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“I would readily send her back to Hertfordshire in my own carriage,” Darcy said. “But she must agree to such a journey—which she would only do with a good reason. And that requires an explanation given in a private conversation.” Damn the rules of propriety! They even made it difficult to save a woman’s life. “It will not be easy to find her alone.”
Richard quirked a grin at his cousin. “Perhaps you could arrange a private conversation tonight.”
Darcy shook his head. “I will have no opportunity to dine with the colonel.”
“I was thinking about later in the night.”
Darcy regarded him blankly.
“Come, Darce, surely you have— Don’t tell me you have never climbed into a lady’s bedchamber?”
“I have not,” Darcy said stiffly. Many men of his acquaintance believed such activities to be good sport, relishing the danger, but Darcy had never counted himself among their number.
His cousin smirked. “Well, I have—more than once. I can give you some advice.”
Was Richard serious? “Pray tell, did you ever climb into a lady’s bedchamber when she did not anticipate your arrival and had expressed a distaste for your company?”
“Ah, no. I take your point.” Richard frowned. “Those are different circumstances.” They were both silent until his cousin spoke again. “Still, we dare not delay; tomorrow could be too late. A bedchamber is an excellent place for a private conversation.”
Darcy was mildly scandalized. “Richard!”
“I will accompany you to the house and keep watch from below,” Richard promised.
The very thought of discovery made Darcy shudder. “How reassuring.”
“I have been professionally trained in detecting enemy combatants.” When Darcy did not respond, Richard said, “I will happily listen to other ideas.”
No doubt there were fifty far superior plans, but none came to mind. Finally, Darcy sighed. “If I do not have a better idea by this evening, we will try your plan. Heaven help me.”
***
Darcy surveyed the back of Colonel Forster’s house. It was a simple two-story brick structure with windows overlooking the garden. With the aid of a bright moon, he and Richard had observed the house for an hour and had seen no flickers of candlelight or signs of movement. They could reasonably assume everyone in the house was asleep.
Somewhere to their left a dog barked. Both Darcy and his cousin froze, but no one seemed to be inclined to investigate the cause.
“She mentioned that her window overlooks the garden,” Darcy said in a low voice.
Richard peered at the two windows on the upper floor. “But which one is hers?”
Darcy took a deep breath. “I will simply have to guess.” His cousin’s eyes widened in alarm. “This was your idea,” he reminded Richard.
“I am realizing how much simpler such a scheme is when the lady in question is eagerly awaiting your arrival.” He fiddled with a button on his cuff, seeming uncertain about their plan for the first time since they had devised it.
Darcy did not respond. Despite his initial reluctance, he had concluded this was the best and fastest way to alert Elizabeth to the danger. Indeed, it might be the only way to ensure a private conversation; however, it was far from being the least risky plan available. Hopefully he could quickly convince Elizabeth not to scream. Or the night might end with him being arrested for trespassing—or perhaps being shot by Colonel Forster.
“I cannot decide who is a bigger fool: you for concocting this plan or me for acquiescing to it,” he muttered to Richard.
“You are not foolish, just desperate to save Elizabeth’s life.”
“Desperate men are often fools,” Darcy said, but Richard’s reminder stiffened his resolve. This risk was necessary for the sake of Elizabeth’s safety.
“I shall hoot like an owl if anyone approaches,” Richard said in a low voice.
Darcy clapped his cousin on the shoulder. “If you ever need assistance eloping to Gretna Green, I will provide you with the same service.”
Richard snorted. “This is a lot of trouble for someone who is not even eloping. While you are up there, ask if she would like to accompany you on a journey to Scotland. Kill two birds with one stone.”
Darcy chuckled softly.
