“Indeed, I did,” Biggs agreed. “Tell me all.”
Jenny related her experience from a little earlier. She revealed how she showed no trace of recognition as she had been instructed, and she mentioned that she had inadvertently told the man the family was departing for Hertfordshire. For some reason, Mr Biggs was not angry with her; in fact, he told her she had done well.
After Biggs conveyed the report to Holder, and the latter spoke to the men and women of the family—after the meeting in his study, Holder had shared all relevant facts with his wife and daughters—and it had been agreed that while being carefully watched, Wickham would be allowed to follow them to Netherfield Park. Running him to ground in the country was much preferable than trying to find him in the rabbit warrens found in St Giles and Seven Dials.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
When Wickham stole the telescope, and his time spent in Hertfordshire:
Two men dressed as labourers had identified the horse before they saw Wickham. One kept an eye on the horse, and another followed him into the shop.
The man did nothing to stop him when Wickham stole the telescope, and when the owner wanted to charge after the thief, he was told to send the invoice to Holder House, and it would be paid forthwith.
Those two men, and a group of their fellows, followed Wickham to Hatfield, and two of them took rooms at the Black Crow Inn, where Wickham had rented a room. Once they knew that Wickham was to use Oakham Mount as his vantage point to reconnoitre the area, one man was always hidden in the branches of one of the verdant oaks on the summit while others watched from below.
Wickham did not realise that he had the habit of speaking to himself, which he had done when he had planned out how to capture the foundling.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Elizabeth as bait:
William hated it, but he knew his Lizzy would not be moved. The more he protested, the firmer she became in her resolve. She wanted this blight removed once and for all, and the only way was for him to think he would succeed. As her parents eventually agreed, William was overruled. Hence, they began riding out, one day only with William and one day with a single, normal-sized footman following her.
At least, that is what Wickham saw through the narrow field of view provided by the telescope.
Had he thought to look farther afield, he would have seen that she was anything but unprotected. To each side of her were men, always at a distance but close enough that if needed, they would be there. A few men with long rifles were positioned just in case it came to that.
Once the man on the mount reported that Wickham would attempt to execute his plan the next day, the plan to have guards hidden close to the trees and the rest of the men on the other side of the stand was formulated.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Earlier in the day Wickham intended to take Elizabeth:
“William, I know you object, but I promise you I will be safe.” Elizabeth removed her Queen Anne pistol from her reticule. “If the worst happens and all of the men who are there to make sure I am safe do not rescue me, I will shoot him. You know my aim is true.”
“I am certain you will be safe, but it does not mean I will not be concerned,” William replied.
“I love you too, William,” Elizabeth responded tenderly. “Had you been the bait in this trap, I too, would have worried about you. You know that many men will be there in addition to John, Brian, and their men. Even without you present, they would never allow any harm to come to me. It is time; you and the other men need to ride out so you will be on the other side of the trees in time. I am sure Major Tremain is in great anticipation of having his stallion returned to him.”
“He went to the Black Crow Inn the first night he arrived. To his delight, Sampson is unharmed. It seems that the self-interest of needing a horse made Wickham treat the horse properly,” Darcy reported. He gave his love a quick kiss and went to join the other men who would take a long ride to arrive unseen at the other side of the trees.
Less than an hour later, Elizabeth departed with her lone,unthreatening-lookingfootman.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The present:
“This is all your fault,” Wickham spat at the one he hated. “If you had minded your own business at Pemberley, I would not have been cast aside.”
“Your memory must be very faulty, unlike mine, which israther good,” Elizabeth shot back. “I was in the stables admiring the new kittens when you and your late mother came and accosted me. Your own words and actions caused Mr Darcy to withdraw his patronage. Who forced you and your mother to berate a little girl the way you did in the stables? Who made you say the things you did? If you want to know the root of your problems, look in the mirror!”
Wickham wanted to issue a setdown, but he was cut off.
“Do not look so surprised. As clever as you think you are, your unwarranted confidence blinded you to the fact you have been watched from the day you approached Jenny, the Holder House maid, until your inept attempt to what? Kidnap my daughter?” Holder enquired from atop his mount.
Before Wickham could reply, two of his former brother officers arrived, leading Sampson with them. Major Tremain vaulted from his rented horse and after examining his stallion, he was soon atop him.
“I would have married her so that the Darcys would feel the pain of denying me my due all because that foundling bitch…” Whatever Wickham was about to say was lost when an enormous fist crashed into his face. He fell to the ground, blood falling from his broken nose and mouth. Not a few teeth lay strewn on the grass.
