AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Heavens above,” he murmured.
She told him most of the rest, omitting any of Mr Darcy’s declarations, lest her uncle want to insist upon their fulfilment, and any of their shared affection. “Mr Darcy is improving daily. He no longer requires a nurse but rather a secretary and his loyal retainers. Who knows what the earl will do?”
“As to that, I do not believe he is, any longer, in as much danger as he fears. The earl’s heir has been embroiled in scandals requiring Darcy monies in order to extract him. He turned both of those affairs over to Saxelby and myself; I refused to pay out such sums in question without explicit, witnessed, documentation regarding the viscount’s culpability. I will inform Mr Darcy of the existence of these documents as soon as possible. We will then remind the earl, ever so tactfully, what information Darcy’s solicitors possess, should we be displeased.”
Lizzy bit her lip. “Is it wise to anger an earl?”
Mr Gardiner smiled, and for the first time, she noticed something besides kindness—a strength of purpose. “No, no, no, my dear, it will all be quite civilised, I promise. I would know how to speak with the regent himself, should such a thing ever become necessary. We will simply come to a right understanding together.”
Lizzy absorbed this. “Had Mr Darcy been incapacitated in truth, what would your role have been?”
“I would always see to Mr Darcy’s interests to the best extent I could. It would have been much more difficult, however, had he not managed to communicate with Saxelby and myself privately. We were able to move certain assets into defensible positions, knowing, as we did, that Mr Darcy would someday resume his duties. We would always have challenged the earl’s diagnosis, but had he been permanently debilitated, had we not understood his true condition, had he still been within the earl’s control, and had the earl been able to force that marriage on Miss Darcy, our position would have been less certain.”
For all his amiability, Mr Gardiner’s gaze was penetrating. “If your actions have saved his life—which from your descriptions of every circumstance in which you took part, I do not doubt—you are owed a great deal, Miss Bennet. My employer is a generous man. You should consider what your future happiness requires.”
It requires him!a part of her soul wished to cry. But she would not allow that to be true, and she would rather walk on hot coals than accept one penny for her time, her care of him. Besides, if there was a single skill at which she was more proficient than caring for the sick, it was the ability to find happiness no matter her situation. So instead, she gave him her most assured smile.
“For the present, I believe I will simply press on, as you once so wisely counselled Mr Darcy. Perhaps you should call me Lizzy, sir. All of my family do.”
