Passages--A Pemberley Tale by Brenda J. Webb

Author:Brenda J. Webb
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Pride and Prejudice Variations and Sequels, Pride and Prejudice Variations, Jane Austen, Historical Regency Romance, British Classics Romance, British Romance Historical Fiction.
Publisher: Brenda J. Webb
Published: 2018-05-21T00:00:00+00:00

EVERYONE HAD FINISHED enjoying the refreshments by the time William entered the drawing room and walked over to pour a cup of coffee for himself. Lambton’s constable was talking to Richard, and glancing in that man’s direction, William said, “Mr. Jackson, since you have been involved since the very beginning, would you like to speak first?”

Mr. Jackson was glad to oblige and began by motioning to the chief of the Bow Street Runners. “Gentlemen, for those of you who may not know, Mr. Edmonds is my nephew. I often collaborate with him when a crime needs solving, and I consulted him after the discovery of Miss Bennet on the grounds of Pemberley weeks ago.” As heads nodded, he continued. “We noticed that there were similar abductions, a concentrated scheme, if you will, involving gentlewomen being kidnapped in the five counties surrounding London and London proper, with none ending in a demand for ransom. After further study, we began to believe the abductions encompassed the entirety of England.”

Eyebrows rose and glances were exchanged at the implications. “After what happened on Saturday, I am convinced the abductions from the church fair and from Pemberley are related to this conspiracy. It is my opinion that Mr. Wickham came back to Lambton for more women and saw opportunity to finish what he had started with Miss Bennet and took the others for good measure. Miss Darcy stated he said he would have taken her, had she been able to walk.”

“And the child?” Richard said.

“She happened to be at the fair with Miss Bennet, so likely he used the child to ensure her cooperation. Then when he learned Miss Darcy could not be used as a hostage and the child was hers, he came up with the idea of demanding ransom for the child.”

“This is all very curious,” Mr. Gardiner exclaimed. “Why ransom the child but not the women?”

“Nephew, would you like to explain further?”

Edmonds nodded and stood to face the gathering. “Early on, my uncle suspected George Williams, who frequented Lambton quite often, was involved in the abduction of Miss Bennet, and he was right on the mark. Mr. Williams turned out to be George Wickham, a known gambler and petty thief who often frequents the worst areas of London. We have had dealings with him in the past, though we had no way of knowing he aspired to greater levels of depravity until after my uncle’s visit. As we investigated him more fully, learned his real identity and who his associates were, we were astounded.”

The room fairly crackled with anticipation as everyone leaned forwards.

“Wickham is in collusion with an internationally known criminal, Maurice LeStang, who was a distinguished French army officer before being accused of treason. He has no allegiance to anything or anyone and apparently no conscience. He is currently sought by three countries, accused of kidnapping gentlewomen and transporting them to the Middle East where he offers them for sale as slaves. That is why there are no ransom demands; they can make more selling them.

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