Page 30 of Out of His Wits (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

Darcy seemed to reach the same conclusion. He glanced at Elizabeth, then back at the trembling girl. “Perhaps,” he said quietly, “Miss Morrison would be more comfortable speaking with Miss Bennet alone. I shall take a turn about the garden and admire Mrs. Morrison’s excellent vegetables.”

“That might be best,” Elizabeth agreed softly, grateful for his perception.

As Darcy withdrew, he paused to speak quietly with Mrs. Morrison about the garden, leaving Elizabeth to coax the frightened girl into conversation about the events that had changed her life so dramatically.

With Mr. Darcy safely occupied in examining the kitchen garden with Mrs. Morrison, Elizabeth settled herself on the rough wooden bench beside the trembling girl.

The cottage’s main room felt cramped with the younger children still present, but their innocent chatter provided a comforting backdrop to what promised to be a difficult conversation.

“Tibby,” Elizabeth said, “you know that I have not come here to see you punished. I wish only to understand what truly occurred.”

The girl’s eyes remained fixed on her hands, which twisted nervously in her worn apron. “They say I poisoned folk at Netherfield, miss. They say I meant to cause harm.”

“What do you say to that?”

“I never meant no harm to nobody,” Tibby whispered, her voice barely audible. “I just wanted to do as Mrs. Christopher wanted. What Bet said I should.”

Elizabeth’s pulse quickened at this admission. “Tell me what Bet said to you.”

Tibby’s eyes darted towards the door as though expecting someone to appear.

“She said the cook would dismiss me if I did not find more mushrooms for the catsup, miss. Bet said we had to find some, or we’d both be in terrible trouble.

But I heard Mrs. Christopher. She said we’d near picked the pasture clean and if there were no more mushrooms to gather, she would just make something else.

Bet said she take me. She said she knew the best places to look.

She told me she’d found a special place where they grew bigger and better than anywhere else.

” Tibby’s voice grew smaller. “I was scared Bet would say I did not obey. But Bet, where she showed me weren’t a place we would be sent to find mushrooms. I thought they looked different from the ones we usually picked, but Bet said I was being foolish.

Said they were just fresher than what we usually found. ”

Elizabeth leant forward intently. “I see, you told her you thought they were not the same mushrooms, then?”

“I tried, miss. Asked if she was certain they were safe. But she got angry with me, said I was questioning her judgement when she’d been at service longer than me.

” Tibby wiped her nose with the back of her hand.

“Said if I did not trust her, maybe I wasn’t fit for kitchen work at all.

Then she said her gentleman had told her exactly which ones to pick, and he knew about such things, being a gentleman. ”

“Her gentleman?”

“Bet was very proud of walking out with him.” Tibby’s voice grew smaller. “He’s shown her special mushrooms that would make the finest catsup anyone ever tasted. Said he knew all about such things from his travels.”

“This gentleman showed her which mushrooms to gather?”

“Yes, miss. Bet said he’d met her in the woods that morning, pointed out exactly where to look.

Said he’d been very particular about which ones we was to take.

” Tibby’s expression grew troubled. “But I never saw him there, miss. Bet sent me to one part of the wood whilst she went to another. Said we’d cover more ground that way. ”

“You did not see this man yourself that morning?”

“No, Miss, but when we met back up, Bet had a whole different manner about her. Very sure of herself, very managing. The mushrooms she’d found,” Tibby shuddered.

“They looked different to what we usually picked. Pointed, not round. But when I said so, she told me her man had assured her they were the finest quality.”

“Then, when you returned to the kitchen?”

“Bet took charge of everything, miss. She was very particular about which mushrooms went to the cook—set me to chopping the ones she’d gathered herself, the strange-looking ones.

Said her man had told her exactly how to prepare them special-for the gentry.

” Tibby’s voice wavered. “She seemed so certain, Miss.”

Sudden understanding chilled her. “This man—can you describe him?”

“I only saw him the once before, miss, when Bet pointed him out in the village. Handsome enough, I’ll give him that. Blonde hair, fine-looking, dressed like quality. But his eyes,” Tibby shuddered. “They did not match his smile, if you take my meaning. Made me think of a fox watching chickens.”

“When Bet weren’t looking, he tried to talk sweet to me. Asked all sorts of questions about where I worked and who I knew there. Made me uncomfortable, he did. But as soon as Bet came back, he acted like I wasn’t even there.”

“Did Bet speak his name?”

“She never said his proper name. She was very secretive about him, very proud. Said he was quality folk who appreciated her worth. But when he was being all friendly with me, he told he was called George Wilkins.” Tibby’s expression grew more troubled.

“But after folks got sick, when I tried to ask her about him, she got fierce angry and told me to mind my own business. Said I was asking too many questions and ought to keep my mouth shut if I knew what was good for me.”

“Why did you leave Netherfield?”

“The morning the magistrate were to call, miss. Bet said he was coming for me. Said I had to run, or they’d clap me in irons and transport me to the colonies.

” The girl’s voice grew desperate. “She said it was my fault for being so clumsy with the mushrooms, and that she couldn’t protect me no more. ”

Elizabeth’s indignation surged at such calculated cruelty. “Tibby, you must understand that someone who intended harm deceived you. You bear no guilt for what occurred.”

“But, Miss, I did chop them mushrooms.”

“You did, but you were directed to do by one you trusted. You questioned her, and she insisted. Bet is responsible for this.” Elizabeth cradled the girl’s trembling hands. “Will you trust me to see that the truth comes to light?”

Tibby nodded slowly, hope beginning to kindle in her frightened eyes.

“Then you must promise to remain here with your family, where you are safe. Do not listen to Bet. Will you give me your word?”

“Yes, Miss. But what about Bet? What if she comes looking for me?”

“Send to Longbourn for me if anything happens. We shall see that Bet is taken in hand,” Elizabeth said with quiet resolve. “She has much to answer for.”