Chapter 21

Now Darcy visits Bob on the box of the carriage, his driver seems relieved, but that is not enough. He deserves reparation for what happened, such a strong, calm spirit brought down to taking punishment without offering any resistance.

'I feel very bad about what was done to you under my roof, Bob,' Darcy says.

'Begging your pardon sir,' Bob retorts, showing some spirit once again, 'but how could you have known? Even Cook had no idea, and he was at work right next door. Theo is devilishly clever.

May I ask whether you confronted him too, sir? Bruce is not a really bad guy, you know, he just followed the others. Though he did continue blithely on his own, he did not feel any pity either.'

'I did not confront Theo yet, for I don't want the rest of the servants to know, I still need to see Janine at her worst. Theo at least will be dismissed without references, he abused his position to torment you, and he really enjoyed it, he should never have people working for him again.

I'm in doubt about Bruce, I told him you would decide on his fate. If you can still bear the sight of him he will be transferred to Pemberley, where he will learn the meaning of hard work as lowliest stable-boy under Mr Hugo. If you don't ever want to see him again, he will be dismissed.'

'But master, he has a mother and three or four siblings depending on him. He'll be lucky to be hired at the docks, and if not, they'll be in the poorhouse.' Bob seems very distressed at the thought, and he exclaims: 'Please don't let the poor mother and those girls suffer for their brother's foolishness. Let Master Hugo work the mischief out of him, he was often bored here, Master Hugo will work him to a thread, then teach him truly useful skills, and your people there will show him how to be a valued member of a team. Please don't ruin his life on my account, master, I will enjoy seeing him covered in muck, that is enough retribution.'

'So be it, Bob,' Darcy says solemnly, 'you're a better man than he is. I will give you one day to reconsider, let him stew in guilt and uncertainty that long. Don't speak to anyone about this and make sure he doesn't leave the stables or admits anyone in here to let them know it's time for retribution. You're bigger and stronger than him, I give you leave to restrain him with force if needed. I trust you will not abuse that privilege to get even.'

And with that, Darcy leaves the stable, to hear his sister's voice somewhere in the house. Georgie is here, better find Elizabeth to have lunch together, Janine's reckoning will have to wait. And who knows, maybe it will have to wait two more days.

Georgie is still in the hall, a good opportunity to study Theo again, and Darcy can see his sister handing him her coat, and Mrs Annesley doing the same. The butler's expression does not change. Good, at least Georgiana is no longer imposed on.

Having been greeted by her brother with a loving embrace and a few heartfelt kisses she immediately inquires: 'Where did you misplace Mrs Darcy, Fitzwilliam?'

He does feel a need to hold his beloved, he has seen some shocking scenes today, especially Theo's glee after tormenting Bob was appalling. Where might she be? 'I left her to explore, she can be anywhere in the house, let me go find her. See you in the dining-room in ten minutes?'

'Who needs ten minutes to find your beloved, Fitzwilliam? She's in the library of course, just fetch her from there. It'll take less than five. Unless you have plans to celebrate your reunion after having been separated for at least half an hour?'

'I have, yes,' he replies in the same spirit, 'so better make it ten minutes after all.'

But he does go straight to the library, where he indeed finds his beloved, browsing among the rows of books, lost to the world.

'Improving you mind once more?' he asks her cheekily, and she turns around instantly, smiling, their reunion as loving as Georgie predicted.

'I've had a productive hour,' he tells her, 'I spied on the servants' room from the kitchen and saw Theo chewing out Bob in a way that was not even remotely harmless. I didn't intervene to keep Janine in the dark a little longer. Then I followed Bob to the stables and caught Bruce laying his hands on the poor fellow, and since that happened where neither Janine nor Theo ever come I could intervene without risking accidentally giving the game away.

Bruce will not leave the stables until matters are resolved in the house. And now there is just Janine left, of course I will let her go because your asked me to, but I'd prefer to know in what manner, Theo is not getting references, Bob has decided to keep Bruce, if he gets sent to Pemberley to scrub stables as lowliest stable-boy under Hugo. The young thug has a family depending on him, and Bob couldn't bear to risk them going to the poorhouse.

How many rooms did you see until you got stuck in the library?'

Smiling fondly, Elizabeth replies: 'About ten, I lost count after I tried to add up all your books. I married the richest man in the world, even if half are doubles.'

'Not so many as a hundred are doubles, only my very favourites.'

'Then I am the luckiest woman in the world, though Janine did creep up behind me in the library to stare at me in anger. I looked right back, wondering why she was doing this to herself, and when she didn't say anything I turned my back on her and went back to browsing the books. Frankly, I don't know what to do with her, so I just ignore her. I cannot get angry, and I cannot get scared. She can't poison me, can she?'

'Not without killing me too, she can't,' Darcy replies playfully, but actually he is starting to get rather concerned. Janine's behaviour is totally unheard of, she may actually pose a threat to Elizabeth, she seems totally out of her mind. 'But just to be on the safe side, better not go anywhere by yourself until she is gone, all right? I've never heard of someone acting like that, it worries me. I cannot risk you, I cannot live without you.'

Now Darcy feels his hand being released, and he is taken in an embrace and kissed. 'Don't be foolish Fitzwilliam, people don't just physically harm other people. She's probably just trying to intimidate me. But I will stay with you or your sister all the time, if that makes you happier.'

'It does.' They kiss once more, then go to the dining-room, where Georgiana greets Elizabeth with affection, embracing and kissing her on the cheeks. After greeting Mrs Annesley his beloved sits down in the chair next to him, exactly where he wants her, and he takes her hand until lunch is served.

As they start on their lunch, Darcy keeps a steady eye on his maid, and at first she is her usual self, polite, obliging. But when Georgie starts telling Elizabeth enthusiastically about her piano classes, clearly very much at ease with her new sister, Darcy steals another look at Janine and sees what Elizabeth means.

The maid is openly showing hostility towards Elizabeth, who doesn't notice because she is intent on Georgiana. Of course Darcy would have been too, if he hadn't decided to be impolite and look at something else, and he is truly shocked. He has never seen anyone look like that at another person, let alone a servant at her new mistress. What did Elizabeth ever do to her? And what will Darcy do with Janine? He agrees with his beloved that she cannot share a house with this creature, but where Elizabeth gave him a few days to solve the matter, Darcy wants the woman away from the love of his life today.

She notices him looking at her, and a smile overspreads her face. She says: 'Master, the cook told me he has something to discuss with you, will you please pay him a visit after lunch?'

Staggered by the sudden change in her, he merely replies: 'Thank you for the message, Janine, I will see him as soon as we're through. You may leave us now, Janine.'

Her reaction to his curt dismissal is relatively mild, she merely curtseys and leaves. Very strange, and rather disconcerting.

They keep up a lively conversation through lunch, this scene is exactly as he imagined his sister and Elizabeth together, Georgie has so much more spirit with Elizabeth around, she cannot but benefit from the association. Of course Elizabeth is used to having a sister, several actually, but only one she can really relate to. His beloved doesn't seem to miss her sister as much anymore after their three weeks of marriage, but she is clearly glad to talk to Georgiana.

After lunch he leaves Elizabeth and Georgiana together in the sitting-room, Georgie demonstrating her new skills on the piano, Elizabeth relishing her performance. He addresses Mrs Annesley, who is working on a gorgeous piece of needlework, a real masterpiece as always, and Darcy decides to ask her tonight whether she keeps everything she makes. But now he merely entreats her not to let Mrs Darcy leave the room by herself, or leave her behind by herself. 'She did not promise to obey me, so please beg her for me if needed.'

In Mrs Annesley he finds at least one member of his staff who is very normal, and she smiles a little at his foolishness and promises to keep Mrs Darcy from being on her own in any way. 'You've changed, sir, since you've been married.'

'I've found happiness, Mrs Annesley, does it show that much?'

She affirms: 'It does, sir, you're a lot more lively, more your actual age.

Not to worry you, but have you noticed something seems afoot in this house? I cannot put my finger on it, and everyone pretends nothing is wrong when Miss Darcy and myself are around, but your valet is not feeling well, and Janine just looked at your wife rather inappropriately.

Oh, I suppose that's why you don't want Mrs Darcy to be by herself?'

'Thank you Mrs Annesley, you're the first person to talk to me frankly, you are right, there is something amiss, and I'm determined to get to the bottom of it. I've talked to Simon and to Bruce already, and Cook promised to keep an eye out. Can I ask you to do the same, within the bounds of propriety of course?'

'You can, Mr Darcy, my eyes and ears are yours.'

And trusting Mrs Annesley to keep his Elizabeth safe, Darcy is off to the kitchen for the second time that day, again quietly, but he doesn't see or hear anything. The cook has contrived to be alone in the kitchen, and tells his master: 'I decided to check the staff-room unobtrusively, as you suggested, and the second time I saw and heard something you need to know.

It was Simon, he was having his lunch alone as he does nowadays, then Janine comes in and like, sits really close to him and starts to touch him. Indecently sir. Really indecently. But Simon, he did not like her doing that at all, he looked as if it was torture to him.

She said, nastily: 'You don't like me touching you, do you? You never have, and I've tried so hard to cure you.'

That's what she said, and he still looked as if she was menacing him. She stroked him and kissed him and he bore it, but didn't return it. Then she took him by the chin like a stubborn child and said: 'You're beautiful, but you're all filth inside. Never mind, the master will let you go soon, can't have you around now he's married. That hurts, doesn't it?'

He fled, and she was positively gleeful.

Do you suppose she did that to him before? It was downright cruel, he must have a girl somewhere that he is faithful to, without her parents knowing. I truly didn't know those things were going on so close to my kitchen, I will check a few times a day from now on. A guy must be able to eat in peace.'

With a resigned feeling, Darcy says: 'Thank you very much, I promise you things will change soon, so that everyone can eat and live in peace in this house.'

First he checks on Simon, and gets a warm smile as welcome. 'Do come in, master,' his valet says, and Darcy decides to do just that. Simon's room is nice, not large but very liveable, and its inhabitant seems content enough.

'How do you feel, Simon?' Darcy asks.

'Frankly sir,' the young man replies, 'I feel useless. You don't need my services anymore, there is nothing for me to do, I just hide here all day until I get hungry.'

'That will soon change, Simon,' Darcy says, 'I saw Theo torment Bob today, in such a way as to leave me no option but to dismiss him instantly. Will you take his job? Not being a butler, but running the household, hiring staff, keeping the stock and the household accounts? Your first job will be to hire a new butler.'

Simon doesn't doubt a second, he says: 'Yes, sir, I will.'

'You accept that I am married now, to the woman I love more than my own life?'

'Of course sir, I saw that straight away, she's the one you were waiting for all those years. You're a new man, you're clearly very happy. I can't wait to teach her city manners. It'll spoil her for you of course, but you won't find that out until it's too late.'

Darcy doesn't even manage a smile at Simon's joking, what he was afraid of has now come to pass, and he says: 'Then all I have to do is fire two trusted servants whom my late father hired, ten years ago. Still, it needs to be done.

Janine was observed tormenting you with unwanted indecencies, fortunately Cook thought you were in a secret engagement to find her repulsive. Also Mrs Darcy has told me Janine watches her with hostility, and during lunch I saw it myself. That is plenty of reason for dismissal.

Another day or two and you can exchange your torment for another: housekeeping.'

Back again to the sitting-room, where Georgiana is still at the piano, of course, and Elizabeth has her own needlework out. She's pretty good at it, but Mrs Annesley's work is art.

Ever since his father passed away, Darcy has made every decision in his life by himself, only in the matter of winning Elizabeth's heart did he seek the comfort of Georgie's support, and his aunt's testimony, but in the end he made his own decision to propose once more. Still Darcy remembers how his father and himself used to deliberate before either of them made a choice, and since he now has Elizabeth for his wife, and Georgie has turned out very observant, he again feels the need to share his information and come to a decision together.

He even decides to let Mrs Annesley have her say, she did notice something was going on and at her age and as an employee herself she can bring a different view on the matters at hand. It is hard to decide on the fate of two servants who have been in the family for a decade, and since Darcy has only ever received their respect and devotion, he feels a need to share his doubt.

At the first convenient pause in Georgiana's playing, Darcy speaks out: 'Ladies, all three of you, I need your opinion on a matter of great delicacy. I feel that together you have exactly the right expertise to help me come to a just decision. Please let me explain.

And he tells exactly what he has witnessed this morning, and heard from the cook this afternoon, relating Simon's ordeal in such a way that the cook's opinion, of him having a forbidden engagement with a girl somewhere, is the most likely option. Georgie may suspect, but Mrs Annesley must not know the truth about Simon.

They all listen to him without remarks or questions, and he concludes with: 'Please give me your opinion on what to do, I've lived with them for so long, and they've treated me with such respect, I still find it hard to believe they would torment colleagues and feel pleasure doing it.

If I send them away without references, they''ll have a hard time finding a new position, but in my opinion neither should have people depending on them again. What is your opinion?'

Georgiana is the first to speak up: 'I suppose you told Elizabeth about how they tried to get me under their thumb about a year ago, but Mrs Annesley may not know about that, yet.' And Georgiana proceeds to tell her lady-companion how Theo and Janine acted as if they were her parents, making decisions in her name and browbeating her into accepting them, telling her the master would not believe her if she complained to him.

Mrs Annesley is truly shocked to hear this, and she dares to say: 'Since you asked me to speak freely, Mr Darcy, I will not hesitate to tell you that I would have laid them off straight away. Without references. That was not just a breach of trust towards Miss Georgiana, it was also a sign of complete lack of respect towards you. You have been very lenient then, I would advise you to be a lot more strict now, and just throw them out. Today. I would not have a servant in my house who looked at my beloved wife as Janine did at Mrs Darcy during lunch. She needs to be taught her place in life by serving a lesser family in a lesser function for a few years.'

Since Mrs Annesley is an employee herself, her opinion carries weight with Darcy, and he thanks her for her honesty. Then he looks at Elizabeth, who says: 'I agree with Mrs Annesley. It is hard to just throw them out in shame, but they did have a clear warning before, and chose to disrespect you again. They knew what the consequences might be, and took the risk to have the base enjoyment of treating two of their fellow human beings cruelly. Let them feel your wrath, Fitzwilliam, before they dupe another family.

I'll accompany you to steel your heart.'

Georgiana adds: 'And I agree, too. I have felt the tension though I didn't know the exact cause. Simon was with his parents of course during your absence, but when he came back and said hello I could feel something was wrong. And Janine and all the maids she hired have been barely civil to Mrs Annesley and myself. I was planning to speak to you about it, but you beat me to it.'

'If that is how matters are,' Darcy says, 'I will be very grateful if you will stand by my side, Elizabeth, when I dismiss both Theo and Janine. I suppose the staff they hired will have to go, too. I plan to let Simon take over as housekeeper, and have him hire a new butler and new maids.

I think I'll keep Bob here to take over from Bruce when he gets demoted to the Pemberley stables. Anything I forgot?'

'Begging your pardon, Mr Darcy, but I think so,' Mrs Annesley now observes. 'Being married you will be around a lot more often, and Georgiana has grown up to such an extent she doesn't really need a constant companion anymore. Please tell me, sir, what are your plans for my employment?'

'Would it be acceptable to you, Mrs Annesley,' Darcy replies, 'if I were to ask you to help Simon with finding dependable staff and taking charge of the accounts? After that I would set you up to start your own business in your art. For I cannot imagine you are keeping all those magnificent pieces of embroidery you have made to yourself. You must be able to sell those to even the most spoiled noble ladies in London and far beyond.'

Fortunately, Mrs Annesley looks pleasantly surprised instead of crushed. He has more or less confirmed her assumption that she is no longer needed in her current function, after all.

'I have sold some of my pieces, Mr Darcy, and well, but with the right connections and a little seed money I think I can do much better. Of course I'd love to just stay with my family and earn the income we need with my crafting, but just in case that doesn't work out, will you give me a good reference?'

'Mrs Annesley,' Darcy replies, 'first of all, what you do with fabric and yarn is not craftsmanship anymore, it qualifies as art. And as such, I will be happy to recommend your work to all my connections, and their connections, and to prove your supreme talent to them, I will start by commissioning two works from you, one to be placed in a room in this house, and one for the splendid dining-room at Pemberley. Mrs Darcy really wants to include it in the tour of the house next year, and your work will catch the attention of every visitor there.'

Seeing Elizabeth's approval, he adds: 'I leave it to the two of you to decide on subjects and on size and colours. You know the room, you know this house, you will come to an agreement together.

And of course you'll have my highest recommendations, and seed money for your business to prevent you from ever needing them. Your husband and children will be pleased to have you home again. Should you need a new position after all, do not hesitate to contact me, through Simon, or directly, and I will help you find a suitable place, maybe a bit closer to London.'

Mrs Annesley has a husband and children in town? Elizabeth is quite stunned to hear that, the poor lady, living three days' ride away for most of the year. How can she stand it? Well, she probably has to, it sounds as if she is the one providing the income.

Before Elizabeth can start thinking of what kind of imagery and what colours would fit with the dining-room, Fitzwilliam asks her in a very soft voice, almost a whisper: 'Can you deliberate with Mrs Annesley some other time? I want to have this over with. I'm convinced it is the right thing to do, but that doesn't mean it won't be very hard on me. I'm glad you offered your assistance, if only to stand at my back and show me I'm not the cruel monster I'll feel myself to be.'

And within ten minutes they find themselves in Fitzwilliam's study, Elizabeth sits on his lap for a moment and gives him some caresses and a loving kiss. He really needs a bit of support, and he will need it even more when this is done, but he is the master of the house and he has to protect those who depend on him.

After a few minutes their kiss comes to a natural finish, and he says: 'Will you take a chair and sit next to me behind the desk? Then I'll ring the bell for Theo. He has family in London, I will give him a fortnight's salary to tide them over until he has found a new situation. What he did was despicable, and he enjoyed doing it, but I'm not like him, I don't enjoy destroying people's lives, therefore I will give him at least a chance to avoid financial ruin.'

Elizabeth does as he asks, and she can see him shut out his feeling and take the position of master of the household. Then he rings the bell.

Theo answers promptly, and is very polite, not at all how Fitzwilliam described his actions in the servant's room. But her beloved's blindfold has clearly been removed, he knows what hides inside this man, and it is not pretty.

'I need you to sit down for a moment, Theo,' Fitzwilliam tells his butler as he enters and waits for his masters orders. The servant is instantly alert, it is as if he suspects what is going to happen next, but he does not seem afraid or hopeless. He is playing a dangerous game yet.

'This morning, just before lunch, I was in the kitchen, Theo, spying on the staff-room. It had come to my attention that some members of my household were not feeling very wanted there, so I decided to take a look myself at what was happening. A good thing I did, for what I observed was not something I want to happen in my house.

I saw Bob being tormented by a higher-ranked servant of the house, he was insulted, pushed about, and his food was spoiled, forcing him to miss lunch. Bob never even tried to defend himself, though he is a sturdy chap and could have taught the house servant a considerable lesson if he had dared.'

By now, Theo clearly shows he knows what the master is talking about, not even he would dare deny what the master says he has seen for himself.

'The higher-ranked servant doing the bullying was you, Theo, and I won't deny it hurt me deeply to see you treat another human being like that, and enjoy it. Is there anything you have to say for yourself?'

Theo does not despair yet, his master obviously disapproves of what he did, but he doesn't seem to see much harm in it himself, and his reply to Fitzwilliam's question proves Theo doesn't quite see the seriousness of the situation, not yet. 'It was just a lowly stable-boy, master, they don't have feelings anyway. They're just one step up from the animals they care for.'

That is not what his master wanted to hear: 'I'll tell Bruce you said that, he'll be even sorrier he felt it necessary to emulate your behaviour by making Bob's life in the stables Hell as well. He can mull that over as he undergoes the consequences of his behaviour towards Bob.'

Fitzwilliam is rather put out and observes coldly: 'Theo, Bob is not a lowly stable-boy, he is my driver. He can guide a team of four high-strung thoroughbreds through London rush-hour without getting so much as a scratch on my carriage or displacing a hair on one of my very valuable horses. He is irreplaceable to me, I trust my life and that of my wife and my sister to him.

But even if he had been a lowly stable-boy, you would still not have had the right to hurt him and enjoy it. It proves that you lack feeling and humanity, and I will not expect any of my staff or my family to bear the consequences of that, or even witness the bad example. You will leave my service and my house tonight, and you will not be getting any references to find a new job. I don't think you are suitable for a leading position, you will have to start over at the bottom, which may help you to regain some affinity with the lower ranks by being part of them.

I will not have your family suffer for your lack of respect toward myself and my household, so I will have a fortnight's wages delivered to your parents tomorrow. Go pack your things and begone, Theo. May you find a better path in life.'

Fitzwilliam now clearly shows the heartache all of this is causing him, and for the first time, Theo shows some feeling worthy of witnessing. Still sitting down, he reaches over the table and touches his master's hand, who does not pull his back but accepts the touch. Then Theo finally gets what is happening here, and he cries out: 'I'm sorry master, I thought I always loved and respected you, but you are right, I didn't. I thought you were too easy on your staff, and meant to correct that.

But I suppose I was just jealous and took my dislike out on them, Bob always allowed to go wherever you went, Simon always horsing around with you, touching you, chatting you up. I hated them. You warned me before, and I disrespected you again. I'm sorry, and I'll be much sorrier yet, banished from your household.

Will you allow me one embrace, to take with me the rest of my life? You never gave me even one, you know, in all those years.'

Fitzwilliam is very upset by what Theo says, his butler did all these horrible things out of jealousy? Elizabeth so understands her beloved's shock. Why didn't the man just speak up? Now he'll bear the consequences of his actions, and will never see his master again, will have to bear his ill opinion for as long as it takes Fitzwilliam to process his memory of this moment, which will probably not be very long, since he admitted to not really caring for his butler despite feeling responsible for all his staff's well-being.

Having let go of his mask, Theo is a sorry sight. And despite finding his explanation rather thin when considering what they tried with Georgiana, Elizabeth cannot help but feel sorry for the man. She gives Fitzwilliam a significant look, and he understands and walks towards his former butler, embraces him with all the regret he feels, then says: 'I'm sorry you took it out on innocents. Fare well, Theo.'

His face is impassive until Theo is gone, and when the door has closed behind him he takes Elizabeth in his arms and squeezes her against him, whispering: 'I swear I didn't do anything to encourage either of them, I've always treated them like every other member of my staff, like Bob, or Peter, or Mrs Annesley. I'm not sorry he is leaving, I'm just sorry I couldn't give him a commendation.'

Then he releases her, blanks his face to seriousness, and says: 'Better ring for Janine, have it over with. Then we'll talk to Simon and Mrs Annesley how to continue. I suppose Janine must have some place to go, she didn't speak out on our wedding-night, I asked everyone to spend the night with family or friends and let me know if they didn't have a place to stay.

All the hired help go home at night anyway, I'll ask Simon and Bob which ones can come back tomorrow and which ones stay away. The kitchen staff are above suspicion as far as I know. Plenty to do before dinner!'

With another ring of the bell, Fitzwilliam summons the maid to his presence. As soon as she comes in it is clear she knows, she must have met Theo as he left or he must have sought her out, and she is not going to be as repentant as Theo was when he finally realised what he had done.

Janine remains standing until Fitzwilliam tells her to sit down, but instead of waiting for her master to speak first, she pleads: 'I had to do it master, for you, he has to leave this household or he will besmirch your name with his foulness.'

Now Darcy proves he is not a mean hand at playing the same game, for he earnestly observes: 'I take it you refer to Simon and the girl he is engaged to in secret?'

He is clever, let her explain this without becoming graphic! Her face shows her puzzlement, she is not up to this, but she does try: 'Simon is not engaged to any girl, who told you that?'

Realising the impetuousness of her remark, she corrects herself: 'I'm sorry master, I didn't mean to presume by asking you questions.'

'At least you seem to realise now that you are exceeding your authority in this house. I'm very sorry it had to take you so long to find that out, for I remember warning you almost a year ago that I would not tolerate you usurping my position. Then, I let you off with a warning, this time I'm afraid I cannot do that. By your repeated offence you have proven you cannot be trusted with responsibility, Janine, and though it pains me to have to do this to a servant who has always treated me with respect to my face, I cannot accept you going behind my back, humiliating my valet with unwanted intimacies, welcoming my beloved wife with blatant disrespect.'

Now Janine's attitude changes from demure to vicious, and she hisses: 'You really have no clue, do you? Everyone knows that your 'beloved wife' is just a fortune seeker, a mercenary. I suppose she has ordered a whole new wardrobe, and sent plenty of money to her impoverished family. Why should I respect her?

And your precious valet, why do you stand up for him? Does he pleasure you often to make you keep him here? We all know what he is, how can you stand to have such a one around you? Maybe your new missus didn't hook you after all, maybe you married her to cover up what you do with Simon all night!'

Staggered by the maid's rudeness, and her sudden change from trusted servant to vicious harpy, Fitzwilliam nevertheless doesn't show much of his shock and displeasure, it's knowing him well that gives his rising anger away to Elizabeth, she can see it in the taut muscles and swollen veins in his neck, the clenched jaw, the narrowed eye. Janine has crossed a line and she is going to bear the full brunt of her master's righteous anger.

'Say what you will of me once you are out in the street, Janine, I don't care. My reputation can easily weather the vicious gossip of a degraded servant who after nine years of faithful service decided to blow away her future to gain power over the family she once served.

But be careful what you say to others about Mrs Darcy! I spent six agonizing months winning her affection, I'm pretty sure you see my happiness now I've finally succeeded. I worship the ground my missus walks on, and if I hear any vile piece of gossip that can be traced back to you, Janine, you will regret the day you dared speak to your betters in this way.

I will not even address the vileness you spew about Simon, his private life is none of my business, nor is it any of yours. I will protect myself and those who depend on me against anyone out to hurt them, and you can guess at my connections and means. If you want to find a new job I suggest you keep your vile thoughts where they originated, and spend some time learning to control your temper, or it will be the washing-house instead of a great house for you.

Now pack your things and be gone from my house within half an hour. If I owe you any wages, tell me now.'

A deafening silence follows Fitzwilliam's angry tirade, but he is calmed down to iciness already and observes: 'I take that as a no. You can leave us now, Janine, despite what you did and said I wish you well and hope you will find some measure of happiness. Fare well.'

Not waiting for an answer, Fitzwilliam leaves the room, taking Elizabeth's hand in the process and leading her out. She accepts his gesture, suspecting him to be in need of some loving attention after such viciousness and such a task. He goes straight for their bedroom, and on the bed where they spent their fabulous wedding-night they hold each other for half an hour, stroking, kissing, in total silence.

After these moments of quiet he gets up, washes his face at the wash-stand, his hair dripping wet until he uses the towel.

'All right, that is done,' he states in his usual voice, 'now the next step. I'll consult Bob and Simon, then call a meeting of the staff, and then we have dinner. We may have to fetch it from the kitchen ourselves, I'm glad Cook is above suspicion or we'd have to beg Mrs Annesley to whip up a meal, I'm sure she can.

Let's go, love, and be brave a little longer.'