“But I wish to stay!” Anne argued. “I do not wish to go to London and I do not want a husband. I thought I was to go live with Uncle Henry.”
Lady Catherine turned red but took a deep breath and offered her some liquid from a wineglass. “Drink your draught, Anne.” She waited until Anne drank down the liquid. “We must depart now, child. Do you wish to dishonour your father’s wishes? He wanted to see you married and have children and to be a good mistress to this grand house. You do not wish to make a spectacle of yourself and make me carry you now, do you?”
“But what of Mrs. Jenkinson? I need my companion and my maid with me.” Anne continued to question after she placed the cup on the table, “Where are we to go?”
“Mrs. Jenkinson is to follow us later. She must see to several items here first and I have left detailed instructions for her. Everything is already prepared and we will have Dawson with us. We will be comfortable where we go and you need not worry.” Lady Catherine grabbed her daughter’s arm. “Come now. It is time.”
Anne, who had been afraid of her mother all of her life, relented and stood up as her mother pulled her. She was rushed down the stairs without a pelisse or a shawl and her mother roughly pushed her into the awaiting carriage in the back of the mansion and tapped on the roof.
“All will be well, Anne. I will receive what I deserve and so will you.” Lady Catherine softly commented as she closed the curtains within the carriage.
~*~
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN, ‘GONE’?!” Lord Matlock shouted. “WHERE?!”
“I do not know, milord. Lady Catherine sent me on several errands and when I returned, I could not find Miss Anne anywhere. Some of her clothes are missing and Lady Catherine and her maid are also nowhere to be found.”
“How could you allow this to happen?!” The earl raised his voice again.
“It was not Mrs. Jenkinson’s fault, Henry. She has been nothing but kind to little Anne and has been an exemplary companion. She has been more mother to Anne than her own.” Mr. Darcy soothed his brother. William had told him of Richard’s great love for the young woman and he sympathised with her situation. “Can you tell us what Lady Catherine told you to do?” He spoke kindly.
Mrs. Jenkinson nodded, still a little afraid of the earl’s wrath. “She told me to fetch the parson and when I got to Hunsford, I found out that he had already been summoned to Rosings Park. I then went into the village to look for the housekeeper in order to instruct her to purchase black ribbons, but could not find her there and I was surprised when she greeted me at the door after I returned, only to advise me that the master had passed and preparations were already underway. I headed straight for Miss Anne’s rooms and that was when I made the discovery.”
“She is up to something, Henry.” Mr. Darcy responded. “Catherine abducted Anne without her companion because she either wishes to hold her own daughter ransom from us, or she might be thinking to marry off Anne to the first man she passes in order for Anne to inherit. They are likely headed to London and will be hiding and I know not how we would be able to find them.” He gripped his fists in anger, “The foolish woman! Even if Anne marries, she will never inherit. Lewis was correct to set up contingencies and he guessed his wife might do something terrible and changed his will. She should have been made aware earlier so that she would not attempt something foolish like this. Catherine will get nothing now, even if she finds a husband for Anne. How do we find them? We must protect Anne, even if it is from her own mother.”
Lord Matlock rubbed his face. “George, go and return to London. See if you can get your investigator to locate my witch of a sister and if there is any way to bring back our niece with her virtue intact, the price does not matter. I do not know how I can contain this shame from the public but the priority is to retrieve Anne from my insane sister.”
Mr. Darcy nodded. “I will do so. I will also send word to Margaret to join you here. Since Catherine is no longer mistress and will never enter these doors again, it would be of great help for your wife to be by your side. Rosings will need a mistress for the next several days and we will close it down until we decide what to do next. I honestly thought we had more time. Also, I would like to take Mrs. Jenkinson with me. Once we recover Anne, my wife and Anne’s companion will need to look after our niece.”
“Thank you. That is a good idea.” The earl answered calmly and looked at Mrs. Jenkinson. “I apologise, madam. You have been very kind to Anne and the closest thing she has to family here. I will stay and ensure Lewis’ last will and testament are fulfilled, George. If you are able to return for the funeral in three days, I will see you here then.”
Mr. Darcy quickly had his carriage prepared and departed Rosings Park with a heavy heart. Not only had his dear friend and brother-in-law passed today, but Lady Catherine was causing all kinds of strife to bring shame and controversy into the public light. He hoped his niece Anne would be found quickly but he had absolutely no idea where to begin the
