A Royal Bennet (5 page)

“Have no fear, Sprite. I will look after him. Now,
promise me, you will remain in the house unless you
are accompanied by at least two armed men. And I do
not want you to leave the estate, not for any reason. I
have a feeling Miss Elizabeth’s aunt and uncle will be
on their way to Lambton soon. Keep in touch with
Mrs Lackney. When the Gardiners arrive in the area, I
believe your brother would find it appropriate for
them to be invited to stay here. You have already
been introduced to Mrs Gardiner, there should be no
difficulties.”

Georgiana decided that it was not the time to
inform her cousin that Mr Gardiner was in trade, for it
would not matter to Richard.

~~ ** ~~

Within two hours, Darcy, Richard, Jim and three
other men were all mounted and on their way to
search for the missing ladies.

The men were certain that, if Mrs Freemont had
heard correctly when she heard Antigua, and the
information Jim had heard from his cousin, the best
port to begin searching would be Liverpool. From
there, ships would be traveling to the islands.

Darcy could not allow himself to think of what
might happen to Elizabeth. Every time his mind
drifted in that direction, his heart felt as if someone
placed his chest into a vice, squeezing the life from
him.

Jim stated his cousin was certain the highwaymen
would head west, but he was unsure whether to the
north or to the south of where the robbery and
abduction occurred. Richard was of an opinion they
would head to Liverpool, as there had been word as
recent as a month previous which spoke of ships
making the journey to the islands and South America
from the ports at Liverpool. There were some who
believed young ladies were being sold in those areas,
young ladies who were English born and bred.
Elizabeth Bennet would be prime for selling. Not only
was she beautiful, she was intelligent and caring. The
very thought of Elizabeth being sold into some sort of
slavery was more than Darcy could accept.

~~ ** ~~

Stopping at an inn to rest their horses and take
some food and drink, Darcy requested a private room
for their party to dine without interruption.
Fortunately, there was no such room to be found, and
the group was forced to share the dining room with
other travelers.

As they were finishing their meal, a young man,
dressed in clothes of someone middle class,
approached their tables. “Gentlemen, I was
wondering if I could interest you in some trinkets to
take home to your ladies. I have several pieces which
would be perfect for a wife or girlfriend.”

“I am not interested.” Darcy stated as he waved
them off.

Richard had other ideas. “Let me see the pieces
you have. I am in need of a gift for my mother’s
birthday.”

Darcy instantly knew something was suspicious,
as Richard’s mother had celebrated her birthday more
than a month previously. Richard had purchased a
beautiful mare for her gift, as Lady Matlock was fond
of horses.

The young man pulled a velvet pouch from his
coat pocket and opened it. Pouring the items from the
pouch onto the top of the table, the young man started
shifting items about.

Almost instantly, Darcy recognized the garnet
necklace which was amongst the items. “Richard, I
believe your mother would enjoy that cross there.
She loves garnets and it appears to be in fairly good
shape.”

Richard picked up the piece and nearly gasped.
On the back of the setting was an etching which was a
royal emblem, from Brunswick. He had seen the
emblem before, having been on military escort for
Princess Augusta several times when she was in
England. The only way this piece of jewelry could be
in the possession of this young man was if it were
stolen from someone of the royal family of Brunswick.

“How much for this piece?” Richard asked.

“Ah, you have picked my best piece. It is quite
nice. I will let it go for ten shillings.” The young man
puffed himself up as he spoke.

“Very good, I will take it.” Richard said as he stood
and acted as if he were reaching for his money in his
pocket. Instead, Richard reached behind him and
pulled his pistol. “Now, I suggest you place your
hands on the table and make no sudden moves.”

The young man’s expression deflated instantly.
“What is the meaning of this? Are you robbing me?”

“No, we are arresting you for robbery and the
kidnapping of a member of the royal family. If I were
you, I would begin explaining how you came to be in
possession of this piece of jewelry. It was the
property of a member of the royal family.”

Darcy was confused, but he did not say as much.
He recognized the garnet cross as Elizabeth’s, as she
wore it nearly every time he saw her. What was his
cousin rambling on about it belonging to a member of
the royal family? Was this his attempt to frighten the
suspect into confessing the information they
required?

“I know nothing of no royal, I swear to you. It was
taken from a lady on a post carriage. No royal would
be on a post carriage. You must be mistaken.”

“As a colonel in His Majesty’s army, I am placing
you under arrest for the robbery and kidnapping of a
member of the royal family. Do you see this mark on
the back of the setting? That is the emblem used by
the family of the Duke of Brunswick. This emblem on
the necklace can only mean the piece was stolen from
a member of their family. As such, it is within my
authority to have you arrested and tried for your
crimes. The penalty for abducting a royal is death. I
would be within my rights to carry out your sentence
immediately. Do I make myself clear?”

The young man nervously nodded his head. Darcy
took hold of the garnet cross, looking carefully at the
back of the setting. He was sure it was Elizabeth’s, but
how could that be if it belonged to a member of the
royal family of Brunswick?

“Now, what is your name?” Colonel Fitzwilliam
demanded.

 

“My name is Artie…Artie Campbell.”

 

“And where are the men who assisted you in the
crimes?”

“They said they would go to Liverpool. They was
going to sell the two ladies they took from the
carriage. I never knew they was gonna take ladies, or
I would not be part of this. The leader, Caspen, he is a
nutter. He was the one to insist on takin’ the ladies.
But they be worth more untouched, Caspen told all of
us they were not to touch the ladies or he would kill
anyone who did.”

“Caspen was smart. If any of you had harmed a
royal in such a manner, you would all be hung without
a trial. No upstanding soldier would think twice
before running you through, so you would not have
even made it to the gallows.”

“Please, I been helpin’ you. Please, I beg for
mercy.” Artie was sobbing.

“Tell me where you are to meet with the rest of
the men? Do not lie, I am certain they expect a
portion of what you would get from selling these
items. Where were you to meet with them?”

Darcy had taken out the map from his pocket,
laying it out on the table before Artie. The young man
pointed to the map. “Here. We be meetin’ here.
Caspen has a shack near here.”

~~~~~~~ ** ~~~~~~~

 

Chapter 4

Elizabeth woke with a headache. The past days
had been a nightmare, especially the last twenty four
hours. The men who had abducted her and Lucy had
not harmed them, as she would have expected. She
overheard the men speaking in the room adjacent to
the one in which the ladies were housed, and learned
the reason that the men had not violated them.
According to the man who was apparently in charge,
women who are still maids could bring a higher price
when sold. She heard them speaking of ships which
sailed to Antigua and Brazil. The man in charge,
Caspen, from what Elizabeth overheard, spoke of
when they would arrive in Liverpool and where they
would stay while finding the best deal with the
captains of the ships. She knew they would need to
escape, and the best place to do so would be in
Liverpool. There would be enough people in the area
to cover the trail of two young ladies, and with fewer
men guarding them, as several of the men would be
attempting to find a way to sell them. Fewer guards,
easier to escape.

Liverpool was known as a shipping port,
especially slave ships coming from Africa, bound for
the Americas. She had also heard tales of young
Caucasian ladies being deemed valuable in some
destinations. The chances of being sold to some ship’s
captain to sell in those destinations was a possibility
she did not wish to become a fact. Elizabeth had been
successful in keeping Lucy calm, but the young maid
began to lose hope of escaping the men, so she spent
most of the time sitting, with her knees pulled up to
her chest and her arms wrapped around her legs,
rocking back and forth while trembling.

The man who was left to guard Elizabeth and Lucy
was nearly as nervous as the ladies. He had only
recently joined the group, having known Artie for a
couple years. The others were out of the shack, some
to find a ship’s captain willing to take the ladies, and
others to find food. Luck was on the side of the ladies,
and Elizabeth took her chances to free herself and the
young maid.

Convincing the man that Lucy had become ill, and
was having some sort of seizure, the man entered the
room. As he stepped closer to Elizabeth’s side, she
turned, swinging the pitcher of water, striking him in
the head. He fell to the ground, unconscious.
Elizabeth took hold of Lucy’s arm and pulled her from
the room, rushing to escape the shack.

~~ ** ~~

It had been nearly twenty four hours since they
escaped, and Elizabeth was attempting to find
assistance for Lucy and herself. They needed food
and lodging, and were in a strange town, filled with
unknown people.

Elizabeth realized she had left some coins in one
of her shoes, a trick her father had taught her years
before, when Elizabeth would travel by post to Town
to visit the Gardiners. “Lizzy, most robbers would not
think of a young lady putting money in their shoes.
My mother had a pocket sewn to the bottom of her
petticoats so she could hide valuables in it when she
traveled.”

Those coins allowed her to purchase some bread
and cheese. There was enough left to pay for an
express to be sent, but to whom to send it? Had her
aunt and uncle already left Town to meet her in
Lambton? Her father would not be able to come to
Liverpool. Not only because her mother would know
where she was and demand coming with Mr Bennet,
but Elizabeth knew her father had great difficulty
traveling the past year. He had suffered from a fall
from a horse which wrenched his back, causing him
great discomfort if he rode any distance by carriage.

Elizabeth finally decided to write the express and
send it to Mrs Lackney. Though she had never met
the lady, the Gardiner family would soon be arriving
at Lambton and would expect to find Elizabeth with
the dressmaker. Mrs Lackney would surely notify Mr
and Mrs Gardiner of the express.

Mrs Lackney,
We have not been introduced, but I am Elizabeth Bennet, niece of Mrs
Helen Gardiner. My aunt had given me a letter to hand to you when I
arrived in Lambton, but, unfortunately, my carriage was robbed and I was
taken prisoner, along with my aunt’s maid. It had been my aunt’s hope that
you would allow me and my aunt’s maid to stay with you until the Gardiners
arrived in Lambton.
To make a long story short, I am in a difficult situation. The maid,
Lucy, and I were able to escape from our captors, and are hiding in Liverpool.
I had a few coins hidden on me, so I was able to purchase some food, but I do
not have much left for lodging for several days, and have no means of paying
for our transportation to Lambton from here.
My aunt and uncle should be in Lambton any day, if they are not there
already. Would you please notify them of where I am currently? I regret
having to ask such from someone I have never met. The reason for my
writing to you is that I am certain my aunt and uncle are already traveling
towards you and would not receive my letter. Knowing they thought I had
arrived in Lambton and would be staying with you, and they would contact you
as soon as possible after arriving, I felt it was the quickest way of notifying
them.
We are currently staying at the Mallard Inn on Plymouth Street, near
the docks of Liverpool. I am hopeful we will be able to stay here for two or
three days, but I am certain the men who took us will begin to search for us.
Lucy and I are remaining in our room, but I fear the men will discover us.
I pray you will forgive me for involving you in this matter. You will
have my undying appreciation for any assistance you can give us.
Miss Elizabeth Bennet
Once sending the message by express, Elizabeth
went to speak with the innkeeper.

“Mr Barkow is out at the moment, Miss. Might I be
able to assist you?” The lady behind the counter
asked. “I am Mrs Barkow.”

“Mrs Barkow, I have a desperate situation which
has happened. I have just sent an express to my
family, but I know it will be several days before
anyone can come here to assist me.”

“My goodness, what has happened?” Mrs Barkow
was a kind lady, though she was cautious. There had
been many sob stories told to her over the years
which had led the innkeepers to nearly lose their
establishment.

“I was traveling to Lambton, with my aunt’s maid,
when the carriage was robbed. The highwaymen did
not find enough to pilfer, so they kidnapped Lucy and
myself. They were planning to sell us to one of the
ship captains, to be sold again in the islands or South
America. We were able to escape, and found
ourselves here. I had hidden some coins in my shoe
before we entered the carriage, though it was not a
tremendous amount. I believe I have enough to pay
for lodging for two nights, and perhaps some bread to
eat. Hopefully, by then my family will receive my
express and come for us.”