Page 71 of A Matter of Murder

“If Papa finds out about what?”

The three of them turned to find Lydia at the end of the hall, ambling toward them with a smile like the cat who’d caught the canary. “Have you found Guy? Why are you all standing around?”

“Not yet,” Jane said with a sigh. “Lizzie’s gone to fetch him.”

Lydia looked pointedly into the dark service corridor. “In there?”

“Yes.”

“Where does it lead?” Lydia tried to cross the threshold into the corridor, but Darcy put up an arm to block her.

“It’s not safe.”

“But if Lizzie is in there—”

“Lizzie and one of the maids went in. She’ll be back soon.”

“Why won’t you tell me where it goes?” She crossed her arms. “I’m not a child!”

“To the rest of the house,” Jane replied.

“You mean the east wing?”

Jane hesitated. “Yes, but—”

“Your husband said the east wing was off-limits!”

“It is,” Jane said severely.

“Is this how you and Lizzie ended up in the east wing the other day?” Lydia looked at Charlotte, then back at Darcy when no one answered. He wouldn’t have been surprised if she stomped her foot. “Why is it that no one ever lets me do anything interesting?”

“It’s not very interesting. It’s dusty,” Charlotte said. “I had cobwebs in my hair.”

“Papa wouldn’t like it.”

Darcy didn’t trust her sly tone. And neither, it seemed, did Jane. “Lydia.”

“I heard you say not to tell Papa—”

“Yes, because he’d only worry.”

“Well, it is dangerous...”

Jane sighed. “What do you want?”

Lydia was smug, and Darcy thought that Lizzie wasn’t the only Bennet sister who knew how to bend a conversation to her will. But Lydia was determined to use her skills for her own self-interest. “I want you to invite the officers billeted at Meryton tothe ball so we’ll have someone to dance with beside your husband andMr. Darcy.” She spoke his name like an insult.

“I’m right here,” Darcy muttered.

“Fine,” Jane said. “But don’t blame me if they don’t come on such late notice.”

“Yes!” Lydia squealed, tackling Jane in a hug. “Thank you, Janie! You won’t regret it!”

“I doubt that,” Jane said, but she accepted Lydia’s affection nonetheless. “But you have to be on your absolute best behavior. No carousing, no dancing without introductions, no hysterics—”

Lydia ignored her. “I have to tell Kitty! And Mary owes me a shilling—she bet me that I wouldn’t get you to relent!”

Before Lydia could run off, a scuffling sound emerged from the dark corridor. Darcy turned. “Lizzie?” he called out.