Chapter 36

Upon reaching Lawton's lodgings Darcy, Bingley, Col. Fitzwilliam and Littleton found out that Lawton's elder brother was out of town for a few days. Bingley left a note requesting Lawton call on him at Darcy House when he got back in, no matter what the time. Darcy was frustrated to have left Elizabeth's side to be no closer to any new information. He grimly announced his intention of returning to the Gardiner's house where Elizabeth was. She had wished to stay there declaring that the familiarity of the location was soothing. Understanding that she needed time in a familar surrounding Darcy had suggested that everyone stay there for now, other then him and the other three younger men, until they arrived back. He had been torn between staying with Elizabeth and going to Lawton's lodgings. He preferred to be a man of action, but Elizabeth's pale tear streaked face made him want to stay and hold her for as long as she would allow. He had reluctantly released her from his arms into the caring embrace of Lady Matlock so he could join his cousins and Bingley.

Col. Fitzwilliam and Bingley returned to Darcy House to await Lawton's call while Littleton and Darcy made there way to the Gardiner's. Once at the Gardiner's he and Littleton let the others know that Lawton had been out and his elder brother was out of town. Lady Matlock said she intended to send their regrets for their evening engagements and suggested the Gardiners, and their children, join them at Matlock House for the evening if they had no plans. The Gardiners agreed with this suggestion, since it was clear Elizabeth was still shaken and they wanted to be there for her if she needed them. When Lawton called, a footman, it was decided, could summon the men from Matlock House, since the two were so close together. Darcy gently led a trembling Elizabeth to his uncle's carriage and handed her in. Jane embraced her inside the carriage and Georgiana rubbed soothingly on her back. LadyMatlock and Lord Matlock took seats on the opposite bench and spoke softly to Elizabeth. It was clear to them after the turmoil in her mind from the park that Elizabeth was fighting her fear of being in the carriage. Logically Elizabeth knew those in the carriage with her loved her and would not harm her but mememories of the carriage ride with the man whose same features she had seen in the park kept intruding on reality.

When the carriage arrived at Matlock House, Darcy was there to assist Elizabeth out of the carriage. She was so anxious to leave the carriage that she did not wish to wait for the steps and likely would have jumped down if Darcy had not been there. As it was, she was pale and gasping for breath. She kept a tight grip on Darcy's hand as she attempted to calm her breathing. She felt extremely foolish, but after seeing an exact replica of the face from her nightmares she could barely keep the fear at bay.

Littleton grasped her free hand and spoke softly to her, reminding her that she was with them, and they would not let anyone harm her as he gently led her inside, knowing his father would see to the other ladies. Having seen the Matlock carriage arriving, Col. Fitzwilliam and Bingley, with strict instructions to Darcy's butler that they be sent for if Lawton called, went out to join the others. Once the entire party was in the house, Col. Fitzwilliam pulled Elizabeth into a hug and assured her that they would find the man and that she was safe.

Even though Bingley's friend was to young to have been part of the crimes committed the day Elizabeth disappeared, Darcy wished he could punish him for upsetting Elizbeth so. He knew the young man's looks were not his fault and that Bingley vouched for the good character of Lawton, but none of that lessened Darcy's resentment for the fear Lawton had caused Elizabeth to endure at the park and after.

…

When a footman arrived from Darcy House to let them know Lawton was waiting for the gentlemen Elizabeth was asleep in her chambers with Jane and Georgiana. Bingley, Darcy, Col. Fitzwilliam and Littleton adjourned to Darcy House to find out everything they could from Lawton about his family.

After introductions, Lawton inquired after Elizabeth's health. Bingley assured him that she was recovering and mentioned that it had been a memory from her past that had caused her distress. Col. Fitzwilliam then asked Lawton if he could answer a few questions for him related to the matter. Lawton agreed and the colonel asked him questions about his elder brother and father. Lawton wondered about the questions the men asked, but knew as the son of a tradesmen he could do not but answer whatever the Earl's sons and nephew wanted to know. Besides his elder brother had drummed into him from age 7 that he needed to be honest and upright. His father was a manipulative, cruel man determined to rise above his family's orgins at any cost. Lawton wondered if in his father's quest, he had run afoul of these powerful men. His father he had no sympathy for if he had, but he hoped his father had not dragged his elder brother into it.

After thanking Lawton for his time and requesting that he not mention anything of any of the days events to anyone, the men bid him farewell.

"He hates his father," Col. Fitzwilliam observed. "He did not come right out and say it, but his tone said enough. He finds him despicable. His elder brother though he appears to admire and feel sympathy for."

"His elder brother is most likely our man," Littleton said. "He freely admitted that he has no male cousins that he resembles as much as his brother. He was uneasy with the admission, but knew to be honest since it would not be hard information for us to come by."

"Lawton, when I once expressed an interest in his father's business, warned me not to do business with him. He told me that his father was not someone I wanted to connect my father's legacy too."

"It appears from his accounting, his father is ruthlessly determined to rise in society, even at the cost of his children's happiness. His elder brother's wife sounds like a real piece of work," Col. Fitzwilliam commented.

"He was uncomfortable when he mentioned her," Darcy said thoughtfully. "The picture he has sketched of his family shows a cutthroat patriach who expects his sons, or at least his eldest son, to do his bidding. Lawton seemed to believe that he has only not been caught up in his father's web because of the presence of his elder brother. His elder brother is an enigma. He forbid his brother to get involved in any sort of gambling, saying he would spend his life paying for it if he did. He seems to have done everything within his power to keep Lawton on the straight and narrow, to ensure he was an upright moralistic man, yet he does his father's bidding, even when he knows that his father is involed with questionable practices that are not upright and moral. Why?"

"I suspect the elder Lawton brother, if he can be persuaded to speak, will have many of the answers we seek," Littleton said.

"Oh, he'll speak, " Col. Fitzwilliam said with determination. "I intend to have a man keep a watch for his return.