Page 32 of The Mistress of All & Torn

“Oh dear! Thank you, Lord! I was sure this would happen! There is nobody more entitled to inherit from my son! I am demanding you all to leave this instant!” Lady Augusta cried with rapture and fury.

Mr. Reeves and his colleagues exchanged several glances, then Mr. Thorn interjected.

“Madam, I am afraid you misunderstood my words. I am not referring to you, but to your son’s wife. There are still details to be fixed and we must wait for another nine months to be sure if there is an heir or not. But for the time being, Lady Elizabeth Barrington is the mistress of all!”

Chapter 11

A heavy silence fell over them, with not even a breath disturbing it. The parties looked at each other, puzzled, doubtful and dumbfounded. Then the voices burst out again.

“She is the mistress of all? This country nobody? This cannot be! You are either ignorant fools or you are hostile and have concocted some scheme to rob me of what is rightfully mine!”

“Lady Augusta, we understand the grief and shock has affected you, so we will not take offence from your words,” Mr. Reeves said with cold politeness. “I assure you there is no mistake. Your son’s wife is the mistress.”

As all eyes turned to her, Elizabeth sat down on a chair, dizzy and doubtful regarding the disclosure. Just like Lady Augusta, she believed it must be an error that would be soon remedied.

“But this cannot be! It is not possible! This is a mistake! A deception!” Lady Augusta shouted.

“I kindly ask your ladyship not to accuse any of us of fraud and deception!” Mr. Finch said. “If needed, we may take this matter to the court at any time.”

“Let us calm ourselves,” St. Claire quickly interjected. “We wish to keep these things private. Exposing the details of the affair to public censure and rumours would certainly be of no use to anyone. Are you absolutely certain of your conclusion, gentlemen? Lady Augusta must inherit something and so must the rest of us who are related to Barrington. Perhaps a more careful examination of the documents would be advised?”

“We assure you we have studied the documents thoroughly over the last two days and nights. Of course, everything that you owned before your son’s marriage remains your property. We are only talking about the settlements regarding Lord and Lady Sedgewick.”

Lady Augusta was far from calm.

“Nevertheless, this cannot be! Surely we must inherit something! All those who are related to the Sedgewicks?!”

Mr. Reeves answered.

“There are specific mentions for each distant relative. But most of Lord Barrington’s assets will be under Lady Barrington’s supervision. Everything that came from the Sedgewick fortune still falls under the same requirements. Nothing has changed, except that now Lady Barrington is in charge of everything.”

“Indeed, there is nothing left unclear,” Mr. Thorn added. “Lord Barrington required that he and Lady Barrington signed documents that covered the situation of each unexpected death. Everything was done at his request, Lady Barrington signed the documents just as the earl requested!”

“But why would he have done that? Why?” Lady Augusta screamed, with equal pain and anger.

“Because he expected to be a widower soon, madam! All the documents were made for the duration of my life, as you may see. His plan was that I would survive until the birth of a child, no longer. He told me directly that I was more useful to him dead than alive!” Eizabeth declared coldly, with a calmness that dismayed the others.

Gasps of disbelief and horror answered her statement.

“What do you imply? Are you accusing my son?”

“I am telling you what I was told by Lord Barrington himself. And I suspect Mr. Lambert and Mr. St. Claire were aware of such plans too.”

“What? Excuse me? I have never...” Mr. St. Claire intervened.

Elizabeth answered him with a sharp glare.

“Sir, do not ignore the fact that Lord Barrington was often in a state of mind—induced by drink and opium—that led him to speak with no restraint. You certainly know what I refer to, as you and he often shared the same pleasures. Do not take me for a fool!”

“Lady Barrington, this is outrageous! To come here and make such accusations...” Mr. Lambert said.

“I believe such arguments are unnecessary,” Darcy interjected with concealed anger. “The state in which we found Lady Barrington and her maid were enough proof of what this house had been hiding. If you know yourself to be guilty, you had better remain silent, Lambert.”

“And what about you, Darcy? Why are you here? As far as I know you are not related to the family! You came here with no right and caused the tragedy that took Lord Barrington’s life! And here you are again, speaking of matters that are not your concern!”

Darcy’s eyes narrowed in fury.

“Lambert, your impertinence shall not excuse your actions. I shall repeat one more time what I said two days ago, when we came to rescue Lady Barrington and likely saved her life. My assistance was requested by both the Bennet and the Gardiner families. My friend, Mr. Bingley, is married to Lady Barrington's sister and begged for my help. You should be relieved that I am only a friend, no more. Had Lady Barrington been part of my family, neither of you would have escaped punishment! I would have had my revenge over everyone who was part of this conspiracy of evilness, woman or man, young or old.”