The Pleasure of Mr. Darcy's Love by Glenna Mason

Author:Glenna Mason [Mason, Glenna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms, Not in Amazon Library, To Transfer
ISBN: 9781535341646
Google: USwBvgAACAAJ
Amazon: B01GH94XGE
Goodreads: 30337607
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Published: 2016-07-18T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

When all the reports converged that evening, Darcy was fairly confident that Wickham was long gone, probably to the big city of London, in search of new prey. Piecing all the reports together, Darcy now knew that Wickham had spent several days and nights in one of the bedrooms in the guest wing of the house, that he had looted several of the bedrooms in that part of the house, that he had stolen a footman's gear from the tailor in Lambton and wooed the barmaid at the Lambton Inn.

They had learned earlier of course that he undoubtedly intended to abduct Georgiana and sneak her out via the secret passage.

The most telling new piece of information, however, was that Wickham had been hiding in the maid's bedroom when the Pemberley footmen arrived at Lambton Inn. Always attune to his own survival, Wickham had no doubt raced down the back stairs to his horse in the barn next door and a precarious, yet precipitous path to escape. The stable boy readily admitted for a reward of five shillings, “The 'gent' threw those rattlin' saddlebags over that pretty mare and took off like lightnin' down the road. Thunderin' he wuz.”

“Down right poetic rendition, Mr. Darcy,” Parsons had reported.

“Yes, so it seems,” Darcy said with a laugh. “Thank you, Parsons. Thank you all for some excellent detective work,” Darcy said to his men. “You're excused. Go to your wives and your suppers now.”

*****

The next morning at breakfast, Darcy announced the findings. “We will be vigilant, but knowing Wickham as well as I do, I truly think that he is off to bigger and better game.”

“Thank God, Fitz,” Richard said.

“I am off to Derby today to see the bishop and obtain our special license, Elizabeth.”

“Yes, and the ladies and I are on our way to Lambton to begin the purchase of my wedding gown. I believe pale yellow for the dress, my love, or do you favor ivory?” Elizabeth inquired.

“As long as you appear in it, my sweet, my preferences are met,” Darcy answered with a twinkle in his eye. “However, since this is not London, I suggest you see which is available.”

Mr. Arnold arrived at the door. “Your messenger is back, sir.”

“Wonderful! Send him in.”

Darcy opened the packet, after he gave his rider a nice tip.

“Our settlement papers, Elizabeth with your father's agreement and congratulations. You may read them today at your leisure. Oh and look at this! There seems to be a letter to you from him too,” Darcy teased, holding the missive over his head.

“Oh, good! The Bennets will be here in time for the ball, including Mary and Kitty,” Darcy informed Elizabeth, reading his own letter from Mr. Bennet. “Your father directs that I send my most elegant carriage. I shall start it out in a couple of days, so they have plenty of time for their trip.” He smiled broadly. Darcy appreciated his father-in-law's wry sense of humor.

“Aunt and Uncle Gardiner?”

Darcy opened the second letter. “Oh, good! They wouldn't miss it,” Darcy reported the Gardiners' response.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.