Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
Upon leaving the drawing room, Elizabeth immediately regretted her rash impertinence.
“Miss Darcy, please accept my apology for placing you in the hateful predicament of feeling obliged to humour me. I urgently need to speak with Miss Wright about a matter that cannot wait, and I was desperately hoping you might agree to accompany me. I could not request either your brother’s or Mr Baker’s presence because Miss Wright must be in her bedchamber by now.
And instead of asking Miss Hughes or her aunt to come with me, I thought you, as tonight’s hostess, might be considered an impartial witness by the Wright family.
One would assume that at least one of Miss Wright’s sisters must, at present, be attending her. ”
“Of course, Miss Bennet. Come.” Miss Darcy walked towards the passage leading to the guest rooms. “I am appalled by the events of this evening and cannot believe Miss Wright uttered such odd ramblings in a voice so lacking in discretion. I was, and am, truly confounded. However, I believe there is more to her condition than meets the eye or the ear. Completely clear-headed when we sat down to dinner, she seems more intoxicated than even three glasses of wine could cause, at least in my inexpert estimation.”
“True. But Miss Wright mentioned the sedative properties of saffron. If that is the case, then wine may have augmented its effects.”
“That you were accused of having substituted your dessert for Miss Wright’s is perplexing. When she first mentioned Molly, I summoned and spoke with Mrs Carter. Please be assured that she, my brother, and I shall not allow the matter to go unaddressed.”
“I do have a theory about the substitution of ices, Miss Darcy, and that is why I wanted you with me. That is, if we are even permitted a moment with the lady.”
“She is a guest. As her hostess, I should be allowed admittance. Simply remain beside me.”
“I pray,” said Elizabeth, “that tonight’s outcome, whatever it might be, will not hinder your friendship with Miss Althea. She seems quite different from the rest of her family.”
Stopping at the bottom of the staircase, Miss Darcy whispered, “The only reason that the Wright family is here at Strandsmere at all is due to my friendship with the youngest sister. You must know that my brother has no secret understanding with Miss Wright. You may doubt that a much younger sister might be privy to the particulars of her brother’s romantic entanglements or, in this instance, his lack thereof.
But amidst all the fuss that Miss Wright caused tonight, you must have heard him yourself when he denied the woman’s claim. ”
“I did, indeed.” Even though, by then, she had ample proof that her suspicions were not unfounded and that Miss Wright had outright lied to her, the girl’s words were like music to Elizabeth’s ears, and she wanted to dance a jig to a happy tune.
Miss Darcy gestured to a matching pair of hall chairs.
“Shall we sit for a moment?” Fidgeting with her pendant watch, she spoke in an undertone.
“It is no secret amongst the beau monde that Hannah Wright has been in pursuit of my brother since the beginning of December. I have no business telling you this, but I fear she has become desperate of late. You do understand why the woman is fraught with jealousy, do you not?”
Yes. She believes I have set my cap at your brother.
But perhaps my designs on Mr Darcy are not the sole cause for her resentment.
Might she suspect the converse and think that the gentleman has designs on me?
At that notion, Elizabeth’s middle gave such a flutter that she forgot to answer aloud Miss Darcy’s question.
“Miss Bennet?”
“Yes? Oh. I suppose, if Miss Wright has been attempting to lure Mr Darcy for eight months, she now may be in despair of achieving success.”
“Perhaps. Or she has finally noticed that my brother’s attachment is not to her but to another lady.”
Elizabeth’s flutters returned anew and with a vengeance.
Her smile could not be contained. Still, she warned herself to be prudent, not hasty.
I dare not indulge in fancy. Mr Darcy might have affection for someone other than Miss Wright, but it does not mean that person is me.
He was her superior in so many particulars—higher station, wealthier, more worldly, handsomer, and more educated.
Granted, Elizabeth was a gentleman’s daughter and he was a gentleman, but there was a profound difference, a gaping chasm, between her father’s position and that of Mr Darcy.
However, husband and wife being equals in station was no certainty of marital felicity.
Standing, Miss Darcy shook out her skirts. “So, shall we go now and beard the lioness in her lair?”
Either a lioness or a green-eyed monster, mocking the meat it feeds upon. The woman had professed she did not like cats, but Miss Wright herself was like a cat playing with a mouse. Elizabeth, however, was no mouse. And you soon will hear this lioness roar.
At their approach, a footman stationed at the entry to Miss Wright’s bedchamber tugged at his cravat.
Then, as Miss Darcy stood before him, the young man’s Adam’s apple visibly bobbed behind the neckcloth.
Elizabeth recognised him as the one who had served the saffron ices, and she wondered why he seemed so nervous.
“You may announce us, John.”
From his considerable height, the red-faced footman glanced down at his employer’s younger sister, then looked away. “Begging your pardon, Miss Darcy, but Mr Wright requested that the family not be disturbed.”
Miss Darcy drew herself up, and in that moment, in that posture, she resembled her brother. “Then you may announce only me.” She latched onto Elizabeth’s arm. “Mr Wright dare not turn away his hostess.” The footman, reluctantly it seemed, knocked at the door.
It was Mrs Carter, the elderly housekeeper, who opened it.
Upon seeing Miss Darcy there beside John, she dropped a curtsey that was shallow but also dignified and respectful.
“Ma’am. Miss Bennet.” As she stepped aside to allow entry to Miss Wright’s bedchamber, the grim set of her mouth gave Elizabeth a sense of foreboding.
Miss Darcy took a quick look about the room. “Is all well here, Mrs Carter?”
“Your brother has been summoned, for there is much of which the master should be made aware.” The housekeeper’s eyes strayed to Elizabeth before being cast downwards.
“Miss Bennet will remain with me.”
“Very well, ma’am.”
Waiting until they were out of the woman’s earshot, Miss Darcy whispered to Elizabeth, “Like many of Strandsmere’s domestics, Mrs Carter is a long-serving, faithful family retainer. Uncle Darcy allowed her considerable latitude, as does my kind-hearted brother.”
A kind-hearted master, a loving brother. Fond of animals. So many people’s and creatures’ health and happiness are in his guardianship! Intelligent. A surprising sense of humour. Handsome and wealthy. My friend, my hero. Sorry, Miss Wright, but Mr Darcy is most decidedly mine.
A far cry from Elizabeth’s room at Cliff House, Miss Wright’s high-ceilinged bedchamber had tall windows, a large fireplace with a bell-pull next to it, a dressing room, mahogany furniture, damask paper upon the walls, and heavy brocade curtains.
That night the room was occupied by Mr Wright, his three daughters, and an unknown maid who looked ready to swoon.
Abed, with a cloth placed across her forehead, Miss Wright opened her eyes. “Whatever are you doing here, Elizzy Bennet? Go away.”
“My apologies for intruding upon your recovery, Miss Wright, but there are certain matters that should be dealt with while still fresh in our memories.”
Miss Margaret moved to block her way. “Not now, Miss Bennet. Hannah is ill.”
“And whose fault is that?” Elizabeth would not be cowed, although the woman had the advantage of a couple of inches in height. “I regret that your sister has been afflicted. However, I believe she inadvertently foisted upon herself that which was intended for me.”
“How dare you!” Mr Wright joined his middle daughter in her intimidating blockade.
Elizabeth stood her ground. Disregarding the opening and closing of the door behind her, she addressed Miss Wright’s father.
“At dinner, as we finished dessert, your eldest daughter asked me whether I had enjoyed my almond-garnished ice. She specifically said ‘almond’. And there was only one ice-cream topped with that particular slivered nut. So I informed Miss Wright that mine had shaved pistachios. She then stared in what seemed to be dismay, first at her empty cup, then, behind me, at the footman who had placed the confection in front of her.”
The housekeeper cleared her throat.
Then a deep, familiar voice came from behind Elizabeth. “Do you have something to add, Mrs Carter?”
“Yes, sir. Molly here wishes to confess her involvement.” The maid was given a nudge forwards.
When Elizabeth turned to steal a glance at Mr Darcy, he looked none too pleased; his chin was high, and there was a tightness about his eyes that was not unlike the way he had appeared at the Meryton assembly.
“No,” moaned Miss Wright. “Molly is lying.”
“How terribly perceptive of you, since the maid has yet to utter a word.” Mr Darcy caught Elizabeth’s eye and winked. Then, turning his attention to Molly, he spoke kindly but firmly. “The truth, please. Speaking falsely will only find you in deeper trouble.”
Wringing her hands, the tearful maid sniffled. “It’s that sorry that I am, sir! It were only a prank, see. It were supposed to make the young lady sleepy, but I must’ve added too much saffron. Or laudanum. Or both.”
“Stupid girl,” mumbled Miss Wright.
“I were only told that extra saffron could raise spirits, give rise to laughter, and maybe cause giddiness.” Looking at Elizabeth, Molly spoke beseechingly. “That don’t sound too bad, do it?”