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“I suppose that would not be hard for me to do. I would not be directly involved in the burglaries, so I would be safe from suspicion.” She smiled then. “I would be able to keep my necklace and perhaps make enough to redeem myself and accumulate some funds.”

“Indeed!” Wickham proclaimed. “We have an agreement then?” He stuck out his hand. “Of course, you will have to start soon, or I shall be forced to take this necklace to appease my partner.”

Cecile shook his hand. “I shall have a prospect for you this week.”

“Splendid.” Wickham rubbed his hands together now. “I shall look forward to hearing from you.” At that, he bowed and walked towards the door.

“One thing, though.” At the sound of Cecile’s voice, Wickham turned. “Do not try to cheat me. I will be keeping track of what was stolen.”

“Your mistrust has wounded me,” Wickham declared, clasping his hand to his heart.

“I thought you said we were being honest.” Cecile retorted, lifting her head in disdain.

“Touché, my dear, touché!”

~~~*~~~

Chapter 8

Darcy House

The Conservatory

The two men, Mr. Darcy and a stranger, stood at the open door to the conservatory, trying to remain unnoticed. Mrs. Drury was aware of them straightaway but gave no indication of their presence to the lady who was being watched, whose back was turned to the gentlemen. She and Miss Elizabeth were enjoying the tea and cakes that Mrs. Barnes had been so kind as to provide, and she hoped that it was enough to keep the young woman from noticing that they were being observed.

Mr. Darcy mentioned a doctor who was coming today for a consultation.

Elizabeth had been quiet for nearly an hour, seemingly mesmerized by the beautiful flowers about her as Mrs. Drury read aloud from a book of poetry by William Blake. The companion was very much aware that her voice could not command Elizabeth’s attention so well as Mr. Darcy’s mellow baritone, but at least the reading kept her calm while she waited for him. Since they had been in London, Mr. Darcy had spent time talking or reading to Elizabeth every afternoon.

Thirty minutes later, Elizabeth began twisting in her chair, turning so that she could see the door—a clear indication that she was expecting him. Mrs. Drury prayed that either Elizabeth would settle down or that Mr. Darcy would appear soon, as her charge’s present state of agitation usually portended another struggle to get her to cooperate, one which only Mr. Darcy was able to allay.

William’s Study

Mr. Towson paced back and forth across the expanse of William’s study, his head down, one hand on his chin and the other behind his back. Trusting his old friend implicitly and believing it was the only way in which he might understand and help Elizabeth, William had recounted her story to him.

Using only her Christian name, he explained how she was hurt, how Jane and Charles found her and his encounter with her that night in the rain. He extracted a pledge from the good physician that he would tell no one, as it might put her life in jeopardy. Finally done with pacing, Mr. Towson drew himself up to his full height and faced William.

“You say that she has been in this state since the gun shot grazed her temple?” Mr. Towson enquired, rubbing his chin as if in great deliberation.

“According to her brother and sister, she has been uncommunicative and unable to focus on anything or anyone since they recovered her about four months ago. However, while I was staying at their home, she did show some signs of improvement.”

His bushy eyebrows rose in question. “In what way?”

“She was calmer,” he explained. “Less combative. She allowed her sister to take the doll that she clings to, and place it on her bed. Jane, her sister, convinced her that it needed to rest.”

“Does she think it is a child?”

“Jane believes it is so, but since she does not talk…”

“And does she still look for it at times?”

“Sometimes she still walks around with it, and Mrs. Drury says that she insists on having it before she will sleep.”

“Were there any other signs?”

“Right before we left for London, she focused on something for the first time.”

“What was that?”