"There has been no evidence then, no hint of any knowledge whatsoever? If Sir Tyler is involved as deeply as the numbers suggest our suspect to be, his family cannot be unaware." Richard frowned keenly, his frame casting a long shadow in the empty sitting room.
"I have tried to engage Lady Halbright about all and sundry matters. She does nothing apart from lamenting over anything and everything." Elizabeth sighed, as frustrated as her partner was over their lack of progress in the past two days. "And while I do believe guilty parties sometimes pretend to be having a difficult time as a means of diversion, her complaints have seemed sincere. Her outfits, at least, do imply that the Halbrights have not been materially blessed of late."
Richard nodded, still frowning. "Culham has kept mostly to himself and has proven quite difficult to decipher. Given his family's established fortune, one wonders why a man in his position would risk the charges of smuggling, or even treason, for personal gain."
"We are all selfish, are we not? Perhaps a bad year's crops, or some speculation gone wrong, could easily drive a gentleman farmer to desperate measures."
"You are more aware of such things that a gentlelady often would be."
Elizabeth flinched. "Trying times leave little room for missishness."
"Forgive me." He touched her arm briefly. "I meant no insult. If anything, I appreciate your insight. You are right, of course. Any man, even one with a seemingly secure fortune, can easily be driven to less desirable activities by desperation."
"Or greed," Elizabeth suggested. She smirked at her companion's surprised look. "Not all criminals are driven by noble motives, even if the novels suggest otherwise."
"Indeed." Richard straightened himself before sighing once more. "Onervan, of course, is a coarse and unlikable creature. It would be easy to pin the blame on him, if only because the man is so very unpleasant. But it is facts we are after, not friends."
"No, not friends." Elizabeth smiled. "I only hope we would be able to lay our hands on some better clues soon. I am getting quite tired of engaging with the so-called gentlemen."
"Even my brother and my cousin?" Richard teased. "Lady Harriett would be happy to hear that you have no designs upon my brother, but Darcy should know better than to offend the only lady amongst us."
Elizabeth laughed. "Your family has been nothing but kind. Although I would never profess your cousin to be amiable or open-mannered."
"No, he is not. And yet the man is a loyal fellow, once you come to know him."
"Oh, I can tell that he is."
"Truly? And how so?"
Elizabeth shook her head. "I fear you may be the one to find offense if I were to share my observations."
"Please, try me."
"Your cousin has been observing me, constantly, in an attempt to see if I am indeed sincere in my supposed affections for the man he is told I would marry."
It took the earl's son a brief moment to fully comprehend the point. "You think he is spying on you - for my sake?"
"One could put it that way. Although I do not blame him, of course. I would be equally careful if my sister were to suddenly arrive at our doorstep with a fiancé."
"Right, of course." A slight blush seemed to taint the colonel's ears, causing Elizabeth to chuckle. "How is your sister? I hope the servants quarters have been comfortable. I did request that my mother give her the best room."
"Nearly angering your housekeeper in the process," Elizabeth chided, though the look of concern on Richard's face pleased her. "Jane is doing well. Although, unfortunately, she has yet to discover any more shreds of evidence than we have."
"Right. I do hope she does not have to suffer the charade much longer. When I inquired after her yesterday in the gardens yesterday, we - "
Elizabeth raised a brow just as the colonel caught himself. The agent of the crown stuttered, to Elizabeth's great amusement.
"Is that where you were then, promenading with my lady's maid, while I bore the weight of your cousin's scrutiny?"
"I am usually not so distracted." Richard ran a hand through his hair. "Forgive me. The assignment must come first, of course."
"I do not begrudge you what I myself desire," Elizabeth assured. Richard met her eyes with an almost sheepish look. "I can never seem to get enough of Jane's company, for she is such a sweet spirit."
"Indeed she is."
Elizabeth was just about to launch into another joke when the door swung open behind her. They both turned.
"Ah, Darcy." Richard called out lightly, as if he had not just admitted to being infatuated with Jane. "Is something amiss?"
Mr. Darcy's eyes roved over the room slowly, and his scowl deepened slightly. "Aunt Matlock is seeking Miss Merivale's company for tea. I volunteered to extend the invitation."
"Ah," said Richard.
"Thank you, Mr. Darcy," said Elizabeth.
Yet no one moved.
With a look of disapproval worthy of the most haughty London patroness, Mr. Darcy glared at his cousin. "I had thought you more gentlemanly than to leave the door closed, Richard."
"Ah, yes, I did not notice," Richard answered freely. "Surely, you cannot begrudge an engaged couple some time alone, Darce?"
Mr. Darcy's jaw tightened, and Elizabeth sent her own glare Richard's way.
"It is an unpardonable lapse of propriety, of course." She turned back towards the door. "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Darcy, and for the message as well. I shall join the countess immediately."
She tried to smile at Mr. Darcy on the way out, if only to soften the clear censure emanating from the tall, severe man. He nodded at her briefly before continuing to glare at his cousin. Elizabeth rolled her eyes and let them be.
The afternoon sun smiled cheerfully over the rolling acres around Stratsbury Hall, lending an almost cheerful air to the Matlock house party as the guests enjoyed the chatter and the lemonade. But Darcy knew better than to consider the circumstances normal. His patient observations over the past few days confirmed to him that Miss Merivale, while staying uncommonly mum regarding her origins, was otherwise a genteel, forthright woman. Her wit and insights were regularly on display, and yet she never exhibited even a hint of the usual self-ambition Darcy often saw from women of her intelligence.
She was, on all counts, a most refreshing character. And while Darcy now agreed that it was fortunate and wise of Richard to secure the lady's hand as quickly as he had, he nonetheless found it baffling that his cousin seemed to take little consideration for his future bride.
Even in his most playful moments, Richard was generally a proper gentlemen. Yet here they were, with Darcy finding Richard spending unchaperoned time behind closed doors one moment, eyeing the maids the next moment, and then altogether deserting his fiancée to the wolves the very next. Did Richard not notice how lasciviously Mr. Culham, Mr. Onervan, and Sir Tyler regarded Miss Merivale? And yet his soldier of a cousin did not seem bothered a whit, choosing instead to spend the day chattering away with his mother and Lady Halbright.
Darcy sighed as he marched towards the small circle that had formed around Miss Merivale. If his cousin was not about to safeguard his future bride, then it was up to Darcy to keep the other guests in line.
"Mr. Darcy, do join us!" Miss Merivale all but exclaimed when Darcy approached, a grateful glint in her captivating eyes. Darcy nodded briefly in greeting, and he felt a twisted satisfaction in watching the other male guests reluctantly yield him a spot in their circle of worship.
"Miss Merivale," said Darcy, "I hope the weather down South is not proving too humid for you."
Miss Merivale laughed - a brilliant, musical sound. "My uncle may have his seat in Scotland, Mr. Darcy, but I myself have never resided farther north than Hertfordshire."
"Indeed. I fear my concern is misplaced then."
"Not altogether, Mr. Darcy." She smiled at him, causing a quick twist in Darcy's chest. "Misplaced concern can still be sincerely meant, and for that sincerity, I thank you."
He nodded.
"It is a pity you have never seen anything farther north, Miss Merivale," Mr. Onervan was the first to inject. "You must visit me - that is, my wife and me - in Yorkshire one day. The house is not as grand as the one we have in London, but I shall be glad to have your comments on its potential improvements."
"I thank you, Mr. Onervan," she answered, though her tone sounded far closer to civil than thankful.
"It is the lake districts you must see," Sir Tyler said next. "I would visit more often myself, if only Lady Halbright were not so opposed to traveling great distances."
"Ah, what a pity," said Miss Merivale.
"You see, that is where Sir Tyler is remiss," Mr. Onervan was quick to say. The man seemed to always be quick to say his mind. "I do not think a man ought to be tied down by his wife. A man's business is his own, and he ought to be free to glean the rewards of his own hard labor."
"But does one's family not also sacrifice for one's success?" Miss Merivale responded. "It seems only fitting that they share in the pleasure of one's rewards."
"It grieves me to say that you may be wrong, Miss Merivale, but it is perhaps not surprising that you can be a trifling naive." Mr. Onervan punctuated his comment by reaching for Miss Merivale's elbow. The lady froze instantly, her face turning a whole shade paler. Her eyes sought out Darcy's as Mr. Onervan continued to talk, "I am a busy man, of course, but I would be more than willing to spare the time to enlighten you regarding the ways of the world. Marriage is all well and good when both parties are benefiting from its terms, but there is hardly any pleasure to be had in sharing company at all times if you cannot stand one another. Perhaps once you and the colonel have been wed long enough, you will realize that you prefer the company of - "
"Miss Merivale!" Darcy interrupted, with little patience left for good manners. With a polite but firm resolve, he reached his arm over Mr. Onervan's, guided Miss Merivale by the hand, and led her to step towards himself. "I do believe I have finally recalled why I have approached in the first place."
"Ah," she said briefly, though she willingly approached him and allowed him to escort her. "Is it about your sister then? Have you finally recalled the piece she played that you wish to recommend to me?"
Darcy, distracted by the sudden thrill that had shot up his arm at her touch, took a moment to respond. "Ah, yes, Georgiana has written back and has sent instructions on where to procure the music."
That, at least, was not a lie. He had complained to Georgiana that he found it confusing to engage with Miss Merivale, and Georgiana had advised him to discuss music with her instead.
"Then I would be most grateful to discuss it," said Miss Merivale, her voice by Darcy's shoulder. He swallowed. It was hardly the first time he stood so close to a gentlewoman, but there was something about this woman in particular that seemed to scramble his senses.
He shook his head as if to clear his thoughts. "Shall we, then?"
"My pleasure, Mr. Darcy." And she did look so eager to accept his proffered deliverance that half of Darcy wished to draw her closer while the other half wished to sock his cousin. Richard was a good friend, but he was certainly a lousy fiancé.
Darcy turned behind him with a stroke of satisfaction. "Good day, Sir Tyler. Good day, Mr. Onvervan, Mr. Culham."
He didn't even pause to let Richard talk to Miss Merivale on their way back indoors. If his cousin wished to play savior to his engaging betrothed, then Richard had better put in the work himself.
A/N: Sorry for such a short chapter! Baby steps!