This chapter is short, but I think it ends at the right spot.

Mr. Bennet's POV

Chapter 49: She Needs Rescuing Just As Much As Fanny Did.

I was determined to get to the bottom of the matter as to who exactly was with Mrs. Roberts, although it did not seem to be Tommy. I would not leave any woman under Mr. Bragg's power (save I suppose his wife and daughters, but that was the normal order of things, as they belonged to him, but I would have helped even them had they asked for it).

I decided that my wife had already heard too much and should not know of my plans. Thus, I had Edward, Mr. Coats and Charlie accompany me outside. It was dark, but not too cold and we were able to talk for a few minutes. However, I was merely seeking their cooperation rather than their advice. Thus I dictated the following course of action: I would send Charlie back to Mrs. Roberts with a note, stay where I could spy if she opened the door to him and then force myself inside her home if need be. Mr. Gardiner would wait nearby in a carriage with Mr. Coats. Charlie would whistle to summon them close if we needed assistance. I hoped we would be leaving with whomever occupied that house.

I consulted with Mr. Coats about when he had seen the man come and go, to try to get a sense of his patterns to figure out the best timing for when this should take place. Unfortunately, Mr. Bragg did not regularly arrive at a set time.

Mr. Coats stated, "Sometimes he visits during the mornings, sometimes in the afternoons and even sometimes quite late into evenings, but never for more than an hour or two, never overnight, and never more than once on the same day. However, you must understand I have not been watching every day. I cannot say for sure that I know either when he will visit or when he will not."

"Has he ever visited more than once a day?" I inquired.

"Not from what I can tell."

"How early is the earliest he has visited?"

"I cannot say for sure, but though I have watched as early as nine o'clock on two or three occasions, I have never seen him earlier than eleven in the morning. I have given up watching at such a time as Mrs. Roberts has never left that home earlier than ten o'clock."

This interaction gave me two different ideas of when I should try. Either I could try in the morning before he had ever visited, or we could have Mr. Coats wait for him to visit and then leave, and try afterwards. Perhaps the later idea would have been safer, but I was impatient and knew he might not even visit on a particular day. So I formulated a plan and then told them of it.

First I asked, "Edward, can you arrange to be absent from your employment in the morning?"

He nodded.

"Mr. Coats, Charlie, can you be available as well?"

They nodded also, with Charlie asking, "Mr. Gardiner, you will clear it, won't you?"

"Of course."

I told Edward, "I need you to rent a carriage first thing in the morning (not a hired hack, we do not want to be at anyone's disposal) and bring Mr. Coats and Charlie with you to my inn. I will be waiting downstairs at half past eight. Let us try our luck then."

That evening, I wrote a short note for Charlie to deliver in the morning when we arrived, to get her to open the door. I imagined she would not open the door if Mr. Bragg were within. I wrote:

Dearest M,

I cannot leave the matter alone. I told you before that if you were in any trouble I wanted to help you and I remain at your disposal. From what my messenger tells me, there is perhaps a young woman with you. I want to help you both. I will not leave either of you in his power; I know who he is and what he steals from young women. I am not seeking a similar arrangement, whatever our past may suggest. I know you were in a difficult position and perhaps did not freely choose, but you understood what you were choosing and it was never my intention harm you. I am sorry, but regardless of your wishes, I must speak with you and determine how I may be of service.

Sincerely,

T

In the morning we arrived in the carriage Mr. Gardiner had rented.

I watched from almost a block away (and well out of view of their glazings) as Charlie approached the town home. I noted that it was not as nice as the one I owned, though it seemed sound enough. As it was early yet, I saw no one about.

I watched as Charlie knocked on her door, though I could not hear his knock due to the distance. The door was simple and stained a dark brown. The door did not open. As instructed, he knocked again and waited some more. Finally the door opened and a hand reached out to take his missive. Then the door closed again.

I did not wait; I made a bee-line towards her front door, walking rather than running, but at a quick pace. Soon I was beside Charlie at the door, though I waited to the right of it, where I would not be in view unless someone stepped out the door. I asked him softly, "Did she say anything?"

"No, Mr. Bennet." His voice was such a faint whisper that I strained to hear it.

I whispered back, "We will wait a few minutes to let her read the note." I made myself time three full minutes on my pocket watch (oh how those one hundred and eighty seconds were interminable), and when the time was up, forced myself to take the moment needed to place my pocket watch away and take a deep breath to try to calm myself before I instructed, "Knock again and ask, 'Is there to be any reply?'"

He did so. After a few more moments, the door opened a few inches and I heard Mrs. Roberts say, "No reply."

The door was already closing when I wedged my shoe in the opening. I heard a little gasp and my eyes met hers. She looked scared and continued to push on the door. I knew that I could get in now, I was far stronger than her of course, but I did not wish to frighten her. I asked, "Did you have time to read my note?"

She nodded and said nothing. I saw the whites of her eyes and there was something in what I saw of her that reminded me of a frightened horse, though she was not tossing her head.

"Then you know that I must speak to you. Should it be here or inside?"

She hesitated, pulled her head back from the crevasse in the door and glanced to her right. I felt she was seeking someone else's approval and desperately hoped that we had not been mistaken and it was not Mr. Bragg within. Still, I would not move. I would face him again if need be.

Then I heard another woman say, in a soft yet lilting voice, "Mrs. Roberts, go ahead and let him in."

I felt an easing of the pressure on my foot and then the door swung open as she stepped aside to let me in. As I walked in, I gestured for Charlie to come in as well. He hesitated, then followed, closing the door behind him (it made a slight squeaking sound).

Mrs. Roberts looked much the same as when I had seen her at Hatchards. She was dressed in another dress I remembered, which also hung on her.

But I hardly noticed Mrs. Roberts. Instead my eyes were drawn to the young woman to her right, who appeared of an age or maybe slightly older than Jane, with a healing bruise, yellow-green, visible along her jaw.

My first impression was that she had been ill, as her face looked wan and dull. But then I decided she was merely very sad, feeling hopeless even. But despite her expression, her features were beautiful, even and refined.

She had almost raven hair that had not yet been styled for the day, so still hung in a braid. She was wearing a very fine dress, but it was cut indecently low, lower than a ball gown and there was a slight rip, half separating a sleeve from the bodice.

I took it all in and instantly understood. I said, "He is hurting you. You do not wish to stay here, do you?"

The young woman's face, which had been so bland before, was suddenly a riot of emotions. She gave a slight nod, gave a hard swallow and it was as if at that moment a damn broke as suddenly tears streamed down her face in a flood. She swiped at them with her sleeve as Mrs. Roberts drew her into her arms.

I felt helpless. Propriety dictated that I do nothing and indeed Mrs. Roberts was giving her comfort, but something about her reminded me of my daughters and I wished to do something, anything, to help her, to ease her pain.

When she had calmed a bit, she said, "I have nowhere to go. My parents . . . after he . . . they sold me to him. I think they told everyone I died."