Mary Bennet and the Longbourn Tutor Page 7

  “Jane, Lizzie… what opinion do you have of Mary and the doctor?”

  “He seems most agreeable to her. Has he spoken to papa?” Jane replied.

  “Oh your father keeps his own counsel! He never tells me anything until the last moment… most trying to my nerves.”

  Jane Bingley only smiled as she attempted to raise her expanding self from her chair. Although it the estimated arrival of her child was still some months away, she had grown large quickly. This had not gone unnoticed by many and was the subject of both humor and concern.

  “Perhaps there is more than one?” Elizabeth Darcy had asked gently when she had first observed her sister’s girth. A ripple of nervousness at her own condition could not quell her curiosity, but now, as she assisted Jane from her chair, Lizzie remained silent and watched what appeared to be a very content Mary approach the house. She did seem happy… a rare thing for Mary.

  As the couple neared the house, Charles Bingley and Fitzwilliam Darcy emerged from the shrubbery and joined their wives.

  “I must admit to being somewhat starved.” Charles joked and patted his wife’s bulging abdomen, causing her to blush deeply.

  “Charles and I have been trying to find Grayson Everfield for the past hour. It has been years since I last saw him and was surprised to hear about his taking the position as Mary’s tutor. It would be wonderful to renew our friendship,” explained Darcy as Mary and Atlas came within hearing.

  “Charles mentioned that Mr. Everfield had spent a summer holiday at Pemberley,” Mary said.

  “Yes, unfortunately he sustained a considerable injury during his stay. One that I have often thought of over the years. I hope he recovered fully, but his father was posted to India soon after we matriculated and I never saw him again. Of course we have kept in touch through the occasional letter, but he has never mentioned the incident.”

  “That is unfortunate, but perhaps you will be able to catch up tomorrow when you and Lizzie come to Longbourn? I was going to send word to cancel my lessons due to your visit, but now we can make a party of it,” Mary suggested.

  “Oh yes! The more the merrier! But we must not let today’s luncheon go to waste,” agreed Mrs. Bennet, not wanting to be left out, before forgetting the group entirely and shuffling off to find her plate.

  “I see Mama has not changed a bit,” acknowledged Lizzie as she linked her arms through that of her sisters and followed in Mrs. Bennet’s wake, leaving the men to find their own way. Tomorrow would be soon enough to ask Mary about Mama’s necklace. Today was for Jane, and she would not allow anyone to spoil it.

  *****

  The imposter posing as Grayson Everfield had indeed made the journey to Netherfield with the full intention of endearing himself further into the Bennet family. However, the discovery of Fitzwilliam Darcy as the brother-in-law of his patroness, immediately changed his plans. He was not about to be discovered by anyone. Only Darcy would know that he was not who he claimed. Quickly making his way back to Longbourn, he left a note for Mary, pleading illness and requesting a much needed day of recovery in his chambers. Affecting a deep wracking cough and sniffles, he handed the sealed paper to Mrs. Hill before trudging the distance back to his lodgings. He would be forced to maintain yet another ruse until the Darcy’s left Meryton. However, the day had not been a total loss, in the few hours he had spent as an invited guest of Netherfield, he had managed to fill his pockets with various objects of value. The Bingley’s were rather lax in the security of their home and it had been easy to access not only the library, but also the master bedchamber. With guests occupying the attention of both household and staff, he had been at his leisure. Now, with considerable bounty, as well as a working knowledge of the house and grounds, it would be easy to return and acquire more. It would simply have to wait until the Darcy’s were gone.

  ~Thirteen~

  The next day…

  Elizabeth Darcy placed her mother’s pearl and ruby necklace carefully inside a velvet pouch and tucked it in her reticule. She thought how best to approach the subject without placing any of her Bennet family members in a state of embarrassment. Speaking with her father was out of the question. He still harbored a sense of obligation to Mr. Darcy for arranging Lydia’s marriage and resolving the debts of her worthless husband, Mr. Wickham. Mama would probably fling herself into hysterics and Kitty was equally of no use. She had not wanted to tell Jane, stress was not something her elder sister bore well, especially in her current state. It was Mary who would be able to provide honest answers. Fortunately, Charles and Jane had declined to accompany the Darcy’s to Longbourn.

  “You two go without us. We see Mama and Papa regularly. This is your time to have them to yourselves,” Jane had reasoned.

  In all honesty, Jane was simply too tired after yesterday’s festivities going late into the evening. Lizzie, while appreciating time with her father, did not relish being the object of obsession for her mother. Hopefully her mother would still be in the throes of a massive hangover from her celebratory indulgence.

  When the Darcy’s arrived, Mrs. Bennet was indeed indisposed. Her wails of neglect could be heard throughout the house as she lamented the considerable pains that assaulted her person. Having completely forgotten the invitation to an early luncheon, Mrs. Bennet had closeted herself away and displayed such dramatics of imminent death that Atlas Sutton was summoned from Meryton. Having hoped to spend the day in his last examinations of the unknown person, he sighed and nodded his acceptance to the Longbourn footman to attend Mrs. Bennet. It was at her side that Lizzie found the young doctor, alongside Mary who refused to allow her friend to bear the experience alone.

  “Good morning Lizzie. As you can see, Mama is in one of her moods,” Mary said with more than a touch of sarcasm.

  “I am not in a “mood” young lady! This may well be the end for me and no one cares in the slightest!” snapped Mrs. Bennet before spying Lizzie in the doorway.

  “Oh Lizzie! I knew you would come… sit on my bed and hold my hand while this charlatan administers his potions,” simpered the elder woman with an immediate change of tone.

  Lizzie Darcy rolled her eyes at Mary and did as she was bid. It was the least she could do, considering that she would escape back to Pemberley on the morrow. Fortunately, within a few minutes, after a deep draught of a calming sedative, Mrs. Bennet was asleep and they could return below stairs to some solitude.

  “Were is Papa?” Lizzie asked as the three joined Mr. Darcy where he waited in the parlor.

  “Still asleep as well. I fear that he is getting a bit frail lately, so I have indulged him. Besides, he will be up and about long before you leave.”

  “That is good, for I have what can be a rather unpleasant matter to discuss, but perhaps it can wait until later,” Lizzie added with a careful eye to Atlas.

  Noticing Lizzie’s hesitation, Mary quickly put her at ease, “You may speak openly with Dr. Sutton. After the events of the past year, he knows us rather intimately. Besides, it is just we four, Mr. Everfield has taken ill as well and sends his regrets.”

  Relaxing a bit, Lizzie reluctantly pulled her mother’s necklace from her reticule. Holding it up to the light, the single red teardrop glistened as if wet against the luminescent pearls.

  “Mama’s pearls! Wherever did you find them? She has had the servants upending the entire house in search of them.” Mary gasped.

  “How long have they been missing?” asked Darcy from a corner of the room where he stood like a sentinel.

  “I don’t know really, Mama misplaces things quite regularly… let me think…” Mary paused with her brows furrowed as she tried to recall the last time she saw her mother wearing the piece. Jewelry was not something she noticed, preferring a much plainer mode of dress.

  “I believe she had them on when Jane and Charles were last to dine at Longbourn… perhaps a fortnight or so.”

  “Are you sure?” Lizzie prodded gently.

  “Well… yes, I am sure. She complai
ned of the clasp getting snagged in her curls.”

  Lizzie looked to her husband and back at Mary, both of their faces bore a grim expression. “That is what we feared.”

  “I don’t understand… how did you come to have it?” inquired Mary as a twinge of unease crept up her spine.

  “Your sister found the necklace at a local jeweler’s in London. It had been sold to the shop. As the proprietor was away on business at the, he is looking in to the nature of the sale.” Darcy explained.

  “Mary… I hate to ask, but has Papa been concerned about financial matters? Could he have sold the necklace to support Longbourn?” Lizzie inquired.

  Mary was dumbfounded. This simply was not possible. The hidden inheritance that she had discovered had totaled more than fifty thousand pounds. It was enough money to see her parents through the rest of their lives… and provide dowries for each of her sisters. As it was, Mary herself had taken on the household accounts and could justify every expenditure. If anything, Kitty and Mama had more pocket money than ever before. As for Papa… well… unless he was keeping something from her? Mary shook her head in denial before speaking.

  “I know you are fully aware that the entailment on Longbourn has been broken, but I am not sure if Papa relayed just how much money was discovered… it was substantial. I assure you that He and Mama have no need of funds… ever.”

  “However comforting, that leaves only one other possibility. There must be a thief about.” Darcy said flatly.

  “I cannot imagine any of our servants. They have been with us for years, besides, no one has been gone from the estate recently,” Mary reasoned.

  “What about your tutor?”

  “Mr. Everfield? I suppose it is possible, but he came with the best of references… even one from you dear brother-in-law.” Mary chided.

  “No, not him of course, but perhaps one of the others? I believe there have been quite a few recently? Or, a deliveryman? I have always cautioned Mama about leaving things haphazardly around the house. It may have been too great a temptation,” Lizzie added.

  Mary hated the idea that her poor decisions had allowed a thief to enter Longbourn, but the fact remained. Someone had stolen her mother’s most prized possession. Frowning, she tried to recall the various persons who had come and gone from Longbourn in recent weeks, but the list was great.

  “Well… I must admit that the dismissal of Mr. Elias Jones did not go very well, but that was nearly two months ago. There have also been numerous workers about, completing long overdue repairs to the house and grounds. It could have been anyone.”

  Lizzie handed Mary the necklace. “Put this where Mama will easily find it, but I suggest that Mrs. Hill and the rest of the senior staff be made aware without telling Mama. I cannot imagine the hysterics.”

  “What about Papa? He has not been well lately.”

  “It may be best to wait until I have heard from Mr. Davies before considering any further action. But Lizzie and I would feel better if Longbourn was made more secure.” Darcy suggested.

  Mary nodded and tucked the gems into the deep pocket of her day dress. It was unsettling to think of some sort of criminal invading her home, especially if she had allowed such a person easy entry. Guilt pricked at her conscience the more she thought about it.

  During the entire conversation, Atlas Sutton had remained silent, but his scientific mind had been busy cataloguing the list of possible subjects. Unfortunately, something made him always come back to Grayson Everfield. Logically, he acknowledged his jealousy over the time the other man spent with Mary, but he did have access to the house…regularly. Not wanting to sound like a slighted suitor, he kept his opinions to himself, but he would be watching more than ever. Feeling Darcy’s eyes upon him, Atlas acknowledged the master of Pemberley with a nod.

  “Dr. Sutton, I place a level of trust in you as a friend of the Bennets to provide what assistance you can in this matter,” Darcy requested politely.

  Atlas agreed and solidified the other man’s courteous demand with a firm handshake, but it was not needed. If Mary was in any sort of danger, he would do anything in his power to keep her safe.

  Lizzie Darcy patted her sister’s arm in reassurance and rose from her seat. What they needed was to put this nasty business behind them for a bit. “I must admit to being rather famished. I hope Mrs. Kincaid still makes those lemon tarts for which she is so famous?”

  Mary nodded and allowed a smile to break her concern, but Lizzie’s cheer did little to relieve the tension that had settled deeply upon her. However, she would do her best to drop the subject for the time being. Leading the way into the small dining room used for intimate meals, the subject changed to tales of Darcy’s childhood at Pemberley.

  This side of her brother-in-law had always surprised Mary. Everyone had always thought Fitzwilliam Darcy to be a rather arrogant fellow, but upon his marriage to Elizabeth, he had softened considerably in close company. Now, despite her former unfavorable opinions, Mary found him most charming and prone to laughter. After one especially humorous account of an unfortunate encounter with a litter of piglets, Darcy was reminded of Grayson Everfield. Sobering his tone, he inquired as to how his old friend and Mary were getting along.

  “He has promised to begin my lessons in astronomy and mathematics this week. It is too bad that he has taken ill. Mrs. Hill said he had a most disagreeable cough fits of sneezing when he stopped by to give his regrets.”

  “Perhaps I should look in on him when I return to Meryton?” Atlas suggested.

  “I suppose he is staying at the Dancing Duck? I may go along with you. He was always a private person, not wanting to be a bother to anyone, even at Pemberley. My father had to insist upon his seeing a physician when he had been badly injured riding. He kept refusing any attention.”

  “What exactly happened? I have not noticed any sort of impairment aside from a slight limp which I had attributed to being unaccustomed to walking our country lanes. Even that has improved since he acquired new boots.” Mary added.

  “Oh it had nothing to do with his feet. To this day I take the blame entirely. Poor Grayson was terrified of horses, a situation that was beyond my understanding at that age. I had bullied him terribly until he was willing to mount one of our more excitable horses.”

  “I don’t believe it! You? A bully?” countered Lizzie with a sarcastic laugh. She knew full well how intimidating her husband could be, even to those who knew him well.

  Darcy’s expression grew sad as he recalled the incident. “Indeed, I was. Grayson was not exactly the athletic type. He much preferred to spend his time with a nose in a book or staring for countless hours at the stars. I must say Mary, he had a remarkable talent for identifying constellations and such, but not for outdoor sport. At any rate, I insisted that he do all of the things that I loved, hoping he would as well, but it did not turn out that way. The horse’s name was Nero, a handsome five year old bay gelding. An experienced rider would have found him a challenge, a novice, terrifying. However, Grayson did as I suggested and tried his best to mimic my movements, but he simply did not know the first thing about riding. Before I could intervene, the horse had reared, throwing Grayson from his seat. He landed hard on his back, while Nero trod on his left hand, crushing the fingers.”

  “Oh my!” gasped Mary.

  “Grayson refused to let the groom tend to him so it was not until later that evening when my father was informed that the physician was called. I’m not sure which scared me more, the idea of Grayson being maimed, or the wrath of my father.”

  “I had no idea…” Lizzie added.

  “It is not something of which I am proud... that is why I would love to see him again, to appease my guilt I suppose.”

  “It was a foolish accident, quite typical of boys. You should not harbor such feelings. It is amazing that some of us have survived such incidents at all,” insisted Atlas.

  “Not just boys… Lydia and Kitty occasionally came to blows over hair ribbons,
” added Mary.

  “All the same, it would make me feel better to see for myself.”

  A few hours later, after a congenial visit with a now recovered Mr. Bennet, Lizzie returned to Netherfield as Atlas and Darcy made the journey to Meryton to stop in at the Dancing Duck. It had been agreed between the four to not inform Mr. Bennet of the possibility that a thief had infiltrated Longbourn. Mary was relieved to keep her father out of it for now, he still bore rings of fatigue beneath his eyes despite protestations to feeling perfectly fine. Now alone with her thoughts, Mary pondered what Darcy had said about her tutor. She had never noticed any sort of impairment, but now that she thought about it, he always wore gloves. Did he have unsightly scarring that he wished to hide? A fear of horses did explain why he chose to walk everywhere, but if he was so well versed with astronomy, why did he need to borrow her book? There were more questions than answers, but it would have to wait for another day as the wailing demands of Mrs. Bennet called out her name from above. With a last look to where her father was now immersed in reading one of the London newspapers, she rose to reprieve the servants from her mother’s dramatics.

  “Coming Mama!” Mary shouted, grateful for the few hours of peace that had been brought on by the sedative Atlas had prepared. If she were lucky, there might be a bit left over for a second dose! Chiding herself for the uncharitable thoughts, Mary pasted a wry smile on her face and went to answer the summons.

  ~Fourteen~

  As Mary considered what she had learned about Grayson Everfield, Atlas and Darcy were knocking on the chamber door of the very same person, but to no reply.

  “He may be asleep... I should not want to disturb him just to satisfy my own selfishness,” suggested Darcy as they stood outside the closed portal.