Darcy nodded his agreement with the plan. “That might be enough to pay off whatever Lord Matlock owes to his business partners and prevent them from coming after any of the rest of his family. While I do not condone what was done, since the money was earned from such an abhorrent practice, I cannot imagine using it for any other purpose. Perhaps whatever is left over could be sent to aid the abolitionist movement in other places.”
Fitzwilliam turned towards his cousin. “You mentioned you had a plan, or at least part of one, to deal with this. What are you thinking?”
“Your father can no longer be trusted,” Darcy said gravely. “The truth is, he has committed numerous illegal acts—acts that could very well see him imprisoned in the Tower for treason. While that might be a fitting consequence for his actions, the fallout would not stop with him. Your mother, you, and even Anne could face disgrace or, at the very least, be branded as complicit in his schemes. Such a scandal would serve none of us.”
He paused, his expression tight with determination. “For that reason, we cannot allow his actions to become public knowledge. It might not seem entirely just, but exposing him would have far-reaching consequences—consequences I am unwilling to inflict on the innocent parties involved.”
Fitzwilliam nodded in agreement, prompting Darcy to continue. “I suggest we inform your mother and grandfather of what we have uncovered when she arrives for Andrew’s funeral. Together, we can impress upon your father that it is in his best interest to withdraw from society entirely. Publicly, we can circulate a story that he has been rendered unwell by the grief of Andrew’s death—some plausible fiction to explain his absence.”
Darcy’s tone grew firmer as he continued to outline his plan. “Your father has a hunting lodge in Scotland, does he not? He can live out the remainder of his days there, under strict supervision. His funds will be limited, and we can… encourage him to adopt a suitable surname that allows him to blend into his surroundings. He will no longer be the earl, nor have the influence he once wielded.”
He glanced at Fitzwilliam. “The servants sent to attend him will be handpicked, doubling as bodyguards and watchmen to ensure he does not involve himself in any schemes ever again. This arrangement will protect the family’s name and prevent further harm. Of course, one of us will visit at least annually to ensure all is as it should be.”
For a moment, no one spoke as they thought through what Darcy had said. Fitzwilliam was the first to speak. “I cannot imagine Father easily agreeing to that. It will take quite a bit to convince him.”
“Will the threat of death not be enough? If these men killed your brother with no compunction, will Lord Matlock not believe them capable of doing the same to him?” Elizabeth asked.
“Not if they do not know of these funds, which, if they exist, could be used to pay off his partners,” Fitzwilliam offered.
“We do not know they exist, so we say nothing of it to him. If the funds exist, we use them to pay off the men, but otherwise, they will believe he has disappeared or has died, depending on the story that we make known in London,” Darcy stated. “Of course, if your father is believed dead, Richard, then you will inherit the earldom.”
Fitzwilliam closed his eyes as he considered that. “I never wanted that role,” he breathed. Louder, he said, “As soon as the funeral is over, I will need to travel to London. First to resign my commission, and second, to discover with Anne if the ledgers show any additional money set aside from these ventures. We can also begin to spread the word of Father’s ‘illness’ so his death will not come as a surprise. How will we explain Andrew’s death to those outside of our family?”
“I think we will need to wait for your mother to arrive before we make those decisions. She is more seasoned in dealing with these matters,” Darcy replied.
Elizabeth agreed. “The entire family will have to mourn for your brother for a time. It is just three months for a brother, Richard, and at the end of that time, you can begin to take on more of your father’s former role,” she said to their cousin before turning to her husband. “Fitzwilliam, how poorly has Matlock been managed these last few years and is there anything that we can do to help Richard more quickly recover the estate?”
For several minutes, Fitzwilliam looked on in surprise as Elizabeth and Darcy discussed how to get both Matlock and Ashburn back on their feet. “We will need to consult with the stewards on both estates, but I think it is has been a few years since either have had the oversight they have needed. It is possible that neither is in as bad a shape as believed, but with some careful attention, can be restored quickly,” Darcy replied.
“Of course, we will need to consult the books on both before we do anything,” Elizabeth interjected. “Is the steward at Matlock competent, Richard, or have you not had any dealings with him? I will not even ask you about Ashburn since I somehow doubt you have been at that estate in a number of years.”
Fitzwilliam was uncertain how to respond to either question since he did not recall the last time he had visited Matlock. More often than not, when he saw his parents, it was in London.
Almost as if she had forgotten the question she asked, Elizabeth continued. “You will need to speak to the steward when we arrive at Matlock, Fitzwilliam. If he will not speak to you, then we will need to add a new steward to the list of positions to fill. You mentioned only a few servants are presently at the estate; we should send some ahead of us. That way, they can assist whoever is there and ensure that anyone who visits the estate to pay their respects will not see that anything is amiss. Do you suppose we should send foodstuffs ahead as well? I will consult with Mrs. Reynolds, perhaps she knows something that we do not.”
With that parting comment, Elizabeth exited the study, leaving both men momentarily speechless.
“I must say,” Fitzwilliam remarked after a pause, a hint of amusement in his voice, “your wife seems more than capable of managing Pemberley, Matlock, and Ashburn all at once—and without any help from us. Perhaps I should hire her as my steward until everything is set to rights.”
Darcy chuckled softly. “You have often said your mother could outmanoeuvre any general you ever served under. I believe you just witnessed my wife doing much the same. While I have always trusted in her abilities, even I am taken aback by how meticulously she addressed every detail. Between her and your mother, I suspect Lord Matlock will be steered towards the proper decision before he realises what is happening. He will not even see it coming.”
Chapter Forty-Five
THURSDAY, 16 JANUARY 1812
Georgiana and the Bennet ladies remained at Pemberley while Richard, Darcy, and Elizabeth travelled to Matlock. Despite the absence of any direct threat to Pemberley or the Darcy family, they stationed footmen at all the manor house entrances. The footmen who had been employed for the protection of Georgiana and Elizabeth in London were still at Pemberley and would accompany the ladies any time they left the house. Though Georgiana was related, she had rarely been in company with her oldest cousin, and Darcy and Fitzwilliam both judged it best that she remain far from Matlock.
Though Fitzwilliam might have preferred to ride, out of consideration for Elizabeth, they travelled in Darcy’s coach. Fitzwilliam’s horse was ridden ahead by a groom to Matlock, as he had not yet decided what to do after the funeral. Much would depend on the meeting with Lord Matlock, and some of his plans would be shaped by that conversation.
Lady Julia was due to arrive at her husband’s home sometime that morning, with Lord Matlock likely to arrive the following day. That gave Fitzwilliam and Darcy time to speak with her, informing her of all they had learned, and to make some decisions about what to do next.Since the three had first spoken of their plans in Darcy’s study, there had been several additional conversations as the plan evolved.
One remaining difficulty was the uncertainty of whether there were funds to pay off Lord Matlock’s debt, though a letter hadbeen sent to Rosings via the messenger who delivered Anne’s to see what could be discovered. If Lady Catherine had indeed hidden funds without her brother’s knowledge, the questions remained: where might they be and could they be used to settle the debt? Darcy and Fitzwilliam had already debated this matter extensively, driving each other mad with their endless speculation. Though both men were deeply reluctant to touch the money—tainted as it was by its origins—they could not ignore the possibility that it might be sufficient to save Matlock from financial ruin.
Of course, there was the matter of the debt itself. Was it truly money owed to the investors or merely money they sought to recoup a loss? Only Lord Matlock held the answers to these questions, but given his nature, obtaining clear and honest responses seemed highly unlikely.
A few servants greeted them at Matlock’s entrance and guided them to their rooms. Lady Julia, having arrived only a short while earlier, was resting but had requested their company for tea in an hour.
Fitzwilliam shared that he had always been fond of his grandfather, despite the man’s reputation for bluster and hot-headedness. He recounted how the elder gentleman had grudgingly approved of his daughter’s marriage to Silas Fitzwilliam, then Viscount Ashburn, though he had never held a favourable opinion of the man. Learning of Lord Matlock’s involvement in such disgraceful dealings was certain to push his grandfather beyond the bounds of tolerance. Fitzwilliam warned them that his reaction to the news could be explosive.
