Foundation of Love: The Gypsy Blessing 2 (29 page)

Elizabeth lifted it and looked closer and gasped. “In the center of the stone there is a black spot.”

“A flaw?”

Elizabeth shook her head. “No, I think the stone was selected
because
of the spot. My mother went through a mystic phase a while back—crystals and minerals and that sort of thing. This is an evil eye pendant. See how it’s shaped? With it attached to the chain this way, the oval stone is on its side with a black spot in the middle and white all around it, like an eye.”

“Then I’m
sure
it’s been damaged while in the trunk over the years.” William raised one eyebrow. “If that’s the case, I doubt the gypsies would have given it to her. They said it was for
good
luck.”

She chuckled. “No, no! An evil eye pendant
protects
the wearer from evil. See the outside shape of the filigree? It’s a five pointed star—a pentagram. Another protection from evil.”

“I thought a pentagram was supposed to be bad?”

“As long as one point faces directly up, it’s not, and since the ring that this one hangs from is on a point of the star, it will always be worn the right way.” Elizabeth smiled. “Or at least that’s what the lady who owned the shop my mother used to frequent told me when I admired a pentagram pin she had on display. I really liked it, but I was afraid I’d pin it on the wrong way. She said if it doesn’t point straight up, those who believed in that sort of thing might think I was into black magic. Even if I didn’t believe in it, I didn’t want anyone to think that of me.”

He shrugged one shoulder. “So this is a super good luck charm, then.”

She smiled.

“In that case, you should start wearing it all the time.”

Her smile faded. “Yeah, I guess I haven’t had a run of good luck lately, have I? Maybe I should give it to Lydia.”

“The gypsy said it belongs to
Elizabeth
Bennett, not Lydia Bennett.” He hesitated. “Besides, if Lydia is that deeply involved with Wickham, he might
borrow
it from her and sell it.”

Elizabeth shuddered. “We can’t have that, can we? All right, then, it’s settled—I’ll wear it all the time. There’s a shorter chain in here, too.” She lifted it from the handkerchief and clasped it around her neck. “If I keep it on the long one, it’ll be under my shirt, and when I dress up and want it to show, I’ll wear the shorter silver chain so it will sit right about here.” She pointed to just under her collarbone. She retrieved the printout of the Darcy’s wedding portrait from the trunk. “The same way Elizabeth is wearing it here.”

He took the paper from her. “I didn’t even notice that.”

“I should have gone through the trunk sooner. Maybe today’s meeting would have gone better if I had been wearing this.”

“I’m not sure I believe that, but at least we can use what happened today to our advantage. When I set up my next meeting, I’ll insist I meet with the boss himself because I don’t trust his underlings any longer. See, you’ve already helped... You don’t need to do anything more.”

“You’re protecting me,” Elizabeth stated firmly.

“Yes—I really don’t want you involved any further. These men are sleazy.”

Seeing she was still making up her mind as to whether she was insulted at his forbidding her to do more, William decided to distract her.

“Richard’s brother, Brian, just finished up our last project besides Lambton. I think I’ll send for him. Richard is on the hospital, and Charles is on the office complex. I’ll put Brian on Pemberley Deux as soon as possible.”

“Really? But, how? I thought all the permits required bribes these days.”

“I got that one first—before all the difficulties started. Even before the hospital.”

As the warmth of her smile spread through him, he thought,
Seeing
you happy is the only type of thanks I need.

Chapter
21

~The following night...

Something woke Elizabeth. Checking the clock, she saw it was just after two in the morning. She lay in bed listening for a while before she heard a shuffling noise then a thump. Stifled giggling that could only be...

Lydia!

Elizabeth bolted out of bed and tiptoed to her bedroom door, opening it a crack to peer out. Nothing. Lydia’s door was closed, and there was no light coming from under the door. It must have been her imagination... maybe a dream. She closed her door and got back into bed.

If someone was in the house, the dog would be going nuts.

She heard another thump and giggle. A male voice whispering. This time she was sure it was coming from Lydia’s room.

Unless Lady knew him.

As she returned to her door, she heard the telltale squeak of the hinges on Lydia’s door. She peeked through the crack again.

George Wickham stepped out of Lydia’s bedroom.

What is he doing home so soon, and why is he in my house?

Lydia and Wickham sneaked down the hallway toward the stairs. Lydia was carrying a backpack. She didn’t know where the idea came from, but she just knew they were eloping.

With no time to do anything else, Elizabeth grabbed her phone and keys and shoved her feet into slippers. She was glad the sweatpants she had chosen to sleep in tonight had pockets. Judging enough time had passed, she opened her bedroom door and stole a look down the hallway. Finding it empty, she moved toward the stairs next to her room. She’d follow them until she found out what was going on, and then she’d confront him. There was no way she’d allow those pictures to come true.

Turning the corner to look down the staircase, she saw them heading out the side door. Elizabeth followed. Once outside, the couple headed down the road that served as their driveway. Leaving enough space between them not to be detected, she trailed after them. A few hundred feet away from the house, she rounded a turn. They were approaching a car, and she could hear the engine was running. She’d made a huge mistake in not stopping them sooner.

Elizabeth called out to her sister, but Lydia’s giggling must have drowned her out. Wickham opened the passenger door and practically threw Lydia inside. As he ran around to the driver’s side, Elizabeth yelled, “Stop!” Either he didn’t hear her or he ignored her.

Elizabeth stood watching, helplessly, as he hit the gas and headed for the main road.

Her phone made
that
tone—it was picture time. She pulled it out. Yet another picture of Wickham and Lydia at the store.

Elizabeth started toward the garage. After punching the wrong contact several times as she ran, she successfully selected William’s cell phone and hit the call icon.

William picked it up on the second ring. “Elizabeth?”

Elizabeth panted out, “Will! I need help. Wickham was here... at my house. He just left. Oh, Will, he took Lydia!” She reached the garage door and entered the code to open it. “I just got a photo—they’re going to the store. She had a bag packed.” Elizabeth opened her car door, got in, and slammed it shut. “I don’t think she’s coming back!”

“Stay there, Elizabeth. I’ll wake Richard and Charles and head over there.”

She pushed the button to put the call on speaker and pulled out of the garage. “She may be doing something very stupid, but she’s my sister, Will. I’m already on my way.”

~%~

William opened Richard’s bedroom door at the same time as he almost screamed into the phone, “Do NOT go in there without me, Elizabeth! Do you understand?”

Richard jumped out of bed. William grabbed Richard’s pants off a chair and threw them at him.

“Elizabeth?” The last word echoed back at him, confirming that the call had been dropped. He knew exactly where she must have been—that always happened as he pulled out of the Bennetts’ driveway and onto the main road.

Richard already had his jeans on when Darcy pushed “end.”

William had to stop himself from throwing his phone across the room. He spit out, “Wickham has Lydia!” Rushing into the hallway, he called back to Richard, “Wake Charles and go to the Bennetts’ store. I’ll meet you there.”

William was already down the staircase near the garage before he finished speaking.

~

Elizabeth turned off the headlights and pulled her car to a stop on a side street where she could see the rear of the store. There was a rented moving truck parked by the warehouse loading dock. The door slid upwards, and she could see Wickham wave to the guys in the truck. Three large men climbed out of the cab of the truck.

Her phone already in her hand, Elizabeth dialed 911. She recognized the operator’s voice as Bertie McGraw when she answered.

“Bertie, it’s Elizabeth Bennett. Someone’s breaking into Meryton Building Supply right this minute. There’s a truck out back, and I’ll bet they’re about to load it up. Tell the police there are at least four men inside the building, and they have my sister Lydia with them. One of the men is George Wickham. I’m not sure if Lydia is there willingly or not.”

With her luck lately, Elizabeth should have expected Bertie’s answer. “Most of the guys are at the scene of a multi-vehicle accident north of Meryton. It might take a little while for someone to get there, but they’ll be there. Stay put, Lizzy!”

As Elizabeth hung up, she saw Lydia through the bay doors. Her sister grabbed onto Wickham’s arm. She could hear Lydia’s whine from where she was, but Elizabeth couldn’t make out what she said. Wickham pushed her away from him with such force that Lydia fell to the ground.

Lydia screamed, “You hurt me!” She rubbed her arm. “I’m bleeding.”

Wickham yelled, “You’re gonna be in a lot more pain if you don’t listen to me. Get back to the office and open that safe.”

After texting William the latest information, including where she’d be, Elizabeth set her phone on silent-mode, slipped out of the car, and sneaked around to the employee entrance at the side of the building.

As she had left the driveway, before her phone had dropped the call, she had heard William’s plea to stay out of the store until he got there—but this was her sister! She couldn’t leave her in there alone with Wickham and those other men.

Elizabeth had her keys out, but she didn’t need them: the door was unlocked.
They must have used this door to get in.

After spending a good portion of her life at the store, she knew her way around, even in the dark. She made her way to the office without seeing anyone else. Elizabeth peeked through the open doorway and saw that Lydia was sitting on the floor in front of the closed safe, working the knob on the lock. Wickham stood over her.

Elizabeth stepped back out of sight and listened, hoping to find out how deeply Lydia was involved.

Lydia asked in a teary voice, “Who are all those men?”

“They’re friends, helping out. Since you got me past the alarm, I might as well make it worth my while.”

Lydia sobbed. “But why
steal
from us when you have all that money from your inheritance?”

“It can never be enough, and that’s your sister’s fault.”

“What could my sister have to do with your inheritance?” Elizabeth could hear the pout in Lydia’s voice. “You promised we’d take only your paychecks so we’d have more money to spend after we get married in Las Vegas.”

Wickham snorted. “Don’t blame me that you’re naïve enough to believe any of that.”

“You said you loved me... Why would you hurt my family like this? They’ll be
your
family, too, once we’re married.” Lydia sniffed.

“You still don’t get it, do you?” Wickham laughed. “It’s amazing what doors the M-word can open, isn’t it? We’re not getting married, Lydia. I only needed you to get past the alarm and get into the safe. I’m good with electronics and could have figured out the alarm myself eventually, but that takes time and planning. I couldn’t
stand
spending any more time with you and your stupid mother. Besides, I couldn’t find a girl at the alarm company like the one I found at Darcy’s house in the Hamptons.
This
was a lot more fun. For Lizzy’s own sister to betray her... What a fantastic way to get revenge!”

Elizabeth had to stifle a gasp.
Will’s house in the
Hamptons? Was he involved with Caroline Bingley, too?
Elizabeth cringed as she heard Lydia sob.

“Don’t feel so bad, Lydia,” Wickham continued. “You’re not the only one who does whatever I want when I mention love and marriage. There’ve been quite a few girls who have done the same.”

“I’m
not
doing it, George!”

Elizabeth could picture the stubborn expression that usually went along with that tone of voice.

Lydia demanded, “Tell those guys to leave my parents’ stuff where it is. I’m not helping you. In fact, I’m leaving, and I’m going to call the police.”

Elizabeth heard a slap and her sister’s scream. She grabbed the door handle but froze when she heard footsteps. There was no way she was going to be able to handle two men—and she didn’t have her pepper spray this time.
Where are the police?
She hid behind a checkout counter.

“Wickham!” a male voice bellowed. “There ain’t even half as much copper as you told us there was.”

Elizabeth knew that voice—it was Smith!

“Yes, there is. I told you—Oh, forget it. I’ll show you where it is.” He hesitated a moment. “Lydia, if that safe isn’t open when I get back, you’ll regret it!”

Wickham and Smith walked toward the rear of the store.

As soon as they were out of sight, Elizabeth rushed in and closed the door behind her.

“Lizzy!” Lydia sobbed. “I’m so glad you’re here. George is going to hurt me if I don’t open the safe. I’ve watched you do it a hundred times, and I thought I could do it, but I can’t. Can you open it for me?”

Elizabeth blinked a couple of times. Lydia was definitely not thinking just now. “Lydia, we have to go, okay?” Elizabeth took her sister by the hand and helped her to stand. “It’s time to go home, now. Come with me.”

Lydia threw her arms around Elizabeth. “I didn’t know, Lizzy! Eloping sounded so romantic.” She sobbed into Elizabeth’s shoulder. “But now all these men are here, and they’re stealing from us. I didn’t know what to do.”

Elizabeth untangled herself from her sister and took Lydia’s face between her hands to force her to pay attention. “Lydia, you
must
calm down and listen to me. I am going to get us out of here, but I need your help. You’re going to have to be very, very quiet to do this without their knowing. Even if you stub your toe, you cannot make any noise. Okay? You have to follow my directions without questioning me like you usually do. This is very
real
—both our lives may depend on it. Understand?”

Lydia nodded.

“Perfect.” She knelt before the safe. “Maybe they won’t look for us if the safe is wide open. It’s just the start-up drawers in there for tomorrow morning and some change; I went to the bank on my way home with today’s receipts.”

Just as she stood and took Lydia’s hand, ready to leave, her phone vibrated in her hip pocket. She took it out. There was a picture of the tape recorder her father kept in the drawer of his desk.
Thank goodness the silent-mode is working for the pictures this time!
Elizabeth rushed into the office and grabbed the tape recorder. Once she returned to Lydia, she said, “Now, follow me before they come back.”

Elizabeth peeked out the door. All was clear. She started to lead Lydia toward the employee entrance, but she saw a flashlight beam coming down an aisle she and Lydia had to pass to get out of the building. Putting a finger to her lips, Elizabeth backtracked, taking Lydia to the stairs leading to the second floor of the warehouse.

Unless one of those guys knows how to use a forklift, chances are they wouldn’t go up there.
There’s no way they could carry one of those crates down the stairs.

Arriving at the top of the stairs, she directed Lydia to hide behind some crates. She had to get word to someone of their location, so she texted William. She was sure he’d notify the police.

Without the noise of the warehouse workers and machines, the place acted like an echo chamber. Elizabeth pointed down to tell Lydia where the male voices that reverberated off the walls were coming from. Hoping to catch some of their conversations, she switched on the tape recorder and slipped it on the top of the crate they hid behind.

Wickham was angry. “You guys
owe
me for all Darcy’s business, Smith. You’d never have been able to get to him for all the Lambton stuff if Lydia hadn’t gotten his new cell phone number from her sister’s phone.”

Elizabeth looked at Lydia. Lydia nodded and mouthed “Sorry.”

Smith answered, “I keep tellin’ you, if all the copper’s here, you get your money. If it’s not, we ain’t got no deal, Wickham.”

“Relax, it’s here—I worked here, remember. I changed the labels on the boxes. Just look for the SKUs I gave you. They’re made up numbers; nobody would’ve opened those boxes looking for something else. Copper pipe is so expensive, nobody’s buying it. I think old man Bennett was just keeping it as an investment.” Wickham laughed. “But now it’s ours.”