Page 3 of Shadows beneath Rosings (A Darcy and Elizabeth Quick Read Interlude #5)
B eatrice Jenkinson set her jaw firmly. Miss de Bourgh had made this plan and she was never wrong. It was now her task to ensure that her young mistress’ wishes were carried out so the plan would work.
Yesterday’s tea with the party from the parsonage had been the final debacle and Miss de Bourgh was determined to put a stop to Mr. Darcy’s constant gaze on Miss Bennet. That common girl was nothing to Miss de Bourgh, nothing at all.
She shuffled to the closet in her chamber and checked that the spare bottle of laudanum was where she had placed it a few weeks before. She would need it tomorrow.
She smiled to herself. Tomorrow was the day. Lady Catherine was calling on an acquaintance in Chartwell, and there would be plenty of time to carry out Miss de Bourgh’s wishes.
She glanced over at the mantel clock. It was time to go and awaken the young lady from her nap.
They would go for a drive in the phaeton, and Miss de Bourgh, that exceptional young lady, would be able to stare her nemesis in the eye while delivering the invitation.
That impertinent country miss would not suspect a thing.
Then Beatrice could threaten the footmen further. She did so enjoy seeing their nervous attitude around her. She smiled to herself as she locked her door and went to wake her young mistress.
“Yes, yes, Mr. Collins.” Miss de Bourgh waved her hand dismissively. “Miss Bennet will return to the parsonage when we have had tea. You are not required to remain here.”
Beatrice was very proud of her charge. Miss de Bourgh was more awake and determined today than she had been for many days. A decision to rid herself of her rival; and that today was their best chance, had made the young lady stronger in her indomitable will.
Beatrice pulled her mind to her duties, as the maids brought in the tea trays, which were placed, as had been planned, on the table at the side of the room.
Miss de Bourgh had arranged for the older tea service to be used.
The cups were bigger, and Beatrice hoped the bitter taste of laudanum would not be too obvious in the larger quantity of tea.
She stood at the tea tray, hiding her actions from the visitor.
Would that amount of laudanum be enough?
Miss Bennet was taller and more hale than Miss de Bourgh, who was, of course, the epitome of high born delicacy.
Beatrice poked a tiny hole in one of the pastries and dribbled a few more drops of the sedative into it, placing it on a plate and carrying it over, with the teacup, to Miss Bennet.
That young woman was trying to engage Miss de Bourgh in conversation. “I see you are using a larger tea service today, Miss de Bourgh. Do you find you enjoy the tea more from it?”
Miss de Bourgh sniffed disdainfully. “I thought you might, Miss Bennet.”
Beatrice carried over a cup of tea to her charge and gave her a warning look, hoping that she would be able to carry off the subterfuge by at least attempting to look as if she wanted to have this visitor for tea.
She watched unobtrusively as Miss Bennet took a few sips and then replaced the cup on the saucer as she turned to Miss de Bourgh, a slight line between her brows indicating some disquiet.
But she was fairly ladylike — Beatrice had to admit as much — and made another attempt to engage Miss de Bourgh in conversation.
“I understand you enjoy driving your phaeton, Miss de Bourgh. Do you explore much of the countryside?”
Beatrice gave her charge another look, which Miss de Bourgh obviously understood, because she did make an effort to appear pleased with her company.
“Not a great deal, Miss Bennet. I find I use it more to go to the village when I wish to choose a book for myself, or other errands like that.”
“Oh, I also enjoy selecting my own books. What is your preference in reading currently, Miss de Bourgh?”
Beatrice watched as her charge cleverly took a sip of tea, causing Miss Bennet to raise her own cup, from which she took a cautious sip.
Perhaps if Miss Bennet didn’t lose consciousness completely — she was obviously able to taste the drug — then Beatrice would be able to get the footmen to hold her while she forced more down her. She smiled grimly; she would enjoy that. This low-born country miss would not usurp Miss de Bourgh.
It was fortunate, she mused, that these two footmen were well in her debt.
Over the years, she had made sure that she had found something on many of them that meant she could threaten them with dismissal, or worse, if she reported what she knew.
It was always as well to have a hold over people who might be useful.
And it had proved necessary. Miss Bennet was not only impertinent and common, but she was far too astute. Those few sips hadn’t been nearly enough, but they had certainly made her appear rather uncertain — she was blinking, and occasionally shaking her head. Beatrice got to her feet.
“You do not look well, Miss Bennet. Is something the matter?”
“I … I feel a trifle dizzy. I am sorry, Miss de Bourgh, but I fear I must ask to conclude my visit.”
But she was too late to escape the trap. Beatrice had signalled to the footmen. One of them held her in the chair and the other held her head while Beatrice forced another few drops of laudanum into her mouth. It was only a few minutes more before the young woman lost consciousness.