Lady Matlock had not expected Lady Hull, but her news was astonishing. “You know for certain there is truly a quarantine at Darcy House? Did you speak with Dr. Brixton?”
“I did not, but why else would the man remain there rather than return to his own home? A lad brought his things while I waited on the steps outside and the footman at the door would not admit me for any reason.” Lady Hull took a seat beside the fireplace as she had caught quite a chill standing on the steps of Darcy House.
Lady Matlock paced about the room. “Darcy is a young man, certainly capable of fighting a cold. Something worse has happened and I must have Richard brought from there immediately.”
“I imagine you will have to persuade the most discreet servant in your employ to accomplish such a feat. I do not think Mrs. Darcy will let the boy out of her sight with Mr. Darcy so ill and them all shut up in that townhome.”
Lady Hull spoke the truth and Lady Matlock tapped a finger against her chin. “It will have to be a servant of Darcy House, my dear, as they will let no one inside now. Luckily for us, one of my footmen is the brother of one of their maids. I shall threaten his place here to encourage his sister to do my bidding.”
Lady Hull bade her friend sit beside her. She lowered her voice and glanced toward the parlor door. “You are uncommonly devious, Margaret. I cannot imagine how you will not be found out. Reginald will be furious, do you not think?”
“Reginald has not the good sense to see that our grandson should be under our care. Whatever he thinks, I will not make the boy return to Darcy House because of the quarantine. By the time Darcy has recovered perhaps Reginald will have grown too fond of the boy and will come to see young Richard must remain with us.”
Lady Hull listened intently as Lady Matlock called the footman she spoke of earlier into the parlor.
She impressed upon him the reward he would receive if he and his sister were successful and the punishment if they failed to carry out her plan. It was a lesson Lady Hull was pleased to learn from her friend. There was none in all of London or Derbyshire who plotted as well as Lady Matlock.
Elizabeth awoke from a terrible dream, her hands shaking. She lifted her palm and placed it against her forehead. It was cool to the touch. She sent up a silent prayer of thanksgiving.
She eased herself from bed and walked over to the window to look out upon the street. It was early still and she wondered how her husband had fared through the night.
She found herself a bit lightheaded from the draught the doctor had concocted for her the night before.
Her maid entered and set to work making her presentable since Elizabeth demanded she would not lounge about in bed all day no matter what Dr. Brixton recommended.
When the maid had finished, she answered a knock at the door. It was a breakfast tray for her mistress. Elizabeth was happy for the warm tea and bread Cook had judiciously sent. There was a pot of blackberry jam and Elizabeth smiled as she spooned the heavenly stuff onto her bread.
Once her hunger was sated, she stood and made her way to the bedroom door. The maid tried to persuade her to stay but she would not. “I must see to my husband. I presume since I was not awakened in the night, he is still drawing breath.”
“The doctor is with him now. I would be pleased if you would tell him I did try my best to dissuade you from leaving your bed.”
Elizabeth smiled at the servant. “Of course. Do not worry. You have done all that is asked without fail. I shall manage Dr. Brixton.”
She quit the room as her maid went to work making her bed. Elizabeth’s rooms were close to Mr. Darcy’s sickroom and she could see two footmen in the hallway with Dr. Brixton. As she approached, the doctor met her with his hands up before him.
“Mrs. Darcy, I would not keep you from your husband as his fever is gone this morning. However, we must not have him exert himself again, am I clear?”
Elizabeth’s face flamed a bright pink, but she nodded her understanding.
The doctor peered at her over his glasses. “I say, you appear well this morning. You did not awaken in the night, I take it?”
“I slept like a baby, doctor,” she said and cradled her growing middle, “thank you for the draught. I never should have closed my eyes without it. Now, may I see Mr. Darcy? And does the quarantine stand?”
Dr. Brixton grew serious. “Yes, you may see your husband and yes, the quarantine stands. While I do not think Mr. Darcy shall perish, he is weak and another fever may be the end of him. We must be diligent these two weeks. It may be a struggle, but his life may depend upon our good work.”
Elizabeth wondered if a reply had come from the Gardiners. She would ask a footman later, but for now she wished to see for herself that Mr. Darcy was indeed without fever.
Lady Matlock’s footman knocked at the back door of Darcy House and asked for his sister. Cook eyed him suspiciously and asked him to wait outside.
After several minutes, his sister appeared at the door. “Michael, what have you come for in the middle of the day? Lady Matlock will be furious if she finds you have left your post. Mother will be furious if you are sacked.”
“Hush, Abby, and listen. Lady Matlock has heard of the quarantine and wishes to have me bring Master Richard away to Matlock House until Mr. Darcy is well. You must not tell Mrs. Darcy, only bring him here and I shall be off with him.”
Abby shook her head. “You cannot do such a thing Michael! The boy was kidnapped over the summer in Hertfordshire. He is watched most carefully by Mr. Harley.”
Michael took his sister by the arm and pulled her outside. “If I return to Matlock House without him, I will be sacked. If you bring him to me, we both shall have a handsome reward. Now go and get the boy!”
Abby pulled her arm free from her brother. “He is not here, Michael. Mrs. Darcy sent him to her family in Cheapside before the doctor placed a quarantine on the house. He will not come home until it is lifted. Lady Matlock may go there and see if they will give Master Richard over to her.”
The footman grunted in anger. “I will tell her where he is and miss out on the reward. Hopefully, she will not sack me today.”