She had been taken by the smoke before the bedclothes on her bed caught fire. By the time the fire was noticed, no one could enter the main bedchamber, and although they did not know it, it was far too late already. All of the servants evacuated the house without incident, leaving Lady Catherine as the only casualty of the fire.
Biggs and Johns interrogated their former charge’s lady’s maid, the only one who was loyal to her late mistress. It was suspicious because rather than being in her room asleep, the maid had been caught outside the house with a valise containing all of Lady Catherine’s valuables, the same items she had used in attempts to bribe the men guarding her so they would allow her to leave.
Within minutes the petrified girl had told them what Lady Catherine’s plan had been.
When word spread of Lady Catherine’s demise, those who used to suffer under her cruelty and dictatorial ways doubted she had gone to heaven.To gain access to God’s kingdom, she would have had to have repented. How could a woman who thought she was never wrong admit her sins and ask forgiveness?
Knowing their new master was at Fitzwilliam House in London, Biggs rode towards that city, while Johns rode in the direction of Meryton to inform his former mistress of her mother’s end.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
On hearing what her mother attempted, Anne could only shake her head. She was pleased that Johns would remain with her until he heard differently from the master.
In London, Biggs apologised for interrupting the master and mistress on their honeymoon. When he explained his reason, Fitzwilliam told him he had done the right thing and directed him to Matlock House to deliver a note with the news to Lord Matlock.
Fitzwilliam could only shake his head. All Lady Catherine would have achieved was a move from the dower house to a cottage, not the manor house. As soon as it was discovered she had set the fire, she would have been banished to a tiny cottage on Darcy’s estate in Scotland. None of what she desired would have come to pass even had she lived.
As it was only about a mile to that house, it was not long before Biggs was knocking on the servants’ door at Matlock House. A footman summoned the butler, who, on seeing who the missive was from, had Biggs follow him to the master’s study.
Matlock had been meeting with his eldest son and nephew when the butler knocked. “This man works at Rosings Park and has a note from Master Richard,” the butler intoned when told to enter.
“The note.” Matlock extended his hand. The enormousman handed it to him. He read it and passed it to Andrew so that he and William could read it as well. Matlock looked at the footman. “The maid said that in my late sister’s twisted mind, she would be installed in the manor house again, did she?”
“Aye mi’lord, that be what she said,” Biggs replied.
The Earl dismissed the huge man. “So Catherine’s insanity finally killed her,” Matlock mused, speaking to no one in particular. “I wonder if I could have prevented this.”
“Jane and Lizzy have both spoken of the ills of people taking responsibility for that which is beyond their control,” Hilldale told his father. “William, did not one of them say that it can be seen as arrogance, thinking that a man can order events as he wants them, even though they are not under his purview?”
“Yes, Elizabeth said something very similar to me.” Darcy looked at his uncle. “I think we have to accept that Lady Catherine was beyond helping. She always thought she knew best, and her lack of knowledge never deterred her from making her ridiculous pronouncements. This plan was that of someone who was seriously mentally deficient. The question is how do you stop one who is convinced of her own infallibility?”
“I know you two are right, so all I can mourn is the person I hoped Catherine would become but never did.” Matlock paused as he cogitated. “Like my new daughter, I will not be a hypocrite and mourn the sister who essentially died by her own hand. I leave it up to each of you to be guided by your consciences, and under no circumstances will we defer the wedding or mute the celebrations.”
“You will hear no argument from me. I will discuss this with Jane when she returns from shopping, but I believe we will be in agreement with regard to this,” Hilldale opined.
“Unless Elizabeth objects, Iwill not allow my late aunt to force us to change our plans. She had no power over our lives in life, I will not grant her that in death,” Darcy stated emphatically. He had endured enough during the many years she had harped on and on about the phantom engagement.
When the ladies returned from their foray to Bond Street, they were told about Lady Catherine’s self-inflicted end. Neither Lady Matlock nor the two brides agreed that a delay or change in the plans for the wedding breakfast was warranted.
The deceased self-styled great lady would have been seriously displeased that no one mourned her passing.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
After a quiet Saturday and Sabbath, on Monday Elizabeth with Aunt Maddie, Gigi, Kitty, and Mrs Annesley, walked across the green in the centre of Grosvenor Square to Darcy House where they were met by William.
He introduced the butler and housekeeper, Mr and Mrs Killion, and the latter led a tour of the large house.
Like her opposite number at Pemberley, Mrs Killion was greatly impressed with the lady who would soon be the mistress. The only major changes she asked for were in the mistress’s suite.
The paper was almost identical to what Lady Anne had used at Pemberley, so Elizabeth requested the same paper she had at the estate, and some pieces of furniture which were less ostentatious and more comfortable. She told Gigi, like she had at Pemberley, that she was welcome to any of the pieces Elizabeth was to replace.
One other room needed some changes. It was a lesser-used parlour, which Elizabeth felt she would enjoy once she lived here. It had paper which had begun to peel and a rather threadbare rug. Hence, Elizabeth ordered items to correct those two deficiencies; she made no further changesanywhere in the house. The library, while nothing to the one at Pemberley, nevertheless was impressive, and when she saw the private sitting room she would share with William, she did not miss the bank of four bookcases along one wall, the shelves almost full with tomes.
While the one group was inspecting Darcy House, Jane was accompanied by her future mother-in-law, Mary, and Mrs Taylor to view Hilldale House on Portman Square. Andrew was waiting for them when the coach came to a halt, and he took pleasure in handing all of the ladies out, especially his betrothed. He offered his arm to his mother as well and proudly led all of the ladies into his house.
Jane was introduced to Mr Fallchurch and Mrs Huntsman, the butler and housekeeper. Both of the senior staff members were impressed by the master’s affianced. It was easy to see that although she was a kind lady, anyone who crossed her would discover her core of steel.
As the housekeeper guided them through the public rooms, Jane stopped in the one drawing room. “Mother, you did a wonderful job of redecorating when Andrew requested it two years past. I am yet to see anything which needs changing,” Jane stated.
