Pride and Premeditation (Jane Austen Murder Mystery #1)(54)

But Caroline was interrupted by Louisa ringing the bell to summon the butler. Caroline shot her sister a dark look, but Louisa said, “Oh, don’t, Caroline. I am sick of this whole mess, and I don’t want Charles to hang.”

Georgiana took in the scene with wide eyes, and Lizzie took satisfaction in being heard as she composed herself. But she was suddenly struck with nerves—Darcy was here. The butler was fetching him and Bingley, and soon Darcy would be looking at her with that brooding stare, ready to refute her every word. . . .

Lizzie took a steadying breath.

Bingley and Darcy entered, and Bingley was all smiles. “Miss Bennet, I am very happy to see you again. Do you come with news?”

Lizzie hesitated, waiting for Darcy to make a snide remark about her abilities, but he took a seat next to Georgiana and placed a protective hand on her shoulder.

Lizzie squared her own shoulders. “There’s been another murder. This time, the Hursts’ maid, Abigail. She was drowned. I’ve just come from the docks, where I saw her body myself.”

“Dear God,” Bingley said, collapsing into a chair.

“How do you know she was murdered?” Darcy asked. His tone wasn’t cold or mocking, just curious. Still, Lizzie bristled.

“One doesn’t simply trip and fall into the Thames, Mr. Darcy,” she said, her voice sounding strained even to her own ears. Don’t cry, she reminded herself. “Her hands were bound.”

For a moment, Darcy looked stricken. Lizzie might have felt satisfaction at surprising him once, but all she felt was horrid guilt. She had been running from it the moment she learned of Abigail’s fate, and now the weight of responsibility fell heavily on her. What if Lizzie’s meddling had led a killer straight to Abigail?

“This turn of events cannot be a coincidence,” Lizzie continued when she found her voice once more. “Abigail was dismissed before she had the chance to secure another position, but I spoke with her yesterday and she told me something I find curious.”

Lizzie paused; no one spoke.

“Abigail had knowledge of the Hurst household. Mr. Bingley, she hinted that the decision to cut off Mr. Hurst was due to your own need for money. Caroline confirmed that you’ve been experiencing money troubles—it was why she convinced Mrs. Hurst to leave her husband.”

“Are you accusing Bingley of murder, Miss Bennet?” Darcy’s voice was hard as stone. Bingley had gone white. He sank back into his chair and rubbed his face.

“Not at all,” Lizzie responded. “After all, I’ve no proof. But what I know is that Mr. Bingley engaged my services without giving me all of the pertinent information. Isn’t that right, Mr. Bingley?”

Mr. Bingley was rubbing his temples and looking down at the floor. Even Darcy remained silent, but he cast a questioning look at Bingley.

Lizzie sighed, weary all of a sudden. “I don’t see how you expect to solve this mess without being forthcoming.”

“I know, I know,” Bingley mumbled. “I hadn’t meant to deceive you, Miss Bennet. But it was a closely guarded secret, and I hoped it was completely separate from this whole mess. Not even my sisters know.”

Caroline huffed at that last bit. “I’m not an idiot, Charles. I know we don’t have any money.”

Bingley looked to Darcy for direction, and Lizzie prepared herself for an argument. But to her surprise, Darcy nodded. Bingley sighed and looked to Lizzie. “I didn’t tell you because I truly didn’t think it was connected to George’s death. I thought perhaps a disreputable creditor had gotten to him before we could sort things out. I never thought that they would be out for blood.”

“Who?” Lizzie asked.

But Bingley was no longer looking at her. Instead, he addressed his sisters and said, “Netherfield Shipping is about to go bankrupt.” Caroline gaped while Louisa’s hand flew to her mouth. Lizzie took a seat in the nearest settee.

“Trouble began a year and a half ago,” Bingley continued. “Piracy. We lost two ships. Insurance helped, but I had to move money about to keep us going. I thought it was just rotten luck, only . . . it got worse. We lost five more ships, and three this year. Only two have made their destinations, and the profits aren’t enough.”

“But the insurance,” Caroline protested.

“Insurance won’t pay if you’re being targeted,” Darcy spoke up.

“You knew?” Lizzie asked him.

“Darcy has been appealing to the Admiralty on my behalf. Fat lot of good it’s done us. They’re too busy with the French to pursue some faceless, nameless pirate who seems to have it out for Netherfield Shipping. Then the pirates began demanding protection fees.”

“How much have you been paying them?” Caroline demanded.

“I haven’t.”

Silence fell over the room, as everyone took in Bingley’s meaning.

“Why not?” Caroline shrieked.

“Because it’s immoral and illegal,” Bingley replied, his calm a striking contrast to Caroline’s desolation. “Besides, I won’t be bullied.”

Caroline turned to Darcy. “Talk some sense into him! We’re going bankrupt!”

“I can’t,” Darcy said, “and even if I could, I wouldn’t. It’s illegal to pay off pirates, and I wouldn’t persuade my client or my friend to do something that I myself wouldn’t be willing to do.”