Page 58 of The Crown’s Gift

"Especially then."

Lady Bennet crossed the room and sat beside Georgiana. "My dear, fear has never prevented me from speaking. I recommend the practice."

A startled laugh escaped Georgiana. Lady Bennet took her free hand.

Sir Thomas wrote to Darcy, Colonel Forster, and the magistrate. A trusted groom rode south to Darcy's London house with the first letter and changed horses once. Another carried a coded message to Colonel Fitzwilliam, who was dining that evening in St James's.

The plan was still forming when Lydia entered without knocking.

"Papa, I know I am not to interrupt, but Mr Wickham is riding Denny's grey horse along the north boundary."

Everyone turned.

"How do you know?" Elizabeth asked.

"Because the grey has one white stocking and bites at the bit. Mr Wickham covered his uniform with a dark coat, but the red showed when the wind lifted it. I saw from the attic."

Miss Harwood appeared behind her, breathless from pursuit. "She was not forbidden the attic window."

Sir Thomas crossed to the estate map. "Where exactly?"

Lydia pointed. "Here, near the old keeper's path. He stopped where he could see the west drive."

Georgiana's fingers tightened.

"He is watching the house," Elizabeth said.

Sir Thomas's expression became very calm. "Then we shall allow him to see what we choose."

He turned to Lydia. "You did well to come directly."

Praise transformed her. "May I help?"

"You may obey Miss Harwood without argument for the next two days. It will be the most difficult service required of anyone."

Lydia opened her mouth, saw his face, and nodded.

At dusk a carriage left Netherfield carrying a veiled young woman beside Mrs Annesley. Wickham, watching from the boundary, could not know the veiled woman was Kitty wearing Georgiana's cloak, or that Georgiana remained inside with the curtains drawn.

At Lucas Lodge, Kitty and Mrs Annesley slipped through the stable court and entered Mr Lucas's closed carriage. Two servants continued toward London in the Netherfield carriage, preserving the silhouettes behind drawn curtains. Mr Lucas's coach returned Kitty and Mrs Annesley by the eastern service road after dark, well before Darcy arrived.

He followed the carriage toward London far enough for Colonel Forster's men to note his movement.

Then he turned back toward Meryton.

He believed Georgiana had been frightened away from protection.

He did not know Darcy was riding north through the night.

* * *

Darcy reached Netherfield shortly before dawn, mud to his knees and fury held together by exhaustion.

Sir Thomas met him in the hall.

"Georgiana?"

"Safe. Asleep, I hope."