A.N. Thank you, Leslie, Guest, abujoe, Lily and Deanna, for commenting. I feed on your speculations and suggestions. So far, I hope I have thrown enough suspicions on everyone to keep you guessing. But don't abandon the story because of the angst. I promise no harm will come to D&E. Although some harm will come to another person in the chapter. Look away when I put the warning sign, if you don't want to read about it. - Enid


Chapter 7

The morning of the funeral service found Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy, and Georgiana readying for their visit to the Matlock House. They had sent for Georgiana and Edward from Pemberley a few days earlier. Elizabeth could sense Darcy's unease at seeing Lord Matlock and was grateful that Georgiana could accompany them on the journey. Her presence seemed to affect Mr. Darcy immediately, almost like a ray of sunshine unexpectedly breaking through a grey cloud.

"Dear brother," Georgiana said. "You are so kind and good. I hope that you will cease in troubling yourself."

"You flatter me in your sentiments. It is not easy for my troubles to be ceased as good old Richard awaits a hangman's noose, while I have the freedom to attend his mother's funeral." Darcy responded.

Elizabeth was silent, unsure of what to say. Her husband's mood had been mostly dark as of late. She knew it had nothing to do with her, yet she could not help but bear the brunt of it, and now worried that poor Georgiana would be affected as well.

"I am sorry," Darcy apologized, observing the pained expression on his sister's face. "I do not wish to trouble you with my own inner demons."

~0~

The Matlock House was crowded with carriages as the Darcy's own pulled into the drive. Elizabeth recognized the rather opulent carriage of Lady Catherine de Bourgh and felt uneasy.

"I see that your aunt has made it," Elizabeth said aloud.

"Please do not worry," Georgiana said, turning her warm affections towards Elizabeth. "I am sure my aunt has laid the past to rest."

Elizabeth wondered if Georgiana actually thought that, or was just attempting to ease Elizabeth's nerves. She severely hoped for the latter, as she did not wish to discredit Georgiana's good judgement.

"I am most glad to see her here today," Darcy said. "I have rather urgent business to discuss with her." Elizabeth gave her husband a look of puzzlement. "She has a connection in London who may have the power to set the Colonel free," Darcy said.

"If that were true, why would she have not tried already?" Elizabeth questioned.

"Lady Catherine is a very peculiar person, as you well know. She prides herself on being needed and of great value to all. I wonder if she is merely waiting to be asked," Darcy concluded.

"That is horrible and completely selfish," Elizabeth said.

"I agree with you, but our thoughts will not change her way. I need you to be on your best behaviour, so that we may be in her favour." Darcy responded.

While Elizabeth knew herself to be in control over her emotions, she found it absurd that a Great Lady of Darcy's aunt's status should have so little control over her own. Elizabeth vowed to try her best, for the Colonel and Lord Matlock's sake.

~0~

The Darcys were shown in by a rather harried footman, instead of Wallace. The drawing room at the Matlock's House was crowded with mourners. As Lady Matlock had been such a kind woman, she had held great admirers, of all ranks and social standings. Elizabeth pinned the sprig of fresh rosemary tied with a black ribbon to her bosom.

As Lord Matlock was strangely absent, Darcy and Elizabeth found Lady Catherine fanning herself seated in what appeared to be a small throne, among a small circle of mourners. Both bowed as they approached her.

"Lady Catherine," Darcy began, warmly, but Elizabeth could detect a hint of strain in his voice.

"How is your health?" Elizabeth said, smiling as best as she could.

"It is not so well," Lady Catherine responded coolly. "It vexes me so to have such grief and sorrow over this past month."

"Yes, indeed it is for all of us," Darcy concurred, "Elizabeth and I had rather hoped that you and Anne would join us for supper tonight."

"Is that so? You and Elizabeth had hoped? And to what do I owe this great pleasure?"

"We have some rather private business to discuss with you. It would be rather ill to speak of it now." Darcy responded.

"Oh, I see," said Lady Catherine. "You must need my help with something."

"We do indeed, madam. It would give us great pleasure for you to join us," Elizabeth replied, with a forced smile.

"Well, I suppose that we could. I only hope you have made improvements in the safety of your house in London. I do not want to end up being murdered by accepting your invitation, " she added, rather cruelly.

"Thank you, Aunt," Darcy said, choosing to disregard her last comment.

"Very well," she said, waving them away.

~0~

Elizabeth was relieved to see Bingley on the far side of the room.

"Come, let us join Charles," she encouraged her husband, making her way across the room.

Darcy's spirits seemed to brighten. He and Charles immediately began discussing their thoughts on Colonel Fitzwilliam's trial, and what might be done to achieve a retrial.

When the conversation ebbed, Elizabeth asked in a low voice. "And how is Caroline?"

"I am afraid that she is worse than when you saw her last, according to Jane's express," Bingley began. "Caroline was intended to journey to St. Mary's yesterday, but she has been too ill to leave Sapphire Park."

"Oh, dear," Elizabeth exclaimed.

"If anyone else asks I am to say that she is already on holiday with friends," Charles admitted.

"Of course," Elizabeth agreed in understanding. "I do hate you bearing this burden."

"As do I."

"Elizabeth," stated Mr. Darcy. "Lord Matlock has just come in, shall we go and pay our respects?"

~0~

Elizabeth and Darcy approached Lord Matlock. He had a drink in his hand.

"You," Lord Matlock said, a bit shakily. "What are you doing here?"

Elizabeth and Darcy looked behind themselves in an attempt to see who Lord Matlock was speaking to. They could not discern the intended troublemaker from the rest of the crowd.

"I am speaking to you," Lord Matlock proclaimed angrily, pointing a shaking finger at Elizabeth.

"I beg pardon, sir?" Elizabeth asked, quite confused.

"What business have you in my home?" he asked Elizabeth, pointedly.

"Elizabeth and I have come to pay our respects to you, Uncle," Darcy stated.

"You are not welcome here," Lord Matlock spat. Darcy immediately took the blame upon himself.

"You have every right to be angry with me. The verdict was unacceptable. I am working on a plan…" Darcy began but was cut off.

"No. YOU." Lord Matlock pronounced, glaring at Elizabeth.

"How dare you come into my home, to pay respects to my wife, when you are to blame for the atrocities that have been committed. Everyone who is in attendance here is aware of the low social standing and ridiculousness of your family. They are the most pathetic bunch of social climbers I have witnessed in my day. My son warns me of the total want of propriety so frequently, so almost uniformly betrayed by your mother, by your three younger sisters, and occasionally even by your father in Hertfordshire. I have no doubt that the person who murdered Henry was someone related to your family," he finished.

At this point, the entire room had grown silent. Elizabeth felt her cheeks grow warm.

"Uncle, I understand your grief and the need to lay blame. However, if anyone is to blame, it is me. My wife and her family have had nothing to do with it." Darcy said as he took Elizabeth's hand in his. "Come, Elizabeth, let us leave Lord Matlock to his grief."

"Leave this house at once," Lord Matlock declared.

Elizabeth felt every eye in the room on her and Darcy as they made their way to the exit. Georgiana left her conversation from the other side of the room and hurried to join them. Elizabeth did not take a breath until they were outside. She was able to contain herself, barely, and with Darcy's arm in hers, until she was safely inside of the carriage. As they trotted hastily down the pebbled drive, she let her tears spill forth.

"There, there," cooed Georgiana, rubbing Elizabeth's back. "Uncle did not mean it," she contended, "he is simply destroyed by his grief, and looking for someone to blame."

Elizabeth wondered how much of that was true. Darcy's jaw was set into a hard line, as he squeezed Elizabeth's hand the entire way home.

~0~

Elizabeth and Darcy had no reason to expect Lady Catherine and Anne after the horrible scene that had occurred at Matlock House but were prepared anyway. They were still more than surprised when Sutton announced the ladies' arrival, barely two hours afterwards.

"Very good," Darcy announced, looking pleased. "Show them in at once."

"I will show myself in," Lady Catherine announced, making her way into Darcy's music room.

"So good of you to come, Lady Catherine and Anne. Please, be welcome," Elizabeth said, gesturing to the seating arrangements.

"After today's spectacle. We decided it was the noble thing to do, to take pity on the two of you, and join you for supper. No doubt you might find it difficult now to have visitors…"

Elizabeth realized that Lady Catherine had rather enjoyed the embarrassment the Darcys had suffered this afternoon, and had, no doubt, only come to rub the entire affair in.

"I doubt very much that society will hang on to the words of a grief-stricken, and perhaps slightly intoxicated gentleman." Darcy pronounced.

"They may if they had had similar thoughts themselves," Lady Catherine said.

Elizabeth felt the blood beginning to boil beneath her veins.

"Georgiana, could you play for us," Elizabeth inquired, hoping to change the subject.

"Yes, please do, you play so well," the usually silent Anne spoke up.

"I will turn your page," Elizabeth said eagerly, happy to get away from Lady Catherine as the servants prepared dinner. She knew that Darcy would wait until then to talk with Lady Catherine about her possible connections. Elizabeth also knew that it would be a very long night indeed.

~0~

"Are you going to beat around the bush all night, or are you going to come out and ask me what it is that you have invited us over for?" Lady Catherine asked between bites of braised lamb.

"Yes, of course," Darcy said, clearing his throat.

"Elizabeth and I have been doing our best to clear Colonel Fitzwilliam of all charges, as we all are aware of his innocence. There has been absolutely no proof of his involvement in the crime that he has been convicted of."

"Yes," Lady Catherine agreed, nodding her head. "We all know that."

"Then you might also know that one of the judges in the Old Bailey, is honorable Judge John Nottley. I understand that he is a mentor for the judge presiding over the Colonel's case. It is my recollection that Judge Nottley and your late husband were quite the huntsmen together." Darcy went on. "I hope that you could reach out to him and use your connection to aid in Richard's release on the grounds of a mistrial," Darcy concluded.

"What grounds would that be?" asked Lady Catherine.

"I have it on good authority that it was, in fact, a hung jury, which was the reason for the courts waiting for the following day to announce the jury's decision. My source confided, that one of the gentlemen from the jury might have been blackmailed into 'changing his mind' overnight." Darcy explained. "Not to mention the lack of any incriminating evidence or motive with which to convict the Colonel. Richard could easily have borrowed the money from me to repay Henry. And the snuff-box that pointed to a third person in the stables was not investigated."

"As well as the incompetence and mismanagement of the case by the Lambton magistrate," Elizabeth stated. "They arrested innocent persons one after another."

"That is not exactly true, Elizabeth," Darcy replied. "Cage and Peabody have done the best that they can with what little evidence they have had to work with." Elizabeth was slightly irritated to be corrected by her husband in front of Lady Catherine, who undoubtedly enjoyed Elizabeth's discomfort to the fullest.

Elizabeth felt that she was holding her breath as she looked from her husband to Lady Catherine.

"And suppose I compromise myself, and my connections, Colonel Fitzwilliam is set free, and then he commits a murder, again?" Lady Catherine postulated.

"But you know of his innocence!" Darcy replied, slamming his napkin onto the table.

Darcy collected himself. "I apologize for my temper, Lady Catherine, but if we do not exercise everything in our power to free the Colonel, then a good and innocent man will die, and his blood will be on our hands." Darcy finished.

Again Lady Catherine was silent as she chewed her meal slowly and agonizingly.

"I suppose I could," she said finally, and Elizabeth let out a sigh of relief.

"I thank you, Aunt, as does Elizabeth and Colonel Fitzwilliam," Darcy said. Elizabeth nodded in agreement. She silently wondered what Lady Catherine might now request of Darcy, for doing him this favour.

It was decided that Lady Catherine would write her message and have it sent immediately, to help expedite things. The ink was not yet dry before Darcy had it delivered.

~0~

Two days later, Mr. Darcy was eager to accept a post that had just come in. He was waiting for news from Lady Catherine. Noticing the name on the front, he frowned and handed it to Elizabeth. It was a letter from Jane. Elizabeth took the note outside to read in the afternoon sun, beneath her favorite tree.

***Warning***

"Dearest Lizzy,

I trust all is well in London and the funeral service of Lady Matlock was well attended.

Charles has not written to me yet, but I am afraid to express the most horrible news regarding Caroline. I can scarcely write the words on this page, as they are so awful. I do loath to burden you with the news that I must disclose, but I feel that I may go mad if I do not. Please forgive me in sharing this with you.

I am not sure if Charles has mentioned Caroline's well being to you during Lady Matlock's funeral. Caroline's condition had been ailing her. She had been closeted in her room, calling for the maids for this and that throughout the days for a few days. I visited her often, but she would dismiss and hurry me out of the room after a few minutes. I asked her if she needed a doctor and Caroline declined. Yesterday after I returned from a short trip to Mansfield, the servants informed me that Caroline had sent for a doctor of her own, from Nottingham no less. I was relieved that she had the sense to get someone so far away as Charles wished for Caroline's condition to be unknown to the servants. I went to check on her and feared that she was on death's bed upon seeing her, but she looked not too grave, if a bit pale.

When I questioned her about the doctor, Caroline said she felt unwell. Apparently, Caroline had asked one of our servants to brew her a special tea with herbs she had instructed to collect by different maids around Sapphire Park; Pennyroyal, Blue Cohosh, and Mugwort. Caroline had been drinking this tea around the clock the day before, and it seemed to produce the desired effect she had. Caroline is now no longer in the condition that she once was.

Oh, I am quite beside myself with the horror and grief of it all. I have written to Charles and am awaiting his decision. But I am sure poor Charles would decide that once Caroline is well enough to travel, she will go to Sanditon, for an extended holiday near the ocean, as we had already informed several friends that Caroline would be away from home. I think the sea air will be good for her spirit. I do not believe Charles can bear the sight of her when he returns from London, truth be told.

I wish you were here with me, sister, though I would not want for you to share in this burden. I know that I can count on your absolute discretion in this matter. Please give my affections to Darcy and Georgiana, and do keep us updated with any news from London regarding the Colonel.

Yours most affectionately,

Jane."

***Warning ends***

Elizabeth clenched the letter tightly in her hand. She felt tears welling in her eyes for Henry's baby, Jane, Charles, and even for Caroline. She walked directly to a parlour on her way into the house and proceeded to tear the letter into tiny pieces, which she promptly tossed into the fireplace. Elizabeth was beside herself in feeling utterly at a loss to help not only Colonel Fitzwilliam but the Bingleys, as well.

The following day, Darcy received the letter from Rosings in which he had been waiting for on pins and needles.

"The case will not be dismissed, as I had hoped," he informed Elizabeth. "But it seems that there will be a re-trial," he added. "Richard is still remanded in custody."

Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief. "When will the re-trial take place?"

"Monday, August the 27th."

"That is not exactly the news that you had hoped for, but nevertheless it is good news," stated Elizabeth, optimistically.

"Yes, I suppose you are right," Darcy admitted. "There is still hope."

"Of course there is, darling," Elizabeth returned.

"Lady Catherine also asked that we visit Rosings when everything has settled down," Darcy said.

"Is that so?" Elizabeth muttered slowly.

"Yes, apparently she has something that she wishes to discuss with us," Darcy said.

Elizabeth did her best to disguise the disgust and dread she was feeling. She knew that no good act went unencumbered for Lady Catherine.