The Gypsy Blessing (40 page)

“Has a position ever remained vacant?”

Mr. Bennet responded, “Throughout the history of the Tribes, only once has a Priestess position remained unfilled until another had been born and was old enough to take on the ritual. The resulting years devoid of the rite having been performed proved to be disastrous, but nothing could have been done to prevent it. Accidents do happen, even to Priestesses.” His countenance became grave. “We will
not
permit that to happen now with the
Sanun
, Darcy.”

“We certainly will not, sir.” William extended his hand, and Mr. Bennet shook it. William vowed, “Please know that I will not allow Miss Elizabeth to be harmed—I would sacrifice my life if necessary, sir.”

“As would I, my boy, as would I.”

~%~

After receiving a report that Elizabeth was sleeping soundly, William bid the ladies goodbye. Even though he was exhausted, he declined the offer of the use of a horse for his return trip to Netherfield. He required some time alone to think about all he had learned since beginning his walk the night before.

Noticing the position of the sun, William realized that his life had changed immeasurably in fewer than eighteen hours. When he had left his room last night, his most pressing concern had been rooted in the anticipation of British society’s reaction towards Elizabeth if he should make her an offer since her position was so far beneath his own. Yet, this morning, he found himself a member of a secret society and Soul Mate to the same woman, who in
this
society actually held the highest status possible, but hid her true position. He had been pulled into a completely different world, one that he unknowingly had been born into, and one that coexisted with that which he had been brought up to understand.

Which “world” was more important? How did the others balance their dual lives? Did they pay more attention to one or the other? He wished he had thought to ask his parents for advice when he could have. He would have to depend on Elizabeth or Mr. Bennet for answers.

For now, until he determined how to manage, he would have to attend whichever one had the more urgent matters—and there was nothing more urgent to him in either “world” than Elizabeth’s safety.

Of one thing he was certain: no matter which society he was in, he would always be required to shoulder the burden of secrecy—a difficult task indeed for one who abhorred disguise of any sort!

Mr. Bennet’s comments concerning adhering to the rules of modern propriety when in public made him think there were different rules of propriety when amongst only Tribe members. How far did these rules deviate from the ones he had known all his life? Would he be able to adapt?

When William finally arrived at Netherfield, he found Bingley waiting for him. “Where on earth have you been, Darcy? Did you not remember we were to go shooting this morning? You must have left very early for me to have missed you.”

“I apologize, Bingley. You are correct; I did not remember. I had some business to attend to.”

“Business! What kind of business could you possibly have had while rambling about the countryside without your horse so early in the morning?”

William eyed his friend closely. Was Bingley contacted the previous night, as his parents had alluded to? Would he have believed it was just a dream, as he had himself for all these years? What would it take to help him to understand that last night’s visitors had been real? After witnessing the
Sanun
, it was simple for him to understand, but how could he explain to Bingley what was expected of him? William realized he should have been anticipating the answers to
these
questions on his return walk to Netherfield instead of those on which he had ruminated.

“You and I must have a long discussion about this, Bingley, for my business includes you as well, but it will have to wait a little while. I am in desperate need of a short rest and a bath! Before I retire, I should inform you that this sudden business also involves my cousins, Lord Reginald and Colonel Fitzwilliam. I have sent an express requesting them to join us here, but if it is an imposition, we can stay at the inn.”

“Do not give it a second thought; of course they are welcome to stay at Netherfield, Darcy! There is plenty of room, and besides, Caroline will be thrilled to have a viscount as a guest. I should tell her immediately so that she can direct the staff to make appropriate arrangements for their comfort. When shall we expect them?”

“Thank you, Bingley. I hope that they will arrive very soon, but I cannot imagine that it would be before late today, though more likely not until tomorrow. I am unsure of how long they will stay, but it might be of some duration—more than two weeks for certain.”

“Shall I plan some sport during their stay or anything in particular for their entertainment? Caroline has even mentioned hosting a ball.”

William shook his head. “Please tell your sister that they will be here on business and definite plans should
not
be made—including meals, except a brief, very early morning meal and dinner. She should expect us to be out all day, every day. There will be plenty to keep us well occupied, but do not trouble yourself with trying to puzzle out the business in which we shall be involved. Your imagination could not come close to reality.” He rubbed his hand over his eyes. “Please, Bingley, may we discuss the remainder later? At this moment, I am far too exhausted to concentrate.”

“Certainly. After speaking to Caroline, you may find me in the study for the remainder of the afternoon.”

William nodded and made his way to his chambers. After instructing Hughes, his valet, to begin drawing his bath in two hours and wake him when it was ready, he collapsed into bed.

~%~

A little more than three hours later, William entered Bingley’s study.

“You look much better, Darcy.”

“Thank you,” William replied as he sat across the desk from his friend. While he had readied himself for the day, William had concluded that he should get right down to business. “Bingley, I am not certain how to begin. Did anything out of the ordinary happen to you last night?”

Bingley startled and then stared at William for several moments, his forehead furrowed. He seemed to be struggling to find an acceptable answer. “What if I said that there had been something unusual?”

William examined his friend’s concerned countenance before saying, “It was not a dream, Bingley.” The two gentlemen were quiet for a minute or two before William asked, “Was it your parents who came to see you? Did they tell you what we must do?”

Bingley let go a long breath as if a weight had been taken from him. “Yes! How – how did you know?” His eyes opened wider. “You, too?”

“I have been having dreams of my parents since they died, but only on All Hallow’s Eve did they seem real. Last night, I was awake when they came to me.” William nodded in response when the young man sitting across from him seemed even more shocked. “What did they tell you, Bingley?”

“They said that generations ago, my family was a part of an ancient civilization, but their ways had long since been rejected by my ancestors in favour of a more modern lifestyle. My mother insisted that it was imperative that I now rejoin the Tribes and that we,” his hand moved back and forth between them, “must protect Miss Elizabeth Bennet, for she is in terrible danger. We must train to become her guard. All of this is a great secret only to be discussed among ourselves.”

“It is all true, my friend. I have seen a great deal of evidence with my own eyes, and I do not doubt the remainder of what I have heard. My cousins will train with us and…” William was interrupted by a knock on the door.

Bingley called out, “Enter!”

In walked Lord Reginald Fitzwilliam and Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam.

“Were your ears ringing, gentlemen?” Bingley asked as he stood and bowed. “Welcome to Netherfield, Lord Reginald, Colonel. We were just speaking of you both!”

William walked towards the newcomers, shaking their hands heartily. “How did you manage to get here so quickly? The express could not have arrived in London more than an hour ago.”

“We received no express, cousin,” Lord Reginald began, “not of the conventional sort, anyway. You probably would not believe what
has
happened to us. Neither did we, until we realized the same thing had happened to us both.”

“Let me guess—last night, you were both contacted by someone who has passed on and they told you to come here?” William asked.

Richard replied, “Yes, cousin, your parents, in fact! Did the same happen to you?”

William nodded. “In a way. It seems that my parents were very busy last night. What else did they tell you?”

Between the two newly arrived gentlemen, they described something similar to what Bingley had spoken of. William knew he had to be careful about what he revealed since the Otherworlders did not tell them the entire story that he now knew.

“Who is this lady—Miss Elizabeth Bennet? Do either of you know her?” Richard asked.

“Yes, we have met the entire Bennet family. Miss Elizabeth is the second of five daughters. A very pleasant and pretty girl,” Bingley offered.

“I apologize, Bingley, but sharing that she is pleasant and pretty does not clear up why she requires four men to guard her!”

“We will work in a group of five, actually. I admit to knowing more than any of you, but I am not certain how much I am able to share. I will add that the guard
is
necessary.”

“Who is the fifth?” Bingley moved to pour four glasses of brandy.

“Mr. Bennet,” William announced.

“Mr. Bennet!” Bingley almost dropped the bottle from his hands. “But, he is an old man! How can he—”

“Bingley,” William interrupted, “Mr. Bennet is not as old as you would make him out to be! He is also an expert in a special kind of sword fighting that my father had once begun to teach to the three of us.” Gesturing toward his cousins, William continued, “From what I heard from my father’s lips, Mr. Bennet is a much better swordsman than Father ever was—and that is saying quite a lot! It is actually a great honour to be trained by him and be
accepted
to fight alongside him. Our training will begin tomorrow at dawn. Mr. Bennet will work with us all day, every day. If we are lucky, we shall learn all that he can possibly teach us.”

“Why on earth do we need to train so hard, Will? What is the rush?” Lord Reginald inquired.

“In two weeks, George Wickham will come into town with the militia.”

“Wickham!” Richard growled. “Leave me alone with that slime for
one minute,
and he will cease being a threat to Miss Bennet—or anyone else for that matter!”

“No, Richard, we shall leave Wickham to himself but watch him closely. From what I was told, he is working for someone, and we
must
find out who it is. Even those who have passed on do not know his identity. He has hidden himself from them somehow.”

“Why is Miss Elizabeth not being taken far away from here and hidden until we can find the leader?” Lord Reginald queried.

“There is too much at stake. It is necessary that she be here for them to make their move, or else they will try again at a later date, when we are not prepared.”

“I see, so we must make them think that Miss Elizabeth is being left unprotected to lure them in?” Bingley was obviously incensed by the idea.

“As long as I live and breathe, Elizabeth will
never
truly be left unprotected, gentlemen, not for one moment! They will not touch her!” William boomed angrily.

Richard chuckled at his cousin’s violent reaction. “And just who is Miss Bennet to you, William?”

“This blasted secrecy—I do not know how much I can tell you!” The knuckles on William’s closed fists began to turn white. “I will reveal that no matter what the situation seems like at present, Miss Elizabeth Bennet will someday be my wife.”

Bingley began to choke on his brandy. “Miss Elizabeth—
your
wife
?” Catching the look of despair upon his friend’s face, he put some effort into restraining his reaction and continued more gently, “Darcy, I wish that I did not have to be the one to inform you of this, but you should know that Miss Elizabeth does not think very highly of you.”

William closed his eyes and uttered softly—almost desperately, “Was
everyone
aware of this but me?” He sighed deeply and went on with great feeling, “Never the less, at some time in the future, Elizabeth
will
become my wife, and I will protect her as if she already were.”

After a few moments of silence, Lord Reginald vowed, “Well, then, so shall we all.”

The sound of the others’ concurrence followed.

“Thank you for your support, gentlemen. I am sorry, Bingley, but no matter how difficult it may prove to be, we must keep all of this from Hurst and your sisters.”

Bingley nodded.

Noticing the time, the new arrivals decided they had best freshen up before it was time for dinner. Bingley showed them to their rooms.