All Hallow's Eve by Wendi Sotis Read Free Book Online Page B

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 exhaust ed 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 draw ing 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 . D id anything out of the ordinary happen to you last night? ”
    Bingley start l ed and then stared at William for several moments, his forehead furrowed. H e 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 T ribes 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 . A ll 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 r emainder 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! ”
    I n 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