Page 21 of Lord Lonbourn's Daughter
“Speak, Mrs Long,” Darcy demanded.
“I would not trust Mrs Younge. Something in her eyes, sir. I did not like it, not one bit.”
He doubted the vague accusation held any merit but probably originated from a difference of opinion between the ladies. Mrs Younge came highly recommended with excellent references. That she had travelled with his sister was the only reason his dread had yet to erupt in panic.
“Yes, well, I need to get to the bottom of this if I am to find my sister and her friends. Have I understood it correctly that Mrs Younge left on Monday with all the girls? After they left, you were robbed by ruffians. You have not heard or seen anything else since then?”
They all nodded in agreement.
“I shall question the neighbours as to whether they saw or heard anything. You stay here and have some food and water.”
He strode into the passage, followed by weak protests. It was then he noticed it. He could not believe he had overlooked the boots protruding from the anteroom when he entered. He had found the missing footman—too late it would seem. The man lay in a pool of dried blood, hit over the head with something sharp and heavy. The robbery had just turned to murder. Frissons travelled over his skin, but his mind remained focused upon the task before him.
“Mr Darcy?”
Someone called after him from the parlour.
“Mr Darcy! You must see this!”
He strode back to his assembled servants. Mrs Hill was waving a piece of paper in the air.
“They must have left this, the robbers. It is addressed to you.”
If he had had any doubts that this was a planned assault, there were none left. He strode to Mrs Hill and ripped the page from her hand.
Fitzwilliam Thorn Alexander Darcy,
I have your sister and her friends.
Go to London and await further instructions.
Do not notify the Bow Street Runners, or Georgiana
will pay the price along with her companions.
The letter was quite telling, especially the inclusion of his full name that he surmised was not common knowledge but could befound in the church register at Kympton. The handwriting was feminine, but that could be a forgery.
“Were there any ladies amongst the villains?” he enquired to establish whether there was a fifth accomplice who was female.
“No, sir.”
He deliberated for a few minutes. On second thoughts, he could see no point in making enquiries round the neighbourhood. That would only draw unwanted attention to his sister. If word of this got out, Georgiana would be ruined. She might already be, but he would not let his mind wander down that path. He could not afford to wallow in speculative conjectures. All his effort must centre on rescuing his sister—for as long as there was hope.
Darcy continued to question the servants, especially the young groom, Ralph, about the timing, methods, and a thorough description of the four men. He shuddered when he heard that they had been armed.
He left it to Mrs Long to close up the house and make arrangements with the deceased footman’s family. He told everyone to spread the word in Ramsgate that he had collected the girls a little earlier than planned.
With his notes in his saddlebag, he turned his horse in the direction of town, but the journey proved too long for him to finish. He rested for two hours at the inn where Swiftsilver was stabled and reached London in the early hours of the morning.
Chapter 9 Extortion
Darcy pounded on the door.
“Open up!”
He was too exhausted to think clearly, or he would not have shouted on the street. It was a good thing that all sensible people were still abed; not even the servants had awakened yet. He gave the oak door another round of pounding until he almost fell into the entrance hall when the door finally opened. The sleepy butler admitting him looked decidedly perturbed by his untimely intrusion.
“I need to speak to Lord Longbourn forthwith.”
