Two days later, Anne watched through the breakfast room window at the dower house for Richard to return from his ride. Her tea grew cold as it stood untouched on the table. It was not like him to be late for breakfast. A sense of dread settled in her stomach, causing her to feel like expelling the bit of toast she had managed to eat.
“Anne.” Lady Matlock placed an arm around her shoulders. “He is merely late. Come, you must eat.”
Anne sank into her chair and dutifully took up her cup. “I cannot shake the feeling that all is not well.”
“We could go for a drive after we eat,” offered Elizabeth. “I know we cannot access all the trails he might ride, but we could occasionally stop and walk a bit.”
Anne gave her a grateful smile. She was glad to have a friend such as Elizabeth. “I would like that.”
“Then it is settled.” Lady Matlock rose to have the phaeton readied.
“Do you miss Darcy?” Anne asked softly while her aunt was outside the room.
A blush stained Elizabeth’s cheeks, and she laughed nervously. “I do.”
“It is silly, is it not?” Anne broke off a small piece of toast. “I would not have thought to miss Richard so just two days ago.” She placed the bread in her mouth and chewed. “Everything changes when your heart is engaged.” She pushed her plate away. “Here I am unable to eat and missing him when he has been gone a few hours, and you have been without Darcy’s presence for two days and will not see him until the morrow. I should be calmer like you.”
Elizabeth placed her cup on the table and wiped her mouth with her napkin. “If Mr. Darcy were expected and had not returned, I would not be so calm. As it is, I find myself peering out the window and watching the road far more than I should.” She took up a muffin. “However, unlike you, I currently find waiting has increased my appetite. I fear if Mr. Darcy is gone for too long, I may not retain my figure.”
Anne laughed. “I can ask Cook to pack a basket for our excursion if you wish.”
Elizabeth shook her head and smiled. “No. I have eaten enough to sustain both you and me.”
“My lady,” a maid scurried into the room just as Lady Matlock returned. “Stewart says the colonel’s horse has returned without him.”
“Without him?” Lady Matlock halted mid-step.
“Yes, ma’am.” The maid twisted her apron. “The horse appeared at the stables without Colonel Fitzwilliam. Stewart says the grooms have begun a search, but he wished for you to be made aware of the facts, my lady.”
“The phaeton cannot be made ready, my lady.” Randall, the butler, entered the room. He gave the maid a disapproving look.
“I am sorry, Mr. Randall.” The maid ducked her head. “Cook said to make haste, and I could not find you, sir.”
His look softened, but he motioned with his head that she should leave the room. She dropped a curtsey and hurried from the room ahead of him.
“Thank you, Randall.” Anne moved to the window. She could just see the stables if she stood at the correct angle.
“He may have just gotten separated from his horse.” Lady Matlock stood next to her. “We must not imagine the worst until there is no other option.”
~*~*~
Richard lay on the ground looking at the clouds as they floated past. He attempted to pull himself to a seated position, but the world was spinning far too fast for him to stay upright. Pain shot through his leg. He wiggled his toes inside his boot. The motion only increased the pain. Broken. It was quite likely broken. He sighed. How was he to return to the dower house if he could not hold himself upright and had only one good leg?
He turned his head to the side and watched as his horse galloped away. Hopefully, the animal would find its way home, prompting a search. He closed his eyes even as he tried to fight the urge to sleep. He knew he needed to stay alert. As he lay focusing his thoughts on staying awake, he heard a rustling behind him.
“Do you think ‘e be dead?” asked a voice.
“Ain’t never seen a dead man afore,” said a second voice.
“Barrows ain’t gonna be happy if ‘e ain’t dead.”
“Barrows only said ‘e needed ‘im out of the way to woo the girl. Dead or injured, ‘e be out of the way.”
“Do you think we should run ‘im through? Just to make sure ‘e be out of the way?”
“I ain’t killin’ no one. Scaring an ‘orse be one thing. Sticking a man be something else completely.” The second man’s voice grew softer as he moved away from Richard, causing him to strain to hear what the men were saying.
“Ain’t you gonna stay to see what ‘appens to ‘im?” There was a shuffling of feet as the first man followed the second.
“Nah. Wagon’s comin’ tonight. Gotta be ready. More money in crapauds than in scaring ‘orses.”
Crapauds? Frenchmen? Richard’s eyes flew open. He attempted to move his head to see the men who had been talking, but they were gone.
He no longer needed to fight his fatigue. His mind was fully alert now. Were Frenchmen entering the country or was it just goods? He struggled once more into a sitting position. The world tilted and turned a bit before righting itself. He closed his eyes and opened them again. The spinning returned for a moment but quickly passed. He focused on a nearby tree. If he could just get to that tree, perhaps he could find a branch that could be used to help him hobble back to Rosings. He knew standing without assistance was not an option, so carefully, without moving his injured leg too much, he positioned himself to crawl on his hands and one good knee to the tree, dragging his leg behind him.
“I see him!” A shout rang out. “Over here.” Richard looked for the sound of the voice and breathed a sigh of relief as he recognized one of Rosings’ grooms.
“Can I help you, sir?”
“You had best sit for a bit, John,” said Richard, noticing how hard the young man was breathing. “We would do better to wait for at least one other to join us. I am afraid my leg is broken, and I will require a couple of strong bodies upon which to lean.” He nodded his head toward the grass next to him. “You are a fast runner.”
“Thank you, sir. I have four brothers. One learns to be fast if he wishes to claim anything before the others.”
“And which are you? The eldest or the youngest?”
“The middle, sir. Two older and two younger.”
“Ah, so you had to overtake the elders and learn to be pleasing enough to outshine the younger brothers?”
“Indeed.” The young groom laughed. “Although to be found in the middle is a fine place to be if you wish to not be noticed.”
“I see we are about to be joined by reinforcements.” Richard looked up to see two more men hurrying in their direction. “Can you find two sturdy sticks about the length of my leg from knee to foot?”
“I can, sir.” John rose to do as he was asked, but paused to retrieve something from his pocket. “I have a bit of rope, sir. It is not very thick, but it is strong.” He handed it to Richard. “It should be enough to secure your leg between the branches.”
Richard smiled at him. “You are well prepared.”
“Thank you, sir.” The groom bowed. “I shall not be long, sir.”
~*~*~
Anne sat next to his bed when Richard opened his eyes. He moved his leg and winced. “It is nearly worth the pain to see your face upon waking.”
“It was not worth the worry, I can assure you.” Anne wiped his brow with a damp cloth. “Twenty minutes late returning from your ride and two days of lying here insensible and burning with fever.”
“Two days?” He blinked and looked at her in confusion. “I did not just return?”
Darcy laughed. “No, cousin, it is as Anne said. We have been quite worried about you.”
“Darcy? When did you return?”
“Yesterday as planned.”
“So, it really has been two days?”
Anne sighed in exasperation.
Richard caught her hand and held it to his chest. “It is rather difficult to believe you have missed two days without a trace of a memory of them.” He lifted her hand and kissed it while giving her an apologetic look.
“I suppose you are right,” she conceded. “I am glad you have returned.” She glanced at Darcy, who turned away so she could place a kiss on Richard’s lips. “The house party has been less than festive while we waited for you. I shall be happy to have your company for conversation instead of Mr. Barrows’.”
“Barrows is here?” Richard pulled himself up in the bed. “I do not remember his name on the list.”
“He is not residing here or at Rosings. He merely appears to call on me each day and inquire after your health.”
Richard snorted. “He will be disappointed I have survived.”
“What do you mean?” asked Darcy.
“He was the one behind my accident. Hired two men to spook my horse. They thought I was dead. One of them suggested running me through to make sure I was, but neither felt it was worth the bother. Apparently, I needed to be out of the way so Barrows could court Anne.” He groaned as he tried to shift to a more comfortable seated position. It was then he noticed Anne’s pale face and shocked expression.
“He…he tried to…to…kill you?” She stammered. “And he sits in my house playing the part of a concerned neighbour?” She stood and paced the room. “The scoundrel!”
“Anne,” Richard called to her. “He did not succeed.”
“But he could have.”
“While that is in the realm of possibilities, it is not reality.” He patted the chair next to the bed. “Please do not get overwrought by something that did not happen.”
She gave him a slight scowl but returned to take her seat next to him. “I have very good reasons to be overwrought. Do you remember how my father died?” She looked between Darcy and Richard.
“An illness, was it not?” asked Darcy.
She shook her head. “He was thrown from his horse. One day, it returned to the stables without him, just as yours did. When the grooms found him, he was unconscious but breathing. He developed a fever much like you did, Richard, but for him it was too much. His injuries were too severe, and he succumbed to the fever.” She brushed the hair from Richard’s forehead. “He was an excellent horseman. I had seen him keep his seat when a horse was rearing. I have never believed it to be an accident.”
“You think he was murdered?” Darcy sat on the edge of the bed.
“I do, but I have no proof. I do not even know who would want him dead or why.”
Richard scrubbed his face with his hands. “I have truly missed two days?”
“Yes,” said both Darcy and Anne.
“Then it is too late.” He covered his eyes with one of his hands and allowed his head to rest against the headboard. “One of the men mentioned a wagon and money from the French. But the wagon was to come in that night. And I can do nothing while lying here in this bed with a bad leg.”
“I could ask Kellet to come see you,” suggested Darcy. “After your accident, your father insisted he be stationed here. He may know something.”
At that Richard brightened. “Yes, yes, he might know something. And was Alcock able to attend the party?”
“He is here.”
“Good.” Richard clapped his hands and then rubbed them together in eager anticipation. “Then send both him and Kellet up to see me, and perhaps one of them could bring some food.”
“I am afraid you shall have to endure the doctor first,” said Darcy. “He was sent for as soon as you started to rouse, and I do believe that is his voice I hear below.”
Richard groaned.
“I will stay and make sure he does not give you any medicine until after you have had your conference with Kellet and Alcock.” Darcy patted Richard’s good leg. “You have been ill. Even you need some time to recover.”
Richard rolled his eyes.
“He is right,” said Anne as she stood to leave. “You need rest, but after I see to having some food sent to you, I will inform Colonel Alcock and Mr. Kellet of your desire to see them.”
Richard caught her by the hand before she could move away. “Is Barrows here?”
“I believe he is.”
“You will be careful?”
“I will.”
“Good.” He drew her back to sit on the edge of his bed. “Darcy, it might be best if you greet the doctor and inform him of my improvements before he sees me.”
Darcy leaned against the door frame, a playful smile on his face. “I can tell him just as well when he arrives in the room.”
“Darcy,” Richard growled.
“Yes?”
“Go away.”
Darcy laughed. “I shall inform the doctor of your condition.” He turned before closing the door. “It will not take long,” he warned.