Who Murdered Mr Wickham

by Carol Hutchens

  Bingley glanced around the large front hall. Colonel Fitzwilliam was saying his farewells to Darcy, Lizzy, and Miss Darcy. The Bennets were intending to depart as soon as Lydia stopped complaining about needing widow’s weeds, before she could venture out the door. “I confess, I am confused. Of what matches do you speak, my dear?”

  “I had thought Colonel Fitzwilliam might be a possible match for Caroline. However, after observing them together, I am now aware their temperaments would never suit. And, I hoped Denny and Captain Carter would make a match with Kitty and Mary, but obviously that is not going to happen, after events of the past hour.”

  “There is always a chance they will show interest at our next ball, my dear.” Bingley smiled, hoping to relieve the worry from Jane’s expressive face.

  “I fear not, Charles. I believe poor Denny is lost to Mrs. Forester, and surely you noticed how Captain Carter and Miss King send out sparks when they look at each other.”

  “Ah, I did notice Captain Carter seemed quite taken with Miss King and that is good. But never fear, my Jane, for when it comes to making a match, you are perfect for me.”

  “Oh, Charles, I do so love being your wife.”

  “Then make me one promise, my dear. No more balls for at least a year. I wish to concentrate on starting our nursery.”

  Jane flushed prettily, as well brought up females tend to do at the mention of private time spent in the arms of their husbands, and smiled. However, the promise of her interest was in her eyes, as she returned Bingley’s adoring gaze.

  Then, abruptly, they both turned their attention to the needs of their guests and became efficiency itself as they quickly eased their beloved family members and friends on their way.

  Epilogue

  “Do hurry, Denny," Mrs. Forester urged as they rushed down the back stairs.

  “Hold up, Harriet.” Denny looked back up the stairway. “We have time for some privacy now, before Sir William's coach leaves.”

  “We are going back by coach, Denny. We must go to the stables for horses and make our own way back to Lucas Lodge so I can pack my things before Lady Lucas and Sir William return.” Mrs. Forester resumed her headlong rush down the steps to the back entrance of Netherfield Hall.

  Once they were in the stables, Denny looked around the stalls and frowned. “Why are we doing this? Sir William's coach is the latest in comfort and we can not take horses without permission.”

  “Of course we can," Mrs. Forester snapped as she searched for a bridle. "Sir William will see to the return of the horses.”

  “But why the rush? I don't—”

  “We must leave the area before my husband comes to his senses and returns to defend his honor. We will go back to our lives in Brighton. The colonel would not dare show up there for fear of being caught.”

  “Why must we run? We did nothing wrong.”

  “Oh, Denny! Why did you not go with me into the library last night when I insisted on checking to discover why my husband left in such a rush?”

  “You told me to wait—”

  “If only I had not...you might have stopped me.” She rushed to Denny's side and clutched his coat in both hands. “I was beside myself at seeing Wickham snuggling in the bushes with another woman. I lost my head.”

  “What are you speaking of, Harriet? What did you do?”

  “Oh, Denny! Can you not see? Forester thought he killed Wickham, but he only wounded him. But I was so incensed, when I saw him on the floor, I did not think. I just grabbed the letter opener from the floor and pierced the blade deeper into Wickham's wound.”

  Denny backed away one step and then another. “You mean—that is why you insisted on hiding that letter opener? But you said the colonel—”

  “Yes, my dear, what did you tell young Denny?” The colonel stepped out of the dark shadows in the back of the stables. “I tried to figure out which of our fellow guests had done the deed. And all along it was it you, wife.”

  “Husband! Whatever are you thinking? You must run. If they catch you, they will hang you.”

  “Ah, that is what I thought at first, my dear, but now...I have Denny here as a witness to my innocence.”

  “No, husband. You cannot take the risk. You would not—”

  Harriet let out a squawking sound as the colonel took hold of her upper arm. “Husband, let me go. Denny help me. Colonel, think of your position. You must run.”

  “Stand back, young Denny. You cannot win, even if I walked away. Knowing what she is capable of, you would end up sleeping with one eye open, waiting for her to tire of you.”

  “Oh, Denny, pray do not listen to him. I could never hurt you,” Harriet begged. Tears gathered in her eyes, as her husband pulled her toward the back of the stable. “Please, Colonel, husband, where are you taking me?”

  “You are right about one thing, wife. I should leave the area before I am hanged and I do not intend to make the journey alone.”

  “Denny! Help me.”

  Colonel Forester turned back from the door at the rear of the stables. “I said all along it was a crime of passion, Denny. Go back to the Lodge with Sir William. Get on with your life. And the next time you are tempted by a married woman, walk away.”

  Mouth hanging open, feet anchored to the floor, Denny watched in stunned silence, as Colonel Forester lugged his wife through the field to a waiting carriage. A minute later, they disappeared down the dirt lane.

  Who Murdered Mr. Wickham?

  The End

  ###

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for reading my book. The words used were researched in Samuel Johnson's “Book of Words,” Vol. I and Vol. II., 1753 edition. All phrasing was intended to resemble the style used in “Pride and Prejudice.”

  Many thanks to my editor. Any mistakes are mine.

  If you liked the story, please leave a review. If you would like to read more books I’ve written, please check out the titles listed below.

  I started this journey in my teens by reading every romance novel I could get my hands on, so romance readers are very precious to me.

  All the best,

  Carol

  Books by Carol Hutchens

  THE SUBSTITUTE BRIDE [Redbud Romance #1]

  A famous heiress and her actor fiancé want to avoid the media frenzy surrounding their coming wedding so they arrange for substitutes to take their place. When THE SUBSTITUTE BRIDE falls for her groom, the story starts.

  A BRIDE FOR MR. RIGHT [Redbud Romance #2]

  Instead of a job using her shiny new degree, the heroine arrives in Redbud shortly after her grandmother’s funeral. She inherits her grandmother’s house and business. The bookkeeping service doesn’t earn enough to pay the bills, but rent on the office is paid for a year so she has to try to turn things around. But sparks fly when our hero returns to town, buys the building and evicts his only tenant, our heroine.

  WHERE THE HEART IS [Redbud Romance #3]

  In six short months, Lilly buried both parents, was downsized from her job, and finds her fiancé in bed with her roommate. Determined to start a new life, Lilly moves to Redbud to live with her grandmother. Upon arrival a baby thrust in her arms and abandoned, and she learns a famous race car driver is planning a track that will ruin her grandmother’s neighborhood. From that day on, Trey Lancer causes Lilly one headache after the other...and finds his way into her heart.

  But Lilly is hiding a secret, one she isn't even sure is real. Dreams of a baby sister fill her nights since her parents died. Guilt prevents her from being near babies or accepting her growing love for Trey. Can love conqueror all in Where The Heart Is?

  SO THIS IS CHRISTMAS [Redbud Romance #5]

  Maggie Rose Talley left her adoptive parents home because of a lack of trust. After fending for herself for some time, distrust is still her first instinct, and now she has a toddler to support. Maggie is determined to keep her son safe so the arrival of a PI, with news she has a sister and grandmother searching for her, brings out a
ll her defenses. Especially those protecting her heart. Maggie can't risk an attraction to the wrong man or falling in love. Jake McLeod's client is offering the one thing she always longed for, a real family, but doubt intervenes and she holds back.

  Why have these family members waited all this time to search for her, and does she dare spend more time with the drool worthy PI? But circumstances are taken out of her hands. In one day she learns her employer is relocating, her day care is changing hours, and she's given notice her apartment building is closing. Jake's delivery of the invitation to move to live with her grandmother is the only choice she has to keep her child safe. But forming relationships with others requires trust, and Maggie doesn't do trust, especially when her reactions to Jake add to her doubts. But her son's security comes first, and the holidays bring hope. When Jake's feelings seem real, Maggie finds herself repeating her son's words, So This Is Christmas?

  WHEN A DOG PLAYS CUPID [Cupid series, Book #1]

  A story clipped from the headlines. When one of her patrons at the pet spa dies, naming Kit McFarlan co-guardian of a bad tempered Chihuahua that inherited her millions, fur flies. The woman’s nephew, and the co guardian, Drew Webber wants Kit to take charge of the dog. But Kit has secrets. She wants out of the pet business, but her grandmother borrowed money from Drew’s aunt. Kit must repay the loan to honor her grandmother’s memory, but she can not tolerate the grouchy three pound mutt. Can a nasty tempered ‘rat-dog’ play cupid for two people needing love?

  HERO’S BALL...Cupid Series Book #2

  Anita Bland loves her work. But after her best friend gets married, she decides it is time to get serious and sets new goals for her life. She takes a second job modeling for a plus-size catalogue to earn money to buy a hair salon. Anita starts to worry she will lose customers and become a joke in her hometown when learn she is modeling and decides to keep her second job a secret. Then the unexpected happens, just like a romantic fairy tale, her favorite customer seems to notice her. When Charlie Wakefield asks for her help organizing a fundraiser, Anita jumps at the chance to spend more time with him.

  Returning from his tour of duty, Charlie Wakefield refuses to join the family business. He believes protecting others is what makes life worth living, not adding to a bank account. Then he teams up with Anita and her sense of humor makes him worry his life has turned into a comedy act. Worse, Anita is dog sitting a tiny Chihuahua named Samson.

  Anita calls Charlie a hero after he saves a family from a fire. Charlie realizes he wants to be a hero, even to a rat-dog, but first he must give his heart to the woman who taught him laughter and love.

  DR’S SURPRISE TRIPLETS, WIFE NEEDED

  A Cinderella romance. But instead of three wicked stepsisters, Cydney Eller has pre-mature triplets left motherless after her sister’s accident. The prince is Dr. Daniel Prince who delivers the triplets and demands custody when he learns his brother might be the father. It isn’t a glass slipper, but preemie sized diapers and health emergencies that bring these two strangers together to protect three innocent babies. Can love follow?

  THE BEST MAN

  A second chance at love story. After her husband left her for dead when a tsunami hit their vacation island, Kate Sommers returns to reclaim her life. Her return from the dead is on the same day her husband is standing in front of the church altar with another woman.

  Luke Sterling was the best man at her wedding and now he’s standing up for her husband again. Luke claimed her interest when they first met, but with her late father’s law firm at risk, can she trust Luke to be on her side?

  Luke fell in love with Kate at first sight, but trust issues kept them apart. But now they need to work together to defeat their law partner, the man Kate married, to save the law firm. Can Luke convince Kate his love is real? Does Kate dare trust in love a second time around?

  HOW CAN THE HEART FORGET

  Can Dr. Hart and Dr. Stone have a second chance at love?

  Dr. Claire Hart gave her heart once and lost. Determined to focus on her career and ignore personal relationships, Claire returns to her training hospital and puts all her effort into earning a promotion. Unfortunately, advancement requires she have experience from speaking at medical conferences, and her mentor arranges for her up to speak at a conference.

  There's just one problem. The conference is on a cruise ship. Claire's fear of water is a secret, and her mentor insists she take the opportunity to speak on women's health. Determined to defeat her fear and advance her career, Claire boards the cruise ship and runs into her lost love. She wants to forget the past and how she failed the man she loved, but Dr. Nick Stone makes certain that doesn't happen from the instant they meet.

  Nick knows her hopes, dreams and fears. But can she hide the fact that she still loves the skilled heart specialist? Does Nick still have feelings for her? How Can The Heart Forget?

  FLAMES OF DECEIT

  Mia Clark’s life changes when a handsome firefighter saves her from a burning courthouse. Volunteer firefighter, Jake Stone, is a judge intent on catching the person who set fire to his courthouse and Mia is his suspect. To make matters worse, Mia is a reporter. She slipped past security to search for evidence she believes is in the building and refuses to give Jake details.

  Jake dislikes reporters almost as much as he dislikes people who break the law and he can tell Mia isn’t telling the truth. When someone slashes the tires on his truck and the car he borrows, he switches to protective mode. Who is Mia Clark? Why is someone trying to kill her? And why does she stir emotions he thought frozen inside him?

  The mystery increases when they discover a body in the courthouse ashes, and another woman they interview is murdered. Can Mia and Jake uncover the truth before the murderer adds them to the body count? Can emotions shared during their fight to survive be real love?

  CUPID DOG BOX SET

  Love dogs?

  You will love Samson's matching in When A Dog Plays Cupid. One yummy travel journalist, a guilt ridden pet spa owner plus one three pound mutt and you have a problem. Add in a loudmouth best friend and sparks fly.

  Hero's Ball is the second book in Cupid series and even more fun. A handsome firefighter and a hair dresser sounds tame, but not when Samson is around.

  For you bonus...and reading pleasure...a little mystery with your sweet romance.

  Flames of Deceit.

  MEDICAL ROMANCE BOX SET

  Love doctors? ER and medical dramas are your favorite shows?

  The Medical Romance Box Set is for you.

  Doctors were imprinted on my brain in high school. My dad developed a heart condition that scared us out of our wits. Can you imagine the tension when all the top shows on TV were medical dramas? Even worse, half the shows revolved around some heart transplant emergency. I watched with mixture of sick fear and fascination.

  So here are the results.

  Dr.'s Surprise Triplets Wife Needed...about pre-mature triplets who survive the car accident that kills their parents.

  How Can The Heart Forget...a reunion love story that is threatened when the medical cruise ship has trouble at sea.

  Dr. Claire Hart needs to advance her career by speaking at a medical conference, but the conference is on a cruise ship, and Claire needs to work to keep her mind off the doctor who broke her heart. But she is determined to forget about love and romance, and concentrate on women’s medical issues, until she runs into Nick Stone on the ship.

  Dr. Nick Stone agrees to speak at the women’s medical conference, because he wants answers, and only Claire can tell him why she left him and their romance in Boston.

  Jealousy and insecure feelings after a miscarriage tore Claire away from Nick, once, but seeing him on the cruise brings back memories of the romance they shared. Can the two medical professionals rediscover their love after Nick learns Claire was pregnant and miscarried his child?

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