One Thread Pulled: The Dance With Mr. Darcy (59 page)

“Many people are not, my dear Mrs. Bennet; there is nothing you can do about that,” Mr. Bennet remarked dryly. “Pray continue.”

“Well, when she learned that Elizabeth was indisposed and could not see her, Lady Catherine was incensed and turned her anger on the rest of our daughters, insulting each one in turn, declaring them unsuitable for consideration by Mr. Collins—even your precious Lizzy was not spared.”

“She insulted our daughters, did she?” Mr. Bennet took a sip of his port. “Well, I am not happy to hear of her disapproval, but it is over and done now, and since she has done us a great favor, I am disposed to think kindly of her.”

“Favor?” Mrs. Bennet cried out indignantly. “How can you say such a thing?”

“Now that Lady Catherine de Bourgh has rejected our daughters, not one of them must face the prospect of marriage to my ridiculous cousin. It is hard enough to call Mr. Collins a kinsman, but, after all, one's relations are wholly a matter of chance. One's spouse is another matter entirely, and I believe I could not endure calling Mr. Collins my son by choice.”

“You will not think so kindly of her when I tell you this—Lady Catherine was very rude to me.” Mrs. Bennet sniffed. “She is an abominable woman! It is no wonder Mr. Darcy is so very high and mighty coming from a family such as that. No doubt, they think they are better than we are—even that colonel fellow—he was horribly officious with Mr. Collins. Such ungentlemanly behavior I have never seen!”

“Then we have escaped a dreadful fate, Mrs. Bennet, for the future Mrs. Collins, whoever she may be, will most certainly enjoy the close supervision and patronage of Lady Catherine. Let it be someone else's daughter.” Mr. Bennet chuckled.

“And someone else's daughter will be the mistress of Longbourn while we starve in the hedgerows!” Mrs. Bennet wailed.

A knock at the door interrupted the conversation, and upon an invitation to enter, Hill opened the door and announced, “Mr. Bingley to see you, Mr. Bennet.”

~*~

Colonel Fitzwilliam received the express from Darcy house a mere quarter of an hour after Bingley and Jane had boarded the carriage to Longbourn. He ordered that a horse be readied immediately and went to his room to pack a few belongings. Darcy's message was short and cryptic, leaving his cousin impatient to depart for London. He re-read the letter.

Richard,

Wickham is dead. There will be uproar, and I require your assistance. Please return to London with all haste.

Fitzwilliam Darcy

The colonel wrote a slightly longer note to Bingley informing him that urgent business had called him away, but that he hoped to return in a few days. He addressed several other items of business, particularly as it related to the watch-care of Elizabeth, and left the note on Bingley's desk in the study. He then went to the drawing room, where Caroline and the Hursts were much occupied with being idle.

“Ah, Colonel!” Caroline called out to him as soon as he entered. “Please do come join us, for we need a fourth, and you will do nicely.”

“Miss Bingley,” he replied. “It is my rule never to play cards in company. I always win, and someone invariably accuses me of cheating, when in fact, my military training for strategy is where the credit must go. In either case, you would find yourself poorer if I play.”

He then informed the party that he did not have time to do their game justice anyway, for he was to leave Netherfield and return to London immediately. There was a general air of disappointment among them, for the levity that he had brought to the household had been a welcome change from the boring conversations they had fallen into of late.

It took him another quarter of an hour to extract himself, for nearly as soon as he said he must go, Miss Bingley would attempt to prevent it.
She would make an excellent spy
 
he thought, his mind turning over recent observations and conversations with Miss Bingley that weighed heavily—there was something unsettling about the woman, but try as he might, he could not identify with precision the source of his unease.

When he was finally able to quit the drawing room, he went upstairs to where Sarah was watching over Elizabeth, who was once again fast asleep.

“Sarah,” he instructed, “you are to allow no-one admittance until Miss Elizabeth's sister has returned to nurse her. Lock the door behind me, and do not open it for anyone but her sister or Mr. Bingley. I have retrieved the spare door-key from Mr. Bingley's study.” He held up the key to show her and set it on the table. “No one in the household will be able to gain entry unless you grant it.”

Sarah's eyes were wide as she listened to his instructions. “Yes, sir.” She replied to the colonel, whose orders left no question of disobedience. “Begging your pardon, but what if it is Miss Bingley at the door? She is acting as mistress for her brother, and if I refuse her....”

“You must
 
not
 
open the door for Miss Bingley.” The colonel repeated his directive in full again and added, “You may inform her of my instructions and appeal to her brother if she threatens you in any way.” Colonel Fitzwilliam smiled at the young maid. “It is just a precaution. If you follow my instructions, all will be well.”

~*~

Caroline Bingley watched from the window as Colonel Fitzwilliam rode into the winter twilight. She reviewed the locations of each person in the household. Darcy was gone away, and now the colonel had, as well. Lady Catherine and Anne had also departed, and her brother and Miss Bennet would likely be gone for at least another hour, as he had taken her to Longbourn to see her family, although it was now too late for visitors to call at Netherfield. She turned and saw Mr. Hurst dozing on the sofa, and her sister, Louisa, was practicing a new piece of music on the pianoforte. Dinner would not be for another hour.

“The time has come.” Caroline muttered to herself with a self-satisfied smile. “I am to be the mistress of Pemberley someday and cannot leave matters to chance.”

She returned to her chamber with purpose, pleased with her own foresight to prepare for just such an opportunity as that which now presented itself.

Chapter Forty-Six

Schemes Put Into Play

C
aroline was astonished to find the door to Darcy's former quarters locked. Rapping on the door impatiently, she demanded entrance. Putting her ear to the door, she could hear movement behind it, but no voice acknowledged her presence.

“Sarah! I know you are in there with Miss Elizabeth. Open this door at once.” Caroline's annoyance was evident as she rattled the doorknob to emphasize her displeasure.

“I cannot,” the timid reply came from behind the door.

“Has the door malfunctioned?” Caroline challenged her.

“No, ma'am,” Sarah replied quietly.

“Then why can you not open it?”

“Colonel Fitzwilliam ordered me not to, and I dare not disobey.” Sarah's voice quivered as she replied.

“Colonel Fitzwilliam has no authority in this household, Sarah. I am the mistress here. You will obey
 
me, and only me
, do you hear? I
 
insist
 
that you open this door!” Caroline screamed as she kicked the door angrily.

“I cannot,” Sarah replied again.

“This is insupportable! You are dismissed from this moment, you ungrateful, insolent little wretch! You are no longer a servant in this household, and you will receive no recommendation for your service here. Depart at once and never return,” Caroline declared loudly.

No response came from inside the chamber.

“Sarah!” Caroline screamed. She slapped at the door and rattled the handle again, and then stopped suddenly, changing to low, threatening tones. “I know where to find a key to this room, Sarah. You shall surely regret your defiance when you hear this. You have already ruined your own employment; if this door is not unlocked, with you nowhere to be seen, when I return, your mother and brother shall also be dispatched—as a result of
 
your
 
insolence!”

Sarah stood behind the door, her hand resting upon the doorknob. She was trembling—the implications of Caroline's threats filled her with dread, and after she heard Caroline storm away, she gripped the handle tighter, prepared to flee when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to find Elizabeth behind her.

“You are very courageous, Sarah, but I cannot allow you to lose your position for my sake. You must do as she says—Miss Bingley is your mistress.”

Sarah looked at Elizabeth wide-eyed. “Miss Elizabeth, Colonel Fitzwilliam instructed me to open the door only for your sister or Master Bingley. He made me promise!”

“I cannot imagine why,” Elizabeth replied. “I am certain he just meant me to rest, and he would not wish you to be dismissed. He understands as well as anyone that you must have something to live on.”

Sarah frowned and shook her head. “He brought the spare key here, to keep her from opening the door.” She pointed to the key that lay on the table. “I am forbidden to admit her, Miss Elizabeth, even if the mistress threatens. I will not go back on my word.”

“How very curious! The colonel would not so instruct you without cause.” Elizabeth wobbled slightly where she stood. “I fear that I must sit down—my strength is by no means what I wish it.” As Sarah was assisting Elizabeth, the sound of footsteps outside the door heralded Caroline's return.

Muffled voices alerted them that Caroline was not alone, and then the jangle of keys and the rattle of the lock informed them that their security had been breached an instant before the door swung open to a triumphant Caroline, who swept into the room, quite astonished to see Elizabeth sitting in the outer room.

The housekeeper stood behind her with a ring of keys. She was glaring at Sarah, displeased that a member of the household staff had defied the mistress on her watch. She signaled with her head that Sarah should leave, but when Sarah attempted to do so, Caroline caught her by the arm, yanking her around to face her directly.

“What was this about?” Caroline demanded. “What mischief are you up to, and where is the stolen key? What other items have you stolen from this household, you ungrateful little thief? Go with Mrs. Norris now, but you are not to leave until there has been a full accounting of your misdeeds.” Caroline roughly cast her toward the housekeeper, who ushered her from the room.

Caroline turned to face Elizabeth. “My dear Eliza, it appears that you are recovered.”

“I am a little better, thank you.” Elizabeth replied politely. “I am obliged to inform you, Miss Bingley—the key you accused Sarah of stealing is there, on the table. I understand that it was Colonel Fitzwilliam who put it there, not the maid.”

Caroline walked to the table and picked up the key, twirling it in her fingers. “It is of no importance, I assure you. I cannot have a servant disobey me or there would be open revolt. Such disgraceful behavior will not be tolerated in
 
my
 
household.”

“I see.” Elizabeth muttered. “You would prefer that she break a promise to another to accommodate your orders.”

“Yes, I would. If you had ever run a household yourself, you would perfectly understand, but as you have not, you must trust me in this. Colonel Fitzwilliam is a guest and has no right to elicit such oaths from the staff in
 
my
 
employ. He seeks to undermine me and was mistaken in so doing. He has cost that maid her living.”

“Have you no compassion for the girl?” Elizabeth inquired, “She was in an impossible situation.”

“Perhaps, but it is of no concern to
 
me
. It is done now. She would have been discharged anyway, for we are soon to return to London for the winter.” Caroline waved her hand dismissively. “I cannot tolerate another day in the country! There are too many prying eyes and wagging tongues in this county by far.”