Bingley dared not react for fear of alerting Sir William to tension, he was certain had no bearing on the current situation. He risked a glance and saw Darcy’s face was dark with contained emotion. Muscles bulged along his jaw. Aware of Darcy's ability to keep control of his emotions, the evidence of his friend’s distress filled Bingley with dread.
This line of questioning was not right. Darcy should not be made to suffer again the pain of discovering his childhood friend’s betrayal. Bingley refused to remain silent and allow details concerning Darcy’s sister be discussed with strangers. The last thing Darcy needed was for his sister's name to be exposed in this manner, even if Wickham was lying dead before them, and could do no further harm.
Bingley stepped forward as he spoke. “Colonel Fitzwilliam is a ranking officer in the militia, Sir William. Do you think it is necessary to draw this inquiry out any longer?”
“I’m satisfied,” Mr. Bennet spoke in a tone so firm, each occupant of the room reacted in surprise.
Sir William turned to stare at his old friend with a wide-eyed expression, then clearing his throat in a noisy rumble, the portly gentleman said. “Um, perhaps I strayed too far off the point with my inquiries. Forgive me, Colonel.”
“Not at all, Sir William,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said. “You ask no more than I might have done myself. Shall I go request Colonel Forester’s presence?”
“Do we need continue—”
“Yes, Sir William, we most definitely do.” Mr. Darcy intoned over the magistrate’s tentative suggestion. They should question Colonel Forester, if for no other reason than to get Fitz out of the room before one or both of them turned their ill-humor on the bumbling, but well-meaning, magistrate. “We should treat Colonel Forester to the same level of questioning as Colonel Fitzwilliam.”
“Yes, indeed, Sir William, I totally agree,” Mr. Bennet said. “I have not experienced such riveting entertainment since my wife’s nerves last attacked. Though it is a pity such diversion was at the cost of Mr. Wickham’s demise.”
Tension eased slightly as Colonel Fitzwilliam departed the room. Bingley sighed as he closed the door behind the colonel, having more reason than most to desire this incident to be finished. His wife’s entire family was accused of wanting Mr. Wickham dead, and now Darcy’s cousin had barely escaped the same charge.
Jane would never invite guests to this house again, for fear of being shunned after this event. And making Jane happy was his aim for the rest of his days. That meant solving the question of her family being involved in Wickham’s murder.
“This is unacceptable,” Darcy muttered as Bingley reached his side. “This magistrate is willing to drag my sister’s reputation out for public speculation after all the effort we went to in order to protect her from such.”
“Calm yourself, Darcy, for you are close to reverting to your ways of old. Think of your wife. Did you not promise Lizzy you would attempt to give people a chance to make a favorable first impression?”
“It makes no matter. I cannot allow such free public examination of my younger sister's actions. This is insufferable—”
“Ah, Sir William,” Bingley spoke louder than necessary to cover Darcy’s words as the magistrate joined them. “Darcy and I were just speaking of how thorough you were with your questions to Colonel Fitzwilliam. Are you quite certain you have no wish to conduct the investigation?”
“Ah, Mr. Bingley, thank you for the kind comments, but I fear solving this case is not for me.” Sir William’s good-natured laugh rumbled from deep in his portly chest. “However, I am conscious of the weight of my responsibility, and I do appreciate your confidence in me, kind sir. But I have no wish to continue beyond these immediate interviews.” Sir William said as he gazed toward the body. “I have no taste for murder.”
“Takes the stuffings right out of you, eh, Sir William?” Mr. Bennet clapped a hand on his friend’s shoulder as he approached and heard the magistrate’s words. “I will say one thing after observing you in action, Sir. My sympathies are with any man standing before you, if you ever decide to give this position your full attention.”
Darcy and Bingley exchanged a swift glance. Both were aware this was as close as their father-in-law would venture toward censuring his friend for casting doubt on the Bennet family's involvement in this crime.
Sir William, however, seemed to miss the message entirely. His chest puffed in pride at what he considered his friend’s high regard, Sir William blustered. “My dear Mr. Bennet, you are not in any danger of having to waste your sympathy, I assure you. Magistrate duties on a level such as that would drain me of all good will. Ah, there you are, Colonel Forester. Good of you to join us at last. Please, take a seat.”
As they all returned to their previous positions, Bingley said in a solicitous tone, “Colonel, how did you find Mrs. Forester? I do hope she is holding up well after the shock.”
“Not good, I must confess.” Colonel Forester joined Darcy in front of the fireplace. “Not very good at all. She has such tender emotions as I am sure most women are at this sad event.”
“Indeed it is a sorrowful event, Colonel. Indeed it is.” Sir William cleared his throat with impressive authority, no doubt, based on the praise he had received while waiting for the colonel to appear. “Now, how well were you acquainted with Mr. Wickham?”
“Quite well, Sir William, as you might recall from the time we spent in Meryton. At that time, Mr. Wickham was under my command and a frequent guest at the same social events my wife and I attended.” The colonel glanced at Mr. Bennet before he continued, “I would go so far as to claim we remained close, until certain events occurred, making it impossible for Wickham to remain in my regiment.”
“Rightly so, Colonel, but can you explain how those events affected your acquaintance with Mr. Wickham?” As Sir William voiced the question, all the air seemed to escape from the room. For long ticks, no one moved.
Bingley turned a questioning glance on the magistrate, but Sir William seemed unaware of the deep wounds his question probed.
Mr. Bennet sent his old friend a glare that should have stopped even a dedicated thief in his tracks.
Darcy’s response was only slightly better. The fury in the glance Darcy sent Sir William was so powerful, Bingley expected to see bodily harm. However, the magistrate continued to stare at Colonel Forester as if he were about to pronounce a guilty sentence, causing Bingley to release an uneasy breath.
“It most certainly did affect our relations, Sir William.” Colonel Forester sent Mr. Bennet an apologetic glance. “My poor wife was almost delirious with disappointment when Mr. Wickham and Lydia left Brighton to join a regiment up north. My home was very unsettled for quite some time after the Wickhams departed. Lydia was a particular friend of my wife’s. In fact, both the Wickhams were in her close circle of acquaintances and their absence was disappointing.”
“Is that all, Colonel?” Sir William probed, “You never felt any warmer emotions for Mrs. Wickham than friendship?”
“I say—”
“Sir William,” Bingley raised his voice over Mr. Bennet’s objection, as he exchanged a stare with Darcy. Jane had shared some of the events surrounding Lydia and Wickham’s marriage with him, but he strongly suspected the details were not common knowledge. “Perhaps we should focus on the murder and not such personal issues?”
“Yes, yes of course, Mr. Bingley. Quite right,” Sir William cleared his throat. “Colonel, was there any reason that you might have harbored ill will toward Mr. Wickham?”
“There was not, Sir William.”
Bingley and Darcy exchanged relieved glances at the change of subject, but Sir William was already at the door. “Then I suggest we turn these inquiries over to the officers.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam appeared outside the door and prevented Sir William’s departure when he said. “Have you finished questioning the Colonel?”
“Yes, yes,” Sir William thundered in his booming voice. “Come in, Colonel Fitzwi
lliam. I am just taking my leave.”
“Could you delay for a time, Sir William, and indulge us with a bit more of your company,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said as he brushed past the magistrate and entered the library. “If all is ready for us to proceed, I have a suggestion. While you were speaking with Colonel Forester, I made a list of the most unlikely guests. Might I suggest we eliminate those people first, and then move on to more serious candidates.” Colonel Fitzwilliam glanced at the four men. “Also, I suggest we ask Mr. Bingley to assist us in the questioning as neither of us actually know all the guests.”
“What of the woman who found the body?” Demanded Colonel Forester. “Should we not question her first?”
“I checked on Miss Brown while I was in the ballroom,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said. “She is still sobbing and in no fit state to answer questions clearly. After surveying the unfamiliar faces present, it is my opinion that Bingley's assistance is necessary, if he is willing.”
“Yes, of course.” Bingley swallowed, unwilling to admit he was unfamiliar with many guests at the ball. Yet, if he could assist in removing Jane’s family from fault, it was his duty to do so. “As you wish, Colonel Fitzwilliam. How can I be of assistance?”
“Colonel Forester, would you care to view the list or shall we proceed as I suggested?”
“By all means continue, Colonel Fitzwilliam. You have obviously spent more time thinking about this matter than I have. Let us commence as you suggested.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam turned as Darcy, Mr. Bennet and Sir William prepared to leave the room. “Gentlemen, when you reach the ballroom, please send Mrs. Bennet, Mrs. Phillips, and the Hursts to speak with us.”
“Mm, I suppose it is a good sign that my wife is first on the list, though I am probably a more likely suspect for murder, especially when her nerves act up.”
“One moment, please, Mr. Bennet. Your comment reveals a weakness in my plan.” Colonel Fitzwilliam turned to Colonel Forester and continued. “I fear I overlooked the obvious step we should take first. Colonel Forester, we should delay acting on the list of names, and eliminate these gentlemen before we proceed further.”
“Indeed, I believe you have a good point.” Colonel Forester studied the men in question and gave a nod. “Sir William, perhaps you will speak with us first? If you other gentlemen will wait outside in the entrance hall, please.”
Bingley opened the door and prepared to step into the hallway with Darcy and Mr. Bennet, when Colonel Forester spoke. “Please remain, Mr. Bingley, and observe our conversations if you please.”
Bingley sent a questioning glance toward Colonel Fitzwilliam, but he nodded in agreement with Colonel Forster. Bingley closed the door behind Darcy and Mr. Bennet and turned back to the room.
“Sir William,” Colonel Forester gave a slight bow to his host at Lucas Lodge, “I trust you do not mind answering your own questions, sir.” Without waiting for a response, he launched into his first query. “How well were you acquainted with Mr. Wickham?”
“Not well at all, Colonel. Though we attended many of the same social functions, in all honesty, I cannot say I ever exchanged one word with Mr. Wickham. When he attended socials, he spent his time with young ladies. Before his marriage, of course.”
“He was known to you before his marriage to Mr. Bennet’s daughter?” Colonel Forester persisted.
“I must object to your words, Colonel. To say I knew Mr. Wickham is incorrect. I only observed him at events.”
“You held no ill will toward Mr. Wickham, though he showed no interest in your own daughters?”
“My dear, Colonel, the youngest of my daughters is not yet out of the school room, and my eldest daughter was attached to her husband. Mr. Wickham’s choice of a wife was no concern of mine.”
“Very good, Sir William,” Colonel Forester gave a nod, “precisely what we wanted to hear.”
Sir William seemed to shrink, much as a pigeon whose feathers had been soothed. “Very good, then. Very good indeed.”
“On your way out, would you ask Mr. Darcy to join us, Sir William?” Colonel Fitzwilliam gave a nod to the elder man and turned to Colonel Forester. “I am not at all convinced I care for this type of work.”
Colonel Forester folded his hands behind his back, no doubt enjoying the warmth from the fireplace, and stood erect. “Quite right, but as leaders in the militia, we have dealt with worse, have we not? Ah, Mr. Darcy, please have a seat.”
“Darcy, how well did you know Wickham?” Colonel Fitzwilliam demanded before Darcy’s body touched the chair.
“What is this, Fitz? You know, full well we grew up almost as close as brothers.” Darcy glanced at Colonel Forester, then turned his focus back to his cousin. “You are also aware that all changed at university.”
“Ah, so you quarreled with Mr. Wickham, sir?” Colonel Forester demanded.
“Not at all, Colonel. I only meant we went our separate ways. I concentrated on my studies as my father expected. Wickham, on the other hand, turned to more social activities, and our paths rarely crossed.”
“So you have no conceivable reason to murder this old friend of yours?” Colonel Forester insisted.
“After returning from university, we had a disagreement. In fact, Wickham was quite vexed with me for a spell, but that was sometime ago. I had no reason to wish him harm.”
“How was the matter between the two of you settled?” Colonel Forester demanded.
Darcy cast a frustrated glare at Colonel Fitzwilliam before responding. “My father left provision for Wickham to have a living as a clergyman. Wickham refused the position from a lack of interest, but insisted he was due the funds set aside for his post. I disagreed, believing he was owed no funds if he rejected the position my father arranged for him.” Darcy shrugged. “But as my father thought well of Wickham when we were young, I decided to give him the funds and be done with the matter.”
“That was your only disagreement?”
Darcy sent Colonel Fitzwilliam a glance. The clock ticked twice, before he responded to Colonel Forester's question. “We had another encounter.”
“Could you explain, sir?”
Bingley observed the angle of Darcy’s jaw and turned a glare on Colonel Forester as he rushed to speak. “Must we pursue this, Colonel? I assume Colonel Fitzwilliam knows the details of these events, and is satisfied there was no threat from Mr. Darcy.”
Colonel Forester studied each man in turn, “I fear we must proceed, considering both Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam know of the incident.” He turned to focus on Darcy. “Sir, elaborate on this situation, if you please.”
“My...sister became infatuated with Wickham. When I learned of the situation, I became concerned about the seriousness of his intentions, and intervened before Wickham eloped with her.”
“And you held Mr. Wickham responsible for the affair?”
“Of course, I did. Wickham was older and knew what he was doing. My sister was not yet out of the schoolroom. Any responsible brother would object to such an arrangement.” Darcy’s words were forced, but his control was in a firm grip as he stared at the colonel. “That happened some time ago, Colonel. Wickham has since been involved with several other women and chosen a wife. The situation with my sister has long been settled.”
“Or perhaps you were waiting for an opportune time to satisfy your family’s honor.”
“Sir, you—”
“Colonel Forester, I must insist you allow this issue to rest. My cousin has nothing to hide and much to lose if he had acted as you imply. I suggest you are overstepping your authority and should cease these questions.” Colonel Fitzwilliam squared off as he faced the other officer.
“Perhaps, you are correct, Colonel.” Colonel Forester paced in front of the fireplace as he stared at his audience. “But in my opinion this is a crime of opportunity. I will bow to your judgment, Fitzwilliam, and allow the matter to rest for now. We have yet to question the guests, and can delay a decision until such time as we have done
so. Mr. Darcy, you may go.”
As the door closed behind Darcy, Bingley turned to Colonel Forester. “Colonel, I must insist you show courtesy to my guests.”
“You wish us to spare the feelings of someone who might be a murderer, Mr. Bingley?”
Bingley clenched his teeth but remained silent. What would Jane think of the insensitive questions put to Darcy and possibly the whole assembly? Doors to all local society events would close to them. Yet some good had come from the event. Darcy had held his pride in check, and responded to the Colonel’s questions. That showed progress on his friend’s goal to give people a chance to make a good impression, surely. “I wish to discover the culprit as well as you, Colonel. But as the host of this ball, I must insist you use restraint with your questioning.”
“Ah, Mr. Bennet, come in and have a seat.”
Mr. Bennet cast a sardonic glance toward Colonel Forester. “You sound as if this were a social occasion, Colonel. Yet you stirred the pot deep with both Sir William and Darcy.”
“Mr. Bennet, I am convinced you will agree we need to find the person responsible for Wickham’s death. And is it not true, sir, that you have more reason than most to want Wickham dead.”
“How did you reach that interesting conclusion, Colonel?” Far from appearing unsettled by the claim laid against him, Mr. Bennet aimed a lively gaze at the officer before turning to look at Bingley. “What say you, Bingley? Have you ever witnessed any occasion in which I expressed ill will toward Mr. Wickham?”
Bingley covered his humor at the question behind a blank expression. He, better than the other two men in the room, knew of the Bennets' intense relief when Lydia was finally married to Wickham. “I can say with all good conscience, sir, I have not.”
“There, you heard the words yourself, Colonel. I had no reason to wish Wickham harm.” Mr. Bennet settled in his chair with a contented tilt to his lips. “In fact, now that you mention the subject, I will admit I was truly in Wickham’s debt.”
Who Murdered Mr Wickham Page 8
