Chapter 15
Lord Matlock arrived early in the morning the next day as he had been, luckily, still attending parliament in Town before removing himself and his family to the Matlock estate in Derbyshire.
Most occupants of the house where still asleep when he arrived.
He met with his nephew and son in the library, “How is Anne coping with all this?”
“Anne is actually doing much better than we all expected” Darcy replied “I believe she will be fine.”
“Very well then, has the magistrate seen to the body?”
“Yes and he is also bringing the coroner and an undertaker with him this morning.
Once they see the body and examine it together, Mr Collins' remains will be removed to the parsonage, where he will be prepared for burial. Do you wish to see the body now or would you rather wait for the other officials later on this morning, Father?”
“Yes, no... I do want to see it, but not in the presence of the others. In fact I really need to see it but I would appreciate your support.”
Richard looked at his father confused, “Why do you need to see it and why do you need us, Father?”
Lord Matlock scratched his chin and sighed deeply, “Because of an old secret Richard, one that I am happy to share with you and Darcy. For this has been my sole burden these past twenty five years and by God, I no longer wish to carry it alone.”
Richard and Darcy looked at each other, concerned.
“Father you do look tired, would you wish to rest first?” Richard said reaching out to touch his father on the shoulder who suddenly looked weary and old.
“Yes, I do feel drained. Catherine is as a rule already tiresome; when she is let loose she is utterly exhausting and I feel too old to deal with mad women.”
“Go and rest Uncle, we can talk later. Neither Mr Collins nor Lady Catherine are going anywhere.” Darcy reassured his uncle.
“No, thanks Nephew, I will do it now and rest later. However before anything else I need to unburden myself.”
“We are here for you Father.” And both Darcy and Richard nodded in one accord.
“That is good, Son because I... well, thanks for being here. In fact the whole family will need to band together, for we are all about to be thrown into the worst kind of scandal that can befall a family.”
“What is it Father? You are scaring us. Yet we are not normally men who scare easily, are we Darcy?” Richard attempted to lighten the mood a little but failed since they all felt a lot more nervous than they showed.
“Very well, thanks Richard, Darcy...” He looked at the two young men and took a deep breath, “Well, I do myself feel very nervous in this situation, because I have experienced it before.”
The two gentlemen frowned, confused,
“This is not the first time your aunt has killed somebody.”
“What?” Both Darcy and Richard said in unison.
“How is that possible?” Richard asked.
“Yes, I can see you are surprised, as you should be, but it is true. She killed her husband Sir Lewis... with white arsenic powder.”
“How... How on earth? How did she get away with it the first time Uncle?” Darcy asked stupefied.
Lord Matlock looked defeated and burdened by guilt, “I protected her and hid the evidence. I was young and my political career was just starting. It would have been political suicide if the truth had come out at that time. It would also have destroyed my young family if it had become known that my sister was not only a murderer but a psychopath.”
“Is that why she fears you so much? I always thought that you simply knew how to deal with her unreasonable requests better than anybody else.” Darcy said attempting some levity.
“No,” Lord Matlock replied, “She fears me because I always used that knowledge as a weapon against her. She would be a lot more unhinged if she knew I did not have an ace card up my sleeve at all times.”
“What about now? Are you going to protect her again?” Richard asked, worried.
“No Son, I can no longer in good conscience allow her to get away with it. Catherine must not be under the misapprehension that she can kill at will and have her brother to patch things up for her.”
“You are right, Aunt Catherine cannot be allowed to decide who lives and dies. She is dangerous. But you Father, have always been in grave danger yourself. I cannot believe you have agreed to eat anything in this house all these years.”
Lord Matlock chuckled, “She is dangerous but not completely stupid. If she had killed me, she would have forfeited her life a long time ago. I left a letter signed and stamped by a magistrate with my lawyers in Town stating if anything happened to me and if Catherine was suspected or connected with my death in any way, they were to bring the evidence of Sir Lewis’ death out an deal with her appropriately. .. she has a copy of it .”
“My goodness, I never knew... But if anything ever happens to you and Aunt Catherine is a suspect, fear not for I will personally tighten the noose on her neck myself.” Richard said fearsomely.
His father touched his shoulder, moved, “Thanks Son.” He turned away to compose himself and then he scratched his chin deep in thought, “But why would she want to kill her parson? What did he know that she saw no other alternative?”
Both young men looked at each other and Richard raised his brow at his cousin in question. “Are you going to tell him?” He asked
“Yes, I trust Uncle.”
“Tell me what?” Lord Matlock asked looking from one to the other.
Darcy cleared his throat, “We believe that Mr Collins’ was an accidental death, a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Aunt Catherine had another victim in mind.”
“Really? Who?” He asked curiously.
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet.” Darcy said.
“Who?” Lord Matlock looked completely lost.
“Miss Elizabeth is Mr Collins’ young cousin. She is staying under this roof to look after the parson’s wife, who has been really ill with her pregnancy.”
Lord Matlock shook his head in utter confusion, “You had better start from the beginning Darcy. Why would Catherine want to kill a young lady wholly unconnected with her?”
“It is not that confusing Uncle, for Miss Elizabeth is not wholly unconnected with us...” Darcy grimaced and then continued, “Lady Catherine believes that the young lady was an impediment to my marrying Anne. So she decided to eliminate the competition.”
Lord Matlock gaped at Darcy in utter amazement, “What the... And is she an impediment? Is she competition?”
“Well first of all there is no impediment, for I will never marry Anne regardless. And second, well, if Miss Elizabeth is competition, she is not aware of it.”
Lord Matlock looked at Darcy, then finally understanding dawned on him, “I see, she is not competition. Or at least she is not aware of it... but in your eyes does she represent competition for any other debutant who has set her cap at you?”
Darcy rubbed his forehead as if struggling with a decision, but finally he looked at his uncle and nodded, “No Uncle, Miss Elizabeth Bennet is the front runner and she has no competition.”
***
The entire day was taken with officials coming and going. The servants' investigation done by Colonel Fitzwilliam and the magistrate was shared with the newcomers, then they started with the guests and members of the household.
Mr Bingley's interview did not take long and Miss Jane Bennet's took even less, for they had been in the house less than 48 hours when the death occurred.
Dr Denville had nothing to add, as the only time he saw the lady was during dinner time.
He never talked to the lady more than a couple of words a day because it was obvious that her ladyship despised having a physician living under her roof.
He had even less contact with Mr Collins once the parson’s wife was removed to Rosing's.
Mrs Jenkinson's interview lasted quite a while, for it became very clear that Miss de Bourgh’s companion resented the old lady due to the dismissive way her ladyship treated her own daughter.
But about the deceased she knew absolutely nothing, apart from the fact that he was enamoured with his noble patroness.
Mrs Collins did not have much to say about her ladyship but had plenty to share about her husband.
If she had not had a good alibi she would have certainly been the perfect candidate to poison her husband, for she seemed quite bitter about him.
But at the time of Mr Collin’s death, 3 o’clock of that fateful day, she was sharing a very pleasant tea with Colonel Fitzwilliam and Dr Denville.
The two gentlemen were quick to concur with her alibi.
Miss de Bourgh, Darcy and Richard quickly cleared their names from any suspicion and finally the last person to be interviewed was Elizabeth.
She entered the room and spied the coroner, the bishop of Kent, who had arrived that morning from his London residence and Lord Matlock, who looked at Elizabeth with curiosity.
Also present were the local magistrate and her ladyship's two nephews.
Elizabeth curtsied and looked at the noble occupants of the room defiantly, for she perceived the gentlemen's curiosity about her. Immediately she sensed her own courage rising, for she refused to feel intimidated in the presence of so many illustrious men.
“Miss Bennet,” The coroner started, once the introductions were out of the way “how long have you known Lady Catherine?”
“For precisely 7 weeks, sir.”
“I understand you have shared several meals with the lady, here in this house and that lately were invited to move in.”
“Yes.” She said firmly. “My friend, Mrs Collins had to be removed to the manor house in order to get better assistance with her health, while I was asked to accompany her to help.”
“I also understand that her ladyship invited you to have tea with her on the day of the tragedy, is that correct?”
“Yes she did.”
“Is that something she did frequently?”
“Invite me personally to have tea with her in her private sitting room? No.”
“Do you know why she singled you out then?”
“No sir; however it is something I would also love to know, if you ever discover it.”
The coroner looked at his notes, “there was some gossip among the staff that Lady Catherine may have been afraid, errr... concerned that you might pose some danger to her daughter Miss Anne de Bourgh.”
“I beg your pardon?” Elizabeth stared at the coroner without blinking. “Danger? What kind of danger?”
Darcy cleared his throat and looked extremely uncomfortable standing in his corner of the room.
The Earl also cleared his throat and the Colonel coughed.
Elizabeth looked from one man to another, “What is going on here? What am I being accused of?”
“Oh no Miss Bennet, you misunderstand me,” the coroner replied hurriedly, “you have not been accused of anything. I am just covering all the perspectives of the case. You should be cleared from all suspicions very soon, madam.”
“Suspicions? I did not realise I was a suspect, especially since I was not even in the house when Mr Collins died.”
“Miss Bennet,” the bishop interjected, “do you have anything to gain from the death of your cousin? We understand that he is, I mean was your father’s heir?”
“Yes he was my father’s heir but no My Lord; we have nothing to gain from Mr Collins’ death, for his wife is expecting a baby.
If it is a male child he will be the new heir, because the estate is entailed away from the female line.
If it is a girl, another male heir will have to be found.
So, you see his death does not help us in anything at all. ”
“Mrs Collins informed us that her husband made you an offer of marriage. An offer which you refused? That is, before he married her of course,” the coroner continued, “is this correct?”
Elizabeth blushed crimson. For the first time in the interview she seemed uneasy. “Yes sir he did.”
Darcy looked at the lady, in shock at the new information. The stunning news that the pompous clergyman thought that a jewel like Elizabeth would ever accept him... that toad... a most ridiculous man!
The Earl looked surprised, “Why would you refuse an offer of marriage from the heir to your home Miss Bennet? I would have thought that such an arrangement would be a most advantageous agreement, not only for you but for the rest of the family also.”
Elizabeth smiled discreetly and turned to the Earl.
“Yes My Lord, indeed it would be most advantageous. But I want more than just brick, mortar, lands and cattle to constitute my happiness. I would like a husband who possesses superior and strong conviction, judgement, information, knowledge. A man who values me and sees our union as an advantage to both of us, not just me; in short I want a marriage of equal minds, a model union based on mutual respect and affection, rather than just social standing.”
The Earl smiled and nodded, “I am impressed Miss Bennet. I really wish from the bottom of my heart that you find such a husband, for I believe he will be a most fortunate man. I am almost jealous of him already.” He laughed and looked at Darcy quite pointedly.
Darcy puffed his chest up with pride. What a treasure this woman is. Come what may, I will win her, for her worth is indeed far above rubies.
There were a few more questions about her relationship with Lady Catherine, points which were answered quickly and efficiently, so eventually the coroner dismissed her, satisfied with her answers.
She left feeling she had done all she could, which was not much, to aid the investigation. But she felt that she had eliminated any suspicion that they might have had about her being a suspect in a murder case.