Page 43 of The Mistress of All & Torn

“What? You cannot speak to my staff!”

“I can and I shall, Lady Augusta. I remember a wounded young maid, whom you refused to discuss with me a while ago. Now I am finally able to protect her and others. Now you must excuse me, there is nothing left for me here.”

“Lady Barrington, in fact, there are some things that need attention,” St. Claire said, stepping forward. Lambert joined him, both approaching Elizabeth.

She looked at them sternly, waiting.

“Your husband, Lord Barrington, had some debts of honour that must be resolved. The amounts are quite significant and, since he has passed away, the matter cannot be delayed.”

“I see…” Elizabeth said.

“Indeed,” Lambert supported his friend. “He owed five thousand pounds to me and five thousand to St. Claire. There might also be others, as Barrington—God rest his soul—had more passion than luck for gaming.”

Jane and Mrs. Gardiner gasped in surprise. Bingley and Mr. Gardiner glanced at each other, disconcerted. Darcy rolled his eyes and shook his head.

“I see…” Elizabeth repeated. “Gentlemen, I am just a country girl who knows little of such matters and such numbers sound frightening to me. I hope Lord Barrington had some money set aside for such a situation. I have neither such a sum nor the willingness to accept claims for which I have no evidence.”

St. Claire took a step forward. Bingley, Darcy and Mr. Gardiner all moved protectively towards Elizabeth.

“Lady Barrington, this cannot be solved through solicitors! There is no proof for such debts, besides our word which you certainly cannot doubt!” St. Claire insisted.

Darcy interjected harshly, “Let us clarify the matter this instant. Mr. Reeves, Mr. Thorn, is Lady Barrington allowed to make such a payment at her own discretion?”

“Not without evidence of the debts and signed papers to justify the payment, Mr. Darcy. Unless she intends to use her pin money or to sell some of the jewels she has received as personal gifts,” Mr. Reeves answered.

“So does our word mean nothing?” St. Claire shouted. “Mr. Reeves, you must know how things are done between gentlemen! You cannot approve such a flagrant breach of a gentleman’s agreement!”

“Mr. St. Claire, any gentleman may and should repay his debts based on nothing but his word of honour and handshake. But how can we expect Lady Barrington to do so? And how could we, as men of the law, approve such a risky payment? I do not question your claims, but it would be easy for any dishonest man, remotely acquainted with Lord Barrington, to claim compensation from his widow! Surely you must see our point.”

“I do not! We were friends and relatives to Barrington! We did everything together. He had no secrets from us! He owed us a large amount of money and we have been patient enough! We have already been deprived of what should have been ours, we cannot lose our own money,” St. Claire replied.

“I stand by these two gentlemen! She should sell her jewels and pay the debts!” Lady Augusta cried.

“Such a demand is laughable and painful to watch,” Elizabeth said coldly. “Have I not already stated that the entire inheritance will be used legitimately? If there is some stipulation within the documents signed by Lord Barrington that would cover demands such as yours, the trustees will comply with it.”

“How dare you mock us? This is a matter of honour, which requires a discreet and immediate solution, for the respectability of the name of Barrington! His widow has gained an enormous fortune from his death! It is her duty and her responsibility to pay his debts to us at the very least!” Lambert continued angrily. His voice was loud, demanding and discourteous.

Before any of her friends had time to intervene, Elizabeth slowly lifted the dark veil that covered her wounded face. She looked straight at St. Claire and Lambert, then daringly stepped even closer to them.

“Mind your tone when you speak to me, sir! You just declared that you did everything with Lord Barrington, so you just admitted, in the presence of all these witnesses, to being his accomplice! You should know that these circumstances are the result of his wicked plans, and are not my fault! Do not ever trouble me again with this matter and do not provoke me to speak of honour, respectability, duty or responsibility! I have never seen any evidence in your behaviour that you are familiar with any of those concepts!”

Her outburst astonished and silenced everyone in attendance. From her side, Darcy watched her intently. He was the only one who had seen her in a similar state of perturbation, that day at the parsonage. Back then, he had been the reason for her distress. Now, he was next to her, ready to protect her if she needed his support.

“Insolent, ungrateful country nobody! I curse the day my son met you!” Lady Augusta said in a low, spiteful voice.

“You and I both, Lady Augusta. Cursing that day is the only thing we have in common. And while you offend me further, you should consider that I am now the mistress of all!” Elizabeth concluded as she pulled down her veil and exited majestically, ignoring the crying and whining behind her.

She entered the carriage and as she sat, her strength evaded her. Hidden from view, her hands began trembling in her lap, while tears burned her eyes.

Jane and Mrs. Gardiner joined her moments later, sitting on either side.

“My dearest Lizzy,” Jane whispered, her own torment obvious.

“Do not worry, my darling, we are here,” Mrs. Gardiner tried to comfort her. “I can only imagine how hard that must have been for you. We are here now.”

Outside, Bingley, Darcy and Mr. Gardiner were still talking to the other gentlemen. From inside the house, five maids and two male servants—all very young—approached shyly, carrying small cases. They stopped a little distance from the carriage, waiting.

Darcy leaned toward the carriage window, addressing Elizabeth.