The Meryton Murders: A Mystery Set in the Town of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice by Victoria Grossack

Author:Victoria Grossack [Grossack, Victoria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms, Sequel - Canon Compliant, Mystery
ISBN: 9781515296843
Goodreads: 29096520
Published: 2016-02-13T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XXVI

Mr. Bennet relayed their conclusions to those he needed to inform: Sir William and Mr. Philips, and the members of his own family. Sir William was terribly distressed at the idea that someone could have murdered his son-in-law, but he agreed that Mrs. Collins needed to be informed, for her own safety, just in case Mr. Bennet was correct. As Mrs. Collins had already reached the conclusion herself, she was not as perturbed by receiving her father’s communication as he was in making it; in fact her anxiety was lessened, because now others would take precautions and she could more easily solicit her brothers and her father for protection.

Mr. Philips was skeptical at first that Mr. Collins could have been murdered – at that bridge? And why Mr. Collins? But as an attorney he was cognizant of the greed and foibles of human nature. He conveyed Mr. Bennet’s theory to his clerks, who were both willing to do what they could to protect Meryton (and to increase their standing in the firm and in the town). Mr. Philips also told Mrs. Philips, and although she was not clear on the details which made murder rather than an accident more likely, the probability that it was murder was absolutely thrilling, and gave her reason to call on Mrs. Long, the reclusive Mrs. Smith (who allowed her in for half an hour in order to make this communication), the milliner across the street and anyone else who would listen. By telling Mrs. Philips, Meryton was warned.

The ladies living at Longbourn also had their reactions. Mary reveled in the proof that there was so much evil in the world, which she had always maintained, and not just the whole world, but in their very own neighborhood! Kitty resolved that she would never, ever cross this bridge alone in her life – at least not till the murderer were discovered and stopped, or if her aunt were giving a particularly enticing party, or if she had a pressing appointment with the milliner. The realization that she had so many reasons to cross that bridge rather distressed Kitty, and she asked Mary to cross the bridge with her – an act that only interested Mary if she already had another reason to go. Nevertheless, it appeared as if there would be at least a temporary cessation of hostilities between the two Bennet daughters still at home – a benefit that even Mr. Bennet had not foreseen.

Mrs. Bennet was loud in her alarm, and she cried out at every noise, was positive that evildoers lurked in the shrubbery, and complained about the state of her nerves every hour. Of one thing she was certain: till the perpetrator was caught, she would not be crossing the bridge unless she could do it in the carriage. This was inconvenient to Mr. Bennet, who needed the horses in the farm, but he said he would see what he could do about their schedule, for it was even more inconvenient to have Mrs.

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