Dear Sunday friends, thank you for the lovely comments and speculations. I've edited the last chapter slightly for grammar and repetition. In this chapter, there is a bit of mush and clues. I hope they help you solve the mystery. Happy reading and commenting!
Also, should we play the chapter title suggestion again? Please send them (Chapters 1 to 8 first) to me via PM or put them in the review. I will select and choose the ones I like to use. I wonder what ghostly or spooky titles you would come up with. Thank you.
Chapter 16
Darcy thought for a minute and nodded his head. "Uncle David does have roving eyes. Remember he said about his financial difficulties due to his drinking problem? I think he spent more on his women each year than a country gentleman's yearly income. He also likes to gamble."
"It makes sense that Lord Matlock would give the living at Stapleford to Mr. Collins if he is his real father. I wonder who are the other children of Mrs. Bingley."
"Do you think we should ask Charles?" Darcy said.
"I doubt Mr. Bingley would know," Elizabeth shook her head. "He is, after all, of the younger generation. Would your father or Judge Darcy know? Are they close to Lord Matlock?"
"I wouldn't say extremely close. But we are neighbours, and they must have seen a lot of each other when they were young, like my Fitzwilliam cousins and I."
"Let us get them somewhere private to talk without raising the Matlocks and Mr. Collins's suspicions."
But both the elderly gentlemen were called away to Lambton. So that had to wait for the evening.
Darcy thus sat down with Charles, Jane and Elizabeth for breakfast. Not long afterwards, Mr. Collins walked into the room. Elizabeth frowned. Did Mr. Collins not tell Mr. Darcy senior that he wouldn't be staying in Pemberley while the gypsy girl was present? Fitzwilliam smiled at her, urging her to eat with his eyes. When Mr. Collins saw that Darcy wasn't ready to acknowledge his presence, he turned to Elizabeth, but she also was avoiding his eyes. "Miss Elizabeth," he called her name.
She froze, then slowly looked at him. "Can I help you?" It was strange. Mr. Collins looked nervous and unsure of himself, nothing like how he acted yesterday in the garden with Mr. Darcy senior.
"I wanted to..." Mr. Collins paused. It looked like he was having difficulty passing his message or being forced to say something he didn't want to say. Elizabeth didn't know which one it was. "I heard that your maid Heather was well. I'll take care of the incident with the villagers so it doesn't happen again. So that innocent bystander like yourself won't be hurt again." Ah, so Mr. Collins believed Heather was the gypsy instead of Elizabeth.
Darcy scoffed. "You're unbelievable. I know you are the one who told them Miss Zeath is a witch, and maybe you didn't want her killed. But if you're here to apologise, at least offer a good one."
"It's fine. Calm down, Mr. Darcy. You don't have to apologise to me, Mr. Collins. I'm fine, as you can see. Luckily Mr. Darcy was there to save me." After that, she returned to her breakfast, and chatted pleasantly with her sister and Mr. Bingley. At the same time, Darcy kept staring at Collins with hard eyes, not knowing what to do. Mr. Collins turned and left.
"Oh well." Darcy let out a 'tsk' with his tongue. "Let's just hope that his pride wouldn't one day be the reason for his death."
"You know him. Even if he wants to say sorry, he wouldn't say it to me. I feel better because I know the courage he must have gathered to even walk in here." Elizabeth smiled. "I do want the guilt to hit him for a while now, till he learns his lesson. But I don't understand; I heard him telling your father he wouldn't stay in Pemberley because your father is harbouring a witch. Why is he still here?"
"Indeed? Now that you raise this, I think he also looks slightly different in his demeanour than before," Darcy gathered his thought. "He was a deer caught among his prey just now; nothing like the confident, outrageous vicar who had attended the dinner when we first returned from Rosings. Perhaps I'm imagining things now that I know he is Mrs. Bingley and Lord Matlock's bastard son." The last sentence was only whispered to Elizabeth when he saw that Charles was distracted by his talk to Jane.
"We don't know for sure. My dream could be just a dream."
"I have trust in you, Elizabeth. But enough of Collins. After breakfast, I will get you those fruits you had visited Rowsley for."
"Oh, you don't have to."
"I want to." She nodded and went back to her food. The moment was spent with them slowly stealing glances at each other, trying not to raise Charles and Jane's suspicions. When their eyes would meet, Elizabeth would let out a little squeak of surprise and act like she was staring at something else the entire time. Lady Anne sat at a corner, watching the two with a smile. Elizabeth might not admit it, but she knew.
Darcy didn't go out for the fruits till an hour later, and this time, Elizabeth was ready for him. She had gotten dressed and went to wait for him outside the garden when he said he would help pick the fruits. Though he could easily send the bits of help, he had said he wanted to go himself. Elizabeth decided to use the opportunity and step out a little. "Are you ready?" She asked when he stepped out, using one hand to fix her hat and the other to hold tight to the basket.
He raised an eyebrow when he noticed she was dressed to go out. "Yes, I am. But where do you think you're going to?"
"I'm following you, of course. I mean, to help pick the fruits and I...there are other things I would like to get."
"If there is any other thing you want, tell me, and I'll get them for you."
She poured. "I just... Freedom, okay? Mr. Darcy I'm not trapped here, but I feel like I am. I was starting to feel like a locked-up princess in a castle."
"I'm sorry, Elizabeth. But you still can't walk properly. You're still limping. Why don't you go back to bed? When you are properly healed, we could...uh, go together?" He suggested, taking the basket for her. "If you feel so alone, I could send a maid on an errand and sit back with you. I could tell you stories of my adventures when I was young. I'm sure they would help put you to sleep."
Elizabeth wanted him to stay but couldn't bring herself to say it. "No worries, I'll be fine. You go, I just remembered I want to... I have to go, thank you." She hurried away, still limping, while Darcy stared after her.
On her way to the room, she saw Mr. Collins. Elizabeth was surprised to see him again because she thought he had already left. She wanted to hide, but he had seen her already, and now it would be weird if she just left. She nodded in greeting when he came to a stop before her. "Is there a problem?" She asked him.
"I didn't say there was. I just wanted to tell you to be careful out there. Young Darcy might have spoken to the people, and I also did. They won't try to harm you again. But it doesn't mean they trust you."
"Thanks for the warning. But they were not after me. They were after Miss Zeath," Elizabeth told him. "And I'll be careful. If you would excuse me, I'll like to return to my room now." He nodded and moved aside, and Elizabeth hurried away.
When Darcy returned, he invited her for a picnic near the pond. Elizabeth had taken her time to make sure her appearance was good. They had gotten close, and she couldn't deny her feelings for him. Sometimes, when they discussed, she would get lost, looking deep into his eyes, and ending up in an embarrassing mess.
She gave a little twirl before the big mirror, and this movement caused her hat, which had not been set correctly on her curls, to fall. Elizabeth sighed and bent to pick the hat but froze midway at the sound of a rip. While twirling, her dress got caught by an old nail from the table near the mirror. She hadn't noticed this and had her dress ripped. "Oh no," she muttered, trying to see if it caused much damage. She let out a hiss when she saw the big mark, and even her underpants were showing. "Curse you a stupid splinter." She cried, running to her wardrobe.
It was already five minutes past the time she told Mr. Darcy she would meet him and know him, and he was very punctual. The thought of him waiting for her sent her anxiety up. Suddenly, she was doing everything while doing nothing simultaneously. "Oh, I'll just wear anything I can." She reached out and grabbed whatever clothing she laid her hands on, not even bothering to look at it. She began stripping off her everyday clothes, and once she was done, she threw on the blue gown she had picked. "Not bad," she said, looking in the mirror after she had worn the dress.
She grabbed her hat, hurried down, and got to the garden, happy that she didn't run into anyone, especially Mr. Collins. "Hey," she greeted as she walked over to him. "I'm sorry for the delay, and I had a little embarrassing accident."
"Oh, it's fine. I just arrived...not so long ago," Darcy told her, clearing his throat nervously. She bit her lips to hold back a smile. He was beginning to grow in her. Seeing him acted like this gave her hope that the feeling growing in her might also be in him. That was just how he affected her, and she also concerned him. "Will you join me?" He had set up the place nicely. Darcy had said it would be a little picnic, but there was nothing little about what Elizabeth was seeing.
"Sure," she said.
He stood up and helped her lay on a mat beside him. She sat close to him, stretching her legs to be more comfortable. The sky was cloudy, so they were blessed with a cool breeze instead of the sun's heat. It brought about this peaceful vibe in this air that, even with all going on, they felt light at heart and knew this was the moment they could just relax. "So, how have you been this afternoon?" She asked, turning her head slightly to face him before chewing into chewing on a strawberry. The juice sipped from the corners of her lips. She blushed, wiping it away immediately.
Darcy hadn't seen this, though. His eyes were somewhere else. He answered without looking at her. "Fine." He nodded. "Just...missing my mother...you know what, forget what I just said, I should never have. Things are going well, great."
She swallowed before speaking to him. "You don't have to lie or pretend to me, Mr. Darcy, and it's okay if you want to talk about your mother." Elizabeth wanted Mr. Darcy to know that she was someone he could always trust. Though they hadn't known each other for so long, she trusted him but knew little about him. She wanted him to trust her, but she didn't want to push.
"Maybe another time," he told her. "Let's leave the discussion for another day and enjoy this moment now."
"Sure." She smiled, reaching to take another strawberry. They talked about how Darcy's day went, and he told her about the little argument two of the workers at the shed had. They spoke to the sun's afterglow, which later showed its face after the clouds cleared, reminding them that the meeting with his father and uncle James was approaching. "Let's go in."
Darcy escorted Elizabeth to her room. "You should go rest. If you need anything, you know where to find me."
"I'll be fine." She smiled. "You worry too much, and I've had enough rest already. Every time you're telling me to rest, I've been resting and feeling much better now. Though I'm not complaining, you don't have to stick around like I'm a little child you must take care of. I can take care of myself," she said.
"I know. I know I shouldn't, but I'm scared to leave you alone after what happened the last time. You're important to me," Darcy said softly, looking deep into her eyes. For a moment, it was just them and no one else.
"So, how are you feeling now? Much better, I hope?"
"Yes." She answered. "Also, I better get back to why I'm here. I've had enough rest. The sooner we finish this, the sooner I can leave here."
"Yeah," he muttered, then continued, his voice much louder this time. "I've gotten so used to seeing you here that I have forgotten you'll be leaving soon." He smiled. "I better get back to see how the servants handle the uh...things. See you later." He waved her goodbye and turned to walk away.
Elizabeth watched him leave. She had been so interested in the investigation and going, and she didn't think of leaving Pemberley —till now. She would miss him.
Elizabeth suddenly felt like a character from a romance novel she had read. Everything about the atmosphere made her want to lean in and kiss him badly. But she didn't want to make the first move. She still wasn't sure about his feelings for her and didn't want to make a fool of herself. She wondered if he was going to kiss, prayed he was going to. She could see him leaning forward. "A-are you—Christ!" She shouted, jumping back, also scaring Darcy.
"What's wrong?" He asked with a panicked, filled voice, looking around. "I'm sorry, did I scare you?" He was going to say something else, but she was already speaking.
"No." She shook her head. She was already going to lean in and kiss Mr. Darcy when she saw Lady Anne watching them from a corner in the room. "Uh...I should probably go in. I'll see you in an hour?"
He looked like he would say something else but changed his mind. "Yeah, see you later, at my study." Without another word, he left. Elizabeth sighed and closed her door, resting her head against the wood. "Oh, Lord."
"So, you like my son?" She wasn't surprised to hear Lady Anne's voice. "You don't need to answer that. I can already see it. Why didn't you kiss him?"
"Because you were there," Elizabeth pouted. When Darcy had asked when it happened, all Elizabeth could think about was how she would tell him that she screamed because the ghost of his late mother was watching them. He would also feel awkward about it.
"He likes you. I can see it. You also like him. You should tell him how you feel."
"I can't do that," Elizabeth said, shaking her head. "I have a mission here, and that's what I have to...I have to focus on. I can't get distracted. Maybe after all this, Mr. Darcy and I can consider the possibility of us getting together. But... we'll see."
"Ah, well, I won't be there to spoil the moment for Fitzwilliam with you. I hope we can solve the mystery soon. I will take the soup and get a new life."
"I'm not saying you are unwelcome. You know that young Mr. Darcy misses you."
"I know. Fitzwilliam is a good boy. But every mother should know when to let go of her baby. He has grown into an excellent man. I should leave him to court you. I'm delighted with his choice of a mate." Lady Anne then disappeared with a puff of air. Elizabeth shook her head in resignation.
Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth met Mr. Darcy senior, and Judge Darcy at Fitzwilliam's study later. Elizabeth summarised her dream to them.
"I couldn't imagine where David would have met Mrs. Bingley. He was a viscount and mostly stuck to his expensive haunts." Old Mr. Darcy said.
"Yes, David may be less class conscious now, but he was as arrogant as Catherine in those days," Judge Darcy commented. "He wouldn't give me the time of day because I am the second son. I'm sure he wouldn't give Mrs. Bingley's more than a glance because her father was a relatively poor gentleman from Bristol."
"Bristol?" Elizabeth interrupted. "But that is where Lady Matlock's family comes from, right? I heard Lady Catherine talked about that during our stay in Rosings."
"Indeed, Augusta is the youngest of the two daughters of a Bristol merchant with a fortune of ten thousand," Mr. Darcy senior said. "I remember Anne telling me Catherine was outraged by her brother having such a young wife and connection to trade no less. Catherine felt that the name of the Fitzwilliam had been dragged down by such a marriage. David was nearly 50 years old when he married 24-year-old Miss Hawkins. The courtship and marriage were done in less than a month, about six years ago. Anne said Catherine believed she could have prevented it if she had been given more time. She would have scolded her brother about maintaining the nobility of their family line."
"What are you going with this question, Miss Elizabeth?" Fitzwilliam asked.
Elizabeth frowned and shook her head. "I am not sure. But something is bothering me about it."
"David and Mrs. Bingley could have murdered Anne to prevent the true parentage of Mr. Collins from being discovered," Judge Darcy speculated. "But we should also try to discover the other two bastard children born by Mrs. Bingley. Perhaps they were jealous of Mr. Collins, and Anne was killed in the crossfire."
"If you believe these children born out of wedlock were also present at the party three years ago," Mr. Darcy nodded to his brother. "Could they be working as servants in Pemberley?"
"Could these illegitimate children have been all fathered by Uncle David? We shouldn't discount that they might be of different fathers," Fitzwilliam added. "What if the man or men wanted to do away with Mr. Bingley or Lord Matlock and killed Mother accidentally instead."
"But all your speculations are based on my dream," Elizabeth added. "What if the dream is not a full reflection of what actually happened?"
"I believe Anne would warn us if we go off the track. But my head hurts thinking of all the possible scenarios," Mr. Darcy cried out. "I don't know how you could do it daily, James. Deciding who is guilty or not."
"I listen to the evidence presented to me and guide the jury to their conclusion. But Fitzwilliam is right here. There are still several unknown factors. Talking to Mrs. Bingley is the easiest way to find out the truth. But since the Bingleys are away from the holiday, we should talk to Lord Matlock."
