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Darcy watched the happy conversation between Elizabeth and his sister with increasing pleasure. He would have enjoyed taking Elizabeth and Georgiana to Gunter’s or Hatchard’s or even to stroll along Bond Street. It would have given him great delight to show off the two women most important to him. Yet until he unraveled Howard’s plan—for he was increasingly sure the man behind it all must be Howard—it would not be safe for any of them, particularly Elizabeth.
His uncle dismissed the footmen as the men stood to walk out. Fitz was headed back to Darcy House to lead the interrogation. Darcy expected to accompany him, but when they moved into the hall, Fitz shook his head.
“My men have been with them all night, so they should be ready to talk,” he said seriously. “Your presence is not required.”
“Should I ask what your men have been doing?” Darcy inquired.
Fitz shook his head. “Not allowing them to eat or sleep or relieve themselves is my guess. I do not guide this part of the process.”
Darcy rubbed the back of his neck. He did not like this.
“Darcy,” Fitz said slowly, “Elizabeth has been the target thus far, but you cannot deny that if Howard has an opportunity to hurt you as well, he would take it. And you are not practiced in interrogation as I am. I would prefer you remain here.”
Darcy’s frustration and anger exploded into flames, but a sudden thought doused them. “You mean that my presence would make the interrogation more difficult.”
“I will not deny it.”
Fitz knew him too well—his cousin was not forbidding him from leading the interrogation. Instead, he was appealing to Darcy’s logic and reason. Damn it all. “Then I will not accompany you.” The words were nearly bitten in half as they left his mouth.
“Thank you.” Fitz rubbed the back of his head. “I know it is difficult, but I believe it is for the best. Let us get you married, and then you can help us finish the rest of it.”
“Fitz,” Darcy said quietly.
“Yes?” Fitz asked.
“You may have the two lackeys. But Howard is mine.”
“Darce . . .”
“I will not kill him, Fitz,” Darcy assured his cousin. “But neither will I allow him to escape his actions without consequence.”
Fitz sighed. “I will not stop you, Darcy, but understand that I will also be with you. You will not face him alone.”
It was a warning as much as a promise. Fitz would not allow him to go too far. It was a comfort, he supposed. “Send word immediately if there is anything I can do.”
“I will, I promise you.” Fitz turned on his heel and was gone.
Darcy returned to the breakfast room, where Georgiana was finally standing, preparing to meet her music master. After they had both bid the girl a good morning, Elizabeth wandered over to him and sat herself by his side. “William,” she said thoughtfully, “you said that Mr. Howard had a sister whom he wished you to marry.”
He nodded. “She was in need of a husband.”
Elizabeth frowned. “Where is she now?”
“I must admit I do not know.” He was unsure why Elizabeth had asked. “I suspect she is in the country. Howard has a second estate in Cumbria.”
“In the carriage, you said he sent Mr. Wickham after your sister first.” Elizabeth tipped her head to one side. “As though he had lost his sister to a rake and he perhaps wanted you to lose yours.”
Darcy nodded. It made sense if revenge was Howard’s purpose. “Fitz made the same connection. If we are correct that Howard is at the center of everything that has happened—and I grow increasingly convinced that we are—why did his approach change? Wickham is many things, but I have never seen him become violent with a woman. He prefers to charm them into willing acquiescence.”
“Which is perhaps the reason the men who . . .” Elizabeth clasped her hands in her lap. “Which is perhaps why different men were sent to abduct me.” She closed her eyes tightly, thinking. “Mr. Wickham did try to charm me, but then he removed to London and missed the ball.” She blushed and cast a rueful look at him as she admitted, “I thought at first you perhaps had something to do with that.”
“Which is why you brought him up during our dance.” Darcy sighed. “I was concerned he intended to do you harm, Elizabeth. Yet if you had not followed me into the hall to insist on an explanation, I am afraid I might have left Netherfield without saying anything useful at all.”
“You were protecting your sister,” Elizabeth reassured him. “I do think it was a mistake, but I understand it. I have four sisters of my own.”
He rubbed a fist along his jaw and silently cursed Howard. “If Wickham was meant to charm you, why send other men? It is the why that concerns me, Elizabeth. The man I knew had a strict sense of honor. I was certain Howard would be above any such behavior.”
Elizabeth laid her hand over one of his, and Darcy marveled at that small, strong appendage. Her figure was slight, but it was easy to forget that when her spirit was so imposing. She stood and turned to face him. “Perhaps something changed?”
