“She is not ‘my’ lady, and she would hardly be so vulgar as to assault a man.”
“Ah, you are defending her already. This is promising, Darcy! Tell me, did her uncle defer to her father, or are you already secure of his blessing? I can see it, your imagination has already leapt from admiration to love, and from love to—”
“Richard, desist!” Darcy snapped, glancing over his shoulder at the lady. “You know what you suggest is impossible, but Miss Bennet is a respectable woman, and I will not hear you jesting about her.”
“Fair enough, Darcy,” Richard held up a hand. “But it will be your loss. So, was this Mr Gardiner able to provide you with what you needed?”
“I have not yet been able to speak with him. Apparently, his business has demanded his attention in various parts of town today.”
“Oh.” Richard frowned. “That is… unfortunate.”
“A temporary setback,” Darcy agreed. “But not an insurmountable difficulty. Miss Bennet assures me that he is an amiable fellow and will not object to speaking on my behalf once we do find him.”
“I hope you are correct, Darcy. Your valet had some rather choice words regarding our aunt’s actions today.”
“Such as?”
“Apparently she has been receiving numerous callers and has sent a flurry of notes among her acquaintances.”
“I would have expected no less. Does he know any names?”
“No, but a dressmaker has been sent for, a solicitor has called twice, and Aunt is making inquiries about a lady’s companion—for Georgiana, I presume. That was all before mid-morning tea. Another caller had just arrived when I was being shown to the door, but I could not learn who it was.”
“And what of the other servants of the house? What has he learned?”
“You will not find anyone to vouch for you. Aside from your head groom, who was apparently not worth the trouble, our aunt has purchased the loyalties of everyone else. Even should you call them to task and threaten their employment right now, I would not trust any.”
“Nor would I,” Darcy scowled at the ground. “Not after one betrayal. I will have to dismiss everyone, it seems. I still intend to make my position clear and to demand a truthful witness, but since I will not offer a second chance at employment, I cannot depend upon anything that anyone will say. Some might even concoct a worse tale out of revenge for the loss of their position! How could Lady Catherine have so thoroughly swept the house’s sentiments?”
“There are probably a few kitchen maids and dust boys who are innocent, but they could not be expected to know anything. They will be of no help to you.”
“Indeed. Richard, this is preposterous. I intend to go to the house at once to confront her. She cannot bring her will to bear by means of deceit, and I will not stand for it. It is my house, my staff, and my future she has taken into her hands!”
“Very well, then Darcy, what do you intend to say to her? Remember my father’s order, no public fracas will be tolerated. You must find a way to do this and still keep the peace, or the entirefamily becomes the talk of theton. For myself, I would not care, but I would think you—”
“Yes, yes,” sighed Darcy. “Perhaps I will speak with Anne and discover what may be done. Perhapsshemight be worked upon.”
“It would be so much simpler to shun a presumptuous young lady if she were not a relation,” Richard mused. “You have certainly proved that often enough with Miss Bingley, among others. But as to Anne, I have anticipated you somewhat.”
“How do you mean?”
“Oh! Just a bit of judicious slander, a few well-placed insults to your character—you know, the sorts of things that a lady would not wish to hear about her future husband. You can thank me later.”
Darcy groaned. “Surely there was a better way….”
“Do not doubt my strategic genius, Darcy. What could be better than to cause the lady to rethink her own wishes? Perhaps she will refuse to marry you!”
“Or perhaps she will be led to search more deeply into my personal affairs and discover a way to compromise me further!”
Richard’s face crumpled in thought. “You do not think—”
“It is not impossible, but I think unlikely. I have been very circumspect as you can imagine, and the solicitor I employed for that affair was one our aunt does not know of. I made certain that none connected with us have done business with him.”
Richard sighed in relief, then his brow wrinkled again. “Wise precautions, but you did not see the corruption in your own household until it was too late. Could you not be mistaken there, too?”
“They are vastly different things, but I do not intend to be blinded by the assumption of invulnerability a second time. I must bring this matter to a conclusion before any further damage can be done, and I remain convinced that a confrontation with Lady Catherine is inevitable. Since I must wait a little longer before obtaining the word of Mr Gardiner, I think the wisest course at present would beto escort Miss Bennet home, and then return to my own house to do what must be done.”
“I think perhaps you are a little premature. You are correct that matters will only become worse without intercession, but wait and see what more your valet learns. The man is a crafty one, and he has Aunt Catherine’s ear. She believes she can succeed, and I have yet to discover why. It is not as if you are a man easily swayed by belligerence, but she has some reason to think you will eventually capitulate. Additionally, I have never seen her so incensed as she is now that you have not returned. If you want my opinion on the matter, I recommend that you do not give her what she wants just now, which is you.”
