Chapter 9 #2
Breakfast had been served by her couch, but then she had asked for assistance in making her way to the library, which was awe-inspiring.
The great soaring walls were lined with their well-stocked shelves, the massive banks of windows let in the light, and the gargantuan fireplace threw off welcome heat.
It was far larger than the public library in Meryton, and probably as grand as the libraries in most palaces!
All these books were at her disposal during her stay here.
One handsome volume she held in her hands, Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe.
She had heard of it, but had never had the opportunity to see the play performed on stage, and she had leapt, metaphorically, at the chance to read it now.
It did not make for entirely comfortable reading, the reckless doctor on his collision course with his self-chosen nasty fate, but it certainly engaged Elizabeth’s thoughts and reflections.
Her aunt and uncle, sitting side by side on a dusky blue loveseat nearby, were reading Shakespearean comedies.
Elizabeth looked at them fondly, her heart full of gratitude for their love and solicitous care.
Both were anxious over her health and well-being and comfort, assisting her cheerfully whenever she had to stand and move about, and stepping in when Molly was briefly away on tasks and errands.
Elizabeth looked forward to the arrival of crutches, whenever that might be.
The door opened, and Mr. Darcy entered with an unknown, elegant gentleman at his heels.
Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner rose immediately, and Elizabeth twitched before subsiding. She could not stand up without being in danger of falling over, but it was difficult sitting in the presence of the well-dressed newcomer.
“Good morning,” Darcy said, looking around the room. “I hope you all slept well?”
The three murmured their assurances, and then Darcy turned toward his companion. “Lord Throckmorton, you have already met Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, but please allow me to introduce Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Miss Bennet, Lord Throckmorton, who is the justice of the peace in this area.”
“Lord Throckmorton,” Mr. Gardiner said, “do you have news of Mr. Wickham and his male accomplice?”
“Shall we sit down?” the magistrate suggested. Everyone did so, and then Lord Throckmorton said, “Yes, we have both Wickham and Zimmer in custody.”
Elizabeth and her relations sighed in unison, and Lord Throckmorton turned grave brown eyes on her. “Miss Bennet, I understand that you sustained your injuries while battling Wickham in his attempt to abduct Miss Darcy. You are to be commended for your courage.”
Elizabeth blushed and said, “Thank you, my lord. I will recover fully in time and am thankful that Miss Darcy is safe.”
She happened to look at Mr. Darcy at this moment, and he was gazing at her with such admiration that she felt her color heighten more.
“We are all thankful,” Lord Throckmorton said. “Now, given the gravity of the crime, Wickham, Zimmer, and Mrs. Younge will be tried in the District Court in Derby, and by chance, the assizes are next week. You will be called as a witness in court, Miss Bennet.”
Elizabeth was startled.
“Witness?” she repeated.
“Is that really necessary?” Mr. Gardiner asked, frowning. “I knew that you would need to interview her, but I do not like to think of my niece as a witness in a court of law. It is hardly, that is, I fear that there might be rumors about her, perhaps even in a newspaper?”
“Mr. Darcy and I have already discussed that,” the magistrate said. “I will arrange for Miss Darcy and Miss Bennet to be identified only as Miss D. and Miss B. in the court records.”
Elizabeth looked at her uncle, whose brow remained furrowed.
“I suppose that will do,” he said, “but I must insist on being present in the courthouse with my niece. She is my responsibility.”
Elizabeth felt her chest warm at these words. Her own father, while absently fond of his second daughter, was not nearly as protective.
“Of course, Mr. Gardiner,” the magistrate assured him. He turned to Elizabeth and said, “Now, Miss Bennet, would you be so kind as to tell me, in your own words, the events of yesterday?”
She did so, clearly and concisely, and when she was finished, Lord Throckmorton nodded approvingly and stood up.
“Thank you, Miss Bennet,” he said. “That was very clear. I also need to interview Miss Darcy, so I will bid you farewell.”
“There is one more thing,” Mr. Gardiner said, standing up as well.
“My wife and I talked last night, and it seems to us, though you and Mr. Darcy may disagree, that it would be best to refrain from sending details of this sensitive situation through the mail. When something is written with pen on paper, there is always the chance of the letter being exposed in a public manner.”
Mr. Darcy nodded decisively. “You are quite right, Mr. Gardiner. None of us should mention this in correspondence. Both Miss Bennet and my sister were brave in the face of an ungodly and vicious attack, but it is the way of the world that a crime against a woman can besmirch her good name.”
Elizabeth turned bewildered eyes on her uncle. “You are saying that I should not even write to Jane to explain…”
“No, my dear, you should not,” Mrs. Gardiner said, her tone sympathetic, though her expression was firm.
“You would not wish for Jane to by burdened by keeping information from your mother, and your mother would spread the news far and wide. You are the daughter of a gentleman, and it would not help your reputation in Meryton for this situation to be widely known.”
Elizabeth wrinkled her nose but could not argue the logic of that. “Very well, I will not mention the matter in my letters. I will need to write Jane, though, else she will worry.”
“You can describe Pemberley,” Mrs. Gardiner said with a smile, “since we were already intending to tour it, after all.”
“True enough,” Elizabeth agreed.