Elizabeth was not certain she liked being backed into a corner,even by Mr Newton,but since her hair was on fire from a blaze she lit herself, she had no right to complain.
Bingley, plainly at sea, fumed. “Do you know something of this affair, Newton?If so, why is your employer the last to know?”
His fire pleased Elizabeth. Naturally, it was misdirected, and too little too late, but better than nothing.
Newton looked calmly at his employer, then turned back to Elizabeth. A quirk of his eyebrow indicated the next move was hers.
“The embargo has served its purpose. You may speak or remain silent as you choose.”
“You know perfectly well that ‘remaining silent’ is not one of the choices before me. By your leave?”
Elizabeth nodded.
Newton turned to Bingley, whose expression still promised murder. “I will answer your last question first. I have worked all my life for the gentry, as did my father and his before him. We like things that way. I came to work for you as a favour to Mr Darcy.”
Bingley stared at Darcy, who nodded, not particularly perturbed.
“In my family, we do things the old way. When aladyasks acoachmanto hold his tongue, unless her safety is in question, we hold our tongues. Miss Bennet and Mrs Collinsspecificallyandclearlydemanded a vow of silence, so we complied.”
“The injunction has apparently been lifted, so I should like to understand. What happened?”
“We came upon the ladies with the furniture wagon a minute or two after the incident. Miss Bennet’s estimates were correct beyond dispute. Both ladies were covered from head to foot in muddy water. The road itself was as easy to read as a book—the last bend before Meryton. Do you remember it?”
Bingley nodded.
“Your coach went at a brisk trot, far too fast for that road, and far too fast so close to a village, apparently at Miss Bingley’s explicit direction. He never slackened the pace. I believe he did not see the ladies, though that is bad enough. Miss Elizabethdragged her sister out of the path barely in time to be covered in mud rather than killed. Miss Mary told us she saw Miss Bingley looking at her and laughing. If your sister wants to call Mrs Collins a liar, I suppose that is her privilege, but the Bennets are at the very least consistent, and their story matches the evidence of the tracks.”
“What happened then?”
“We did the obvious, sir. We covered them with blankets and greatcoats. Kep fetched water and rags from the stream to help them clean themselves. We discussed what to do at some length and asked their permission to inform you. They asked us to keep the incident quiet, for their own reasons, which are none of my business. We took them to Netherfield, asked the housekeeper to get them bathed, and Kep went to Longbourn to fetch the elder Miss Bennet with clean clothes.”
“My coachman nearly killed someone, yet he isstilldriving my coaches because you promised a lady to remain quiet.”
“Oh, he does not drive like that anymore. His skills and sense of caution are… enhanced.”
Bingley looked confused, and Newton continued, “The ladies prohibited us from speaking toyou, sir. They reluctantly raised no objection to our applying some of what we callinstructionto the coachman. He will not repeat the offence.”
At a loss for words, Bingley asked, “How did this transformation of his skills and attitude come about?”
Kep rather loudly cracked his knuckles, while his father said, “By your leave, I stay out of your business; you need not interfere in mine. We dealt with him according to our traditions.”
Bingley stared from one to the other. “I trust you, so we shall say no more. I thank you for your candour.”
“It is only your due, but it is my pleasure. And I thank Miss Bennet for releasing me.”
She laughed. “A quarter-hour, Mr Newton.”
He bowed. “It will be my pleasure, madam.”
Caroline stared in consternation at the entire debacle and opened her mouth to speak, but was forestalled by her brother.
“NOT a word, Caroline!Not a single sound is to come out of your mouth.”
She started to ignore him, as usual, while he ignored her and continued. “Darcy, do you object to lending me some horses? We could make another two hours if we leave soon. I am not inclined to pollute the shades of Pemberley with my sister’s presence—or mine, for that matter.”
Elizabeth said, “Do not leave on our account.”
Bingley walked away from the small group until he stood only two or three feet in front of Elizabeth.
