A Death at Rosings: A Pride & Prejudice Variation (4 page)

Chapter Four

The following morning Darcy sat in his room waiting for the hour he knew Richard preferred to dine. Darcy suspected Elizabeth was the type to breakfast early and he didn’t want to add to the awkwardness of the incident the night before by forcing her to be alone with him. Not that any encounter with her wouldn’t be awkward, the night before having only added to the list of shared secrets between them.

He felt the decided need to apologize for walking in on her and to explain that the room was normally reserved for him. He didn’t know if she would welcome him referencing the incident, however, even to apologize. He also didn’t know if she would be comfortable being alone with a man who’d both proposed to her and opened her bedroom door unannounced, but it wasn’t an apology that could be made in public. Not unless he wanted to force her to marry him.

He amused himself by toying with that idea until he heard the tread of Richard’s boot-shod feet in the hall. Crossing to the door of his room, Darcy placed the idea of manipulating Elizabeth into marrying him firmly out of his mind, where it belonged. He opened the door to a moderately surprised looking Richard and stepped out into the hall.

“A bit late for you, isn’t it?” Richard asked as Darcy fell in step with him.

“Yesterday was a long day,” Darcy said.

“I know. I was there, you’ll recall.”

Darcy nodded, not feeling that was meant to be replied to.

“That wasn’t your usual room,” Richard said. “Anne set you in your place, has she?”

Darcy shrugged, definitely not wanting to go into any details about rooms.

“Good thing is, it shows she was never serious about that idea of you proposing. Wouldn’t have moved you down so many doors if she was.”

Darcy frowned. They were nearing the breakfast parlor. Richard’s choice of topics was questionable under any circumstances, but doubly unacceptable when someone might overhear them. He turned a repressive glare on the colonel, only to find Richard wasn’t looking his way.

“Miss Bennet, what a pleasant surprise,” Richard said as they entered the breakfast parlor.

Darcy forced his eyes to go to Anne, who was looking weary and drawn. “Anne, Mrs. Jenkinson, Miss Bennet,” he said. He turned immediately to the sideboard, finding himself unable to look at Elizabeth without picturing her as he’d seen her the night before.

“Richard, Darcy,” he hear Anne say behind him. Neither Elizabeth nor Anne’s companion spoke.

“Anne, dearest cousin,” Richard said. “My heartfelt condolences on your loss.”

“Thank you, Richard,” Anne said.

Darcy winced, realizing he should have delivered a similar condolence. He’d already begun to assemble food on a plate, though. It would have to wait until he sat.

“It surprises me to find you here, Miss Bennet, and in black as well,” Richard continued. “You couldn’t have had such a gown with you for the occasion.”

“It’s one of Lady Catherine’s gowns,” Elizabeth said. “Miss de Bourgh insisted I wear it. It took quite the combined effort to make the conversion.”

“Elizabeth was very clever about it,” Anne said. “She managed to save several seams so we didn’t have to redo them all.”

Darcy closed his eyes for a moment, breathing in slowly, before willing all expression from his face and turning around.

“It’s Anne who we should have fitted it for,” Elizabeth said. “She’ll need to wear black for quite some time.”

She was every bit as enchanting as he recalled, even in unrelenting black. Darcy walked toward the table, realizing Richard had taken the seat across from Elizabeth, leaving him only one choice, to sit beside her or take a seat farther down the table and appear deliberately rude. He deposited his plate at the setting next to Elizabeth and spoke to Anne. “I’m very sorry for the loss of your mother.”

She looked up at him through tired eyes. “Thank you, Darcy.” Anne gave him a sad smile and turned back to the others, freeing him to take his seat. “I need an entirely new wardrobe of black. There was nothing to be gained by modifying one dress for my sake. Besides, it was a chance to do something for you, Elizabeth.”

“I don’t mean to pry, cousin, or come across as displeased to see the lovely Miss Bennet in any way, but why is she here?” Richard asked. He turned to look at Elizabeth. “I can’t believe you’ve grown so found of my aunt that you’re here solely to mourn her.”

“Indeed, while I sincerely mourn for Anne’s loss, I can claim no greater affection sprang up between Lady Catherine and me after you departed than existed before,” Elizabeth said.

Darcy sipped his coffee to hide his smile. He’d missed her evasive answers, sweet sounding but with a core of hard truth. Elizabeth turned away from Richard, looking to Anne, and Darcy realized she was wondering if his cousin would provide an answer to Richard’s real question.

“I asked Elizabeth to stay for a time,” Anne said. “I feel the need of her opinion on several matters.”

Interesting, Darcy thought. What of his opinion, or Richard’s? Apparently, Elizabeth’s thoughts were more valuable, or at least equally so. Darcy could concur with that, but he was surprised Anne had come to the idea.

“And what of you, Richard?” Anne said. “I hope this summons was not too inconvenient, with you only just having been away.”

Richard started into a familiar diatribe about the life of an officer, Anne’s questions encouraging him. In spite of her haggard appearance, Darcy hadn’t seen his cousin so animated since she was a child. He didn’t know how much of Anne’s loquaciousness was due to Elizabeth’s influence and how much came from the absence of her domineering mother, but he was pleased to see it. Anne would have the running of Rosings, after all, and would need to assert herself.

As they lingered over what was already a late breakfast, a footman entered the room, bowing. “I beg your pardons, sirs, misses, but a Mr. Hayes is here, Lady Catherine’s attorney. He said he wouldn’t have come yet if he’d known you weren’t through dining and that he can return later.”

“Tell him to stay,” Darcy said, standing. As much as he was enjoying sitting beside Elizabeth, taking in her occasional remark, he was tired of inactivity. “Richard, with me, if you will.”

“Right,” Richard said, rising from the table with a lingering look at the remains of his meal. “Ladies,” he added with a bow.

Darcy strode from the room, Richard’s footsteps following him. Behind them, Darcy could hear the rustle of skirts and murmuring voices. He frowned, sensing displeasure in the tones, though he couldn’t make out the words. Shrugging, he realized it likely had little to do with him and lengthened his stride.

He and Richard met with the attorney in Lady Catherine’s study. Mr. Hayes was a small and exceedingly elderly gentleman who looked as if he should have passed from life long before their Aunt Catherine. They discussed some of the details of the estate, focusing on the few more pressing issues. Richard remained mostly silent, seeming content to allow Darcy to make any decisions that needed to be made, and Mr. Hayes agreed with everything excessively. It was wearing, but Darcy could only assume it was what his aunt had liked about the man.

After nearly an hour, Hayes seemed satisfied, standing to depart. “One last thing,” he said as he gathered up his papers. “When do you wish me to read the will?”

Darcy looked to his cousin, who shrugged. “I believe we should wait for Lady Catherine’s brother, Earl of Matlock, to arrive,” he said, turning back to Mr. Hayes.

“Most appropriate. Assuredly so,” Hayes said, nodding.

Darcy and Richard both stood, shaking the man’s hand. As he tottered from the room, Richard shot Darcy an amused look before retaking his seat. The colonel reached for the newspaper on Lady Catherine’s desk, likely placed there out of habit. With his cousin occupied, Darcy quit the room, feeling he should provide Anne with a summary of what they’d decided.

A footman directed him to the appropriate parlor where he found Anne, Elizabeth and Mrs. Jenkinson all busily sewing black garments. He was pleased to see them so well employed, but his cousin and Elizabeth both stopped working immediately when he entered. Anne fixed him with a surprisingly stern look.

“Darcy,” she said, nodding to him but not standing. “In the future, I would appreciate it if I be included in any meetings with my mother’s attorney concerning my estate.”

Darcy blinked, caught off guard on the verge of bowing in greeting. “Of course,” he said. He cast a glance at Elizabeth, wondering if this was her doing. “I came immediately to tell you what transpired.”

“And what did transpire while you, Richard and that little man were deciding what to do with my holdings?”

Darcy tried to rearrange his thoughts. If he didn’t know any better, he would say Anne was angry. “We decided not to hold the reading of the will until the Earl of Matlock arrives,” he said, grasping at the first detail that came to mind.

“Is the Earl of Matlock in the will?” Elizabeth asked, exchanging a look with Anne.

Darcy frowned. He was right, this was Elizabeth’s doing and he was uncertain if he approved. “I don’t know.”

Elizabeth set aside her sewing and stood up. Darcy stayed where he was, a few feet into the parlor, watching in bewilderment as she crossed the room to ring for a servant. Elizabeth returned to her chair, she and Anne sitting straight backed and intent looking. Mrs. Jenkinson kept sewing, her face downturned toward her work. In moments, a maid hurried into the room.

“See if you can catch the attorney before he leaves the property,” Elizabeth said. “If you can’t, send a groom after him.”

For a few seconds everything seemed frozen. The maid looked to Darcy, obviously unsure if she should carry out Elizabeth’s order. Darcy didn’t move, aware he’d somehow placed himself on precarious ground.

“Do it,” Anne said, tilting her chin up in an effort to look commanding.

The maid glanced at Anne before turning beseeching eyes back to Darcy. He didn’t know what she wanted him to say, but he wasn’t foolish enough to embroil himself any further in the issue. True, he and Richard were done speaking with the attorney, but this wasn’t Pemberley. Rosings was almost certainly Anne’s now, and the maid answered to her.

“I doubt Miss de Bourgh has much of a place in her household for servants who don’t obey her orders,” Elizabeth said quietly.

The maid was still looking at him. Darcy realized he would have to speak. “Quickly. He can’t have gone far,” he said. Wide-eyed, the maid scurried from the room. Darcy turned to Elizabeth, choosing his words carefully. “Why would Miss de Bourgh need to see the attorney?”

Elizabeth turned to Anne, but she shook her head, looking suddenly exhausted. “She should know her status as soon as possible,” Elizabeth replied.

“She is to inherit Rosings,” Darcy said. “It was in her father’s will.”

“Are there any other bequests?” Elizabeth asked.

Darcy looked between his cousin and Elizabeth. Anne nodded, signaling that he should answer the question. Was this why Anne had asked Elizabeth to stay, to teach her to be more willful? She likely couldn’t have found a better role model. “I’m not entirely certain,” he admitted.

“I would like to be certain,” Anne said in a quiet voice.

“We will be, once the will is read,” Darcy said, starting to feel as if he had indeed misstepped. If he were in Anne’s place, wouldn’t he want to know the parameters of his future? Did he think that Anne being a woman meant she held no concerns over such matters? Lady Catherine, a woman, had run the estate for years.

“Does anyone have any control over Miss de Bourgh’s money or her decisions concerning Rosings?” Elizabeth asked, sounding a bit exasperated with his silence.

“No,” Mr. Hayes said as he entered the room, saving Darcy from a second embarrassing admission of a lack of full knowledge. “The only thing that constrains her is that she cannot sell Rosings.” He looked around the room, his face pinched.

Anne nodded, obviously having expected that constraint. “Nor would I wish to sell Rosings.”

“Perhaps it would be a good idea to read the will now,” Darcy said, meeting Elizabeth’s gaze.

“Without the Earl of Matlock?” Hayes asked.

“Is he mentioned in the will?” Elizabeth asked.

“No,” Mr. Hayes said, wringing his hands. “You aren’t either, young lady.” He straightened his shoulders, glaring at her. “I’m not entirely sure who you are, but there’s no reason for you to be there for the reading.” Hayes turned to Darcy, his expression that of a hound expecting a reward.

“Miss Bennet is my friend and she will be there,” Anne said. Her tone was once again firm, but she looked even paler than before.

“Certainly, Miss de Bourgh,” Mr. Hayes said, shrinking in on himself as if Anne had threatened bodily or fiscal harm. “Yes, a splendid idea.”

“In Lady Catherine’s study, then?” Darcy suggested. He made sure to keep his tone light. He in no way wished his words to sound like an order.

“It’s my study now,” Anne said, standing.

She swayed slightly. Darcy took a step forward, but Elizabeth was already there, placing an arm about Anne’s shoulders. She murmured something too low for him to hear, but Anne shook her head.

“We’re hearing the will read now,” Anne said, her lips pressed into a firm line. “Darcy, please assist Mr. Hayes in assembling the relevant individuals. Miss Bennet and I will join you soon.”