Page 43 of Conundrums & Coincidences

She looked apologetic and, Darcy liked to think, disappointed. “I see,” he said. “Well then, Mr Monroe and Miss Rigby, may I impose upon your hospitality for another night? I should like to leave at the same time as your party. We could travel in tandem. Safety in numbers and all that.”

“Perhaps, Mr Darcy,” said the chaperon, “you should ask Miss Bennet whether you may remain here. This is, after all, her house.”

21

BOMBOONS

The celebratory air in Oakwood Manor’s library was immediately damped when Alfred announced the arrival of Mr Sumner and Mr Wright, respectively the magistrate and parish constable.

After polite greetings and necessary introductions, Mr Monroe said, “Mr Darcy, you are welcome to stay. In fact, you should.”

“Now then,” said Mr Sumner, “if the ladies will excuse us, we shall report on the findings at Mr Fordham’s home.”

“I shall stay as well,” said Elizabeth.

Before she obligingly left the room, Miss Rigby gave both her charge and Mr Monroe encouraging smiles and the magistrate, constable, and Mr Darcy a negligible curtsey.

With everyone seated, Mr Sumner glanced at Elizabeth, huffed, and looked to the attorney as though to say ‘do something about her’.

“If you expect Mr Monroe to send me away, sir, you will be disappointed. I am staying and shall brook no opposition.” That sounded like something Lady Catherine de Bourgh might say. With new respect for Mr Darcy’s formidable aunt, Elizabeth sat a little taller, raised her chin, and met each of the men’s eyes. They will not forcibly remove me. Will they?

Mr Monroe winked at her. “Proceed with your report, Sumner. As I told you, Miss Bennet is the new mistress of Oakwood Manor. Ergo, any of the missing heirlooms found at the Fordhams’ residence rightfully belong to her now.”

Heaving a dissatisfied sigh, the magistrate gestured to Mr Wright, whereupon the constable opened a notebook and reported that a pearl necklace with matching earrings, brooch, and bracelet had been found in Mrs Fordham’s bedchamber.

“Mr Monroe, I believe you mentioned something about genuine pearls being exchanged for imitation ones,” said Mr Sumner.

Elizabeth cleared her throat to gain the magistrate’s attention. “The genuine parure belongs to Miss Sophia Kensett in Maidenhead. Please ensure it is returned to her.”

Mr Wright jotted down her instruction. “Mr Monroe, you also said opium was slipped into a guest’s wine. We found this”—he showed them a vial—“during our search.” The constable then read from his notes. “Also, Mrs Fordham wore a ruby ring that her husband asserted was a bequest from Miss Phoebe Armstrong. Is that correct?” He seemed unsure whether he should look to the attorney or Elizabeth.

“That is a barefaced lie,” said Mr Monroe. “Mr Fordham was bequeathed a book. I did not understand Miss Armstrong’s intention at the time, but now I do. Her dictation to me was: ‘To Mr and Mrs Peter Fordham, I leave a dictionary. Hopefully, they will consult it to find the proper words they need to apologise for what they have done.’”

“I do not understand.” Elizabeth’s mind raced, searching for an explanation. “If Miss Armstrong knew, or suspected, they were stealing from her, why would she have included Mr Fordham in the tournament?”

“Good question.” Tapping his fingers on the table, Mr Monroe slowly nodded. “The old dear may have been too embarrassed to tell me what Fordham was doing. I suspect she rather slyly wanted him to be caught and trusted he somehow would trip up during the tournament.” The attorney then placed upon the table the inventory newly completed by Mr Atwater and Mrs Vincent. “Mr Wright, may I compare this against your notes?”

From the music room, where Miss Rigby must have taken refuge, came the strains of ‘Greensleeves’, and while the others compared inventories, Elizabeth took that opportunity to have a good look about the library—the decoration, the books, the globes, the art. My own book-room!

Her eyes then rested upon Mr Darcy, and she longed to also call him her own. In character, in intelligence, deportment, looks, and attire, in every way, he was superior to any man she had known. His close friend Mr Bingley looked to him for advice; and, as far as she knew, neither of them engaged in debauchery of any sort. He was a dutiful nephew; and from his letter, Elizabeth knew he was a good brother. The balance of approbation was tipping heavily in his favour.

Mr Monroe, after some minutes of study—accompanied by tut-tuts, humphs, and other expressions of disdain—held up a handful of receipts from the constable’s notebook. “These are acknowledgments from London merchants who purchased antiques from the Fordhams. Many of the items match heirlooms on Miss Armstrong’s original inventory but are missing from our current one.”

Mr Sumner turned to Elizabeth. “Unless you have an objection, I shall consider those receipts and inventories as evidence presented by you, the victim, and sufficient to support a trial by jury. You, of course, are expected to pay expenses incurred by Mr Wright. When this goes to trial, you also must pay the prosecution.” The look he gave her seemed to say, ‘And that is what you get, young lady, for sticking your nose in men’s business’.

If that, indeed, was what he was thinking, he was not half wrong. I am at sea. All this is out of my depth, over my head. Despising herself for it, Elizabeth looked to Mr Monroe, then to Mr Darcy, for guidance.

The latter gentleman at once responded. “I also was a victim of Mr Fordham’s wrongdoing. Although I suffered no lasting effect, the opium dosage could have killed me. He cannot be charged for that, of course. However, I shall bear the cost to take the Fordhams to trial for their thievery.”

“I do not want them hanged.” Elizabeth was emphatic. “I do not even want them pilloried.”

“What do you want, Miss Bennet?” asked Mr Monroe.

“I want them far away from our shores. I want the Fordhams transported for what they did to that dear old lady.”

“Miss Bennet,” said Mr Darcy as they left the library together, “I cannot begin to imagine the differing throes of emotion you have contended with during the events of last evening and today. You told me you are stronger than you appear. But are you truly well? Is there anything I may do for you?”

Hardly knowing whether to laugh or cry, Elizabeth said, “Could you possibly snap your fingers and make my entire family suddenly appear? How I long for my parents and sisters!” Tears gathered for an onslaught, but she fought back. Collecting herself as well as she could, she smiled and thanked him for offering to pay the expense of legal proceedings against the Fordhams. “I was at a loss in there. But I expect, someday very soon, I shall be able to repay you.”