A Spy at Pemberley Read Online Free PDF Page A

continue to Brook Manor, the estate which Fitzwilliam had given to his sister as a wedding gift.
    *
    Darcy thundered through the countryside travelling across the fields and jumping hedges and ditches with no thought to his own safety. Bingley, a bruising rider, had no difficulty keeping up the punishing pace.
    Their horses were exhausted after three hours of travelling at breakneck speed. They stopped to change to fresh mounts and grab a quick drink and meat pasty.
    'We should reach our destination in a couple of hours. With luck your sister and her paramour will not have risen at dawn and should still be en route.' Darcy checked the girth of his rented mount and vaulted into the saddle.
    'I'll be dashed glad if we do find them soon. All this galloping about isn't good for a fellow's constitution.'
    There was no opportunity for further conversation as they resumed their chase. Neither Bingley nor himself were in their prime and he agreed with his friend's comment.
    The coaching inn they intended to wait at was famous for its hospitality and excellent stabling. Darcy tossed the reins of his horse to a waiting ostler. 'Take care of these, we shall need fresh mounts in a while. Make sure they are as good as these two.' He tossed the man a silver sixpence. 'Have any carriages pulled in this morning containing a young lady and even younger gentleman?'
    Immediately the man understood why he and Bingley had arrived so precipitously. 'No, sir, nothing so far today. And there ain’t been no one matching that description staying overnight. I reckon you're in good time.'
    'My friend and I will be waiting inside – be so good as to send us word if a post-chaise or carriage arrives containing passengers of that ilk.' Darcy tossed him a further coin and the man touched his cap.
    The interior of the hostelry was dim, but everywhere looked well-cared for. He had no need to ring the bell on the counter as a tall, elderly gentleman hurried forward to greet them.
    'Welcome, sirs, how may I be of assistance?'
    'We require a chamber in which to restore ourselves and then a substantial meal. Serve this in a private parlour, if you can.'
    The landlord snapped his fingers and a serving maid appeared. 'Betty, show these gentlemen to the empty chamber above the snug. Take hot water and towels to them immediately.'
    The girl, little more than a child, curtsied and headed for the staircase in the far corner of the vestibule. Both he and Bingley were obliged to duck their heads as they went in – but apart from that small inconvenience he was well-satisfied with the room he'd been shown to.
    The girl scurried off to fetch the water leaving him alone with his friend. 'I think we probably have an hour or two to wait. That's if we've chosen correctly. Your sister, if she is travelling this way, will stop here – if not to take refreshments, then to change the horses.'
    'To tell you the truth, Darcy, I'm not sure I actually need to find her. Fond as I am of my sisters, I get on better with them in their absence than I do when we're together. I'll have no option but to take her back to Pemberley and she'll be in high dudgeon and make my life a misery for interfering in hers.'
    This was the longest speech Bingley had made in some time and he had yet more to say.
    'Jane and I will be obliged to have her stay until the fuss dies down – God knows what we will do if she's with child. I'll have to fetch the erstwhile bridegroom and insist that he does the right thing.' He sank onto a chair and closed his eyes as if wishing to shut out his problems.
    Darcy thought for a moment, allowing Bingley to recover his composure. 'Your sister is quite capable of making up her own mind. If she's decided this gentleman is for her, then perhaps instead of blocking her, we should support her in her endeavour to get married?'
    Bingley sat up. 'What are you thinking?'
    'If we escort the pair of them back to Pemberley then we can have the banns called and arrange for them to