The Open Gate #2
The church came into view beyond the trees, its stone tower bright against the clear sky. Mr Collins waited at the gate in full clerical dignity, though the effect was somewhat diminished by his repeated glances towards Rosings to ensure Lady Catherine had seen him waiting.
Anthony lowered his voice. “Is church very long?”
“Today?” Sir Alexander said. “Almost certainly.”
Anthony considered this with the gravity it deserved. Lewis stirred against Darcy’s shoulder but did not wake. Lady Catherine passed them without slowing.
“Mr Collins,” she said, “the bells have stopped.”
He opened the gate at once. Inside, the church smelled of cold stone, beeswax and the greenery Mr Collins had arranged around the pulpit with considerable enthusiasm. Nurse followed them to the family pew, though Lewis refused her offered hand and remained beside Darcy.
Anthony sat between his parents and watched Mr Collins ascend the pulpit. The sermon began. After several minutes, Anthony leaned towards Sir Alexander.
“Is this the long part?”
Mr Collins paused. Sir Alexander lowered his head. Lady Catherine continued to face the pulpit.
“Yes,” he whispered. “This is the long part.”
Mr Collins resumed, with perhaps marginally more emphasis than before. Lewis had fallen properly asleep against Darcy’s arm. His weight was small and certain, entirely committed to the business of sleep and indifferent to sermons.
Anthony endured the remainder of the service with the focused patience of a boy counting something, though what he was counting Darcy could not determine. His lips moved occasionally. Sir Alexander watched him from the corner of his eye, evidently uncertain what conclusions his son had reached.
Elizabeth sat across the aisle with Mrs Collins and Miss Lucas. Neither she nor Darcy gave Mr Collins any reason to notice them.
The service ended with appropriate ceremony. Mr Collins descended from the pulpit looking thoroughly satisfied with both the sermon and its reception. Anthony was on his feet before the last note of the final hymn had quite finished.
“Now?”
“Now,” Anne said.
They emerged into the Easter sunshine. Lewis woke, examined the sky and appeared to find it satisfactory.
It was Lady Catherine who stopped first.
The south gate stood open.
Lady Catherine crossed the churchyard without waiting for anyone else.
“That gate is never left open.”
Richard followed her. “Is it locked?”
“It should be.”
The gate stood a little way beyond the wall, opening onto the lesser path towards the south fields. Nothing appeared damaged. The chain hung loose against the post.
Sir Alexander set Anthony down.
“Perhaps one of the tenants used it this morning.”
“Then one of the tenants has forgotten how gates work.”
Darcy shifted Lewis higher against his shoulder.
Elizabeth had come to stand beside Mrs Collins, Miss Lucas and Miss Stourton.
“There was someone there before the service,” she said.
“At the gate?” Richard asked.
“Beyond it. Near the trees.”
“The man in the brown coat?” Miss Stourton asked.
Elizabeth nodded.
“I thought he belonged to the church,” Miss Stourton said. “He kept looking towards the door, then back towards the path from Rosings.”
“How long was he there?” Richard asked.
“He was there when we arrived. I noticed him because he was not going in. Everyone else was moving towards the church. He was standing still.”
“Did he look at you?”
“No.”
“At Lady Catherine?”
“No.”
“Then what was he watching?”
“The path from the house,” Elizabeth said.
Miss Stourton nodded. “He turned away when people began entering the church. Slowly, as though he had seen enough.”
“Which side of the gate?” Richard asked.
“Outside,” Miss Stourton said. “Always outside.”
Richard walked far enough along the path to see beyond the gate. When he returned, he said, “Alexander, take the boys inside.”
Sir Alexander put his hand on Anthony’s shoulder.
“The pony—”
“Later,” Sir Alexander said.
Anthony fell silent.
Lewis pressed his face against Darcy’s coat. Darcy kept one hand on his back.
“Tracks,” Richard said. “One horse. Perhaps two.”
“Coming in, or going out?” Lady Catherine asked.
“Both.”
“Miss Bennet, you will come inside with us.”
“Yes, your ladyship.”
“Miss Stourton.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Lady Catherine turned to Mr Collins, who had gone pale.
“Mr Collins, you will take Mrs Collins and Miss Lucas directly to the parsonage. You will lock the door. You will not open it until you hear from me.”
“Your ladyship, I cannot think there is any real—”
“Mr Collins.”
He closed his mouth.
“The parsonage. Now.”
Mrs Collins took Miss Lucas’s arm. Mr Collins bowed once, too quickly, and led them away. Miss Stourton moved closer to Elizabeth. Richard waited until the parsonage door had closed.
“He was not trying to enter,” Darcy said.
“No,” Richard replied. “He was counting us.”
Lady Catherine regarded the open gate. “How many did he expect to find?”
Richard turned to Henderson, who had come up from the direction of the house.
“The gate, the south fields and the road as far as the stream. Take two men.”
“Yes, Colonel.”
“I am going with you.”
Darcy shifted Lewis again. “So am I.”