Carrie Bebris - Suspense & Sensibility

"No. I–I want you to know." he said. "I want to assure you whatever indignities you or anybody else suffered, they were not my doing."

"We understand you are not to blame."

"Oh — I accept the blame as my own. It was I who brought the glass here, I who brought the portrait. Had I not wanted to show off with the former and insult my mother with the latter, none of this would have happened."

"Until some other unsuspecting person stumbled upon the objects in the future." Professor Randolph said "Cursed artifacts seldom allow themselves to remain in obscurity forever. Had you not found the glass, your son, or his son, might have become the mirror's next victim. Let it bring you some measure of peace to know that you have spared your progeny the misery you endured."

"All the same. I wish I had invited you to examine my attic discoveries, as I had promised," he said. "I almost did solicit your assessment of the glass, but I feared you would think me mad. Heavens, I thought I was mad — hearing a voice coming from the glass, seeing a face that was mine and not mine. Sir Francis haunted me awake in the mirror and asleep in my dreams. Then people started seeing me in places I had not been, and I wondered if he'd found a way to roam about while I slept. Even when I was in Devonshire, if I so much as dozed, his spirit wandered London free."

"And eventually he grew dissatisfied with that'" Elizabeth asked gently.

"After more than thirty years of imprisonment, he was like a child on holiday. He sought pleasure, but his lack of substance limited his enjoyments. He could not hold cards, consume food or drink, or satisfy his.. more carnal interests." A hint of red crept into his cheek, and his teacup became a sudden subject of rapt attention.

The arrival of Harry's supper broke the awkwardness, different servants, probably having won at straws the privilege of ogling Mr Dashwood up close, delivered the repast. When they had served the food and retreated, Harry continued.

"After the — after Sir Francis and I exchanged places, he gave free rein to his hedonistic impulses. You cannot imagine my torment! To have not only lost my freedom, but to watch helplessly as my relationships, reputation, fortune, and physical person suffered irreparable damage!"

"You know the extent of his transgressions?" Darcy asked.

"I probably do not." he said. "But I know a good many of them. He would gloat to me about his exploits — found my horror and dismay exceedingly amusing And what went on in my own bedchamber, where he relished the presence of a captive audience, defies description. I would turn away, cover my ears, and retreat to the mirror's farthest recesses."

"Could none of his" — Darcy cleared his throat—"visitors see you in the glass?" Darcy asked.

"Until Mrs. Darcy saw me yesierday, none but Sir Francis ever detected me. Believe me, I tried to draw attention to myself! Every servant, every woman who entered inspired shouts and frantic waving, but for naught. Once I thought my aunt Lucy had noticed me. She gazed into the mirror a terribly long time. but it turned out she was only admiring herself. The incident unnerved Sir Francis enough, however, that he shipped the mirror back to Norland the next day."

Elizabeth, who had been refilling Harry's teacup, paused to regard him closely. "Mrs. Robert Ferrars was in your — Sir Francis's — bedchamber?"

"Mrs. Roben Ferrars was Sir Francis's mistress."

"Oh, my!" Elizabeth required a moment to absorb that intelligence. "I suppose that explains how she was always in possesion of the latest news about you — I mean, him. Sir Francis must have taken her into his confidence, for surely Mrs. Ferrars would not have entered into an affair with her own nephew"

"Unfortunately, she was quite of the belief that it was I who seduced her. I shall never be able to hear my name on her lips without the sound giving rise to memories I would much rather forget."

"As someone who knows you well, she did not find Sir Francis's actions so contrary to your nature as to make her question them?" Darcy asked.

"My aunt is not possessed of the strongest perception," Harry said. "Indeed, she was flattered by his advances "

"It is little wonder Miss Ferrars's engagement so enraged her."

"My cousin Regina is engaged?'' Harry asked. "To whom?

Elizabeth hesitated. "To you, I fear."

Mr. Dashwood looked a little ill. "I knew I had lost Miss Bennett when I saw the three of you arrive at the townhouse as the mirror was being prepared for transport to Norland. I caught a glimpse of Kitty — what a blessed gift that was! But I feared for her. When I heard you speak of the broken engagement as you left, I rejoiced that she had escaped Sir Francis's taint."

He poked at his food, apparently having lost his appetite. "To now find myself engaged to my cousin — well, it is most surprising news. I am not certain what attraction she held for Sir Francis."

Elizabeth exchanged glances with Darcy. If Harry had been at Norland since Kitty ended the engagement, he had been absent when Sir Francis gambled away his estate and Fanny settled his remaining inheritance on her niece.

"Mr. Dashwood, I'm afraid we must advise you of additional unpleasant occurrences," Darcy said.

Harry bore with dignity the news that Sir Francis had left him penniless. He became very quiet, and the others allowed him the privacy of his own thoughts. At last he said, "I am glad he left this world, for otherwise I might have killed him myself."

"Someone did," Elizabeth said. "The servants found him trapped in the larder this morning."

"Indeed? I had wondered at his odd position when you brought him upstairs. Will there be an investigation?"

"Unfortunately, there is nothing to investigate,"' said Da;

"With you here, there is no corpse, and hence, no murder. But I would guard my back, however, were I you. for Sir Francis managed to offend a great many people in your name."

"After what you all endured to restore my life, I do not intend to lose it easily. Mere words can never express the measure of my gratitude. When I consider what you almost sacrificed—."

"Almost," Elizabeth emphasized. "All turned out well in the end." She looked to Professor Randolph. "Though, Professor. I do not understand what happened in the final moments. A soul for a soul — was that not the mirror's price? Obviously, Mr. Dashwood's spirit was released. In exchange. I saw the glass try to steal Darcy s, and I felt it try to snatch my own. What caused it to destroy itself instead?"

The archaeologist pondered her question a moment. "Maybe the mirror tried to take too much at once "

She shook her head. "No — Darcy was out of its range in the end. I was alone before it"

Professor Randolph regarded her, his expression inscrutable. Finally. he said, "I have no other explanation to offer at present. Perhaps in time you'll find the answer within yourself."

They were interrupted by a voice rising from below, where someone sought admittance. Mr Dashwood rose and opened the drawing room door to better hear the visitor. Her voice was familiar to them all.

"What dreadful news aboul my nephew! I came as soon as I heard…

Mr. Dashwood winced "I do not think I can cope with my aunt Lucy just yet."

After what she had learned today, Elizabeth did not know whether she would ever again be able to greet Mrs. Robert Ferrars with a placid countenance. She was curious, however, as to the nature of the news to which Lucy alluded. To Elizabeth's knowledge, word of Mr. Dashwood's supposed demise had not traveled outside the house.

"Will you allow me?" she asked.

"By all means."

Elizabeth left to receive the visitor. As she headed down the stairs, Lucy's voice continued to resound in the hall.