Murdering a Bennet, page 10
“Yes,” both gentlemen replied simultaneously without hesitation.
“Caroline has been striving to marry me off to one of her society friends, the richer and more connected the better, in her opinion.” Bingley frowned as he remembered some of the friends she tried to attach to him.
“She has also been attempting to coax me into asking her to marry me. Something which will never happen,” Darcy added deepening his frown. “Besides, she has no liking for Miss Elizabeth or any of her family. To find Jane Bennet married to her brother and Miss Elizabeth residing here will not please her. I believe she would immediately demand Miss Elizabeth be conveyed home.” Darcy leaned forward again.
“Caroline did seem rather inhospitable to Miss Elizabeth the last time they were both under the same roof. I suspect it pertained to Darcy’s attentions to Miss Elizabeth. Caroline sees all other ladies as rivals even those who do not pay my friend much attention.” Bingley offered pensively; his grimace increasing as he recalled his sister’s obvious jealousy.
“I see,” Mrs. Gunther replied. “So, how do you propose we keep my niece from discovering your whereabouts?” She looked at both men for a reply.
“As I mentioned, I abhor deception, but, in this situation, I will overlook it,” declared Darcy honestly. He, however, knew he would make an exception in this care.
“You have some idea of how we will deceive my sisters?” Charles’ smile grew. He would not regret deceiving his sisters since they both tried to deceive him by declaring Miss Bennet had not loved him.
Darcy sat back in his seat again but feeling only slightly less anxious concerning the tenacity of Miss Bingley in locating her wayward brother.
“Yes, but we will have to act quickly.” Darcy folded his hands together in front of him with his fingers pressed together. “Mrs. Gunther, did you not say Miss Bingley was sending a letter north to relatives?”
“She did.” Nodding her head in ascent.
“Then what we must do is send an express to whichever relative she might have written to with a request to either not respond to her letter or to reply with the information we provide them,” Darcy explained.
“I am already beginning to like your idea,” Bingley smiled in agreement.
“So, who would she contact first?” Mrs. Gunther asked.
“Our cousin David. We keep in close contact. He is now overseeing father’s business interest for me.” Bingley knew David was the first relative Caroline would think of because he and Bingley had been close when they were younger.
“Good, we will send him an express. Now, take a seat and write exactly what I say.” Darcy’s hand lowered, and he mentally began composing the letter.
“Avoid big words. David knows I write simply.” Bingley smirked as he recalled some of the previous letters he had received from his friend, and how he had joked with Miss Elizabeth about Darcy using such big words in his correspondence.
“Just write.” Darcy growled softly.
Bingley had risen to take a seat behind his desk, and then he pulled out paper, pen and ink, and began:
Netherfield
“No, start over,” Darcy ordered. Darcy had followed his friend to his desk and was standing behind Bingley looking over his shoulder as he wrote.
“Why?” Bingley was surprised at the request.
“You do not wish to indicate your location in case someone else sees the letter and informs your sister you are at Netherfield. Best not to say anything,” he paused a moment in thought. Then he said, “Better yet, head it Pemberley, and we can hope your sisters would not consider showing up on my doorstep uninvited.”
“And if they do?” Bingley asked knowing his sisters too well, especially Caroline and her desires to be mistress of the great estate.
“I will send my own express informing my staff if they should show up, to refuse them entry and not mention if I am in residence.”
Bingley smiled broadly as he crumpled the sheet in front of him and began again.
Pemberley
December 19
David
It is my belief you will soon receive a letter from my sister Caroline demanding you tell her where I am. Be advised, I have no wish for her to find me. I am staying away from both of my sisters because of something they have done in an attempt to ruin my future happiness. For now, I wish not to say more incase someone might find and read this letter besides you. Just know, I do not wish my sister to discover my location. Instead, send a reply stating I had to travel to Scotland to deal with an issue concerning one of father’s business holdings. Tell her, the seriousness of the situation, if not handled immediately, will affect all of our finances including her monthly allowance. I believe such a threat to her spending money will stop her from trying to travel to Scotland to find me.
I appreciate your assistance in this matter, and I promise to write more about the situation later on, but first I have a serious issue to which I must attend.
Bingley
“I hope your cousin will be able to read your illegible scratching,” Darcy declared with a deep chuckle.
“Fear not, my cousin has been reading my letters for the past ten years, and he seems to do very well. We have had no misunderstandings over all those years,” Bingley laughed.
“I must admit I am pleased to learn someone encounters no problems reading your letters.” Darcy shook his head in disbelief. “Now, I suggest you write another letter which we will have posted to your sister.”
“But then she will know where I am,” Bingley protested.
“No. We will have Mrs. Gunther send the letter to her housekeeper, and she can then post the letter in London.” Darcy smirked at the discovery of his surprisingly devious streak and how easily he had found it to act in such a manner. If his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam ever learned of it, he would tease Darcy relentlessly about it because Darcy always prided himself on his honesty.
“For someone who abhors deception, you seem extremely adept at it.” Bingley noted approvingly.
“I believe I will also write your sister a letter,” Mrs. Gunther added as she rose from her chair and walked over to the desk. “I will include it with a letter to my housekeeper with directions about posting both of the letters. I think I will tell dear Caroline I have traveled south to spend the holidays with a dear friend of mine. This way she will know not to visit my home because she will not find me there.”
“An excellent idea, Mrs. Gunther,” Darcy said as he pulled out paper for her to use.
The three conspirators finished off their individual letters, and then sent them express.
Darcy declared with a slight smirk, “The sooner they arrive at their destinations, the sooner Miss Bingley will be led astray and not think about traveling to Netherfield.”
The second letter Darcy sent invited his sister to Netherfield for the holidays, but he warned her not to make the trip unless Colonel Fitzwilliam accompanied her and not to share her travel plans with either of the Bingley sisters. This letter he also sent express.
Chapter Eleven
(December 20th)
As soon as Jane discovered she would be hosting Mr. Darcy’s relatives over the holiday season, she began decorating her new home with the help of Mrs. Gunther and her staff.
“Lizzy has always enjoyed the Christmas season,” she informed those attending Elizabeth. “Maybe seeing the decorations will help her remember some of her happier memories.
Jane directed the maids to hang evergreen boughs around Lizzy’s bedchamber allowing Lizzy to enjoy the scent of the outdoors. Because of the extreme cold, Jane could not open the window to allow even a little fresh air into the room, but she often had her husband carry Lizzy to the window so she could look out of it. Unfortunately, Lizzy never focused on anything outside the window, and her face always remained blank. Jane’s pleasure came from watching the sunbeams shining on her sister’s face. She knew Lizzy loved the warmth of the sun permeating her skin.
Jane liked the room assigned to her sister. The colors were pastoral in nature being subtle shades of green, yellow, light browns, and blue, extremely reminiscent of nature. Lizzy, she knew, would have loved the colors in the room. In addition, the seating proved comfortable and sturdy, unlike many of the pieces in the main drawing room which had proven uncomfortable, rather fragile, and upholstered in garish colors and patterns. Jane had promised herself to refurbish two rooms as soon as her sister regained her health. The first was the mistress’s chambers and the second was the main drawing room. Both had been lavishly furnished by Miss Bingley whose taste in color and design left much to be desired. Jane could not understand why Caroline had chosen to refurbish the mistress’s chambers since they were not a room that had been used while she and her sister had been in residence.
***********************
In the matter of caring for Elizabeth, it became a trying situation. Jane spoke about this one evening to her husband. “If I wished to move Lizzy, someone must carry her, for she cannot put any weight on her broken leg. You are the only male relative capable of carrying her from place to place. I realize how hard it must be for you because unless I drape her uninjured arm around your neck, she does nothing to help.”
Unfortunately for Bingley, Elizabeth did not respond by tightening her arm around his shoulder, so he carried dead weight.
“It must be done so, and I do not mind being helpful,” he replied holding her hand and patting it.
“She is not eating well,” Jane worried. “She takes broth, water, tea, and hot chocolate.” She reflected thoughtfully, “Lizzy always enjoyed chocolate.” She then frowned in concern, “But she will not chew solid food. Lizzy is losing weight; I am concerned for her.”
“We must just continue to tempt her with foods she enjoys. Mrs. Harding will be happy to cook whatever you require. Speak to her and Mrs. Nicholls, they will do whatever is necessary.” Bingley had also noticed the weight loss, but other than providing delicacies Miss Elizabeth preferred, he had no other ideas for getting her to eat more.
Although Elizabeth’s daily walks had contributed to her slim figure before her injuries, Jane feared for her sister’s health because of the excessive loss. When she spoke to the doctor about her apprehensions, he suggested, “Try giving her soft foods, for they require little chewing. Eggs, pudding, and such, for a start and prepared in a manner she favors.”
After receiving the doctor’s advice, Jane began arranging daily menus specifically for her sister.
Darcy too worried about Elizabeth’s lack of response and failure to eat. It also bothered him to watch Bingley carry Elizabeth from the bed to a chair, from a chair to the window seat, and at the end of the day, back to her bed. He wanted to perform the duty himself, but he knew with no understanding between the two of them, it would be improper for him to carry her anywhere. It did not, however, lessen his desire to cradle her next to his own body. He had never before realized he could feel such jealousy toward another person.
***********************
Five days before Christmas, Georgiana Darcy left London with Colonel Fitzwilliam. Georgiana had been excited to meet the young lady her brother had written about during his first stay at Netherfield. She even shared some of what she knew about the young lady with her cousin during the trip.
“I could not believe it when William wrote about her fine eyes and how much he enjoyed her playing and singing. He has never mentioned any young lady in such a positive manner before,” she informed her cousin. “I cannot wait to meet her.”
The colonel seemed amused by his young ward’s excitement about meeting someone her brother appeared to hold in high esteem. “I must confess I am surprised your brother wrote about a young lady he had only recently met. I hope she is not someone like Miss Bingley.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam was not blind to that lady’s desires for his cousin’s worth rather than his person.
“I do not believe William would be blind to the same inappropriate behaviors displayed by Miss Bingley in other ladies he meets.” Georgiana felt confident in her observation about her brother.
Upon their arrival at Netherfield, Mr. and Mrs. Bingley along with Mr. Darcy were waiting to welcome them. Jane beamed knowing her Christmas decorating had been completed before the arrival of their guests. She smiled at her and the staff’s achievements.
Since the weather was bitterly cold, the trio had waited in the drawing room for their guests, with Darcy standing at the window until he saw his coach arriving. He then walked into the hall to greet his sister and cousin. Darcy watched as his sister and cousin disembarked and walked up to the door and into the house while the footman held the door open for them.
As soon as Georgiana saw her brother, she rushed forward crying, “William,” throwing herself into her brother’s arms as soon as she crossed the threshold.
Georgiana did not see her companion’s expression, but Darcy saw it over the head of his sister. Mrs. Annesley frowned and shook her head sadly, but Darcy only smiled at her because he did not regret the greeting he received from his sister.
“I cannot tell you how pleased I am to be here. I look forward to meeting Miss Elizabeth Bennet. You wrote so much about her, and I feel I already know her.” Georgiana gushed while still hugging her brother.
Darcy had embraced his sister when she rushed to greet him, but at her words of expectation he put his hands on her shoulders and stepped back from her. “Georgiana, a meeting with Miss Elizabeth might not be advisable for a day or two.”
“We cannot pay her a visit?” Georgiana’s crestfallen expression pained him.
Colonel Fitzwilliam watched from his spot behind Georgiana, and he saw something in Darcy’s eyes indicating a problem.
“No, dear, we cannot. Her family is in mourning for the loss of their second to youngest daughter.” Darcy intentionally withheld, from his letter, the information about the murder.
“I so much wanted to meet the young lady you had written about last month. Maybe I can pay a visit to offer my condolences,” she suggested. She refused to leave before meeting the one lady her brother showed a marked interest in.
“Let me present you to Bingley’s wife.” Darcy released his sister and helped her out of her pelisse, handing it to the footman waiting in the hall.
“Bingley is married?” The colonel remarked as he removed his overcoat, hat, and gloves. “When did this occur?”
“Just recently.” He looked back at his cousin as he spoke. He then placed Georgiana’s hand on his arm and led them into the drawing room.
Bingley and Jane rose as soon as their guests entered the room. “Mrs. Bingley, I would like to introduce you to my sister, Miss Georgiana Darcy, and my cousin, Colonel Thomas Fitzwilliam. Cousin, Georgiana, this is Mrs. Jane Bingley.”
Georgiana and Jane exchanged curtsies while the colonel gave a deep bow.
“The pleasure is all mine,” the colonel said as he moved forward and took Jane’s hand placing a kiss upon it. Jane giggled in response but mostly because of the slight frown she noticed on her husband’s face.
“When were you married?” Georgiana asked shyly.
“About a fortnight ago,” Jane offered. “We married quietly due to my sister’s injuries.”
“How was your sister injured?” Georgiana asked innocently.
“I did not inform my sister of the events surrounding your sister’s injuries or the death of your younger sister,” Darcy informed his hosts.
“Please, have a seat,” Jane indicated to her two guests. “I will have tea sent for immediately.” She saw the footman still standing at the door and indicated for him to close the door and pass on her request for the tea to be delivered.
“I am not surprised Darcy withheld information. We are trying to keep the incident quiet for the time being,” Bingley stated.
From the look he saw pass between his cousin and Bingley, the colonel realized the seriousness of the matter.
Darcy sat down beside his sister, took both her hands in his, and began, “I do not mean to cause you concern, but there has been a murder and an attempted murder involving Mrs. Bingley’s sisters.”
“Who would do something so vicious and cruel?” Georgiana’s throat and chest tightened at the seriousness of the situation. Her eyes locked on Jane. “I am sorry Mrs. Bingley. Our coming was not appropriate. I wished I had known of your distress. I should never have requested to come and impose upon you.”
Jane shook her head. “Miss Darcy, I believe your presence might do some good for my sister. Lizzy needs to see new faces. She needs something to bring her back to us.” The last came out in almost a sob.
The colonel looked from the Bingleys to his cousin. “Maybe you should tell us exactly what happened.”
Bingley gave an abbreviated version of the events remembering the delicacy of Miss Darcy’s age, but he still noticed tears streaming down from the young girl’s eyes.
“No one has any idea of who committed the act?” As a battle experienced soldier, he could not help wondering how much effort had been put into questioning the militia officers.
“We are actively trying to discover more information.” Darcy declared.
“Are you sure all the officers were questioned thoroughly?”
“Fitzwilliam, Colonel Forster and the constable questioned every officer and enlisted man in the regiment. They all had solid alibies. All witnesses agreed one of the officer’s coats was stolen the evening before the attack, but no one, not even the other men present at the inn, remembered seeing anyone walk off with the coat.”
“And Mrs. Bingley’s sister does not remember who attacked her and her sister.” Because of his skepticism of the information provided, he wondered if the lady did not remember or if she refused to speak about the incident out of fear.
“Miss Elizabeth has not said a word since she awoke five days after the attack.” Darcy said rather harshly.
“Miss Elizabeth? Your Miss Elizabeth, from your letters?” The news stunned Georgiana.
