"Miss Elizabeth Bennet," she said, bowing her head slightly. "Recently of Longbourn, Hertfordshire. There has been a devastating illness plaguing Meryton, a neighboring village, of late. I was hoping to investigate further, only to find myself here."

That was all true, so far as it went, and it was perhaps more polite than telling him of the unspeakable atrocities at first blush.

The hair on the back of her neck seemed to be standing up. There was something almost unnerving, in his glance.