Elizabeth’s eyes widened. “You most certainly will not.”
Darcy arched a brow. “Then do as Mrs. Tate says.”
Elizabeth pressed her lips together, eyeing him with reluctant amusement. “You, sir, are an impossible man.”
He inclined his head. “So I have been told.”
She sighed again, but waved a hand toward the door. “Do as you like, then. If it will set your mind at ease, I shall remain here and allow myself to be fussed over.”
“It would set my mind at ease if you did not make a sport of nearly getting yourself killed,” he replied dryly.
She smiled, soft but teasing. “I shall endeavor to improve my habits. Now, go, before I undertake to enjoy a bath with you still in the room.”
Darcy blinked, flushed, then stepped back, nodding once to Mrs. Tate before striding out of the room.
Richard and Gardiner werealready in the study when Darcy finally descended. His coat was still damp from the night’s search, but he had no thought to change it. His hands curled into fists as he stalked toward the fireplace, his frustration barely contained.
“I sent a carriage for Mrs. Gardiner,” he said. “I will not return Miss Bennet to Gracechurch Street until we are certain there is no lingering threat there, and it would be well for Mrs. Gardiner to stay here, also.”
Gardiner nodded grimly. “I understand. Though I would rather have her under my own roof, I trust your judgment. If there is any danger still lurking in my household…” He trailed off, rubbing a hand over his face. “I do not know whom I can trust.”
“That is precisely why she is staying here,” Darcy said. “I will not risk it.”
Richard leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “I sent a message to Father to come urgently. I imagine he will arrive with all the subtlety of a cannon blast.”
Darcy exhaled sharply. “Let him. I am ready to wash my hands of this whole affair, now that Miss Bennet is safe. But someone must take action, so he may as well loose his hounds.”
Gardiner’s expression darkened. “And what action will that be? Arresting half my staff? Shutting down my livelihood?”
“He will do what suits him best,” Richard said. “For now, that happens to align with our interests. But if we do not get ahead of this, we may find ourselves at cross purposes soon enough.”
Darcy shook his head. “Miss Bennet’s name cannot be dragged into this any further. If my uncle sees her as a loose end rather than a victim, I… Well, he will find himself at odds withme.”
Gardiner’s expression darkened. “I am grateful for your protection of my niece, Mr. Darcy, but what of the rest of my household? My business? If he decides I am complicit—”
“He will act accordingly,” Richard finished grimly. “Which is why I want him here, now. He needs to hear from you, Gardiner, what you know and do not know. And he needs to know what Miss Elizabeth saw.”
Darcy inhaled slowly. Indeed, they had pulled Elizabeth from immediate danger, but they had not stopped the men who had taken her. They had not uncovered the full measure of their crimes, or definitively linked them to the Monsieur Lapointe, which had been the earl’s aim from the beginning. And somewhere, in the tangled mess of politics, smuggling, and betrayal, was the truth that could either exonerate Elizabeth—or ruin her.
Darcy rose abruptly, crossing to the window, his hands curled into fists. He had never been a man for idle threats, but this was not a matter of politics or honor.
Someone had taken his Elizabeth.
And he was going to make sure they regretted it.
Elizabeth stood stiffly astwo maids fussed over her, attempting to fasten the back of a pale blue muslin gown that was… not cooperating. She winced as one of them gave an optimistic tug at the waist. The fabric protested with a sound of strain.
“I do not think…” Elizabeth began, shifting uncomfortably.
The housekeeper, a formidable but not unkind woman who had introduced herself as Mrs. Tate, stepped forward and gave the situation a single, assessing glance. Then she clucked her tongue. “Well, that will not do.”
Elizabeth let out a breath. “I am afraid Miss Darcy is rather more… slender than I.”
“Slender?” Mrs. Tate scoffed, waving a hand at the struggling maids. “She is thin as a fence post, that girl. No meat on her bones at all. And it is no wonder, the way she picks at her food like a sparrow and refuses a good, hearty meal. She would do well to have a bit more of a proper figure, if you ask me.”
Elizabeth gave a tired chuckle. “I do not think that is for either of us to decide.”
“Perhaps not, but I have been running this household since before Mr. Darcy was out of shortcoats, and I shall tell you this: I have never seen a guest under this roof so determined not to rest after such an ordeal.” Mrs. Tate fixed her with a sharp, knowing look. “You looked fit to faint during your bath—with that head wound, I shouldn’t wonder if you did! And it is past two in the morning, besides. You should be in bed, Miss Bennet.”
