Conceit & Concealment: A Pride & Prejudice Variation Read online

  “I have followed all my leads.” Darcy ticked them off on his fingers one at a time. “Elizabeth Bennet has an uncle in London, but her sister says that he knows nothing. My contact in Carlisle has not seen them. No horses meeting the description of mine have been sold at Tattersalls. I had someone check Bath since it is easy to take lodgings there and be anonymous. Your mother was the only other person whose name Georgiana knew, but she was aware your mother was being watched. Still, I checked there, and your mother sent me here. I sent a man to Brighton because Georgiana had once mentioned wishing to see it. I have racked my brains and come up with nothing.”

  Frederick wrote a note on a scrap of paper. “Spas and resorts – a good idea.”

  “Why did you never tell me?” Kit's voice reverberated with fury.

  Darcy took a deep breath and straightened. “Our father made the decision. You were but fourteen, wild and impulsive. It was too big a secret to risk.”

  “I grew out of that!”

  “You did, but by then you were furious with me and considered me a traitor. It was safer to say nothing.”

  “You could have said something!”

  “What? Something such as I wished I could explain it to you? Or it was not my decision, or that it had nothing to do with you, or that someday I would explain? I said all those things again and again, and they made no difference!”

  “How do you think I felt? You and Georgie were the only family I had left, and you kept pushing me away!”

  Darcy's fingernails cut into his palms. “You had Frederica, and during school holidays you stayed with her mother at Pemberley. That is more than I had. Do you think I enjoyed being the family traitor? That I liked working with the French? That it was enjoyable to deal with an out-of-control young girl all by myself, to keep her by my side constantly for six years? Six years! Six years of people spitting when I walked past them, looking down their noses at the traitor who betrayed his country. I have not even been to Pemberley in all this time because people there would notice the difference in her. Do you think I wanted to push you and all the world away? I did not ask for this duty. Do not complain to me. Freddie never got even a hint from her parents, did she?”

  Frederica said calmly, “And you may be sure that, once I have a moment to myself, I will be furious with them. If only I had known, I could have prepared differently, been ready to go when she was old enough. But I also see that it was too important a secret to risk. Now, the two of you must either calm yourselves or leave me alone. It is your choice.”

  “Very well,” said Darcy with a steadiness he did not feel. “What is your plan?”

  Frederica nodded. “I will send word to our contacts in those places, asking them to make inquiries if anyone has seen your curricle and two young women, or a woman and a boy. It will take time; our messages are not sent directly to reduce the risk of exposure. If we should hear anything about her, where will you be? Darcy House?”

  Darcy shook his head. “If I go to Darcy House, I will officially be in town, and that means I will be expected to be at the beck and call of various French officials. I would do better to find a lodging house and send you the address.”

  “Better not to go to a lodging house, or you will be reported to Lamarque’s men,” said Frederica. “You can stay here if you wish. There are few comforts, and it is not without danger from Lamarque’s so-called police, but you are welcome as long as you stay out of the way of our business.”

  “I will do my best, but I have no idea what you actually do here except that it involves a great deal of paper.” Darcy gestured to one of the stacks.

  Kit gave a sharp laugh. “That it does.”

  “I cannot be expected to keep all the information in my head,” said Frederica. “We do a variety of things. Kit handles the escape routes when someone needs to leave England quietly. I keep track of our network of sympathizers and the information they send me, the location of troops and armaments, how the arms depots are guarded, and so forth. Andrew, whom you will no doubt meet, puts out a newspaper that tells what is happening beyond the censored information the French give out. Kit and I both help with that.”

  Darcy raised an eyebrow. “Not The Loyalist?”

  “The very same. You know it?”

  “Everyone knows it. I am impressed.”

  “I am glad to hear it,” said Kit dryly, “since you paid for quite a few issues.”

  Darcy looked at him with lively suspicion. “I did?”

  “Remember when I begged you to help me settle my gambling debts? I had no debts, but we had run out of money for paper and ink. And no, I have no regrets about lying to you.”

  Darcy said nothing until he could be certain his anger was sufficiently under control. “I suppose I would rather it go to The Loyalist than to gambling debts.”

  Frederica said sharply, “Kit, stop trying to provoke your brother. He has given as much to the cause as you have, and if he lacked faith in you, I must point out that you also lacked faith in him.”

  “So did you,” retorted Kit.

  “In fact, I did not. I found it hard to believe he would sell out, but my mother told me so firmly that I was not to involve Darcy in my ventures that I suspected he had some other mission, most likely insinuating himself into the confidence of the French. If she could, I think she would like to keep the entire resistance in the family.”

  Darcy almost smiled. “Your mother, of course. I should have realized who was orchestrating this.”

  ***

  Frederica frowned as she read through her reports. “Still nothing. No reports of a curricle with a pair of matched grey thoroughbreds and a chestnut-haired woman and fair-haired boy or girl, nothing even close to a match. If they went north, they somehow managed not to be noticed. There is a stable boy on the road from Oxford to London who remembers a particularly handsome pair of greys, but he did not see the carriage or the travelers. No one at the inn recalls two people meeting the description, but it is a busy coaching inn with high traffic.”

  It was a disappointment, but Darcy was becoming inured to failure. “It is little comfort, but I will have the opportunity to speak to Elizabeth Bennet’s family in a few days. My friend Bingley is marrying her sister, and I have been invited to the wedding. Perhaps her sister may have more ideas of where Elizabeth might have chosen to go. It is not much to go on, but I will do what I can.”

  Frederica drummed her fingers on the table. “Kit is good at extracting information from people. Perhaps you should take him with you.”

  He would rather have the company of a spitting tomcat. “Meryton is several hours away. I would prefer to arrive there alive, thank you, and preferably without a black eye.”

  Tossing her reports aside, Frederica said with some exasperation, “William, I have worked with Kit for three years now. He is reliable, hardworking and loyal. He can also be stubborn, something he has in common with you. And yes, he does try to unnecessarily provoke you. You were twenty-one when your father left. Kit was fourteen. Think about that for a minute. This house is the first home he has had since the invasion. I wish he would stop needling you, but could you not manage to ignore it? He has felt abandoned by you for so long. He is not going to allow himself to rely on you overnight.”

  Darcy groaned. “Not another one! Georgiana is always afraid I will leave her, and now Kit feels abandoned.” He managed to stop himself before he said something foolish, that perhaps he would like someone to rely on for once. “Very well. I will try.” But he thought it unlikely to make a difference.

  ***

  Not surprisingly, Bingley’s wedding to Jane Bennet was small and rather subdued. Elizabeth's absence cast a palpable shadow over the celebration. Still, Darcy was happy to see Bingley, and he had miraculously managed not to argue with Kit on the road to Meryton.

  There was an unexpected presence at the wedding, though. Darcy had not expected to see any French officers there apart from the youngest sister’s husband, but across the church he s
aw his old friend Lieutenant Bessette. No, it was Captain Bessette now. What was he doing at this intimate wedding?

  Once outside the church, Captain Bessette hurried to his side. “Monsieur Darcy!”

  “Captain, it is a pleasure to see you again.” Or it would be if his mere presence did not make it more difficult for Darcy to gain information from the new Mrs. Bingley. “May I present my brother, Mr. Christopher Darcy?”

  Rigid, Kit barely returned the captain’s bow. “Captain,” he said coldly.

  Captain Bessette’s smile wavered.

  Darcy glared at Kit. “Captain, I must ask you to make allowances for my brother. He is a Loyalist. Kit, Captain Bessette was instrumental in removing the former commanding officer here, a man who badly mistreated the local people, and he most likely saved my life along the way.”

  The captain laughed. “Monsieur Darcy is too kind! It was his intervention, not mine, which caused Captain Reynard’s arrest. But I am very much in his debt for that, and for recommending my promotion. Monsieur Darcy, I think you will find the local people have fewer complaints about the regiment now.”

  “That is news I am glad to hear. Have you come for the wedding?”

  “Yes, I was invited. Not what you might have expected, n’est-ce pas? But I have been courting Miss Mary Bennet.” He lowered his voice. “After Miss Elizabeth Bennet disappeared, many people were most unkind to the family and treated the younger daughters as ruined. I recalled you had often visited Longbourn and thought you would not be happy with that outcome. Since I have made my intentions known, the family has been accepted in society again.”

  The man had found a clever way to repay the favor Darcy had done him. For Elizabeth’s sake, he was glad of it. But wait – had not Elizabeth spoken of her sister Mary as plain and dull? Perhaps the captain had done the family two good turns, but it was certainly more repayment than Darcy had expected. “I am glad to hear it. I hope it pleases Miss Mary. I had thought she was not often in company where she would meet gentlemen.”

  With a knowing smile, Captain Bessette said, “I understand you. Miss Kitty is prettier and livelier, but someday I will bring my wife home to France. Miss Mary, she is a lady I can introduce to my mother, you know?”

  “A wise decision,” Darcy said. “I congratulate you on it. You will make her a good husband.”

  Kit made a hissing sound through his teeth.

  Captain Bessette turned on him. “Monsieur Christopher, your brother is a good man. You Loyalists can look down your nose at those like him as much as you please, but your brother, he permitted Captain Reynard to beat him only so that he would have bruises to show to the colonel from London. That is why the evil man is gone. I was there. Your brother, he could have fought back, but he did not. Because of him, women here are no longer afraid to leave their houses and no one is being turned out or robbed of their earnings. How many Loyalists have done as much to aid those that are suffering?”

  Darcy placed his hand on Kit’s arm. “Captain, I thank you for your defense of my character, and for all the changes you have made here. All of us do our part in attempting to make the world a better place, even the Loyalists.”

  The captain chuckled. “You are more diplomatic than I, Monsieur Darcy! But I see Miss Mary is looking for me, so I must leave you.” He clicked his heels together as he bowed, whistling as he walked away.

  Darcy did not look at Kit. He did not want to see the disgust on his brother’s face. “Come, I will introduce you to the family so that you can get on with your work.”

  The introductions were made outside the church. Kit promptly busied himself flirting with Kitty Bennet and charming Elizabeth’s mother. Darcy was happy to leave that job to him, and even happier to avoid a discussion with his brother about Captain Bessette.

  Darcy set off by himself towards Longbourn for the wedding breakfast, but a fashionably dressed man a few years older than him maneuvered to walk beside him. No doubt a favor seeker, but a wedding was not the place to be rude, so Darcy said, “It is a pleasant day for a wedding.” The weather – the most neutral subject possible.

  “Very pleasant indeed. Yesterday my niece Jane was concerned it might rain on her nuptials.” The man said nothing further for a minute before adding, “I believe you are also acquainted with my niece Elizabeth. It is a pity she could not be here today.”

  Darcy gave him a sharp look. “I have that honor, yes.”

  A woman stepped up beside the man and took his arm. “Pardon me for interrupting. I fear I am becoming a little fatigued after our travels.”

  The man patted her hand. “I am sorry, my dear; I was not thinking. This gentleman and I were discussing the lovely weather. It would be a perfect day for curricle ride, would it not? With a pair of fine grey horses, I think. I recently met a young lady with just such a curricle; perhaps I shall ask her if I might borrow it someday and take you for a drive in the park.”

  The woman crinkled her forehead. “You know curricles are too high for me, my dear. Now a phaeton would be just the thing!”

  The man now had Darcy’s complete attention. A curricle with a pair of gray horses belonging to a young lady. It had to be a message for him. Darcy wanted to grab him by the shoulders and demand to be told everything.

  But apparently his wife knew nothing of the matter, so Darcy was unable to say anything directly. “I had a curricle with a pair of greys once, but it was not a high perch one. It had a clever compartment hidden under the seat.”

  “Why, so does my young friend’s! I wonder if they came from the same maker.” The man nodded slightly to Darcy.

  Darcy returned the nod. The man did know something! Finally!

  Mrs. Bennet elbowed her way through the crowd. “There you are, brother! Jane wishes to introduce both of you to her dear Mr. Bingley. Come with me.”

  Darcy could happily have strangled her as she took the couple away.

  The room was filling rapidly. How was he to find a way to have a private word with the man? Darcy made his way across the room to Kit. “That gentleman over there with the bride, the one in the blue coat – I must speak to him alone. He knows something.”

  Kit's eyes lit up. “Finally! I have learned nothing useful so far. Let me see... Outside or inside, which would you prefer?”

  “Outside. Too many people inside.”

  “Good thought.” Kit peered out the window. “There is a little wilderness on the other side of the lane – wait there. Does the gentleman wish to speak to you or to avoid you?”

  “To speak to me, it seems,” said Darcy.

  “That will make it easier. Go now, and I will send him as soon as I can.”

  Kit watched his brother leave and made his way across the crowded room to stand between Bingley and the man with the blue coat. They were conversing about the wedding. Bingley gave him a puzzled glance.

  Finally there was a pause in the conversation. “Bingley,” Kit said cheerily, “I have not yet had the chance to give you my congratulations on your wedding. You may not remember me after all these years, but you made quite an impression on me as a boy. Kit Darcy, at your service.” He put out his hand.

  “Darcy's brother?” exclaimed Bingley, shaking his hand with enthusiasm. “It has been years, has it not? Darcy had not mentioned to me that...that he had seen you recently.”

  Kit laughed. “You mean that he and I are on civil terms again? It is cause for astonishment, I grant you, but my brother and I have spent most of the last fortnight together, and we are both still alive.”

  “I am delighted to hear it,” declared Bingley. Turning to the man in the blue coat, he said, “Darcy is a very dear old friend, and my wedding would never have happened if not for him. He made it possible for Jane to come out of hiding.”

  “She mentioned something of that to me,” said the man. “That he had reported the officer who was threatening her or some such?”

  “Yes, Darcy sent a letter about the man to his commanding officer, but what really did
the trick was that Darcy allowed the man to give him a beating. His bruises were apparently a good argument, and his friend the general had the blackguard dragged off for court-martial. All of us are very much in your brother's debt.”

  Why must everyone tell him that story? If William was a hero in Meryton, what was it to him?

  “We are indeed,” said the blue coated man to Kit. “Is he here today? I would like the opportunity to thank him personally for what he has done.”

  Kit’s mind jerked back to his task. “He stepped outside for some air. Would you like me to take you to him?”

  “I would be most appreciative of it! Bingley, it has been a pleasure to meet you, and I look forward to knowing you better in the future.”

  As Kit led him outside, the gentleman thanked him for his assistance.

  “It is a pleasure to be of service, but I must confess my brother asked my help in arranging this meeting. Come. He is in the little wilderness over there.”

  William was pacing impatiently beside a low stone wall, but he halted as they approached.

  The man bowed to him. “Mr. Darcy, I presume? I am Edward Gardiner, Elizabeth's uncle. I had hoped I might meet you here, or at least discover news of you.”

  The uncle that Frederica’s people had been watching? Despite his curiosity, Kit suspected William wished to keep his conversation private. “I will leave you then, gentlemen.” Had that come out too sharply?

  William's brows drew together. “You are welcome to stay if you wish. Mr. Gardiner, pray forgive my directness, but have you news of my sister?”

  “I know where she is, if that is what you mean. My niece Elizabeth contacted me to request my help finding lodgings for them. She told me a most astonishing story.” Mr. Gardiner tilted his head to one side, asking a silent question.

  “It is a most unusual circumstance. My brother is aware of it as well,” said William. “I have been hunting for them since my release and I cannot tell you how relieved I am to hear this news.”