“Yes, I trust Uncle.”
“Tell me what?” Lord Matlock asked looking from one to the other.
Darcy cleared his throat, “We believe that Mr Collins’ was an accidental death, a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Aunt Catherine had another victim in mind.”
“Really? Who?” He asked curiously.
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet.” Darcy said.
“Who?” Lord Matlock looked completely lost.
“Miss Elizabeth is Mr Collins’ young cousin. She is staying under this roof to look after the parson’s wife, who has been really ill with her pregnancy.”
Lord Matlock shook his head in utter confusion, “You had better start from the beginning Darcy. Why would Catherine want to kill a young lady wholly unconnected with her?”
“It is not that confusing Uncle, for Miss Elizabeth is not wholly unconnected with us...” Darcy grimaced and then continued, “Lady Catherine believes that the young lady was an impediment to my marrying Anne. So she decided to eliminate the competition.”
Lord Matlock gaped at Darcy in utter amazement, “What the... And is she an impediment? Is she competition?”
“Well first of all there is no impediment, for I will never marry Anne regardless. And second, well, if Miss Elizabeth is competition, she is not aware of it.”
Lord Matlock looked at Darcy, then finally understanding dawned on him, “I see, she is not competition. Or at least she is not aware of it... but in your eyes does she represent competition for any other debutant who has set her cap at you?”
Darcy rubbed his forehead as if struggling with a decision, but finally he looked at his uncle and nodded, “No Uncle, Miss Elizabeth Bennet is the front runner and she has no competition.”
***
The entire day was taken with officials coming and going. The servants' investigation done by Colonel Fitzwilliam and the magistrate was shared with the newcomers, then they started with the guests and members of the household.
Mr Bingley's interview did not take long and Miss Jane Bennet's took even less, for they had been in the house less than 48 hours when the death occurred.
Dr Denville had nothing to add, as the only time he saw the lady was during dinner time. He never talked to the lady more than a couple of words a day because it was obvious that her ladyship despised having a physician living under her roof. He had even less contact with Mr Collins once the parson’s wife was removed to Rosing's.
Mrs Jenkinson's interview lasted quite a while, for it became very clear that Miss de Bourgh’s companion resented the old lady due to the dismissive way her ladyship treated her own daughter. But about the deceased she knew absolutely nothing,apart from the fact that he was enamoured with his noble patroness.
Mrs Collins did not have much to say about her ladyship but had plenty to share about her husband. If she had not had a good alibi she would have certainly been the perfect candidate to poison her husband, for she seemed quite bitter about him. But at the time of Mr Collin’s death, 3 o’clock of that fateful day, she was sharing a very pleasant tea with Colonel Fitzwilliam and Dr Denville. The two gentlemen were quick to concur with her alibi.
Miss de Bourgh, Darcy and Richard quickly cleared their names from any suspicion and finally the last person to be interviewed was Elizabeth. She entered the room and spied the coroner, the bishop of Kent, who had arrived that morning from his London residence and Lord Matlock, who looked at Elizabeth with curiosity. Also present were the local magistrate and her ladyship's two nephews.
Elizabeth curtsied and looked at the noble occupants of the room defiantly, for she perceived the gentlemen's curiosity about her. Immediately she sensed her own courage rising, for she refused to feel intimidated in the presence of so many illustrious men.
“Miss Bennet,” The coroner started, once the introductions were out of the way “how long have you known Lady Catherine?”
“For precisely 7 weeks, sir.”
“I understand you have shared several meals with the lady, here in this house and that lately were invited to move in.”
“Yes.” She said firmly. “My friend, Mrs Collins had to be removed to the manor house in order to get better assistance with her health, while I was asked to accompany her to help.”
“I also understand that her ladyship invited you to have tea with her on the day of the tragedy, is that correct?”
“Yes she did.”
“Is that something she did frequently?”
“Invite me personally to have tea with her in her private sitting room? No.”
“Do you know why she singled you out then?”
