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Lieutenant Marbury and his men had arrived late, as expected. After a few hours rest, they had taken their position about a mile up the road from Tuscany, where they would be a last outpost to stop any coach that might get past Richard and the others. Thus, the early morning fog enshrouded William, Richard, Evan and the others nearing the drive to the villa. As he rode behind his brother and cousin, Evan could not help but reflect on the conversation of that morning.

“Everyone check your weapons, even if you have done so already,” Richard ordered. “There will be no time once the confrontation starts.” He turned to William. “You did bring your sword?”

William nodded, reaching into the coach to grab the sword that his father had given him upon the completion of his studies at Cambridge.

“Strap it on. It will do you no good in there, and you never know when you may have use of it. Pistols are only good until they are empty. ‘Be prepared,’ my old sergeant always said!”

Evan laughed, strapping his own sword about his waist and saluting. “Yes, sir, Colonel Fitzwilliam!”

Richard smirked. “You may laugh now, but you will both thank me for the warnings before the day is finished. Now remember, keep your heads down while on horseback; it makes you a much smaller target, and do not allow yourselves to be separated. There is strength in numbers.”

William and Evan exchanged smiles, which Richard noted. “I intend to take both of you back unharmed.” Turning briskly, he walked over to the other men to issue the same caution to them.

“Richard is the consummate army officer, is he not?” Evan asked, following his cousin with his eyes. William stopped what he was doing to observe Richard, who was now expounding on military strategies for surviving this venture to the servants who were helping.

“Yes, but he is much more. He has not lived this long without being very clever. I know I would not feel quite so confident without him being here.”

Evan laughed mirthlessly. “To tell the truth, neither would I. Take care, Brother. I would not like to be put in a position to explain to Ana why you got hurt.”

William patted Evan’s shoulder. “Nor would I like to explain the same about you. God preserve us all.”

“Let us hope that He is as tired of Stefano as we are!” Richard declared, overhearing their somber conversation as he returned. Then he smiled warmly. “If your weapons are ready, inspect your horses and mount up.”

As they arrived at the woods just outside the entrance to Tuscany, dawn was beginning to lighten the skies, and they could see two overwrought servants running to meet them.

Arriving first, Mr. Avery said breathlessly, “I was wondering what to do—send Hawkins to find you or wait until you arrived!”

“Just what has you so disturbed?” Richard queried.

“Another coach has arrived! It entered the drive not a half-hour ago! If not for the racket it made in passing, it could have passed us unnoticed as it was still pitch black.”

“So you could not determine if there was a crest on the side?”

“No, sir!”

William growled, “Stanton never meant to wait! Somehow he must have escaped Mr. Judson’s watch!”

~~~*~~~

Awakened while it was still dark, Elizabeth was untied and made to dress. She was then forced to accompany Mrs. Preston to the large front portico, which was illuminated by torches along the length of it and part way down the drive. Alongside them stood servants and guards, awaiting Stefano’s order to board two coaches piled high with trunks. One coach was to transport most of the men, guards and servants, several riding as footmen. The other was to convey the count, Elizabeth, Mrs. Preston, and the young girl, Maria, as well as the other men.

Elizabeth and the widow exchanged uncertain glances, though they did not speak. In no humour to converse with the woman who had betrayed her, Elizabeth glared as Cecile lowered her head. It was obvious that she wished she had never been involved with Wickham or fallen so low as to help the lunatic regain control of Miss Elizabeth.

Visibly on edge, Stefano paced about nervously, giving orders and asking questions. After Elizabeth had championed Mr. Darcy, he had begun to suspect that he might have underestimated the man. If Darcy had already surmised that Elizabeth was in Liverpool, he could arrive before they departed England. Giving last minute orders to his bodyguards, Stefano was the last to notice that those about him had ceased their activities and were staring at something in the distance. Barely distinguishable in the torchlights, a lone coach rolled towards the manor.

Stefano held his breath. No one would dare arrive at this hour unless they had come to confront him. Glancing about, he was pleased to see that his men had already drawn their weapons, so he resisted the urge to do the same. He never liked to appear fearful, though unconsciously his hands clenched into fists. When at last he was able to read the crest on the side of the luxurious conveyance, he began to shake with uncontrollable anger.

Father!

As Lord Stanton’s coach stopped in front of Tuscany’s front steps, a visibly nervous footman climbed down to open the door. Stefano’s father exited his coach as though he had not a care in the world, though his anxious eyes instantly swept the people standing alongside his son. Finding Miss Elizabeth and meeting her eyes, he noted that she did not appear overly frightened. He nodded. She looked perplexed as to his intentions but remained calm as she nodded slightly in return. Next to her stood the maid, Maria, who had grown up at Tuscany, and next to the servant, another woman who looked quite traumatized.

As he approached the group, Stefano reached to grip Elizabeth’s arm and pull her close to his side. Stanton ignored his son as he addressed her. “Miss Elizabeth, I am so very grateful that you look well. Your welfare has been of great concern to so many.”

Elizabeth’s brows knit in uncertainty, but she replied solemnly, “I am well, Lord Stanton.”

Stefano glared at her before he addressed his father. “Why are you here, Father? Have you not been sufficiently warned to leave me alone? Do you realise the dangerous situation you have created by coming?”

“May we go inside, Stephen? I would like a word with you in private.”