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Part 49

Posted on Tuesday, 4 January 2000

Author's Note: in this chapter, everybody in the scenes at the Darcy home will be referred to by their first name, except Darcy, Bingley and Lord Trenton, by the narrator (dialogue, of course, will be different). :) - Gabby

Lord Trenton was just approaching the Darcys' house when he saw Mary and Miss Bennet coming from the other direction. Mary had an arm around Miss Bennet's waist, and they seemed to be supporting each other's weight. He rushed to them.

"Stephen!" said Mary in relief, and at last she allowed herself to cry. Kitty had stopped crying five minutes ago, and merely stared blankly ahead.

"What happened?" asked Trenton. "What is the matter?"

"We went for a walk," said Mary, taking deep breaths to regain her composure. "With Jesse. Oh, Stephen, he's been caught!" She threw herself into his arms, and cried into his shoulder. Kitty swayed slightly at suddenly having to support her own weight.

"Just a moment, Mary," he said quietly, and caught Kitty just as she fainted. Mary followed him as he carried Miss Bennet into the house. "Darcy!" he yelled. "Somebody, come quick! Miss Bennet has fainted!"

Darcy and Elizabeth ran down the stairs. Elizabeth found some smelling salts left over from her mother's visit, and as Kitty revived herself, Mary told them about Jesse's arrest. Trenton was upset for her sake, and immediately promised to do all he could, though it did seem as though there was nothing to be done. Elizabeth tried to comfort her sister, but could find no really comforting words to say. After all, Jesse had known a while ago that this would happen, and had done nothing to prevent it.

"We will contact our Uncle Gardiner," said Elizabeth finally. "Perhaps he can help us."

"I will write to all my cousins," said Darcy. "If we all stick together, we can come up with something." He smiled grimly. "We Darcys are nothing, if not clannish."

"Will David come?" asked Elizabeth.

"I do not know; he has seemed preoccupied of late, whether with his daughter or the new governess, I do not know."

The present situation was of too much gravity to waste time speculating on David's relationship with his daughter's governess so soon after his wife's death. They had their dinner, then Elizabeth and Darcy went to write their letters, and Kitty, Trenton and Mary were forced to keep each other rather dull company.

Trenton decided it would be best if he left, and Kitty and Mary, finding nothing with which they could possibly occupy themselves, went to bed.

Flanked on either side by a guard, his hands bound before him, Jesse was forced into a small, dank cell in the nearest prison. He would have been taken to a prison with better security, had the guards not been afraid he would make an escape on the way there. No handcuffs had been available, and his captors had been forced to use a piece of rope, taking the opportunity to cut off circulation to his hands. One of the guards took him by the elbow and swung him roughly to the ground. As the door closed behind the guards, Jesse moaned slightly and picked himself up, wiping his bleeding lip with his hands as he did so.

"'Ere now," said someone whose presence he had not yet noted. "What's got ye so down? Can't be that bad. Ye got in a fight, an' got yerself arrested for it. Happens ta all of us. Let me see."

The boy - for he was certainly not yet a man - took Jesse's chin in his hand and inspected his injuries.

"Naw," he said. "T'aint serious. So, what's yer trouble?"

"Nothing," Jesse muttered, most certainly not in the mood to pour out his heart to a boy barely old enough to shave. "Devil take it, but why did they have to tie it so tightly! I cannot feel my hands!" It suddenly struck him that in a few days there would be something else entirely, tied too closely for comfort.

"Oh," said the boy, "is that all? 'Ere, I'll 'elp ye."

He had the knots out in ten seconds, and held the rope up triumphantly as Jesse rubbed his wrists vigorously. He felt at his sleeve, then remembered that his knife had been lost in the fight, and he cursed under his breath.

"What's the matter now?" said the boy somewhat impatiently.

"Oh, nothing," he said dismissively. "I only left my best knife in a man's stomach, and now I have no way of defending myself."

"You killed a man?" said the boy, wide-eyed. Jesse shrugged.

"I don't know. He might die, he might not."

"Well, if I were you, I'd 'ope real 'ard 'e don't die. They'll stretch yer neck if 'e do."

"They'll stretch it, anyway," Jesse winced.

"Ye're a right depressin' fellow," the boy commented. "What's yer name? I'm Elgin Moss." He reached out a hand to shake.

"Jesse Matthews." Jesse noted with satisfaction that he could now feel the boy's touch on his palm. Moss grinned.

"Ye mean I'm the last one what'll shake Jesse Matthews' hand?" he said. "Ain't I a lucky one! They'll stretch your neck, certain-sure!"

"Thanks for the reassurance," said Jesse sarcastically.

Meanwhile, several letters went out from Pemberley that day, to all the cousins of Fitzwilliam Darcy, and one to his sister. To those who had not met or heard of Jesse, he left out the details of their first few meetings and told them only that,

As you know, Georgiana and I always longed for another sibling. Well, now it seems, we have one. For nearly twenty-six years he was kept from us, and now that we have been reunited, he has been taken from us. James Darcy was arrested this afternoon in London, and is in danger of being hanged if immediate action is not taken.

It had the desired effect. Almost at once, the Darcy clan and Fitzwilliam branch had met at the Darcy townhouse. Also in attendance was Sir John Preston. He came at the insistence of Anne, who was most outraged that a relative of hers had been treated in such a manner. She should have done something, herself, had she not only recently discovered herself to be once again with child. There was even one person there who was not related to the family either by marriage or blood: Charles Bingley.

The only two conspicuous absentees were Georgiana Blakeney and Lord Cavendar. The latter they all shrugged off, as none of them had expected him to make an appearance, but the former raised some eyebrows. Surely, if Georgiana could not or would not do anything, her foolhardy husband would.

Meanwhile, at Blakeney Hall:

"Christopher, I believe I have five aces," Georgiana remarked candidly.

"What? Impossible! There are only four to a deck."

"But I do, look. Spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs, diamonds. It is most singular, is it not?"

"Hm." Christopher gathered the cards back. "These must be the ones Sam used when he either wanted to win or pick a fight. I will get another deck."

In a conversation earlier that morning, Christopher had let slip that one of his pastimes in London had been that of a card sharp. Georgiana had at first been incensed, then intrigued, and as she now wished to learn, this was her first lesson.

Christopher came back with a new deck of cards and the mail. He stopped behind her as he bent to give her the letter, and whispered something in her ear that caused her to giggle. At the sound of merriment, his parents looked up from their pursuits on the other end of the room, and smiled at each other knowingly. Georgiana looked not-quite-reproachfully at him, and took the letter as he sat down on the floor across from her.

"You really should not say such things," she said, blushing. "At least, not here. What would your parents say if they knew?"

Christopher shrugged.

"I think they do know."

"Oh, dear!" Georgiana looked at Sir Percy and Marguerite in feigned terror, then read her brother's note as Christopher shuffled and dealt. She frowned when she was finished.

"Christopher," she said, stealing a chocolate from a tray on the coffee table. "Jesse has been arrested."

He looked up.

"For public indecency, I hope."

"I'm afraid not. For being Jesse Matthews. What can we do?"

"Nothing," Christopher sighed. "It would be futile. He is as guilty as..."

"I think it would be best if you left that sentence unsaid. All my cousins are meeting at the Small House. Perhaps we could go, too?" She looked pleadingly at him.

"Why are your cousins meeting?" he asked, perplexed. She huffed.

"Well, when family is in trouble, we must do all we can to help them."

"We must?" he asked. "Why?"

"Because they are family! Oh, I forgot. You don't have many cousins, and they are all in France."

"Yes, but I would still help them if they needed me, which they wouldn't, for I have not seen any of them in years, but that is beside the point. Do you really want to go?"

"Yes, I do."

"Even though you know it is hopeless?"

"Nothing is hopeless," she said softly.

"Very well, then. We go." He stood quickly, and helped her up. After they had finished preparing for their journey, they re-entered the parlor and Christopher said,

"Mother, Father, we must be off."

"If you are in such desperate need of more players for your game of poker," Sir Percy drawled, "your mother and I will play."

"No, that is not it," said Georgiana. "My brother is in trouble, and we are needed right away." She embraced her surrogate parents. "I do not think we can take Matthew with us this time. Do look after him while we are gone."

"Yes," said Christopher. "And tell Josee, when she gets back from her walk with Anthony, that she has our permission to practice her romantic speeches on him, if she wants. She does not have to sneak it."

"Oh, she will be horrified that you know about that!" said Marguerite, walking with them to the door.

"But is it not disturbing," said Christopher, "for a boy to have his aunt saying such things to him as, 'Nay, there is no need for you to stoke the fire. You stoke the burning passion in my heart merely by standing there!'?" He mimicked Josee's voice to perfection, just as they opened the door and stepped out. He grinned sheepishly when he saw Josee standing on the front step, looking indignantly at him.

"Well," she huffed, "if you think it is so disturbing, Chris, perhaps you should think twice before talking in your sleep! And it is not as if I have tainted Matty. All he does during my rehearsals is suck on his toes! Such an unaffected lover I have never seen!"

"I would love to stand here and argue with you, Josephine Louise, but as you see, Georgiana will not let me. Au revoir, adieu, good-bye, etc. etc. etc.!" he said as Georgiana pulled him down the steps.

The next day brought the news that Jesse Matthews' trial would commence in four days.

"Only four days to come up with something," Henry Darcy bemoaned. Henry was the younger son of George Darcy's younger brother, Edward. He was a clergyman in Cornwall. His elder brother, Andrew, looked at him, then at Sir Brian Callahan, and said,

"I am sure Brian can come up with something in that time."

"Yes, yes," said Darcy, "I have every confidence in Callahan's abilities as a thinker. However, he does have a habit of taking very long to come up with anything."

"Be quiet," said Sir Brian. "I am thinking!"

"We know you are," said Richard. "Meanwhile, Jesse has been in prison for nearly a whole day, and if he has had any visitors, they have not been the friendly kind."

All the cousins exchanged glances.

"Do you think the people of London will try to exact their own revenge?" asked Darcy cautiously. Sir Brian got a funny look on his face, and sat down with his arms folded and a far-off look in his eye.

"Brian has an idea," said his younger brother, Maximillian Callahan. The others ignored him.

"I don't think the people will take things into their own hands," said Bingley. "Why should they? I should think they would let the law take its course."

"Which would be a bad thing," Andrew reminded him. "Either one of those scenarios would be bad for James."

"What would be bad for him?" asked Kitty, entering the room at that moment with Mary and Lord Trenton.

"Gentlemen," said Darcy, "this is my sister-in-law, Miss Catherine Bennet, Miss Mary Matthews and her fiancé, Lord Trenton. These are my cousins, Sir Brian Callahan, Max Callahan..."

"Maximillian," that young man corrected.

"...Andrew Darcy, Henry Darcy, Richard Fitzwilliam, Lady Preston, and her husband, Sir John," Darcy finished with only a slight glare at Max for his interruption.

"And do not forget your lovely wife, Elizabeth," said that lady, entering the now-crowded room with a pleasant-looking gentleman.

"Will dear," she said, "this is Mr. Browning. He is a friend of my Uncle Gardiner's, and has volunteered to represent James in court."

Darcy shook the barrister's hand firmly and said,

"Is there any chance my brother will go free?"

"I do not know," Mr. Browning replied honestly. "From what Mrs. Darcy has told me, it does not seem likely."

Kitty and Mary exchanged worried glances. Trenton squeezed Mary's hand reassuringly.

"Rest assured," came a voice that vastly surprised everyone in the room, particularly Fitzwilliam Darcy. "I am here. Well, now that the villain's chances have been drastically increased, what say all of you to visiting the chap?" Christopher Blakeney had made his appearance, his hand clasped in Georgiana's.

"Blakeney?" said Darcy, flabbergasted. "I did not expect you to come."

"Would you have me leave him home?" said Georgiana, lifting her head for her brother to kiss her cheek. "He knows more about Jesse than anyone else in this room, I dare say."

"Yes, but..."

"Don't worry," said Christopher. "I mean him no harm. And I mean it this time, Miss Matthews." He chucked a finger under her chin, then looked around the room. "It seems I have a fairly large audience."

Darcy once again made the introductions. Georgiana gasped when she heard Lord Trenton's name and glanced quickly at Christopher, who only smiled as he did with the others, and looked away.

Sir Brian was the only one not paying him any attention.

"First of all," said Richard, "I think it would be best if we all referred to him as James."

"Yes," said Darcy. "Perhaps we can convince the judge and jury that he is not Jesse Matthews, but James Darcy."

"Which is the truth," said Henry, then amended. "In a manner of speaking."

"Yes," said Georgiana. "He was born James, but grew up as Jesse."

"But James and Jesse are the same person," said Mary despondently.

"Yes, but they do not have to know that," said Christopher. "A little honest deceit never hurt anyone."

"Honest deceit?" said Trenton with an odd look at Christopher. "What do you mean?"

"What I mean is, what they don't know can't hurt them."

"He has given up being a highwayman," said Kitty. "He is no longer a threat to public welfare."

"No, but he still has to pay for his crimes, according to the law," said Mr. Browning.

"Gentlemen... and ladies," said Christopher. "I suggest we discuss this later and get ourselves over to the jailhouse. On our way here I spotted an angry group headed in that direction. If I know mobs, and I think I do, they mean to take matters into their own hands. In their eyes, Jesse Matthews should have been hanged directly he was caught."

Sir Brian seemed to wake from his reverie, and he looked at Christopher.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"Who are you?" Christopher rejoined.

"Blakeney," said Darcy, stepping in, "this is my cousin, Sir Brian Callahan. Brian, this is my brother-in-law, Christopher Blakeney."

Sir Brian actually grinned.

"I have heard much about you, boy."

"How odd. I have heard nothing of you. But back to the matters at hand, who is coming, and who is staying?"

Sir Brian blinked as the arrogant boy turned away from him and went back to directing affairs.

"Don't mind him," said Georgiana, lightly touching her cousin's arm. "He enjoys being in charge."

"So does Brian," said Darcy. "Oh, dear, what have I done, introducing them?"

Part 50

Posted on Wednesday, 5 January 2000

Warning: there is a great deal of violence in this chapter. - Gabby

Christopher and Colonel Fitzwilliam had been correct: London was furious that Jesse Matthews had been arrested and nothing had, as yet, followed. Jesse had also guessed as much, and when he saw five men marching towards the jailhouse, he went pale. He hoped his guards had more strength and integrity than that with which he had originally credited them.

Jesse could hear them arguing with the guards from where he sat. Within a few minutes, one of the guards approached Jesse's cell, pushed by a large, aristocratic-looking man. He fumbled with the keys for a few moments, before the man took them from him and opened the door himself. As soon as he found himself in a staring contest with Jesse Matthews, he brought a pistol up with his right hand and motioned for Jesse to turn around.

"Face the wall," he said. Jesse raised his arms slowly, indicating his surrender and cooperation, and did as he was told, hardly knowing what to expect. Several more men entered the cell, and shoving him against the brick wall, fastened his hands tightly behind his back.

"You're not giving me a chance to fight back?" he commented rhetorically. "That is unsporting of you."

"We are not interested in sport," said one of the men. "We know you can fight. We do not think it is right for the criminal to have that chance to defend himself which is bestowed on honest men."

There was a crowd forming outside, and the guard hurried into the cell.

"I'd appreciate it if ye'd take 'im elsewhere, if ye wanna do anythin' to 'im. I don't want them breakin' the doors down."

"We don't need any help," said one of the men. "The five of us should be able to take Matthews, here. Isn't that right?" he smirked up at Jesse, then flung him into the wall. Dazed, Jesse blinked and shook his head, trying to get the images to go away.

"No," the guard objected. "We can't 'ave none o' that in the jail. It don't look good."

"Oh, very well, then," another man said reluctantly. He looked around for Jesse and saw him huddled in the corner where the other man had thrown him. He seemed to try to shrink away as the men approached. The first nudged him roughly with his foot.

"Get up, scoundrel," he said. "Even the jail is not good enough for a criminal such as yourself." Two others pulled him up, laughing. Jesse shook off his terror.

"As of this moment, you are a criminal," he said, raising an eyebrow. "You seem to be helping me escape."

The man rolled his eyes.

"Escape is the last thing we have in mind," he said, shoving Jesse towards the door. "Punishment is more the thing."

"Punishment?" said Jesse. He noticed his hands were trembling, and he clenched them shut.

"When our sister - we are all brothers, you see - but when our sister was expecting her first child, her coach was stopped by Jesse Matthews. The fright sent her into labor, and she lost the child. Now she will never have children, and it is all thanks ... to you." He gave Jesse another rough shove forward. Jesse paled. The man's candor was chilling. This was not a lark among several dandies who thought it would be a grand joke to beat the stuffing out of a hardened criminal. This was personal. Suddenly he wondered if these men were looking to kill him. He also wondered if it would be better if they did not.

The crowd had dispersed, and the five men had Jesse to themselves. They took him to the back of the jailhouse, where there was a water pump next to the wall across the alley, which happened to belong to a tavern, effectively blocking any noise that might be emanating from the alley in the next few minutes.

They chained him to the pump, in order to eliminate the need for someone to hold him still. One of them eyed a wooden board that was propped up against a wall. Jesse followed the man's gaze, and made a mental note not to fall forward. If he did, the men would most assuredly take the opportunity to break his arms. As a tribute to seniority, the eldest was allowed to go first.

For the next few minutes, the guards inside the jailhouse ignored the grunts, groans and the sound of metal on metal that drifted in through the bars. Soon, the groans had changed to whimpers and dull thuds. The fact that his arms were fastened to the structure behind him prevented Jesse from falling completely to the ground, but that was all that prevented it.

"Get him up," said one crossly. "It is too soon for him to be winded. I still haven't had a go at it."

"If we had a rope," said one, "we could stand him up and make sure he does not fall again."

"I believe that is just the idea," said another, and he turned to the youngest. "Go fetch us a rope."

Until now, Jesse had been in a state nearing unconsciousness. He coughed, and pulled himself upright so that his back was touching the pump.

"No," he said. "No more. Please."

"Oh ho, he's still conscious!" said one of the men. "I thought he had fainted long ago. Aw," he clucked his tongue. "Did Jesse hurt himself?" His brothers laughed, so he continued, bringing Jesse's head up by the hair. The force of Jesse's glare gave him pause - he thought the beating had driven everything out of him. But he smiled mockingly and said, "Poor Jesse. You're bleeding. Let me clean it for you."

He reached into his jacket and took out a flask of whiskey, which he opened and poured over Jesse's face. Jesse drew in his breath sharply and gritted his teeth as the alcohol seeped into the cuts on his face. The brothers thought this hysterical, and laughed uproariously.

"My, my, it seems as though I have missed a great joke," said a voice behind them. They turned to see several men - eight or nine of them, in fact - coming towards them.

"Are these the reinforcements?" said the eldest to his brothers. "You're a bit early, boys. We are not finished with him yet."

Christopher looked at Jesse, who was trying to stand and make a good show for his family, merely to collapse again with a painful thud as his legs slid out from under him and he hit his head on the pump. Christopher turned back to the men.

"I think you are," he said lowly. "If you do not leave here this instant, I shall tell all these friends of mine about your run-in with Mr. Spalding several years ago. How is Lady Caroline?"

"Caroline?" said another of the brothers. "That shows how little you know. His wife's name is Amelia!"

Christopher raised his eyebrows at the man and allowed himself a small smile. The man flushed, and instructed his brothers to follow him out of the alley. Jesse's cousins surrounded him.

"Are you all right, James?" asked Darcy. Sir Brian took a look at the manacles and shook his head.

"Those have to come off right away," he said. "Does anybody have a hairpin?"

"I do," said Max. Andrew and Henry looked at him strangely. He flushed. "What? I thought we might need to pick a lock. It is not as if it belongs to me. I took it from Miss Bennet."

"Where is Kitty?" asked Jesse.

"She is at home," said Darcy. "James, these are our cousins, Andrew and Henry Darcy, Sir Brian and Max Callahan, and you know Colonel Fitzwilliam, Sir John Preston, and of course, Christopher Blakeney."

"Of course," said Jesse, looking at Christopher.

"Jesse..." said Christopher. Darcy knocked him upside the head.

"James!" Richard reminded him forcefully. Christopher scowled.

"James, then. James, how did you get out here? Did those men bring you out?"

Jesse nodded miserably.

"The guards had no objections?" said Sir Brian.

Jesse shook his head.

"How long have you been out here?" asked Christopher.

Jesse shrugged.

"Fifteen ... twenty minutes?"

"And nobody has said anything about it?" said Sir Brian.

Jesse shook his head again. Sir Brian finished picking the lock, and Jesse fell forward. Henry caught him before he hit the ground.

"I am suddenly thirsty," said Henry. "Why is that?"

Sir John picked up the empty flask and turned it upside down.

"I'd say there's more of that on Je-James, than there is inside those gentlemen," said Trenton. Jesse looked at him now, just realizing he was there.

"Sit down, James," said Andrew, taking him from Henry and helping him to sit down with as little pain as possible.

"Wh-why are you all here?" Jesse asked quietly.

"Blakeney and Richard thought you might need some help," said Darcy. "I'm sorry, the thought had not crossed my mind. I honestly thought this sort of thing happened only in America."

"Yes, but ... why did you come?" Jesse did not understand why anybody would willingly come to his rescue.

"You are family," said Andrew simply. He grinned. "I am Andrew, by the way. You will learn all our names in time."

"What time?" said Jesse. "Four days?"

"I don't think you will be seeing the inside of a coffin for a while yet, James," said Sir Brian.

"Why not?"

Brian huffed.

"A Darcy has not been hanged yet, and we are not about to start on the practice."

"I wouldn't think you had much choice in the matter," said Jesse.

"Just wait," said Max, looking at his brother proudly. "Brian is the lord of rascals, but he has never been caught. He always finds a way out of it. And he will find a way to get you out of this, too. Just you wait."

Christopher looked at Brian with renewed interest.

"The lord of rascals?" he said. Brian smiled modestly.

"I have been known to cut a few capers in my time."

Christopher looked him up and down assessingly, and smiled.

"You and I shall have to come up with something, then. My father was the Scarlet Pimpernel - there is much I know about getting people out of prison. With your talent and my knowledge, I think we'd make a fine pair. Don't worry about anything ... James. You're in our hands now."

Part 51

Posted on Thursday, 6 January 2000

The men arrived back at the Darcy townhouse in something approaching high spirits. Christopher and Sir Brian were conferring in loud tones and wide gestures. Mary greeted Trenton with a kiss, of which Max immediately demanded a replica, and she complied with a smile. Kitty attacked Darcy the moment they entered the house, asking questions too quickly for him to answer.

"Where is Jesse? Is he all right? Are they treating him well? Does it look hopeful? When will he come home?"

"Not for quite a while, if at all, Miss Bennet," said Sir Brian.

"On the contrary," said Christopher. "We could have him home tonight if you would try my plan."

"What you call a plan is nothing but childish fantasy. There are all sorts of practical problems to a break-out. First of all, would they not search this house first, if he was found missing?"

"I don't see why they should. Nobody knows he was staying here."

"I believe Miss Bennet could tell you differently," said Sir Brian. Christopher turned abruptly to inquire into what he could mean. Kitty flushed.

"When the men came into the tavern, Mary and I thought they would leave him alone if they thought he was not Jesse Matthews, so we told them he was James Darcy."

Christopher threw his hands up and stomped off into the parlor. The others followed. There, they found a surprise awaiting them. David Fitzwilliam was sitting on a sofa, talking with Elizabeth. Jocelyn was sleeping on the shoulder of a pretty young lady, who was sitting in a chair. David looked up when the others entered.

"I would like to know why I was not informed that my cousin was in danger of his life," he said, frowning on them. They all exchanged sheepish glances.

"We did not want to disturb you," said Darcy, not daring to look at him, for he had imagination enough to imagine the furious glare on Lord Cavendar's face. "It has not been a month yet since Julia died."

"I am doing remarkably well," David growled. "If Blakeney could come despite his earlier hatred for your brother, why could I not be informed?"

"My hatred, as you so elegantly put it," said Christopher, "was clearly unfounded. Your mourning is not."

David smiled humorlessly.

"And therefore, any pursuit used to distract me from that mourning would be welcome."

Christopher's eyes lit up, and he turned back to Brian.

"But he would not have to come here, would he?"

Confused, David and the others exchanged glances as Christopher and Brian resumed their argument.

"That is what I have been saying," said Brian. "Except I do not know how to get him out."

Christopher crossed the room to a table and pulled out a piece of paper. Henry decided to speak up.

"We could have had him here already. There he was, outside the jail, unfettered..."

"But then those men would have told the guards who were the last people to see Jesse. It would be better if we are not suspected. Look," said Christopher, drawing a sketch of the prison's layout. "It is really beautifully simple. I've heard enough of my father's stories to know that escapes do not necessarily have to be complex things. You saw how easily those men today got him outside the walls."

"What?" said Kitty.

"All we have to do is convince those guards that we have the same intentions they did. What could be easier?"

"What are you talking about?" Kitty demanded. Brian grinned.

"I see what you mean. Yes, I think I like that idea. You have promise, Blakeney. But is it foolproof?"

"No plan really is. But I think the simpler we keep it, the better chances it has of succeeding. If we don't, though, he will be hanged. It is better to take the chance, I would think."

"So we move tonight?" asked Max eagerly.

"No," said Christopher, after some hesitation. "It will take him a couple days to recover from this afternoon. It might be best to wait until after the trial, even."

"Why?" said Andrew. "I say the sooner the better."

"Recover from what?" said Kitty.

"Because then we can convince the public that we hate Jesse as much as they do. If it is somehow discovered that he is escaping, at least they will not suspect us."

"Tell me what you meant!" Kitty finally screamed. "Why should he have to recover?"

Brian and Christopher paused and looked at each other.

"Kitty," said Darcy, taking her by the arm and leading her to the sofa. "You have to understand that these people are very angry at Jesse for what he has done."

"What happened?" Kitty asked, going pale at the grimness of her brother-in-law's voice.

"Some people tend to take justice into their own hands. Several of these people did just that today. Jesse was hurt badly."

"Don't talk to me as if I was a child!" she snapped. "Tell me exactly what happened."

"They took him out in the alley, tied him to a pump, and had at him," said Henry, knowing she meant to have the truth. "He took it well, but the man could barely stand by the time we arrived."

"They hit him?" said Mary, horrified.

"Continuously for nearly twenty minutes," said Richard.

"Oh, no," she moaned, putting two hands to her head and raking them through her hair. "He has already had enough of that. Why did they have to go and add to it?"

"What are you talking about?" asked Trenton.

"How is he?" asked Mary.

"Well, you try being beaten for twenty minutes," said Christopher. "I think he held up pretty well."

"I have to go to him," she said, hurrying out of the room. Trenton and Kitty followed her.

"Mary, you cannot go alone," said Kitty. "I will go with you."

"Thank you," said Mary absently. "I think that will help, if he sees you."

Of course, Trenton could not allow two young ladies to go that far into Town alone. He accompanied them straight to the jailhouse. When presented with a very generous bribe, the guards let them in to see Jesse. Trenton respected the ladies' privacy, and waited outside. When the guard's back was turned, Mary filched the key to Jesse's cell, and let herself and Kitty in.

Jesse was sleeping on the floor, curled into a ball. Kitty had thought to bring a bottle of water and a handkerchief, and she gently started wiping his face as he slept.

"Jesse," said Mary coaxingly. "Wake up. I have brought Kitty to see you." He did not stir. She looked apologetically at Kitty and said, "He's always been a hard one to wake. Jesse, get up," she said, shaking him slightly. Almost as soon as she had done so, he brought his arms over his head protectively.

"Don't hit me, Mama," he said. Kitty's hand paused as she dipped the handkerchief back into the water, and her eyes widened. She pursed her lips, and peeled his arms away from his face, continuing doggedly on with her task.

"You'd think his cousins would have thought to do this," she muttered. "After all, the pump just happened to be there."

"I don't think he'll wake again tonight," said Mary in despair, and she began to leave. Kitty stared at him for a few moments. Unless a miracle happened, he would be dead in a few days. She refused to accept it. Surely Sir Brian's and Mr. Blakeney's plan made sense to them. She realized that the blood around his jaw had come from his mouth, and she wiped the area gently. Bending slowly, she lowered her face to his. Jesse moaned as she kissed him, one hand finding its way to her shoulder. She sat up to look at his bemused face.

"Kitty," he said, blinking groggily. "What are you doing here?"

"I am tending to your wounds, sir," she said.

"Oh. I must look a sight."

"Yes."

"Thank you. So..." he said, speechless. He looked at her again, and his brow furrowed. "How did you get in here?"

"Key."

"What key?"

"The key. Is there more than one? Mary took it while the guard wasn't looking." She swiped at his face a few times with the handkerchief, trying to finish up. He dodged her attempts, however, and sat up.

"What are the Darcys etc. planning to do?" he asked.

"I have no idea. I cannot understand Mr. Blakeney at all, and Sir Brian is not much better."

"And Fitz is probably thinking of the best way to keep out of it."

"What makes you say that?"

"Can you think of anyone who would want to be related to someone like me?"

"I would."

He was speechless.

"And Mr. Darcy is very concerned about you. They are all determined to get you out of here."

"Certainly. I'll be out of here in a few days, on my way to Tyburn."

"Tyburn!" she scoffed.

"Or Newgate, either one. Although they'll most likely relish the opportunity to put the gibbet to use."

"You don't understand Mr. Darcy the least bit. You are family."

"Yes, but nobody else knows that. I still think he'll look for the first opportunity to either disassociate himself from this mess entirely, or condemn me as a con-man trying to get in on the Darcy wealth."

"Jesse, listen to yourself! Can you really think your brother capable of such things?"

"He left!" Jesse said angrily, rising to his knees. "They had me out of the jail, and they didn't do anything. They didn't even talk about it! They said something about the Scarlet Pimpernel, then they all left. They had the chance. If they mean to rescue me, why didn't they take the opportunity?" His voice wavered with anguish, and he looked down. Kitty was astonished to see him brush a hand quickly over his eyes. He shook his head ruefully, and looked up. "And to think I thought he thought of me as a brother. I should have known better."

"But Jesse, he knows you are his brother. Because of that, he will do everything in his power..."

"I don't blame him," Jesse continued, as though not hearing her. "He has gone to great pains to keep the family honor intact, and this could ruin everything. What am I compared with centuries of respectability?"

"Jesse...."

"Promise me one thing. Promise you won't come to the hanging."

"I promise, because there will not be a hanging."

He smiled sardonically.

"Even Fitz does not hold that much sway with the government. Perhaps if it had happened in Lambton, but in London? No. I'm going to hang."

"Well," she huffed, "if you are determined to have it so, I suppose it must be. Though I wish you'd allow yourself to hope, just a little bit."

"I have gotten my hopes up before. It is not pleasant, having them dashed to pieces."

"I came here to cheer you up, and here you are, making me depressed!" she cried. "Why can you not see that your family is going to do all they possibly can to insure your safety? This is family, Jesse. Do you remember your meeting with Georgiana? She did not seem to care that you were who you are, did she?"

"No, but Georgiana is..."

"A Darcy. As are you. I have met them all in the last few days, and they are all like that. Mr. Darcy told them about your past, and they did not care! Not at all! You are a Darcy, and that is all that matters to them. Give me your hand."

"Why?"

She grabbed his hand and inspected the wrist. Pursing her lips once more, she began to clean the cuts the manacles had made.

"Kitty," he said softly.

"Yes?" she said primly, not looking up from her work.

"I'm sorry. It is only that this afternoon made me angry, and it is easier to feel sorry for myself than it is to say I was wrong."

"Apology accepted."

"Maybe I don't know what it is like to be a part of a real family," he said contemplatively, staring at her face as she tended his hands. "I wish I had married you," he said.

"It is still possible," she said. "You only have to wait a few more days. Mr. Blakeney and Sir Brian have a plan."

"Is that so? What sort of plan?"

"I don't know. I cannot understand a word they say. It is as if they speak a different language, though they understand each other perfectly."

When she was done, she stuffed the bloody handkerchief in the now-empty bottle, and put that in her reticule.

"I must be going," she said.

"Kitty, if those men had never come into the tavern, and you and I were back at the townhouse, would you marry me?"

"Of course," she answered easily. "You could have had me any time after that first night in the hall."

He stared at her for a few more minutes, allowing a half-smile to creep across his face. Then he grew solemn again.

"I know you have a lot of faith in Darcy and all the assorted cousins, but I think you should prepare yourself for the fact that there is no way on earth Prinny will let me go free. I was a dead man the minute those men walked in the tavern. Blast it all, why did I have to go in that tavern?" He dropped his head in his hands despairingly.

"You made the choice to be a thief," she said quietly. He nodded.

"I know."

"You have made your bed....."

"And I will lie in it," he finished. "Stupid idea, being a highwayman. Even Dick Turpin was eventually caught. There is no way of avoiding it. But I'm not even thirty yet! It is too soon...."

"Jesse," she said, taking his face in her hands, "listen to me. If you give up, there is no hope. The entire family is pulling every string possible, in hopes of getting you out. My Uncle Gardiner's friend, Mr. Browning, is a very good barrister. If anybody can get you out legally, he can. And if that is not possible, well..." she smiled "...we will climb that hill when we come to it. Promise me you'll not give up."

"Kitty, I..."

"Don't give up. All things are possible. Say you won't give up."

"I won't give up," he said flatly. She rewarded him with a small kiss on his nose.

A few minutes later, Mary came in to see what was taking her friend so long.

"Kitty," she said, "I knew it would take you awhile to finish, but really, this is taking too long..." She walked in on Jesse and Kitty, kissing as though it were the last time they would be allowed near each other.

Part 52

Posted on Saturday, 8 January 2000

Kitty came home to find the men intently scanning every area of their plan.

"Where is Lizzy?" she asked, emotionally exhausted.

"She is tending to Chris," said Darcy.

"Chris? You call him Chris?" Christopher was momentarily distracted from his plan by the horror of this situation.

"We have to differentiate between the two of you somehow," said Darcy. "Besides, the name Christopher is longer than he is."

"It is a good name," said Christopher defensively.

"So is Henry," said Henry. "But I'd rather be called Alfred."

"I'm sure he'll decide what he wants to be called when he is older, Blakeney," said Darcy, laughing at the soured expression on the younger man's face. "I'm sure your parents did not call you Christopher your whole life."

"I suppose you have a point," Christopher conceded, not wishing to stray from the very important matter at hand. "Wouldn't want to get us confused. So, is everybody clear on what we have to do?"

"Yes, we will all be at the courthouse on time," said Andrew.

"What is the plan?" asked Kitty. The men exchanged glances, and went off in a corner to talk amongst themselves.

"Should we tell her?" asked Max.

"No," said Sir Brian. "It is too obvious she loves him. If she took a part in the plan, it might make it too conspicuous. Also, she would have to dress as a man, and that could take hours to achieve."

"Speaking of which," said Christopher, "I happened to bring along some of my father's old disguises. Works of art, they are. I believe Georgiana is making certain they are all in good shape."

"I most certainly am not," said Georgiana, just entering the room. "And I think you should tell Kitty. She needs to know Jesse will be safe."

"For goodness' sake, Georgie, call him James!" said Christopher.

"What I call him makes no difference," said Georgiana. "Kitty is very worried about him, and she needs some assurance."

"Thank you, Georgiana," said Kitty. "But if they think it would be best for Jes-James that I not know, I'd rather not. Good-night, gentlemen." She went to bed.

"I think I will retire, as well," said Andrew. Most of the cousins agreed, and the room was rapidly decreasing in density until only Christopher and Darcy were left.

"I think you, Sir Brian, Cavendar, Fitzwilliam, Max, and Trenton should be the ones to actually carry the thing through," said Christopher, cleaning up the crumpled-up pieces of paper that were strewn all over the floor.

"I had assumed you would be going, since it was mostly your idea," said Darcy.

"No. Georgiana would not countenance it."

"Have you asked her?"

"No," he said reluctantly. "She would sorrowfully see me to the door and wave a handkerchief as I left. No, I promised I wouldn't leave her anymore, and I intend to keep that promise."

"You can't be together all the time," said Darcy. "It is unrealistic and unhealthy."

Christopher shrugged.

"I promised."

"It was an imprudent promise, then. Why should she demand it?"

"After what happened last October, I don't think I had a choice."

"What happened?" asked Darcy. Christopher flinched.

"You don't know?"

"No. I have no idea of what you are speaking."

"Well," said Christopher, "if you do not know, I will not tell you. I know what you do when you find out something, or somebody, has wronged your sister."

"What did you do?" asked Darcy suspiciously, narrowing his eyes.

"Do you know, Darcy, you are a very imposing figure. Even with a mask, you should be able to intimidate those guards fairly thoroughly."

"I suppose I can ask Georgiana, if you will not tell me," said Darcy, finally. "But I still say you should come with us." When no reply was forthcoming, he said, "I suppose I will talk to Georgiana about that, as well."

"If you wish to do so, I have no objections."

Darcy went to the sofa and, sitting down, picked up the floorplan Christopher had sketched earlier.

"I didn't realize how much detail is here," he commented. "We did not enter the jail. How did you know the layout?"

"Most of the jails in London are built the same way. When you've seen one, you've seen them all."

"But how would you know that?" Darcy perceived he did not wish to talk about it, and changed the subject. "Why did you not tell us earlier that your father was the Scarlet Pimpernel?"

"It did not seem important."

"Then it is true?" This was casting his brother-in-law in an entirely new light.

"Yes, it is."

"That would explain why everything about you is so very French."

"I beg your pardon?" Christopher stood up, ready to be insulted.

"Your mother, your sister's name, even the way you talk has a hint of France in it."

"My sister's name is Josephine," said Christopher, looking oddly at Darcy, who only smiled in return. He returned to picking up the pieces of paper.

"The servants can do that," said Darcy.

"I would hate for merely picking up after myself to be considered too taxing," said Christopher.

"You must have been a popular playmate when you were younger," Darcy commented.

"What makes you say that?" asked Christopher curiously. "Because I clean up after myself?"

"Well, there is that," Darcy chuckled. "But your father is the Scarlet Pimpernel. Every child boasts about something."

"I didn't even know until I was seventeen." He crawled under the pianoforte, where several discarded papers had been scattered.

"Seventeen?" Darcy remembered that was how old he had been when he had left home.

"Yes. On my birthday. My cousin ... my French cousin," he added with a teasing smile, "mentioned that her father and mine had been involved in that..." he cleared his throat "...adventure. I asked my father about it, he said no. The next day, I found some letters confirming it, and confronted my father again. Mistakes were made, mostly on my part, words were said, and my life has not been the same since."

"That is why you came to London?"

"Yes." Christopher came out from under the instrument and straightened his back painfully.

"Did you hurt yourself?"

"Many times."

"I was referring to your back."

"Oh. No, it's nothing. I hurt it years ago, sleeping on the floor, that is all."

"Why were you sleeping on the floor?" asked Darcy, puzzled.

"Where else does one sleep when there is no bed available? Speaking of beds, I think I will find mine now. Good-night."

Part 53

Posted on Sunday, 9 January 2000

Most of my information comes from A Tale of Two Cities :) - Gabby

Several carriages were required in order to bring the entire clan to the courthouse for the trial. As soon as Darcy had helped Elizabeth and Kitty out, a man approached them and said to Darcy,

"Come to see the spectacle, eh, Darcy?"

"I thought it would be entertaining," said the man who had once claimed that disguise of any kind was his abhorrence. Christopher and Georgiana approached then.

"I am glad they caught the monster," said Georgiana, shuddering elegantly. "When I think of what he has done, I feel faint."

"Don't worry, cherie," said Christopher. "I brought the smelling salts."

"But have you heard?" said the man. "He is claiming he is not a Matthews at all, but a Darcy."

Darcy's and Georgiana's eyes bulged. Christopher hid his smile by coughing.

"That .. that scoundrel?!" said Georgiana, who was a much better actor than her brother. "A Darcy?! Oh, if he were not going to be hanged, Christopher would call him out. Wouldn't you, darling?"

"Uh ... yes, I would," said Christopher, nodding.

"It is too bad hanging is all they can do to him," said Sir Brian, coming up behind them.

"What do you mean, sir?" said the man to whom Kitty had not yet been introduced. Before Sir Brian could explain, however, Elizabeth pulled Darcy and Kitty away.

"It is almost time," she whispered.

"Why were you saying those terrible things?" Kitty demanded in a whisper.

"There he is," Elizabeth said as Jesse was brought in. She drew herself up in her seat and managed to look indignant. Kitty looked at her brother and sister in horror. Then she looked at Jesse. He was white as a sheet; his hands clenched the bar before him tightly. The clan had separated themselves admirably around the room, so that they could be found in any section. Colonel Fitzwilliam and Lord Cavendar were seated very close to Jesse, and he could hear every word they were saying. Kitty suspected that was why he was so pale.

Jesse looked around the room for anyone who seemed to support him. Where was Kitty? He located David, sitting next to his brother, and tried to smile. David scowled at him and turned his head. Was this the familial loyalty Kitty had been talking about?

Kitty saw his stricken countenance and felt like crying. Why were they doing this to him? What could it mean? They had all been so set on saving him yesterday. She tried to catch his eye, but he was now intently examining the floor.

"Would it not be best for us to show our support?" Elizabeth whispered to Darcy when Kitty was distracted.

"It would do no good," he replied.

"Elizabeth," said Kitty before that lady could protest, "is it common for the criminal to be bound during the trial?"

"I do not know; I have never been to one before."

"Well, look, they have bound Jesse."

Elizabeth looked and saw that there were, indeed, fetters on Jesse's wrists and ankles. She pursed her lips in displeasure, and Kitty almost hoped that she had one supporter in her sister. But then Lizzy said,

"I wish there was more could be done. I do not feel safe at all when he is in the room."

"Neither do I," said a woman from behind them. Kitty turned and asked rudely,

"Who are you?"

"I am Lady Callahan, Sir Brian's wife," the woman smiled pleasantly, then motioned with her head to Jesse. "Is he not a beast?"

"I am very close to thinking Sir Brian a beast, yes, ma'am," said Kitty coldly. Lady Callahan smiled in satisfaction, and sat back.

The judge and jury came in and the trial began. First, a young lady was brought in to testify against Jesse. The first question put to her was,

"Miss Stanton, have you ever seen the prisoner before?"

"Yes, sir."

"Where?"

"He stopped a carriage that was transporting me to my sister's house in London."

"And you are certain it was him?"

"Yes, sir."

"Thank you, Miss Stanton."

Mr. Browning stood up and said,

"Miss Stanton, when your carriage was stopped, how many men were in the band that stopped it?"

"F-four or five, I believe," she stammered.

"And did they show their faces in plain view?"

"N-no, sir. They wore masks."

"Then how can you be certain that this is the man you saw?"

"B-because his face matches the p-posters, sir."

"I see." Mr. Browning smiled kindly. "Miss Stanton, if you please, would you take a long look at the prisoner?"

She obliged, but her gaze faltered and she dropped her eyes to the ground.

"Thank you. Now, if you please, do you see that man sitting there?" He pointed to David, whose eyes widened in surprise. Miss Stanton's did the same, and she reddened.

"Oh, my."

"And Miss Stanton, if you please, this gentleman, too." He pointed to Darcy, who, to his credit, managed to turn purple.

"Now," Mr. Browning continued when there was a tolerable moment of stunned silence, "you have seen that three men can look amazingly alike. What if there is another man out there, with these features, while this young man is being accused of something he did not do?"

"How terrible!" said Miss Stanton, highly affected. "The poor man!" she began to weep hysterically. Kitty and Jesse rolled their eyes simultaneously as Miss Stanton was helped back to her seat. Kitty was called next.

"Miss Bennet, you were with the prisoner when he was arrested, were you not?"

"Yes, sir."

"How did it happen?"

"Several men came into the tavern and accused him of being Jesse Matthews..."

"And then what happened?" the Attorney-General, Mr. Jarvis, prodded.

"The man grabbed James..."

"Who?"

Kitty looked at him innocently.

"That is his name. James. But the man grabbed James and threatened to kill him."

"Did the prisoner, at any time, have a weapon in his hand?"

"Yes, sir."

"Did he use it?"

"Yes, sir. But it was in self-defense, and the man did not die."

"Where did you first meet the prisoner?"

"At a ball in my brother-in-law's house."

The man looked at her in exasperation. Kitty looked at Jesse, who was laughing quietly. She sat up straighter, and looked squarely at the man she had deemed her enemy.

"What was he doing at this ball?"

"Why should he not be at his brother's ball?" Kitty was the picture of innocence. She was dismissed. Mr. Jarvis waited until she was seated to call the next witness, Mrs. Margaret Matthews.

"Mrs. Matthews, do you know the prisoner?"

"I'd consider m'self a idiot, if I didn't know me own son," she sniffed. Mr. Jarvis feigned surprise.

"This is your son?"

"Yes," she said sorrowfully. "Sad ta say, it is."

"Then his name is not James Darcy?"

"No!" she said, affronted. "It is Jesse Matthews!"

"Thank you, Mrs. Matthews," said Mr. Jarvis, turned to Mr. Browning, bowed slightly, and took his seat. Mr. Browning tried to salvage the situation, but there was really nothing he could do. The jury was out for half an hour. The verdict was guilty. Jesse Matthews was, as expected, sentenced to death by hanging.

"To take place in two days," the judge declared with finality.

"Two days?" said Kitty in horror.

"Yes, it is entirely too long to wait!" one gentleman behind her declared.

"Hang him today!" someone shouted. Jesse looked at the crowd and saw that most of his cousins were joining in the chant.

"It is time to go, Kitty," said Elizabeth softly.

"I need to talk to him," she protested.

"No. We are going home."

"No!" Kitty pulled her arm from Elizabeth's and turned on Darcy.

"How could you say those things about your brother? Whatever happened to family pride and loyalty? Jesse was counting on your support, and you let him down! I am ashamed of both of you!" She turned to go to Jesse, but the guards blocked her path. Jesse saw this and said quietly,

"I would like to speak with Miss Bennet, please."

"I'm sure you would," said one of the guards, laughing. "I would, too, if I were in your shoes."

Jesse repeated his request.

"Not a chance in the world. Her sister would never allow her to speak with someone like you."

"If you do not allow me to speak with Miss Bennet,.." Jesse started, but the guard interrupted him by pulling him roughly down so they were eye to eye.

"Is that a threat?" he asked. Jesse did not answer, so the guard went on. "You have no right to ask for anything. You are a prisoner, not a king."

"James!" Kitty cried as they took him away.

"Kitty, calm down," said Elizabeth, pulling her away. "Everything will be all right," she whispered as they climbed into the carriage. "Everything is going quite according to plan."

"You mean you wanted him to be found guilty?" Kitty sniffled.

"Of course not, but there was no avoiding it."

"I told you you should have told her," said Georgiana as she and Christopher walked past.

"The second half of the plan will be put into effect tonight," said Sir Brian, speaking in a low voice and not making eye contact with Darcy. Kitty wiped her handkerchief across her nose and looked alternately at the two cousins.

"Plan? Then, you are planning to rescue Jesse? You don't really wish they had hanged him today?"

"Of course not," said Elizabeth kindly. "Now, stop crying. Everything will be all right."

"Is there anything I can do to help?" asked Kitty.

Part 54

Posted on Monday, 10 January 2000

Christopher was putting the finishing touches on Max's costume when Georgiana burst through the door.

"Christopher James Blakeney!" she shouted. Christopher cringed. Max grinned.

"She used your full name," he pointed out. "She must be extremely angry."

"Don't think I didn't notice," said Christopher. "What is the matter, cherie?"

"Don't cherie me! Why did you tell Fitzwilliam you are not going with them tonight?"

"Why should I go? I should think Sir Brian, Lord Trenton, your brother, the Colonel, Cavendar and Max here would be enough."

"Maximillian," Max corrected.

"You know Jesse better than any of them. Of course you should go."

"It could be dangerous," he said.

"I know."

"I thought you wanted me to keep myself out of danger from now on."

"So, you are blaming me?"

"No! But...I did promise..."

"That silly oath?!" she exclaimed. "That is the only reason you have stayed with me?"

"No!" he said. Max laughed.

"You've put your foot in it this time, Blakeney."

"I wanted to stay with you," said Christopher. "But ... this will be dangerous."

"Are you afraid?"

"No!"

"Then go."

"Do you mean it?" he asked, grinning like a little boy. She giggled and nodded her head.

"Yes, go. You can protect Fitzwilliam from hurting himself."

He laughed, and kissed her cheek.

"I love you," he said jubilantly before heading upstairs to change. Max watched the exchange and smiled, then looked down at himself and said,

"Oh, no! Now who will tell me if I look roguish enough?"

"Hm," said Georgiana, walking around him and inspecting him critically. "Do not take the watch." She snatched it from his pocket. "Put on some older boots, and do not comb your hair. And you simply must wear this hat." She placed it on his head at a rakish angle and stepped back to admire her handiwork.

"How do I look?" he asked. She giggled again.

"You look like a down-on-his-luck fop!" They both laughed.

"What is so funny?" asked Kitty, entering the room. She looked at Max and burst into laughter. Max pulled himself together and managed a scowl.

"Are you coming with us, Miss Bennet?" he asked.

"No," she said. "Mr. Darcy explained that some of us need to stay here, in case somebody saw through your charade this morning and decides to call."

"I am sure Elizabeth and I can manage," said Georgiana. "And Andrew and Henry will be here, as well."

Kitty blushed.

"There is another reason Elizabeth does not want me to go," she confessed, "and it has to do with being alone with Jesse for several days while we wait out the searches."

"Oh," said Georgiana as she and Max blushed. Mary entered the room, followed by Sir Brian, Lord Trenton, Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam, Lord Cavendar and Christopher - who had changed remarkably quickly and was tying his hair up and trying to straighten his clothes and button his shoes at the same time.

"Are we ready?" asked Sir Brian excitedly, then looked at Max. "Hmmm..." was all he said to that. Max smiled sheepishly.

"I had very little to work with," he said.

"And it doesn't help that you have girlish features." Max looked indignantly at his brother.

"How old are you, Max?" asked Christopher.

"Twenty. And while we are talking about girlish features..."

"Don't even mention it," said Christopher. "You'll start sounding like my mother."

"It's not that long," said Georgiana, holding out two pistols from which he was to choose one. "Miss Bennet's is longer, and it only falls to her shoulders."

"Thank you, Georgiana," said Christopher, taking both pistols and planting another kiss on her cheek.

"Hm," said Darcy, reminded of something from watching them. "Where is Matthew?"

"At home. Josee needed him for rehearsals," said Christopher.

"Don't ask," said Georgiana, and grinned up at Christopher who struck a pose.

"What do you think, m'dear?"

"You look exactly the way you did the night we met," she clapped.

"We are wasting time," said Sir Brian impatiently. "Shall we go?"

"Be careful, Stephen," said Mary. He grinned.

"I will. Did you know, Mary, this is the most fun I've had since I put a frog in John's bed."

Christopher and Sir Brian looked at him oddly.

"Didn't do much in the way of mischief, did you?" they asked together.

"Don't get too carried away with the fun aspect," Mary cautioned. "You are saving a man's life." Trenton sobered and stood up straight.

"I won't forget. Good-night, Mary. We'll be back in a few days with your brother."

Jesse laid on the floor with one arm flung over his eyes, trying to block out the sounds of the guards' conversation.

"I think that Darcy fellow was right," one remarked.

"Which one?"

"I dunno, but 'e said they shoulda 'anged 'im, then 'ad the trial."

Jesse groaned and rolled over to face the wall. The sound of galloping horses brought him to his feet and he looked out the window of his cell. Sure enough, they were headed for the jail.

"Not again," he muttered, and sat down on the floor with his head in his hands. When he heard the commotion in the other room, he stood and began pacing his cell.

Seven men in masks burst in on the two guards. They all raised shotguns when they entered, and one said,

"Gentlemen, I think you will agree with us when we say that this villain should have been hanged speedily. Why wait two whole days? Am I right, boys?"

"Yes!" two shouted militantly together. One of their guns misfired in the excitement, the bullet deflecting off a chair leg and falling to the ground.

"Right-o," said another timidly.

"And so," the first continued, with a glare at the timid one, "we would appreciate it if you would give him to us."

"We couldn't do that," said the guard, gulping. "'T-tis our duty ta perteckt 'im 'til the day...."

"Pointless duty, that," remarked another.

"No, no, I believe you are right," said the first. "Give me the key to the cell, gentlemen, and you will not be implicated. If you like, we could even shoot you..."

"N-no," said the guard. "That will not be necessary. 'Ere. Take the key."

The man did, and also grabbed a set of manacles before he and two others went to fetch Jesse. The others stayed behind to guard the guards.

"Stand back from the bars," said the first man in a low voice.

"Oh," said Jesse mockingly. "You wore a mask this time." He approached the bars as they unlocked the door. Nobody saw him take a knife out of the man's pocket. When the bars opened, Jesse stepped back and held the knife out threateningly.

"What do you think you're doing?" the man asked calmly.

"I intend to protect myself this time," said Jesse, equally calm.

"James, don't you recognize me?" The man pulled his mask down and Jesse was astonished to see Sir Brian Callahan's face.

"What is going on here?" he demanded. "Who are you?" he pointed to the other two.

"They are Lord Cavendar and your brother."

"What are you doing? Are you here to have the honor of killing me?"

Brian laughed.

"Far from it, but don't tell the guards. Turn around."

Still stunned, Jesse obeyed.

"What are you doing?!" he demanded again when they began to fasten his arms behind him.

"Terribly sorry, old boy, but we must make this believable. After all, after tonight, you will be dead to the world."

"What are you talking about?"

Sir Brian bent to pick up the knife Jesse had dropped. Jesse eyed the guns warily.

"Are they loaded?" he asked.

"Of course. In fact," said David, "this might be a good idea." He fired a bullet into the ceiling.

"They're not killin' 'im in there, are they?" asked one of the guards. "That wouldn't look good fer the jail..."

"Don't worry," Christopher drawled. "They will do the dirty work far away from here." He turned to Trenton and asked,

"Did you bring the rope?"

"Yes, I did. I hope it is long enough. But then, the tree itself does not have to be so very tall, does it?"

"No. In my practice, one only has to lift the offender a tiny bit off the ground, and it has the same effect. Although, I would like to break his neck, rather than strangle..."

"What are you talking about?" asked Max. Christopher and Trenton looked at him.

"Don't you know what we are doing?" asked Trenton. Christopher made a gesture across his throat, indicating a noose. Max's eyes widened.

"Oh."

Sir Brian, Darcy, and David came out, pushing Jesse ahead of them.

"Good grief, man," Brian whispered. "At least act as though you are fighting."

"Are we ready?" asked Christopher. They nodded. "Very good. Good day, gentlemen. Say hello to ... whoever for me." They left.

Part 54

Posted on Tuesday, 11 January 2000

Once they were outside, Jesse said,

"Well, can we take these things off now? They're chafing terribly."

"Terribly sorry, but that is not possible at this moment. You see, every citizen on this block is staring at us as we speak. And for heaven's sake, keep your voice down. You're supposed to be the frightened criminal who is finally getting what he deserves." Sir Brian shoved him roughly toward the back of the jail.

"After this is over," Jesse whispered angrily, "just see if I don't get you back for this."

Sir Brian's eyes widened.

"But Jay-Jay, cuz, I'm doing you a favor." Then, more loudly, "Before the night is over, Jesse Matthews, you will regret the day you were ever born."

"Peeping Tom in the window over there," Christopher indicated a house across the lane. Sir Brian looked, and cast a glance at Jesse. Quickly, he grabbed him and pulled him closer.

"Make a good show of it," he whispered. "Fall down."

"What?" Exasperated, Sir Brian made as if to punch him, but stopped abruptly just before making contact. Jesse understood, and went to his knees.

A door opened across the lane.

"What's going on out 'ere?" asked the man of the house.

"This is none of your affair, Mr. Jennings. Go back to bed," said Christopher.

"Is that the villain?" asked Mr. Jennings, pointing to Jesse. "What're ye doin' with 'im?"

"Go back to bed, Mr. Jennings," Christopher repeated.

"We are taking care of unfinished business," said Max.

"You're planning on lynchin' 'im, eh?" said Mr. Jennings. "I never 'eard o' such a thing done 'ere before, but I ain't got no objections. May I go with?"

"No, Mr. Jennings," said Darcy, with a look at Jesse's horror-stricken face, "You had better stay here with your family. We'll take care of this."

"Oh, very well, then," said Mr. Jennings, obviously disappointed. He went back inside his house.

"What would you have done if he had insisted on coming?" Jesse demanded to know after Trenton pulled him up.

"We would have been forced to come up with something. But thankfully, that did not happen," said Darcy.

"I already had a plan forming. Too bad we cannot use it now," Sir Brian shrugged.

"You have an over-active imagination," said Richard. "Our horses are waiting. Let's go."

"Jay-Jay, for heaven's sake, try to act like you're resisting, just a little. You're altogether too nonchalant." Christopher hit him upside the head. Jesse turned around suddenly, and would have hit him, except, of course, he could not. Christopher smiled. "That is better."

"This is most definitely the outside of enough," Jesse declared. The door to yet another house opened, and a little old lady stepped out. Trenton quickly spun Jesse around, and threw him to the ground a few yards away.

"What is going on here?" asked the little old lady.

"Nothing, Mrs. Palmer. Go back to bed," said Trenton somewhat sheepishly. Jesse sat up and glared at him. When the lady left, and Darcy and Max helped him up, he said accusingly,

"You're enjoying this! That was certainly not necessary!"

"Yes, it was," said Christopher. "This had been altogether too friendly for a lynch mob. What do you say, Darcy?"

"I agree completely," said Darcy gravely. "You should consider yourself lucky."

"Well, by all means, why don't you all just make a regular show of it? After all, here I am, practically defenseless. Just have at it," said Jesse angrily.

"Don't be silly," said Richard. "Come along, the faster we get out of Town, the less chance there will be of somebody actually joining us. And we would not be able to stop them from doing something drastic without using one of Brian's wildly-concocted plans."

"I'll have you know," said Sir Brian, "that my plans are always well-developed and very well-thought-out. This whole lynch mob idea was mine..."

"Excuse me?" Christopher huffed.

"Yes," said Jesse. "And now it is clear that I am not the only one in the family capable of such misdeeds."

"That is it!" said Sir Brian. "You are trying my patience, and I do not see why I should not 'just have at it' right here and now!"

They came to their horses, and also the problem of Jesse riding.

"Oh, drat," said Sir Brian. "Something I did not think of. Jesse, can you ride with no hands?"

"That is something I never tried," said Jesse dryly.

"Did you get the keys to the manacles?" asked Richard.

"Ah...." said Brian, searching his jacket. "No, no," he said, laughing at Jesse's face. "Here they are. So?"

"So simply take them off, and put them back on in front of him. That way, he can hold his own reins."

"Richard, you are a genius."

"Yes, a genius," said Jesse as they made the adjustment. "Meanwhile, I still have no hands - my handicap is merely in front of me, instead of behind."

They finally set off, and after starting off in the direction away from Pemberley, finally made it to that estate very early two days later.

Part 55

Kitty paced the room anxiously. She, Elizabeth, Mary, and Georgiana had gone to Pemberley almost the moment the men had left, to both prepare the house for their arrival, and to confuse London as to where the men had gone.

"Why could we not have gone with them?" she asked Elizabeth, who was calmly stitching.

"Because we need to stay here, in case they need an alibi," Elizabeth said, frowning at her work.

"Why could your husband not have simply talked with the judge?"

"Will's cousin seemed to think this was better, especially since they made such a show of hating Jesse in town." Elizabeth looked up and smiled to herself, then went back to stitching.

"Your husband has a lot of cousins," Kitty commented.

"Yes, he does. Quite a large family."

"Perhaps all their influence combined could have persuaded the judge?"

"I doubt it. Jesse was undeniably guilty, and they have to make an example of highwaymen. And besides, I think some of these Darcy men enjoy this method."

Kitty looked out the window.

"They are here!" she cried, and straightening her dress, she began to run down the stairs to the door. Elizabeth went to look out the window.

Darcy looked up to the window where he expected his wife to be waiting.

"I was under the impression, Brian," said Jesse through gritted teeth, "That you would put that key to use once we were a safe distance from London."

"But we are only a short ride from London," said Sir Brian with an infuriating grin. "That is hardly what I call a safe distance."

"Brian," said Richard. "You had better help him off. He is getting agitated."

"I am not!" said Jesse.

"Oh, very well," said Brian. He searched through his pockets for the key. He was still searching when Kitty burst through the door.

"Jesse!" she cried, and went to him. He looked down at her from his horse, silently cursing Brian for being so confounded slow.

"Hello," he said smoothly. "How are you this fine evening?"

"What is going on?" she asked when she saw his wrists were bound.

"A slight mix-up," he said. "Brian is on the case. Aren't you, Brian?"

"Right-o," said Brian. "Ah! I found it!" He produced the key, and hurriedly released Jesse.

"Well, Miss Bennet," said Max with a charming smile, "now you two can get married, as long as you stay away from London."

"Married?" said Kitty, in mock surprise.

"Well, yes," said Max. "Jesse told us you two planned to get married, provided he was not hung. Well, here he is, and here you are..."

"You told them that?" Kitty asked.

"Well, no, not exactly," said Jesse, rubbing his wrists. "But it does seem like a good idea. And remember, I did ask...."

"Yes," said Kitty, turning to go back to the house, "You did ask, and I said I'd like to marry you. But remember, that was in jail. It is not nice to refuse a jailbird his last wish."

"Jailbird?" said Jesse, dumbfounded.

"Well, yes," she said matter-of-factly, turning to look at him. "You were in jail. You were tried and convicted. That makes you a jailbird." She smiled saucily at him. He put his hands on his hips, and stared down at her.

"Well!" was all he could say. The men behind them laughed.

"Go easy on him, Miss Bennet," said Trenton. "He's had a rough night, haven't you, old boy?" He thumped Jesse on the back, and went inside.

"Can't you think of a way to convince her, Darcy?" asked Sir Brian. It took Jesse a moment to realize he was being addressed. He smiled at Kitty. Her eyes widened.

"I believe I can," he said, and took her face firmly in both hands, and kissed her. It lasted far longer than he had originally intended, and knocked both of them out of their senses. Finally, Max coughed and they pulled away.

"Well," he said, "I guess that settles it. Now you two have to get married. But first, someone has to propose."

"Well, it won't be me," said Jesse with a smug smile. "It would be futile, since ladies don't accept jailbirds."

"Well, I cannot. Ladies do not propose."

Max rolled his eyes.

"Oh, for heaven's sake," he said, and pushing Jesse to the side, dropped to one knee in front of Kitty. "Miss Bennet," he said, "Will you have pity on me and take this jailbird for your husband?"

"Pity on you?" said Jesse incredulously, pulling Max away. Kitty was laughing.

"Well, yes," said Max seriously. "Somebody has to marry her, for she has been compromised. If you don't, I'll have to, since I'm the only other unmarried man present. And I'm not in love with her, no offense to Miss Bennet. So please, do me a favor," he said, dropping to his knee again, "And marry my cousin. I will be eternally grateful."

"Max, get up," said Jesse. "I want her to accept me, not you asking for me."

"You do?" asked Kitty.

"That's Maximillian," Max corrected as he stood up, but realized they weren't paying attention to him.

"Of course," said Jesse in response to Kitty's question.

"Well, then, I accept."

Jesse was amazed. That was simple enough.

"Well!"

"Well," Max sighed. "That is taken care of. How about breakfast? I am famished."

While Jesse was content to spend the remainder of the day with Kitty, the rest of the men were exhausted, and did not mind showing it. Darcy went straight to his bedroom, as he had that privilege. Trenton had gone on home, much to Mary's disappointment. Sir Brian went upstairs right away, taking the first room that appealed to him. David and Richard followed his lead. Christopher and Max collapsed in the parlor.

"I have never been so tired in my life," Max said expressively. He put his head down on one arm of the sofa, and brought his ankles up neatly onto the other arm. After seeing the others comfortably situated, Georgiana came and, taking one look at them, burst into laughter. Christopher groaned and turned his head wearily to look at her.

"Please, Georgie. I have spent two days on horseback and I have a headache."

"I'm sorry, but the two of you do look so very pathetic."

"That is nice." He followed Max's lead, and buried his head in the decoration pillows, as well, to block out the light. Georgiana noticed the babies playing in one corner of the room - quietly, for a change - and went over to see them.

"Christopher," she called softly, holding a baby over his body.

"Mmmmffff?" came from the pillows. She giggled, and placed the baby gently between his abdomen and the back of the sofa.

"That wasn't nice, Georgie," he muttered. She laughed.

"Open your eyes."

He obeyed, and gave a start.

"Matthew!" he cried delightedly. "How did you get here?"

"Your father brought him yesterday. Emily is sick, and they did not want Matthew to catch whatever it is she has."

He grinned, and situated the boy at a comfortable angle so they could both sleep.

"Is there room for me, do you think?" asked Georgiana with a raised eyebrow. Matthew chose that moment to surprise his father with two hard kicks. Christopher lost his balance, and fell to the floor with a thud.

"There is now," he answered as he blinked up at the ceiling. Georgiana gasped and rushed around the sofa to him.

"Are you all right?" she said, looking at him upside-down.

"Hm," he grunted, picking himself up. "I don't think there's any danger of that boy being a weakling. Has my father left yet?"

"Yes, he left this morning. But he told me to give this to you." She dropped a ring into his palm. "I told him where you were and what you were doing. He laughed, said something about fathers and sons, and gave me that ring to give you."

"Oh," he replied, almost moaning.

"What is the matter?" she became alarmed.

"It is the Pimpernel," he explained. "Now I've gone and done exactly the same thing. Not only am I rebellious, disrespectful, ungrateful and unreasonable, I am a hypocrite, too. Wonderful."

"Yes, you are wonderful," said Georgiana, reaching up to kiss his nose. "And I do not think your father was trying to make you eat your words. I think it was a gesture of ... reconciliation."

"Do you really think so?" he flicked the ring open to look at the engraving, and smiled. She nodded. She took the ring, and put it on his finger. He took it off again, but smiled reassuringly at her.

"We will save it for Matthew."

Epilogue

Posted on Wednesday, 12 January 2000

The word was soon spread about that several men had broken into the jail the night after the trial, and spirited the villain Jesse Matthews away to some unknown destination. Since nobody had professed a sympathy for the man, it was generally believed that whoever had taken him had strung him up somewhere outside the town. They never found the body, but most of the people decided that if they had lynched somebody, they wouldn't leave any evidence, either.

Jesse went the next week to Longbourn to ask Mr. Bennet's permission to marry Kitty. He had two reasons for waiting so long. The main one was, he did not want to be seen by someone who knew who he was. The second was that he was not sure of approval from Kitty's parents.

Mr. Bennet was deeply disturbed at the prospect of having this man as a son-in-law, and went to Derbyshire the following day, in order to ascertain Kitty's feelings on the match.

Kitty, of course, was very enthusiastic in her praises of Jesse, and in fairly good time, Mr. Bennet was so weary of hearing the man's name mentioned in every other sentence, that he gave his consent, but, he admitted, not without doubts on the wisdom of it. He was heartened when he found that Jesse had been detained in jail for a few days, and hoped this meant he would change his ways, if only to stay out of jail. Jesse laughingly admitted this was the case, and subsequently, Mr. Bennet wished them joy.

Mrs. Bennet went into alt when she heard the last of her daughters was to be married, though she found it difficult to quiet her feelings regarding Kitty's loss of Lord Trenton to Mary Matthews. She would have invited the whole countryside to the wedding, but Kitty put an end to that, for fear a too-public trial would be bad for Jesse's health, so to speak.

As Hertfordshire was the only county the highwayman called Jesse Matthews had not looted, that was where the wedding was held. Darcy made certain that he was provided with the proper identification, making him legally James Darcy.

However, for some the transition of Jesse to James was too difficult, and after stumbling for some time over "Je-James," they merely dropped the tiresome "mes" and called him "Jay Jay."

After the wedding, they lived for a while at Pemberley. However, the need for Jesse to pursue some type of career became more apparent every day. Jesse and Kitty discussed it almost every night before bed, but she could never convince him on any choice. Until one day Darcy went out all day, and returned with a smug smile on his face. That night, he presented Jesse with a commission in His Majesty's Army.

Jesse was, of course, astounded. At first, he would not hear of it. There was no war going on; he would get bored too easily. But when Mrs. Bennet heard of it, she went into such a fuss over Kitty having actually married an officer, that Jesse began to be suspicious about his wife's motives in shackling him to this particular career, even though she did not directly have a part in buying the commission.

When Kitty confessed to him that, in her youth, she had been quite enamoured of the red coat, he grinned and said he should be happy to wear it, then, if it would please her. He only hoped there were no men in his regiment who would recognize him. So Captain and Mrs. Darcy went to Chester. It was here their first child was born.

However, Jesse was proven right. In less than two years, he had grown bored, and finally, he sold his commission. Darcy threw up his hands in the matter, and refused to have Jesse at Pemberley - though Kitty and the child were perfectly welcome. The younger Darcy couple laughed, shrugged it off, and went to Longbourn.

Two weeks with Mrs. Bennet was enough to convince them they wished to travel. This pursuit turned out to be the one thing they could stand to do for more than a year at a time. Whenever they tired of one spot, they merely moved on. Their next child was born in Greece; another in America.

Mary Matthews went home to her mother and brother, to allow Stephen the opportunity to get into her mother's good graces. It did not take too long, and even Daniel at least stayed out of Trenton's way. Mrs. Matthews was somewhat grateful, though grudgingly, to Jesse for introducing Mary to the earl, and allowed Mary to tell him so the next time she saw him. Mary and Trenton were married the day after she turned eighteen. He was twenty-five. He legally adopted Jessie as his own, and though it created quite a scandal at first, owing to the considerable resemblance between them, it soon died off and Lord Trenton, Lady Trenton, and Lady Jessica McGregor lived quite in peace.

The rapidity with which Lord Cavendar recovered from his grief over his wife's and son's deaths astounded his relatives and shocked Society. However, those closest to him soon realized that he was a man who needed to love and be loved, and after they met the woman who had redeemed his broken heart, they were smitten. It was, of course, Margaret Dashwood, who had this healing quality in her, and it was with her help that David returned to the land of the living.

Jocelyn did not realize until she was older that her mother was dead, and also a brother she would only barely remember. When she did, however, her grief was only momentary. She was kept too busy to mourn by her new half-brother and sister, and David and Margaret were grateful that she did not dwell on the fact, as some people were wont to do. Her father was David, and her mother, Margaret. She knew no other family.

The different families consisting of the Bennets, Darcys, Prestons, Fitzwilliams, McGregors and Callahans united several times during the next few years, although not all together at the same time but once in the winter of '31. They maintained their familial ties through letters, and the children grew to be just as "clannish" as their ancestors.