7. Close Encounters

Our Lady of Longbourn

Chapter Seven – Close Encounters

In the year of our Lord, 1810

Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner watched with amusement as Elizabeth completed her negotiations with the Cyprian shepherd and shook his hand. Then she turned to the rest of the family and spoke with them, kneeling to speak with the youngest little girl and earning herself a hug.

Satisfied, Elizabeth rejoined her aunt and uncle. Madeline Gardiner shook her head teasingly, "Elizabeth, only you would turn a much-needed holiday from your work into a recruiting trip." And only you could find travel to Cornwall and meet a family from Cyprus who exactly fit your requirements.

Her niece laughed, "Hah! Don't think that I haven't seen a certain Uncle in negotiation with several locals on this trip. It must run in the family." I just wish it would run in the family for Mother and Father.

Madeline saw the slight shift in her niece's expression and decided to shift the focus. "So then: what agreement did you make with the man?"

"I am moving Ruben Louboutis and his family to Netherfield. I have the small cabin near the base of Oakham Mount, it'll do for the moment. I'll send an express to Mr. Matthews and instruct him to hire Mr. Hervey to either expand it or build something better. When we return to London, Mr. Louboutis will ride up with Toliver and we will go to the auction."

Mr. Gardiner started to protest, saying "You can't…" but twinkle in his niece's eyes told him that she could and would go to the auction. He expelled a resigned breath, "Elizabeth, sometimes I don't know what to do with you."

She beamed, "Just keep being the best uncle and aunt that a lady could ever have. Now, I believe that we were going to see Tintagel Castle?"

oOoOOoOo

Fitzwilliam Darcy clenched his fist as scanned the crowd to locate the secret bidder, cursing himself for allowing the presence of the pretty young lady standing in the back of the group to distract him. His own agent met his eye inquisitively, but he only gave a slight shake of his head. He would wait for the next lot. Romney sheep were not so rare that he was willing to buy over margin. Still, that last batch was the most consistently white and healthy of all of the available lots.

"Sold!" the auctioneer proclaimed. Darcy scowled as he caught the slight nod of the young lady and saw the look of satisfaction on one of her companion's faces. That man was clearly a shepherd; foreign, if Darcy didn't miss his mark. The other man, an intimidating figure, stood slightly back and to the right of the lady. He had the look of a sailor, soldier, or perhaps prize-fighter. His purpose as the lady's bodyguard was unmistakable; not a bad idea, considering the attention that the girl is drawing from this crowd. Many men were looking her direction and several had edged close with less-than-appropriate gazes, but the baleful glare of the guard was enough to keep them at a distance.

Whatever the station of the men might be, the girl was definitely gentle folk. She was probably not first-tier; possibly not second; but definitely gently bred. She wasn't exactly the English ideal of beauty, but her chocolate brown curls, her light and pleasing figure, and most of all, the sparkle in her hazel eyes was enticing. Darcy waited for her husband, father, or some other man to appear. It seemed obvious now that the beauty had been brought along to distract the other bidders. It had certainly worked on him. The next lot was called and Darcy returned his attention to the front. When he glanced over again, the trio was gone.

oOo

He thought that he saw her next early the next day at Hyde Park, before the "fashionable" hour when the Ton usually promenaded around the park to see and be seen. She was dressed holding the arm of a very beautiful young blond woman who was dressed for mourning. Without any clear intention, he found that his legs had led him towards the pair, but as he approached, the young ladies crossed the busy road. By the time that he was able to get across, they were nowhere to be seen.

The other young lady looked very familiar, but why? They were both dressed quite fashionably, even though one was in mourning. Perhaps my estimation of the lady was off? But why would a genteel woman, or the daughter of a peer, be attending a livestock auction?

oOo

Two nights later Fitzwilliam Darcy joined his uncle, aunt, and several cousins in the Earl's private box at the theater. "A Midsummer Night's Dream" was on its second week and this troupe was drawing rave reviews. Darcy wanted to see the performance, but he mostly came that night because it would be newly-promoted Major Richard Fitzwilliam's last night before joining his regiment to sail to Spain. Thus far, Richard had joined the fight against "that mad little Frenchman" many times and returned mostly unscathed. With the rising death-toll and the British army's poor record up to this point, Darcy feared for his cousin.

"Well now, there's a sight," Richard intoned quietly. As usual, he was watching for the ladies instead of visiting with his family. Darcy rolled his eyes and followed Richard's gaze. His breath hitched slightly as he beheld the beauty from the auction. Whereas before she had been dressed for a public outing, now she, like all of the other ladies, was dressed to be seen. And she was definitely attracting notice as she walked into a lower private box and took a seat at the rail.

She had entered with an older, distinguished looking couple. Several others joined them, but it was clear from the way that the young lady was repeatedly introduced that she did not know any of them. Darcy narrowed his eyes involuntarily as one couple introduced a young, single man. He wasted no time in assuming the seat next to the young lady. They had a conversation, but there didn't seem to be any…

"Darcy!" Fitzwilliam was jerked out of his concentration to meet the amused look of his cousin. "You don't usually fixate on a female. I'm surprised." Richard raised an eyebrow teasingly.

"I wasn't fixating. I was just lost in thought," he answered coldly.

Richard smirked, "Yes, I can see that."

The lights were snuffed from the back forward and Darcy's attention was drawn to the stage. It was only halfway into the first act that he allowed himself to look across the theater a certain private box. The young lady was leaning slightly forward, her own sparkling eyes fixed firmly on the stage. Darcy couldn't quite understand why he was so pleased that she wasn't paying any attention to the man beside her. The young man, however, was spending more time observing her profile than observing the play… and Darcy felt unaccountably irritated with the man.

At intermission, Darcy was debating taking some action, though he didn't know what. Unfortunately, several former chums from Cambridge reached his box first. By the time they departed to their seats, the first bell had rung. He spent the second half of the play grinding his teeth, irritated by his own misplaced interest. With an iron will, he kept his glances toward the mystery woman down to a minimum… perhaps no more than twenty or so. By the final curtain he was in such a brown study that even his relatives gave him a wide berth. He stubbornly remained in his seat until most of the crowd had departed. Even Richard had lost patience and left with his parents, a situation he normally avoided.

The result was that Fitzwilliam Darcy travelled home alone in his carriage. He ate a late meal alone. He sipped a brandy and tried to read. He attempted to sleep. And when he could take no more of his own sour company, he roused the stable-master and ordered his carriage prepared for a surprise trip to visit his sister Georgiana in Ramsgate.

The events that followed were heart-wrenching and near disastrous, but they did have the virtue of making him forget a certain mysterious young lady… for the moment at least.

oOoOOoOo

Elizabeth laid her head on Jane's shoulder as they sprawled on Jane's huge bed. Little Benjamin was sleeping against his aunt's other side, snuggled in as only a toddler can.

"Truly, Jane, how are you doing with all of this?"

Jane closed her eyes for a time, then sighed, "It was heartbreaking when little Andrew died. Lady Elaine and I were expecting Lord Archer to pass… he was not well even before scarlet fever hit… but I honestly believed that Andrew would make it… it gives me a little more sympathy for mother."

Elizabeth stiffened, but held back any biting retort. Scarlet fever had swept Meryton when their Jane was five, Elizabeth four, and Henry only three. Jane and Elizabeth had survived, but Henry had not. Mrs. Frances Bennet, in her own odd sense of logic, had rejoiced that Jane had recovered, but blamed Elizabeth for not dying in place of her brother. Their relationship had never been the same since.

She decided to turn the subject, "How are you coping with being 'Lady Archer, Countess of Kirby'?"

Jane used her free hand to poke her sister. "Don't tease. It isn't amusing. It was all that I could do to keep our mother from relocating to London so that she could parade around with 'her daughter, the Countess.' Lady Elaine told her that the fever was still spreading throughout London and that was enough to frighten her off for the moment. We are in mourning! How can she be so callous?" Jane's relationship with her mother had never recovered after Mr. Meriwether's attack. She had only made very brief visits ever since.

"And Stephen?"

Jane shook her head. "Admiralty House is close-mouthed about my husband's mission. All that I know is that he took a small task force somewhere and didn't expect to return for more than eighteen months. It has been twelve… he probably doesn't even know what happened. My little viscount…" she reached over and smoothed Benjamin's hair, "Probably won't even know who Stephen is when he returns."

Neither mentioned the word "if", but it hung in the air between them. Jane knew what she was getting when she married a naval officer, Stephen had made sure of that, but it didn't make the current situation any easier.

"Lady Elaine has been training me on my new duties and station. We keep each other busy and it helps. I don't anticipate coming out of mourning with any pleasure. It has been useful to keep the knocker off of the door.

Elizabeth nodded into Jane's shoulder. Already there were fortune-hunters circling like vultures. Not only was Jane stunningly beautiful, but she was now very wealthy and very titled. Many men were hoping that Stephen Archer would die at sea, leaving the door open for them.

"If it gets too raucous, I let me know. I happen to have a very fine estate open for lease."

To turn their minds to more pleasant directions, Elizabeth said, "I saw him again, at the theater tonight."

Jane turned so that she could look into her sister's eyes, "Tall, dark, and handsome?"

Elizabeth sighed dramatically, "That's the one. He was at the auction, then at the park, and now at the theater. I've never seen a more handsome man… and he kept looking across at me… at least, it seemed like it."

"Across? So he was in a private box?"

"Of course. I told you that he was dressed very stylishly; without all of the ostentation of some though. He was in a box with an older, very distinguished-looking couple and an Army officer in uniform. I wanted to ask Aunt Gardiner who they were, but Mr. Simonds invited himself to sit next to me and it made it too awkward."

"What do you think of Mr. Simonds?"

"A nice young man. Handsome, wealthy, not for me. I just can't get interested in anything he has to say."

Jane grinned, "Not with tall, dark, and handsome staring at you across the crowded theater."

The sisters laughed, stilled when Benjamin stirred, and tried to fight off a fit of giggles. Elizabeth was pleased to hear Jane laugh again. It had been too long.

oOoOOoOo

Elizabeth, Mary, and Kitty beamed at the Louboutis family as they opened the door to their new home for the first time and stepped in. Mr. Hervey had surveyed the old cottage, deemed it unfit, and promptly broken ground for a more suitable structure. Even though his two sons were working at the textile mill, they still contributed their evenings to assist.

Now the emigres from Cyprus took up residence on small rise at the foot of Oakham mount. The upward sloping landscape behind the house was dotted with grazing sheep. Mr. deBossuet had inspected the sheep's wool himself and pronounced it excellent. Once again, the prospects for the Bennet family had improved. Now I need to ensure that my mother doesn't spend it all.

The three girls left a basket of food and wine as a home-warming gift and left the family to enjoy their new home. The three talked animatedly for the next mile, mostly about Mary's wedding plans… or rather, her mother's wedding plans, since she was making all of the decisions. The only item that Mary would not bend on was her wedding dress. Mrs. Bennet's ideas for fashion were outdated and decidedly ornate, while Mary preferred clean and simple. Kitty had secretly worked with her to design a dress and Lauretta deBossuet had her entire team sewing it.

Ironically, Mrs. Bennet relented when she was informed that the design came from the Katerina herself. She bragged about this wherever she went, causing Kitty to blush and the other two to cover their mouth's to hide their laughter.

Horse hooves were heard coming up the road and the three girls stepped to the side. Elizabeth suppressed a groan when she recognized the rider. The short, stocky man pulled his horse to a halt and looked down at the ladies, "Miss Bennet! How delightful to encounter you like this. And the other Miss Bennets as well. How nice."

"Baron Stafford, how are you today?" Elizabeth answered stiffly, ignoring the way that the man was devouring her with his eyes.

"I am well now that you have returned from your travels. I was in London for a fortnight, but didn't see you at any of the events I attended."

"I was there to visit relatives, my Lord, not to attend dances."

"A pity. Well, I must away to a house party for now, but I shall call on you tomorrow."

Elizabeth gritted her teeth. She had made met this man at an assembly more than a year ago. His attention had become explicit just before she departed with her aunt and uncle for Cornwall. After returning, the man had become aggressive about calling on her. She had made her disinterest clear, but he persisted. Worse, he was using her mother to push his agenda… just as Mr. Meriwether had before him. When it became too much, she had made an excuse and absented herself to London for another month… and that obviously hadn't worked either. "I'm afraid that won't suit, Baron. You see, I will be occupied with matters for quite a while. After all, I have many responsibilities."

"Still playing at being Master of Longbourn, I see. What you need is a man to take care of you so that you can take on your proper role."

Elizabeth glared at the man, "My role is what I choose it to be, Sir Stafford. I have no intention of marrying and handing over control of my life to a man. Good day!" The Baron laughed as the three sisters stalked away.

Mary spoke up, "Elizabeth, you need to keep the Bosun with you always, even if one of us is with you. The Baron frightens me.

"And you need to speak with Papa," Kitty added.

"I hardly think…"

"Precisely! You are used to being the one in charge. Not this time, Elizabeth. The Bosun is worried, and Kitty is worried, and I am worried, then maybe it's time for you to be worried. That man is dangerous," Mary stared down Elizabeth and for once Elizabeth looked away first.

"You're right. He frightens me as well."

Buckingham House, October, 1810

Queen Charlotte read through the final page of the dossier, reshuffled the pile into order, and closed the leather cover. "And his claim supersedes all others, Reginald?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. On his father's side, his line is directly descended from Lord Darcy, the Duke of _, who was executed by the Duke of Norfolk for allowing the Pilgrimage of Grace to pass through his lands without harm… though one history suggests that the Duke of Norfolk was an early supporter of the pilgrimage and that Lord Darcy implicated him… and that is the reason he was seized, tried, and executed in a single afternoon."

The Queen waved a hand to forestall a deeper history lesson. She was decidedly and unremittingly protestant and had no sympathy for the cause of Catholics so many centuries before. "So that demonstrates noble blood… which many can claim, but how does it tie to Carlisle?"

"His grandmother was the daughter of the then Duke of Carlisle. His second daughter, Esmerelda."

"This supersedes the Baron's claim by one generation, but was there no other issue from the other siblings?"

"None, Your Majesty. The others died of sickness before having children… except one, who was murdered."

"Murdered?" The Queen prompted, even though she knew that he had paused specifically for that reason. Reginald was very effective at gathering information, but he had an annoying love for the dramatic.

"Yes, Your Majesty… most likely by his brother, the next Duke himself, or at least at his arrangement. He had serious gambling debts. His brother was engaged to be married. When he died, the Duke wasted no time moving in, seizing the properties, and selling off everything not entailed."

Queen Charlotte shook her head, "Perhaps we should just let this family line die altogether. I can see where the Baron inherited his vicious propensities."

Reginald nodded toward the folder, "Lady Esmerelda's line has been much more respectable. A trifle arrogant, I'll grant you, but honorable nonetheless and not given to violence. I am peripherally acquainted with the man, but would like to strengthen the acquaintance before making my final report on the matter."

The Queen nodded, "And what of the other matter that I asked you to look into?"

"There has been little progress with that, Your Majesty, because I have been focused on the succession question. But I did take a ride up to Meryton and I visited the local pubs…"

His audience shook her head. She knew his methods and his weaknesses, but she tolerated him because he always got the information she required.

"… and there is an unusual undercurrent about the place. There seems to be a very interesting young gentle woman who is quite out of the ordinary. I got the distinct impression that the search for answers will begin and end with her."

"And when do you think that this 'search for answers' will begin?"

"Certain circumstances, Your Majesty, may make it possible for me to conduct both investigations at once. You see…"