Elizabeth closed her eyes briefly, memories of their kiss overtaking her at Darcy’s throaty words. Opening them again, she took hold of the handkerchief and with her other hand hooked through Darcy’s arm, moved them back towards Alex’s room.
The scene in the nursery was not calm. Dorothy was now holding the wailing baby and trying to calm the young maid from her hysterics. Elizabeth hastened to take her son, collapsing into a chair ignoring the maid’s crying. She heard Darcy speakauthoritatively to Jax and Dorothy, ordering the maid be taken down to the kitchen for tea with a drop of brandy.
Before Dorothy could escort the maid out, Elizabeth called to her, “Dorothy… Thank you. Thank you for protecting my son.” Her voice wobbled on the last two words and Dorothy, herself shaken and pale following the ordeal, smiled and nodded before leaving.
Whispering words of comfort to calm Alex’s tears also eased Elizabeth’s own fright of the past half hour.Had so little time passed? It seemed like an entire day had gone by since stepping foot inside Carrington House.
“Elizabeth.” She looked up at Darcy, with Jax standing at his shoulder. Both wore frowns, but his eyes were soft as he looked at her. “We need to call the magistrate, before we can move Wickham’s body.”
“Body?” Her eyes widened.
“Yes, my love.” Moving to crouch near her he dabbed a fresh, dampened handkerchief to her neck to clean it. She had forgotten all about her wound, but now it began to sting. “We should have a physician look at it to be sure, but I think it shall close on its own.
“Wickham?” Elizabeth reminded him.
“His neck broke in the fall.”
Her swift intake of breath was a gasp. “I kill-”
“Youdid nothing. You did what you had to do to save yourself. Wickham was the author of his own ending.” Darcy used his thumb to gently wipe away tears trailing down her cheeks.
Silence fell on the room, aside from Alex’s occasional hiccupping sniffles. He had calmed in her arms and was resting comfortably, one hand opening and closing on her chest. His lower lip protruded a bit, as if he was still on the brink of tears. If she were alone, she would have nursed him to offer more comfort.
She inhaled a sharp intake of breath. “The letters. Where are the letters?” Alex jumped and whimpered.
“What letters?” Darcy’s hand came up to soothe Alex’s back.
Elizabeth pushed Alex into his arms and flew out of the room.
“Elizabeth, no. Do not…” But it was too late. She was at the top of the stairs looking down at Wickham’s body.
“I thought I said to cover it with a sheet.” Darcy ordered loudly. He had followed her, still holding Alex.
Ignoring it all, Elizabeth moved to the farthest side of the staircase descending with eyes raised. Once down and around the body she retraced her steps from seeking out the butler.
It did not take her long. Scattered on the floor were the letters she all but flung to the floor upon hearing the maid’s scream. Before Wickham–no, do not think of it now.
Collecting up all the old correspondence she stood and turned to see the two people she loved most in the world.Fitzwilliam Darcy and my son.
“We must also send for Mr Graham. Wickham,” her voice faltered, but she straightened her shoulders, “Wickham may be unable to give us information, but I am hoping these might offer a clue.” She raised her hand holding the old love letters.
~ / ~
Elizabeth, Darcy and Alex had settled in the study. Refreshments had been brought in, though neither ate much. Nor did they say much, sitting side by side, holding hands under the folds of her skirt. They sat in this pose until Dorothy joined them. She had remained with the young maid until she had calmed and been sent to her bed.
A knock on the front door announced the arrival of a newcomer. Darcy hoped it was the magistrate; he wanted Wickham’s remains to be taken away as soon as possible.
The magistrate, Mr Morley, was a tall robust man, with large sideburns. He had a no-nonsense air about him and with little fanfare got down to business. He took witness reports from Dorothy, Elizabeth, Darcy and Jax. The maid, he suggested, could wait until she was calm enough to give a statement, pressing the importance of it for his report. Dorothy had left with Alex once her interview was over.
Mr Graham arrived during these proceedings, and he provided further confirmation of an unknown assailant targeting the Carrington family.
“Be at ease, Mrs Carrington. It is clearly a case of self-defence. With multiple witnesses hearing him confess to murdering an earl and a viscount, and threatening another earl to boot, the miscreant would have hung anyway.” Mr Morley addressed Mr Graham, “You will provide my office with all the documents you mentioned?”
At Mr Graham’s nod, the magistrate slapped his hands on his lap. “Seems open and shut to me. My constables will take the body for disposal.” He took his leave in his forthright manner, bidding them all good-bye.
“Pray stay, Mr Graham,” when it looked as if he too would leave, Elizabeth stopped him. “There is another matter we might speak of.” She took up the letters she had placed on a side table near her and handed them to the attorney.
“We will need Mr Pikewell, too.” Darcy sent a footman to find him.
