“Nick, sir. Cook’s son. I was sent with a message for you, sir.”
This boded ill. Wilson could not meet him in person? “Give me the message, please,” he answered tightly.
The boy extended a white piece of paper to him. “I’m to await a reply, sir.”
“Yes, of course.” Darcy scanned Wilson’s note quickly.
Sir,
Lady Catherine has taken me into her trust in one matter, at least. She has asked for your schedule while here in town, to see if my information matched that of the butler. I told her that I was privy only to a small amount of information, but I was able to assure her that I knew more of your personal habits than the butler and that my information was accurate. I believe she has some confidence in me now and will be willing to be led by my advice.
She has just returned from speaking with the Earl of Matlock, and I was told to alert her at once when you returned to the house. It is a pity, sir, that you have not returned to the house, for I shall be unable to oblige her in this matter until informed otherwise.
I have not yet been able to determine the loyalty of all the household staff. The butler, housekeeper, and at least three of the upstairs maids arecolluding with Lady Catherine, but I have yet to find a dissenting opinion on the matter of last evening’s events. I await your orders, sir, but I dare not depart from the house while under scrutiny unless you request otherwise. Please advise me of your wishes.
Wilson
Darcy crumpled the note. Reply indeed! It was nonsensical that he should hide from his own employees. Better that he should enter at once through the front door to confront this evil, dismissing all who would speak untruths against him and demand a capitulation from his aunt!
“Take a reply back to Mr Wilson,” he commanded the boy. “Tell him that I desire my own clothing and that I will arrive presently.”
To Darcy’s disappointment, when the boy returned he brought only one other boy to help carry his clothing. Wilson was conspicuously absent, and Darcy would not disrobe before two lads. He moved to dismiss them, but the first boy, after holding out his hat to him, then offered a copy of the morning paper.
Darcy took it. “What is this?”
“Mr Wilson said I should bring it, sir. Good day, sir.”
Darcy glanced it over in puzzlement. Why would Wilson think the paper so important that it could not wait? No explanation was forthcoming, as the boys had already vanished. He turned it over, glancing at the mundane entries. Then, near the bottom and printed in bold letters, one particular entry circled in thick black ink start out to him.
Good heavens, he breathed.It is worse than I feared!
Chapter eight
Darcy arrived at his uncle’s house at nearly the same moment as Richard, who was calling upon his mother. They were shown into the drawing room within minutes of one another and were left to await the earl and countess.
“Well?” Richard snickered, “I see you have found new clothing. What was the matter with the footman’s costume? Too tight across the shoulders?”
Darcy glared at the floor, too infuriated to speak a word.
“I say, did you read the paper this morning?” Richard goaded. “Word has it that Lord Wharton plans to take a new wife. But I expect you have not seen the paper yet today.”
Darcy brooded more darkly, if that were indeed possible.
“A proper heiress, of course. No title of her own, but the daughter of a peeress, just the same. Money and connections do a fine job of purchasing beauty, but for all that, I would declare the lady merely tolerable. Still, I should offer my own arm as well, if the lady taking it could place such wealth into my hand. Ah, well, no use fantasising, is there? There was another entry in the same section which I found rather more intriguing than Wharton’s announcement. I wonder if there is any truth to it? But I suppose it would be of no interest to you.”
“I have seen it, Richard!” Darcy erupted.
“Temper, temper, Darcy. I thought you would be honoured to see your name in the paper beside someone as distinguished as Lord Wharton. Tell me, is Anne pleased?”
Darcy lurched from his chair and began pacing the room. “What am I to do, Richard? I have no wish to ruin her, but our aunt has made it impossible to do otherwise!”
Richard offered a laconic shrug, a lazy smile, and suggested, “Perhaps you could disappear for a while, just after the wedding. Think what freedom! No estate worries to trouble you, no burdensome wives or in-laws hanging round your neck. Yes, it is just the thing. I might have chosen India, but a crusty former bachelor like yourself might find the wilds of Scotland more to his liking. Shall you be boasting a beard and kilt when next we meet?”
“Richard, do not be preposterous.”
His cousin laughed jovially. “I was only trying to help. If you do find it so distasteful to marry a wealthy heiress, I can think of a chap or two who might step into your place.”
“Impossible. Nothing of good can come of this.”
