“Sir William Osbourne’s wife also seemed particularly warm toward Miss Bennet,” Matlock continued. “Given how much influence Lady Osbourne wields in certain circles, that was an excellent turn of events. And we need not speak of the impact on the younger generation. I heard three separate debutantes whispering about how terrifying you have always appeared to them—until now.”
Darcy frowned. “You seem remarkably pleased that my private affairs have been reduced to gossip fodder.”
Matlock waved a hand dismissively. “Gossip wins elections, Fitzwilliam. It is not just about policy—it is about image. And your image has changed in the span of a fortnight. You are no longer the distant, brooding heir to Pemberley who avoids social engagements.You are a man of independent thought, a man willing to speak to everyone and forge his own path. And Miss Bennet—” he smiled wolfishly, “—has been invaluable in making that possible. And of course,” Matlock continued, “she will be well compensated when all of this is over.”
Darcy’s breath stilled for a fraction of a second before he forced himself to exhale. “Compensated?”
Matlock leaned back in his chair, sipping his brandy. “Naturally. I said that at the first, if you recall. A handsome settlement. I know of a promising young barrister—Ambrose Whitby, you may have heard of him—who has ambitions to enter politics one day. A clever man, from good stock. She would make him an excellent wife.”
A slow, consuming heat unfurled in Darcy’s chest and spread across his face until his very ears burned. He stared at his uncle, not trusting himself to speak immediately.
Richard sat forward, brow raised. “You are matchmaking now, Father?”
“Hardly. But we have a duty to see the girl settled. She has been of service to us, whether she fully comprehends it or not. She is young, attractive enough, and—most importantly—has gained a great deal of attention in the right circles. There will be speculation about her future, and it is in her best interest that we guide that speculation toward something advantageous.”
Darcy’s fingers clenched. He forced his voice to remain even. “And ifIhad an interest in continuing my association with her?”
Matlock’s brows lifted in faint amusement. “And what possible reason would you have for doing a foolish thing like that?”
Darcy inhaled sharply. “If she has proven valuable, if she has helped to gain the trust of men who otherwise would not support me—why discard that connection so quickly?”
Matlock scoffed. “She may be useful now, but she will be no credit to you in the long run. Darcy, I thought you understood the game we are playing. The election is only the beginning. Your political career will be shaped by whom you surround yourself with. You need allies in the House, men with long-standing influence. And when the time comes, you will need a wife with the right connections.”
Darcy’s jaw locked. His uncle’s words scraped against something raw inside him. He swallowed back his immediate response, fighting the wave of frustration rising in his chest. “Thenwhy,“ he said finally, voice taut with restraint, “did you push her toward me in the first place?”
Matlock gave a short, mirthless chuckle. “Come, this is a pretty thing. Forgot already? Because you needed softening, my boy! You needed to appear relatable. And Miss Bennet—well, she is the very image of a fresh-faced, clever, unpretentious young woman. The kind of woman who makes you seem less… cold.”
Richard let out a bark of laughter. “Less like an insufferable prig, you mean.”
Darcy shot him a glare, but Matlock simply continued, “She has served her purpose. And besides, she is useful to me as well.”
That made Darcy pause. He narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean?”
Matlock exhaled, swirling his brandy again. “The night you arrived at my house unexpectedly, I had been waiting for a particular event to occur. You interrupted it. Or, rather, you both did, in your own ways.”
Darcy shot a glance at his cousin, who leaned forward now as well, folding his hands with a quizzical look on his face. “Waiting for what?” Darcy demanded.
The earl lit a cigar, then proceeded to ignore it as it smoldered in his fingers. “I was expecting one of Gardiner’s connections to make contact with the French. I did not know who it was, and I still do not. Could be a courier, a footman, someone who can slip in and out of places unnoticed.”
Darcy’s spine stiffened. “Then, why did you single out Miss Bennet?”
Matlock sighed. “She was convenient. She caused a spectacle. She was a guest of Gardiner, and moreover, she is a lady—she has her reputation and her sisters to consider, so that made her cooperative. It made sense to use her to see if anything would slip. But I never actually believed she was involved. A lady? No, no. That would be far too conspicuous.”
Darcy glanced at Richard again. Didheknow of this, too? But Richard’s face was blank, and he shook his head faintly at Darcy’s glare. “You watched her,” he accused his uncle.
Matlock raised his cigar to his lips with an unapologetic snort. “Of course, I did. And in doing so, I found something much more interesting—thereissmuggling happening through Gardiner’s shipping company.”
Darcy felt his pulse thrum at his temple. “Smuggling what?”
Matlock spread his hands. “Prisoners, most likely. Or messages. Something valuable enough that someone has gone through a great deal of trouble to ensure it remains hidden.”
Darcy inhaled sharply. “Gardiner has only owned his shipping company for a short while. A year… perhaps a little more. He told me that in one of our first conversations ofhis recent expansions. You are implying he is complicit? A man who hardly knows the bow of a ship from the stern?”
Matlock shrugged. “Or he is a victim. Either way, this cannot be ignored. And Miss Bennet’s continued presence in our sphere ensures I can keep an eye on both him and her.”
Darcy shot to his feet, his chair scraping sharply against the floor. His pulse pounded in his ears, drowning out the quiet crackle of the fire in the hearth. His uncle’s voice, sensible and worth heeding only moments ago, now seemed distant, irrelevant.
Not because he was surprised—he had always known Matlock played this game. He had seen the deft maneuvering, the quiet conversations in drawing rooms and clubs, the way favors were traded and alliances built. His uncle was a loyal subject of the Crown, a man who believed his work necessary, even honorable.
