Darcy cast his glance to the empty glass on his writing desk. “Was I meant to admire it from afar?”
“Sir, I have good reason to believe it has been tampered with.”
“Tampered with? Who would do such a thing in my own house?”
“Lady Catherine, sir!”
“Wilson,” Darcy tossed his book aside and peered cautiously at his loyal manservant—a man he had been accustomed to think of as rational. “Do you mean to suggest that my aunt would break into my cellars, pull the stoppers, and somehow adulterate the drink?”
“Sir, it was one of the footmen, on Lady Catherine’s orders. I overheard a few of the maids talking, and it sounded as if Lady Catherine had intended for you to take your drink and fall so soundly asleep that she could bring Miss de Bourgh into your bed later so that they might force a marriage.”
“What? Even my aunt could not suggest something so ludicrous. Have you been drinking yourself, Wilson?”
“Well… sir, the same footman invited me back behind the kitchens, as he had a little left of his evening drink and wished for a companion. I thought nothing of it, as the same chap has occasionally offered me a drink on previous visits to Town. He was off his duty, sir, and I thought there would be no harm.”
“Wilson,” Darcy heaved patiently, “please come to the point. I am rather fatigued, but I believe I heard you make unfounded accusations against my relative. As I know that could not be the case, I would prefer that you cleared up the matter.”
“Sir, it was after the drink with the footman when I overheard Lady Catherine’s maid making the arrangements. Clearly, I was not meant to hear that, sir, but several others were enlisted to help her. It was no secret.”
“Do you mean my own staff would conspire against me? Wilson, that is quite impossible. Every member of this household has been with the family for at least a generation.”
“Sir,” Wilson suggested uncomfortably, “they were with Mr George Darcy, who was sympathetic to Lady Catherine’s cause, and some of them were even recommended for their positions by Lady Catherine herself. I have it on good authority that a number of them are quite on her side of matters. I also fear that those individuals she found beneficial to her purposes may have thought it no harm to take some additional pay from Lady Catherine. I am sorry, sir, but I am quite uncertain who may be trusted. I have a strong suspicion about that drink you took, sir, as it was given into my hand by the same footman who poured my own drink. Are you feeling well, sir?”
“As a matter of fact,” Darcy rubbed his jaw, “I am feeling rather unnaturally drowsy.”
“Then it is as I feared, sir! I believe we have both been drugged. I expect within an hour; we shall be beyond consciousness.”
“Wilson, that is a rather malicious accusation. Can you be certain of any of this?”
“Sir, I have seen evidence with my own eyes. Lady Catherine always brings several of her own staff, and you brought only myself and a pair of stable lads from Pemberley. I fear there is more to this than mere suspicion, sir. We must think how to act for your protection.”
“Protection from my own household! You must have imbibed too much, Wilson.”
“Sir,” the strain of fear began to bead as sweat upon the valet’s brow, “I heard it myself. A maid was sent to tell Miss de Bourgh that all was in readiness and waited only upon you to retire!”
Darcy stared in astonishment. “Is there no reason or sense left among my staff? How many of the household have been disloyal?”
“I have no way of knowing that, sir, and I would not unjustly accuse the innocent. I only know that many of the downstairs staff have likely thrown in their lot with Lady Catherine, seeing as that’s the way the wind is blowing—begging your pardon, sir, but that is what is said below stairs. She makes promises, sir, and I have heard of it myself.”
“Such as? What could she possibly say that could make my own household risk being turned out with no character? And why would any wish to betray me for my aunt’s good favour? Have I not always been a generous master?”
“Yes sir, it is only that they wish to be found amenable in the eyes of the future mistress as well. It is accounted as inevitable that you shall marry Miss de Bourgh, who will then spend more of her time here than yourself. Lady Catherine has done a substantial bit to enforce that opinion. She always leaves generous gratuities where they are not required, and she speaks with great sentiment of your father. Many of the older staff and those of the younger set who prefer an extra drink now and then are much disposed in her favour. I have no reason to believe it is like that at Pemberley, sir, but you are here less often. Perhaps your character when in Town is….”
“Is what?”demanded Darcy.
“Well, sir, though I must beg your pardon…”
“Speak frankly, Wilson. You are quite safe,” assured Darcy wearily.
Wilson drew a breath and nodded. “It is only that you are thought to be less approachable here in Town than you are at Pemberley. I quite understand, sir, for when you are here you have business to be about and social functions which weigh more upon your time. Few are privileged with a more personal acquaintance with you, such as am I. Unfortunately, sir, the effect has been that few know you well enough to disbelieve Lady Catherine’s assertions. I believe it is commonly thought that Miss de Bourgh and Lady Catherine would do the house good, and that matters only want a little assistance to move forward.”
“My aunt has corrupted my household!” Darcy breathed, his mind reeling and numb. “I would not have thought it possible! What is to be done? I will not permit my aunt to force my hand into marriage.”
“Sir, I could lock your door, but the housekeeper and the butler both have the key. I do not know if they are to be trusted, but the butler is the one who unlocked the brandy cabinet.”
“What drug was used? How incapacitated shall we be?”
“I do not know, sir, only that I heard talk of one hour, and that was considering a man of your height.”
