcy sighed deeply, and it seemed as though he thought a thousand things at once. “Is Bingley’s chaise waiting?”
“No, it is a hired hackney to return her to Gracechurch Street. The lady said she was ill.”
“Send it away—donotlet it wait in the mews,” he said firmly. “You can stay, and we shall hire another when Miss—Mrs Gardiner leaves. This shall not take long.”
He was ready to throw her out, and not even call his own carriage to send her home? Elizabeth felt ready to burst into angry tears. She was not leaving this house until she had spoken and until Darcy had explained why he had not come to see her. The servants left them, and he said, “Instead of the drawing room, I think you had better come into the library.”
She followed him and saw Kirby on the floor by the fire, wearing a new suit of clothes, lying on his stomach with his feet in the air, a book open before him, and a full plate next to the book.
“It is Nan!” he cried, climbing to his feet to bow. “Although, I suppose that ain’t your real name, is it?”
Kirby grinned widely and looked comfortable here, and Elizabeth knew instantly that her situation with Darcy was more complicated than she had feared.
Darcy wascertain Elizabeth was about to raise her voice to him until she saw Kirby in the library. He watched the fury fade from her countenance as a thoughtful comprehension took its place. As pleased as he was to see her, the idea that Markle’s man had been watching and recognised her made his heart seize in fear.
“Did anyone see you?” he asked. “Was there a man on the street or at the square?”
“I had up my hood,” she said, laying her cloak over a chair. “Someone had a party so there were carriages lining up along Berkeley Square, but why?—”
“Because my uncle is watching the house,” Kirby said through a bite of food. He had returned to sit tailor-wise on the floor by his plate and book. Darcy saw Elizabeth noticed his faded bruise that was a sickly shade of yellowish-green. “I left him and came here. Mr Darcy is sending me to school, but my uncle is looking for me.”
Kirby went back to his book and his food, and Darcy tapped the corner of his own eye. “He came here to be safe,” he said pointedly. “Markle does not know the boy is in my house, but he suspects I am helping him, and is following me wherever I go.”
Elizabeth nodded along. “He thinks you will lead him to Kirby.”
“No, he thinks I will lead him toyou.” Even in the warm light from the lamps and candles, the colour drained from her face, giving her a deathlike pallor.
He led her to sit on the sofa. As much as he had wanted to protect her from the truth and the danger, she was here now and had to be told. “Markle thinks I have Kirby hidden away somewhere and that he can abduct you to trade for Kirby. And since he has not yet found you, likely because you are not known in town and are staying with family who does not share your surname, he has threatened my sister instead.”
Elizabeth gasped. “Is Miss Darcy safe?”
“Fitzwilliam hid her with her companion’s sister. He thought that safer than with a friend known to society. Markle insists he will find her and said he would kidnap her tomorrow if he cannot find you. He knows he abducted the wrong woman; he killed Steamer in a fury over that and losing us, and he is shrewd enough to”—he looked away—“to know harming you would hurt me.”
Elizabeth swallowed thickly. “That is why you have not called, and why you did not go to the Hursts’.”
He could not speak freely in front of Kirby about everything he had to talk with her about, but Darcy explained what had happened since Kirby arrived Tuesday morning and Markle approached him yesterday. “I had been on my way to Cheapside before he accosted me on the street,” he finished awkwardly.
Elizabeth looked to where Kirby was reading his book. “And here I thought,” she said slowly, “that you were avoiding resuming our conversation from Sunday morning. I continue to misjudge you.” She dropped her eyes. “I am sorry that I trusted every lie that man said.”
He took her hand. “I am?—”
“Mr Darcy found a tutor in Sheffield for me,” Kirby called from across the room as though just remembering. Darcy reluctantly let go of her hand. “He says that on school holidays I can stay with him at Pemberley.”
It was true, but now Darcy wished him away so he could talk to Elizabeth. He had too much to say and not much time to say it before he hurried her to safety. But Elizabeth smiled at the interruption. “That is grand, Kirby. You are very fortunate.” She turned back to him. “What shall we do? How do we keep your sister safe?”
“I will think of something, but for now, you must return home. We called a watchman, but Markle’s men just smile and leave, and a different man takes his place once the watch is gone. If the carriages blocked Markle’s men from viewing Charles Street, it shall not last all night. I will hire a?—”
“I saidwe,” she said, staring at him. “I will not be put to the side any longer.”
“We can discuss everything between us once Markle is behind bars,” he said so Kirby could not hear.
Elizabeth gave a weak smile. “I should hope so, but I meant regarding Markle and Kirby. Your sister’s safety relies on us. Mysafety is threatened too, and I refuse to be ignored. We can solve this together.”
“I need to keep you safe.” Darcy hoped she did not notice how his voice wavered.
“And I need to help,” she said, forcing him to meet her eye.
