Chapter Sixteen

Mr. Collins came into Mary's bedroom and stared at Lydia's dead body.

Mary answered Mr. Collins questioned as she dragged Lydia's body to the bed. She put the girl on the bed and turned to Mr. Collins, "I killed her…She found out about Papa and Mr. Wickham. She would have told everyone."

Mr. Collins went over to Lydia. He put a hand on her cheek before turning to Mary, "You should have told me. I would have handled her on my own. We agreed that I would do the dirty work."

Mary bowed her head and stared at her lifeless sister. She whispered, "Stupid girl…She…she should have minded her own business."

Mr. Collins looked at her, "Mary, you are mad…Beautifully mad." He took a look at her and saw her in a new light. Something about her was glowing. It was like a lantern. It was like he was a moth, being drawn to the lantern. To the fire.

Mary sighed, "I'm not "beautifully mad". There's nothing beautiful about me."

Mr. Collins put a hand on her cheek and made her face him, "Mary Bennet, you are beautiful. The others are the homely ones. You are the most perfect living thing to grace this world. You are smart, strong, and beautiful. I love you."

Mary looked to Mr. Collins and smiled, serenely, "I love you, too…"

Mr. Collins leaned down to kiss her. Mary happily accepted the kiss. Afterwards, Mary turned to Lydia.

"So…what are we going to do about her?"

The next day…

"Your move, Mr. Collins," Mary said, smugly, as she took another pawn off the chess table.

Mr. Collins frowned as he tried to figure out where to move his bishop.

It was then that they heard a loud scream from Katherine.

Mary and Mr. Collins looked at each other as Mrs. Bennet, Jane, and Elizabeth went upstairs.

Kitty was standing in the doorway of Lydia's room. She was pointing at what was inside.

The females looked in to see Lydia's body. Around her neck was a noose. The rope was tied around the light fixture on the ceiling. It was amazing that it was able to hold her limp body. There was a chair at her feet, it was overturn.

There were screams and gasps. Mrs. Bennet ran inside and took the rope off her daughter's neck. Elizabeth took her sister's body and went to lie her on the bed. Her body was cold. She had been dead for hours.

"Checkmate," Mary smirked as she won the game.

Later…

"God have mercy on this family," Mr. Phillips sighed as he and Mr. Evers looked over the bedroom of Lydia Bennet.

Mr. Evers picked up the chair and set it up straight, "Something does not feel right." He looked at the rope that was still hanging from the light fixture. He turned to his older partner and told him, "Take measurements on the chair and rope. I'm going to talk to the family."

Mr. Phillips sighed, hating to be stuck with the boring work.

Mr. Evers went downstairs. The family was in the palor room. Mrs. Bennet and Kitty were on the settee, crying on each other's shoulders. Elizabeth and Jane were in separate chairs, staring at the floor.

Mary was sitting in Mr. Bennet's chair. No one else dared to sit there except for her. It was strange in everyone's minds how she could do that. But no one questioned it out loud. Mary had a handkerchief in her hand. She was dabbing her eyes.

Mr. Collins was standing behind Mary. He hand his hand on her shoulder in a comforting manner. He knew that the detectives were here. He was prepared to say anything to protect him and his love.

Mr. Evers went into the palor room and sighed, "Once again…I am very sorry…Can you tell me any reason why Lydia would want to kill herself."

Mary was about to say something when Kitty answered for her, "…Mr. Wickham. She loved him. His death must have been too much."

Mary let out a small smile and Mr. Collins squeezed her shoulder, gently.

Later that afternoon…

Mr. Collins sighed as he took a deep breath. He went into the palor room of the Lucas house. His fiancée was sitting on her couch. This plain girl revolted Mr. Collins. Everything about her disgusted him. From her short, messy hair to her ugly, stick-figured body, it all made Mr. Collins uninterested. It made Mr. Collins want to be with Mary. He loved her long brown hair. He loved it was it fashioned in a bun, with one curl coming down. He loved her full body and how her curves were fuller than her sisters.

"Mr. Collins, I am glad you came. I need to talk to you," Charlotte told him as she stood up. She walked over to him and smiled at him, "I want to change the date of the wedding. I want to get married this week. As soon as possible."

Mr. Collins looked at her, perplexed, "Why?"

Charlotte explained, "All this death…It is unsettling. I want to get married as soon as possible. I would hate if tragedy struck again and you were to die."

Mr. Collins wanted to laugh at the stupid girl, but decided not to. He knew that Charlotte did not love him. She just wanted to get married so she would not become an old maid. Mr. Collins chuckled slightly at the idea of him and Mary getting married and Charlotte would be their maid. Oh, the satisfaction…

"Why are you laughing?" Charlotte asked, uneasy.

Mr. Collins smiled and covered it up, "My dear, you should not worry of such things. However, if you insist upon marrying early, I will not object. The invitations have not been sent out yet."

Charlotte smiled as her nervousness went away, "Good. As you know, I am not a romantic. However, I would like to get married on the first day of winter. That is this Wednesday."

Mr. Collins pushed his smile further, "Anything for you…"

'So Wednesday is the day I will be free…' He thought as he bowed to Charlotte and took his leave.