Then she departed.
Old John assisted her into the gig, and they set off into the night.
Nearly two hours later, they arrived at Rosings Park.
Mary stood shivering before the front entrance while John rapped upon the door. Drake himself answered it.
“Mrs. Collins! Ma’am, your sisters shall rejoice to see you returned.”
Mary turned toward the servant. “John, may we offer you some refreshment before you return to your mistress? Hot coffee or tea perhaps? A pastry?”
Drake opened the door wider. “Come in, ma’am.”
He dispatched the footman outside. “See the horse watered. You must remain long enough for the animal to rest. Come down to the kitchens, sir, and we shall provide you with something to eat.”
Mary clasped the old servant’s hand. “Thank you, John, for bringing me safely home tonight.”
“My pleasure, mistress.”
Mary excused herself and hurried upstairs. She burst into Elizabeth’s bedchamber, where all four ladies sat holding vigil.
They stared at her in astonishment, frozen for one moment before rushing toward her in a flood of tears, embraces, and kisses.
When their first joy subsided, they settled together to hear her account of all that had happened.
At length, Anne spoke.
“We shall send a note to your husband, Mary, informing him of your safe return.” She looked toward Elizabeth. “But what of Richard? Ought we send word tonight, or wait until morning? It can alter nothing for him now. The smugglers’ goods must still be found and returned lest something worse occur.”
Elizabeth said, “Send a servant, Anne. It will spare him one worry.”
Anne ordered hot water for Mary to bathe, and afterward they all prepared for bed. It had been a long and harrowing day.
The two sisters remained with Mary until she had bathed and changed into her nightclothes. Jane prepared a poultice for the laceration and bound the wound before all three sisters climbed into the massive bed and fell asleep together.
Richard stood outside a deep cavern, some three miles from Rosings Park, when he spotted a rider approaching across the fields.
The men standing beside him lowered their cups of water and looked up.
“It is the stable boy, sir.”
Richard stepped forward as the boy pulled the horse to a halt and jumped down from the saddle. Reaching into his pocket, the stable boy handed him a note.
After he read it, Richard said, “Thank you, Jimmy. Tell Mrs. Fitzwilliam we shall continue searching along the bluffs, and inform her I am relieved to hear the news about Mrs. Collins.”
“Yes, sir.”
The boy left them.
Richard made the announcement. “Mrs. Collins managed to escape the gang. They held at Penhurst Place.”
Beaumont said, “The family is never at home this time of year. It is well known that they remove to London shortly after Michaelmas, for he is too advanced in years to travel during poor weather.
“The Board of Customs must determine that. If the gang is using the manor without the family’s knowledge, then their stranglehold upon the county is stronger than we imagined.”
Beaumont said, “Her return is a mercy. Miss Bennet was nearly overcome with distress. I feared she would collapse.”
“I feared the same for Miss Elizabeth. I am thankful that their sister has been safely restored to them. I confess I can hardly wait to hear the account of her abduction. It is going to be difficult not to speak of it.”
