Darcy was not required to answer, for at this moment, Dawson entered with Mrs White, the housekeeper, and Mrs Fuller, the head cook. He evaluated each coolly, but not a hint of embarrassment shone on either woman’s face until he began to speak.
“Mr Dawson, have you ever received gratuities or gifts from anyone besides myself?”
The butler appeared to be holding his breath. He spared a reluctant glance toward Lady Catherine, whose eyes narrowed threateningly, but then his gaze faltered, and his courage broke. “Yes, sir,” he confessed. “Christmas and Easter gifts, and a few other occasions. Many times over the years, in honour of Lady Anne Darcy, of course.”
At this, the accused began to sputter. “Is it not my right to be kind to those who served my beloved sister? She was always excessively fond of everyone here at the townhouse, far more so than anywhere else, and expressed to me on her deathbed her wish that they be rewarded by our family for all their kindnesses to her. Should such a burden fall on her son, newly master of the household at such a young age? Indeed, such a thing would be most unfitting, and so I determined to see it done with as little troubleto yourself as possible. You see, Darcy, the obligations undertaken on your behalf!”
“And Mrs White,” Darcy continued as if he had not heard, “how long have you been employed in this house?”
The woman paled. “Twenty-three years next April, sir.”
He smiled kindly. “Then you are nearing the age for receiving your pension. I believe we have spoken of this before, have we not? And had you any cause to be dissatisfied with what was offered?”
She looked down. “No, sir.”
“But am I correct in my assumption that you have accepted a second offering from another quarter?”
She visibly swallowed, casting another guilty glance toward Lady Catherine. “You are, sir.”
“Mrs Fuller, is there any need to ask these same questions of you?”
The cook had refused to raise her sullen eyes, and Darcy could see that her cheeks were quite red. “No, sir,” was the unhappy reply.
“I will expect resignation letters from all three of you on my desk this very evening. Mr Hodges and Mrs Reynolds will arrive from Pemberley by the end of next week, and you may continue in your duties and receive your pay until they relieve you. Thank you, that will be all. Wilson, you may retire, and take tomorrow as a holiday.”
“Excellent advice,” his uncle clapped him on the shoulder as the rest of the party began to withdraw. “Forgive me for not believing you before, Darcy. A devil of a day you must have had! You look as if you could use a holiday yourself.”
Darcy felt his shoulders sag, the tension of battle draining away and leaving only a hollow ache behind. “I have already had a holiday, Uncle. I could not survive another.”
Chapter thirty-two
“Uncle, please, saysomething!” Elizabeth pressed her back against the squab of her uncle’s carriage and cringed, waiting for the accusations she deserved.
Mr Gardiner sighed, stretching his tall frame in the very seat where drugged, helpless Fitzwilliam Darcy had been crammed only the night before. “Lizzy, what shall I say? Dare I congratulate you on losing Collins as a suitor? On having the grand adventure in Town you longed for? What have you gained for your wantonness?”
She shifted her toes on the floor. “It was not what it must seem, Uncle.”
“Then pray, tell me, Elizabeth, what am I to think? Did you go with this man willingly and alone? Do you truly think that simply because he was not dressed as a gentleman, no one will ever speak of it? That it will not become the tittle-tattle of London?”
“I know you doubt me, but I believe my reputation is safe. Even Mr Collins will be too intimidated to speak, for what you and Mr Darcy both threatened him with was sufficient to inspire a mortal terror in him.”
“He is certainly not the only person who could testify to your foolishness. I mean to call on this Mr Darcy again to see what must be done to ensure that nothing more is said.”
“Oh, Uncle, please do not! It would be more harmful to his interests even than ours, if anything comes of it, and what more unavoidable way than to intrude upon his notice again? Would that not generate intrigue, if someone is indeed seeking to createa scandal? Better to let the matter rest and have nothing more to do with him, for good or ill.”
“You seem to place a great deal of faith in your understanding of the man. How do you have such confidence in his discretion?”
Her lip curved, her shoulder tipped, and she shook her head. “I spent more hours learning his character than I have with any other man outside of you or Papa. I saw him at his lowest. He was not always agreeable, which I took as evidence of his truthfulness. I should not have trusted him so, had he flattered my vanity from the outset, but he never did. I believe him to be genuine, Uncle.”
“A wealthy gentleman masquerading as a servant! You think him free of deceit and guile?”
“More so than anyone I have ever known. You are perhaps right to doubt, Uncle, but I believe my faith in him will not be unjustified. If there is any threat to my reputation or his, it will not be because he did not guard it.”
Mr Gardiner shook his head. “I still cannot understand why you would undertake such chicanery. You will claim it was all done out of charity, to help some poor soul who was put upon by his wicked relations, or perhaps excuse yourself by saying you wished to avoid Collins at home, but Lizzy, think of what might have happened!”
“Nothing did happen, Uncle. I never had any fear that anything would, either.”
He kneaded his eyes, and she felt a stab of pity. Her poor, weary uncle, and after his terrible day, he had been forced to reckon with her crisis! “Tell me what you were thinking, Lizzy. You are a sensible girl, or I always thought you to be. How hard is it for a cad to work upon an intelligent young lady?”
