Alarmed at the sorrow Elizabeth spied on her sister’s face, she moved to sit beside Jane and held one of her hands. “Jane, there is much in this world none of us can ever control. I have been thinking a lot about the idiosyncrasies of life. I never would have wished death on either Lydia or Mama, but without those events I would never have met Gregory.”
“And without your husband, Alex would not be here.” The sisters met each other’s eyes, each viewing the other through a film of tears.
In a whisper Elizabeth added, “and Fitzwilliam would not be a part of my lifenow.”
“For that matter, neither would Mr Bingley.”
“Just so.”
Through laughter and tears, Elizabeth and Jane hugged, sealing a bond of friendship, sisterhood and lifelong confidants. These warm healing emotions paved the way for both young women to embrace the bright futures before them, confidently and without guilt of the past weighing them down.
Chapter 37
After months of strain and distress, the letters had been the key to track down the mysterious Frank. It was, in the end, almost disappointing how everything seemed to resolve in so little time.
Mr Seymour investigated by interviewing all the servants who had worked for the Carrington’s during those days. The housekeeper found the account book with the name of Lady Carrington’s maid, Abigail Morton.
The former maid knew immediately who the letters were from. “My mistress never spoke of him after her wedding, but I knew she kept the letters. I’d never see her read them, but I would find her looking at them from time to time. Once the children came, she was a little happier.”
Mr Frank Atkins, once they knew his name, was not difficult to find and Dumfries’s men assisted in detaining him.
Mr Graham paid a visit to Carrington House, wishing to inform Elizabeth of the charges being brought against the man. Elizabeth and Jane received him in the drawing room.
Dumfries arrived a short time later to offer his own report to the young widow.
“Frank Atkins never stopped loving Lady Marjorie Carrington. If she had been happy, he might have found a way to move on. Butthe earl was not kind, and Frank learned his only love was not treated well by her husband and was unhappy in her marriage. He believed she died alone, sick and of a broken heart.”
“Lady Carrington had been very ill,” Elizabeth interjected. “Gregory told me of her illness once and Mrs Fletcher mentioned it, as well. My late husband knew she was dying and said his goodbyes before he joined the navy.”
Mr Graham tsked. “In his derangement, Mr Atkins did not see it that way. Between the loss of his love and anger at her unhappiness, the need for revenge grew into a sort of insanity. When he learned of the deaths of your husband and his brother in the army, he felt it was divine intervention. So, he decided to help the cause along.”
“And where or how did he find Wickham to do his dirty work?” she spoke through thin, pale lips.
“Mr Seymour is still looking into that, madam. However, I should warn you, we may not ever know exactly how it all came about. There are places to go where one might find men willing to do evil for financial compensation.”
Elizabeth looked away to peer sightlessly out the windows. Jane reached over and took one of her sister’s hands in support.
The men gave the women a minute before Dumfries broke the silence. “It was the darnedest thing. We found ’im in his house, all respectable it was, though it had seen better days. There were few servants left by the time we got there. He just sat there like he was waitin’ for us to come get ’im. Didn’t struggle or nothin’. Most likely he heard Wickham failed.
“What will happen to him now?”
“He ordered the deaths of an earl and a viscount and tried to have another earl killed, as well. He will probably hang to be made an example of, despite his insanity.
~ / ~
A few days later during his visit, Darcy could tell Elizabeth was agitated. “What is wrong, my love?”
“I want to meet with him.”
Darcy had an awful feeling he knew the ‘him’ she was referring to, “Who?”
“Frank Atkins. I need to see him, Fitzwilliam.”
“Elizabeth, be reasonable. Where he is being held is not suitable for ladies.”
“That man brought fear into my life. Fear for my son, Fitzwilliam.Alex. He engineered Wickham’s presence back into our lives. I shall not be able to truly lay this to bed without facing him.”
Darcy looked at her for a long moment, his eyes searching. Her request upset him, and it pained her to place him into such a position.
