The Countess of Holder and I were extremely impressed by your vast amount of experience as a companion and that you were employed by some of the leading families in theTon.
As such, we invite you to come to the above address on Friday the 6th day of November at 11 o’clock for an interview.
If in person you are as impressive as your characters suggest, then I see no reason why the position will not be yours. As we have three daughters, and you desire to remain long-term, the role could be yours for not a few years. We are very generous with those who are good and loyal staff or servants.
If my daughters’ previous companion had not chosen to retire to spend more time with her family, we would not have found one of your quality.
If the day and time I proposed is not convenient, please inform me as soon as you are able.
PH Carrington, Earl of Holder
“Did I not tell you that using the names of those even more senior would ensure they would not verify your characters?” Wickham crowed. He could smell the banknotes already.
“You did, George. You said your plan would not fail, and the words in that letter are the proof. Soon we will be twenty thousand pounds richer and on our way out of England,” Karen Younge sang. “I will work hard to gain Lady Elizabeth’s trust.” She paused as she had a thought. “Must it only be her?”
“Yes, she must pay for how much suffering she caused,” Wickham insisted.
He had heard a report that the dowries were double what he had assumed. Forty thousand pounds would set him up for life in the Americas. He would, of course, be alone, and he would not tell Karen about the much higher amount of the chit’s dowry.
In his mind it was poetic justice that the one who had caused him to lose his gentleman’s education, along with any chance at Mr Darcy’s continuing patronage, would be the one whose dowry would fund his new life of leisure.
Just as important to him was ruining her as soon as he had the money. Better still would be if she fell with child. He could just imagine how her life would be ruined if she had to carry his bastard offspring. He cared not whether Miss Lizzy would submit willingly or he would have to force her compliance. Either way she would be bedded by him.
Wickham would accompany Karen on Friday so it would not be a long wait to hear of her success. At last he would get his due.
Chapter 24
“I have seen some bad forgeries in my time, but this one is worse than all of them. It is not even close to my wife’s script,” the Duke of Bedford scoffed. “They did not even bother to acquire something my Georgiana wrote to use as a guide when trying to write this fabrication.” Bedford held up the page which was supposed to have been written by his wife.
The men were meeting in a private parlour at White’s. In case the mischief-makers who were behind the letter were watching Holder House, they did not want to be seen together in public.
“Aside from my Edith knowing that your daughter had one companion only, the one she interviewed, there has been enough correspondence between our wives that without even reading the fiction on the page, Edith knew it was not written by Lady Georgiana,” Holder responded to the duke.
“My Sarah has never heard of a Mrs Younge, never mind employed her. Did the fool behind this just pick random names of nobles? My Alicia is not yet thirteen, and we have never had a companion for her,” Lord Jersey added.
“And we only have three sons,” Prince Esterhazy stated. The Hungarian ambassador spoke perfect English with only a slight accent of his country.
“You gentlemen will arrive at Holder House by ten in the morning on the morrow, will you not?” The three men whose wives had been defamed all nodded. “When the unsuspecting woman arrives, she will have much for which to answer.” Holder turned to the Duke of Bedford. “We can use your familial connection to His Majesty to hang the threat of treason and a one-way trip to the Tower over her head to discover if there are any co-conspirators in this endeavour. I believe she would rather keep her head so her tongue will be loose.”
“Darcy and I will also be present,” Matlock said firmly. He looked at the other men in the room. “That is, unless any of you object to our presence.” His brother-in-law had an item of business which could not be deferred, which is why he was absent on this day.
No one did.
“Would any of you object to allowing Matlock or Darcy to collect you and convey you to my house? It is just in case the house is being watched. My men do not believe that to be the case, but better safe than sorry,” Holder proposed. “The Matlock and Darcy coaches are commonly seen at Holder House, and the equipages will shield you from possible prying eyes when you alight.”
The prince, duke, and earl accepted the offer of transportation. Darcy would collect his Highness while Matlock would bring Bedford and Jersey.
After shaking hands with Matlock and Holder, the other three men departed.
“Holder, you have no idea who would attempt to place someone in your house in this way under false pretences, do you?” Matlock queried.
“Edith and I have considered this ever since the fiction was received. Neither of us could think of anyone who would do something like this. It is either a long-held grudge or a crime of opportunity. Which one, I am not sure,” Holder replied thoughtfully.
“There is only one I can think of who would hold something against your family, especially Lizzy,” Matlock recalled.
“You mean George Wickham?” Holder saw Matlock nod. “It has been ten or eleven years since that incident. Also, since his father’s death and his departure from Darcy’s estate, we have seen neither hide nor hair of him. It could be, but if so, why now?”
“It is speculation on my part; we will not know until that woman arrives at your home on the morrow,” Matlock clarified.
