Page 7 of Mr. Darcy’s Diamonds

“I am interested in hearing the story meant for Fanny this time, my lord, but what of the truth can you reveal to me?” Thomas asked the Earl Rowe quietly while Fanny was occupied in fawning over Susannah’s baby.

“Let us remove to your study, if you do not mind,” Lord Rowe replied.

Once they were settled in matching elbow chairs beside the fire, Rowe spoke.

“Susie and I have a mission on the continent⁠—”

“Not France, I beg you! It is not safe!” Thomas put in.

“No, not France. We go to the Lower Netherlands, to Antwerp, in fact,” Rowe said.

“That is somewhat better, although the area has seen its own military unrest in recent years,” Thomas reflected.

“England has many allies there, though. We will be in the city only two nights, but travel each way is unpredictable at present. What with the winter storms and expanding French aggression, our best case is to return on the evening of January 30th.”

“I see. I appreciate your informing me before you go. Your missions have been ever closer together, and it has been too long since I last saw Susannah. I will make the most of my time with her and your daughter before you take them away again. Unless you are going alone this time?”

“Susie is needed for this particular mission, but we cannot take Elizabeth. We had hoped you would keep her here until we return.”

“Of course. I welcome the opportunity for my daughters to know their little cousin, even if for only a short visit,” Thomas said.

“Thank you.” Rowe hesitated. “Of course, all of the usual stipulations remain in effect. Fanny must not know who I am. Nobody must know Elizabeth’s identity.”

“Yes, yes. She will be known hereabouts only as my niece, the daughter of a poor farmer with whom Susie ran away, destroying her life. While I do not understand the necessity of such extreme subterfuge, I do not at all mind Fanny having no avenue to attempt to raise our status through you.”

“I thank you. It is for Susie’s safety, and now for Elizabeth’s.” Rowe appeared pensive. “Perhaps it will not always be thus.”

“Is there more you are not telling me, Rowe?”

“Much, my friend. I wish I could tell you all, but I can say only that this mission is of vital importance to protect the interests of the Crown.”

“So much that a peer must attend to it?” Bennet raised his brows.

“We are meeting important people in Antwerp, so yes. Perhaps if my ducal father held a marquessate and not only an earldom with no estate attached to it, then another would have been found to go in my stead.” Rowe grinned. “Alas, as it stands, Susie and I have the requisite authority, experience, and language skills for the best chance of success. Besides, you know that as an earl, my duties at the Home Office, though discreet, have always required much of me. Parliament is likely to soon establish the Alien Office, but I have already been working in that branch unofficially.”

“But your work must be well-known. I do not understand the need for secrecy.”

“Only the surface of my work is known, Bennet. While it is true that the House of Lords is aware of much of my work with French immigrants, most peers have no idea of my involvement with the war effort or that I have been traveling to the continent for the past several years.”

“And would it be so bad for them to know? You are working for England, after all.”

“Indeed I am.” Rowe gazed pensively at the flames burning before them. “France has infiltrated the kingdom more than you can know. Traitors hide easily in town and in the countryside. While France is unfriendly with England, it is safest for my family—you and Fanny and the girls included—to have no known connection with me. If I were discovered to be working so thoroughly against France, none of us would be safe.”

“I think I understand,” Thomas said. He watched the flames crackle for several minutes as he considered all Rowe had said and was about to undertake. “Well, do not worry about Elizabeth while you perform your necessary duties. She will be safe with us at Longbourn.”

Rowe clasped Thomas’s shoulders in gratitude, and the brothers returned to their wives to find Jane and Mary had been brought down to meet Elizabeth, who Thomas now saw was a stunning child with soft, dark curls already beginning to frame her cherubic face. She stood beside Jane, who had her mother’s straight, golden hair, and pointed to Mary sitting on the floor with a doll.

“Maaa-ry,” Jane coaxed. “This is my sister, Maaa-ry.”

“Papa!” Elizabeth’s eyes flashed as she noticed her father had entered the room. She ran toward him, and he took two large steps to reach her.

“Yes, Lizzy,” Rowe moved to kneel beside his daughter. “Are you making the acquaintance of your cousins?”

“Jane! Mawy!” Elizabeth said excitedly, pointing to each girl in turn.

“She is very bright to learn new words so quickly,” Thomas said.

Both of the girl’s parents looked at her with admiration and love unmistakably written across their faces.