Page 6 of Shadows beneath Rosings (A Darcy and Elizabeth Quick Read Interlude #5)

D arcy didn’t bother to remove hat or gloves as he stormed through the hall and into the room where the three ladies sat after dining. They must sit like this, in silence, nearly every day of the year, he thought inconsequentially. He knew Richard was right behind him, observant as always.

“Where is Miss Bennet?” His tone was icy, and all three flinched at the venom in his voice. He took three more steps towards them, glad his height allowed him to tower over them.

Lady Catherine looked haughtily down her nose at him.

“I was not here, Darcy, and Anne has already said that the girl left after half an hour. There is nothing more to say, and you should not act in such an ungentlemanly manner.” She sniffed disdainfully.

“I suppose it to be the influence of that girl. I will have her sent home as soon as she turns up.”

“Anne?” Darcy turned a glare on his cousin. “I do not believe that she left after half an hour. What did you do? Where is she?” He could hardly get any closer, and his heart turned over. What if I cannot break her? What if I never find Elizabeth?

Anne scowled. “Nothing! I told you. She left here after half an hour. She would not listen to me and she was just pretending friendship to get closer to you!”

Close behind him, there was a disbelieving snort from Richard, and Darcy was coldly amused.

He stepped back slightly, so he had both mother and daughter in his glare.

“I am telling you now, ladies , that if anything, anything at all, has happened to Miss Bennet, I shall ensure that the story of your perfidy and crimes against her are punished to the fullest degree of the law — and the whole of society will hear about it.”

They were strong, the de Bourgh ladies, he had to give them that. If he hadn’t been watching so closely, he might not have noticed Anne’s sudden pallor, and her brief glance at Mrs. Jenkinson. But Lady Catherine interrupted the moment.

“Darcy! Attend to me. I will have you marry Anne. It will take your mind from this common little miss, and everything will be much improved.”

“I will not,” he said coldly. And turned to Richard, eyebrows raised.

His cousin nodded; he had noted it, too, and they both turned and left the room without excusing themselves.

“Anne definitely knows, Richard. Did you see her reaction to my threat?”

Twenty minutes later, Darcy knocked at the door of the parsonage. “I am sorry to intrude so late, but may I speak to you, Mrs. Collins?” He knew he would have to endure the presence of her husband as well, but he knew he was concerned enough to shut the man down if he wasted too much time.

He had to endure a few minutes waiting for tea to be brought in, but while they were waiting he quickly explained what he and Richard had discovered so far.

“One thing I would ask you, Mrs. Collins, as you know her so well. Might there be any credence to her ladyship’s assertion that Miss Bennet might have gone home if she was distressed?”

The woman shook her head, her features tight and anxious.

“No, sir. There is not the slightest possibility of it. Elizabeth is far too generous and kind to even think of allowing me to be worried for her. She would have told me if it was even remotely likely. But it is not.” She rubbed at her forehead as if she had an incipient headache before continuing.

“She would not travel alone and risk her reputation bringing down disgrace on her sisters, Mr. Darcy. She would not.” Her eyes narrowed. “If you ever truly come to know her heart, you would know she is no coward, but no fool either.”

Mr. Collins blundered in. “I am sure Miss Elizabeth grew tired of her humble situation on seeing the rank and superiority of Miss de Bourgh. Perhaps she needed a break from Rosings’ — ahem, pressures.”

Darcy stared at him. “I doubt, Mr. Collins, that Miss Bennet’s courage would ever desert her for that foolish reason.”

The man spluttered into silence, and Darcy looked away from him in disgust. Something caught his eye. Behind the leg of the sofa where Miss Bennet often sat, was Elizabeth’s reticule. He knew she often went on her walks without it.

“I beg your pardon, Mrs. Collins, but is that Elizab… your friend’s reticule, there? Would you be able to tell if she has taken her purse, if she has any money with her?”

He waited impatiently while Mrs Collins carefully pulled the drawstring and opened the bag.

What if I have lost her forever? If I had followed my heart last year when I was at Netherfield, this would never have happened. She would be under my protection and I’d never have allowed this to happen.

“Mr. Darcy.” Mrs. Collins voice was hushed. “Elizabeth’s purse is in here. She has no money with her. Even her last letter from Jane — she’d never leave that behind.”

Darcy stared at her. Proof. Elizabeth was still here. At Rosings. Somewhere. He could only pray she hadn’t been harmed. He rose to his feet. “I must find her.”

He strode back to the manor. The only ones who must know where she was? Anne — and Mrs. Jenkinson. He clenched his jaw.

He strode through the hall. Halfway through, he glanced at a footman and nearly missed a step; the man had been looking at him before dropping this gaze hurriedly. Darcy fixed the man’s features in his mind. I will remember you.

And Mrs. Jenkinson was shuffling through the hall, too, holding one of his cousin’s shawls over her arm. He frowned slightly. Anne had already been wearing a shawl earlier. He suddenly wondered who was really in charge in this house. Perhaps Richard was right and it wasn’t his aunt.

He barged into the library. “Richard! What news?”

His cousin looked up soberly. “Well, she is not in any of the rooms above stairs. I have searched them all with my man, apart from the ladies’ chambers, but I had a very young maid check those. A maid who is far too young to be in league with anyone.” He looked sympathetically at Darcy.

“And the housekeeper has searched the cellars, too.”

Darcy nodded dispiritedly. Where was Elizabeth? When would he find her? And would he be too late?

“The footman outside had a guilty expression. And Mrs. Jenkinson was dawdling through the hall, too, bringing yet another shawl for Anne.”

Richard nodded. “Yes. I have observed her. I find her the most likely person to know much of what is going on in this establishment. The footmen aren’t talking — not while she is there. She has some hold over them.”

Darcy knew what he would do — must do.

I will find her. I will. If I have to tear Rosings apart, I will find her.