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Mr Finn arrived back around noon. After inquiring of Farley if Darcy was with Miss Gardiner, the head footman gave Finn the disquieting news of Miss Gardiner’s departure after some sort of rupture with the master. When he arrived in Darcy’s bedchamber, Finn found the master staring into space, looking quietly despondent. But he seemed to rouse, sitting up in bed, when Finn greeted him.

“Well, what did you discover, Finn?” Darcy asked urgently. “Were there any rumours concerning my conduct at the Netherfield ball in Meryton?”

“Yes, sir. You’re not going to like this, but you can thank your old friend Mr Wickham who has been doing his best to blacken your name since he recently joined the militia in Meryton.”

“Lord! What next?” Darcy expostulated.

When Finn did not immediately continue, Darcy prompted him. “Go on.”

“I met him on my first night in Meryton, sir, in the taproom of the Red Lion. I discovered that Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth are both here in London...,” Finn said, watching for Darcy’s reaction, which was only a silent nod. “Mr Wickham said in no uncertain terms that they had left because you and Mr Bingley compromised them.”

Darcy shuddered. “Damn the wretch! And how long have the Miss Bennets been in London?”

“Miss Bennet came to London soon after the Netherfield ball and Miss Elizabeth arrived after Christmas.”

“Do you think Miss Bennet came to London with the purpose of seeking out Mr Bingley? I believe he may have raised her expectations.” said Darcy.

“No, sir,” said Finn, preparing to deliver his first revelation and wondering how the master was going to take it. “Mr Bennet died on the night of the Netherfield ball, sir. There is an entail on the estate. The Miss Bennets came to London to go into service.”

Darcy groaned inwardly. The entail! He had forgotten completely about it! Here he was ascribing mercenary motives to Miss Elizabeth and her sister when they were almost destitute!

“Are you sure?” Darcy asked fretfully. “How do you know this?”

“I disguised myself as a furniture salesman with the intention of paying a few calls on the great houses in the district. My principal aim was to visit Longbourn. However, on my first night in Meryton, I encountered Mr Wickham and immediately discovered that contrary to Mr Gardiner’s information, the rumours circulating in the town regarding yourself and Miss Elizabeth have not died down but were being fanned by that blackguard.”

Darcy shook his head in disbelief. How did Wickham always manage to be in the right place at the right time to inflict maximum damage? It was as if the fellow was following him around.

“Nonetheless, I thought it wise to pay at least one call in my guise as a salesman in case anyone should become suspicious of my presence in the area. The barman told me that I need not bother calling at Longbourn because the squire had passed and the new master was not yet installed, so instead I visited Sir William Lucas. That visit turned out to be very informative. Sir William’s daughter is engaged to the new squire of Longbourn, a Mr Collins, who is a cousin of the Miss Bennets. Apparently, he accompanied the Bennet ladies to the Netherfield ball.”

“I remember him. He accosted me at supper.”

“He also happens to be your aunt’s parson.”

“Oh yes, he certainly let the whole room know that!” said Darcy, recalling the oily parson’s grovelling.

“Indeed, Farley tells me that your aunt is in town and this very fellow visited with her here yesterday.”

“I did not know,” said Darcy quietly. “I was only aware of my aunt and Anne. So have the Bennets been evicted from Longbourn?”

“Not yet, sir. Apparently, Mr Collins has not long been with your aunt and felt he could not immediately relinquish his position with her as rector of Hunsford. He intends to marry Miss Lucas and take up his position at Longbourn after a full year of mourning for Mr Bennet.”

“Ah!” said Darcy. “And what will happen to the Bennet ladies then?”

“It was not something Sir William was willing to go into.”

“I suppose not. But if the two eldest Miss Bennets have gone into service it seems they are not expecting to be treated charitably.”

“No, sir. Although Sir William told me that Miss Elizabeth’s relocation to London was a secret—or should be, since the barman of the Red Lion knew of it—she is supposed to be training the bailiff for her cousin.”

“Training the bailiff?” repeated Darcy with some incredulity.

“Apparently Miss Elizabeth had run the estate with her father for several years without help. Her uncle advised Mr Collins to employ a bailiff so that he could focus on his pastoral duties for the church.”

“She is a very clever lady,” sighed Darcy. “But why has she left Longbourn early?”

“I am not sure, sir. Perhaps Miss Elizabeth thought she could better serve her family by providing some extra income. I believe her mother is already finding it difficult to make ends meet on the income that was settled on her. Perhaps Miss Elizabeth missed her sister. I believe they are very close. Miss Elizabeth exchanges a letter every week with Miss Lucas, mostly concerned with the running of the estate. Sir William boasted that his daughter will make a fine mistress of Longbourn when she is finally installed.”

“Is that all?” asked Darcy wearily.