“Ah, I see,” Elizabeth said.“Well, I am beholden to you yet again, it would seem.” She wrung her hands.“I did not wish to be rude that evening. But I was growing increasingly desperate to discourage Mr Collins.”
“Well, now that we are engaged, you will no longer need to worry.”
“Indeed,” Elizabeth said with a mischievous smile.“The morning after the ball, he announced he could not stay under the same roof as someone as loose as I.”
Darcy took immediate offense.“He did not,” he said in disbelief.
“He did. However, do not be upset on my account. I think it was a relief for all of us when he departed. I wish him well, of course, but I shall be glad to wish him well from a greater distance. From Hertfordshire to Kent will do nicely.”
Opening the door to the library, Darcy turned to Elizabeth. “Shall we stand in the places we were when we first noticed each other?” he suggested.
“Yes, let’s,” Elizabeth agreed readily, and moved to the shelf she had been perusing that night. Darcy watched her go. She was just as lovely among the shelves in the daylight streaming through the windows as she had been bathed in the soft glow of the candlelight on the night of the ball.“Is this correct?” Elizabeth asked, abruptly bringing him back to the present.
Darcy shook his head to chase away the distracting thoughts of how very beautiful she looked.“Yes, I believe so. And I was here when I noticed you. I thought to come over and ensure you were well. You looked as if something had upset you.”
He said this as he walked the same path he had that night, looking carefully at their surroundings.
“I was a little nervous,” Elizabeth commented. “I was unsure of whether I ought to trust this ‘Mrs X’. With good reason, as we now know.”
Darcy replayed the whole incident in his mind.“I wonder if something tripped me? I would not say I am above stumbling. However, the ground is even here — no steps, no carpets. I —” Darcy stopped next to the bookshelf directly in front of Elizabeth. Light glinted off something that appeared to be metal. He knelt to inspect it.“A hook!”
Elizabeth came to his side and knelt as well.“What? A hook? I never noticed it before.”
“And in the dark, I never would have,” Darcy agreed.“Look at the corner of the shelf.” He pointed out the spot, then ran his finger over the indent.“It looks like a wire of some kind has dug into the wood.”
Elizabeth gasped.“Do you think someone set up a wire to trip you?”
“It seems possible,” Darcy replied. He pulled the hook out of the wood and secreted it away in his pocket.“I want to keep this for evidence. Obviously, whoever planned this took the wire, but forgot the hook in their haste.”
He straightened and placed a hand under Elizabeth’s elbow to steady her as she did the same.“Well, at least it is something. But not enough to clear our names, I do not think,” she said, disappointed.
Darcy nodded, disappointed by her disappointment.“Look. There is a side door just there. Shall we take a look outside and see if there are any more clues that might be helpful?”
“Yes, that is a good idea,” she said softly. She walked over to the door and he opened it for her. They walked along the little path leading from the library out to one of the Roman follies. There was nothing of interest until they rounded a corner, and he saw an imprint in the mud under one of the bushes near the house.
“There. What is that?” Darcy asked. He led her over to the imprint, and they both studied it.“It looks like a boot print.”
“Ah, yes, I see it,” Elizabeth said.
“It is not conclusive evidence,” Darcy began, “but I find it rather interesting. Someone could have planned our little mishap, then waited in the dark recesses of the library while we were trying to explain to everyone. Once the excitement died down, they could have taken the wire and left by the side door.”
“It is possible,” Elizabeth said, worry still lining her face.“However, it proves nothing. We will have to find more substantial evidence if we are to clear our names. Indeed, we cannot even know who would want to do this.”
Darcy thought again of the ugly suspicion that had crossed his mind — of Mrs Bennet, scheming and bribing servants to make her daughter a brilliant match.
Looking at Elizabeth’s lovely face, he could not bring himself to speak of it. What daughter could believe such a thing of her mother? Instead, he agreed. “You are quite right. And not only do we not know who would do such a thing, we do not even know why.”
Chapter 9
Some days later, Elizabeth sat at the breakfast table with her family, listening more than joining in with the chattering. Jane nudged her gently with her elbow, saving her just in time from impeding the maid who had come to put a platter of fresh fruit on the table. Elizabeth would have sent the whole thing clattering to the floor if not for Jane’s timely intervention.
“What is the matter with you, Lizzy? You have been yawning the whole time we have been at table. It is very bad manners, I do say,” her mother chided.
“Forgive me, Mama. I did not sleep well,” Elizabeth explained. Her father sent her a worried glance, but she quickly shrugged it away.“I shall rest before dinner this evening.”
“Well, I believe a walk to Meryton is in order,” Lydia cut in.“It is a beautiful morning, and I dare say there will be no rain since there has been a downpour the last few days.” Lydia took a large bite of her toast, but she did not let this stop her from speaking.“We can take a little excursion to look for supplies for Lizzy’s trousseau.”
Elizabeth nearly swallowed the pit of the plum she had been eating.“My trousseau?” she asked.
