Page 68 of Saving Jane
“Where is Miss de Bourgh?” Elizabeth asked. “Where is Mr Collins?”
“Ladies, it isn’t proper for you to be here,” the cook told them.
“Cook, we came looking for Mr Collins but cannot find anyone above stairs,” explained Georgiana.
“Is Mr Collins missing as well? Has he been kidnapped by thieves and murderers like Miss de Bourgh?” the cook asked.
“What are you...what has happened?” Elizabeth demanded to know though Georgiana and Jane were both shocked into silence.
“Miss de Bourgh is missing! She has been kidnapped!” exclaimed the housekeeper. “Mr Livingston is directing the footmen in a search of the grounds for clues.”
“Tell us what happened,” Elizabeth directed the housekeeper.
“I only know when the maids went above stairs this morning to light the fires, the front door stood open and everyone up there were missing! Miss de Bourgh and Mrs Jenkins and the lady’s maid what serves the young mistress are all gone.”
“Did anyone hear anything last night?”
“No miss. After supper last night, Miss de Bourgh gave us all champagne and beer–we slept so deep that robbers broke in and made off with the ladies–they must have taken Mr Collins too!”
“Send one of the maids into the gardens and ask Mr Livingston to return immediately,” Elizabeth suggested, and the housekeeper did not hesitate to follow the young woman’s direction. While they waited, Georgiana and Jane went among the maids and reassured them that all would be well.
“When Mr Darcy returns, he will put the house to rights and discover the whereabouts of Miss de Bourgh,” Jane told several of the maids. As Georgiana repeated the same refrain, the maids grew calmer. The cook finally rose from her seat and set her maids to work once again–they would need luncheon since no one had broken their fast.
When Mr Livingston entered the kitchens, he was so relieved to see the three gentle ladies that he forgot to be scandalized that they were in the kitchens.
“Tell us exactly what you found this morning,” Elizabeth insisted.
“I was called when the maids were hysterical upon finding the empty rooms. The beds had not been slept in. I sent a footman to the stables, and he reported that the de Bourgh carriage, horses and coachman were all missing.”
As Elizabeth paused to consider the butler’s words, Livingston asked, “Do you think the coachman kidnapped Miss de Bourgh?”
“I do not know where Miss de Bourgh has gone but with the absence of her maid and lady’s companion as well, I do not think there are nefarious forces at work here.”
“Be assured Livingston, all will be well,” Georgiana assured the butler. “Now, go to the kitchen and ask that tea be brought to the front parlour and make certain you take refreshment also.”
The young lady repeated her assurance for everyone, “My brother will know what to do when he returns to Rosings.”
~~}{~~
It was teatime before the Darcy carriage was seen approaching Rosings Park. Elizabeth, Jane and Georgiana gathered outside the front door though Livingston was nervously hiding inside the house.
Darcy descended from the carriage without waiting for the footman and as he handed his aunt out of the carriage, he noticed the quiet faces of the three ladies.
“What is this welcoming party?” Lady Catherine asked. “Where is Livingston? I have fools for solicitors in London–I am penniless until late summer because of fools!”
Darcy urged his aunt forward and she pushed away from him, leaving him behind as she went into the house, demandingto know where her servants were. “Why am I unattended? Livingston! Livingston!”
Darcy stepped close to Elizabeth and Georgiana, “My dears, what is afoot?”
Before they can explain anything, there is a scream from inside the house and Darcy hurried inside to find his aunt collapsed into a chair.
“Mr Darcy, you must take charge!” Livingston begged. “Miss de Bourgh has vanished!”
“She’s been kidnapped! I know it!” Lady Catherine screeched from her chair. Darcy noticed his aunt refused the attentions of her butler and the maids standing behind the chair.
“Tell me what has transpired,” he demanded of the butler.
As Livingston relayed the morning’s events to Mr Darcy with Lady Catherine’s moans interrupting them regularly, Elizabeth, Jane and Georgiana came inside the house as well.
