London
Richardsquaredhisshouldersand peered into the drawing room. As expected, the countess had prepared herself for morning callers, and was still to be found alone. “Mother,” he smiled winningly, “my carriage is ready, so I shall be taking my leave.”
She flicked her hand for him to take. “So melodramatic! I shall see you at dinner, Richard.”
His fingers twitched in hers. He had been rather close-lipped with everyone regarding his self-appointed mission, lest he be thought a madman. Consequently, his mother took his intimations regarding a pressing errand more lightly than was warranted. “I may not return this evening,” was his only reply to her assumption. “Mother, I must thank you for arranging your engagement calendar to accommodate Georgiana on such a short notice. It has relieved much of my concern for her while I tend to these matters.”
“I told you, did I not, that it was foolish of you to take her to Pemberley? She ought to have remained here these last months, it would have been far better for her.”
“She was most content there, Mother. It was only my aunt’s… assistance… that proved overwhelming for her. Georgie feared—ahem—that Anne with her poor health might tire of Derbyshire before my aunt had satisfied herself that she had rendered all necessary advice.”
Lady Matlock rolled her eyes. “Catherine likes to make herself useful. I trust you did not allow her too much freedom. If you would only involve your father in Georgiana’s protection and confirm an engagement to her, you would more easily silence your aunt.”
Richard cleared his throat and Lady Matlock frowned. “Indeed,” he fumbled, searching out his gloves from the pocket of his greatcoat. “If you will excuse me, Mother, I—oh! There you are, Georgie. I feared I would miss you this morning.”
Georgiana shyly entered the room behind him and offered a wan smile, made all the more pale by her black gown. “I wanted to be sure to see you, Richard.”
Lady Matlock arched a significant brow at her son. His neck and ears reddening, he turned back to his cousin. “I am glad you did so, Georgie. I wish you a pleasant morning. As you see, I was just on my way out.”
Worry creased her brow. “You will send me word of your business as soon as you may?”
“Of course! I do not know what I shall learn, but if I am delayed in returning, I will send word.” Georgiana nodded with tight lips and drew back as Richard bade her a gentle farewell and left for his carriage.
The carriage was a ruse, really, and it was more for his family’s benefit than out of any sense that someone might follow him. He truly felt like he was chasing ghosts, and he could not imagine trying to explain his search to his father or Reginald. How they would laugh at him! And his mother—she would send for the physician to examine his head!
He had the driver set him down at his club, then sent the carriage home. As soon as it had departed, he hailed a cab. “Tattersall’s, please!” he instructed. Once there, immersed in the busy horse market, Richard tightened his caped collar up about his neck and did his best to lose himself among the other fine gentlemen vying for their next stylish mount.
As always, he encountered rough jostling, hawkers plying their wares, several horses trotted across his path, and, of course, the busy sale ring where wide-eyed young dandies brandished their cards to out-bid their rivals. Hundreds of faces milled about him—some he recognised, but most of which he did not. More than once a stray elbow shot into his path, or someone caught unawares backed into him as he passed. He never did determine which of these had been Broderick’s hand slipping into his pocket, but at length he became aware of the weight at the fore of his coat.
A jolly day’s work!he satisfied himself. And none too soon, either, for he feared that at any moment he might encounter someone he—
“Fitzwilliam!”
Richard groaned. He turned to face the voice, pasting a smile over his face.
“The same. Captain Harker, is it?”
The man drew closer. “Indeed, it is! I thought that was you, sir. I have not seen you since the Peninsula! How are you keeping in civilian life?”
“That is still ‘Colonel Fitzwilliam’ to you, Captain. I may not be in uniform, but I have not resigned my commission.”
“Oh! Forgive me sir, I had heard otherwise. It is all the talk, you know, how you fell into a fortune and all.”
“A fortune? I? I think you are mistaken, Captain. My guidance has been required by my young cousin upon the grievous loss of her brother.”
“Ah, yes, that is how I heard it!” the younger man nodded. “Forgive my presumption sir, but the talk had you engaged to be married by spring… well,” he sobered when he observed the dangerous flicker in his superior’s eyes, “I can see that was all a misunderstanding.”
“Indeed, it was. I remain in the First Division, but I am presently on an extended leave. What is your current assignment, Harker?”
“The Regulars, sir, in Newcastle. I have a short leave myself, about time and all that, but my Colonel had an errand for me as well. There is one fellow I haven’t seen in months, and I understand he is nearly always to be found at the gaming tables. I fear he will run to ground the moment he sees me, for you see, he is considered a deserter, but my colonel charged me most seriously to exert at least some effort in searching for him while I was in Town.”
“If your usual scouts have not discovered the man, I doubt you will have better luck on your own. Who is he, a friend?”
“No, sir. He joined our regiment some months ago, had his commission purchased by a wealthy sponsor and everything. I was in London then as well, and bound back to Newcastle at the same time as he. I only came into his path because this sponsor desired my escort as… ah… inducement against any reluctance on the Lieutenant’s part. It seems he knew his ‘friend’ all too well. I accompanied the fellow to his wedding that morning—a patched-up job if ever I saw it—and then we were on the same coach north until the first inn. I was due back with the regiment, but they were to stop off in Hertfordshire, so we parted company then. I learned later that he disappeared and has not been heard from again, though my colonel immediately issued a warrant.”
“Hmm,” Richard mumbled in boredom. He could not have cared less about Harker’s deserter, for the letter in his pocket weighed more heavily by the moment. “Well, best of luck with that, Captain.” He dipped his hat and attempted to walk on, but Harker stopped him.
“Forgive me, sir, but might I impose upon you for a moment? As I said, the fellow would recognise me, but he has not seen your face. I asked around a bit, and I think there is a good chance he is here today. It is the law, sir….”
