Mr. Darcy called to the ship’s boy, who secured lines nearby. Tommy immediately responded by dropping a rope ladder over the side and scrambling to the dock below. Within a moment, he hauled the precious portfolio aboard.
Elizabeth opened it with reverent care and gasped with delight as Mr. Darcy looked over her shoulder. There were portraits of her in various poses, sketches of her father selling his books and feigning reading when his eyes were closed, the colonel and Prudence, and many showing her and Mr. Darcy together. Along with drawings of various views of Gibraltar, he included one of himself standing alongside the colonel, Prudence, Mr. Darcy, and the Bennets.
“Oh!” Elizabeth’s fingers traced the air above thepaper and called out, “You have outdone yourself, Lieutenant. I will cherish these forever.”
Below on the dock, the officer cupped his hands around his mouth. “Please share everything about your adventure when you return.”
She smiled and waved, and then she turned to Mr. Darcy. “It is good to have friends, is it not?”
“That it is.”
“All hands! Prepare to cast off!” Captain Morrison’s voice boomed across the deck. Elizabeth felt the subtle movement as the ship departed Gibraltar’s protected harbor.
The colonel and Prudence joined them at the stern. Both men systematically scanned the dock, searching among the crowd. Their posture grew increasingly tense as theMary Catherinebegan to slip her moorings.
“There,” the colonel said. “At the far end of the dock, near the fish merchant’s stall.”
Elizabeth followed his gaze and her stomach dropped. George Wickham stood beside stacked barrels, his position affording him a clear view of their departure. As if sensing their attention, he stepped into full view, a gesture of unmistakable defiance. His mocking smile was visible even at this distance.
“He wants us to see him.” Elizabeth leaned closer to Mr. Darcy.
“Indeed.” His muscles tensed. “The question is whether he has been able to secure passage on another vessel.”
As Gibraltar’s familiar silhouette began to recede into the haze, Elizabeth deliberately turned her back on Mr. Wickham’s threatening presence. “Well then, Mr. Darcy,”she said with determined cheerfulness. “Since we can do nothing about him for the moment, would you be willing to tell me what you are most looking forward to in Rome?”
The change in topic immediately had its desired effect. Tension lines around his eyes eased, and enthusiasm replaced the worry that had marked his features. “The next clue, primarily. But I also confess myself eager to walk the same streets where Caesar and Cicero once debated the fate of the empire.”
Elizabeth agreed. “How exciting to think we shall see the actualForum Romanum, the Palatine Hill, the Colosseum.”
Her father approached their small group, his own excitement evident in his quickened step and bright eyes. “We will be in the very heart of the Holy Roman Empire! I can scarcely contain my enthusiasm.”
“The colonel has shared the purpose of this expedition with me,” Prudence said. “I am hoping I may help to locate the library. What sort of clues do you think they are?”
Elizabeth settled more comfortably against the rail as the conversation turned to their scholarly mission. “I have been wondering the same. Are we seeking actual scrolls from the library or merely references to their location?”
“Most likely the latter,” her father replied. “Moving the contents of so extensive a library to other cities would have required time?something the librarians would not have had. Thus, I believe that the lost scrolls themselves are somewhere in Egypt. They would have left codedmessages elsewhere, hidden references that only other scholars would recognize.”
“Like a treasure map written in academic Latin,” Elizabeth said. “How perfectly suited to your interests, Papa.”
“Yes, my dear. Though I suspect reality will prove to be more challenging than romantic adventure stories would have us believe.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam, who had been listening with half his attention while keeping a watchful eye on Mr. Wickham, now joined their discussion. “Perhaps we should consult Mrs. Bell about what Rome has to offer.”
The lady responded cheerfully, “The city is magnificent, though one must be prepared for the chaos of it all. The markets are extraordinary, the food divine, and the ancient ruins? Well, they simply take one’s breath away.”
“Have you observed any particular tensions there?” Richard asked with interest. “Political undercurrents we should be aware of?”
Prudence considered this carefully. “I was last there almost a year ago, so my information will not be current. The French influence is strong in northern Italy, naturally, given the political situation with Napoleon. But in my experience, the Romans themselves are more concerned with commerce than politics. As long as one conducts oneself respectfully and pays fair prices, they have welcomed English visitors readily enough.”
“What about accommodations?” Mr. Darcy asked practically. “Will we be able to find suitable lodgings?”
“Of course. Several excellent inns cater to English travelers. The proprietors are accustomed to scholarly quests. You will find the Romans wonderfullyknowledgeable about their own history. They can direct you to sites that never appear in guidebooks.”
Excitement fairly bubbled inside Elizabeth, so eager was she to experience Italy.
She noticed Tommy approaching with his characteristic combination of boldness and bashfulness. His hair was noticeably cleaner than usual, and his clothing, while still rough, appeared to have been recently washed.
“Beggin’ yer pardon, Miss Elizabeth,” he said, tugging at his forelock. “But I wanted to tell ye. I took a proper bath,B-A-T-H, while we were in port jes’ like you’ve been teachin’ me about bein’ clean an’ such.”
