Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, favorited, and followed. I am so happy that you are enjoying this story. Most of you have guessed the truth so here it is. Unexpected visitors to end the evening.
The final surprise of the night took place just past dinner. The members of the household were in the parlor when the sound of the bell alerted them to visitors. Mr. Davis entered the parlor.
"Lady Matlock and Miss de Bourgh to see you, sir."
"Send them in." Mr. Darcy said, quickly rising.
Mr. Davis nodded and stepped out. He was back quickly leading the ladies. Greetings and introductions were made then the ladies took their seats.
"Please forgive us calling so late." Lady Matlock began. "We only arrived back just prior to dinner. I had planned to wait until tomorrow to call..."
"But I insisted we come tonight." Anne stated. "I have been ever so anxious. You cannot imagine the relief I felt when our aunt and uncle appeared at Rosings. I had worried something might have happened before she arrived. Is she well? Is she still here?"
"Anne, who are you speaking of?" her aunt asked.
"Lizzie, of course."
"She is here." Georgiana supplied. "She is still healing but the doctor believes she will recover."
Anne gave a sigh of relief.
"I worried for her terribly. I feel so guilty for not stopping it. I was going to try but Lizzie saw me first. She motioned me to keep me away. Then, after, I stayed with her until they came to take her away. I would never have let them take her if I could have helped her, protected her. You must believe me." Tears glistened in her eyes. "Is she angry at me for not doing more? Do you think she will speak to me?"
"Elizabeth is not speaking to anyone at present." Mr. Darcy said.
An anguished look covered his cousin's face. Tears began to spill down her cheeks.
"I am sorry, Anne. I only meant that she cannot speak presently. I am sure she would be happy to see you." he said in a rush. He gave her his handkerchief. "She is not able to move much but she can write."
Anne dried her tears.
"Will someone please tell me what is going on?" Lady Matlock asked.
"Mother hurt Lizzie. I sent her here so William could protect her." Anne explained. "May I see her?"
"What do you mean you sent her here? How did your mother harm her? Who is this girl?"
"Perhaps we should move this conversation upstairs, Darcy." Colonel Fitzwilliam remarked. "It may be easier to explain everything after Anne has seen Miss Elizabeth is indeed safe."
"Yes, please." Anne agreed with a vigorous nod.
"Come Anne. Let us go see Elizabeth." Georgiana said taking her cousin's hand.
The two younger ladies led the way out of the room with the gentlemen and Lady Matlock following.
Mrs. Annesley answered their knock on the bedroom door. She stepped aside and allowed the group to enter. Lady Matlock gasped at the sight of the bruised Elizabeth on the bed. Anne rushed to the bedside.
"Lizzie, I am so sorry. I should have done more. I should have done...done something." Anne lamented taking her friend's hand. "Please forgive me."
Elizabeth gave her hand a squeeze then released it. She reached for the chalk.
"You saved me." she wrote carefully.
"I should have done more, but I was afraid of what Mother would do to you if I tried."
Elizabeth clasped Anne's hand again.
"The doctor said that Elizabeth is recovering well." Georgiana explained. "He believes she will be up in a week's time. Most of the bruising is beginning to fade."
"This is improvement?" Lady Matlock remarked. "Heavens, what was her condition before?"
Elizabeth glanced at the lady then to Mr. Darcy. He quickly made introductions.
"This is the Elizabeth Bennet that Anne wrote me about?"
"It is." Anne replied then she turned back to her friend. "As soon as you can speak, you will have that discussion we talked about. I am here now so I will be happy to facilitate."
"In time." Elizabeth wrote followed by, "Letter?"
"Letter?"
"I believe she means my letter." Mr. Darcy remarked.
"Yes." Elizabeth wrote.
"What about it?" Anne asked.
"Do you know what happened to it?" Mr. Darcy asked.
"Lizzie burned it. Did she not tell you?"
"Elizabeth cannot remember the events of Friday."
"How terrible. It is terrible to know but to be as you are and not know how or why. It must be fearsome."
"Anne, could you tell us what you know about what happened?" Colonel Fitzwilliam asked.
Anne nodded.
"I was preparing to go out in my phaeton to meet Lizzie as we had arranged. When I came downstairs I heard Mr. Collins talking in the hall. I peeked around the corner and saw him standing with Lizzie. Mr. Jefferson stepped out of the parlor and said Mother would see them."
"Do you know what happened in the parlor?"
"I stuck down to the other door once Mr. Jefferson went back to his post. Mr. Collins was babbling on about something then he mentioned a letter. Mother asked where it was and Mr. Collins produced it from his pocket."
"Mr. Collins had the letter? He read it?" Mr. Darcy asked quickly.
"He only knew the letter was written by you and addressed to Lizzie. He said that he would not read the correspondence of such a high gentleman. He only looked to see who the letter was from when he took it from Lizzie. Upon seeing it was from you he brought it and her directly to Rosings to inform Mother."
"So your mother read the letter?"
"No, Lizzie snatched it from Mr. Collins's hand before he could reach Mother." Anne said proudly. "She tore it into pieces. Mother demanded that he bring her the pieces and Lizzie threw them into the fireplace. Mr. Collins was going to try to get them from the fire but Lizzie held him off with the fireplace poker. Mother demanded to know what was in the letter but Lizzie would not tell." She paused a moment. "That is when Mother sent Mr. Collins for Mr. Jefferson."
"What did Mr. Jefferson do?" the colonel asked quietly.
Anne turned to Elizabeth.
"I would have helped. I stepped into the room and you shook your head. They did not see me because Mother was talking to them. Even once he...you waved me off. They likely thought you merely struggling but you looked right at me. You waved me to go."
Elizabeth squeezed her hand again.
"Anne, what happened?"
Anne looked to her cousins again.
"Mr. Jefferson came in. Mother told Mr. Jefferson to make her tell. He pulled the poker from her hand then grabbed her by the throat and lifted her off the ground. That is when I stepped into the room. She waved me off though. Once I stepped back, she kicked him. Very hard in...a sensitive place. He dropped her then."
"Was Mr. Collins in the room during this assault?" Mr. Darcy asked. Anne nodded. "Did he do nothing to stop it?"
"He was babbling about it not being necessary and his cousin having charges brought against him. Mother told him to be silent and that there would be nothing to worry over. Once Mr. Jefferson dropped Lizzie and Mother attacked her, I think he was too shocked to say anything further."
"Lady Catherine attacked Miss Bennet herself?" Lady Matlock asked surprised.
"Yes. Lizzie was trying to get to her feet but Mother struck her with her walking stick. She hit her so many times. It was like she was possessed. When she stopped, Lizzie was not moving anymore. I feared..." she voiced trailed off then she took a deep breath. "Mother told Mr. Collins to send for all Lizzie's belongings from the parsonage to be brought to Rosings. Mr. Jefferson was up again by then. She had him carry Lizzie to the back parlor."
"Why would she want her things to be brought to Rosings?" Lady Matlock asked.
"Miss Elizabeth arrived here in her fully packed trunk." Colonel Fitzwilliam explained.
"In her trunk?"
"Mother was going to send her to a brothel that Mr. Jefferson's cousin owns in London. I heard her say it. I snuck into the back parlor. I was going to sneak Lizzie out and hide her until we could get away but she was unconscious. I stayed with her until I heard them coming back. I hid. Once Lizzie's trunk arrived, Mother came in and forced Lizzie to take some laudanum because Mr. Collins was worried she would wake before she reached London and alert the driver. Mr. Jefferson put Lizzie in the trunk then put a paper with the address on it. They left the room. I changed the address and put the paper back. Mr. Jefferson returned with two men who carried Lizzie's trunk out to a cart. I saw Mr. Jefferson pay them from the window."
"So they were not members of Rosings' staff?"
"No, I had never seen them before. I did hear Mother speaking to Mr. Jefferson about them later. He said the footman had found them at the inn. They had made a delivery to one of the shops in Kent and were planning to return to London."
"They were likely pleased to be paid for a trip they had already planned to make." the colonel remarked and the others nodded.
"Anne, I will give you a bit of time to visit with your friend." Lady Matlock said. "Gentlemen, if you would join me in the sitting room."
Everyone nodded and the gentlemen followed Lady Matlock out.
Once seated in the sitting room and the footman dismissed, Lady Matlock asked to be told the rest of the details regarding Elizabeth. Mr. Darcy shared the story of meeting Elizabeth in Hertfordshire and again at Rosings. Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Bingley added details as needed. The failed proposal and the letter were explained as well.
"She turned down your proposal but Anne seems to think that you would still want to marry her."
"I do." Mr. Darcy replied. "I have already informed her father of that fact as well. Once she is well enough to return home, I plan to follow and work to gain her heart and her hand. Bingley has offered me his hospitality. I will stay at Netherfield until win her or am convinced there is no hope."
"Many people would think a failed proposal means there is no hope." his aunt remarked.
"We had some misunderstandings."
"So like Anne, you believe if you talk things through you will be on the path to marriage."
"It is my hope." he replied.
"I wish you the best of luck, William. Once she is better, I look forward to getting to know her."
"We will have to tell Father what happened." Colonel Fitzwilliam remarked. "Something must be done about Lady Catherine."
"Indeed." his mother replied. "I will speak to him in the morning. He and your brother were at cards when Anne and I left."
"Perhaps I should join you."
"We will have to inform Mr. Bennet as well." Mr. Darcy said. "He will want to be involved in bringing his daughter's attackers to justice."
"After we speak with Father, we will go speak to Mr. Bennet."
So the truth is known.