The Disappearance of Georgiana Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Mystery (7 page)

“It shall be a glorious day even without Lydia's presence, Mama.” Kitty nodded toward her other sisters. “I am thankful to have three of my four sisters in attendance. I suspect Mr. Wickham's service does not permit him the luxury of naming when he might secure a leave of absence.”

“Nonsense, Kitty,” her mother responded. “With the war at an end, Mr. Wickham surely has reduced responsibilities.”

Kitty shot a quick glance to Elizabeth, sitting at the table's end. She was not certain what had occurred between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham, but Kitty was aware of the lack of goodwill between the men. She had spent enough time at Pemberley over the past two years to overhear snippets of conversations regarding Mr. Darcy's contempt for Lydia's husband, and Kitty did not believe that it had anything to do with the fact that Elizabeth had once favored Mr. Wickham over Mr. Darcy. “Well, it is not to be,” she said quietly, praying that her acceptance of the fact would turn the conversation.

Elizabeth's eyebrow rose in curiosity, but she said, “Mama, why do you not tell Lady Winkler about Kitty's gown and the wedding breakfast's preparations?” After those words, the intercourse of the two families was carried on without restraint.

Kitty exhaled deeply and then mouthed the words “Thank you” to her older sister.

“Miss Bennet, would you consider a walk in the garden?” Mr. Winkler bowed to those who kept Kitty company.

She pinked, but slid her hand into his. “That would be diverting.”

“Take a maid,” Elizabeth whispered.

Kitty nodded and placed her hand on Winkler's proffered arm. “I hope all goes well with the school,” she said as they exited through the patio door.

“It could use your sensible eye for detail, but it is a good beginning. Miss Lyndhurst manages to meet each child's needs.” He directed their steps toward the lower garden. “The Foxmour girls attend upon occasion.”

“I would call on the family in the next few days.”

Winkler smiled happily. “They were most animated when they learned of your return. Mavis says they have additional drawings for you.”

Kitty tightened her fingers about his arm. At Christmastide, she had accompanied Winkler as he attended Arthur Foxmour's terminally ill mother. Not knowing what to expect, she had entertained the Foxmour children with drawing lessons. Since that time, the three girls had given her countless examples of their artwork. “I shall be pleased to see their latest efforts.”

Once away from the house, Winkler edged her closer. “I have missed you, Catherine,” he whispered into her hair.

“As I have you.”

Winkler led her to a rose-covered arbor. “By that, am I to assume that you still wish to become my bride? I would release you if you have any misgivings regarding our joining.”

“Thorne Winkler, if you would try to withdraw, you would meet my mother's wrath.” She smiled widely when his forehead's lines met. “Let us not think of anything but our happiness,” she insisted.
“You have won my heart, Sir. Is that what you wish me to say?” A “tut” of annoyance followed.

Winkler caught her hand and brought it to his lips. “I cannot say that your words displease me, Catherine. I require your assurance that my dream can come true.”

“Then be assured, Thorne, that I intend to know only you for the rest of my life.”

Winkler glanced over his shoulder to determine the maid's presence. Assured that the young girl's attention was on the summer foliage, he slid his arm about Kitty's waist and pulled her to him.

“Thorne!” she protested, but he was gratified to have her rest her palms on his chest.

“Yes, my love,” he whispered as he nibbled on Kitty's ear. “You are everything, Catherine,” he rasped. “I had thought that this day would never arrive. I have waited six and twenty years to know such happiness. Now that it is in my reach, I fear that somehow God will punish me for desiring too much.”

Kitty rose on her tiptoes to offer her lips. “There is nothing, Thorne Winkler, that can interfere with our joining. On Monday next, I shall be your wife unto eternity.” Her lips brushed his before Thorne claimed her mouth with ardent ferocity.

“Eternity,” he groaned, kissing her in earnest. “The dream where you captured my heart.”

The disturbing dream had resurfaced. Once more, the light appeared in the dark room, but she did not attempt to sit up or to even see what it brought. By now, she knew: a clean chamber pot and a plate with bread and butter, as well as a flask of water. The chained manacle attached to her left wrist only permitted her limited movements. Instead of moving, she used the few moments the
light remained in the room to recover her bearings. She needed to discover more of the place where her captors held her; to explore her prison, a place without sunlight, only perpetual night. If she were to survive, she needed to find a way from this room.

The light had momentarily blinded her, but she diverted her eyes from the glare and searched the shadows to find what else the room held. The cot upon which she rested was made of wood and had a thin mattress. She knew this from lying upon it for days… or was it weeks? Adjusting her eyes to the dimness, she observed a small table with one straight-backed chair. The dark-clothed figure placed the food on the three-legged stool at the bed's head and turned to leave.

“Would you bring me another blanket?” she rasped, her dry throat slurring the words.

The figure turned to look sympathetically at her. Although she could not see his countenance, she felt the man's empathy. With a slight nod of agreement, he was gone, and with him the precious light she craved.

As soon as word arrived from the gatehouse of the carriage's arrival, Elizabeth had waited impatiently at Pemberley's main entrance. Her husband and Mr. Joseph flanked her, but it was Elizabeth's excitement which painted the moment. Darcy lightly touched her arm when she began testily to tap her foot, and Elizabeth sighed in exasperation. “I know, I know,” she said good-naturedly. “But it has been seven months since I have seen either Mary or baby William.”

Darcy chuckled. “And your tapping foot will speed the lady's arrival?” he asked softly.

“This is not the time to be reasonable, Mr. Darcy,” she said in exasperation.

“One of us must remain so, my love.” Darcy winked at her when she sighed deeply.

And then Jasper was setting down the steps, and Mary Joseph appeared in the open door. The woman's face lit with an animated smile; then she scrambled down the steps to run into Elizabeth's open arms.

“You are here,” Elizabeth gasped. “I am so pleased.”

Mary laughed openly. “A hug is so much better than even the longest letter.”

“It is,” Elizabeth said contentedly. Then she turned her attention to the coach. “Where is William? I must see your son.”

“Here,” Mr. Joseph said as he assisted a young girl from the coach. The girl, Ruth Joseph, handed her brother the child. Her face flushed with color, and she fiddled with a heavy lace fichu that someone had, obviously, insisted that the girl wear. Her dark, chocolate-colored eyes darted to Pemberley's majestic entrance. “My,” she murmured.

Darcy smiled easily. “Do not allow the exterior to intimidate you, Miss Joseph.” He bowed in greeting. “I am Mr. Darcy.”

Her brother teased as he returned the boy to his wife's arms, “Allow the interior to do the act instead, Ruthie.”

Joseph's sister blushed again, but she managed a quick curtsy to her hosts. “Mr. Darcy. Mrs. Darcy. Thank…thank you for receiving me.”

Elizabeth caught the girl's arm. “We are so pleased you have traveled from Staffordshire with Mrs. Joseph. Please, everyone. Let us find refreshments in the drawing room.” Elizabeth reached for the sleeping child. “I must hold him,” she said to Mary. “It feels a lifetime since William was in my arms. My, how our young man has grown.”

Darcy placed Mrs. Joseph on his arm. “It is a terrible habit of children, Mrs. Darcy.” He laughed as his wife rolled her eyes in annoyance. “Perhaps we should forbid Bennet from doing so.”

“If we could, I would be content, my husband.”

“I have asked Mr. Winkler's sister Rose to stay at Pemberley,” Elizabeth explained. She held William, and Mary Joseph cradled Bennet as they enjoyed tea in the main drawing room. “Mr. Winkler has limited room at the rectory, and I thought Kitty might enjoy the company of both Miss Winkler and Miss Joseph.”

“That sounds pleasant for our sisters,” Jane remarked. “But is it not amusing that those same said sisters are no less in age than were we when we married?”

Mary sipped her tea. “But we have known our husbands' pleasures.”

Jane pinked before saying, “Soon Kitty shall be one of us.”

“But not before we celebrate the wedding of the last of the Bennet sisters. I have planned a side trip to the abbey's ruins for today, a picnic tomorrow, and a dinner for Saturday. Besides the local gentry, I have asked several of the neighborhood's young people to join us. I am certain impromptu dancing shall be necessary.”

“You have always loved to dance, Lizzy,” Jane observed.

“It was one of our family's favorite pastimes in Meryton. The place where we both met our future husbands.”

“Although Mr. Bingley was more congenial that Mr. Darcy was,” Jane taunted.

“Mr. Darcy was just warming up to my charms,” Elizabeth defended her husband. “Besides, no one can see me when your beauty outshines us all.”

“Are you prepared for another carriage ride so soon?” Matthew Joseph asked his wife as they waited with the others in Pemberley's
main drawing room. As planned, the group would make the short journey to Depedale between Ilkeston and Derby. “I would not have you play havoc with your health. You have assumed so many duties with our removal to Newcastle.”