Chapter 30 #3
“Again, that is not quite accurate,” Mr. Hoskins responded.
“Lord Barrington offered his wife several settlements in which Barrington’s estates were mentioned.
We recently discovered that those properties had been long sold.
Therefore, those settlements could be considered illegal, or purposely deceptive.
She is entitled to claim compensation if she so desires. ”
“Lady Augusta, Mr. St. Claire, Mr. Lambert, this meeting appears to be a charade to me, although I suspect it is not your ladyship’s fault.
I assume you have been poorly advised by people who are seeking their own personal gain.
These supposed debts are just as questionable to me now as they were two months ago and are a waste of our time.
If I remember correctly, I am not allowed to sell any property unless I marry again, when my husband takes ownership of my possessions and may choose to sell them. ”
“Is that so?” Lady Augusta turned to the gentlemen of the law, growing angrier by the minute at her increasing helplessness.
“Yes, your ladyship. Or unless Lady Barrington provides a male heir in the next few months, who will then inherit the entire fortune.”
“There is another question that troubles me now,” Elizabeth continued. “If your request was successful, where did you intend to live in the future?”
“What could you possibly mean?” Lady Augusta enquired. “At my estate, of course!”
“I am afraid that is a misconception. I will certainly not provide an heir for Lord Barrington, therefore his earldom will become extinct soon. I doubt you will be allowed to reside there for much longer.”
Lady Augusta gasped, glared at each of them, then turned to her two companions, in a desperate search for air and help.
“Surely this cannot be true!”
“It is true. As you can see, the circumstances are exceedingly complicated and I have no means and no willingness to interfere.”
“Lady Barrington, you should be more diligent in your duty towards your mother-in-law and the memory of your husband,” Mr. Lambert said, overbearingly.
“After all, their tragedy brought you a fortune! Your first concern should be to assure a comfortable living to your mother-in-law– wherever she chooses. This would be the behaviour of an honourable lady.”
A wave of vexation enveloped Elizabeth again but the effrontery was more ridiculous than offensive and deserved no consideration. She slowly stretched her hand out across the table and noticed the astonished stare of the two men.
“Mr. Lambert, your audacity is extraordinary. You have observed my ring, I assume? You must be surprised that I retrieved it after Lord Barrington stole it and sold it. I see a habit here—selling everything and then wasting the money. And now you have come with a naive attempt at further fraud, like I am a simpleton. You are disrespectful towards me and all these gentlemen here!”
“I have no knowledge about any theft or fraud! I know nothing about any ring! You accuse us, instead of searching your own conscience, to pay the due debts!” Lambert declared.
“I doubt it very much. Mr. Lambert, do not take me for a fool! We both know too well about the deception, the abuse, the terror inflicted upon the servants, about the tortured maids, abandoned when they were with child, about how you threw Cece out of the house, about the scheme that would have left Lord Barrington a widower and the possessor of the entire fortune. I know that you, Mr. St. Claire and several others should share the guilt and the shame if you have any. I am certain you will draw Lady Augusta into your schemes and will abandon her soon, lonely and lost!”
“Lady Barrington, you cannot...!!”
“I can do whatever I wish to! Now please excuse me—I see no reason to continue this meeting,” she declared with perfect calmness.
“Whatever other requirements you may have, please address them to my solicitor. I told you as much two months ago and somehow you have persisted in error. I expect to never be bothered again. You are not welcome in this house any longer, gentlemen.”
She rose to leave, but St. Claire hurried to her and grabbed her arm, trying to stop her. “Lady Barrington, we must find a way…”
In a moment, Darcy was there and wrenched his hand away, throwing him against the wall. “I could kill you this moment, St. Claire! And I might do just that!” he said in a cutting, furious voice, his eyes darkened by anger.
“You see?! I knew there was something suspicious about Darcy! He has an interest in you, can you not see? Your value is nothing without this fortune! You are a country nobody! I am sure he intends to marry you so he can gain control of all your wealth! This is his plan, I am sure!” Lady Augusta shouted.
Elizabeth looked at her, then at Darcy, then at the other two men and said, with an elegant, self-confident posture and in the same mocking tone Mr. Bennet used for Mr. Collins.
“I had not considered marrying Mr. Darcy, but now that you mention it, I might. And if that is the case, you should be more polite to him. You might depend on him one day.”