“I am afraid it is not so simple, Miss Bennet. The truth is that we do not know who is the closer relation. There are strong claims for either of the gentlemen to inherit,” Mr Campbell relayed. “However, we have come up with an agreement that is satisfactory to both parties.”
“We are to share the house?” Miss Darcy asked innocently.
“No, Miss Darcy. I am afraid that might prove rather difficult to arrange. We are to hold a contest, a race in mental prowess if you will,” Mr Campbell said. “I will come up with riddles leading to the location of a key that opens the cellars — the only key in existence to the room. Mr Bennet and Mr Darcy will have to see who can solve the riddle first and find the key. The one to find the key two times out of three will be awarded Strathalt House.”
Elizabeth was shocked that her father would agree to such a thing. It was most irregular, particularly considering that the fate of the family was riding on this inheritance. That the idea was interesting, she had no wish to deny, but it seemed rather…flippant.
“Well, it is certainly a unique plan,” Elizabeth said.
“My dear Lizzy, I believe I know what you are thinking,” Mr Bennet said. Elizabeth looked up to meet her father’s gaze. For once, there was nothing sardonic in his tone. He was entirely in earnest. “I promise you, Lizzy, that I am taking this as seriously as I ought. Mr Campbell, would you be so good as to explain the difficulty?”
“Certainly,” Mr Campbell agreed readily. “Miss Bennet, normally in such a case, one would have the matter decided in the courts. I have advised your father and Mr Darcy against taking such an action.”
Elizabeth nodded. “Will you tell me why?”
“It is the local magistrate,” Mr Campbell explained. “He is…not fond…of Englishmen. If Mr Bennet and Mr Darcy take this matter to him, he will refuse to award it to either, I amcertain of it. Even if such an action would result in the ruin of Strathalt House. I am very grateful to the gentlemen for agreeing to a solution that will protect this place, Miss Bennet. I should hate to see it left without a master forever.”
“Thank you, Mr Campbell,” Elizabeth said, her voice hushed. “I understand. And I honour you for your devotion to this estate.” She meant the compliment with all her heart, for Mr Campbell’s sincere dedication was deeply moving.
“I thank you in turn, Miss Bennet,” he said simply. “The compliment means a great deal to me.”
Elizabeth smiled at him and gave in to a mischievous impulse. Each hour she spent in Mr Campbell’s company made her more certain that he would be a highly desirable addition for the family — certainly not for herself, for there was no spark between them besides that of friendship, but for a more serious Bennet sister. Thankfully, Mary had given her a delightful opportunity to assess whether Mr Campbell might be as well-suited to her sister as she suspected. “Do you know, Mr Campbell, I received a letter this morning before I came down for breakfast. It is from my sister, Mary,” she began. She pulled out the letter. “She must have sent it almost as soon as my father and I departed, for it to have arrived so quickly.”
“I hope it is good news?” Mr Campbell asked.
“It is, yes,” Elizabeth smiled and smoothed the letter over her knee. “There was one part of the letter I was confused about, though. I believe it to be a reference to the Good Book, but as my sister is a far better scholar of spiritual matters than I am myself, I found it difficult to trace. Perhaps you might understand my sister’s meaning, for you seem a man of Scripture, Mr Campbell.”
“I would hardly call myself that, Miss Bennet, for I am no rector,” Mr Campbell said modestly. “I should be very glad to hear your sister’s letter, but I can help you only as a man who has taken an interest in reading philosophy.”
“Well, that is exactly what I need,” she said. “May I read it aloud?” she asked.
“Please,” Mr Campbell said, leaning forward a little.
Elizabeth cleared her throat, then read aloud.
∞∞∞
Dear Elizabeth,
I hope you and Papa have arrived in Scotland hale and safe, even though as I write this letter, we have only just seen you off. It has not taken long for the house to feel your absence. Lydia and Kitty are planning a trip to Meryton to see the militia, but I will not be joining them. Surely it would be better for us all to stay home and improve ourselves. For my part, I shall try to avoid the hedge of thorns.
I have decided I will spend my time reading Mr Fordyce’s sermons while you and Papa are away, so I might better myself. I will try to instil some of their wisdom into Kitty, if not Lydia. She will not listen at all, whereas Kitty will sometimes lend me her ear.
We hope you have a lovely trip and cannot wait to hear what comes of the inheritance.
Your sister,
Mary
∞∞∞
Elizabeth smiled to herself. It was a letter exactly like her sister: practical and to the point. Elizabeth folded the letter and glanced at Mr Campbell. “I do not quite follow my sister’s reference to the ‘hedge of thorns.’ Certainly she does not actually mean that she is concerned lest she walk into a thorny hedge. Do you have any idea what she might be referring to?”
Mr Campbell nodded and pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose, as they had slipped down while he had been listening. “It is a reference to Proverbs, I believe.” He closed his eyes for a moment. “Yes, Proverbs 15:19 – The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway.” He smiled. “Your sister’s dedication is admirable indeed. And she is very clever to make such a reference.”
Elizabeth concealed a satisfied smile. How Mary would have glowed if she could have only heard such praise with her own ears!
“Does your sister often read the Scriptures?” he asked.
