Page 24 of Charlotte's Story
“I’m pleased you could make it on such short notice, especially with the situation you’ve found yourself in.” Lady Catherine inclined her head at him.
I curled my fingers into a fist at my side, more determined than ever to protect William from her if it came down to it. I wasn’t sure what a human could do against a high-born fae, but I’d figure something out. But even as I kept my expression pleasantly neutral, I searched her face for signs of frustration. Was Lizzy right and she was angry with William?
“I would never dream of turning down an invitation from you.” William turned to me. “Lady Catherine, this is my wife, Charlotte Lucas. I don’t remember if you’ve met before.”
“Unfortunately, we didn’t have a chance to talk at the wedding.” I bit my lip to refrain from pointing out it was because she’d arrived late and left early. But her shoddy attendance at the wedding was the least of her potential offenses. Maybe this was my chance to get her alibi. “You seemed to be in quite a hurry when you left. Did you have other plans that night?”
“I just needed to get back to Rosings Park.”
That wasn’t news. I already knew she’d been at Rosings that night since she’d called William over. I needed to push a little deeper. “Were you expecting company?”
She stiffened. “No, I was not. I spent the evening alone. I even gave Merrick and Maris the evening off.” She turned to Lizzy, effectively ending my questioning. “And you are?”
“I’m Elizabeth Bennet,” she said with a small smile, though Darcy had already introduced her. “My family owns the bakery on Main Street, and I write for the Sanditon Chronicle.”
“I see.” Her shrewd gaze drifted from Lizzy to Darcy and back again, like she needed to study them extra carefully to compensate for how they were working so hardnotto look at each other.
I glanced at William, who stood next to me. That was something people would never accuse us of, and it was fine that way. Chemistry, like feelings, was far too dangerous.
“Where is Anne?” Darcy asked.
Lady Catherine sighed almost theatrically, although her expression brightened when Darcy asked about her daughter. “She had orchestra practice tonight and won’t be joining us. Although if I’d known for sure you were coming, I would’ve insisted she skip it.”
“I’m sorry to hear it. I always enjoy my time with her.” Darcy bowed his head.
Lady Catherine’s smile grew and she climbed to her feet. “Let’s head to the table, and I’ll have dinner brought out.” She led the way into a dining room filled with more candles that glinted off the plates’ polished silver. A man stood in the corner playing Christmas carols on his violin.
Lady Catherine went straight to the head of the table, but the rest of us hesitated a beat, trying to figure out where to sit. William pulled out a chair for me, then moved to sit next to me.
“You can’t sit by your wife, Mr. Collins,” Lady Catherine said, gesturing to the seat to her left. “I need to speak with you. Sit here.”
I blinked at her, taken aback by her sudden demand, but William moved to obey without a second thought. Lady Catherine settled in at the table with William and Darcy on either side. Somehow I ended up next to Darcy and Lizzy next to William.
A butler with salt-and-pepper hair and a mustache who must’ve been Wilkinson brought in the first course—spiced pears and goat cheese. It was delicious, but we didn’t get to enjoy it in silence for long.
“How old are you, Elizabeth?” Lady Catherine asked.
Lizzy’s lips pressed together in that way they did when she tried to hide her amusement. “Let’s just say that I’ve finished my master's in journalism and have a full-time job.”
“You’re quite cheeky for one so young.” Lady Catherine’s brow furrowed. “And you’re not married?”
“No.” Lizzy’s gaze shot to me, and I couldn’t tell if it was a plea for help or a reminder that I was supposed to be asking questions.
I cleared my throat. “I was hoping we could talk to you about what happened to Dahlia, Lady Catherine.”
“Dahlia?”
“The woman who was killed,” I said.
Lady Catherine dabbed at her mouth with her fancy cloth napkin and frowned. “Oh, her. That sort of topic is not appropriate at the dinner table. It will have to wait.”
William nodded and adjusted his fork, turning it clockwise and repositioning it until it perfectly aligned with his plate. “Of course we can wait. There’s no hurry.”
I scowled at him. He should have been more concerned with the fact that someone might have been targeting him. Was I the only one who wanted to keep him safe?
William, Darcy, and Lady Catherine took care of the small talk for the rest of the meal, with Lizzy focused mainly on her food. I waited for the right opportunity to turn the conversation in the direction I wanted it to go.
“I heard about the tree lighting ceremony, Lady Catherine,” William said as Merrick and Maris brought out trays of food. “It doesn’t make sense that you weren’t included. You’ve participated every other year.”
