Gardiner did not comment; his late sister was never spoken about, but he was well aware of why Lizzy was not at Longbourn.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Mr Smythe opened the door at Snowhaven to find a youngish lady outside.“May I help you, madam?” he asked. She was well put together but he had no idea who she was or why she was there, and his suspicion was aroused immediately.
“I am Mrs Younge, here to apply for the position of companion for Lady Elizabeth Fitzwilliam, the lady answered.
“Then madam I am afraid that the agency misinformed you; the family is away from home at the moment.” Smythe started to close the door.
“I-I must have got the dates mixed up,” Karen Younge hedged.“Would you be kind enough to tell me when I should return so that I may meet her parents?” she asked in a fake syrupy sweet voice. Smythe made a snap decision; he did not believe the woman, but he was sure that the master would like to interview her to find out why she was really at Snowhaven and who sent her.
“The family will return on the last day of July; I would recommend that you present yourself on the first day of August.” Smythe closed the door and went to compose a message to the master.
When Miss Younge returned to the small carriage so quickly, Hodges, who was playing the role of driver while the man that Younge sent was the supposed footman, feared that their ruse had been discovered.“What‘appened?” he asked sharply convinced that the woman had somehow given the game away.
“Keep calm, Hodges,” Miss Younge said disdainfully.“The family is away until the end of the month, the butler told me to come back the first day in August. If your information had been better, we would not have wasted our time today!” she added with asperity.
“It be too dan’rous to get close to‘ere. We will return on that day,” Hodges said. He was disappointed that he had to wait, but he had waited this long to get money from his knowledge of who the little miss was; he would wait a little longer.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Reggie read the note from his butler with interest. He trusted the man’s instincts and his suspicions too were raised, especially as he knew that the agency had been told not to send any candidates until mid-August. Yes, he would meet with this woman and find out what she was about.
Chapter 12
August 1st, 1804
The Earl and Countess had arrived at Snowhaven the previous morning. In the past, it was always the boys at home—until Lizzy was gifted to them—it felt somewhat surreal to return and find only their two daughters. One son was at Seaview Cottage, on his wedding trip; and the other had returned to the Royal Dragoon’s training ground after his brother’s wedding.
Rather than relax their vigilance, Lord Reggie Fitzwilliam had increased it over the years. He had given work to a good number of ex-soldiers as outriders, footmen, and even gardeners. Of course, wherever Lizzy was, Biggs, Johns, or both of them were never far. Expecting the nefarious woman posing as a companion candidate to arrive that morning, Reggie had suggested that Elaine take the girls and make some tenant visits. He wanted all three out of the house in case there was any unpleasantness.
The ladies had departed a little while ago, with both of Elizabeth’s personal footmen-guards as well as four additional guards, two who doubled as the carriage driver and his assistant and two additional footmen. Both George and William had volunteered to be with Reggie when he confronted the woman, but he had politely refused the offer as he had, in his opinion, more than enough security at Snowhaven.
As the carriage departed from the front of the house, Aggie happily loping alongside, Lizzy turned to her mother.“Mama, Papa wants us to be away from the house because he is worried that this person wants to cause me, or us, some harm, does he not?” she asked pointedly.
“I should have known that we can never get anything by you Lizzy, Yes, Smythe suspected when she arrived here some weeks ago to apply to be your companion that her story did not ring true. Your father would prefer to deal with her and try and find out her true reason for her being here,” her mother told her.
“How come Uncle George and Will are not here to help Papa,” Elizabeth wanted to know.
“They wanted to be here to do just that, my darling daughter, but your father refused the offer. He says that he is able to deal with the woman on his own. You are just like your father sometimes; you are both very stubborn when you choose to be,” Elaine smiled as she said the last.“At least,” she added,“I was able to convince your father to send an express to Richard.”
“Why do these bad people all want to hurt Lizzy?” Anne asked.“She has never harmed anyone in her life, and yet she was discarded, then that boy tried to murder her, and now this!” Anne did not disguise her anger that someone would try and harm her younger sister.
“That, Anne, is a particularly good question. We have no idea why Lizzy was discarded. Unless we find someone who knows, we may never know. George Wickham was jealous. He was never happy with his lot after his mother filled his head with lies about Uncle George; he always wanted what was not his due. For some reason, he took his hatred out on Lizzy and his adoptive father.
“This woman today, we are not sure if she means you harm or if it is something aimed at all of us. That is why he wants to have Smythe bring her into the house, into his study, where two guards will be in the secret antechamber, and two outside the door ready to enter at a moment’s notice,” Elaine explained to the girls. Just then Aggie barked to let them know that she was right outside the conveyance, not enjoying being ignored.
“Good girl, Aggie,” Elizabeth called to her. Hearing her mistress call her name was enough to placate the small-horse-sized animal.
“We will be at the Smithson’s soon; do you girls know which basket is for them?” Elaine asked, receiving nods from both of her daughters as they pointed to the basket with the yellow and green ribbon.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
When Richard received his father’s express, he did not have a good feeling about the stubborn man not accepting help from the Darcys. This sent Richard to the office of his Commanding General, Grant Atherton, with an emergency leave request which was granted without delay. An hour later, Richard was on his mount, Achilles, heading north in his uniform, sabre and all. He rode hard, resting his horse when needed, and by that night he was well over half way home.
Richard had considered sending an express to Andrew at Seaview, but he would not disturb his brother and sister-in-law’s wedding trip unless it was a life-or-death situation, so he had not done so. As he lay in his bed worrying, knowing that the woman, whoever she, was would be at Snowhaven on the morrow, he hoped that he would reach the house on time. He planned to leave as soon as there was sufficient light to ride safely. It would help no one if he had a riding accident.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
