Page 48 of In Want of a Suspect

“As unfortunate as that is, no, it cannot wait. You have other cases, my dear.”

“Papa, this is important! A woman has died.”

“And that is very tragic, but I need you for a deposition.”

“Papa—”

“Lizzie,” he sternly. “I said you could take on this case aslong as you didn’t neglect your other work. Now, is anyone in imminent danger?”

Lizzie sighed. “I don’t think so, but a woman is dead—”

“No imminent danger, good. And you, young man—I imagine you also have other cases?”

Darcy resisted the urge to pull out his pocket watch and check the time. “Actually... yes.”

Lizzie glared at him.Traitor, her gaze seemed to say.

He lifted his shoulders helplessly and thought of his father’s threat.Renew your focus on your cases.

“There,” Mr. Bennet said. “That’s settled.”

“Fine,” Lizzie said, picking up her pen once more. She looked at Darcy before he left and said, “But remember—Miss Dashwood, nine o’clock tomorrow. I’m not giving up.”

He smiled as he donned his hat. “I never thought you would.”

Eleven

In Which Mrs. Bennet’s Dinner Party Is Most Rudely Interrupted

“JANE, ARE YOU WEARINGthe pink ribbon or the blue?” Mrs. Bennet asked.

“Blue, Mama.”

“Wear the pink. It makes your cheeks look rosier. And, Lizzie! Why are you not dressed yet?”

Lizzie looked up from the book she had brought home from Longbourn, her mind lingering on the legal precedents involving cases of arson. She was dressed only in her shift and her hair fell across her shoulders and back, unbound. “I’m sorry?”

Mrs. Bennet crossed the room and wrenched the book from Lizzie’s hands, snapping it shut. “Elizabeth! Do you mean to send me to an early grave? Mr. Bingley shall be here within the half hour, and if everything is to go perfectly, you need to be dressed and downstairs and ready to play your part!”

“I’m sorry,” Lizzie said, knowing that apologizing was theonly course of action when Mrs. Bennet was this worked up. “I’m almost ready.”

She reached for a cream-colored dress, only for Mrs. Bennet to cry out, “Not that one! It is too lovely for tonight—Jane must shine!”

“How about you see to preparations downstairs, and I’ll make sure Lizzie is dressed and presentable?” Jane asked.

Mrs. Bennet took a steadying breath. “Fine. But, Lizzie, you better be ready in ten minutes. And I don’t want to see that dog all evening!”

From his position on the bed, Guy cocked his head.

“We’ll both be on our very best behavior tonight, Mama,” Lizzie promised.

“My nerves, Lizzie, have compassion for my nerves! This is one of the most important nights of my life, and that dog isn’t helping!”

And with that, she swept from the room.

“One would think she’s the one about to be proposed to, not you,” Lizzie said, reaching for her second-best dress, the brown-and-green-striped satin, and pulling it on.

“Yes, well... she’s worked hard to make this evening come together.” Jane began to remove the blue ribbon from the trim on her white lawn dress.