Page 42 of A Most Inconvenient Murder

A sharp intake of breath from Miss de Bourgh, who looked to her mother in panic.

Mr. Collins, unable to restrain himself, said, “Surely you do not suggest Mrs. Jenkinson?”

Elizabeth did not answer directly. “I suggest that every fact must be weighed, and that the case against Mr. Haldridge is not as complete as Lady Catherine has painted it to be.”

Lady Catherine’s eyes narrowed. “Yet you have no alternative suspect. Until you do, you are wasting my time.”

Mr. Darcy said, “It is not a waste to prevent a miscarriage of justice.”

Lady Catherine’s gaze darted from him to Elizabeth and back again. Her tone was lower now and charged with something colder than rage. “You are defending Miss Bennet with more vigor than the occasion requires. Some might say it is unbecoming.”

A silence, then. Heavy and absolute.

Elizabeth met her gaze and did not look away. “I have no wish to upset the harmony of your household, Lady Catherine. But I do believe in the necessity of truth, however inconvenient that might be.”

Lady Catherine exhaled through her nose. “Very well. If you are so determined, let us have the matter out in the open.”

She turned to Charlotte. “Mrs. Collins. You are an intelligent woman, if not always the best judge of your own interests. Tell us, plainly, do you believe Mr. Haldridge capable of such a crime?”

Charlotte’s fingers had gripped the settee until her knuckles were white as she answered in a voice so calm it startled even Elizabeth. “I do not believe so. He had no reason to wish Mrs.Blackstone ill. And of course, he had every reason to keep the peace in his own household.”

Lady Catherine bristled. “And you, Mr. Collins?”

Mr. Collins blanched. “I—I believe, your ladyship, that the judgment of the coroner should prevail.”

Lady Catherine made a sound of disgust. “Useless, both of you.”

She turned to Mr. Darcy. “If you will not stand by your own kin, then I see there is little point in continuing.”

But Mr. Darcy did not yield. “I stand by the evidence, madam, and by those who dare to pursue it.”

Another silence. The air was so thick with lilies and perfume and so hot that Elizabeth could feel a bead of sweat trickle from her temple to her jaw. Even Miss de Bourgh, usually so impassive, looked near to swooning; Mrs. Jenkinson’s only concession was a delicate dab of handkerchief to her brow, but Elizabeth saw the tension in her jaw.

Lady Catherine, realizing that her usual weapons were blunted, shifted tactics. “Miss Bennet, you are unmarried, are you not?”

The question was so abrupt and so wildly irrelevant that, for a moment, Elizabeth stared. “I am.”

“And you are, by all accounts, a woman of some intelligence, but little means. If I may be frank, I happen to know that you have already rejected a proposal that would have secured your family’s future, out of pride or, some might say, vanity.”

Elizabeth felt as though a bolt of cold water had been dashed across her face. She looked to Charlotte, whose lips had parted in astonishment. Though she refused to look at Mr. Darcy, fromthe corner of her eye, she could see his face was completely unreadable.

Of course, he would assume his aunt was speaking of him, when Elizabeth knew for a fact that Lady Catherine was referring to her refusal of Mr. Collins’s proposal before he offered for Charlotte.

Oh, what a mess.

Lady Catherine continued, “Perhaps your interest in this matter is not solely intellectual. Perhaps you see in Mr. Haldridge an opportunity for yourself now that you have declined a more suitable offer. It is my opinion that you think to clear him to place yourself in his good graces, or even in his household.”

Elizabeth opened her mouth but found nothing to say.

Lady Catherine smiled—a slow, malicious grin. “Let me assure you, Miss Bennet. Mr. Haldridge is far too prudent to ally himself with a woman so determined to overstep her rank. He is a gentleman, but not a fool.”

Elizabeth flushed but would not look away. “I seek only the truth, Lady Catherine. It is all I have ever wanted.”

Lady Catherine’s gaze turned to Mr. Darcy, whose jaw was now visibly clenched. “And you, nephew? Do you still think it wise to champion a woman who would so clearly abuse your loyalty with such a scheme?”

Mr. Darcy answered, “I do support her, aunt. Furthermore, I must say I am absolutely convinced that Miss Elizabeth is incapable of the mercenary behavior of which you accuse her.”

Lady Catherine recoiled as if struck.