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Chapter 4
As was fitting for a day of a funeral, the sky over Pemberley was dark and ominous, with black clouds filling it. The birds and the bugs had ceased their chirping and buzzing that woeful Friday, and all that remained was a dreary silence that seemed to devour the estate.
"Apparently the magistrate of London is filled with complete incompetence," Darcy scowled.
He was reading over an express from his man in London, while Elizabeth bounced Edward on her knees. The baby's plump delightful face was a stark contrast to her husband's mood. Both Darcys were in complete dread of the coming service.
Elizabeth had never attended a murdered person's funeral before, let alone her husband's cousin who had been killed in her own home. The knot of anxiety in her stomach had grown to the size of a grapefruit.
"Are you prepared for your stay at Sapphire Park?" Darcy inquired. Elizabeth was unsure if he was asking if she was packed or if he was inquiring of her mental resolve. She hoped it was the former.
"Yes, darling, I am ready. I am only sorry to be leaving the two of you, my loves," she responded.
Jane had written and asked if Elizabeth would come and stay on with her and Charles for two nights after the funeral. She had stated that it was important. Elizabeth did not want to leave Darcy during this most difficult time but felt that Jane must be needing her as well. This would be her first time leaving Edward for an extended period as well, and she was feeling a tremendous amount of guilt over it.
Sensing her trepidation, Darcy put down his notes and moved to be near Elizabeth and Edward, putting his arm around Elizabeth and drawing them in close.
"For whatever reason, Jane needs you. Please do not worry about us. We are well taken care of here, and it will only be for a few days." Darcy said reassuringly, kissing Elizabeth lightly on the cheek.
"Yes, but I know the timing is ill. It has only been a week since your dear cousin's death, Richard is in custody in London waiting for his trial and our period of mourning should continue at least a few weeks." Elizabeth said.
"You know I do not feel the necessity to follow every mandated rule of society. Your visit to your sister has nothing to do with mourning the loss of Henry. I know we both feel the loss," said Darcy.
"Indeed."
"Let us talk about other things. What about the thrill of us being parted and then reuniting again?" Darcy said with a wink.
"Of that, I can hardly wait," Elizabeth responded coyly.
~0~
"Imagine- we are on the way to the funeral of a murdered man!" gushed Kitty, on the way to the Matlock estate. Georgiana adjusted the scarf to cover her ears. The gentlemen were to attend the service at the church, while the ladies were to have a tea in mourning, while they waited for their husbands, at the Matlock estate.
"How very exciting for you," Darcy remarked. Elizabeth grimaced. She knew her sister was grating on her husband's last nerve and was relieved that Kitty's visit to Pemberley was coming to an end. Kitty would go with Elizabeth to Sapphire Park, to be the guest of the Bingleys before returning to Longbourn. Mrs. Bennet was determined to keep Kitty out of the house for as long as possible, and would undoubtedly find somewhere else for her to go after her return home.
"Yes, this will be my last bit of fun before returning to Longbourn where I shall possibly die of boredom," Kitty replied. Darcy gritted his teeth on hearing Kitty calling Henry's funeral "bit of fun". He did his best to not listen to Kitty and gazed out of the window, picking at his black armband, which seemed to be discomforting to him. Although the carriage was small and there was no escape from Kitty's lack of couth, Elizabeth was so grateful that her husband loved her unconditionally, despite her continuously embarrassing family.
"Will Colonel Fitzwilliam be allowed to attend?" Kitty wondered aloud.
"No, they do not release prisoners awaiting trial so that they may attend the funeral of the person they have been accused of murdering," Elizabeth replied.
"I see your point, but it is his brother.." Kitty continued.
"Let us try to remain sensitive to and be aware of those grieving the loss of a family member or friend." Elizabeth cautioned, nodding her head toward her husband and his sister. Kitty bit her tongue as the group bumped along down the wet country road.
~0~
The carriage arrived at the front of the Matlock estate, and Elizabeth, Georgiana and Kitty exited. Darcy remained in the carriage, as he would continue on to the service for Viscount Henry. Elizabeth felt a chill as she gazed upon the elegant estate that seemed to also be in mourning, cold gray and somber.
"That house is indeed in mourning of both men," Mr. Darcy had remarked to Elizabeth earlier that morning.
"I cannot imagine what it is that the Matlocks must be feeling now," Elizabeth sympathised.
"As children, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Viscount Henry were completely inseparable," Darcy recounted. "Some of my fondest memories from my childhood were of the Matlock family visiting Pemberley, and the trouble that the three of us boys managed to get into together," he said wistfully.
"One Christmas when the Matlocks were visiting, the three of us decided we were brave enough to venture across a frozen pond, to which Viscount Henry managed to fall into. There was not enough time to run for help, so Colonel Fitzwilliam risked his own life to jump in and save his brother. He, himself nearly died in the process, having caught the fever. His two parents were at once so angry with the boys for risking their lives, and yet so touched and grateful for the act of brotherly love, and of the lives of their sons being spared. I had always wished to have a brother, after the example that those two had exhibited that day," he finished.
Elizabeth's heart went out to the Matlocks, as well as Darcy.
~0~
Elizabeth found the ladies in the drawing room, resembling a murder of crows, as they were perched about the place in their black bombazine dresses. Jane noticed her sister straight away and made a beeline towards her. The two sisters embraced, lovingly.
"I am so glad that you are here," Jane proclaimed. Elizabeth tried her best not to be obvious, as she gazed about the room, curious as to who was in attendance. Lady Catherine caught her eye. She had been staying at Matlock before the Pemberley party, and it seemed to Elizabeth, Her Ladyship returned her look with a glare.
"Have you done something to offend Lady Catherine?" Jane whispered.
"I feel that I live in a state of perpetually offending her Ladyship," Elizabeth returned, unsure what her current offense might be.
"If I had to guess," Elizabeth continued, "she is holding me personally responsible for the murder of her nephew."
"I see she has instructed her daughter to feel the same way," Jane observed, noticing Anne de Bourgh's scowling face.
"Of course. It would be quite dangerous to let dear Anne think for herself," Elizabeth whispered.
Elizabeth, Kitty and Georgiana made their way to Lady Matlock to pay their respects, and offer condolences. Although stone-faced and poised, Lady Matlock's expression was puffed with the grief that she had been suffering.
"Lady Matlock," Elizabeth began, "Please know that Mr. Darcy and I are continuing to work closely to aid the authority in their investigation. Darcy knows of Colonel Fitzwilliam's innocence in the matter, and is dedicated to setting him free, and clearing his name. My husband has been re-interviewing all of the servants, personally, to work out a time of the day's events. He has also been re-interviewing many of the guests, by express, who were not in the ballroom to see if there is any pertinent information that may have been overlooked by the initial interviews by the magistrate. Darcy has also written to the London magistrate of his personal interest in the case, and has been sharing some of his findings with them."
"Thank you, Elizabeth," said Lady Matlock. "Yours and Mr. Darcy's tireless efforts on behalf of my son speak volumes upon the characters of you both." With this, Lady Matlock took Elizabeth's hand and gave it a squeeze. "Lord Matlock and I are so very grateful. Georgiana, could you stay behind and be with me for a little while longer?" Lady Matlock finished. The Bennet sisters moved along, as to allow the other women to pay their respects while Georgiana stayed to assist her aunt.
Elizabeth made her way over to Charlotte, who was standing on the outside fringe of the mourners. The Collins went, wherever Lady Catherine went. They were, therefore, staying at Matlock as well.
"My goodness, Charlotte, this sweet girl is the spitting image of her mother," Elizabeth said, embracing Charlotte's young daughter. It was the first time Elizabeth met the baby.
"Thank you, my friend," Charlotte said.
"Is Mr. Collins at the service for Viscount Henry," Elizabeth asked. She was not aware that Collins and Viscount Henry had been acquaintances.
"Yes. As Mr. Collins is Lady Catherine's vicar, he thought it appropriate that he should attend to show his support for her ladyship, in her grief at losing a nephew." Charlotte explained.
"Of course. Mr. Collins is such a dutiful servant." Elizabeth acknowledged, to which Charlotte smiled, weakly.
"Are your relationship with Lady Catherine still as chilled as before?" Charlotte asked. Apparently, Jane was not the only person who had noticed Lady Catherine's expression upon seeing Elizabeth.
"Indeed, my friend. We seem to exist in a perpetual state of bad terms. Lady Catherine has never forgiven her nephew for marrying me, and now she will forever blame me for Viscount's death, by hosting a party at Pemberley. I may as well have killed him myself" Elizabeth proclaimed.
Charlotte touched a hand to her friend's agitated face.
"This too shall pass," she said, comforting Elizabeth.
~0~
The funeral went smoothly. Not too soon the men returned. The tea was over and guests were departing. After bidding her husband goodbye, Elizabeth felt relief to join her sisters at Charles in their carriage and to put as many miles as possible between her and the Matlock estate. Bingley was uncharacteristically quiet on the way home, which Elizabeth attributed to his grief over his friend's death, as well as the incarceration of another friend. Bingley had become friends with the Matlock brothers since knowing them from Darcy some years ago.
By the time the Bingley carriage made it back to Sapphire Park, it was quite late, and all were tired from the day's events. Small sandwiches had been laid out for a quick dinner, to which Elizabeth was grateful. She was famished.
"Was it terribly awful?" Caroline asked, coming into the dining room.
"It was, as you would expect," Bingley replied.
Elizabeth found it odd that Caroline would not attend the wake at The Matlock estate, preferring to be all alone at Sapphire Park. Perhaps she did not know the Matlocks as well as her brother. Elizabeth stored that piece of question away. She would like to discuss it with her husband about it.
"I am sorry that I could not attend the wake," Caroline said, seeming to read Elizabeth's mind. "An old friend stopped by, unannounced, for a visit. I could scarcely bring her with me to attend such a morbid affair."
"I am sure that Lady Matlock would have appreciated seeing you there," said Bingley, seeming slightly annoyed.
"I am sure that she did not notice my absence, dear brother, as she is no doubt enshrouded with grief over her sons- with one laying in the grave, and the other in jail for murdering him." Caroline retorted.
"It was rather depressing," Kitty interjected. Caroline did not attempt to hide her disdain in her reaction to Kitty.
"Please forgive me for not joining you ladies in the parlour this evening," Bingley said as he moved away from the table. "The day has been quite long, and I find myself weary."
"Of course, darling. I believe we are all just as tired." Jane said. "I will show Kitty and Elizabeth to their rooms."
"Good night then," Bingley said, excusing himself. Elizabeth wondered if she had made the right decision in coming. She wondered if there might be something else that was troubling Bingley. Was he, too, angry with the Darcys over the dreadful end of the party? Elizabeth's head was swirling, and her body tired. She was ready for the day to be over.
~0~
As Jane showed the ladies to their respective rooms, she saved Elizabeth's for last and followed her inside. Elizabeth quickly shut and locked the door, as Jane sat upon the bed.
"What is going on?" Elizabeth demanded.
Janes face crumpled as her eyes filled with tears. "Oh - I don't know!" she cried. "This is exactly why I have asked you to come here. Something is amiss, and I cannot figure it out for the life of me. Charles is acting so different…"
"What do you mean, 'different'?" asked Elizabeth, putting her hand on her sister's shoulder.
"Well, it began around the time of the party." Jane began. "Charles has not been himself; he seems distracted as if something is on his mind. Our lovemaking has become less frequent. At the party, I was unable to find him for the longest time. I know that he wasn't playing cards the entire time. When I ask him what is wrong, he tells me that it is nothing and that I am silly." Jane was crying now. Elizabeth rubbed her back soothingly, letting her sister get it all out.
"Oh, do you think he is having an affair?" Jane asked, looking into Elizabeth's eyes. Elizabeth was at a loss for words.
"Is that what you think?" Elizabeth asked, carefully.
"It is the only explanation that makes any sense," Jane reasoned, "Although I have no clue as to whom it would be with. It could be a maid…"
"Is that why you put me in this guest room?" Elizabeth raised her eyes. "Furthest away from the family wing."
Jane blushed. "Since Darcy is not here, I think you do not mind, staying in another room…"
Elizabeth patted her sister's arm. The room was still spacious and comfortable.
"And then there is this business with Caroline," Jane said. "She has been skulking around here since we came back from Pemberley. She frequently goes out "to visit friends in Mansfield or Nottingham", yet leaves us with no further explanations. The air between her and Charles is extremely strained and most uncomfortable to be around. When I asked him about this, he denied it and again said that I was silly. Elizabeth, I feel as though I am losing my mind. Did you not observe it?" Jane asked.
"I did indeed. You are right in your assessment that something is off. Maybe you should not be so hasty to assume that Bingley is having an affair though. I know that he loves you very much." Elizabeth responded.
"As do I. It is just that I cannot make heads or tails of this situation. I am so glad that you could see it too." Jane said.
"I do. We will get this sorted out, I promise. I feel ridiculously tired now. Let us sleep on this and turn things over tomorrow. We will work to get a fresh perspective on what is happening." Elizabeth said, yawning.
"Yes, perhaps things will look better in the morning after we have rested a bit." Jane agreed. "Good night dear. Thank you so much for coming to rescue me." Jane said, kissing her sister on the cheek, and walking toward the door.
"You give me too much credit for the 'rescue' bit, but I am glad to be here with you. Goodnight." Elizabeth said as she crawled toward the centre of the large inviting bed. She could not remember the last time she had felt so tired.
~0~
Elizabeth was awakened sometime in the middle of the night to a weird sound of crying and retching. Alarmed, she tiptoed from her bed and put her ear to the door next to her own room. Who could that be? A maid? Lightly, she wrapped on the door.
"Please let me in," she whispered. "Please, let me in." She tried the door but found it to be locked.
Elizabeth debated going to Jane and Bingley's room for help, or to one of the servant's rooms. She heard a faint clicking sound and realized that the door was being unlocked. A puffy, red-faced Caroline opened the door, standing in her purple nightdress, hair matted to her head.
Elizabeth gasped when she saw her, and a strong smell of vomit wafted through the open door. Elizabeth put her hand to Caroline's forehead to check for fever. She did not feel hot, but she looked miserable. Elizabeth worried that the girl may have been delirious.
"Why are you staying a guest room, at the remotest part of the house? Let me get Bingley-" Elizabeth started.
"No!" Caroline shot back quickly. "You can't… he can't," and at that, she sagged to the floor crying.
Elizabeth was mildly shocked. She had never seen Caroline so unrefined. Elizabeth recalled looking the way Caroline did when she was pregnant with Edward. She had had a difficult pregnancy- suddenly, Elizabeth knew what was wrong.
"Caroline, you are pregnant?" Elizabeth asked.
Caroline hesitated for the longest moment, and then nodded her head, unable to look at Elizabeth in the eye.
"How far along are you?"
"Two or three months, I guess," Caroline responded.
"Does your brother know?" Elizabeth asked.
"He suspects," Caroline responded.
"And, is this why you are here?"
Caroline nodded her head, tears cascading down her cheeks. "But why are you staying in the guest room next to here?" Caroline asked.
Elizabeth did not bother to explain to her about Jane's reason. "Who is this baby's father?" Elizabeth asked instead, softly.
Caroline put her head in her hands and murmured quietly into them.
"Who?" Elizabeth repeated.
"Viscount Henry," Caroline said through her tears. Elizabeth sat on the floor beside Caroline and rubbed her back as she cried. Elizabeth was at a loss for words.
"Did he know?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes. We were in love. We had planned on getting married. We were to announce our engagement to Lord and Lady Matlock after they returned home from your anniversary party. We were going to have a quick wedding, so as not to scandalised the ton with an early baby. And now...I do not know what to do."
"We ought to sleep on it," suggested Elizabeth for the second time that evening. "Tomorrow you will tell Jane and Charles, and the right thing to do will be decided."
"I suppose you are right." Caroline agreed, moving toward the bed.
"You do not want to return to your own room?"
"No, I do not want to wake Charles and Jane. I have been sleeping here for some nights. It is for the best."
Elizabeth fetched her a cool washcloth from the washing basin, and Caroline wiped her face down.
"Thank you, Elizabeth."
"You are welcome. Good night." Elizabeth said. She shook her head, tiptoed back to her own room and crawled under the covers.
A.N. What are we to do with Caroline?