FAN FICTION

GENERAL REGENCY

Previously:

Mr. Bennet did not like what he was hearing.

Ransom

Ch. 17

The summer air had turned cooler and fall was drawing close. Tree leaves were clinging to their color as the Bennets and Kirsty walked the streets of Mertyon with Mary and Kitty's Beaus. The beaus were keeping a sharp eye out for strangers and stayed just as close to Mrs. Bennet, and Kirsty, as they did the ladies they were courting.

As they walked along the busy street, Mrs. Bennet could not help but beam with happiness and satisfaction. She may not have been married long to Thomas, but she and his daughters had worked out any rough spots in their relationship, including Mary's issue with her being from Scotland. And to top things off, Colonel Robert Hill, no relation to their head housekeeper, was now courting Mary. And Mr. Jame Peterson, a reverend who had recently moved to England from Germany, was showing serious interest in Kitty.

The two men had been informed of Mr. Bennet's concern of his family being in danger from scoundrels connected to cads living in Scotland. Neither of the gentlemen wished to see harm come to the ladies and, since the guards had come down ill, offered to accompany the Bennet women town.

They all were delighted Kirsty had wanted to come along as Caitlin's cousin had found she enjoyed visiting town as much as Kitty. The shops holding fabrics, accessories, books and stationaries were her favorite. Today, they had planned on going into a local bookstore to see what might catch their eye. Unfortunately, as they approached the inn where they were to have tea, Mrs. Bennet noticed two strangers standing outside.

Caitlin could not have told you why all of a sudden a feeling of trepidation flooded over. It was not as if they were making a move towards her family. And they were dressed in fine clothes and had an air of importance. And yet, every fiber shouted not to go to the establishment.

"I think we need to change where we are going to eat."

Kitty followed her mother's gaze, and felt a sudden jolt of recognition, or at least their facial features is what mad her jolt. Mary too had the same reaction. Ten to one, those were the same men who had followed them from a distance on their way home the day Mary had told her father about the incident.

She quickly turned to Mrs. Bennet and said in a low voice. "Mrs. Bennet, I agree. I think we should avoid them. There is something not right about them."

Hence, the group began to walk by only they had not gone to far when a very loud boom! Rocked the ground and everyone turned to see what had caused the sound. Unfortunately, that meant both Colonel Robert Hill and Mr. Jame Peterson were not looking at either Mrs. Bennet, or Kirsty, when two other gentlemen stepped out of a side alley and slapped cloth soaked in ether over their noses and hands over their mouths disappeared with them down into the alley.

"Mother! Kirsty!" Mary screamed when she turned around and saw both Caitlin and Kirsty gone.

Colonel Rober Hill and James Peterson ran down what the alley where Mrs. Bennet had been standing near and found nothing. No doors unlocked, no boxes tipped over, nothing. Windows showed no one inside their buildings and no carriages raced by.

"How can they have disappeared so fast?" The colonel asked; he was beside himself as was Robert.

"How are going tell Mr. Bennet this?"

The two men went back out to their ladies and asked if they had seen anyone. They were told no, but they also noticed the two strangers spotted earlier were now gone. They had to have been paid to cause a distraction. Colonel Hill ordered Mr. Peterson to take the ladies home while he went to report the kidnapping to the law.

Mr. Peterson, Kitty and Mary rushed out of town sick to their stomachs. Mrs. Bennet and Kirsty messing was bad enough, but to have it happen right under their noses made it even worse. James' question haunted him as they passed houses with their fences with children playing unaware of the danger happening right in their little town.

'He trusted the colonel and me with his women and I let him down' raced through his mind 'We have got to find them', 'the law has to find them'.

Mary and Kitty were just as worried about their mother and Kirsty. Caitlin had not pushed them to call her mother with her being so close in age; nonetheless, she had always felt years older than she was. And the new Mrs. Bennet had been just like Kirsty had first said; able to sense what was going on in the house without any promptings. Hence, it had -given time- only seemed respectful to refer to her as Mother Bennet. And now, to have her just up and disappear rattled their nerves. The small group continued to race towards Longbourn.

Mr. Bennet had finished up his obligations with his tenants and had spotted a note tacked to his front door upon arrival.

Dear Mr. Bennet, you have made a grave mistake by marrying Caitlin McDowell, you know her origins. You have to. There is no way either Keiran or Andrew kept that from you.

And taking her to England did not help you any. I know she had to have taken the brooch rightfully belonging to my clan. The brooch is a sacred relic that was blessed by Saint Ninian, and it has been in our family since the time of William Wallace. Your wife's true father inherited it from his father, but he did not deserve it any more than she had a right to take it. And if you did not obtain it by your wife's hand then that means your own grandfather stole an item he had no right to, he was no Scotsman.

I have kidnapped her and your cousin on behalf of Adair McDowell the rightful owner of that brooch, and I will not release them until you return the brooch to me. Do not try to contact the authorities, or you will regret it.

Thomas read some more, mostly instructions on how to get the brooch to the man writing the note and had just finished reading the note when the colonel, James, Mary and Kitty came racing up to the house. One look at their father's face and what he was holding in his hand made their stomachs churn even worse than before. They were not surprised when he demanded to know how it had occurred.

"I sent you with the women to keep them safe, and now this?!" Thomas' face darkened as he waved the paper in the air. "I have no brooch, this man is insane!"

"Sir, it is like this." The colonel rapidly explained everything.

Thomas was furious, just the other day he had received word that had given him the impression the law had been notified as to what was going on and everything had been settled. Now this. What a mess.