“I meant Miss Darcy,” Mrs. Reynolds said firmly. “I—”
“And the portrait was not destroyed?”
“I gave it into Miss Darcy’s possession.”
His sister must look at it every evening.
She likely longingly gazed at it every time she went to her rooms. And Elizabeth, perhaps she imagined that it was Wickham’s lips on hers when they joined. Maybe Georgiana kissed that portrait late at night. At least it had not been given over to Elizabeth’s possession.
“And, to be clear, these are all of the considerations that convinced you todisobey my most explicit orders.”
“I know that I should not—”
“Mrs. Darcy wantedmy sisterto keepthat man’sportrait?”
“I am apologize, I—”
Hand slammed on the desk.
The stinging pain on the palm was good.
It helped to bring Darcy back to reason. “I am deeply disappointed in you.”
Tension. Anger.
“I understand.”
“It would be within my rights to dismiss you over such a direct act of disobedience. The importance of the matter to me was clear.”
“Yes.”
“There was no room for ambiguity in my instructions.”
“No, sir.”
“I had not told you that Mrs. Darcy might overrule me onsuch a matter.”
“No.”
“See that nothing of this sort happens again. I want to be further clear, Mr. Wickham was unworthy of his father’s memory, of his godfather’s kindness, of his friends, and of everyone else in the most terrible ways possible. I would strongly prefer it if his name were never mentioned in my presence again, and that any memento of him in the house is destroyed.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Have Miss Darcy and Mrs. Darcy brought to me, and as soon as they are in my study, you will conduct a thorough search of Miss Darcy's rooms, and you will find that portrait, and you will burn it. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
Darcy stared at her.
She bowed and fled the room.
The air was thin. Darcy’s desk was the same as it ever was. His relations were back in Matlock, not aware thatElizabeth had begged a favor for Mr. Wickham.
In London, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Bingley went about their normal lives. Somewhere in the estate Mrs. Reynolds was running about, asking the servants where Georgiana and Elizabeth were. Perhaps they were coming to him already.
The ground outside was hard and frozen.
Darcy vibrated with an emotion he did not know he could feel.
