Page 89 of Compromise & Consequence
She did as he requested and waited. Her husband paced in front of the fireplace for a few minutes before he stopped and faced her.
“My aunt has initiated a three-prong approach in her quest to ruin your good name. The first is purchasing a one-page layout inThe Gazette, whereupon she describes in detail our compromise, but painting you as the instigator and shares lurid details that both you and I will know as a false narrative, but the greedy public will not care. You will be cast in the role of Jezebel; a harlot not worthy of pity. My understanding is that she wanted the headline to read,Harlot Traps Rich Man from Derbyshire, or something along those lines. Mr. Collins was not too clear on that fact.”
“That is all? Surely the paper would not publish such trash knowing the power your extended family holds in London.”
“Disgusting as that is, it is not the worst. Mr. Collins gave me the letter after I threatened bodily harm – you need to know this in case his future wife tells you of my actions – and youruncle, Richard, and I have read it. Richard has gone to London to secure guards for us here and on the trip home, as well as personal bodyguards for you once we are in London. You will not go anywhere without them.”
“Them? I am to have more than one bodyguard. Even when I go for my walks?”
“There will be no walks, Elizabeth. Not until this danger has passed.”
“You have yet to tell me what this danger is.”
“I cannot. It is too vile… I can scarcely bear to think of it.”
“I cannot protect myself if I do not know where the danger comes from. Please, William. Please tell me what I need to know.”
He almost forgot to breathe at her calling him William. Quickly, he gathered his wits and sat across from her. He took a deep breath and began to speak.
“She has laid out two plans. If one is not successful, then the brigands she has hired are to enact the second plan.”
Elizabeth did not move but waited and watched with intelligent eyes.
“The week we return to London, during one of your walks, you will be abducted near a large grouping of shrubs and trees. My understanding is there are only two on the walk and it is difficult to see the path from either side. From there, these men will take you to an undisclosed location.” At her soft gasp, he reached across and laid his hand on her clenched ones, squeezing them. “After holding you for several days, they are to take you into London and drop you off in the middle of Bond Street”
What he omitted was the horrific fact the men had been told they could do any vile thing they wanted with his wife and if she survived their attentions – his hand still clenched in anger atthe thought – they were to bring her back to London and strip her bare before dropping her battered and bruised body in the middle of Bond Street.
“Oh, my god!” Elizabeth exclaimed, holding the back of her hand to her mouth to stop a soft scream from escaping. “All because we married?”
“She has lost all capability of reasonable thought. Richard is hoping his father can cut her off at the knees and is deploying his best men to find these brigands before they have a chance to initiate their attack.”
“You said there was a second plan.”
“Ideally, my aunt wishes for you to be shamed publicly in the most despicable of ways, however, if for some reason these men cannot take you to their hideout, she ordered them to sell you to the type of miscreants who take women and ship them abroad. You would never be seen again and I would have to wait for seven years before you are declared dead for me to marry Anne.”
“She is mad!”
“Absolutely and irrevocably.” He paused and gazed at his wife. “It is this plan which could be construed as treason. If this is leaked to the Palace, they are within their right to demand she be put to death. Because you have royal blood, it would be a public execution, and Lord and Lady Matlock would bear the brunt of the social fallout.”
“I do not wish for your family to suffer because of her delusions. This letter shows that she is working alone and must be constrained. Can the earl not find a place where she can be locked away forever?”
“I believe that is what Richard hopes to do as well. His first mission, though, is to find these men and stop the plan before they can carry it out.”
“You realize, if he cannot discover their identities, we must carry on and lure them out.”
“No!” He realized immediately what she hinted. “I will not allow you to put yourself in danger.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes, and then Elizabeth started to speak softly, her voice gaining strength as she went along.
“Engage people with what they expect; it is what they are able to discern and confirms their projections. It settles them into predictable patterns of response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary moment — that which they cannot anticipate.” She quoted from her favorite book. “I will not be the one walking the path. These men will expect a petite, short brunette who likes to wear green. I am sure you have a stable hand who, slight in body, can tread the path in my stead.”
Once again, he was astonished by her intelligence and it may have been the only time in his life that he wished he was not sturdy and tall because he would gladly wear a dress and wig if it meant saving her life.
***
Dusk had just settled over the horizon when twelve war-hardened men rode onto the grounds of Longbourn. Uncle Thomas and William met and escorted them to the stables where they would set themselves up temporarily. Soon, two men were placed near the main entrance into the house and the servant’s entrance at the side of the house. Two men patrolled the perimeter and two men were placed inside the house. One kept Elizabeth in sight at all times and when she retired for the night, stood guard outside her bedchamber door, the other sat in a chair facing the staircase that led upstairs. These six men tookthe night shift and early in the morning, they would be relieved by the other six men who would be sleeping in the stables. This rotation would vary, in case Longbourn was being watched. At all times there would be eight men outside and four men inside. Monday, when she and William were scheduled to travel home, all twelve soldiers would ride alongside their carriage for the entire trip. Nothing was being left to chance.
Dinner was a strained affair as Aunt Frances attempted to find out why there was a very large man standing inside the dining room while they ate.
