“Yes, that poem you were reciting. I believe it is one of Mr Burns’s fine pieces.”
Mrs Graham continued to dust, moving down the shelf and out of sight. Elizabeth’s heart was beating fast. Had the housekeeper unwittingly given her the hint she needed to solve the final riddle? She walked down the shelves, searching for Mr Burns’s name among the many spines. Finally, at the rear of the library, she found a volume of poetry by Robert Burns. She flipped through several pages before her eyes fell on the familiarlines of the riddle that she had been repeating like a madwoman ever since Mr Campbell had given the riddle.
“Tam o’ Shanter…” Elizabeth breathed as she read the title of the poem. Her mind suddenly sparked with a memory. “Of course! A tam o’ shanter is a type of hat!”
Her excitement was such that Elizabeth hardly paused to set the book on a table before racing out of the library. She went to the front door, where a coat closet held various wraps and hats. Elizabeth opened the door. At the very back of the closet, hidden behind several layers of coats, she found a woollen cap hanging on a hook. The flat, oval-shaped cap was made of wool tartan and had a pompom in the centre. Elizabeth took the hat down with shaking hands. It felt heavier than it ought, and when she turned it over, she saw that the key rested inside. She let out a gasp, for she had solved the riddle at last. The Bennets would inherit.
Suddenly, her elation died. What if Mr Darcy contested the win since Elizabeth had been the one to discover the hiding place instead of Mr Bennet? Stupid woman! She should have first gone to her father and told him of her suspicions of the hiding place. But there was nothing for it now. She could not lie and say her father had been the one to discover it. She tucked the key into her pocket and resolved to tell the truth. If the win was forfeited thanks to her brashness, then so be it. But she would not have it said that the Bennets had won Strathalt House with a lie.
“Miss Bennet? Is everything well?” In her distraction, Elizabeth had not noticed the footman approaching. He was looking at her curiously, no doubt wondering what a guest was doing nearly buried in the coat closet.
“Oh, McGuire,” she sighed, holding a hand to her pounding heart. “Yes, everything is well,” she said. “Would you be so kind as to gather everyone in the drawing room?”
She showed him the key, and his eyebrows raised. He flashed her a smile as he bowed. “Of course, Miss Bennet. I should be happy to.”
He went off to do her bidding, and she headed toward the drawing room to calm herself before the rest of the guests arrived. How would Mr Darcy and Georgiana respond? She did not wish to do anything to put their friendship in jeopardy. Yet she could not have acted otherwise. She had to do what was best for her family. And now that they would inherit, she and her sisters would not have to fear poverty and homelessness on that horrible day, hopefully far distant, when their father passed on. They would be safe.
Elizabeth let out a breath that she had not realised she had been holding. Now that their future was secure, she need never succumb to her mother’s pressure to marry quickly and for convenience. She could have the luxury she wanted most: that of marrying for love, or not at all.
Soon, everyone started trickling into the drawing room. Even Bruce came trotting in, looking curiously from side to side and giving a soft bark as though he could tell something was about to happen. At last, Mr Bennet entered the room. He wore an incredulous look and came to her immediately. “What is the matter, Lizzy? Has something happened?” he asked, no doubt wondering if she had received a letter from home that bore ill tidings.
“All is well,” Elizabeth reassured him. “At least, I hope all will be well.” She looked up at the rest of the assembled company and drew in a nervous breath. “Mr Campbell, I have solved yourriddle. It is from a poem, the title of which is ‘Tam o’ Shanter’. And so you hid the key in Mr Sinclaire’s tam o’ shanter. Here is the key,” she said and drew the key out of her pocket. “I do not know if it will count since I was the one who found it.”
Mr Campbell’s face brightened with relief. No doubt he had begun to worry they would never find the key. “Mr Darcy? What say you?”
Elizabeth had to force herself to look at him, fearful of what emotions she might find playing across his face. She let out a relieved breath when she saw only awe and his kind smile. “Well done, Miss Bennet. The contest is concluded, and I renounce my claim on Strathalt House.” He paused and turned his attention to her father, approaching him as he reached out his hand. They shook hands, and the deal seemed to be done. “I offer my most sincere congratulations.”
Her father looked as if he might be bowled over by the news. “Are you certain, Mr Darcy? I must confess, I am taken aback.” He shook his head. “Mr Campbell?”
“It is done, as far as I am concerned. Mr Darcy has renounced his claim. Strathalt House is yours, Mr Bennet. I offer my own hearty congratulations.” Mr Campbell came over and shook both of the gentlemen’s hands.
Elizabeth stepped away from the gentlemen and went over to Georgiana. She could see she looked disappointed for a moment, but a smile soon spread over her face. “Oh, Elizabeth, I am so happy for you and your family. I am glad that the house will go to you and yours.”
“Are you, truly? I know you had your heart set on having this place,” Elizabeth said. She took her friend’s hands andpressed them earnestly. “But you need not be a stranger to it. I will see to that,” she promised.
“Gentlemen, let us repair to the study and sign the papers. We shall get the legal duties out of the way, and tonight, we shall have a celebration supper.” The gentlemen left to sign the papers, leaving the ladies to their own devices.
“I am sorry, Georgiana.”
“What is there to be sorry about, Elizabeth?” Georgiana pressed her hands, then led her over to the sitting area, where they sat before the hearth, which had had a small fire built on account of the rains and mists that had rolled in from the loch, bringing a chill with them. “I really could not be happier, my dear friend.” Elizabeth could see there was disappointment behind her smile, but she was having a brave go at concealing it. “Perhaps someday, we may come for a visit, although I know it is bad manners to invite oneself.”
“You did not invite yourself. I invited you just now,” Elizabeth assured her. “When my father takes possession of the house, I am sure we will come here for long visits whenever we can. And when we do, I shall send you an invitation. The house would be empty without your presence here.” And that of her brother. Elizabeth took a quick, pained breath at the thought. It was strange to think of coming to Strathalt House without the Darcys one day.
“Your family will be pleased, I am sure,” Georgiana said. “You will want to write to them and tell them the good news, I imagine.”
“Later, yes. I am sure my father will want to write to my mother as soon as the papers are signed.” Elizabeth’s smile fell at a sudden thought. They would all be leaving soon, for there wasno reason to delay their departure now that the matter had been settled. She found she did not want to go, but there was nothing for it. Elizabeth sighed and tried to put on a smile. “I think the next time my father comes, my sister, Mary, would be a likely companion for him. Strathalt has just the sort of atmosphere to appeal to her.”
Not to mention the chance that Mr Campbell might fall in love with her, and she with him. Elizabeth had come to feel it was a possibility devoutly to be wished, for she had come to respect him more and more the longer she stayed at Strathalt House. She was sure her father would keep him on as steward, and all would go forward, much as it had when Mr Sinclair had been alive. Poor Mr Sinclair. She wished she had been able to meet him, and thank him for the good fortune he had brought to her family. She thought again of Mr Campbell and imagined him studying the house accounts while Mary sat reading nearby on a cold Scottish night. The thought of the two of them keeping each other company in this grand old house was a very pleasant one. Yes, if it all worked as she hoped, Elizabeth would be proud to have Mr Campbell as a brother-in-law someday.
Georgiana leant in and kissed her on the cheek, as her younger sisters had been wont to do in bygone years. “I am so glad we met, Elizabeth.” She had tears in her eyes, but she stood up and went to the pianoforte before they could fall to her cheeks. Elizabeth sat and listened, thinking furiously as she listened to the beautiful aria. Even though Mr Darcy had bowed out of the contest like a gentleman, and had given them his congratulations for winning the house, he too might be concealing disappointment, even anger, that she had been the one to find the key. She might never see him again after they parted ways.
Elizabeth’s heart slowed to a dull thud as she sat there, thinking bleakly of the future. All would seem so grey once they left Strathalt House and returned to Longbourn. However, she could look forward to one point of light — seeing Jane and the rest of the family. Hard as it would be to leave Scotland, she did long to see her sisters, especially Jane.
Perhaps nothing was wrong after all. Likely, Janehadwritten a letter, and it had only gone astray. Likely everything would be well when they were together once more.
Chapter 18
Darcy sighed. The last week had passed much too quickly, taken up by their preparations to depart for England. Mr Bennet seemed much more relaxed after the contest had been settled. They had enjoyed many wonderful conversations, and he found he was not sad in the least that Strathalt House would belong to the Bennet family. After all, he owned many fine houses and had ample funds already. It was far better that Mr Bennet should inherit. With Strathalt House in Mr Bennet’s possession, he could find peace in his later years, and not worry over his daughters’ wellbeing and security.
