Page 33 of Conundrums & Coincidences

“Why?” Darcy shot to his feet but received no response.

Half an hour later, after a hushed conference with Mr Atwater, the attorney ordered Christopher to fetch his brother.

When Alfred came in, Mr Monroe said to him, “As Christopher no doubt informed you, the Japanese vase has been found, wrapped up in Mr Darcy’s greatcoat, inside the armoire. However, the gentleman tells me you can vouch for the fact it was not there earlier this morning. Is that correct?”

“Indeed it is, sir.” The staid footman seemed indignant on Darcy’s behalf. “After helping Mr Darcy dress, and knowing his intention was to walk through the gardens, I brought out the greatcoat and suggested he wear it in case of rain.”

Standing with arms crossed, Darcy said, “As I already explained to you, Mr Monroe, I declined. Alfred then returned the greatcoat to the dressing room.”

“Where I carefully folded it,” continued the footman, “and replaced it on the armoire’s top shelf. I am certain the Japanese vase was neither in that dressing room nor out here at any time prior to Mr Darcy departing for his walk.”

Alfred sent Darcy an apologetic look, then said to Mr Monroe, “The gentleman is fastidious about his belongings, sir. ‘A place for everything and everything in its place’. I have memorised his preferences. Top drawer—cravats, stick pins, and fobs. Bottom drawer—stockings of silk, cotton, and worsted. Boots and shoes on the bottom shelf, breeches and trousers on the next, shirts and waistcoats above, then tailcoats. Topmost are hats and the greatcoat. His satchel, writing desk, and trunk all have locks, and the keys are always kept on Mr Darcy’s person except when he is abed.”

Despite himself, Darcy smiled, although it may have looked more like a grimace to the others.

“Alfred,” said the butler, “did you say you put the greatcoat on the topmost shelf?” The footman replied in the affirmative, and Mr Atwater turned to the attorney. “When I found the vase, sir, with the garment maladroitly wrapped round it, it was on the next shelf down with the tailcoats.”

Mr Monroe stood stroking his chin. “A shorter person could have dragged down the coat from the top shelf but would have had trouble neatly putting it back up there, especially if they were in a rush.”

Darcy sat bolt upright. Is he thinking the same thing I am? Peter Fordham probably stands no more than five feet five inches tall.

But, if beneficiaries were being watched constantly, as Mr Monroe once had indicated, how was it that both Miss Kensett and Mr Fordham had been able to enter forbidden bedchambers?

Fully expecting to be alone while he vented his frustration, Darcy arrived in the games room only to be greeted with Mr Hadley’s customary hail-fellow-well-met alacrity. “I say, Darcy! Jolly good of you to come and save me from beating myself.” He held an ornate, ivory-capped mace in his left hand and a leather-tipped cue in the other.

Although he had entered in a surly humour, Darcy could not help but be amused. “Whatever, may I ask, did you do to deserve self-inflicted corporal punishment?”

“Eh? Oh. Ha! No, not that sort of beating. Billiards! I was going to play against myself, you see. Left-handed with a mace and right-handed with a cue. Instead, I hope you will join me, although I am rather poor at it.”

Other than Bingley, Darcy had never known anyone who would so deliberately suppress his own merit. “I shall be delighted to prove you either right or wrong.” He accepted the proffered cue from Mr Hadley. “You presently seem at leisure, spending time in a pursuit unrelated to the winning of Miss Armstrong’s legacy.” Was the younger man just biding his time, waiting to claim the grand prize? My solution will be to no avail should either of the other gentlemen prevail.

“Yet here you are, Darcy, doing exactly the same as I.”

But Darcy’s aim had been to vent his spleen by hitting something other than Mr Fordham. And where is that weasel? What underhandedness is he hatching now?

Opening a wooden marquetry box, Mr Hadley presented it to Darcy. The padded interior held a red ball and two ivory ones. After choosing the white ball with a small black dot, Darcy bounced it upon his palm. “Do you happen to know Fordham’s whereabouts?”

“No.” After he thought for a moment, Mr Hadley added, “I dislike being unjust to the merit of another, but I fear he is not to be trusted.” Taking the two remaining balls from the box, he placed them on the billiards table. “Christopher ironed the baize a while ago, so there should be no wrinkles to impede us. But, since daylight is rather dull in here and there are no lamps above the table, let us say thirteen points to win. By the bye, Darcy, speaking of light, have you seen the delightful Miss Bennet today?”

“She went for a walk in the gardens this morning.” Darcy chalked the tip of his cue. “Why do you ask?”

“Simply curious. I missed seeing her this morning.” Mr Hadley leant over the table, lining up his shot. “I had to stay in my apartment while it was being searched.”

Jaw clenched, Darcy managed to grind out six one-syllable words. “They found the vase in mine.”

The other gentleman’s ivory ball shot past the padded rail and rolled across the floor, reminding Darcy of alabaster balls in the boudoir. Mace in hand, Mr Hadley advanced on him. “You? You!”

“Not me! Apparently, while I was walking in the gardens, someone entered my dressing room and rather ineptly hid the vase there. Mr Monroe summoned Alfred, and the footman confirmed it was not there earlier this morning.”

“Good. I am glad.” Relieved, it seemed, at Darcy’s innocence, Mr Hadley grinned. “So, while you were walking in the gardens this morning, did you happen to see anything in bloom there? Anything cheerful or lovely?”

The very thought of Elizabeth brought a smile to Darcy’s face.

Mr Hadley soon grew serious. “The vase, though… Who would have done such a thing? To steal it in the first place… But then to implicate you! And let us not forget that someone drugged your wine. Unconscionable! Do you suppose it was”—he lowered his voice—“Mr Fordham?”

“That is what I would like to determine. So now, future barrister, despite your hesitation at being unjust, tell me everything you know or suspect about Peter Fordham. But do so quietly. I once caught him listening at a door.”

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