Chapter 21
“Miss Mary Bennet,” the maid announced.
Mary stepped into the parlor of the Meryton parsonage and was pleased when Mrs. Allen, a middle aged woman with dark eyes and brown hair streaked with gray, smiled and gestured to the overstuffed chair next to the fire.
“Miss Mary, do come in and warm up, my dear! I hope you do not mind if I stay seated; I wish to finish this scarf by Christmas and have a long way to go.”
Mary took her seat and held out her hands towards the flames as she looked around with contentment.
The parsonage, while not particularly large, was well built and maintained, and Mr. and Mrs. Allen had raised three sons and two daughters within its walls.
The furnishings were comfortable but not expensive, and the Allens did not dress as finely as the Bennets, but it was a peaceful, happy home, with a husband and wife who obviously loved and respected one another.
At the moment, the house was quiet, but then most of the Allen children were grown and gone, and the youngest son, Aaron, was apprenticed to Mr. Milton, the local blacksmith.
“Your knitting is beautiful, Mrs. Allen,” Mary said politely.
“Thank you,” Mrs. Allen returned, holding up the brown and orange scarf and estimating the length with expert eyes. “It is for Joshua; he and his wife are coming for Christmas, you know, along with their little one.”
“That will be very pleasant for you,” Mary said warmly. She and Joshua Allen had played together as children even though he was a few years older than she. Now he was training to be a solicitor in London.
“Indeed. Now, how are you and your family? I was most dismayed when Mr. Allen told me about Mr. Wickham’s death and Mr. Darcy’s injury. It is a shocking thing to happen in our little community and on Longbourn land! I suppose your father will be testifying at the inquest this morning?”
“Yes, Madam. It is very sad. But I do have some news of my own. I am engaged to be married.”
Mrs. Allen allowed her busy hands to drop, and she turned a beaming face on her young guest. “My dear Miss Mary, congratulations! Who is the fortunate man?”
“He is Mr. Collins, the rector from Hunsford in Kent. He is my father’s heir and has been visiting us these last two weeks.”
She waited nervously, hoping that the rector’s wife, whom she admired, would not despise her for marrying a man who was not particularly sensible.
“That is absolutely wonderful,” Mrs. Allen exclaimed. “As your father’s heir, he is a very good match, and I think you will do well as a clergyman’s wife. You have always been most devoted in your study of the Scriptures.”
Mary let out a thankful sigh and said, “That is why I have come to speak to you this morning, Mrs. Allen. I will soon be a clergyman’s wife, and I wish to know how best to serve the people of Mr. Collins’s parish.”
The older woman considered for a moment and then nodded. “I would be honored to share what wisdom I have, Miss Mary, but first, let us have some tea.”
***
“On the 27th of November, last Wednesday, I arose early and, as is my custom, repaired to my library to read and drink my morning tea. At about nine o’clock, Jack, who oversees the Longbourn stables, rushed in to tell me that Mr. Darcy had appeared leading his horse, and that both were injured.”
“What did you do, Mr. Bennet?” Mr. Philips inquired.
“I hurried out to find Mr. Darcy being assisted into the house. He told me that he and George Wickham had encountered one another along the northern path of Longbourn and quarreled, and that Wickham had stabbed him along with his horse. Furthermore, he informed me that the horse had trampled Wickham and the man lay dead.”
“Were you surprised that Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham were on Longbourn land?”
“Not at all. The northern path of Longbourn is a quick route between the road to London and Meryton. Many people use the path as a rather public fairway, and I have no objection so long as they do not damage anything.”
“I see. Please continue.”
Bennet turned to look at Mr. Darcy, who was seated next to Colonel Fitzwilliam, and said, “I sent messages to Sir William Lucas, who is the local magistrate, and also to Mr. Jones, the apothecary, and Mr. Simon, the veterinarian. I escorted Mr. Darcy into the parlor. He was bleeding quite heavily, and we pressed a cloth on the wound.”
“So you definitely saw the injury?” the coroner asked.
“Oh yes, there was a serious cut on Mr. Darcy’s left arm. It was most distressing.”
“Continue, please.”
“Mr. Jones and Sir William Lucas arrived at about the same time. Mr. Jones took over the care of Mr. Darcy, while Sir William and I went to the scene of the attack.”
“What did you find, Mr. Bennet?”
The master of Longbourn grimaced and said, “Sir William and I found Mr. Wickham lying on his back on the path, quite dead.”
“What was Wickham’s condition?”
“His head and chest were caved in. One of his eyes was open and he was already cool to the touch. He smelled of alcohol and there was a flask of whiskey, almost empty, on the ground nearby.”
There were sibilant whispers from the audience again, which promptly subsided when Mr. Philips cast a stern look upon the offending women.
“Then what did you do, Mr. Bennet?”
“Sir William and I agreed that the man was deceased and that he should be carried to Longbourn, as we did not wish for anyone to stumble across the body. I returned to Longbourn, leaving Sir William on guard. Some of my servants then brought the corpse to Longbourn and put it in one of our outer sheds.”
“Thank you, Mr. Bennet, you may step down. Mr. Jones, please come forward.”
The apothecary, dressed in black shirt and trousers, with a white cravat tied simply around his throat, rose from his seat, strode forward, spoke the oath, and sat down.
“Mr. Jones, kindly describe Mr. Darcy’s injuries when you treated him at Longbourn on the 27th of November.”
“Mr. Darcy had but one wound, a cut some four inches long on his upper left arm.”
“Does the knife sitting on the table seem the sort of weapon which could cause such an injury?”
“Yes, Mr. Philips. That is exactly the sort of blade which would cause the wound I observed.”
“How serious was Mr. Darcy’s laceration?”
“It was not a minor injury, but it could have been a good deal worse. The cut was long, but not dangerously deep. It was just shallow enough that I did not find it necessary to stitch it closed.”
“Do you believe Mr. Darcy will make a full recovery?”
“Now, yes, I do. There was danger in the first days that the incision would become infected, which would have been very dangerous indeed. However, if all proceeds as it has, Mr. Darcy will be back to normal within a month.”
“Thank you, Mr. Jones. Now, you also examined Mr. Wickham’s body, correct?”
“Yes, Mr. Philips.”
“What, in your opinion, caused the death of Mr. Wickham?”
“He died from being crushed by a horse. Part of his head was caved in, as was his chest.”
“Were there any injuries on the corpse consistent with any other kind of injury?”
Darcy found himself holding his breath at this question. Elizabeth had struck Wickham on the side of the head with a branch, and while it seemed unlikely that such a thing was notable in the midst of Wickham’s other injuries...
“There was nothing else, no, Mr. Philips. There were no signs of stab marks or anything else.”
“You have heard the testimony of Mr. Darcy. Does his description of his altercation with Wickham match your analysis of both his wound and Wickham’s injuries?”
“Yes, Mr. Philips. His testimony agrees with the physical evidence in every way.”
“Thank you. You may stand down.”
***
Georgiana Darcy was playing one of her favorite songs, a simple tune she learned when she was far less accomplished on the pianoforte.
Miss Bingley would probably sneer at a girl of sixteen playing something so undemanding, but she was worried about the inquest, and she wished to enjoy playing, not struggle with challenging chords and finger work.
When she finished the song, she lowered her hands to the keys and opened her eyes, just as a single pair of hands began clapping behind her.
Georgiana spun around in surprise and lifted a hand to her chest. “Anne, how you startled me!”
“My apologies,” Anne returned contritely from her place near the door of the music room. “I merely wished to express how beautifully you play.”
Her younger cousin opened her mouth in protest and then closed it. She knew, because she had been told, that Anne’s health was poor and thus the lady had not learned any of the normal accomplishments typical of highborn gentlewomen.
“Thank you,” Georgiana said instead. “I do enjoy playing and that is one of my favorite songs.”
Anne, who was wearing a dark blue dress with a warm tan shawl over it, sat down near the fire and said sadly. “I wish that I had learned to play, but Mother always said that I was too sickly to spend time at the pianoforte.”
Georgiana slid off the bench and asked timidly, “Do you mind if I sit next to you?”
“Oh, please do! I feel that I hardly know you even though we are cousins! I look forward to spending time with you.”
Georgiana sat down and said shyly, “I look forward to that as well. I understand from Fitzwilliam that you are journeying to London with us when my brother is sufficiently well? I have been staying with my uncle and aunt Matlock these last weeks, and it has been very pleasant. Richard has been staying there, along with his twin sisters.”
“I have forgotten; how old are Rebekah and Deborah?”
“They are eighteen years old and a most charming pair. They had their first season last year and have such stories about the balls and routs and trips to the opera. You will like them very much.”
“I am certain that I will, though they may not like me,” Anne responded.
Georgiana gazed at her cousin in astonishment. “Not like you! Of course they will!”
“It is no certain thing. I know that I have not learned how to speak well with others, since I rarely have the opportunity to interact with those outside my family circle. When I am in company with Lady Catherine, which is most of the time, she dominates the conversation ferociously.”
This led to an embarrassed giggle from Georgiana and Anne grimaced, saying, “I know that sounds amusing, but it is not. My mother is so very...”
“Intimidating?” Georgiana finished. “She frightens me, I confess.”
“Yes, and autocratic, and domineering,” Anne continued, heaving out a deep sigh.
“But,” the heiress of Rosings continued more cheerfully, “She has left for Rosings, and I am finally free of her for at least a few weeks, and if Richard is to be believed, as long as I wish, which excites me tremendously. I am so tired of Rosings and of being cossetted and dosed with nasty medicines. I am so looking forward to spending time here and in London, though I am also nervous. Would you be willing to teach me how to speak to others more comfortably?”
“Me? Oh, Anne, I fear I am terribly shy and awkward in company!”
“Well, so am I. Perhaps we can practice together?”
Georgiana laughed and said, “Very well, we can practice talking graciously with one another, but you must promise not to laugh at me if I stumble and stutter when we are speaking.”
“Oh, I promise you I will not, as I will be stuttering and stumbling along with you. Perhaps Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth would be willing to spend time with us. I have not met either of them, but Richard tells me they are both charming and gracious young women.”
“They are delightful indeed! Miss Bennet is a lovely woman, but she does not flaunt her beauty. As for Miss Elizabeth, well, she is vibrant and terribly intelligent but also sympathetic and kind. Indeed, I wonder...”
She trailed away and blushed furiously, provoking a curious stare from Anne, who asked, “Wonder what?”
“My brother mentioned Miss Elizabeth more than once in his letters to me, and I have seen him staring at her with a most unaccustomed smile on his face. I do wonder if perhaps...”
Anne blinked and then laughed aloud, “Oh, that would be glorious. Darcy deserves happiness, and my mother would finally give up her dream of uniting Rosings and Pemberley if Darcy married elsewhere.”
“My brother does deserve to be happy, though I am worried about this inquest. What if ... what if he is tried for murder, Anne?”
Anne reached out and patted Georgiana’s arm. “Richard says that there is no real danger. I understand your fears, but we must trust that all will be well.”