“I would have thought it was obvious,” Devereux remarked. “Her sister deliberately left the Wards open so she would be able to come here.”
Elizabeth had resolved not to speak, but she could not let Devereux make insinuations without defending herself.
“And what motive would I have for that, may I ask? In what way would it benefit me?”
“Who knows. Perhaps you wished to make a mockery of our defenses.”
She started to speak, but Matlock interrupted her. “That is a ridiculous accusation, and well you know it. You owe the young lady an apology, but that is not for now. Let us ask Miss Bennet why she decided to come here in the first place.”
Jane blushed and looked so flustered that no one in their right mind could have suspected her of plotting to do anything.
“I came to bring a basket and offer my services to Mr. Murray. I thought Netherfield was a house for wounded soldiers.”
The naivete of the statement brought silence to room.
“And what kind of services did you intend to offer?”
There were a couple of snickers. Matlock turned a severe gaze on the guilty parties and they fell silent.
“I am a Healer, your lordship. I thought I could provide assistance if needed. If not, a basket with some salves and jelly would not go amiss.”
“Were you sent by your father?”
Elizabeth tried not to wince. She did not like the direction of this questioning. Jane was incapable of hiding information.
“No sir. By my mother.”
Her words provoked an immediate reaction.
Devereux gave a wide grin. “I knew it! I knew there was something fishy about all this.”
Matlock ignored him.
“And why did Mrs. Bennet send you here?”
Elizabeth had never seen Jane’s face turn so purple. She murmured her answer so quietly, even Elizabeth who was standing next to her could not hear it.”
“Speak up, child,” said Pickering. “I cannot hear a thing.”
“Because Papa refused to visit Mr. Murray, and Mama was seeking an introduction to some of the officers.”
Several people laughed. It was an embarrassing admission, and Elizabeth did not know quite where to look, but it served its purpose. No one could possibly suspect Jane of nefarious intentions.
That did not make the laughter any less excruciating.
“There you have it,” said Grayson. “A mother who is looking for a husband for her daughter.”
But Devereux still was not convinced. “So you are admitting that you are not actually a Healer? That you came here under false pretenses?”
Elizabeth could see that Darcy was growing increasingly agitated. “For heaven’s sake, Devereux. You are beating a dead horse. Miss Bennet is known in the neighborhood for her healing abilities. If you do not believe it, send someone to ask around.”
“I will.”
“Good. Then we can ascertain that Miss Bennet is speaking the truth.” Matlock looked bored with the whole thing. “Now we can come to the question of the Wards, which, you will agree, is a much more serious question. Miss Bennet, can you explain to us in your own words how you were able to dismantle the Wards?”
Jane shook her head, her large blue eyes mirroring her confusion.
“There was a storm, and the wind and rain were blinding me. I thought I was being pushed back by the wind. I did not feel the Wards at all. I could not see Netherfield at first, then, as I passed through the wind, I could see the building. As a Healer, I tend to draw on Elemental magic. I cannot explain how I went through the Wards. I did not even know there were Wards. I have been to Netherfield many times in the past. It did not occur to me it would be Warded.”
