Sunday Afternoon - Bingley's House
After two days of attention from a physician, surgeon, apothecary and his valet, Darce, who had avoided fever, was feeling much better and was too bored to stay in bed.
He found his housemates in the Library, enjoying afternoon drinks and conversation.
Bingley poured Darce a drink and Richard took the opportunity to ask "Darce, have you recalled anything more about the attack?"
"No. As I said before, I didn't see the men until after Miss Elizabeth pulled me down. I thought she had tripped."
Richard nodded. "I have the pistols. I regret to say, they look more than a little familiar. I will have to investigate further."
"Do they?" Darce considered the implications. "What did those villains say?"
"Not much. Maybe the one that ran knew who hired them."
"No matter, we all know who is behind it."
"Yes, I fear we do." said Richard.
Darce had another thought. "I won't marry her" he announced.
"You won't marry who?" asked Charles with a grin.
"Your sister."
"I don't know, Darce, you were seriously compromised" said Richard with a wink at Bingley. "It looked like an embrace to me!"
"A deadly embrace" muttered Darce bitterly. "I am sure I nearly died from it."
"Maybe you will have to embrace your responsibility" said Matthew with a smile.
"Why is it my responsibility? I was nearly unconscious at the time. Everything was spinning and hurting."
"Now you are well, shall we let Miss Bingley visit? I think she has been turned away four times already." said Richard
"Have mercy upon me, so-called friends!"
Charles took pity on him. "Don't worry Darce. I won't allow you to marry Caroline. I have told her so several times, maybe one day she will believe me!"
"I am very grateful, Charles" said Darce brightening considerably. "Truth be told, you know, Miss Elizabeth compromised me first, dragging me to the ground. If only I'd been able to enjoy that embrace! She probably saved my life. If you think I should marry her, I will, even though she doesn't have any money, as far as I know."
"I don't think you need marry her, Darce. After all, her motive was not blatant compromise, so I doubt she will be expecting a proposal." said Matthew.
Darce said "I really don't want to marry anyone at the moment, but I have been thinking…
"That's dangerous" said Charles.
… and I know what we must do to foil the Earl and save my life."
The gentlemen looked at each other. "Well, out with it" said Richard.
"Georgie and Anne are wealthy, unmarried and therefore vulnerable to kidnap and forced marriage. Therefore, the solution is clear - they need to be married. Then there will be no need for the Earl to murder me."
They gazed at him in stunned surprise.
"So," drawled Richard eventually, "who did you have in mind as prospective husbands?"
"You, Richard, should marry Anne."
"Marry Anne? I doubt Anne has any interest in marrying me or anyone at the moment."
"Did you consider the reaction of the ladies to such a scheme?" asked Charles.
Darce looked at him, surprised.
"All ladies want to be married." he said. "Lady Catherine always wanted a union of Pemberley and Rosings but she is no longer here to be disappointed. Richard, you could leave the army and, if you could help me out until I fully inherit, I will be most appreciative."
Richard shook his head slowly. Such typical Darce arrogance. Ridiculous under the circumstances.
Darce wasn't finished. "Georgie needs to marry too. Charles, are you sure you'd prefer Miss Bennet over Georgie? She may not have Pemberley but she's got thirty thousand pounds. I don't think Miss Bennet has any more money than her sister."
Richard leaned back in his chair, shut his eyes and took deep breaths. It was either that or hit Darce.
"My affection for Miss Bennet has nothing to do with money, Darce. In any case, Miss Darcy is a child. Marriage is not an appropriate way to protect her from…marriage. Oh dear.." Bingley began to laugh, but it may have been hysteria.
"Someone has to marry her." Darce looked at Matthew.
"Don't even think of speaking!" growled Matthew.
"Watch out Darce." laughed Bingley. Don't tell Miss Darcy you are looking for a husband for her. What if she prefers to inherit than be married at sixteen? She might murder you herself!"
This was too much for Richard and Matthew. They both burst into laughter but Richard Fitzwilliam was soon heard to groan. "Oh why do I have such a family? It won't be the Earl or Georgie who murders him."
"I can see I'll get no help, here" said Darce, getting up. "I will see you all at dinner."
After Darce departed, Matthew said "Richard, there is something we must discuss with you. Nothing is as it seems here." With a bit of help from Charles, Matthew proceeded to tell Richard what he needed to know.
"I don't believe it." said Richard afterwards. "I don't believe it." But it was clear that he did, he didn't want to, but he did. That night, after dinner, Richard Fitzwilliam got quietly drunk on an excellent brandy.
Monday morning - Darcy House
Despite his continuing fear of death, Darce was soon well enough and bored enough to leave the house and visit the ladies at Darcy House. He was joined by Bingley, Avery and Fitzwilliam.
The ladies at Darcy House were well pleased to receive the company of gentlemen having had a surfeit of female visitors so far that day. Anne sent word to the schoolroom for Georgie and Mary to join them for tea.
As there was a welcome lull in other visitors, the ladies were able to focus on the unprecedented attack without interruption.
Darce wore his left arm in a sling to ease the pressure on his shoulder but otherwise looked as much as he did before, to the ladies' relief. They were all thinking far better of Darce than they had for a long time.
Elizabeth had been quiet since the attack and had given few details, despite the ladies' curiosity, merely stating that it all had happened too quickly to process. This was not exactly true, but she just didn't want to talk about it.
"Miss Elizabeth" said Darce as soon as greetings were exchanged "I want to thank you for your quick action, the other day. I think you saved my life."
"I don't exactly remember what happened" she said, "it's all disjointed."
"As we rounded the bend in the path, Miss Elizabeth saw the villain about to shoot and pulled me down. If it wasn't for you, Miss Elizabeth, I doubt I would be here, able to have tea with you all."
"Oh brother!" cried Georgie. "I can't bear to think we may have lost you. Thank you so much Lizzy! You are so brave!"
"I am sure I acted without thought" said Elizabeth "I don't know if that is brave."
"Whatever it was, I thank you," said Georgie.
"So do I" said Anne "We have suffered enough loss of life and memory in this family."
Captain Fitzwilliam asked "Miss Elizabeth, if it is not too distressing, may I ask you a couple of questions?"
"Yes, you may."
"Where was the villain as you came around the bend, in relation to you and Darce?"
"I saw the movement as he ran from the trees on the left of the path."
"He ran, you say?"
"Yes"
"How far away was he?"
"I would say about forty feet or so, maybe a bit more, not far."
Richard nodded. "Thank you. I am trying to determine how opportunistic was the attack. I believe they were watching us and spotted Darce going ahead. The villains had to run to get in front of you and Darce. The shooter used a pair of duelling pistols which are not known for great accuracy, particularly if one has been running.
Elizabeth had just recalled what was bothering her about finding out that Georgie had a brother.
John Fitzwilliam had said something to his brother Edmund as they left the Meryton Inn. Elizabeth had heard but forgotten about this comment as it meant nothing to her at the time. Later, she was surprised to hear that Miss Darcy had a brother, but did not know why she was surprised. Now everything was adding up.
"Mr Darcy" said Elizabeth "please forgive me for asking such a question but I have good reason. In the event we had lost you the other day, who would inherit? Georgie?"
Ignoring Jane's sharp intake of breath at the inappropriate query, Elizabeth gazed at Darce, who looked back to her.
"Georgie is my heir."
"I thought that would be so." said Elizabeth. She continued "The Fitzwilliams cannot get Pemberley by marriage unless Georgie has inherited it. Georgie can't inherit Pemberley while you live. Given what you told me at dinner recently, is the Earl be behind this attempt at murder, Mr Darcy?"
"Perhaps we should not speculate, Miss Elizabeth." Bingley said with a pointed look in Miss Darcy's direction.
Miss Elizabeth looked at Bingley. "I do hope, Mr Bingley," she smiled with that archness that always fell just short of impertinence "you are not the kind of gentleman who believes ladies should be deprived of a potentially harsh truth, even when it concerns their own wellbeing and that of their closest relatives?"
Charles Bingley always knew when to take a step back. Aloud he said with an air of defeat. "No, not at all Miss Elizabeth. Not at all."
"Mr Darcy?" said Elizabeth
"I'd say it's a certainty, Miss Elizabeth, but of course there is no evidence. The two captured bandits didn't know who ultimately hired them."
"What if there is some evidence? Mr Darcy, when my sisters and I were leaving the Meryton Inn at the insistence of the Fitzwilliam brothers, I heard Lord John say this to his brother. 'You know what Father said. Pemberley goes with the Earldom, you get Rosings'."
"Oh!" cried Anne "How dare they!"
"Indeed Anne," said Elizabeth "so self-interested they already consider your property as theirs. I didn't really take in the comment at the time and forgot it. I was troubled when I heard Georgie had a brother but could not work out why. Now I know."
Monday, Darcy House - Jane and Elizabeth's room, before lunch.
After the gentlemen's visit, Elizabeth felt more inclined to talk about things with Jane. They curled up on their bed.
"I am feeling better, Jane, particularly now I've remembered what was bothering me about Pemberley. The arrogance of that Earl!"
"Oh Lizzy, you and Mr Darcy were so lucky to survive!"
"We were. It has made me understand that the threats and dangers to this family are so real, not just an interesting possibility I'd like to write about."
"I tried to run after you Lizzy, but Mr Bingley wouldn't let me. He held on to me." said Jane, tears starting.
"I am so grateful for that, Jane. He protected you as he should."
"I wasn't grateful at the time. I was so afraid I'd lost you. I am still afraid."
Elizabeth put her arms around her sister. "It's all right now Jane. We must put it behind us, still be aware, but we can't let fear hold us back."
"I know. I was so enjoying the walk. Such a lovely day!"
"Yes, it was."
"Mr Avery took the opportunity to walk with you and he talked with you at dinner. Maybe he likes you. Do you like him at all?"
"I do like him, but I don't think he has any special interest in me. He is easy to talk to. I don't know why Mr Avery wanted to walk with me. Probably because Mr Darcy was talking to Georgie. That's where Mr Avery's interest lies. He is always staring at her."
"Is he? Georgie! That's odd!"
"He must have a hopeless unrequited love for her."
"Oh Lizzy! Surely not. She is a child!"
"When we left Matlock House, he escorted her down the stairs and into the carriage. At dinner that night, he stared lovingly at her before conversing with me."
"You noticed all of that?"
"I did. So don't tell me Mr Avery has any interest in me!"
"I won't. I wouldn't dare!"