Page 70 of A Most Beloved Sister
Elizabeth guided her trembling friend over to her seat by the fire. She rang the bell, then poured Louisa a glass of wine from the bottle that had been left out the night prior.
“Yes, miss?” A young maid came to the door in response to the bell.
“Please have Mr. Grantham and Mrs. Nicholls come here immediately, as well as Mrs. Hurst’s lady’s maid. Quickly!”
The girl curtsied briefly, then dashed off. Within minutes, the butler and housekeeper arrived, with Louisa’s lady’s maid Pearse not long after.
Elizabeth quickly explained the situation. “I believe we should have every able-bodied man split off in partners with lanterns to begin searching. The hunting dogs may be of use, too, I should think.”
“We should also see if any of the regiment are able to help search,” added Grantham.
“Excellent,” Elizabeth agreed. “The more help, the better. It is already so dark, but it is too cold to wait until morning. We do not know what his condition is either.”
This last bit was said in a whisper as Elizabeth glanced at Louisa to make certain she didn’t overhear.
“I will send someone for Mr. Jones,” Mrs. Nicholls said.
“Thank you,” Elizabeth said. “In the meantime, I will work to coordinate efforts here. Pearse can stay with her and keep her calm.”
Having been given their assignments, each person went their own ways, united in their goal to find Mr. Hurst.
As Elizabeth made her way towards the parlor where she would coordinate the search efforts, all she could do was pray.Please, Lord, let us find him safe.
Chapter 19
Elizabeth stared out the window of Netherfield’s front parlor, watching lanterns twinkle in the darkness as they bobbed around. She could hear the faint calls of the search party members, accompanied by the barking of hunting dogs.
The door opened behind her, and in the window’s reflection she could see Jamie come in from the lit hallway. “Any news?” she asked without turning around.
He limped over and took up a position at her side. “Not yet.”
Her shoulders slumped forward, and he placed a hand on her arm. “Come, you should sit down.”
She numbly allowed him to lead her to the table and accepted the glass of wine he poured for her. “Mrs. Hurst’s maid tells me she is sleeping soundly from the draught Mr. Jones gave her.”
“It won’t hurt the baby?” She looked up sharply at him.
He shrugged and raised his hands. “I have absolutely no idea!”
She let out a short laugh. “No, of course not.”
Elizabeth set the glass on the table next to her, then leaned forward and placed her head in her hands, rubbing at her temples. “They’ve been searching for an hour, Jamie. What if he isn’t found?”
“Well, they were fortunate they had you here. I imagine you’ve had experience with Jane wandering off as a child.”
She shook her head. “Fortunately, no. Jane was too timid to go very far from the house. It didn’t stop me from worrying though—especially after one of the tenant’s children got lost when I was about fifteen years old. I can still remember how panicked everyone was when he didn’t arrive home. For months afterwards, I would lay awake in bed, working out what I would have done to find him sooner.”
“Was he recovered?”
She shook her head. “Not in time. He had fallen into a ravine and hit his head, or so we think. By the time he was discovered, he had lost too much blood from the wound and infection had set in.”
The two fell silent for several long minutes before Elizabeth lifted her head and reached again for the glass of wine. Instead of taking ladylike sips, she drained the glass with several long swallows, then replaced it back on the table before standing once again to pace around the room.
“Could he have gone to one of the taverns or inns and chosen to stay overnight?” She spun around and looked at Jamie, her eyes lit up with excitement at the new idea.
He dismissed the idea with a wag of his head before she even finished speaking. “I believe his valet already made that suggestion to the butler, who sent riders into Meryton and the surrounding towns and hamlets. No one has seen him.”
Her frame wilted with the news. “Jamie, I don’t know what more I can do,” she whispered.
