Page 20 of Dishonorable Gentlemen (Bennet Gang #1)

A Plot Against Justice

Elizabeth watched, Mary beside her, as Jane paced the cavern behind the stable the morning following Mr. Collins’ challenge to Mr. Bingley. Pacing was usually Elizabeth’s outlet, Jane being generally calm, but she bowed to her sister’s greater need. For the time being, at least. With all that weighed on Elizabeth’s mind, she was uncertain for how long she could remain still.

One of her worries was not Lydia, however. Mary, and Jane once they told her of their visit to Papa Arthur’s study in the middle of the night, feared that Lydia would reveal the contents of the letter to others, but Elizabeth did not. She’d taken their youngest sister aside and told her that keeping the information in the letter a secret was a test. One that, if she passed, would prove she was ready to learn more secrets. Lydia longed more than anything to be included in what her older sisters did. She would keep any secret to win that right.

Halting before them, Jane wrung her hands. “We must prevent this duel.”

“I fail to see how,” Mary replied. “Mr. Bingley seems determined, and we can hardly reason with Mr. Collins.”

Jane hugged her arms around her torso. “If they duel, something terrible will happen to Mr. Bingley. I know it will, and it will be my fault. Again.”

“None of it was ever your fault,” Elizabeth snapped, then winced. Her anger was at all the gentlemen who kept putting her sister into such untenable positions, not at Jane.

“We could kidnap him,” Jane exclaimed.

Twin lines appeared on Mary’s brow. “Mr. Bingley? When he did not arrive to duel, it would impugn his honor and suggest to everyone that you should wed our cousin.”

“We will kidnap Mr. Collins, then,” Jane cried, desperation in her voice.

Elizabeth cast a look over her shoulder at the secret door that led into the stable. With the rock facade that hid it, the door blocked sound well, but Jane was being excessively loud. Turning back, she asked, “And where would we put our vile cousin should we capture him? Keep in mind that an entire militia is stationed in Meryton and would be set to look for him.”

“Maybe no one would tell them he was missing,” Mary muttered.

Elizabeth shook her head, hating the hope that bloomed in Jane’s eyes. “Someone would, and every inch of countryside would be scoured.”

“Then we bring him here,” Jane said.

Elizabeth exchanged a look with Mary. Jane was never this rash.

“We cannot bring him here.” Mary spoke with quiet assurance. “Even Mr. Collins will be intelligent enough to realize he is in a cave, blindfolded or not, and these are the only hills in miles.”

“There must be something that can be done,” Jane cried. “I will not have another good man die for the sake of my virtue.” She rushed over to them, reaching to take Mary’s hands in hers. “Go to Cousin Robert. Beg him to put a stop to this.”

Sorrow shimmered in Mary’s eyes. “He has little sway over Mr. Collins.”

“Please? We must do something, and while you are in Meryton, I will keep thinking. I will find a way to keep Mr. Bingley safe.”

Mary looked to Elizabeth.

“If you are going to speak with a Collins, even a not-real Collins,” she added hastily as Mary’s eyes narrowed, “I am going with you.”

Mary’s face screwed with thought. After far longer than Elizabeth had expected her to take in answering, she said, “Very well. Elizabeth will accompany me to Meryton to see what we can discover. You remain here and think. Only promise us you will take no actions while we are away.”

“I promise. Thank you.” Jane pulled Mary into a quick hug.

“You must also promise that you will either remain in here and wait for us, or come with us to the house to remain there,” Elizabeth added.

Jane turned to her, startled.

Hating to put the thought in Jane’s mind, Elizabeth said, “I do not trust our cousin. He came here yesterday to find you, and it was only good fortune that Mary and I were with you.” Elizabeth was uncertain what sort of fortune to label the arrival of Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley. She hoped not ill, but only time would tell.

Jane paled, nodding. “I will come with you into the house.”

They went in and left Jane with their mother and Kitty who, despite having just finished breakfast, prattled on about her hope of afternoon callers in blissful ignorance. As they left the drawing room, Mrs. Oakwood called, “While you are in Meryton, ask if Mr. Lucas has ordered in any more bonbons. ”

“Yes, Mama,” Elizabeth replied, hurrying down the hall before they could be called back for more requests. She and Mary secured their outerwear, the day quite cool, and were soon on the roadway to Meryton.

As they neared the village, one- and two-floor buildings rising up before them, Elizabeth ventured, “How will we orchestrate speaking with him? We can hardly enter via the door for fear of finding Mr. Collins within, and I doubt Cousin Robert is usually lurking in alleyways hoping to speak with you.”

“I have a means of summoning him.”

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows. “Like a djinn from a bottle? What means?”

Mary huffed, not liking her secrets delved into. “If you must know, there is a back stair leading up from the mews behind the magistrate’s office. I climb up, sneak into the empty attic, and stamp on the floor above Cousin Robert’s head.”

“And for how long have the two of you had that worked out?” How often did her sister speak with Cousin Robert?

Mary shrugged.

Elizabeth knew that didn’t mean her sister didn’t know but rather that Mary would not tell her. When this trouble with Mr. Bingley was sorted, Elizabeth would have to speak with Mary about her relationship with Robert Collins.

They entered Meryton and Mary turned them from the main street to a smaller, narrower lane that ran behind the buildings at the center of the village. With an ease that spoke of great familiarity, she strode forward along a line of small, nondescript buildings. At no landmark Elizabeth could see, Mary turned into an alleyway that Mr. Darcy would have needed to navigate sideways, or else ruin the shoulders of his coat by scuffing them on the dingy walls.

Elizabeth’s sister led the way forward with continued confidence, but came to a halt before the end of the alleyway, holding up a hand for silence. Elizabeth tried to peer around Mary in the narrow space, uncertain why they’d stopped.

Mary turned back, her whisper barely audible as she said, “Mr. Collins is behind the magistrate’s office with Mr. Denny.”

Surprise, anger, and a touch of fear sped through Elizabeth. “Can you tell why?” she whispered back.

Mary shifted slightly, presenting Elizabeth with the back of her brown curls as she studied what took place before her. “He gave Mr. Denny money. ”

Elizabeth waited, certain the two men were up to no good. Vibrating with the need to act.

“Collins is going back into his office,” Mary breathed. She inched forward. “Mr. Denny is taking a different alleyway. He will come out on the street behind us.”

Elizabeth had to know what the two plotted. Her every fiber cried foul. “You see what Cousin Robert knows. I will follow Denny. We will meet at Lucas’s.”

Mary looked back at her, assessing, then nodded. “Take care. He will be on the street by now.” With that, she slipped out of the alleyway into the mews behind the magistrate’s office.

Turning back, Elizabeth hurried back the way they’d come. It felt odd to be in Meryton alone. Not safe, as she generally felt when walking the hills around their home. As she stepped out into the street, she was uncertain if her unease came from a lack of female companions, or the nature of her mission.

She looked up the narrow roadway, then down. No red coat met her gaze and irritation filled her. Had she failed so quickly?

Then she spotted Mr. Denny’s profile as he turned onto a cross street ahead. He did not wear red, but a drab green coat. Effecting as casual a manner as she could, Elizabeth started down the street.

She rounded the corner in time to see him turn onto the main street, in the direction of both the magistrate’s office and the inn. Following as quickly as she dared, not wishing to draw undue attention, Elizabeth hurried after him. She came out onto Meryton’s main street, her gaze seeking Mr. Denny among the people going about their day.

There, by the inn, a green coat caught her eye as the man wearing it went around the side, to the innyard. Elizabeth rushed down the street, her strides long and her face carefully pleasant, and prayed she would not encounter anyone she knew.

She reached the innyard unhindered, but walked by the opening in the wall. It would be quite strange for her to go into the yard, where carriages and horses waited. The few times she’d entered the inn, in the company of other ladies, they had employed the front steps.

She did look into the yard, however, as she passed, trying to sort the jumble of travelers, carriages, and waiting mounts. Her gaze snapped to the steps of the side door, but she didn’t spot Mr. Denny there.

Reaching the shop beyond, a tanner’s, she peered in the window for a moment, then turned and passed by the open gate to the innyard again, moving more slowly. A miss with no press on her time, taking in the sights of Meryton. Undoubtedly while her relations were in a shop, since she ought not to be walking the streets alone. That was who Elizabeth sought to portray.

But no sight of Mr. Denny met her gaze.

Halting on the far side of the inn, Elizabeth pretended to stare into another shop window as she weighed her options. Should she enter the inn? To what end? Were Mr. Denny within, he would likely be dining or drinking. Learning which would tell her nothing of interest, and her presence would be noted by everyone inside.

Hooves clattered and Elizabeth slanted a look to take in the London stage leaving the innyard. It rolled along the street, coming nearer to where she pretended interest in the contents of the shop before her. She was about to turn in the direction of Lucas’s Sundries, to give up on discovering any hint as to what Mr. Collins and Mr. Denny were collaborating about, when the reflection of the latter appeared in the window before her.

Mr. Denny was in the London coach.

Elizabeth tensed every muscle to keep from whirling to stare at him, letting the coach go by before she turned to watch its progress out of Meryton. Mr. Collins had given Mr. Denny money, and now Denny was off to London. What could it mean? Was their cousin sending away his spy, so Denny’s actions couldn’t be traced back to him? How much money would it take to convince an officer to abandon his post?

Elizabeth didn’t know.

Hoping Mary had learned more, Elizabeth made her way down the street to Lucas’s Sundries. She opened the door to the jangle of the bell, and two startled pairs of eyes. Those eyes were accompanied by hinged open jaws as her Uncle Phillips and Mr. Lucas gaped at her.

“Good afternoon,” Elizabeth said uncertainly.

Uncle Phillips cleared his throat and hurried forward. “Elizabeth, dear, how, ah, how good to see you. If you will excuse me.” He rushed past her, out into the street.

Elizabeth turned from watching his progress to take in Mayor Lucas’s scowl. “Yes. Well, please excuse me as well, Miss Elizabeth. Business to attend to,” he said, then left through the door that led into the storeroom. Behind the counter, Charlotte took a quick look through the doorway after him, then gestured for Elizabeth to approach.

“I seem to have cleared your shop,” she said as she drew near the counter. She struggled to keep her voice light, but the behavior of her uncle and Charlotte’s father had been exceedingly odd .

Charlotte glanced around again, though they were alone now, and leaned across the counter to say softly, “They were arguing quite vehemently. I could not hear much, but it had to do with your stepfather and the duel, and Mr. Collins.”

Elizabeth frowned. “Not with Mr. Bingley and a duel and Mr. Collins?”

Charlotte shook her head. “That is how it began, but not what set them to whispering and arguing. At one point my father said, ‘You must tell Mr. Bingley,’ and Mr. Phillips replied, ‘I never should have told you. No one can ever know,’ and hushed him.” Worry filled Charlotte’s wide, clear eyes. “I have never seen either so angry as they were before you came in and halted their disagreement.”

Elizabeth pursed her lips. Could Uncle Phillips have told Mayor Lucas the truth of Papa Arthur’s heritage? But what would that have to do with Mr. Bingley dueling their cousin? “I take it, then, that everyone knows Mr. Collins challenged Mr. Bingley?” For once, Elizabeth was relieved that her mother felt herself above most of Meryton. Perhaps they could still keep Mrs. Oakwood from finding out about the duel. She was certain to torment Jane once she knew.

Charlotte nodded. “Mr. Collins was in the public room last night, telling everyone that Mr. Bingley came upon him kissing your sister and attacked him, unprovoked and despite Miss Bennet imploring him to leave Mr. Collins alone.”

Elizabeth rubbed at her forehead. There would be no preventing a duel now.

“Then it is true?” Charlotte asked.

Dropping her arm, Elizabeth snapped, “Certainly not. How can you believe that Jane—”

“I meant, that there will be a duel,” Charlotte cut in quickly. “No one believes that Miss Bennet kissed Mr. Collins.”

Some of the tension that had tightened every muscle at the notion of anyone believing Mr. Collins’ lies drained from Elizabeth. “Yes, there is to be a duel.”

Charlotte shook her head. “Poor Miss Bennet. She must be beside herself with worry. I do hope she will marry soon.”

“Marry?” Elizabeth repeated sharply. “Why?”

“She is too lovely to go on unwed. Until she is, this sort of thing will simply keep happening.”

“It has happened twice in seven years,” Elizabeth protested. “Both times instigated by Mr. Collins. ”

“And yet, how many times have duels been fought over you? Or me? Or even Miss Kitty with her five thousand pounds?”

Elizabeth stared at Charlotte. She had no answer to that.

Charlotte looked around, frowning. “Are you here alone?”

“Mary is here. She simply stopped to look in a shop window. I cannot imagine what is keeping her.” Or at least, Elizabeth did not like to. Had Cousin Robert turned on her? Had Mr. Collins caught her sneaking about the magistrate’s building? “Perhaps I should—”

The door opened, Mary coming in. Sighting them, she asked easily, “Have you learned anything about Mother’s bonbons?”

That put them back on familiar ground, and soon Elizabeth and Mary had inquired about bonbons and bid Charlotte farewell. They set out from Meryton with the assurance that more of Mrs. Oakwood’s favorite confections had already been ordered.

Elizabeth waited until they were alone on the roadway to tell Mary all she had learned, both of Mr. Denny’s destination and the odd argument between their uncle and Mr. Lucas. Mary took in the news without comment, which didn’t surprise Elizabeth. Her sister liked to mull over information before forming an opinion.

“And you?” Elizabeth asked. “Did Cousin Robert know anything about what Collins was paying Denny to do?”

Mary shook her head. “He knows only that Mr. Collins has asked Denny to retrieve something from London. Something that costs a great deal.”

“But not what?” Elizabeth pursed her lips. It must have to do with the duel, but what could it be? A very fine set of pistols? Someone to stand in for him, as his father had? But what justification could he have for that? He was not a lad of eighteen any longer, but a man grown.

“No, not what,” Mary confirmed. “Mr. Collins ordered Robert to secure the funds, but would provide no explanation as to why they were needed.”

Elizabeth darted a look at her sister, assessing. “Would he have told you if he did know?”

“Yes.” Mary’s voice rang with certainty.

Elizabeth definitely needed to speak to Mary about this affinity for Robert Collins, but not until they figured out what Uncle Phillips was hiding from them, and what to do about the upcoming duel.