“Miss Bennet,” the footman said as he entered, coming smartly to attention despite the urgency in his manner, “we’ve had word regarding your cousins.”
“Yes?” she said, stepping quickly towards him.
“Colonel Fitzwilliam found the coachman on the road between Millwood and Netherfield. The man had been struck, and his hands were bound; with a pistol levelled at him, he had no means of resistance as his attacker departed with the carriage. The ladies remained inside.”
His expression hardened before he continued.
“The culprit is a militia lieutenant—George Wickham. He is believed to have mistaken one of the young ladies for ‘Mr Grant’s ward’ and to suppose there was a fortune to be gained. The report is that he intends to make for Scotland.”
Elizabeth’s eyes slid closed as the weight of his words settled upon her.
It was her fault.
Although ignorant of her true circumstances, Mr Wickham had sought to secure her—and her dowry—for himself. Somehow, he had mistaken the carriage. She supposed he had met Jane and Mary only briefly; could he truly have failed to distinguish them? Had he looked more closely, would he have recognised his error?
“Ye cannot blame yourself, miss,” the man said quietly, and Elizabeth supposed he had read the direction of her thoughts. “How he came to take the Bennet carriage for yours, no one yet knows—but this is not of your doing.”
She inclined her head, grateful for the reassurance, even though she could not wholly accept it.
“What is being done?” she asked, forcing steadiness into her voice.
“Mr Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam are in pursuit,” the footman replied, raising his voice so the others might hear. Georgiana and Mrs Hurst had risen and now stood just behind her. “They mean to overtake him before he gains too much distance and to bring the ladies back unharmed. Other men have been dispatched along the neighbouring roads. They are covering every likely route. Between all the searchers, they will find the ladies and bring them back.”
Behind her, Elizabeth felt Georgiana draw closer until her hand touched the sleeve of her gown. She raised her own hand and squeezed that of the younger girl, and turned to reassure her.
“They will be found,” she told Georgiana.
Mrs Hurst and Mrs Annesley nodded. “Yes, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr Darcy will pursue them as far as they need to,” Mrs Annesley said. “Now, is there anything we ought to do? Should we return to Millwood Cottage or go to Longbourn?”
“Aunt Bennet will not appreciate company right now,” Elizabeth said quickly. “She will be inconsolable when she learns what has happened, and I would not subject anyone outside of her family to witnessing her reaction.”
For several moments, none of the ladies spoke. “I cannot remain here, doing nothing,” Elizabeth finally said. “Georgiana and I ought to return to Millwood, but I do not wish to leave you alone, Mrs Hurst. If I did not fear that my grandfather would object, Iwould travel to Longbourn for I am certain that Kitty and Lydia are not capable of aiding Aunt Bennet at this time.”
“You cannot go alone, Elizabeth,” Georgiana protested. “Even with your footmen accompanying you, it is not wise for you to be alone in any circumstances right now. No, I feel that Brother would insist that you remain precisely where you are.”
The footman had not departed and added his agreement. “Mr Darcy was adamant that you remain precisely where you are until one of the gentlemen can escort you back home. Since I am certain that Lord Granfield would say the same, I would have to refuse any order you gave me if you wished to leave.”
Elizabeth scowled, but she could not deny that she had expected precisely that from both of them. Travelling to Millwood Cottage would not accomplish anything. While she doubted it would lead to any harm—Wickham was occupied elsewhere—she would not do anything that would cause her intended to worry or become further upset. It was bad enough that he was obliged to pursue Wickham to discover her cousins after that man had taken them.
It was unlikely that her grandfather would pursue the man; Elizabeth wondered if he would come to Netherfield to escort her and Georgiana home. It was no matter, for now, they would have to find something to occupy their minds since they would be obliged to remain at Netherfield at the present.
Mr Hurst had never before crossedthe threshold of Longbourn, and he found the occasion upon which he now did so entirely unwelcome. He had expected some measure ofagitation; he had not expected the disorder that seemed to cling to the very walls of the house.
Mr Bennet’s surprise at his arrival was evident—as, indeed, it might well be. Hurst was not in the habit of calling on anyone in Meryton, and he had barely even spoken to Mr Bennet before that day. That he requested to be shown directly into the gentleman’s study appeared to discompose his host further; yet the urgency of the matter admitted no ceremony. Bennet seemed so unsettled that he neglected even to dismiss Mr Collins, who lingered awkwardly in the room.
Thus, both gentlemen heard the account he had come to give.
“Your daughters have been taken?” Mr Collins cried. “How could such a travesty have been allowed? Lady Catherine would never?—”
“I do not care what Lady Catherine would or would not have done,” Mr Bennet barked, the sharpness of his tone startling Hurst more than the interruption itself. The man mastered himself with visible effort, drawing in a slow breath before continuing. “You say that Mr Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam requested that we gather the tenants and whoever else might be found and send them north in search of them. There are hundreds of small villages between here and Scotland, and most of the men cannot afford a prolonged search.”
Hurst resisted the impulse to shift his weight. Delivering such instructions had not been a task he relished, particularly since he had heard little good about Mr Bennet from any of the neighbours.
“Mr Darcy and the colonel are heading north in pursuit,” he replied evenly. “But I believe they intended for others to searchmore locally. It is possible the carriage was obliged to stop for some reason…”
Mr Bennet shook his head sharply. “This Wickham—is he truly as bad as they say? I cannot conceive of any reason he would take my carriage and my daughters.”
Hurst hesitated only a moment. There was no gentler way to speak it. “Your coachman informed Colonel Fitzwilliam that Wickham hoped to secure a marriage with one of them. He had heard that Mr Grant’s ward possessed a considerable dowry and intended to compel the match. Unfortunately, he appears to have mistaken one Miss Bennet for another and believes he has carried off the correct young lady.”
