The study. Perfect,Elizabeth thought, her breath easing in the knowledge that Lady Charmane had nowhere to go.
Darting around the corner into the study, Elizabeth’s heart dropped.
Empty. But there was no way. Mary had been guarding the passageway.
“Mary!” Elizabeth cried, a section of wall beside her opening to reveal her sister.
“Whatever is the matter?”
Jane hurrying through the study door, she frowned, “What has happened? Are you alright?”
Turning in a circle, Elizabeth noted the room in its entirety.A few shelves of books, purple curtains, a longcase clock carved with peacocks, a desk with similar carvings...Nowhere to hide. Nowhere. Even the desk or the curtains could not conceal a grown woman. Right?
Moving throughout the room, Elizabeth looked behind, in, and around any space which could even remotely hide a person, along with a few she knew could not.
“She is gone,” Elizabeth murmured as she returned to her sisters’, the confirmation of what she already knew made clear. “There must be another passage… and three walls it cannot be accessed by.”
Shaking her head, Jane sighed, “She does not want to be found. We can keep trying to pin her down, cut off every access she may have, but if she is as insistent as this, will cornering her bring any answers? Will she divulge the relationship between her and our mother; why she invited the unimportant daughters of a country gentleman to visit? I think it is time we leave her be. If we are fortunate, she will one day provide an explanation.”
“I do not know if I can leave it be,” Elizabeth admitted with a frown, her eyes casting over the space. “I will take a leaf from you and not hunt her down, but I will not leave this be. If I find any chance to speak with her, I will take it.”
“And what of you, Mary?” Jane asked, her brows raised and eyes wide.
“I side with Elizabeth on this. Trying to trap her as we have is perhaps a little severe… giving up entirely, however, it is too soon. Only when we are on our way home, am I willing to give way–even then, a letter or two to her and Aunt might pass before I let this lie. It is too important; Mother wanted this, leastwise she wanted us here, and I cannot believe that she did not mean us to at least talk to Lady Charmane.”
Jane’s expression falling, she nodded. “As you say, it is what Mother would have wanted. I wish it was what Lady Charmane wanted too… our last days here could prove less than agreeable.”
“And there are so many other things we might do,” Elizabeth supplied. “Such as spending time in the company of certain gentlemen?”
“That is not my reasoning,” Jane huffed, her eyes cast down as she crossed her arms. “I merely am hesitant to invade the privacy of a woman who has welcomed us into her home. Well, perhaps not exactly welcomed us, but she has housed us, fed us, and allowed you to meet a certain someone. Respect if nothing else ought to come from that.”
“You are correct. And we shall grant her that respect… though not at the expense of what Mother wanted,” Elizabeth said, the argument ended in her mind.
“Ah, there you ladies are,” Mr. Bingley supplied as he stood in the doorway. “Our host has said that dinner is served.”
Following after him with her sisters, Elizabeth and Mary shared a look.Lady Charmane had managed to make her way back to the dining room. Wherever the other passage went, it had proved more than a dead end.
Meeting Mr. Darcy outside the dining room, Elizabeth paused, her frown fading at the sight of him.If only they might share their news. If only it were permissible to wrap him in her arms and enjoy a kiss. Or even sit close together in front of a fire, sharing stories and plans and hopes, all through the night.
Soon enough. They would write Uncle and within a week he would respond to them. She simply had to be patient.
Breath catching as he smiled down at her, Elizabeth sighed.
Perhaps it would not be soon enough? Not for her liking, in any case.
Chapter 23
Staffordshire, England – 1812 – Day 12
“You should see Wrotham Park!” Bingley awed; Darcy and Fitz smirking as they observed their friend traverse the room in animation. “I admit the house is not as fine as Pemberley–though it is large and grand enough for my needs–but it boasts two-thirds the acreage, which is no small thing. There are woodlands and farmlands, and a well-stocked pond and broad stream–fishing and hunting will abound, make no mistake. And the ballroom, well, it is just as it ought to be, with mirrors left by the former owner and enough room for two dozen couples to dance with ease, even with others milling about! Yes. It is fine. And you must see it, Darcy. You absolutely must! I need your mastery on matters regarding the estate. Do I keep the tenants which were there? Do I plan crops as early as this, like one of the tenants suggested? Do I…”
“Bingley!” Fitz interrupted. “Breathe.”
“Yes, please do,” Darcy said as Bingley sought to obey Fitz’s orders. “I promise to help in any way I can as soon as our time here is over.”
Shaking his head, Bingley rushed to his side. “No. No. It must be now. Or sooner… than our leaving, of course. I have a plan and I know you will agree once you see Wrotham. It is in all ways one of my best ideas, and I need you–you both–to see Wrotham and then stand by me. The pair of you will hold a great deal of weight you see.”
“Weight regarding what? Bingley, you make no sense,” Fitz huffed.
