The Darcy Code (9 page)

"I trust you have a good reason for this intrusion, Vere," he said.

"I hope so too, sir. Miss Gosforth, with whom I believe you are acquainted, says she has something relating to the stolen memorandum to tell us."

Mr. Darcy put down his pen, pushed his chair back a little way, gestured to Vere to bring another chair forward for Anna to sit on, and looked at her across the desk. His eyes were chilly and held no hint of friendliness.

Anna noticed the lines of strain and worry on his face. She took a deep breath and plunged into her story, trying to keep it coherent and straightforward. She told them with a slight blush of the scene she had witnessed in Henrietta's aunt's house, and then about Mrs.. Fortescue's fan, the fan with the strange writing on one side which had changed into a different fan by the time she emerged from Madame Girot's establishment.

The young man let out a low whistle. Mr. Darcy gave him a quelling look and said, "We have nothing against Mrs. Fortescue, I believe?"

"Nothing specific, sir," Mr.
Jordan
replied promptly. "However, she did live in
France
, and was married to a Frenchman, even though he fell foul of Robespierre and was executed."

"Well that is something of a connection. We cannot ignore this, we must take notice of this information. See to it at once – what is the exact address of this modiste, Miss Gosforth?"

Anna told them, the young man left the room at a brisk pace, and Anna let out a sigh of relief.

Mr. Darcy said, "I will ask you to remain a little while here, in case we need to ask you anything more. Mr. Vere, I will be obliged if you will take Miss Gosforth – oh, she may sit in Harper's room, for the time being."

Mr. Vere, his hand firm and comforting upon Anna's elbow, took her through to another room. "I will be back with you shortly," he said and left her there.

Anna thought of Henrietta, left behind in the hallway, and wondered for a moment whether she should go and find her. but no, she did not think that Mr. Vere or Mr. Darcy would care for her wandering these corridors, and in such a warren she would very likely get lost. Henrietta would just have to wait in patience, she would make it up to her somehow, and if as a result of her mad dash here the memorandum were recovered.

Now, finally, she began to have doubts. Was she fantasizing? Was she making too much of what might have been nothing but an amorous note, had she been mistaken in thinking that the two fans at the dressmakers were not identical?

Prey to dismay and doubt, she sank her head in her hands, thinking what a fool she had made of herself, whatever would Mr. Vere think of her.

She didn't stop to care what Mr. Darcy would think of her, although she knew that he would be angry if all this turned out to be wholly wrong. So it was in agony of apprehension that she sat in the room for what seemed like hours, and in fact was no more than three quarters of an hour. Then the door opened, and Mr. Vere came in, energy in his stride, a smile on his face. Anna jumped up, her heart thumping.

"You are an excellent creature, Miss Gosforth, you have done the trick. You were quite right, Madame Girot has indeed been passing information to her compatriots. She has been settled in
London
so long that we had no particular suspicion of her, but a search of the premises revealed not only the memorandum, cunningly hidden in a fan as you thought, but many other incriminating things. Mrs. Fortescue will by now be under arrest. And," he added, suddenly serious, "I am afraid Mr. Standish, also."

"I am glad to hear it," Anna said with some vehemence. " I know I had a fancy for the man, but never was affection more misplaced, and I assure you that what he has done is so wicked that I do not mind in the least what becomes of him, you may throw him into the Tower for all I care." Mr. Vere took a step forward to her, laughter in his eyes.

"It will not come to that, we cannot let it be known that a government official was in any way involved in this, everything will be kept quiet. But he will have to settle for the life of a country squire; his political career and his official duties are of course over for good."

He took another step towards Anna, who was overcome with a sudden rush of emotion and shyness. She stood quite still; two more steps and he was there in front of her and the next moment she was swept into his arms, and held in a tight embrace.

Time stopped and even overwhelmed as she was by his ardour and the flood of delight that ran through her, she was aware of how different were these sensations from those she had felt with Mr. Standish's kisses.

The door opened, they moved quickly apart and Mr. Darcy stood there looking at them with a mocking air. "I am sorry to intrude upon your private affairs, Vere, but you are needed elsewhere. He smiled at Anna, who was by now a fiery red. "You had best go and rescue your young friend who is waiting anxiously for you. Pray tell Lord Gosforth that I will be calling on him this evening; he will be most relieved by today's events."

"And so will I call upon Lord Gosforth, but with a different purpose," Mr. Vere said, giving Anna a look of such warmth as made her feel quite weak. "This afternoon, if Mr. Darcy can spare me."

Mr. Darcy smiled, not a trace of his usual hauteur left. "Go with my hearty good wishes, Vere. Permit me to be the first to offer you my felicitations and congratulations, you will make Anna a good husband, and you will have, as do I, the joy of a quick-witted and lively wife."

About the Author

Photo by: David Morgan

I write under two names, Elizabeth Aston (light hearted historical and contemporary romantic comedies) and Elizabeth Edmondson (historical mysteries).

My books include the bestselling Darcy series – six historical romantic comedies set in the world of Jane Austen, and a contemporary novel, Writing Jane Austen. These were inspired by my love of Jane Austen – her heroes, her heroines and her wicked sense of humour.

FUN FACTS

- Born in
Chile
; educated by Benedictine nuns in
Calcutta
, Fabians in
London
, and Inklings at
Oxford
.

- She is the daughter of a diplomat and a spy.

- Founded a youth orchestra now celebrating its twentieth anniversary.

- Lives in
Oxford
in a gothic-style apartment block with a black balcony, red flowers and a visiting college cat.