Netherfield Park Quarantined (13 page)

Jane was puzzled as to how this information would affect her own
future. “I am sad for your family. Does Miss Bingley know of her true
mother?”

“No, the information was entrusted to me when I became the head of the
family. I tell you this information, Miss Bennet, as I wish for you to know that
the illness Caroline suffers is not one anyone in my direct family line has
suffered.”

“That is good news for you, Mr Bingley, though I do not understand
what difference it makes to my future.” Jane said, her naïve behavior was
obvious.

“It makes a difference to your future if you were to accept my offer for
your hand in marriage.” Bingley said as he came to a halt. “This has been a
pitiful way of proposing, what a fool I am.” Letting go of Jane’s arm, Bingley
walked over to a nearby bench and sat down.

Realizing what was happening, Jane walked to the bench and sat beside
Bingley. She lifted his hand in her own, bringing it to her lips and placed a
gentle kiss on the back of it. “It was not the proposal of my dreams, I admit to
you, but it was made by the man of my dreams. Since I met you, I have come
to know you to be the knight in shining armor I used to pretend would come
to rescue me from all the evils in the world, the man who would win my heart
and make me the happiest of ladies. Mr Bingley, you are a kind, good natured,
caring man, and I find it an honor to have you in my life. It would bring me the
greatest joy to be at your side for the rest of my life, as your wife.”

“Jane, Jane, you are the best lady I have ever known. You just proposed
to me in the manner I had wished to do. I would be honored to be your
husband, your knight in shining armor, the defender of your heart. Miss Jane
Bennet, would you be my wife?”

“Oh, yes, Charles. I love you, you silly man. How I wish Lizzy and
William were here to share in our happiness. Is it possible to die from so
much joy in one’s life?” Jane said as she enjoyed being pulled into Bingley’s
embrace. A moment later, Bingley’s lips found Jane’s, keeping to the chastest
kiss possible.

“I believe I need to speak with your father.” Bingley stated as their lips
parted. “I love you Jane, and will love you for the rest of my life.”
~~ ** ~~

“What do you mean, I cannot enter my nephew’s home?” Lord Matlock
stood on the front steps of Darcy House, being refused entrance by Mr
Crossman. “You know who I am Crossman, you have known me for years. I
wish to speak with my nephew and my niece, Miss Georgiana.”

“I am sorry, your lordship, but Mr Darcy had to leave suddenly, and Miss
Georgiana is not here.”

 

“This is all unheard of. Where is Georgiana? Is she shopping? Tell me
where she is and I will speak to her there.”

 

Mr Crossman shook his head. “I do not know where Miss Georgiana is,
so I cannot tell you. I am certain she is not shopping though.”

“Crossman, if you know what is good for you, you will tell me what is
going on. Where is my niece? And where did my nephew rush off to so
unexpectedly? Has his wife returned home?”

“Mrs Darcy has not returned, and I am not certain where Mr Darcy went.
This is all I can tell you, Lord Matlock. Good day to you.” Mr Crossman closed
the door swiftly before Lord Matlock could say another word.

Lord Matlock huffed as he stomped back to his carriage. Lady Catherine
and Mr Collins waited inside it for his return. “Well, Henry, where is
Georgiana? And why did Darcy keep you from entering his home?”

“Catherine, Darcy left the townhouse on some sudden business. The
butler did not know where he or Georgiana were.”

“See, it is like I told you. I was informed that something has happened to
Georgiana. Darcy and Richard have allowed her to come to some harm and
are unfit to be her guardians, so it is up to me to take charge of Georgiana.”

“Until we are able to find Darcy or Georgiana, we cannot confirm your
gossip, so we cannot know if our niece is met with some harm. I find it
difficult to believe Darcy or Richard would ever allow anything to happen to
Georgiana, they do love her and dote on her.” Lord Matlock stated.

“Ah, but you see, Lord Matlock, they are keeping secrets from you.” Mr
Collins spoke in a slimy manner. “Mr Darcy has behaved in such a strange
manner since the scarlet fever outbreak. I believe the fever has affected his
mind. Why else would a gentleman of such lineage behave as he has, stealing
my betrothed and marrying her, denying his own betrothal to Miss de Bourgh,
and refusing to allow your most esteemed sister to take your niece into her
protection and guidance. I am concerned with his sister’s safety, what he
might do to her if she were to disobey.”

“Darcy would never harm Georgiana.” Lord Matlock stated. “No matter
how odd his behavior at the moment, I doubt he would ever do anything to
harm her. We must find Richard. He will know what is going on.”

“But your son, in his most esteemed position in the King’s army, is
needed to deal with protecting England from Napoleon.” Collins knew how to
find what stroked the egos of people like Lady Catherine and Lord Matlock,
using it to his advantage. “I believe it is best if we are to handle the situation.
Once Miss Darcy is safe at Rosings with your sister, then you can notify your
son to tell him what happened.”

“Mr Collins is correct, Henry. Now, the first thing we need to learn is
where Darcy is. Once we find him, we should have men ready to take control
of him, bind him for his own protection, so we can transport him to a
sanitarium. Hopefully we will find Georgiana before it is too late.”

“I met a man who has detectives work for him. I can speak with him,
hire some of the detectives to investigate where Mr Darcy would be.” Collins
said.

“Henry, I will fund the investigation. I feel it is vital we take this step to
protect not Georgiana, but the reputation of our entire family.”

“Very well, Catherine. Do what is necessary and I will do what I can to
support you. We need to keep this quiet and handled swiftly.” Lord Matlock
stated as he shook his head. “I never would have believed Darcy to have fallen
so far. He has always been so strong and dependable.”

“As I said before, Lord Matlock, the fever made your poor nephew
addled, it is not his fault. I was ill as well, though I am grateful I was blessed
and protected by the Lord from permanent harm. I pray your nephew can be
tended by a physician, and made whole once again.”

~~ ** ~~

“Mr Phillips, I am sure you see the necessity for my employer to make
sure the documents are in fact, legal and binding. It has come to my
employer’s knowledge that Mr Darcy was taken with fever while he was at
Netherfield Park, and the fever appears to have caused the poor man damage
to his mind. If so, any documents Mr Darcy signed would be worthless. I need
to see the documents to make certain of their validity.” Mr Laub stated.

“Mr Laub, I can assure you, there is nothing wrong with the
documentation. They were signed long before Mr Darcy contracted scarlet
fever, and I have spoken with the young man several times since his recovery.
There is nothing wrong with Mr Darcy’s mind. His aunt, Lady Catherine de
Bourgh is making false claims against the man due to his marrying against her
wishes.”

“And the young lady in question is your niece, therefore, you have a
vested interest in making certain Mr Darcy is protected. I think you can see
why the documents you hold could be considered questionable.”

“There is nothing wrong with the documents. They were witnessed by
many upstanding and reliable people, and there was nothing wrong with Mr
Darcy’s mind. Now, it is getting late and I need to go home to my wife. Our
dinner will be served soon.”

“No, Mr Phillips, I demand to see the documents immediately.” Mr Laub
stepped closer to the solicitor.

As Mr Phillips walked to the door to open it, another man entered the
room. Laub shook his head to the other man. The second man was large,
muscular and wore a look of determination on his face. Grabbing hold of Mr
Phillips’s coat front, the second man began to beat the country solicitor. No
matter how hard he was beaten, Mr Phillips refused to give up any
information. Mr Laub searched the law offices, and yet, nothing with
Fitzwilliam Darcy’s name on it could be found. Aggravated, Mr Laub
expressed his disappointment. A moment later, Mr Laub and the second man
left the law offices and mounted their horses, riding towards London.

Mrs Phillips sent her footman to find her husband nearly an hour later.
The offices had been ransacked, and, behind the desk, on the floor, Mr Phillips’
body laid crumpled with a knife sticking out of his chest.

~~~~~~~ ** ~~~~~~~

Chapter 11
Darcy and Richard arrived in Liverpool, and began searching for
information as to where Wickham was. They took up rooms at an inn near the
docks. The final stop they made before reaching Liverpool, the men changed
their clothing, putting on clothes which they had borrowed from the stable
hands at Darcy House. They left their carriage at the stop, renting horses
which were of questionable lineage, hoping to blend in better with the sort of
people who would have the information they needed.

The rooms they took were over a tavern, and Richard found it easier to
blend in with the men who frequented the establishment. Soon he was able to
join in playing cards with them. After ten days, they finally received the
information they needed.

“Rolly, when did you get back to town?” One of the barmaids asked a
young man who was obviously a ship hand.

 

“Late yesserday. I was so fagged, I went straight to me rooms.”

“Well, welcome back. This here be Higgins. He and his bruther took
rooms while they be waiting for a chap they know. They was to meet him, and
brung him some coin they be owin’ him.”

Rolly was interested. “So, who be the fella?”
“George Wickham. I knew him in Town. He left before our deal paid off.”
“I know the bloke. No need to fret, he is comin’ into some real wealth.”
“Do you know where he went? My brother is a long-time friend.”
“He took de Mistress to Dublin.”
Richard was confused. “Mistress? What Mistress?”
“The ship I be crew on. We jus returned.” Rolly smiled.

Richard ordered drinks for his new friend and himself. After another
quarter of an hour, he made his excuses and went upstairs to inform Darcy.

As he opened the door, his joy turned to fear. The room was in chaos, as
if there had been a struggle in it. And worst of all, Darcy was missing. Hearing
a commotion outside, Richard went to investigate. In the alley, behind the
tavern, two men were attempting to force Darcy on to a wagon bed. They had
bound his hands with rope, and stuffed a piece of cloth in his mouth to prevent
him from crying out.

Running down the stairs as quickly as he could, he caught the men as
the wagon was preparing to pull away. “Where do you think you are going?”

“We have been hired by this one’s family to take him to the sanitarium.
He is unwell, and his family is worried about him.” The man riding on the back
of the wagon with Darcy stated.

“As I am a member of his family, I can tell you he is well, and there is
nothing for my aunt to worry about. He will not be going to any sanitarium.”
Richard’s hand went to his pistol, prepared to use it if necessary.

“Maybe you are unwell, like this one. Maybe your family will pay us to
take you with us as well.” The driver said with a smile.

Richard pulled his pistol and pointed it towards the driver. “I am
Colonel Fitzwilliam of the regulars. I suggest you release my cousin, and leave
here, immediately. I will not say it a second time.”

The guard who was beside Darcy turned to the driver. Neither was
prepared to take the chance of being shot, nor did they wish to challenge a
colonel of the regulars. After several minutes, the guard pushed Darcy
towards the rear of the wagon until Darcy could climb off on his own.

“Wise move.” Richard said. “Now, leave and do not return.”

Richard waited until the wagon had left before pulling out a knife to cut
the bindings from his cousin’s hands. Darcy reached to his mouth to pull out
the cloth. It was only then that Richard noticed a cut over Darcy’s brow.

“Well, we know Lady Catherine’s latest attempt to handle the situation.”

Richard said as he took his handkerchief from his pocket and tried to clean his
cousin’s wound. “I will send Mother a letter before we leave, letting her know
what happened.”

“Before we leave? When are we leaving?” Darcy asked.

 

“As soon as possible. I found out Wickham took a ship to Dublin. And
he is being financed. I would lay odds our
beloved
aunt is involved.”
“Are there any ships leaving today?”

A smile grew on Richard’s lips. “It just so happens, my mother’s cousin,
Helton, who owns several ships, has one here in port. I made inquiries
yesterday. We can hire it to take us wherever we need.”

Now a smile formed on Darcy’s lips. “Well, it is a good thing I brought
plenty of funds with us.”

 

~~ ** ~~

The Bennet household was in an uproar. Mrs Phillips had been brought
to her sister’s home, despondent after learning her husband had been
murdered. Thomas Bennet was certain it had to do with his cousin and his
patroness. He would never have thought they would go so far as to murder
someone, but now he knew the safety of his entire family was at stake.

A message was sent to Bingley, and an express was sent to Town to the
Gardiners. Mr Bennet decided he would have to lay down strict policy with
his family and insist they follow it.

Once Bingley arrived, Mr Bennet called for all of his family to gather in
the drawing room. He also asked Mr and Mrs Hill and the other servants as
well.

“With the loss of Mr Phillips, and the manner of his death, I must insist
we all follow some rules. No one is to be alone. No matter what happens,
where you go, I demand you have someone with you. Mr Bingley, I do not like
you living alone in that big house. It leaves you extremely unprotected. We
have plenty of room for you to stay here with us, until we know it is safe.
Sister Phillips, you will remain with us as long as you wish. The people behind
this is determined, and will stop at nothing to achieve their goal. Everyone
needs to be careful. Please, I beg of you all, do as I have instructed.”