“That is little time,” mused Darcy. “Are you certain there is no one else in the house we can trust?”
“There probably is, sir, but I do not know who they are. I fear that we may not be conscious long enough to stage an inquisition.”
“Then I must go elsewhere, for it is not safe here until I am no longer incapacitated,” decided Darcy. “I believe Colonel Fitzwilliam is in Town, and his apartment is not far.”
“Very good, sir, I shall summon the carriage.”
“No, no carriage. If I am to escape my household in the dead of night, I must do it discreetly. Fitzwilliam’s apartment is easilywithin walking distance, and my aunt will be none the wiser until I am beyond reach.”
“But, sir!” protested Wilson. “You cannot walk that distance safely. What if you were to fall unconscious? What if the drug overpowers you?”
“The cool air will help me to remain alert some while longer. You said I had an hour. It will take me only a quarter of that to walk the distance.”
“And it has already been more than that, sir.”
“Then I had better make haste.” Darcy rose from his bed, feeling a slight wave of dizziness shake him. Whatever he did, he must do it quickly!
“Sir, with all due respect, a man of your station walking out at night is rather vulnerable. Had you not better take a carriage? At least take a footman with you, sir.”
“You have said yourself that we do not know whom to trust.”
“Then I shall attend you, sir,” Wilson declared.
“No, I will ask you to remain here and be my eyes and ears. You can be of far greater use to me if you feign ignorance and convey to me how the matter lies tomorrow. I would know who has been honest, and who must be turned out. I expect we will both experience raging headaches upon awakening and must seek some chance to gather our wits.”
“And what of you, sir? Would it not be difficult to explain your disappearance?”
“I declined the drink you brought me and went out without apprising my aunt,” suggested Darcy. “Of course, as my valet, you would naturally know of my destination, but the entire household need not be alerted. I do not normally rouse everyone when I wish to go out late.”
“You do not normally attend your club in the evenings at all, sir.”
“My aunt would not know that. You can tell them that I had a note from an old friend who was in Town and wished to see me. That much is not untrue, for I have had such a note, but I declinedthe request earlier this evening. Still, it will give her pause enough, if she understands that others will know of my whereabouts and can provide an alibi if need be. Meanwhile, I shall be recovering my faculties at Colonel Fitzwilliam’s apartment.”
“Sir, I must protest. It is not safe for you to walk out alone. You would be a target for footpads!”
“As myself, perhaps, but dressed as a manservant, I would not. Quickly, find me a set of clothes. Is there not a footman about my height? It will be well, Wilson. The sooner I am dressed and safely away from here, the less chance my aunt has of succeeding in her scheme.”
Chapter two
“Oh, Lizzy, was this not simply a divine evening?” Kitty Bennet, aged sixteen, leaned back against the seat of the carriage and gushed her delight. “The music, the lights—I have never seen so many candles. And that soprano! Would Mama not simply swoon over her gown?”
“It was all stunning,” her older sister Elizabeth agreed. “The new Pantheon Theatre is not so lovely as the old, they say, but it is quite beautiful enough to suit my fancies. Aunt Gardiner,” she turned sincerely to that lady, “thank you so much for bringing us. Your generosity to us takes my breath away.”
“You are most graciously welcome, Lizzy. I confess, I had been longing to see the new hall myself, and you provided just the excuse I sought.”
“It is a pity that our uncle could not come this evening, for he would have enjoyed it greatly, I think.”
“Yes, he would have,” Mrs Gardiner agreed, “but I expect he will have accomplished a great deal of business this evening, and he will now be able to enjoy the park with us tomorrow. I believe your uncle really prefers the park to the opera.”
“As does Lizzy,” snorted Kitty. “But even you must admit, Lizzy, that was an evening to remember. What a pleasure it was to meet that lovely Mrs Jennings—she liked you very much, Lizzy, and that is something grand, I think. Did you see the gowns on some of the ladies above us in the private boxes? And each of the gentlemen looked so fine and handsome! There was that one fair-haired fellow who looked our way twice, and I am sure he liked me. Oh,Lizzy, you needn’t scoff at all the gentlemen! Do not forget, Mama has given you specific instructions to catch a husband while you are in Town, or you shall be stuck with that odious Mr Collins.”
“If only the catching of a husband were as simple as catching a fish, perhaps I should succeed.”
“Lizzy, you must not speak of such things in Town. What would Mama say? No one here knows that you are not a proper lady, so it is best to let them believe otherwise as long as they may.”
“Now, Kitty,” Mrs Gardiner chided, “Lizzy is perfectly ladylike, even when she is indulging in sport. Although, Lizzy, perhaps it is best not to reveal at first that your father and uncle have taken you out in their fishing boats, but there can be no harm in speaking of the outdoors in general. Flower gardens are quite safe to talk of. And who knows? We may meet with a gentleman who truly prefers remaining at his estate to life in Town. Many men retire happily from Town again after they have secured a wife, and such a man might be attracted to a woman knows something of the country.”
“La, that is not what Mama says. She says even country gentlemen prefer a refined lady. That is why Jane will marry first. Mama says that a gentleman is coming soon to let Netherfield Park and that he is sure to save us all by falling violently in love with Jane, as she is the most beautiful of us all, or so Mama claims.” Kitty emitted a little snort, which spoke as much of her reluctant agreement with her mother’s assessment as it did for her own mild sense of jealousy.
