“But I do not.” The voice she had dreaded most sounded from behind. “Is it not remarkable, Richard, the lengths somewill go for a compromise? What a triumph for a country miss to snare the son of an earl.”
Elizabeth spun to face Mr. Darcy, who had stepped from the shadows behind the Colonel. “What have I done to earn your scorn?” she demanded. “You asked me to dance not half an hour ago, and now—this? I don’t understand you, sir!”
Darcy addressed the Colonel, ignoring her entirely. “Come, Richard, don’t let yourself be bewitched as I once was. She has a knack for turning any man’s head.”
“Darcy! That’s enough. I won’t have you speak to a lady that way. Explain yourself—I see only genuine concern in Miss Bennet.”
Darcy hesitated, suddenly unsure. “How does she know your name? You said yourself you’d never met her. And she knows about Wickham, and Georgiana. There’s some scheme at play.”
“Oh, and don’t forget Mrs. Younge, that treacherous companion. That should complete my knowledge, shouldn’t it?” Elizabeth snapped, wishing she’d stayed in the stifling warmth of the ballroom instead of facing Darcy’s cold suspicion.
“Miss Bennet,” said the Colonel, “there’s some truth in Darcy’s doubts. Yet in my time in the Peninsula, I saw many things far stranger than your knowing the names of Darcy’s sister and her companion. Can you explain it to me?”
Elizabeth managed a wry smile. “As I once told William Goulding, you have uncommon sense, Colonel. Perhaps that’s why you command men, while Mr. Darcy manages only his sheep in Derbyshire. But this isn’t the moment for jests—if we’re to catch their carriage, we must leave now.”
Just then, a groom approached, drawn by the raised voices. The Colonel called out, “Have Mr. Darcy’s carriage readied—four horses, quickly. We may need to travel fast.” He turned to Darcy.“If Georgiana truly is in danger, I for one don’t wish to delay. It does no harm to prepare. Now, Miss Bennet…”
“You’ve only been in the neighbourhood a short while, Colonel,” Elizabeth said, “but you must have noticed how prosperous it is—good roads, a new assembly hall. There are no beggars here. And at tonight’s assembly, Miss Bingley’s preparations were excellent. But did you notice? There was plenty of satin and silk, not just muslin. Extravagant, for county families. And Mr. Darcy, you weren’t the only gentleman in an embroidered waistcoat.”
Darcy looked confused, trying to follow her point. Then it dawned on him. All the families in the area, those he and Bingley had socialised with, all appeared exceedingly well. Bingley’s four thousand a year was well known, yet few seemed impressed. His own ten thousand, usually enough to send matrons whispering about eligible matches, had been met with only passing interest.
“The neighbourhood is remarkably prosperous,” he admitted slowly, glancing at the fine quality of Elizabeth’s gown. “Much more so than the local farms could explain.”
Elizabeth’s lips curled in a half-smile. “Now you see, Mr. Darcy. The Meryton vestry does more than maintain roads and almshouses. Each member contributes and invests in canals, turnpikes, mines—and most successfully, as though certain of their investment.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam regarded Elizabeth with new understanding. There was a quiet confidence about her, a steadiness even as she argued with Darcy and worried for Georgiana.
“Miss Bennet,” he said softly, “I’ve witnessed many strange things. Once, in Spain, a young boy threw me to the ground as I entered a town behind enemy lines. A musket ball whistled past where my head had been. The boy vanished before I could thankhim. I never saw the Frenchman who fired the shot—nor could the boy have.”
Elizabeth’s expression turned weary. “I know what you mean. I can’t explain it—whether it’s a gift or a curse, I don’t know. My neighbours call it a gift, but their thoughts, their possibilities, press on me—always—without rest.Cogitata—the very contents of their minds talking to me.
“Ma’am, are you a seer?” The Colonel’s voice was barely above a whisper; such claims were rarely welcomed in society.
“Miss Bennet—a seer!” Darcy scoffed. “Richard, didn’t Robert Boyle prove second sight was a fraud a hundred years ago? Surely you can’t be serious.”
“Enough, both of you!” Elizabeth interjected. “This arguing gets us nowhere. Why not come with us, Mr. Darcy? If word gets out I travelled with two gentlemen alone in a carriage, it’s only my reputation at stake—yet, in Meryton, most accept my good sense without question. Stay here if you wish, content in your scepticism. But if you join us, you can question me all you like along the way. It won’t change the fact: your sister Georgiana is travelling north with Mr. Wickham and Mrs. Younge.”
* * *
Chapter 4
Hitchin
As was customary, the night of the Netherfield Ball was bathed by a full moon, the sky cloudless and the road well illuminated.
“We could head directly east to the Great North Road, passing through Wheathamsted to Welwyn,” said Elizabeth, “but they may have already gone through that town. Then we’d have to choose between the turnpike to Hitchin or Baldock—either way, I fear we might miss them.”
“You must trust your instincts, Miss Bennet,” the Colonel said gently.
“Let us take the turnpike north to Luton, which is about six miles north of Meryton,” she decided. “From there, we can follow the road through Stopsley—with another eight miles to Hitchin. We can ask there if anyone’s seen a carriage matching their description. If not, we continue on to Baldock.”
“And if they’ve already passed?” Darcy scoffed. “We’re chasing shadows.”
Elizabeth leaned back against the cushions. It had been a long day—preparing for the ball, rushing through dinner, and dancing until late, when she would normally have been asleep. And now, she had to contend with Mr. Darcy and his air of superiority. Tears stung her eyes, already rimmed red from exhaustion; it was, in truth, nearly morning.
“If we weren’t in such a hurry, Darcy, I’d stop the coach and give you a thrashing,” the Colonel said sharply, his tone icy. “You’re behaving like a schoolboy. If Miss Bennet is mistaken,all we lose is a few hours in the carriage. Still, I can’t shake the feeling that something is wrong. Did you check Mrs. Younge’s references? You wrote to me that they were excellent—could we have been deceived?”
“I interviewed her personally. She was very pleasant—well-spoken, with references from Lady St. Clair and Mrs. Ashburton, both friends of your mother, Lady Matlock,” Darcy replied.
