Chapter 46
"I suggest you come with me," hissed a voice behind Elizabeth and Jane, where they had been strolling in Hyde Park. A footman had been sent with them to follow at a discrete distance but did not appear to realize yet there was a problem. The footman assumed the older man to be yet another person that wished to greet the two young ladies.
Elizabeth and her sister both turned quickly to see an older man, his hair mussed, his eyes wild, pointing a pistol at them concealed from any passerbys on the walkway by the hat in his hand, and unlikely to be seen on the other, unless by chance someone was in the small woods on that side, but clearly visible from directly in front of him, where Jane and Elizabeth stood.
"Unless you want you and your pretty friend to die, you will do exactly as I say Miss Fitzwilliam, " he said addressing Elizabeth. "After all I should be your father-in-law. And a girl is supposed to obey her father. A simple nod of the head that you intend to not be difficult this time will suffice."
When Elizabeth and Jane both mutely nodded their heads in agreement he smiled with satisfaction. "Good, good," he said. "As long as you make no fuss, I will allow your friend to go once we reach my carriage."
Elizabeth nodded again, her mind thinking frantically. She realized that this was likely Sr, but refused to allow her mind to dwell on that fact, worried to do so would cause her to become consumed with fear like in the park on Gracechurch street. If she and Jane went along quietly, and he let Jane go, Jane could go for help. If he did not let her go, it would not be long before someone would be sent to seek them out. The two had been gone quite sometime and had begun to make their way to the entrance of the park to leave, when he had accousted them. Whether he took both of them or just her, she knew it would serve them best if he believed them to be overwhelmed, delicate females. With thoughts of delaying them, she grasped Jane's arm, pretending to lean on her in fear and made sure to take small delicate steps. Her actions were only partly pretence, Elizabeth was struggling with not failing into the same fearful state she had been before. Her mind had began to shut down as the fear took over, her thoughts beginning to scatter and fuel her fear. She clung to the hope that the footman that was trailing the two sisters would realize something was wrong and that the two had not simply decided to wonder further.
Jane glanced at Elizabeth, aware she was fighting the same fear that had recently overwhelmed her, but followed her lead, pretending to be to frightened to move quickly. When the man hissed at them to speed up, that they had moved quicker before, Jane plantitively said, "Miss Fitzwilliam is to afraid to move quickly now sir, as am I. We are going as fast as we can. It is all I can do to hold her up. I fear she may faint from fear."
At this Lawton Sr. smiled with satisfaction. He was cruel and narrow minded. To him a female was expected to be weaker and delicate. It reassured him that he was taking the correct steps by going after the silly chit himself this time. He knew that it was entirely her fault that he had never succeeded in his revenge agaisnt his brother-in-law. The fact that first his brother-in-law received a title for being nothing more then a glorified common labour, had caused jealousy to eat at him. Especially as his little sister and her husband put on airs. Both talked down to him after their elevation, but were eager to use him and his buisness dealings to increase their own wealth. His brother-in-law forgot that it was thanks to him that he even was involved with the Iron Bridge and in a position to receive recognition. He had used their own greed to guide them into poverty and once he was successful, he made sure Sir Mortimer knew that all the lucrative schemes that failed, had been deliberately orchestrated by him to see them thusly. Sir Mortimer had lashed out at him, seducing his wife and bragging to Lawton about how he had been cuckholded. Lawton had vowed revenge, that he would rise above his brother-in-law no matter what. That he, James Lawton, would have connections and an estate that carried generations of history. Not some nouveau rich estate that had been purchased recently. Lineage was just as important as wealth.
Lawton thought he had founded the golden egg when he discovered Sir Lewis's scheme from the loose lipped Mrs. Hattie Jenkinson when he encountered the woman deep into her cups in Kent. Sir Lewis was a minor memeber of the gentry with an estate, that while still grand, was in danger of floundering due to excessive living of the past few generations, therefore he had required a wealthy bride. Mrs. Jenkinson's sister had delusions of grander and believed herself to be a wealthy heiress. She presented herself as such to Sir Lewis, claiming that ruffians had stolen her fine belongings and she was forced to where the cast offs of her poorer cousins she was visiting, while awaiting the arrival of the rest of her belongings. Sir Lewis had eloped with her quickly to Scotland. By the time her uncle, the two sisters had been taken in by upon their parents' death, had caught up to them, it was to late. When Sir Lewis demanded the release of his bride's dowry, he learned she had no dowry and was naught but an impoverished gentlewoman, living on the charity of her impoverished relations. He believed that she had lied to him, not realizing she truly believed what she had told him. Abandoned by Sir Lewis, her sister Hattie saw to her care and promised her that her daughter would be wealthy when she died shortly after Anne's birth. Mrs. Jenkinson with her sister's marriage lines and the baby had made her way to Rosings Park.
Lawton had thought to claim Rosings, through a marriage between Anne de Bough and his own son, for himself with his knowledge by blackmailing Sir Lewis. Upon learning of Anne's betrothal to the Darcy heir and learning that Sir Lewis coveted Glenwood, claiming if it was not for Lysette Fitzwilliam's existence it could someday be his Annie's, Lawton was stymied but determined. He refused any cash settlement to agree not to reveal what he had learned,convinced there had to be a way to benefit within society and to seek revenge on his brother-in-law. When Sir Lewis, at his daughter's request, approached him about clearing the way for Anne to claim the Glenwood estate, Lawton saw it as a golden opportunity.
He had agreed with the plan with an alteration, Lysette Fitzwilliam would not be killed. She would become the ward of her Uncle Lewis. Lewis would have access to the estates income for a decade, but he would betroth his ward to Harold Lawton. Lawton Sr had thrilled at the idea that he would use Sir Mortimer's own son to achieve his revenge. Lawton would be the one to claim lofty connections and the title of father-in-law, not Sir Mortimer. Once the marriage took place Lawton had decided it would be easy to dispose of Harold and manage the estate for his widowed daughter-in-law. He would be the true Master of Glenwood.
Then Marcus Fitzwilliam, not knowing his daughter had been taken, believing her to be exploring the woods with her nanny, had proudly revealed to Sir Lewis that his daughter would never be under his control, nor would Glenwood. That the Darcy family would become her guardians if anything happened to him or his wife and that they would also manage the estate. Since Marcus and Lily Fitzwilliam knew of their plot, they had killed them anyway. The plot had been to make it appear the two had died during a kidnapping attempt. The two men had decided that they would revert to Sir Lewis original plan of killing all of the Glenwood Fitzwilliams, so that Anne could inherit. The body of Lysette Fitzwilliam though could not be found by where they had arranged to meet Lawton's eldest son, since Lawton owned the old hunting lodge. Shortly after executing their scheme, Lawton had received the letter from Anne that revealed her true mental state. Lawton refused to breed insanity into his own line and refused to help Sir Lewis pay to break the betrothal contract he had claimed existed between Anne and the Darcy heir.
When Anne wrote to him again, this time requesting assistance in punishing her father for not giving her what she wanted, the body of Lysette still so her cousin would marry her, he arranged for Sir Lewis's death. When Sir Lewis admitted he had lied and attempted to offer his insane daughter's hand in marriage, Lawton had refused again. It became clear to Lawton that Sir Lewis was going deeply into debt as he attempted to placate his daughter and hide her condition. If he was not dealt with, he would follow through on his threats of turning Lawton over to Darcy as the murder Lawton believed. Lawton had tbought his own knowledge of Anne's insanity once Sir Lewis was out of the way, would give him a hold over her and who she married. He had still hoped to find a way to seek revenge on Sir Mortimer and thought he could benefit from his association with Sir Lewis.
When his sister, Sir Mortimer's wife died a year ago, Lawton saw his chance to use Anne and gain his revenge. Lawton had planned to see Sir Mortimer tied to Anne in marriage after his morning period was complete, knowing she was insane. The knowledge he had of Lady Catherine and Sir Lewis would ensure her relatives agreed to the marriage. He had anticipated enjoying everyday of Sir Mortimer's torment at her hands. Sir Mortimer he knew saw Anne as nothing more then an opportunity to gain a new fortune and to steal the connections he, James Lawton, had wanted for himself. Knowing that Anne was shunned by Darcy and the Fitzwilliams, he had pressed the de Boughs for the marriage, knowing that Sir Mortimer would come out of it the loser.
Now with Anne in Bedlam according to de Bough, and put there at the insistence of the Fitzwilliams and Darcy, he had lost that opportunity for revenge. Which is why he had decided to take matters into his own hands regarding Lysette Fitzwilliam. His original plan of marrying her into his own family was what he fell back on. Not being a memeber of the ton, he was unaware of the gossip regarding the codicil in her father's will, needing Darcy's approval of her marriage, regardless of her age, for her husband to recieve her inheritance before she was thirty. Which is why he was now in Hyde Park attempting to covertly kidnap her. He had come to determine what to do after departing de Bough's residence to revenge himself once and for all on his brother-in-law. Hearing someone addressed as Miss Fitzwilliam had garnered his attention. He had watched coveretly as a young lady and her escort addressed Elizabeth. Seeing Elizabeth walking alone in Hyde park with only a footman and friend he had come up with the impulsive plan to kidnap her and marry her himself at Gretna Green, falling back on his original intentions of making her part of his family and gain control of Glenwood and rub it in Sir Mortimer's face. He had not stopped to think his plan through, simply acted on impulse. He had placed himself between the footman and his charges and was now directing them towards where his carriage waited near by.
Col. Fitzwilliam's man who was keeping an eye on the de Bough residence had decided to follow Lawton when he departed, leaving Elizabeth's guard to keep an eye on de Bough to ensure he could not go after Elizabeth. Lawton had not noticed himself being tailed. When Col. Fitzwilliam's man saw Lawton address Elizabeth and Jane, he was grateful he followed. As the trio began walking, he sidled up to the footman that had been trailing them, intsructing him to fetch Col. Fitzwilliam or any of the males he could find. The footman recognizing Col. Fitzwilliam's man did as he was bid. Jane because she had turned her head slightly to address Lawton, saw the movement but her countance was used to concealing emotions and remaining serene, so she gave nothing away. She did give Elizabeth's arm a reassuring squeeze, which alerted Elizabeth to the fact that Jane believed help was at hand.