After giving Mercer some final instructions, he went downstairs to find Elizabeth. What the devil was he going to say to her? She already understood some of the dangers that wolves faced, but this episode threw a harsh light on just how vulnerable they were on a daily basis. The irresponsible actions of one wolf hundreds of miles away might put others in jeopardy, including his own family. Until he knew what Rupert had said to those who had found him, he could not rest because if that idiot had panicked and blurted something out, the trail would lead directly to Pemberley. And what right did he have to ask Elizabeth to join him in sharing such a life? He should have heeded the advice of the Council to take a she wolf as a bride from among the German or French wolves who had settled in Herefordshire near the Welsh border after fleeing the Continent because of Napoleon’s endless wars. But when he had set out in search of a wife, he had stopped at Netherfield Park to visit Charles Bingley at his new country estate and had been coerced into attending a local assembly, and the rest, as they say, is history.
In order to make sure that their conversation could not be overheard, when Darcy went downstairs, he gestured for Georgiana, Anne, and Elizabeth to follow him into his study, and he quickly assessed the situation. His sister had been crying, Anne looked gaunt, and Elizabeth had such a look of bewilderment on her face that it hurt to look at her. Addressing the three ladies, he summed up his plan, which was simple. He must get to the Underhill estate as quickly as possible, recover Rupert and Teddy, and return to Pemberley before the next full moon.
“After I am on the road, Jackson will send word to Lord Granyard detailing what I know of the events in Scotland and ask that he have his men keep watch for any unusual activity near Pemberley. I am not anticipating any trouble, but since we do not know what Rupert might have revealed when questioned, I will err on the side of caution.”
Both ladies nodded, signaling that they understood the possible consequences of Rupert’s actions, but Lizzy remained silent. It was only her eyes that revealed how alarmed she was and that she comprehended the gravity of the situation.
“Georgie and Anne, I would like to speak to Elizabeth alone.” After the pair had left the study, Darcy sat on a chair across from Lizzy, but he made no effort to reach out to take her hand or to console her in any way. It was as if some fault in the earth had opened up, creating a chasm between them.
“Elizabeth, I am in a race against the lunar calendar,” he explained, “so I must leave now.”
Lizzy, who was trying hard to keep the fear out of her voice, asked him how long he would be gone.
“If all goes well, three weeks. We will need at least a week to get there, plus however long it takes to resolve the situation. Then, I must allow for a few days’ rest before returning to Pemberley, and everything depends on road conditions and the weather.”
“It seems to me that you are racing headlong into danger. Is there no one who can go to Scotland to deal with this matter who is less easily recognized?”
“No. I must take care of this myself because Teddy is a member of my pack, and it was at my direction that he went with Rupert to Scotland. I will not rest until I know that he is safe. Rupert does not have an ounce of common sense, but I am hoping that his being shot has so frightened him that he has kept his mouth shut. However, there are no guaranties, so I must go.
“As for our discussion this morning, we did not have time to put our plans into action. No announcement was made; therefore, no explanation is required. In the next few weeks, you will have ample time to reconsider, and please know that you owe me nothing. You are not bound to me. But I really must go.”
After he left, Lizzy went to the window in the drawing room and watched as he made his way to the stables with David and Goliath at his heels. He never looked back.
Lizzy did not know how long she had been staring out the window when Anne came and put a shawl around her shoulders. What she saw when she turned around and gazed into the face of the daughter of Lady Catherine de Bourgh was a steely resolve. Anne would stand watch until her cousin returned and resumed his role as master of Pemberley.
“Until today, I never understood why the Darcy crest was not emblazoned on the carriages. Because it is necessary to respond to emergencies such as this, William does not want anyone to know who is in the carriage.”
“Yes, William must travel anonymously. However, he does want people to know that he is a gentleman. Because of his rank, as evidenced by the quality of his conveyance, he will not be approached by strangers, and no one will ask questions.”
“Where is Georgiana?” Lizzy asked.
“She is with Mrs. Brotherton. Because Teddy is a member of William’s pack, Georgiana has developed an affection for him that is, to say the least, unusual between a mistress and one of her servants.”
“I had forgotten that Mrs. Brotherton is Teddy’s mother. How awful for her.”
“She is a strong lady who believes that all will turn out all right because her son is a sensible lad.”
“I know that Mr. Darcy speaks highly of him, but it is because of the actions of another that he is in trouble.” Lizzy finally asked who this young man was and why such risks were being taken on his behalf.
“Of course, you would not know about Rupert. William is very cautious when it comes to sharing information about those under his protection, but let us return to the study where a fire is burning and we can be more comfortable.”
Lizzy sat in the chair closest to the fire—Mr. Darcy’s chair—but it brought no comfort or warmth. She recalled his last words. “You will have ample time to reconsider. You are not bound to me.” With such uncertainty, it would be impossible to go forward. She understood that he had uttered those words out of concern for her, but she was unhappy that he had anticipated that she would reconsider his offer at the first sign of trouble. Did he believe that her love for him did not match his own?
“Elizabeth, do you drink brandy?”
“No, but I am thinking about starting,” she answered. In three days, she had known the depths of despair, only to have her spirits soar when she realized how much Mr. Darcy loved her and how deeply she was in love with him. But now, she was at the bottom of the well again—with only a hint of sunlight—and she reached out to take the glass from Anne.
“You asked who Rupert was, so I shall tell you. His grandfather is the king.”
Lizzy gasped. “Oh, no! Not that Rupert. He is only twenty years old, but he is already fodder for the gossip pamphleteers.”
“Yes, he is that Rupert.”
“The newspapers have reported that he is in Ireland. If only he were.”
Rupert was one of the many illegitimate children fathered by the Prince of Wales who were scattered about the country. All that was known of his mother was that she had died giving birth to him.
“With such a history, no wonder he was banished to the country. But with reporters following him everywhere he goes, is it not possible that Rupert could lead prying eyes directly to Pemberley and Mr. Darcy with disastrous consequences?”
“Rupert’s coming to Pemberley was arranged by the Council, and so many precautions were taken when he was brought here. It is unfortunate that this task fell to William because he did not want to take him in. However, you can imagine how difficult it was to say no to the heir to the British throne. When he finally agreed, William made it clear that if Rupert misbehaved he would be turned over to the Council and that it was highly likely he would be banished to an area of British North America near Hudson Bay where a mixed werewolf/wolf colony lives. Because the hunting is so good, I understand that it is a wolf’s dream come true, but if you are a wolf for only a few days a month, it can also be a frozen version of hell.”