Oh, dear—she is so in love with Mr. Yarby. Perhaps as much as I am with Amelia. But despite Amelia’s hopes, he cannot possibly return her feelings. I have not seen any sign that he favors Mary above any other. It would spare her heart if I just removed them both from our lives. And in time she would forget him. Still…
After a long pause, Mr. Bennet replied. “Very well, Mary. We shall send for both Amelia and Yarby.”
Chapter 36
“Mr. Bennet has asked to see us, Amelia”—Mr. Yarby entered the sitting room, holding a piece of paper—“as soon as possible.”
“What reason does he have; does he say?”
“He does not. His note is short and to the point. It merely reads: ‘Please come to Longbourn House as soon as you can, we have important business to discuss.’”
“What business could it be?” Amelia set her needlework down. “Perhaps Mary has confessed her lies, and he wants to assure us that all is fine?”
“Perhaps. But you and he have already settled things between you, thanks to Mrs. Darcy’s letter.”
“Then why should he ask to see us both?”
Yarby paused, considering. Then he smiled and nodded, confident of his answer. “I believe I know. I have a feeling Mary may have told him of our engagement even though we agreed I would speak to him first. He likely wants to congratulate us and give us his blessing.”
Amelia smiled. “Of course, that must be it. Let me get my pelisse, and we can go right over.”
“Where is Phillip?”
“Hmm, he walked into Meryton, I believe. I shall tell Ellen to let him know where we have gone.”
***
Mr. Yarby and Mrs. Withers arrived at Longbourn and were shown into the formal sitting room, where not only Mr. Bennet waited but Mary as well, who kept her eyes fixed on her hands in her lap.
After exchanging greetings, everyone took their seats and waited for Mr. Bennet to begin.
“Thank you for responding so quickly, Mr. Yarby,” he began. “I asked you here because I am the recipient of some information that has confounded me greatly.”
“I do apologize for not speaking to you myself,” Yarby jumped in. “I did not anticipate Mary breaking this news to you so soon.”
Mr. Bennet stopped a moment, trying to process the reverend’s meaning. He shook his head and continued. “Mary has nothing to do with this news; I do not know to what you refer. I speak of a letter from your former employer, the reverend Mr. Smethurst.”
“Why should he need to write to you? I don’t understand. Is he unwell?” Yarby asked. He and Amelia exchanged worried glances.
“No, that is not the issue. Rather…well, as you know, you were the least qualified of the candidates for the living here at Longbourn. You had scant experience, but Mr. Smethurst wrote so highly of you, and we got along so well in your interview that I was persuaded to hire you without any further investigation into your past.”
“No doubt the news of your wife’s unexpected passing played a part in that.” Amelia spoke for the first time. “Everything was in such a state of confusion, and Robert took charge of matters in such a capable manner that you could see at once he was the man for the job. Why do you bring this up now, Eugene?”
“Because I have information that leads me to think you made up your entire story of being a curate in Dorset—that you never worked there at all.”
For a moment, Mr. Yarby could only stare blankly at his employer in surprise. “I am quite astonished at your pronouncement, Mr. Bennet. Why on earth would you think that?”
“This letter from the reverend Mr. Smethurst is why.” He pulled a folded paper from his vest pocket and held it aloft as he continued. “He claims you never worked there and, in fact, claims not even to know you! So, I ask you now, Mr. Yarby: Did you fabricate a story of working there, thinking it so far away that I would not bother to seek out more details?”
“But…this is preposterous!” exclaimed Yarby. “I worked there fifteen months, gave many sermons, performed baptisms, made parish calls. Amelia kept house for me. Whoever wrote you this letter is grossly misinformed!”
“Or an outright liar. You must write to Mr. Smethurst at once, Eugene,” urged Amelia, “and get him to clarify this letter. I cannot understand why he or anyone would say such a thing! Or is it a forgery?”
“I do not think the response would say anything other than what I hold here in my hands, Amelia,” Mr. Bennet said sadly. “And the postmark confirms it is from that parish.”
There was a long pause. Mary gave a little sniff and dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief.
After thinking a moment, Mr. Yarby said, “Mr. Bennet, may I please see that letter?”
