Tuesday morning, offices of Avery, Bingley and Wright, London, England,
Matthew Avery did not feel the anger much anymore. It was still there deep down inside but had cooled somewhat. It was not the burning, agonising pain it was before. The intervening years had seen to that, the hard work leading to eventual success. He would forever be grateful for the good friends who had helped him in the early days.
He was proud of his achievements and the lessons learned, particularly that of patience, the hardest lesson of all. The money and power would get him what he wanted. The financial and social destruction of the Earl Fitzwilliam.
A long time ago he could only conceive of revenge in terms of violence and murder. It was his friends who taught him the stupidity and futility of that approach, that of an angry child.
Patience would give him the kind of revenge that was well thought out and planned, based upon the weaknesses of his quarry, cold in nature and devastating in execution.
There was also the possibility of achieving his ultimate goal, the far more difficult one. For that he needed evidence. He had some but it was not enough, and he had no idea if any more existed.
A knock on his door.
"Enter" he said. It was his clerk.
"A message, Mr Avery" said Jasper approaching the desk "from Simpson in Kent." Jasper laid down the message and departed, closing the door behind him.
Information was vital. These days he had the means to find out what he needed to know, about all his clients. Matthew Avery and his partners mostly traded goods but there were a few clients to whom they lent money, in return for a mortgage over real property of course. Avery knew many things about the Earl Fitzwilliam. He read Simpson's message. All was well for the moment at least.
Avery was very close to success now. The Earl, for years a reckless gambler, was in desperate straits. Within one week, he would certainly default on his loan payment, followed by foreclosure and forfeit of his remaining two properties, the Fitzwilliam estate and the London house. Bankruptcy, homelessness and social disgrace loomed.
There was a final possibility of escape for the Earl. He had two nieces and two sons, in fact three sons, but rumour said the youngest hated the Earl possibly as much as Avery did.
The Earl's nieces were young, orphaned and wealthy, particularly the elder, Miss Anne de Bourgh who had just yesterday turned twenty-one and inherited outright. Miss de Bourgh's inheritance was vast and included the estate of Rosings in Kent, other properties and cash. Her cousin, Miss Georgiana Darcy, had a thirty-thousand-pound dowry. Two months ago, Miss Darcy, who lived with her cousin in Kent, had turned sixteen.
Given that information, the Earl's only hope was obvious, marry his elder sons to their cousins, quickly and with no regard to the ladies' wishes on the matter.
Simpson had written "Quarry arrived Monday afternoon alone. Sir Robt and Mr S were there with Miss. No intervention needed. Quarry left after one hour, carriage seen taking the road to London."
The Earl had visited Miss de Bourgh on her birthday, but she was safely supported by her trustee and solicitor. No doubt there were papers for her to sign yesterday. Simpson and his colleague Hastie, more than just Rosings footmen, had their instructions - at all costs guard the ladies of Rosings against the machinations of their uncle.
Avery heard the main door flung open and soon Jasper knocked again. "Mr Bingley, sir" he said. Bingley came in fast on Jasper's heels and flung himself into the nearest chair, a bit puffed.
"What's happening, Charles?"
"He's back!" announced Bingley
"Who's back?"
"Miss Darcy's other guardian, Captain Fitzwillliam, the Earl's third son. I just ran into Mortimer, whose brother is in the army, you know. He received an express this morning - his brother is back and will be in London tomorrow. So, Captain Fitzwilliam should be back as they are in the same regiment."
"I see. That means…"
"The Earl may act, today! Did you hear from Simpson about yesterday?"
"Yes. They are safe, so far." Matthew handed the message to Bingley, dashed off a note to Simpson and took it out for Jasper to send by express. On his return he said, "Simpson will know what to do, if they come for the ladies."
"I wish we could protect the ladies more directly."
"So do I, believe me" said Matthew "but as there is no way Darce would get directly involved, you and I would be totally out of place."
Tuesday afternoon, Rosings Estate, Kent, England
The Rosings estate shimmered in the afternoon sun.
In the upstairs sitting room the only noise was the muted sound of Georgiana's piano practice from the nearby music room. Miss Anne de Bourgh wondered aloud "Are we really in danger tonight, do you think?"
Her companion Lady Clara Annesley looked up from her embroidery. "Simpson seems to think so."
"He doesn't believe the Earl has given up. Oh! I can hear a horse." said Anne and stood up to better see the driveway below. A lone horse and rider emerged from the distance at a gallop.
"Express rider?" asked Clara.
"I think so." Anne resumed her seat.
Soon there was a knock at the door. It was their more-than-just-a-footman Jack Simpson.
"Miss de Bourgh" he said "I have received news from a contact in London. It is possible your cousin Captain Fitzwilliam has returned from the continent and will soon be in London."
"Richard has returned. That's excellent news!" said Anne
"Some or all of his regiment have returned. I am awaiting further confirmation of the Captain's whereabouts. There are implications. The Earl may act immediately."
They were interrupted by Simpson's colleague Hastie.
"Afternoon ladies" said Hastie "The publican's boy has just come from the Inn. There are strangers there, six rough looking men, having a meal. Could be a problem."
Simpson and Hastie were certainly taking everything seriously. Their extensive network of spies in the house, the surrounding farmlands and the nearby village of Hunsford and in London were always watching for and reporting the unusual and relevant.
Soon after their arrival at Rosings, Simpson had proposed improvements to the old road, just a cart track and in very poor condition, that led to the unused back entrance of the estate. Anne had agreed and now the track would allow slow passage of a laden carriage, if necessary.
"We will all be on high alert this evening, Miss" Simpson said. "Some of us will be visiting the Inn, very soon. I will report back later." He and Hastie departed.
Soon after, the sitting room door opened and in came Georgiana Darcy. Anne rang for refreshments.
Over tea, Anne updated Georgie on the latest news from London and the village.
"I hope Richard is back and safe" said Georgie.
"So do I. Simpson is worried the Earl will act before Richard gets to London."
"Do you think so?"
"It is possible. It could be as soon as tonight. I think yesterday's visit was Uncle Henry's last attempt at persuasion. Sir Robert and Mr Stuart were quite disturbed by his…what did Mr Stuart say? - aggressive politeness."
"That sounds bad." said Lady Clara. "Would we be better off in London, especially if Richard is there?"
"Maybe we would. We will see what Simpson reports later. His spies are out and about tonight and will warn us."
Tuesday evening, Rosings Estate, Kent, England
"It's not looking good, Miss" said Simpson. "We should leave soon. The question is, where is best to go."
"London?" suggested Anne.
"I think you should stay away from Darcy House until we confirm the Captain is in London."
"Very well. Pemberley's too far. I would like to be closer to London with Richard returning."
"We could make it look like we were starting for Pemberley…" said Clara.
"and go somewhere else, off the main north road?" suggested Anne
"Yes, that might work." said Simpson
"What about Hertfordshire?" asked Georgiana "My brother's estate of Fairleigh is there. You take the main road north for about thirty miles from London, then you take another road through, what's the name of that town, Clara?"
"Meryton" said Clara
"That's the one. The estate is about ten miles from Meryton."
"That's the disputed estate, isn't it? asked Clara. "It used to belong to Henry."
"My father won it fair and square." said Georgie
"He did, but Henry never forgave him for that!"
"It's the best choice. We will go there, the three of us and Tilly" said Anne.
"Hastie and I will ride. We'll take six more mounted grooms. As soon as you are ready, we will leave by the back entrance."
The escape went as well as could be expected, until just after they turned onto the Meryton Road. There was a problem with a carriage wheel so the last few miles into Meryton were taken at a slow pace. In fading light, they stopped at the Meryton Inn overnight hoping to get the carriage fixed for an early morning continuation of their journey.