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Dear Readers,
ENJOY - and please let me know what you think in the comments section. Seeing and reading your comments are honestly the most wonderful and touching things and I look forward to them so much.
It amazes me seeing your insight into the characters and to those who manage to guess what coming next - bravo!
Thanks!
HQ Xx.
Also - apologies for any glaring mistakes (I feel like there might be fair few in this one but I wanted to post it now) I will check it again once I finish work, promise! - I try my best!
FIFTEEN
Lizzy sat with an open book in her lap beside the sitting room window of Belle's rooms, overlooking the front of the house. She had taken to sitting in this fashion each morning since she had left Mr Darcy's home the week prior. In her mind she fought to understand what she was looking for her out there, her mind restless and her body tense. Was she looking for him? Mr Darcy had written to her briefly only to say that he would not be available to see her this week as he was away on business. This had also sent her mind reeling at what 'business' he could have so suddenly. Was he visiting with Mr Bingley and wanted her out of the way? Was he tiring of her? Had he noticed the letters poking out of the hollowed book and become suspicious of her?
Heaving a sigh, she closed the book and tossed it onto the windows ledge and folded her hands in her lap, leaning her head against the glass. The street before her was never hugely busy. Just local people and businessmen going about their day…
As she allowed her gaze to roam the street, over the lampposts and fences outlining the small park opposite, she wondered perhaps in doing this so often her mind might spot something that would inspire the perfect solution to her worries…
"Lizzy?"
Elizabeth's head lifted from the glass at the familiar voice of her friend Cassie, and she gave her a warm smile, genuinely pleased for the distraction of her thoughts.
"Cassie are you well?" she asked noticing her friend's tentative approach.
"I am. It is just that I have some news." Cassie replied.
"News?"
Moving to sit opposite her, Cassie smoothed her skirts and smiled gently. "Yes, I have been making discreet enquiries about your sister Jane. I am afraid I have not managed to gather much information as to her whereabout but her Mr Bingley…" she trailed off frowning slightly.
Sitting forward to place her hand upon her friend's knee, Elizabeth urged her to continue. "Please Cassie, what have you discovered."
"Lizzy, by all accounts he is not the happy, agreeable and amiable gentleman you described to me. He is a heavy gambler who is living a rather debauched life. He is spending his evening at the seedier gaming halls and does not have a kind word to say about his wife."
Elizabeth gasped at this account of the man she was once acquainted with. "Have you seen him, Cassie? How do you know this to be true?"
"I have not, but a friend in our circles has said she was offered a sum for a night of fun with him, and his brother-in-law and it was not something she would be in a hurry to repeat." Said Cassie.
"Did they hurt her?"
"No, but they had quite some fun humiliating her and having her act as a footstool whilst they drank. Put a collar and leash on her and invited some other friends in to watch as they whipped her, giving all a turn. And then when they were through with her tied her to the bed post and left the money in her mouth."
"Good God, not Mr Bingley!" Elizabeth whispered her eyes wide with fear. Was that what he subjected Jane to? Was she being kept prisoner somewhere.
"But Lizzy, that is not the worst of it."
"How can that not be the worst of it? What else is there?" Elizabeth demanded.
"It is said that Mr Bingley doesn't lie with the women, but he dictates what is to happen to them and takes pleasure from disciplining them. And Lizzy, he chooses only those with a resemblance to your sister." Cassie revealed, her own voice shaking with her worry.
"No!" Elizabeth exclaimed her hands covering her face as her worst fear was realised.
Standing abruptly Elizabeth began to pace the room.
"I must get to Jane. And what of the children?" she asked whipping around to face her friend. "Has there been mention of the children?"
"Not yet. But Lizzy, what can be done? How will you find her?" Cassie asked from where she sat. "I would offer to subject myself to that man's company, but I am not his type."
"No, that out of the question. What if I could purchase a wig and put myself in his path. I could do it, but there is too much risk if he should discover my true identity. Even then, what hope would I have that he would reveal where my sister is?" she said speaking her thoughts aloud.
"What if you were to become a maid in the gaming hall? You could enter the room unnoticed when they ordered more drinks?"
"That would not work. I would need more time in there to get any useful information! I know what I must do."
"What?" asked Cassie standing.
"Mr Darcy is out of town on business. I will find a way into his home and search his study for any letters from Mr Bingley to find his direction. And then if I must, I will find a way into where he is staying and search for anything with his home address."
"That is far too risky!" her friend exclaimed.
"What else can be done? If that is the man he has become, there is not a minute to waste." Elizabeth almost shouted.
"But how…?" trailed off Cassie, before clapping her hands together. "I've got it. You will have to disguise yourself as a maid of sorts and sneak in when there are deliveries being made. Perhaps if we sweet talk one of the local merchants they might let you ride along with them. Flattering any man and making him feel important will open most doors."
"And if that doesn't work?"
"What other choice do you have?"
Elizabeth was silent. She didn't have any other choice, as fickle as the plan sounded, it would have to work.
"You are right. I had planned to seduce the information out of Mr Darcy or get him drunk enough I could sneak into his study whilst he slept, but he has been away since last week and now I truly fear for my sister that I cannot wait for his return."
"But Lizzy, why could you not simply ask Mr Darcy?"
"Oh Cassie, we have had some twists and turns since the start of our relationship, and we are strictly on business terms of our arrangement nothing more."
"Very well, you had best make sure you wear something risqué under your disguise so that if you are caught you can say you are his mistress and you wanted to surprise him upon his return but must have gotten your dates mixed up. And then show him the time of his bloody life!"
Elizabeth laughed at her friend's cunning and they both left the house shortly after in search of believable disguise.
It had been three days since they had come up with their plan to break into Darcy House and the plan had already had to be adjusted twice. They had initially been watching the house to learn the routines of the staff and learn how best to infiltrate the building but had quickly realised that would not be easily done. They had decided that during the daytime it was far too busy to be able to sneak around the large home undetected and would have to find a way under the cover of darkness. This evening was the same as the evening prior. The house was awash with activity and several of the rooms were lit indicating the master was due home, or perhaps had already returned.
This bothered Elizabeth as surely Mr Darcy would have notified her and wished to visit her upon his return… hopefully, they were wrong, and he had yet to return. If he were indeed home, it would make their endeavour far trickier and that they would have to move to her plan to get him drunk enough that he would not notice her absence. In any case Elizabeth, had abandoned the use of a disguise so that she might do as Cassie suggested if caught, and pretend that she had missed him and wanted to surprise him.
"Lizzy, look!" whispered Cassie from where they sat in an unmarked carriage Cassie had managed to charm a young man Simon into letting them use for the past two evenings.
Looking to where her friend pointed, she could see several carriages arrive at the front steps. Craning her neck, she tried to see the faces of those alighting the carriage, but it was no use, they had their backs facing where they were watching from in the shadows farther down the street.
They could see three gentleman and a blonde lady. Elizabeth's heart stopped at seeing the golden hair, identical to her sisters!
"Jane." She breathed.
Then as they reached the top step, the gentleman in front turned to look at his party behind him and she recognised the face of Mr Bingley. He was smiling, though he looked as though he had a gained weight since she had last seen him. Another gentleman in the group put his arm around the blond lady in their company, before they were admitted into the house.
"That's it. I am going in." Elizabeth said firmly her decision made.
"Lizzy how are you going to do that exactly?" asked Cassie. "If Mr Darcy is entertaining-"
"Exactly." Said Elizabeth, cutting her short. "It's the perfect distraction! I can be assured that they will keep Mr Darcy from his study, and I might even be able to convince the butler to let me in to hide in the master's rooms until he is finished entertaining that evening."
"But surely his butler will alert him to your presence."
Elizabeth tapped her finger to her lips thoughtfully, there was no way she could leave if Jane was indeed in there. She had to get in and see for herself and then if it wasn't Jane, she could search his study and if it was. She would hide and steal Jane away with her the first chance she got. The first part of the plan would work if Mr Darcy new she was there. She could let him hide her in his rooms and then find the secret passageway… but then he would make sure to have someone checking in on her…
"Cassie, could you create a distraction?"
"What kind of distraction?" she asked cautiously. "Don't forget, Mr Darcy knows who I am."
"We could send Simon to the back to ask for assistance of some sort to allow me to sneak in from behind?"
Cassie glanced out of the window, uncertainty marked on her expression.
"Oh, what have we got to lose?" Cassie said suddenly throwing her hands up and then banging on the roof of the carriage to signal Simon.
A moment later he was at the door of the carriage. "You called for me darlin'" he said leaning through the now open window.
Cupping his chin Cassie purred at him, puckering her lips. "Stop being so charming, sir!" she playfully teased. "I have a favour to ask of you."
"Anyfin' for you, angel." He replied quickly, his eyes glazed in his admiration and lust for her.
"We need you to create a diversion of sorts. You see my scoundrel of a brother gambled something of great sentimental value to me and lost it to the owner of that house. We simply wish to go in and retrieve it and we need to get around the staff through the back of the house." She paused turning his head and placing a seductive kiss on his neck, making Simon groan. "Is this something you can help us with?" she continued these words along his neck to Elizabeth's embarrassment.
"Mhhhmmm…" he groaned. "What k-kind of distraction?" he mumbled.
Pulling back, she cradled his face in her hands, "Well my dear friend Abi here has agreed to help me in retrieving it as it would be catastrophic if I were caught in there, so we simply need you to lure the man at the door out under the pretence of needing some help so she might sneak in." Cassie finished fluttering her eyelashes at him.
"I could say that one of my horses has gone lame?" he offered.
Clapping excitedly, Cassie praised him. "Oh Simon, you are clever!"
He smiled under her praise and nodded, before adding, "And what would be in it for me my lady?"
"What would you like?" she whispered against his lips.
"The evening with you." Came Simon's quick reply.
Smiling coyly Cassie smoothed her skirts in mock innocence, "I think I am not sure who would be winning in this arrangement, but if you create the diversion needed, you will have me for this entire evening."
His eyes glinting their excitement he stepped back at said he would be back shortly, he would just need to fetch something from the top of the carriage.
Elizabeth adjusted her clothing and looked at Cassie, "How exactly are you going to entertain him when you are engaged?"
"Do not be so missish Lizzy, my Stefano understands my line of work until he gets what is owed to him. And we are not unaccustomed to invited other people into our beds for a night of fun now and then. As long as I do not have full intercourse with another man, I am breaking no rules. I shall have to use my imagination to sort Simon out as quickly as possible!" she said with a wink, laughing at the shocked look on Elizabeth's face.
"Ready?" asked Simon reappearing at the window.
Nodding Elizabeth, allowed him to assist her from the carriage and made her way towards the back courtyard of Darcy House.
"Good luck!" hissed Cassie after them.
As they neared the courtyard, they both fell into step, naturally slowing their pace the closer they got. Simon tapped her shoulder and pointed for her to pull her hood of her cloak up and pointed to a shadow against the wall where she could creep around towards main door. Once she had made her way around the yard carefully dodging the stable hands and the few puddles and mounds of horse droppings, she came up to a stop crouched beneath the kitchen window behind a stacked pile of empty crates trying to steady her breathing.
Please let this work, she prayed.
Simon sprang into action as soon as he saw she was as close to the door as she could get and strode forward calling for assistance.
A few of the stable hands came forward immediately, "Who goes there?" one of them asked.
"Hi there, I was just driving through and one of the horses on my carriage has gone lame, but I'm not sure. I'm helpin' me dad out and I'm not too sure of horses… he's just refusing to pull the carriage, but I can't see if there be anythin' in caught in one 'is shoes."
"I'm not sure we can help. The master don't like us leavin' our posts." One of them replied glancing at the main windows.
"It would only take a minute of your time." Simon tried, as liveried man came from the back of the house. Squinting Elizabeth recognised him to be Miles, Mr Darcy's valet.
"You sir, what are you doing on this property."
"Hello sir, I am seeking aid for one of me horses. I am not very good with 'em and one of 'em is acting off. Truth be told I'm feeling a bit lightheaded. Could I trouble you for some water too?"
Miles hesitated, looking to the stable hands who simply shrugged.
"Please sir, I won't cause no trouble. I just need some 'elp. It's been a bit of struggle at home and a glass of water would be very welcome and one of your lads to check my horse over." Simon tried again and Elizabeth held her breath as Miles considered him thoughtfully.
"Very well, point Jenson and Gibbs to your carriage and come in and have a cup of tea and biscuit. You do look as though you can use one." Yielded Miles generously.
"Fank you very much, sir. My name is Simon, by the way." Simon gushed as he showed the men to his carriage, but unfortunately, Miles stayed put walking back to stand in the doorway.
Elizabeth legs start to protest the position they were bent in, but though they shook she held strong and stayed as still as she could. He must've heard something because his head suddenly snapped around in her direction. Elizabeth swallowed, barely daring to breathe and hunched lower until she could no longer see him.
Hearing footsteps crunch closer, she debated whether she should make a run for it when Simon's voice coming back stalled Miles and peeking up, she could see him walking back away from her. Her breath whooshed out in relief as she allowed her body to slump towards the wall of the house.
Once they had entered the house, she crept along under the windowsill only straightening when she was near the door and peered around the door frame. She could see that Simon had seated himself so that he could see her making it, so Miles and the other staff had their back to her facing him.
Stepping in she stumbled over a mat placed to keep the door open and nearly barrelled into a mop bucket and brooms but caught herself just before she collided with them. Placing her hand on her heart she pressed herself back against the wall and out of view of the kitchen looking left and right to find a way into the house. Her only option a flight of narrow servants' stairs.
Placing her foot on the steps her breath hitched when it let out a creaking moan in protest, she froze her heart hammering within her chest. When she realised no one else had heard she made sure to step in the outer corners of the steps where the joints would be strongest made her way as quickly as she could. The door at the top brought her onto a large corridor which was brightly lit. Looking to her right she could see another corridor where the wall sconces were left unlit and rushed towards it to avoid being seen. Pausing to catch her breath she took a moment to formalise a plan now that Simon's distraction had actually worked, and she had made it into the house.
The sound of laughter filtered towards her from below, which meant she needed to find the main staircase so that she could find the group and ascertain if her sister was there. Elizabeth toyed with the idea of simply walking through the house as though she were invited to be there but surely then the staff would just take her into the room with the other guests which would ruin everything. But then how would she manage look into the room without being detected?
"Think Lizzy!" she huffed to herself.
Finally, filtering through her thoughts, she decided that she would go to Mr Darcy's study first. That way if she was caught and the lady here was not Jane, she would have some idea where to find her. After ducking into several rooms to keep out of the path of any of the staff Elizabeth had finally made it to the main staircase, when she realised that Mr Darcy's study was on the floor she was on! She wanted to bang her head against the wall at her stupidity! Grinding her teeth, she turned back the way she had come and tried to remember exactly how the butler had taken her there the last time she was here.
"In all honesty, you would not have been able to retrace your steps had you not gone to the main staircase!" Elizabeth murmured to herself trying to alleviate her annoyance and self-loathing at wasting so much time!
Finally, several wrong turnings and rooms tried she found the door she had been searching for. Pausing she looked around to check no one was waiting in the more lit areas of the corridors she quickly darted towards the door. Her hand reached for the door knob as she briefly pressed her ear to the door to see if there was anyone within and hearing nothing, slowly turned the handle and eased her way in…