Clay Younge was shaken awake and rather than his first mate, he woke to three soldiers all with their weapons pointed at him.“What are ye doin’on my ship?” he attempted to bluster.
“Arresting you and your crew,” Richard returned.
“On what grounds?” Younge had a sneaking feeling that all was not well with his sister and her part in their plan.
“Being part of a conspiracy to kidnap the daughter of an earl and the murder of said earl, who happens to be my father, so please give me an excuse to end you here and now!” Richard shot back.“We have your sister,” he added,“so before you try and make useless denials, she sang like a bluebird!”
Younge eyed his pistol in the belt hanging over the chair but even he could see that he would be dead before his feet hit the deck. While Richard and a soldier kept their weapons aimed at him, the other soldier clapped Younge in irons and then he was frogmarched to the deck to join the rest of his crew, all in the same straights. As they were making sure that all of the crew were secure, as arranged by the Colonel of the militia unit, a navy cutter sailed alongside the sloop and secured herself to the smaller vessel with grappling hooks.
The Lieutenant that led the boarding party congratulated the Dragoon Captain on the success of his mission and took charge of the crew and the ship. Younge would go to the gallows and his crew would all be transported. Richard returned to the boats with the militiamen and as soon as he was able, he was on a rested Achilles’s back riding towards his home making sure that he rested the horse more than on the way to Faxfleet.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Andrew was praying that his father still lived all the way home. They had travelled through the nights, only stopping briefly to refresh themselves as the horses were changed. As they pulled to a halt at Snowhaven, he was relieved to see that there were no black bows on the doors. As he was helping hand Marie out, he saw Uncle George and William descend the stairs.
“Andrew, Marie, it is good that you are here,” Uncle George intoned seriously.“Your father still lives, but we know not for how much longer.”
“Where is Mother Elaine?” Marie asked as they entered the house. Once told she headed up the grand staircase to find her mother-in-law. The three men went to the study. Andrew refused to sit behind the desk.
“Tell me all,” Andrew requested. Between his uncle and cousin, the informed him of all the facts. When their recitation was complete, Andrew was astounded and angry all at the same time.“The man that shot my father was the one who discarded Lizzy?” Both Darcys nodded.“That was not enough; he wanted to visit further heartache on her, on all of us. He is lucky he is dead, or I would have killed him with my bare hands. I am sure that Richard will make quick work of the brother and his crew of miscreants. You say the trial was today?”
“Yes,” William confirmed. “The evidence was overwhelming, it took the jury but minutes to convict on all charges and the judge passed the sentence of death. The two will meet the hangman at dawn on the morrow.” With all the information assimilated, Andrew proceeded to his parent’s suite.
When he entered, he found his wife comforting his sisters and Georgie. Seeing him, a tearful Elizabeth flew into his arms. She was about to apologise for what she caused when she stopped herself as she remembered the promise that she made to her papa. She held on for dear life for a few minutes and then Andrew took Anne into his arms and hugged her tightly.
As he walked into his father’s chambers, he could hear that his father’s breathing was laboured and he went to his mother, who had Aunt Anne next to her. His mother stood and enfolded her oldest into her arms and wept silently on his shoulder.
When Richard tore up the drive at full gallop, he was gratified to see his brother’s coach standing near the steps and like his brother he was relieved that he saw no black bows or ribbon on the doors. As his horse came to a stop, he vaulted off its back and threw the reins to a waiting groom as he ran up the stairs. He stopped to kiss his sisters and sister-in-law, briefly greeted his uncle and William, and then proceeded into his father’s chambers.
As he walked in Reggie woke, pleased to see his sons present.“I am not long for this world, Andrew and Richard. I could not have asked for better sons. I love you all and not even death will alter that.”
“I will not be able to do this without you, father,” Andrew said with tears flowing unashamedly.
“Yes, you will Andrew; I have taught you well and you are a good man. Richard,” he addressed his second son,“I am sure that you will do well. Remember that your estate is there for you when you are ready to leave the military.”
“I love you father,” Richard choked out as he too was crying.“You are the best father any of us could have wished for.”
“Lizzy blames herself; she will need all of your support after I am gone,” he wheezed.
“She made you a promise Reggie,” his wife reminded him,“and we will all support one another after you are gone.” Seeing that his breathing was slowing, Elaine sent Richard to summon the family in the sitting room. Once Georgiana was sent to the nursery with her governess, William joined the family.
It seemed that Reginald Fitzwilliam, Earl of Matlock, had been clinging to life until all of his family was present. He took two more shallow breaths and then he breathed no more.
Chapter 14
From the royal family on down, the Ton was stunned and outraged when they learned that the Earl of Matlock had been murdered. Many prepared to head to Snowhaven for Reginald Fitzwilliam’s funeral. The story was published in all of the papers about the criminals that had come to Snowhaven with malicious intent and how one, Sam Hodges, had shot the Earl and had been dispatched by his son Captain Richard Fitzwilliam of the Royal Dragoons.
There was an outpouring of outrage that a peer of the realm could be attacked thus in his own home but there was satisfaction that the reporting informed the readers that all of the perpetrators had paid the ultimate price for their dastardly actions. There had been no mention of the intent to kidnap Lady Elizabeth nor that some of the criminals had been apprehended near East Riding.
As Mrs Fitzpatrick read the broadsheets, her fury grew to a crescendo as she cursed the day that she had hired Hodges. Her fury was not that he had murdered her brother, but that it was not by her hand that he had perished. Now thanks to the worthless man’s actions, the family would be on heightened alert again so her plans would be delayed again! It was not to be borne! She disliked even less the fact that she knew not what had prompted the footman to take the actions that he did.
She summoned George Wickham to interrogate him to see what he knew.“Well boy, what do you know of this debacle; why was I not informed that one in my employ was taking action against my brother? That was my right!” she spat out.
“He never discussed his plans with me, Mrs Fitzpatrick,” George said truthfully. He omitted his suspicions that caused him to follow Hodges to the Wild Bull and the threat that had been made if he did not keep his nose out of the man’s business.
“I was to be informed of everything in my household. Go search his belongings and report back to me if you find anything that will elucidate the actions that were taken.” She waved dismissively.
Wickham went to the male servants’quarters above the stables. The other footman was present so he would not be able to secrete anything of value away if he found it. He found one letter which he turned over to his employer. She read it but it did not shed much light on the affair except that Hodges was trying to get money from her brother and some other unnamed gentleman.
