The Secret Life of Miss Mary Bennet by Katherine Cowley (the reading list book txt) 📗

“That would be useful,” said Sir Pickering. “Did Mr. Holloway mention what he planned to do after the conversation?”

“He said he planned to meet several people in Worthing. He seemed anxious, but when I asked who he was meeting and why, he did not say, and grew rather upset.” Withrow paused, in thought. “Holloway did have a small notebook and a pencil with them. He placed them in his jacket pocket. If you find the notebook, it may give some indication of who he was meeting and why.”

Withrow turned to Mary. “What were you doing in the forest, Miss Bennet, when you saw me with Mr. Holloway?”

“I was in my room, looking out the window, when I saw strange lights in the forest. I wanted to see what it was.”

“I see,” said Mr. Withrow. “When you saw us, why did you not call out or approach?”

“I did not want to disturb you.”

Sir Richard Pickering cleared his throat, drawing their attention back to him. Mary expected him to ask if she had seen Mr. Holloway before and was prepared to disclose the full details about his theft of the mourning rings. But Sir Pickering did not. Mary was certain that Colonel Coates and Monsieur Corneau had informed Sir Richard Pickering of that key detail, so Sir Pickering must have his own reasons for not bringing it up now.

“Mr. Withrow, can you account for your whereabouts for the remainder of the day on the eighth?”

“Of course,” said Mr. Withrow. “But some might construe your question as making a rather unpleasant accusation.”

“I am making no accusations,” said Sir Pickering. “I am certain that you would agree that it is best I be thorough as I gather information.”

“Of course,” said Mr. Withrow. “I apologize. I took care of other matters of business at Castle Durrington, mostly in the library. I ate dinner with Miss Bennet, chaperoned by Mrs. Boughton. Then I retired to my room. You may speak with the servants and verify my whereabouts.”

Sir Pickering turned to Mary. “What about you, Miss Bennet?”

“I retired to my room and slept. Fanny woke me, then I dined with Mr. Withrow. Following dinner, I spent a significant amount of time in the library, and then I retired again to my room.”

“Lady Trafford?”

“I was in Brighton, seeing to matters of various societies I am part of. I will write you a list of all of the particulars, and since you live in Brighton, it should be simple for you to verify them.”

“That concludes my questions for now,” said Sir Pickering. “Though please, gather your relevant papers, Mr. Withrow. Do any of you have any questions for me?”

“I do,” said Mary. “Are you working with Colonel Coates and Monsieur Corneau on this investigation?”

“Yes,” said Sir Pickering. “The militia is tasked with keeping the peace, and so Colonel Coates and I will pass information back and forth until this mystery is solved. Monsieur Corneau has also proven himself useful in the past.”

After a few more minutes, Sir Pickering departed. Mary hoped that she too would prove herself useful. Due to Sir Pickering’s visit, her lessons for the day had been cancelled, which gave her time to begin gathering information.

Once Mr. Withrow and Lady Trafford had gone upstairs, Mary entered the library. She sat for a minute in a chair, waiting to see if anyone would interrupt her again, like the previous morning, but no one did.

She went straight to the shelf with the prized books and took down the Bible. While it was similar in appearance to the family Bible, it was not the book she had held her first evening at the castle. It contained no family records whatsoever. She spent the next hour searching the library for the family Bible but found not a trace.

*

Several hours later, the Shaffer family arrived for dinner. Mrs. Boughton led them into the drawing room with the pianoforte where Lady Trafford, Mr. Withrow, and Mary were waiting.

Mary recognized Mr. Shaffer from the sermon he had given at church two days before. Lady Trafford introduced him, as well as his wife, Mrs. Shaffer, who was blind in one eye, and his daughter, Miss Shaffer, who appeared to be approximately Mary’s age.

“It is so kind of you to invite us,” said Mrs. Shaffer to Lady Trafford. “I hope we have not been a burden on your kitchen staff, what with the last-minute notice.”

“It is no trouble at all,” said Lady Trafford. “It simply occurred to me that it had been too long since our last dinner engagement, and I decided that I best act quickly upon my realization, for sometimes if I do not, my best intentions go to naught.”

“That is a laudable approach,” said Mr. Shaffer. “So many people have endless good intentions. I firmly believe that every single person has the potential to do and be good, but intentions must be put into action.”

Miss Shaffer smiled at Mr. Withrow, but then she spoke to Mary. “I heard that you are at Castle Durrington in part to pursue your studies.”

“Yes,” said Mary.

“Please, tell me about what you are learning.”

Miss Shaffer was attentive to Mary’s answer, so Mary described her French and drawing lessons in detail. Everyone in Worthing seemed much more apt than those in Meryton to listen to Mary with their full attention. At one point Mary paused for breath, and Lady Trafford inserted herself into their conversation.

“It makes me very happy that you are so appreciative of your studies,” said Lady Trafford, effectively ending Mary’s description. Lady Trafford must not have realized that Mary had more to say. “Now tell me, Miss Shaffer, how are your own studies progressing?”

“I have not been doing as much as I ought—I spend much time assisting the less fortunate—but I have taken several more painting lessons from Mr. Linton, and I feel like my work is progressing.”

“That reminds me,” said Mrs. Shaffer, “you still have not shown me your newly acquired painting, Lady Trafford. I have been rather expecting an