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He stopped, suddenly at a loss about carrying on.

“You were unsure you wanted me at your side in church?”

He nodded shamefacedly.

“Do not worry about that. It was what stopped me from asking to attend with you. I did not want to embarrass you, never mind myself. I have learned the hard way that the world is full of prurient and nosy busybodies.”

“Thank you Miss Elizabeth. You are perceptive and bright, and have dealt with an embarrassing matter in a calm and rational manner. But that is the thing, it is not an embarrassing matter.”

She watched him half-heartedly throw his hands in the air. When Elizabeth herself was this agitated she paced back and forth. Not a solution available to the Baron anymore.

“I have spent many hours over the last week thinking about your future. I have been to see my lawyer on several occasions as well.”

“My future?”

Despite her best efforts, her voice had a tremble.

“I am not sure I have a future. You know this, thanks to my medicine induced confession.”

The Baron looked at her with sympathy.

“We are going to talk of many things today, and over the next few weeks. I am going to explain to you the benefit of wealth, and through that wealth, power.”

Elizabeth was shocked at the change in the old man in front of her. The kindly grandfather had been replaced by an iron-willed gentleman. The real Baron Napier.

“When you were unable to descend the stairs on that first morning, I had my lawyer attend me. He, at my order, sent two men to Meryton.”

Elizabeth’s eyes were wide. He smiled over at her.

“Do not worry, I believed you, but I wanted proof. That was the first part of their task. I also wanted to know about the current situation there. It is amazing how buying a couple of pints of ale at the Inn can get you all kinds of information.”

His smile remained in place but it turned more sympathetic.

“Your family and most of the town turned against you but not all. Your story was recounted to the men my lawyer sent, and there was almost a fight in the taproom of the Inn. You have staunch defenders who did not take kindly to your name being bandied about by those quick to blame you. Over the course of two nights, every detail was confirmed. That Hurst was, and I presume still is, a drunk was a detail known to all. The general cattiness of the character of this Miss Bingley was again confirmed universally. And I am being very circumspect with my language when I say cattiness. The words used to describe her to my men where a lot more colourful. Not that any of these details helps you right now.

“The only thing that no one has an answer to is why this fellow Hurst was outside your bedroom door in the middle of the night.”

Elizabeth was not even sure Hurst could answer that question. She nodded.

“No one knows. I do not know. It is the single piece of evidence, that everyone has latched onto, for the maxim ‘there is no smoke without fire’. And there is no way to refute it.”

“It is done, and just has to be forgotten about. As far as I am concerned your story is complete and accurate. And I repeat again, I believed you before they set off. But I wanted confirmation. What was interesting was the other tales of the area after you were forced to leave.”

--

15 minutes later the story recommenced, fresh tea in their cups.

“The man leasing Netherfield Park left at the end of November. The house is closed up, and the temporary staff were paid through the end of the quarter but then let go. This man Bingley might have no control over his relatives but he has done right by the estate. The Steward is active and everyone, staff and tenants, received a box after Christmas. But it is clear that he is not returning.

“His final act was to host a ball for the neighbourhood, a thank you for making the party welcome. The ball itself was unremarkable. His unmarried sister acted as his hostess and seemed to think it was as good as the Devonshire Ball. She certainly acted that way. My understanding is that it was far from such august heights.”

Elizabeth could not help the smile that formed. The Baron’s tone could not have been more dismissive. What she did not realise was that the Baron was acting in such a manner to produce this exact result.

“The highlight of the evening did not even happen that night. Although thinking about it I am not sure that highlight is the right word. Outside church the following Sunday, there was a stand up screaming match between your mother and a Lady Lucas. Some of the more inventive retellings had their two husbands having to restrain them. I think that says more about the storyteller’s imagination than the truth, but whatever the case, it was quite the spectacle.”

Once upon a time Elizabeth would have been mortified at this behaviour. Now she found herself indifferent to Mrs. Bennet’s behaviour.

“Lady Lucas’ daughter had recently become engaged to a cousin of your father. This appeared to be the source of the disagreement.”