After reading the letter a second time, Lizzy saw the reason Mrs. Brotherton believed Mr. Darcy had misread the letter. “
“When Mr. Jackson told me what was in the letter,” Mrs. Brotherton continued, “it didn’t make sense to me. Why would Teddy be running around without any clothes on? You see, Teddy only transforms for two days, while the gentleman transforms for four. So there was no reason for my son to be without clothes. Here is what I think happened. As he always does, Teddy was at the rendezvous point an hour before daybreak, but the gentleman wasn’t there. Teddy then went back to the house, alerted the staff, and set out for the place where he thought Rupert might be, that is, the MacGregor estate. In the event a wolf is sighted by his neighbors, Mr. Underhill keeps black Labradors, Newfoundlands, and large black German shepherds on the estate.”
“And they are all called Wolfie,” Lizzy said.
“Yes, how did you know?”
“Just a guess. Please continue.”
“I am sure Mr. Underhill went to the laird’s house with the dogs in tow to show Mr. MacGregor what his gamekeeper had actually seen, and some money changed hands for the inconvenience to MacGregor’s staff. The story of a wolf sighting will make the rounds of the alehouses for a while, but then it will be forgotten when something new takes its place. I am sure that is what happened. Teddy and I are very close, and if he were in danger, I would feel it here.” The young man’s mother pointed to her heart. “But I have no such feeling.”
Lizzy went quiet while she sorted out all of this information, and it did make sense. It was her understanding that the Underhill estate had been a sanctuary for werewolves for more than two decades. Surely, this was not the first time something like this had happened because it seemed that as soon as Teddy had sounded the alert, everyone had sprung into action. It almost had the feel of a military maneuver.
“Thank you, Mrs. Brotherton. I do feel better. Your scenario sounds logical to me, and I now have reason to believe that it will end well for everyone.” Lizzy smiled at Anne, and when Georgiana saw that Anne and Elizabeth were smiling, she stopped playing the pianoforte and rejoined the ladies.
A pleasant dinner was followed by a rubber of whist. After Georgiana had performed the piece she was to play at the dinner in Berkeley Square, they retired early. Lizzy could only hope that she would finally have a restful night, and she could barely keep her eyes open while Ellie brushed her hair.
Chapter 16
Lizzy did sleep well. She had decided that Mrs. Brotherton’s interpretation of the events at the Underhill estate was correct and that she would not worry about the situation in Scotland until given a reason to do so. With that concern set aside, Lizzy now had to decide if she should remain at Pemberley and wait for William’s return. Although Anne and Georgiana were excellent company, with three ladies, as well as Mrs. Brotherton, staring out the window waiting for Mr. Darcy’s return, the days would drag on endlessly. On the other hand, if she returned to Longbourn, she would be able to take up her daily routine, which involved a lot more than sitting around reading books, doing needlework, and chatting. If she were to become the mistress of Pemberley, there would have to be changes made because she needed to move about, but with a purpose. Unlike Caroline Bingley, she did not consider taking a turn about the room, locked arm-in-arm with another fine lady, to be exercise. In truth, the lives of the women of the upper class could be excruciatingly boring.
At breakfast, Lizzy found that Anne’s and Georgiana’s spirits remained high, and they pleaded with Lizzy to stay in Derbyshire, at least for a few more days. Georgiana invited Lizzy to ride with her every morning after breakfast so that she might improve her skills.
“Will is an expert horseman, and he loves to ride into the Peak to look at the different rock formations and to hunt for fossils and minerals,” Georgiana explained.
Lizzy knew of her brother’s interest in the geology of the region. In fact, because of all those afternoons spent in the parlor at Longbourn, she knew quite a lot about Fitzwilliam Darcy. Of course, there was one thing—one enormously important thing—that she had not known.
“Although I am an imperfect equestrian,” Lizzy responded, “I am an excellent skater. Perhaps when the pond freezes, we could all go ice skating.” Georgiana and Anne looked at each other, pleased that Lizzy was speaking of a future visit to Pemberley.
“Shall we go riding, Elizabeth?” Georgiana asked as she looked out the window at a cold gray day.
Lizzy was about to agree to the plan when Georgiana said that they would have to put off riding until later in the day. “We have company,” she said in her bright, cheery voice, as she loved visitors. “Someone from Granyard Hall has come to call on us.”
Lizzy had no doubt it was Lady Helen and under her breath mumbled to Anne, “Good Lord, what else can happen? I now know how Pharaoh felt when the ten plagues of Egypt descended.”
A few minutes later, the beautiful Lady Helen swept into the room. Standing before the three ladies as if she were appearing on center stage at Drury Lane, she took off her gloves, hat, and coat, and after handing them to Jackson, announced, “My father has told me what happened in Scotland. How dreadful. I think we should all cling to each other, and so I shall stay at Pemberley until Mr. Darcy returns.” After uttering that remarkable statement, she swept past her hosts and went into the drawing room.
The debate Lizzy had been having regarding her return to Longbourn came to an end as her visitor had decided the matter for her. “Lady Helen, that is very thoughtful of you,” Lizzy said, sitting down opposite to her. “But for my part, I shall be leaving for Hertfordshire in two days.”
Georgiana was about to say something in favor of Lizzy staying on, when Anne took her hand and squeezed it, and with the slightest shake of her head, indicated that her cousin should say nothing. As much as Anne would have liked to have Elizabeth remain, having Lady Helen in residence for three weeks was too high a price to pay, and she knew that once Elizabeth left Pemberley, the lady would return to Granyard Hall.
“Oh, I am sorry to hear that, but it is probably for the best,” Lady Helen replied.
“Would you like for me to send for some tea and cake?” Anne offered.
“No, thank you. I had a huge breakfast.” She actually licked her lips at the memory.
And when Lizzy saw that, she smiled because she could picture a time when Nell would not sashay but waddle around Alpha.
“This whole thing could have been avoided if Alpha had only listened…”
“Lady Helen, there are servants about. Please refer to my cousin by his name,” Anne cautioned her.
“Of course, my apologies. But it is true that I told Mr. Darcy that the gentleman in question was positively wild and beyond hope of reform.”
“It is my understanding that William did decline,” Anne said, defending her cousin, “but the boy’s father pleaded with
“Yes, of course. No one is to blame except you know who. I am sure he will be exiled, and rightly so. My concern is what happens to me if Mr. Darcy does not get back in time for nightfall.”
“But that is still three weeks away, and if my brother has not returned in time, then you could make arrangements with Mr. Cassel,” Georgiana whispered. “You did that one other time. Remember?”
“Yes, I most certainly do remember it, and I found the whole arrangement to be dreadful. Mr. Cassel is the son of a nobody. It is bad enough that, on occasion, I have had to be out there with only Teddy, but at least he is a member of my family.”
“But Teddy is an absolute treasure!” Georgiana cried. “There is nothing he would not do for the family.”
“Yes, dear,” Lady Helen said in a condescending voice. “He is a darling man, but his mother is your lady’s
