What Is Made Public
By Tuesday morning, Rosings had acquired a magistrate, a coroner, an earl, a baronet and his wife, two solicitors, ten additional horses in the stable yard and Sir John Fenwick’s firm opinion that Lady Catherine de Bourgh had acted in defence of her grandson.
Mr Reed, the coroner, had reached much the same conclusion by a more formal route. His jury had viewed the place where Wickham fell, heard the principal witnesses and returned with very little disagreement.
Lady Catherine received the determination without visible relief. “I was aware of that when I fired.”
Sir John Fenwick cleared his throat. “Quite.”
Mr Reed regarded her over the top of his spectacles. “Nevertheless, Lady Catherine, the rest of us are obliged to establish it afterwards.”
Edward lowered his eyes to the papers before him while Richard did not attempt to conceal his smile.
Sir Alexander sat beside Anne, though his attention remained upon Anthony, who had been permitted to stay only after promising not to interrupt.
Across from them, the Earl of Matlock remained beside Georgiana.
Mr Reed closed his notebook. “The jury’s finding disposes of Mr Wickham’s death. I shall require the signed depositions before I leave, but I anticipate nothing further from Lady Catherine in the matter.”
Sir John gathered the papers before him. “There remain the circumstances which brought Wickham to Rosings, and I shall require statements from everyone who witnessed the events in the wood.”
Darcy glanced towards the door. Elizabeth and Nurse had remained in the morning room while the officials spoke with Lady Catherine.
Elizabeth had not returned to Hunsford. Lady Catherine had declared that no woman who had spent the morning with a pistol beneath her ribs would be sent across the park before the magistrate had spoken to her.
Mrs Collins had arrived before dinner with fresh clothes and remained beside her through the night, then returned to Hunsford shortly after breakfast, observing that someone must prevent her husband from offering Lady Catherine his assistance at ten-minute intervals.
Darcy had seen Elizabeth only briefly that morning. She had assured him that she was well, which neither of them had pretended was entirely true.
Sir John rose. “I shall not trouble the household longer than necessary. The remaining statements may be taken this afternoon.”
He hesitated before adding, “Mr Wickham’s connection to the family is, I understand, a delicate one. There is no reason for matters beyond what is necessary to the investigation to be dwelt upon.”
“No,” the Earl said. “There is not.”
Sir John inclined his head. He had been Sir Lewis’s friend, and he did not look at Lady Catherine as he said it, which Darcy understood to be its own kind of courtesy. He and Mr Reed were shown out.
Anne rose, crossed to her mother, and did something Darcy had never seen anyone do to Lady Catherine in his life. She put her arms around her.
Lady Catherine held very still before one hand came up and rested against her daughter’s back.
“That is enough,” she said, though she did not let go, and neither did Anne.
Darcy turned towards the window and found the Earl watching him. His uncle crossed the room.
“Fitzwilliam.”
“Sir.”
“You have been managing this alone, because we let you.” The Earl’s voice was low. “That was a failure. Mine, and your father’s before me, and Richard’s for indulging your insistence on it.”
He paused. “It will not happen again. Whatever remains to be settled, whether the estate, the accounts or Finch, you will not settle it by yourself.”
“There is a great deal to settle,” Darcy said.
“Yes. And there are a great many of us. That is rather the point of a family.”
The Earl returned to Georgiana and resumed his place beside her. Edward began sorting the papers still spread before him, while Richard crossed to Anne and laid a hand upon her shoulder.
Darcy remained by the window until Elizabeth appeared in the doorway. Nurse stood behind her. Both women looked tired, though Elizabeth’s colour was better than it had been the previous evening.
“Sir John has gone,” Darcy said.
“So I gathered.”
“He and Mr Reed will require the remaining statements this afternoon.”
Nurse drew a careful breath. Elizabeth glanced back at her.
“We shall give them together,” she said.
Nurse nodded. Darcy understood that the promise was intended for both of them.
Elizabeth came farther into the room. “Before they return, I should like to know how Mr Wickham entered the grounds.”
Richard turned to the rough map already lying amongst the papers. “Henderson found his horse beyond the southern boundary, tied behind the fence near the wood. He crossed into the park on foot.”
“He knew where to find me,” Elizabeth said.
“Yes.”
“And someone had shown him the way.”
Richard’s mouth tightened. “There were older tracks beside the fence. The ground has been crossed more than once.”
Darcy thought of the watcher at the gate, then of every morning Elizabeth had walked between Hunsford and Rosings.
“The man at the church followed her,” he said.
Elizabeth frowned. “I thought the south gate was being guarded. After it was found open.”
“It was,” Richard said. “Wickham did not use it.”
“Then the guard was of very little use.”
“The gate was watched. The southern boundary was patrolled.” Richard unfolded the map fully and pointed to the edge of the south wood. “He left his horse here, beyond the wood, and crossed the fence between the patrols.”
“By chance?”
“No. Whoever watched Rosings had observed the route and its intervals.”
Elizabeth studied the map. “Then the man at the church was not watching the gate.”
“He was watching us,” Darcy said. “And learning where you went.”
Elizabeth looked towards the windows, and the colour left her face for an instant. Darcy crossed to her and stopped beside the table.
“Elizabeth.”
She held out her hand. Darcy took it between both of his. Her fingers were cold, though her grip tightened around his.
“The man knew your habits,” Richard said. “Wickham knew where to find you because someone had been following you for several days.”
Elizabeth stepped nearer to Darcy, though her attention remained upon Richard. “What happens now?”
“We find the men Wickham left behind. Finch will be questioned, the accounts examined, and the damage at Pemberley undone as far as it can be. None of it will be swift.”
“And Fitzwilliam?”
“He will require another guardian until August.”
The Earl looked up. “I believe I may endure the responsibility for four months.”
Richard’s mouth curved. “And he is unlikely to object to any sensible marriage.”
Elizabeth looked at Darcy.
His uncle added, “Provided I am consulted before the wedding breakfast.”
Elizabeth went scarlet. Darcy released her hand and stepped away, though the movement only made Richard laugh. Anne covered her mouth. Sir Alexander looked down, smiling, while Edward made no attempt to conceal his amusement. Even Georgiana’s expression softened.
The Earl regarded them all with mild surprise. “Have I said something extraordinary?”
“No, sir,” Darcy said.
Elizabeth turned determinedly back to the map.
Lady Catherine settled herself more firmly in her chair. “You have merely demonstrated that Matlock remains some distance behind the rest of the family.”
As the laughter subsided, Anne drew back and regarded her mother.
“You are going upstairs.”
“I am doing no such thing.”
“You have spoken to a magistrate and a coroner, directed the household since dawn and refused breakfast.”
“I had coffee.”
“You are going upstairs,” Anne repeated.
Lady Catherine looked around the room, plainly expecting support. Sir Alexander rose and offered her his arm.
“Traitor,” she said.
“Frequently.”
Lady Catherine pointed her stick towards the room. “And the rest of you will do the same. Miss Bennet and Nurse are to lie down until luncheon. Georgiana, you will rest. Edward will put away those papers. Richard and Darcy will cease prowling about my house as though the French have landed.”
“Mother,” Anne began.
“You also. Rosings will survive two hours without being managed.”
She accepted Sir Alexander’s arm with poor grace. At the door, she looked back at Elizabeth.
“You will remain here until your statement has been taken.”
“Yes, Lady Catherine.”
“And Darcy will return you to Hunsford afterwards.”
Darcy kept his attention on Lady Catherine. “I had already intended to.”
The rest of the household obeyed her orders with varying degrees of sincerity. Darcy spent two hours in his chamber without sleeping. At luncheon, little was said, and Georgiana ate only after the Earl placed a plate before her.
Sir John returned shortly afterwards. He spoke first with Elizabeth and Nurse, then with each of those who had followed Wickham into the wood. By the time the household gathered again, the light beyond the windows had begun to fade.
Sir John closed his notebook. “I have what I require. There remain the men Wickham employed and the evidence concerning Mr Darcy. Those matters will continue separately.”
“Of course,” Richard said.
Sir John rested one hand upon the papers before him. “The formal record will state what occurred. What is repeated beyond the proper record is another matter. There is no reason for Miss Bennet or the children to be named in any account given to the newspapers.”
“And the neighbourhood?” Lady Catherine asked.
“May be told that Mr Wickham died following a fatal incident upon the Rosings estate. Nothing more need be supplied.”
Lady Catherine’s fingers closed around the head of her stick. “My servants will say no more.”
Georgiana looked down at her hands. “Anne and George must hear of it from me.”
“They shall,” the Earl said. “No message will leave Rosings before you do.”
Sir John inclined his head towards Georgiana. “Whatever judgment may be made of their father, his children need not bear it.”
Georgiana drew a breath. “Thank you.”
Sir John rose. Once he had been shown out, Darcy waited in the hall while Elizabeth fetched her bonnet.
When she came downstairs, her gloves were held loosely in one hand, and the weariness she had concealed before the officials showed more plainly in her face.
“You need not look so solemn,” she said. “They have finished with us.”
“I am aware.”
“And Lady Catherine has ordered us all to rest, which I believe means the danger has officially passed.”
Darcy offered her his arm. “I shall believe that when you are safely inside the parsonage.”
Elizabeth placed her hand upon his sleeve. They had gone some distance before Darcy spoke.
“I must leave for London tomorrow.”
“I know.”
“My sister’s children have not yet been told.”
Elizabeth lowered her eyes to the path. “They should hear it from her.”
“Yes.”
He looked ahead towards the parsonage. “Before you make arrangements to return to Hertfordshire, Anne and Sir Alexander wish to speak with you.”
“About what?”
“They mean to take you and Miss Lucas home themselves, when you are ready to leave. They asked to tell you so themselves.”
Elizabeth looked up at him. “That is exceedingly kind.”
“They believe,” Darcy said, “that they owe you considerably more than kindness.”
A rook called somewhere beyond the fields. Darcy slowed as the parsonage roof came into view.
“When you return to Hertfordshire,” he said, “may I call upon you?”
“At Longbourn?”
“At Longbourn.”
Her fingers tightened slightly against his sleeve. “Yes. You may.”
They had reached the parsonage gate, though neither moved to open it.
Elizabeth withdrew her hand from his arm. “You must go to your sister.”
“Yes.”
“And afterwards?”
Darcy looked at her. “Afterwards, I shall come to Longbourn.”
She held his gaze, then stepped closer. He bent and kissed her. When he drew back, her hand remained against his sleeve.
“Fitzwilliam,” she said softly.
“I will come.”
Elizabeth nodded, opened the gate and went inside. Darcy remained until the parsonage door closed behind her.