Page 12 of Elizabeth in Scotland (Elizabeth and Darcy Abroad #2)
“You as well, Mr Bennet,” he said. He knocked on the door and opened it for him, allowing the older gentleman to enter first. Darcy took a deep breath. He was glad that Mr Bennet had spoken up in the hall, for it had allowed them to enter the study with a mutual commitment to civility and honour.
Darcy eyed Mr Campbell as they entered the room, sitting behind a large mahogany desk with his spectacles pushed up on the bridge of his nose.
He looked much older than his years, carrying himself with a seriousness that Darcy appreciated.
“Ah, gentlemen, come in.” He beckoned to them and motioned to two plush chairs before the large desk.
“I will not leave you in suspense any longer.”
They seated themselves, and Mr Campbell began without delay. “I assume you both brought the legal papers I requested in my letter?”
Mr Bennet presented his genealogical papers without comment. “Here are mine,” Darcy said, handing them over. The room was awkwardly silent for several minutes as Mr Campbell scoured the papers. He moved his spectacles down his nose and peered through the glass as he read.
“Very well. Allow me to explain what I see in the documentation here. Mr Darcy — you are Mr Hamish Sinclair’s second cousin twice removed, meaning you share a great-grandparent, and you are two generations younger than Mr Sinclair.
Mr Bennet — you are Mr Sinclair’s second cousin once removed.
Once again, you share a great-grandparent with Mr Sinclair, and you are only one generation younger than my late employee. ”
Mr Bennet shifted, sitting up even straighter in anticipation. “It would stand to reason,” Mr Campbell went on, “that you would therefore be the closest living relative. Except that one of the links between the Bennets and the Sinclairs is through intermarriage, and not of blood.”
Mr Campbell took off his spectacles and folded his hands in front of him on the desk. He gave a quick sigh. “It seems we are right back where we started, gentlemen. I am not sure who the house ought to go to now. You are equally closely related.”
“What can be done?” Darcy asked.
“Well, because of the complicated situation, I cannot say who should inherit. However, I will suggest to you what I suggested to Mr Bennet when he arrived.”
“And what is that?”
“It would be best to settle out of the local courts. Our local judge hates Englishmen, so much so that I believe he would rather see the house fall into ruin than have either of you inherit it.” Mr Campbell stood and shook his head, releasing another sigh.
“I cannot let that happen. I love this house and this area, Mr Bennet, Mr Darcy. And Mr Sinclair would roll over in his grave if he knew the house was not being looked after as it should be. He was very fond of it, for this is where he and his wife spent so many happy years together.”
Darcy glanced at Mr Bennet. He was not so set on having the house that he would take him to court for it.
But if it should rightfully go to the Darcys, he did not want to let it go, either.
There was a long moment of silence as they all looked at each other, and then around the room, trying to come up with a solution.
Mr Campbell suddenly chuckled to himself.
Mr Bennet looked up suddenly, and a frown creased his forehead. “What is so amusing, Mr Campbell?” he asked. Though, Darcy noted, the older gentleman had only sounded curious, not annoyed. Given how much was at stake, it was impressive evidence of the man’s good temper.
“Forgive me, I was only thinking. The last thing I wish to do is offend either of you, especially since one of you will be my employer, if you choose to keep me on.”
“Please enlighten us, Mr Campbell,” Darcy urged. He, too, was curious to see what he had found so funny.
Mr Campbell sat down behind the desk again and let out another chuckle.
“I was only thinking of a solution — albeit an outlandish one — but one that Mr Sinclair would have found suitable. You see, my former employer was very fond of riddles and finding hidden things, such as treasure and the like. Do you know he once spent six months looking for a fabled Jacobite treasure? It is said that the rebels buried some valuable family heirlooms, including jewel-encrusted crowns and gold bricks and coins that had belonged to Bonny Prince Charles, just so the English would not find them.”
“Indeed?” Mr Bennet asked, curiosity lighting his eyes. “And did he ever find the treasure?”
“No, not even close. But it was something that he enjoyed. And his love of riddles never faltered.” Mr Campbell thought for another moment. “It has occurred to me we could hold a sort of contest for the estate. But of course, I would not seriously suggest such a ridiculous solution.”
Mr Bennet and Darcy looked at each other for a moment, shrugged, then looked back at Mr Campbell. “Why not?” Darcy asked. “It is worthy of consideration. Do you think it is how Mr Sinclair would have moved forward in resolving this predicament?”
Mr Campbell straightened and leant forward. “Are you serious? And you, Mr Bennet?”
“I admit I find the idea most intriguing.” He folded his hands over his belly and sat back. “If Mr Darcy is amenable to the idea, then I am as well.”
“I am. What do you propose, Mr Campbell?”
“Let me think a moment. I had not thought that you gentlemen would take such an idea seriously, but if you are truly willing to consider it…” Mr Campbell stood up and paced in front of the hearth.
He rubbed his chin, deep in thought. “Well, how about something like this? Mr Sinclair was very proud of his well-stocked cellars. I propose that I lock the cellars and hide the only key to them.”
“Go on,” Darcy said when he took a moment’s pause to ensure they had followed him so far.
“I will provide a clue as to where the key can be found. We will do this three times, and the man who solves the riddle and finds the key at least two out of three times will inherit the house.”
They all sat in silence for a moment, turning the proposition over in their minds. “Well, it certainly is a unique solution,” Mr Bennet said at last, leaning forward in his chair. He smiled at Darcy and went on. “I am willing to abide by this suggestion if you are.”
“Yes, I find myself intrigued as well. Let us draw up some sort of binding agreement, and have it signed, shall we?” Darcy replied.
He did not think it likely that Mr Bennet would go back on his word, but then again, he had only just met the man.
If Darcy ended up solving the riddle and finding the key two out of three times, and Mr Bennet made a stink about it, he did not want to have to do this all over again. Or worse, go to the courts.
“Very good,” Mr Campbell said, retrieving a piece of paper to write out the contract.
Within a few minutes, he was finished, and he turned the paper and slid it over the mahogany desk to allow them each a turn to read it.
It was simple yet well-stated, and Darcy soon put his signature on the contract.
Mr Bennet took a few moments to read it over as well, then signed it without hesitation.
Mr Campbell acted as the witness, then stood and shook them each by the hand.
“Well, it seems all is in order. If you two would like, we can rejoin the ladies, and I will begin work on the first clue.”
They both agreed to the plan and went out.
Darcy wondered for a moment what Georgiana would think of the idea.
He hoped she would not object. After all, he had promised — albeit jokingly — to give her the house as a wedding present if he were to inherit.
With luck, she would be as intrigued by the idea of a riddle contest as he had been, and as certain that even losing the house would be better than seeing it fall into ruin and disuse.
Still, now there was even more pressure riding on his shoulders. It was no longer a question of simple pedigree, but of wit.