After they confirmed there was an ample selection of food, and the punch bowl brimming, despite Mr. Hurst’s frequent refills, Bingley pulled Jane to the quietest spot he could find in the great hall. Finally, he could delay the news no longer. “All members of your family, and my own, are possible suspects of this murder.”
“So you said earlier, but how can this be,” Jane turned wide eyes on him, “Mamma, Papa, and Kitty? They would not have the faintest knowledge of how to commit this crime. Nor Mary, an you imagine such a thing, Charles? Suspect Mary? Who quotes Fordyce’s sermons as easily as most people repeat gossip.”
Bingley’s indulgent smile warmed his face as he looked down at his wife. “I notice you did not mention Lydia. Lizzy either, for that matter.”
“Spare me the levity, please, Charles. Be serious for I am in fear for my family's safety. Are Lizzy and Lydia’s names on the list? For you must know, better than any of the men trying to solve this crime, that neither of my sisters could commit such a deed.”
“Mary’s name has not been mentioned, of course, but I fear Lydia and Lizzy will be questioned.” Bingley paused, and then added words he dreaded for her to hear, “As will your parents.”
“Oh, Charles, what are we to do?”
“That is not all, my dear. Caroline and Louisa are on the list, as well. Even Hurst.” Bingley observed the aforementioned man as he staggered past them on his approach to the punch bowl. Hurst refilled his cup, sloshing half the contents down his waistcoat with his shaky attempt to lift the cup to his lips. Bingley released a gusting breath. “The man cannot walk straight, much less keep sober long enough to handle a murder weapon.”
“Whatever will we do, Charles? I am so frightened.” Jane turned a concerned glance toward of her family. “It is beyond my comprehension to even consider Lizzy or father guilty of such a crime. And Mamma's nerves are so devoted, I can not imagine she could remain calm enough to swat a fly. As for Lydia,” Jane shook her head and sighed, “I confess I have no knowledge of the dark side of passion. I have heard of the frightening aftermath of such emotions, but I cannot believe Lydia capable of such. Above all else, Lydia truly loved Wickham.” Jane chewed her lip as she surveyed her family, and whirled back to face her husband. “We must do something, Charles. This is our home and our ball. We invited these people. We must do all we can to save our family.”
“The colonels are trying to do just that, my dear.”
“On that point, dearest Charles, I fear you are mistaken. The colonels aim to discover who murdered Mr. Wickham. They have no care if the process tramples a good name. We have more at risk. The good names of our family will suffer if word spreads that they were suspected of Wickham's murder. You must help me, Charles, please. We must do all that we can to discover who committed this murder.”
“I understand your intentions, my dear.” Bingley’s gaze drifted to where his sisters were standing on the other side of the room, then to Darcy and Lizzy adding their presence in support of the Bennet family. “All those we hold dear are threatened by what occurred in our home. I believe you are correct in your assumption. Indeed, we must act. I shall ask Darcy—”
“Please, Charles, no! You must not speak of this to Darcy.” Jane grasp hold of his arm as he moved to turn away. “Did you not say Darcy was also under suspicion? Will it not cast more doubt on him if he helps and we offer forth another name? Please, Charles, we must do this on our own. That is the only way we can remove suspicion from Lizzy and Darcy.”
***
“Miss Darcy,” Mary King gave a slight curtsy to the young girl, “you must be exhausted by your constant care of Miss Brown, and I fear you have had no chance to seek comfort from your brother during this time.” Mary glanced down at Miss Darcy’s companion. “Please allow me to be of assistance. I will sit with Miss Brown so you may stretch your legs and confer with Mr. Darcy.”
“Miss King, is it not? How kind of you, but it is no trouble to sit with Maggie.” Miss Darcy sent a familiar glance to her companion, “I dare say she has suffered far worse from me in the past.”
“Not at all, Miss.” Miss Brown met the gaze of her mistress. “I find I am quite calm, at the moment. Pray, do speak with Mr. Darcy and discover what news he might have.”
Miss Darcy cast a longing glance toward her brother and Lizzy, and then said in a soft voice as she turned back to her companion, “If you are quite certain, Miss Brown.”
The young girl’s skirts swished away in a manner unsuited for the somber occasion, as Miss Brown glanced at Mary King. Jaw tightened, she forced her words to a whisper. “Mary, what can you be thinking? You should not come near me. The danger is too great. Did we not agree we must do noting to arouse curiosity?”
Mary grabbed a handful of her skirt and fell inelegantly into the chair next to Miss Brown. “Do stop fretting, Maggie. We agreed to maintain our distance at this ball, but that was before you found Wickham, dead.” Mary glanced at her cousin in time to see tears roll down her face. “Oh, Maggie, I am sorry. After all that has happened, I was not aware you still loved him so much.”
“Hush, Mary.” Maggie swiped at her tears and sent a cautious glance around the crowded room. “Already, you are taking a chance by sitting with me. I beg you not make mention of the past, for someone might be listening.” Maggie turned her cousin. “Why have you acted so?”
“I could not witness your pain without offering comfort. It must be dreadful to be the one to find Wickham’s body like that.”
“No words can express my pain, Mary. To discover I was asleep, not ten paces from where he was murdered, stirs fear in my heart. But even worse is the vision of his dead body, for I fear it will fill my head the rest of my days.”
“Maggie, I pray you will not feel harsh toward me, but I must ask. You did not do this deed, did you?” Mary paused as she heard Maggie’s swift intake of breath. “I asked, for you are my dearest cousin and I love you, but I must have the truth, or I fear I cannot go on.”
Maggie clasped a hand to her heart and turned a tortured glance on Mary. “I can scarcely fathom why you ask me such a thing.”
Mary squared her shoulders and met Maggie’s offended gaze. “I dare so because the colonels have made it obvious they think I am guilty of this crime.”
“But that is not possible. For what reason would they think such a thing?”
“I am not as bothered by their intentions as much as I am by my thoughts. It grieves me to confess I suspected something was amiss when Wickham focused his attentions on me.” Mary paused, conscious of the discomfort she was about to inflict. Yet she was a suspect in Wickham’s murder and dared not ignore the topic. “The colonels think I nurtured hurt feelings after he turned his attentions elsewhere.”
“If only they were aware of the aftermath of that situation, they would believe you happy to be rid of Wickham’s attentions.”
“Ah, ’tis true, I am sure.” Mary sighed, “Yet I dare not give an explanation for fear of casting suspicion where it cannot easily be denied. However, my continued silence implies guilt and could be the ruin of both of us. For that reason, dear cousin, I must ask if you have been forthright in all you have told me.”
“You question my words?”
“Oh, Maggie, the outcome of this situation affects more than our personal feelings. I must know that I am justified in fighting for our future.”
Maggie's clamped lips showed she was vexed, but a heartbeat later she forced emotion-filled words from her lips. “I did not harm him. Considering all that he meant to me, how could you dare suggest I could murder him—”
“Ah, I heard the word murder.” Colonel Fitzwilliam stopped in front of them, and studied each of them in turn. “It seems the situation is much as I feared when Miss Georgiana informed us that Miss King was sitting with her companion.” He gave a slight bow. “Ladies, I fear I must ask you not to discuss the events of this evening.”
“Oh, but Colonel Fitzwilliam,” Mary stood and turned wide eyes on
the handsome officer, “it is not what you might think. I was trying to console Miss Brown and stop her tears. Yet she is tender hearted and insists she cannot soon forget the murder.”
“I share her aversion for these events completely.” Colonel Fitzwilliam studied his ward's companion for long moments. “However, until the crime is solved, I would prefer Miss Brown kept any impression of the events to herself. Therefore, I have asked Miss Mary Bennet to sit with Miss Brown until Miss Darcy returns.” He held out his arm. “Miss King, could I offer you some refreshment?”
Mary exchanged a glance with her cousin, then took the colonel’s arm. “I would like something to drink. Though must admit, Colonel, I am most unnerved in your presence, as you are leading the investigation into this crime.”
“Why should my efforts affect you so, Miss King? Do you have reason to suffer guilt over Mr. Wickham’s death?”
“Ah, pray do not try to suggest guilt where none exists, Colonel.” Mary smiled up at him. “However, the thought of being interviewed by, not one, but three fine gentlemen, two of whom are in full-dress uniform, sets my poor heart pounding.”
“Miss King, may I inquire if your admiration for a man in uniform is the reason for your attachment to Mr. Wickham? For I must confess, I can see no other reason why a young woman of your countenance would settle for a man with his character, when there are officers ready to trip over themselves for your attention.”
“Really?” Mary opened her eyes wide as she stared around the room. “I see no such gentlemen, sir.” Some of the tightness in her chest eased as the colonel smiled down at her. Oh, he was quite good, this colonel, and very handsome. She must watch her step or else she would find her shoe in her mouth with him around. “Do you jest, Colonel?”
“Are you avoiding my query, Miss King?”
“Not at all, Colonel. However, as a man, I cannot expect you to understand. But Wickham was a dashing figure in his uniform, which I am sure you have heard from other women present, and his charm was second to none I have ever encountered. So when he turned his attentions to me, it was difficult to keep a sane thought in my head.”
“Ah,” Colonel Fitzwilliam acknowledged with a nod, “I thought as much. Now, I am afraid you must forgive me for leaving you at the refreshment table, Miss King but Captain Carter has arrived.” He turned and motioned Captain Carter to their side. “Captain, would you be so good as to see that Miss King gets some punch to revive her spirits, and take care she is not left alone to mull over the night's sad events.” With a tilt of his head and a slight smile, the colonel departed.
“So, we meet again, Miss King. How are you coping with events of the evening?
“As well as one could expect I believe, Captain. And you?” Mary accepted the cup of lemonade Carter offered and, again, noted how kind he seemed. After her experience with Wickham, and her escape from what would surely have been a disastrous match even without dear Maggie’s involvement, she avoided men in uniform. Yet with war approaching and many young men departing to serve King and country, she had few encounters with men who were not in the militia. Captain Carter, for all his quiet ways, was as handsome as Colonel Fitzwilliam and the sadly-departed Wickham, yet his charm was warm and believable. “If I recall correctly, you and Mr. Wickham were close friends.”
Captain Carter seemed to stand straighter and studied her with such seriousness that she wondered what she had said wrong until he said. “If I may speak truthfully, Miss King, and not be accused of speaking wrongly of the dead, Wickham was friends with anyone who would loan him funds.”
“Captain, I must confess your words surprise me.”
“Because I speak bluntly, ma’am?”
“On the contrary, Captain, it is the fact that you spoke the truth. For I have discovered honesty is a quality it is difficult to find among men in uniform.” She smiled under his warm gaze, and felt the coldness around her heart ease. “If I may speak as truthfully in return, sir, it is a relief to encounter a man of honor, and one who does not excuse the actions of other men because they wear the same colors. For, I found Mr. Wickham’s actions less than honorable on occasion.”
“You must take care of what you say, Miss King. For, as I warned Denny earlier this night, the walls have ears.”
“I quite agree, Captain.” Mary glanced around the room at the groups of guests and tried to keep the eagerness building inside her out of her voice. “But I am curious, sir. Why did you feel the need to caution Mr. Denny? Were he and Mr. Wickham not great friends? Surely, he is not one accused of this deed.”
“Ah, Miss King, you must remember, all is not as it seems.”
“Oh, do tell, Captain. I am making an effort to seal my mind against this night’s events, and your comment promises much distraction. Pray tell me, was there a disagreement between Mr. Wickham and Denny?”
“There are things I should not mention in your presence, Miss King.” Captain Carter reached for a biscuit from the tray near him. “Some topics are not acceptable to speak of in front of a lady.”
“Ah, now I understand. Mr. Wickham and Denny fought over a female.”
“Not exactly and, if you will forgive me for saying so, Miss King, you should not be so forthcoming with your knowledge of such things.”
Color rose to Mary’s cheeks. This man she barely knew was trying to protect her, yet Wickham had acted the opposite. He had lulled her into thinking he cared for her and had asked for her hand in marriage, while, at the same time, he was carrying on an affair with another woman. She learned the truth too late to save her cousin from a broken heart, but she had salvaged her own. Yet, from she knew of this man, she was convinced Captain Carter would never repeat Wickham’s behavior. “You are quite right, Captain, but females learn these things from men who are not as honorable as you. Did Denny care very much for the female in question?”
“Aye, it was his sister.” Captain Carter sent her a guilty glance. “There, now you have charmed the truth out of me with your flattery, Miss King. What manner of friend am I, to possess such a loose tongue?”
“A very good friend, Captain, for you made it most difficult for me to uncover the truth. But pray, do not leave me in suspense. How did the tale end?”
“Denny was fortunate enough to rescue his sister in time, but alas, he never recovered the funds he loaned to Wickham. Neither have several other men in our regiment.”
“So Mr. Wickham lived on loans and spread his debts among his fellow service men. Tell me, Captain, do men in the militia earn enough to support themselves and the likes of Wickham?”
“Not from their service pay, Miss King, but many chance what little they have, and all they can borrow, on games of chance.”
Mary made a mental note to add bad debts to the possible reasons for Wickham’s murder. Lydia Wickham’s accusations against her made her uneasy. Everyone present heard Lydia’s claims, but though Lydia had accused others of the crime as well, if certain facts were discovered, Mary would appear to have more reason than most for wanting Wickham dead.
In her heart, Mary knew she could never murder anyone, not even Wickham. Yet, she would need all her wits about her if she disproved Lydia’s claims. Moreover, since Colonel Fitzwilliam acted promptly to remove her from Maggie’s presence, Mary was more frightened that ever. But she was determined to fight for her life and that of her cousin. And to that aim, she was left with only one choice. She had to discover the truth about Wickham’s murder. “Is that the reason you warned Denny to be cautious before he spoke?”
“Not entirely,” Captain Carter stared at the punch cup in his hand, “I thought it prudent to caution Denny because he has been less than sensible in forming a recent liaison.”
“Ah,” Mary could hardly control her excitement, “you are referring to his assignation with Mrs. Forester, in the garden.”
“How did you know this, Miss King, for I know you have not coaxed me into revealing these details?”
“Do not fret, Captain. If you will recal
l, I was also in the garden tonight and I saw many interesting events going on in the dark as I am sure you did, as well.”
“You have relieved my conscience, greatly, Miss King. For while I do not agree with Denny’s choices, I have no wish to be disloyal. Still, I fear his actions put him in an untenable position.”
“Quite right, Captain, unless we find others who stands to gain if Denny is blamed for the crime.” Would Captain Carter forgive her for using his concern for Denny to gain knowledge of what he knew? Yet, even if he did not, she was left with little choice in the matter. She had to find information to protect herself and Maggie.
“I agree, Miss King.” Captain Carter paused as he considered her words. “And to that end I will add that Mr. Bingley’s sisters had a very active evening in the garden, as well.”
“Really, oh do tell.” Mary glanced at the women in question. Of all the guests present at the ball, surprisingly, she had not considered the possibility that Bingley’s sisters might be involved in the murder. “Pray tell why you suggest such a thing, for I observed Miss Bingley, as well as, the Hursts in the garden. Do you suggest they attacked Mr. Wickham?”
“I have no reason to believe such. Yet they each met with Wickham, but the interestingly enough, they met him separately.”
“Oh! But how can you know this?” Chills chased over Mary as a new thought occurred to her. She liked Captain Carter, and for that reason, she had not considered that he might have reason to want Wickham dead. Nevertheless, standing in the middle of a roomful of guests, anyone of who could be the murderer, she eyed the man beside her, whose quiet charm had lured her to feel comfortable with him. Surely she had not misread Captain Carter’s character so badly. After the incident with Wickham, she used caution in dealing with others. “Ah, you were watching out for Denny, were you not?”
Carter gave a nod. “Denny ignores caution when he is involved like this. I thought only to protect him from his own folly.”
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