Page 40 of Conundrums & Coincidences

“Although I was roughly handled, I admit my only significant injury was from a splinter of wood.”

“Does it cause much discomfort?”

“No.” She grinned at him. “Unless you insist I dance a reel.”

“Indeed, I would not dare.” Darcy returned her smile but soon grew serious. “Before Henrietta left in disgrace, she levelled all the blame for recent nefarious activity on Fordham. She told Mr Monroe that the Fordhams’ home is filled with antiques. As we speak, the magistrate and a constable are escorting Fordham to Slough, where they will search his house. At any rate, what they did to you and me was meant to impede our progress in the tournament. I realise that all you went through was deeply disturbing and distressing, however…”

“I am stronger than I appear, Mr Darcy. You may continue without fear of offending my sensibilities.”

“Even had they attempted murder, they would have committed no crime. However, were you a kidnapped heiress, your family could claim property had been stolen from them. Theft of property is a hanging offence.”

Elizabeth grasped at straws. “Theft, then! The missing items…”

“The vase is back in the parlour. Apparently, Fordham told Henrietta he was supposed to have had it valued last year—which I doubt—but forgot to do so. He paid her to move it from room to room during the searches, and I expect he hoped to abscond with it after the tournament. As for the key, rather mysteriously, it was on the housekeeper’s desk by the time Mrs Vincent arrived in her office this morning. I had wondered why Miss Kensett and Fordham were able to enter forbidden bedchambers. Now I know that Henrietta assisted them.”

Elizabeth offered the fruit bowl to Mr Darcy. “Henrietta and Mr Fordham are an artful pair. Poor Miss Armstrong! I am grateful everyone else here has been so kind…though Miss Kensett left much to be desired. What, other than the maid’s dismissal, has been done?”

The gentleman absently twirled two cherries still attached by their stems. “A household inventory is being undertaken by Mrs Vincent, Mr Atwater, and their underlings. The list they compile will be compared with one done when Miss Armstrong originally took possession of Oakwood in the year nine. I expect many heirlooms have disappeared and, or, been replaced by inferior items. But nothing has been proved. Yet.”

Mr Darcy ate the cherries one by one, politely discarding the stones. “Now, Miss Bennet, enough dismal tidings. Since one more competitor has been eliminated from the tournament, the chance of winning has been narrowed. So, if you will excuse me, I shall leave you to work on your puzzle in peace.” He bowed and wished Elizabeth success.

Making her wish a reality was the height of her ambition, so she reached for the paper and pencil, took off her gloves, and set about solving the poser.

A razor might do this, as might a thief with brio.

She scribbled the word ‘nick’.

Extracted, I’m ebon; used, red; discarded, grey.

Beside ‘nick’ Elizabeth jotted down ‘coal’.

Now rearrange your two words to then form a trio.

From those two small words—‘nick’ and ‘coal’—she had to form three. Elizabeth saw the solution to the anagram straightaway but froze, overpowered by a sense of triumph and wonder. If neither Mr Darcy nor Mr Hadley preceded her, Oakwood Manor would be hers.

Upon Albert opening the front door for her, Elizabeth entered the vestibule just as Mr Hadley hurried out from the library. He and she nearly collided.

“Miss Bennet! I do beg your pardon!” The young gentleman’s coppery hair virtually stood on end, and it was evident he had been running his fingers through it. “I was just…ah…looking for…something. If you will excuse me.” He sketched a bow and rushed towards the great room.

Something ‘in a clock’, perhaps? Elizabeth supposed she could eliminate the library since her opponent obviously had not found what he was looking for in there.

Arriving in the parlour, she was pleased to see the Japanese vase once again gracing the unlit fireplace, but she was only interested in the pink marble and gilt bronze clock on the mantel. It, however, was too disappointingly small to contain a deed and key.

She next peeked inside the great hall. Mr Hadley was still wandering about in there, so she crossed to the games room. One glance at its transparent rectangular base proved the pyramid-shaped table clock held no prize.

Mr Hadley was encountered again between the two rooms, and he appeared twice as harried as before. With more at stake than friendship, they stood face-to-face, each anticipating the other’s next move. The gentleman’s eyes darted left, to the hall leading to the manor’s breakfast and dining rooms. They were the only two places remaining.

For a moment, Elizabeth and he engaged in a dance of sorts. Mr Hadley moved left when she moved right, then he moved right and she left, causing an unseemly burst of laughter from both.

Startling when the Westminster chimes sounded from the vestibule’s pendulum clock positioned against the parlour wall, Elizabeth thought it an ideal hiding spot.

It appeared Mr Hadley had the same thought, for his eyes widened, and they both set off in that direction, straining to neither run nor out and out race one another. Like the lady and gentleman they were, Elizabeth and he walked side by side with short, quick steps and in an affectedly refined manner.

20

SACRIFICE

The vestibule clock struck twelve as Darcy stood at the head of the stairs, gripping the railing and watching the goings-on below him.