A Spy at Pemberley (13 page)

Hugo showed him the list of names. 'We have more than enough invited to fill Pemberley to bursting. Make sure you arrange for the letter, supposedly from Pemberley calling us home, brought round to us the morning after the Rochester ball.'

'I shall contact these people myself, if you have no objection.'

'They can go in the West Wing – the ground floor can easily accommodate half a dozen visitors and their servants without impinging on the main part of the house.'

The colonel departed leaving Darcy with much to think about. This whole charade was becoming more involved by the day. A proportion of the guests, those with eligible daughters, were coming in the hope that his cousin might select one of them to be his bride. Those from the army thought their presence was required for a secret meeting. The family were the only ones that knew the truth.

This was a recipe for disaster. He vowed this would be the last time he allowed himself to be involved in such matters. His family home had suffered from ghosts, scandal and now spies. If he had got things straight in his head then Hugo and he would be spying on Sir Robert and Hall; these two would be spying on the war committee. No doubt the interested mamas would also be spying on each other to see which of the young ladies present was likely to be chosen.

He was interrupted in his letter writing by the arrival of his wife. He tossed aside his pen and went to greet her. 'My love, I did not expect you home for another hour or so. Is something wrong?'

'Not at all, but I have something pertinent to tell you and saw no need to make further calls.' She explained about her meeting with the Hall family.

'That's excellent news, Lizzy. My cousin was unable to scrape an acquaintance with Hall at the prize fight so you have done his job for him.' There was something else she wasn't telling him and he was determined there should be no further secrets between them.

'What are you keeping from me?'

She looked a little disconcerted but then smiled. 'I've decided that Miss Hall is the perfect match for the colonel. It matters not if her father is involved in something nefarious…'

'Stop right there, my love. However delightful this young lady is my cousin can never marry her once her father is exposed as a traitor. They will no longer be received in Society – they will be tainted by association.'

Her expression told him she was unconvinced by his statement. 'In which case, Fitzwilliam, let us hope that Cousin Hugo has mistaken the matter and neither family are sending secrets to the French.'

There was little point in saying that his cousin wouldn't be going to such lengths if he wasn't already certain of his facts. He explained about the extra guests.

'What a muddle! And don't forget, my dear, that added to this volatile mix will be my parents and my sister Mary. All we need is for Caroline Bingley to return and cause more trouble and this will be a house party remembered for all the wrong reasons.' She shook her head. 'Despite the size of our home I cannot believe that the presence of the military gentlemen will remain unnoticed by the other guests. How are we to explain their presence?'

Chapter Thirteen

Colonel Fitzwilliam was to travel with them in the carriage to the ball. Lizzy had insisted because, unless he was firmly at her side, she thought he might renege. She was determined, whatever her husband said to the contrary, to promote a match between Miss Hall and Cousin Hugo.

She wouldn't ostracise a family because one of their members was a traitor, so neither should anyone else. It would be punishment enough for the relatives to lose their loved one in this way without being obliged to moulder in the country for the rest of their lives.

In her opinion there were too many rules governing Society. Another thing that she thought wrong was that if the head of the household committed suicide this was enough to ruin the reputation of the rest of the family. Indeed, it would seem that if a person did anything beyond the pale then all their relatives were obliged to suffer as well.

When her sister Lydia had run away with Wickham and lived with him without the benefit of clergy her mother had fallen into a decline. Only when her sister's marriage had been arranged by Fitzwilliam was mama's health restored. Papa had been reluctant to receive his daughter even though she was now respectably married and he had never really forgiven her. Wickham was now dead and Lydia a merry widow in far off India.

Lizzy had made a special effort this evening and was wearing a new ball gown in yellow silk with a gold chiffon overskirt. Her hair was dressed formally and she was wearing the Darcy parure. She had only had the opportunity to wear this once before and was looking forward to seeing her husband's reaction when she appeared dressed like a queen.

'Sweetheart, you look staggeringly beautiful. I don't recall seeing that ensemble before.'

She curtsied. 'Now you know why I requested that you wore your gold waistcoat. With this tiara and my heeled slippers I am almost as tall as you tonight.'

He had his white gloves in one hand and with the other he cupped her face and kissed her. 'You will outshine them all, my love. Hugo is waiting downstairs and he's wearing his dress regimentals. I was almost blinded by the plethora of gold frogging on display.'

Sally held out the matching evening cloak and Fitzwilliam took it. He swirled it around Lizzy's shoulders and they were ready to leave.

With her gloved hand resting on his arm he escorted her down. The carriage was already outside and it did not do to keep the horses waiting. The colonel was resplendent in red jacket, skintight white breeches and black boots.

'You look wonderful, Cousin Hugo, you will be surrounded by eager young ladies – for there's nothing they like better than a man in uniform – especially one as handsome as you.'

He snapped his heels together and bowed, his shako clutched to his chest. 'Thank you, ma'am, I aim to please.' He grinned, making him look even more attractive. 'Might I be permitted to say, Cousin Lizzy, that splendid as I am, I am outshone by yourself.'

Fitzwilliam snorted inelegantly. 'If you two have stopped ogling each other, shall we get on? The sooner this wretched business is over the happier I shall be.' He looked down his aristocratic nose at her, but with a twinkle in his eye. 'No doubt you will expect me to stand up with you tonight.'

She couldn't prevent her giggles escaping. Hardly a suitable reaction for a woman married for several years and the mother of two children. 'At least tonight you cannot turn your nose up at me for being less than attractive. I well remember overhearing your rude remarks at the Meryton assembly several years ago.'

'Baggage! I thought you promised never to mention that regrettable occasion again. I shall honour you with three dances but do not suggest I parade around the floor any more than that. No doubt you will not lack for partners.'

'I've no desire to dance with anyone else but you.'

Cousin Hugo interrupted their conversation. 'That will not do at all; you must stand up with me. It will raise my position in the eyes of the
ton
to be seen with the most beautiful woman at the ball.'

'Very well, I agree to dance with you, but no one else.'

It hardly seemed worthwhile taking the carriage as the journey was no more than ten minutes, but the wait to disembark three times as long. Eventually they negotiated the welcome party and made their way into the ballroom.

'Fitzwilliam, can you see Mrs Hall and her daughter? I must introduce your cousin immediately.'

From his prodigious height he was able to scan the chamber. 'They are at the far end, close to the quartet. There are still empty chairs by them so it will not seem odd that we make our way there.'

Lizzy made the introductions and watched closely to see if either Hugo or Miss Hall seemed interested in each other. He bowed, she curtsied. Then she overheard him invite the girl to stand up with him in the first set and she accepted.

'Mrs Hall, are your husband and son not with you tonight?'

'They are to join us later. I must thank you for arranging our invitations as I know we would not have received one but for your good offices.' She gestured to the splendid floral decorations that festooned the walls. 'I must own that we have never attended anything so grand. It will be something to remember when we return to our home in the country.'

'Sir Robert and Lady Sinclair have also been invited. I look forward to renewing my acquaintance with them too.'

Fitzwilliam was becoming restless and she touched his arm affectionately. 'My dear, why don't you escape to the card room? I doubt there will be any dancing until all the guests have arrived.'

He nodded at Mrs Hall and smiled at her. 'Remember, Lizzie, I shall return to lead you out when the first set is called.'

His cousin and Miss Hall were no longer in sight. This was a breach of etiquette and would do neither of them any favours. She glanced around and her fists unclenched when she spotted them no more than a few yards away and both behaving impeccably.

Mrs Hall had seen her staring. 'Colonel Fitzwilliam is a fine figure of a man, Mrs Darcy. My Jennifer was beside herself with excitement at the thought of meeting him tonight.'

Lizzy smiled inwardly. She hoped Cousin Hugo would fall in love with the girl as she was perfect for him. He must know that for him to be showing his partiality his companion could only draw one conclusion – that he was genuinely interested in her. He was an honourable man, like her husband, and would not deliberately mislead this young lady.

*

Darcy threaded his way through the press of people expecting to find his cousin at his shoulder, but when he reached the double doors that led to a less populated area of the house discovered Hugo had not followed him.

Where the devil was he? Darcy stared over the heads of the milling crowd and immediately spotted the errant gentleman. It was hard to miss the scarlet regimentals. Hugo was deep in conversation with Miss Hall – this rang warning bells. Hadn’t Lizzy suggested the two of them would make an ideal match?

He had told his wife a relationship with the daughter of a traitor wouldn't be considered by any member of the
ton.
Was it possible she had been correct in her assumption that the two of them would instantly form an emotional attachment?

The Darcy name must not be dragged down by such an association – he must do his best to discourage the girl. There was little point in speaking to his cousin on the matter as once his mind was made up Hugo would not change it. They were similar in more than appearance.

This was a damnable business and he wished he had not allowed himself to be involved. He had never thought to fall in love with any woman until he met Lizzy. Although it had taken them a year or more to overcome her prejudice and his pride, he had known from the moment he had set eyes on her that she was the one for him. He was a better man for marrying her.

How could he deny his cousin the same experience? His lips curved. Good God! The two had only just been introduced and here he was already thinking that they had fallen in love. Such fanciful imaginings were better left to young ladies who were of a romantical nature rather than a serious gentleman like himself.

What he needed was a stiff drink and a conversation about sensible things like the price of corn or the cost of keeping horses in London.

He returned to the ballroom in a better frame of mind and was relieved to see his wife dancing with his cousin – there was no sign of Mrs Hall or her daughter. After an interminable time of skipping and bowing Lizzy was eventually returned to him. He was unperturbed that she hadn't kept her first dance for him.

'At last, sweetheart, I have come to claim my dance.'

'Would you mind very much if we sat this one out, Fitzwilliam? I find myself quite breathless after all that exercise.'

'I shall dance with two other young ladies from your list, Lizzy, then I shall escape to my club.' Cousin Hugo gave her a warm smile. 'I was much taken with Miss Hall and would have danced with her a second time if she had not been called away to some emergency or other.'

His cousin strolled off. 'I am concerned about what might have happened to take the Halls away when both of them were so obviously enjoying this experience. Mrs Hall told me so herself. I must see if I can be of any assistance in whatever disaster has overtaken the family. I don't suppose you heard anything whilst you were in the card room?'

'I didn't. Neither Hall nor Sir Robert was present and neither were their sons. I shall come with you in case I might be needed.'

They wandered through the building peering into rooms but found no sign of the missing couple. She made enquiries in the ladies' retiring room but to no avail. Whatever it was that had taken her new friends away was not to be revealed that night.

'I think it must be something to do with Sir Robert and Lady Sinclair as they haven't come this evening and I'm sure they would have been eager to do so.'

'In which case, Lizzy, shall I call for our carriage or do you wish to remain and dance with me?'

'I'm quite content to return to the tranquillity of our own establishment. Tomorrow I shall call at the abode of Mrs Hall…'

He interrupted her. 'No, you must not interfere. I'm sure we will hear the reason for their disappearance soon enough.'

In the time it took for a footman to run round to Grosvenor Square and summon their carriage they could have walked home twice over. Darcy was glad to leave the overcrowded rooms to those who enjoyed such occasions.

Once safely inside the carriage and rattling over the cobbles he was able to relax.

'When is this supposed letter from home to arrive? I do so long to go back to Pemberley and the children.' She spoke from the darkness.

'It should arrive tomorrow morning so we will be able to set out for Derbyshire the next day. With luck one or other of us will be able to discover what drama took our quarries from the ball tonight.'

'I have no intention of coming to London again for a very long time. I dislike the unpleasant aromas and long for the fresh air of the countryside. I cannot think why some prefer to live here all year round.'

He found her hand and took it into his own. 'I too have had more than enough of the city in recent months. This shall be my last assignment. In future I shall devote myself to my family and estates and be glad to do so.'

*

Fitzwilliam remained at her side all night and they were both in bed when there was a thunderous knocking on the door that led into the passageway.

They both sat up and she was about to tumble from the bed in order to answer but he restrained her. 'Remain where you are, Lizzy. Let Dawson or your girl see who it is.'

'But it's scarcely dawn – they won't be up. It can't be the letter we're expecting as your cousin wouldn't send it at this ungodly time. You must see what's wrong.' She gave him a none too gentle push and he threw back the covers. 'Fitzwilliam, put on your nightshirt, you cannot parade around as you are.'

His laugh was loud in the darkness. 'I'll do so, if I can find it.'

She heard him rummaging about on the carpet and then the rustle of material as it slid over his head. As he strode to the door, apparently unbothered by the fact that he couldn't see where he was going, the person outside knocked loudly for a second time.

Her heart was pounding – her mouth dry. It must be a dire emergency for a member of their staff to bang so frantically.

The door opened and she tensed, straining to hear what was said. The chamber was so large whatever was said was indistinguishable from her position in bed. Her husband was suddenly illuminated by the light of a candle. His face was grim and her stomach roiled.

'What is wrong? Tell me at once. Has something happened at home?'

'The message is from Hugo. He's downstairs awaiting me. Thomas Hall has been abducted. I must get dressed and see how I can assist in this matter.'

She knew better than to offer her help. He was quite capable of dressing himself when required. In a remarkably short time he was back. 'I shall get up as well, I'm wide awake now. Would you mind very much if I joined you downstairs as soon as I am ready? I could go to Mrs Hall and her daughter and offer her comfort at this difficult time.'