“Well, I hardly think she needs looking after. She looks well enough to me, but you know my Jane would not suffer her sister to leave after just getting her back again.”
“I am asking for more than the afternoon. In fact, I think it best if Elizabeth stayed with you until this is all settled, but I must make my appearance at my own house for this to work. No one knows she is here yet, and I prefer it that way.”
“Of course, Darcy. Are you sure you do not want me to come with you?”
“No, it would be better for you if you did not become involved. I will be back by dinner.”
GeneralHoughtonloweredhispipe. “You do not say. My men would never chase a baseless lead like that. Tossing the house and property of a peer, just to hunt down one stray soldier? Rubbish, Darcy. Someone misinformed you.” The general banged his fist on his desk for emphasis.
“I tell you, sir, your men were played like marionettes. Someone manipulated and lied to them, and they took the bait.”
“Well, in truth, they were not my men. Walworth, he is over that division. Can you be certain of this? What proof have you? The truth, Darcy, none of your stiff lip.”
Darcy laced fingers speculatively on his knee. “The truth?”
“We are old friends, Darcy. I wear the uniform, and I serve my king, but I heard the unofficial account of Fitzwilliam—back as far as last August. I was not able to repeat under direct order, but I was able to believe it. I am sorry I could say nothing to that end before when you were seeking him, but I will help you where I can. Fitzwilliam is still alive, I take it?”
“He is. And he did come to Matlock, but the information your men claim to have acted upon was over a week old when they said it was fresh. What I did not know then was the name of the informant who led them thence.”
“And you do now?”
“He is well known to me. A malefactor who has sought nothing but to extort money and influence wherever he could get it, and I have reason to believe he has misled and kidnapped my wife’s relatives.”
“Wife?” Houghton coughed. “Eloped to America to escape the monstrous ceremony Lady Matlock had planned, did you? I wondered why you dropped it all and scampered off with nary a word to anyone.”
Darcy allowed a slow smile of confession. “And now my relatives are in danger. I would be most grateful if you could tell me anything about Walworth’s sources. Perhaps I can find the man before he finds me.”
“I will look into it, Darcy. What is more, I will post a detail to protect you and your wife, if you like. Least I can do, since I was of so little help over the matter with Fitzwilliam. Now, tell me, who is this lady? Same one you were said to be so smitten with last winter?”
“None other.”
The general laughed heartily. “Bring the lady by sometime. I will notify you the instant I hear anything; you have my word.”
“Thank you.” Darcy rose to go, and then paused. “One other thing. Do you recall last winter when I persuaded you to cut ties with that station in Wyoming where you were buying remounts?”
“How could I not? You should see the nasty letters I received from that jilted partner. Bryson, yes, that was his name. What of it?”
“I am withdrawing my objection. I will be investing heavily in the operation, if you choose to do business with them again.”
The general replaced his pipe. “Really? Turned a pretty profit on the affair after all, did you?”
“No, but it is under new ownership. A man who knows his business and is honourable to his last breath. I would invest in an enterprise like that.”
The general frowned and tucked his thumbs into his waistcoat pocket. “I will pass on the recommendation.”
Darcy collected his hat. “Thank you, General.”
Twodaysofsickeningtension and unease later, Darcy had the word he was looking for.
Houghton wrote that Walworth’s network was, indeed, compromised. The officers had long known of corruption in the shipping ports—which, Darcy surmised, was how they had learned of Richard’s movements—but even some Royal Mail carriers appeared to have taken bribes. The more troubling aspect, to Houghton’s mind, was how a group of opium smugglers seemed always to be ahead of the Army. When he notified his superiors that a criminal network had got the better of Army intelligence, he had the leeway to blow the matter open a bit, and with Darcy’s help, he meant to do it.
Darcy cast the general’s note aside, for the other letter that arrived was the real word he was watching for. Wickham wanted to meet. He had wondered if it would be so, now that he was known to be back in London. Wickham had been waiting for him.
Elizabeth turned white when he showed her the note. “Is there no other way to confront him? Must you really go alone?”
“I am afraid so, my love.”
“But, what of Mama! Are you sure I cannot go with you? Surely, they would be close, and he must tell me where to find them!”
