Page 30 of The Mistress of All & Torn

Barrington Estate—present (august 1812)

“Lizzy! Lizzy? Lizzy my dear, wake up!”

The tender voice and gentle touch startled Elizabeth. She opened her eyes, staring around in panic. Jane and her aunt Gardiner were calling her, trying to awaken her. Outside the carriage, Darcy, Bingley and her uncle Gardiner, were waiting.

She climbed down, stopping in front of the manor that had been her prison for more than a month. A month that had seemed longer than a lifetime. Instinctively, she touched her face through the veil and the immediate pain brought back tormenting memories.

“The trustees are here. So is Lady Sedgewick’s solicitor, and her executor,” Mr. Gardiner explained. As Elizabeth still hesitated, he continued.

“My darling, you are with us now. You have no reason to fear.”

She returned a little smile, but any movement of her face was painful.

“I know, Uncle. Let us enter. Mr. Darcy, may I have your arm, please?”

He was the strongest one. The most powerful. The one who had saved her, entering the house by force, with no hesitation, confronting the sadistic man, even if he was holding a gun.

“I would be honoured, Lady Barrington,” he answered briefly.

They all stepped forward together, with Elizabeth and Darcy leading the party, the solicitors and trustees following, and finally Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, Bingley and Jane. At the main door, Elizabeth released Darcy’s arm and stepped forward by herself. The door was locked. She knocked with her fist, again and again, until the door opened.

“Lady Barrington…Lady Augusta is already at the chapel. For the funeral,” the butler said.

“Thank you, Peter.”

She turned and walked away from the house hastily, with everyone following her. In front of the chapel she paused again, briefly considering that it could have been her own funeral today instead, and perhaps her family would not have been allowed to attend.

She entered daringly, her steps sounding so loudly that her own head was aching.

There was her late husband’s mother and several friends whom she recognised. Lord Barrington was lying in the coffin. She could not gather her courage to look at him more closely. Next to him, was the vicar.

The two parties faced each other.

“What are you doing here? How dare you pollute my son’s memory! You murdered him! It is your fault he is dead. Do you want to ruin his funeral too? All of you! Why are you here?”

“Lady Augusta, we have come at Lady Barrington’s request, to settle the legal matters. The circumstances are very peculiar and need careful examination. Lady Barrington wishes to have all the matters resolved today. We will wait until the funeral ends,” Mr. Thorn said. Without waiting for a reply, the two trustees and the executor withdrew from the chapel. Elizabeth remained, so her family and friends did the same.

“We have come to attend the funeral. We may speak about the rest later,” Elizabeth interjected, so coldly that she shivered at the sound of her own voice.

“I forbid you to attend the funeral! Get out!” Lady Augusta shouted.

It was Mr. Gardiner who intervened loudly.

“I am begging your ladyship not to insult my niece further! She has suffered enough!”

“She has suffered, but my son is dead because of her! I forbid you to speak in front of me! You are now nothing to me! Less than a servant! You have no right to interfere!”

Darcy stepped forward, standing side-by-side with Mr. Gardiner. Tall and powerful, his face twisted in anger, he spoke calmly.

“And why would Mr. Gardiner have no right to speak on behalf of his niece? It is his duty and his right to protect her, and he was forbidden to do so by everyone who kept Lady Barrington imprisoned for weeks! Does his title give your son the right to behave like a cruel savage?”

“Do not speak in such a manner! My son was innocent of any charge!”

“Was he? Then do tell us who the criminals are? You forgot that I witnessed the entire drama? Who harmed Lady Barrington and several other servants? Who threatened us with a pistol when we only demanded to see Lady Barrington? Let us know who he was, and he will be charged as a criminal!”

“You should not be here!” the lady shouted.

“Ladies, gentlemen, we are in the Lord’s house, to witness a sad event,” the vicar interjected. “The Lord Himself knows the truth better than any of us. Let us not fight on this tragic and solemn occasion. Let us complete the service and return to worldly things afterwards.”