Chapter 128

Right after dinner, Mr Collins leaves the table and excuses himself to the ladies and Nick.

'With Charlotte in such excellent company I cannot but visit Lady Catherine tonight, she has been asking me to come by and play cards with her, she is lonely and I try to indulge her as much as possible. I wish all of you a good evening, I expect to be home by ten. Please let Charlotte pour you some brandy, Mr Fowler, I'm sorry I cannot join you.'

And with that he leaves the room, supposedly to dress for a formal visit, this family does not dress for dinner at home and Nick guesses even Mr Collins will not visit Rosings in a coat he has been wearing whilst working in his garden. Anne and Mrs Darcy did not seem to mind at all not to dress for dinner, they probably relish the informality of the country. Well, Nick has to change, too, before he leaves for his excursion with Dora, he is pleased to hear Mr Collins will be at the house to distract Lady Catherine from what is happening on the floor where the bedrooms are situated.

'I have my own appointment to keep, ladies,' he observes, and bows to all three of them. Better make sure he doesn't run into Mr Collins on the way.

'Good luck, Nick,' Anne says quietly. Nick can hear apprehension in her voice, but it's not necessary, Nick will be fine.

'Good hunting, Nick,' Mrs Darcy says with a laugh, 'will you be able to find it in the dark?'

'No problem, ma'am, Miss de Bourgh pointed out the gate this afternoon when we returned from our walk, and I have excellent vision, even in the dark. Thank you ladies, I suppose I will be back at least an hour before Mr Collins returns.'

He makes straight for his room, indeed next to Anne's, he can hardly wait until the house is quiet so he can crawl in with her. Fortunately, he had already packed his bag for the trip, Mr Blackwood had it sent over to Mr Darcy's place with everything in it, including his precautions. They will thoroughly enjoy their night together, and soon they will be sharing a bed every night.

His livery is still very easy to put on, the coat he hangs out neatly to keep it from wrinkling. Within moments he is ready to go out, until he hears someone stirring in the hallway downstairs. He walks on but really quietly, and as he prepares to descend the stairs, a voice sounds from where he heard the noise.

'If you don't want to go, please stay in, Will. I know how much you hate it, and if she dismisses you so be it, my parents will take care of us, really. You can help papa in the business until another living turns up. If only you hadn't been so foolish to set Mr Darcy against you, Will, you know he could have found you another position easily.'

It's Mrs Collins, and she is talking to her poor husband.

'I know Charlotte, and I'm so very sorry to have been so incredibly stupid, but that can't be helped now, can it? I thought I did the right thing, to stick to my loyalties, and she didn't even care.'

He sounds like a normal man, what kind of idiot act is he putting up before Mrs Darcy and Anne? Or is he really unable to be himself in front of people he considers above him? Nick has never regretted his own descent, he's not proud of his accent but not ashamed either. He is what he is, and that attitude has generally paid off, people generally like him. Except Wellesley.

'I don't even mind suffering for my stupidity, Charlotte, but to see you and William reduced to living off your father's charity, it's too much, I can handle a little adversity. Can I have one more kiss?'

That last plea doesn't sound like someone who can handle anything, frankly. And soon Nick's feeling is proven right.

'Oh, Charlotte, I can't do it, I'm such a coward to fear an old woman. She will know instantly something is going on here, someone will have seen Miss de Bourgh, or have recognised Mr Darcy's horses and driver. She'll wring it out of me and send someone to fetch Miss de Bourgh home and they'll all blame me! But I have to go, or we'll lose everything we have built up together!'

Dammit, the fellow is a wreck! Doesn't he have any dignity? Apparently not, or he would just take it like a man. Nick can hardly restrain himself from giving the gibbering idiot a piece of his mind. He sits on top of the stairs to peek, and he can see Mrs Collins taking him in her arms, she seems to actually feel sorry for him, whatever moved her to marry this man-shaped piece of butter?

'There now, Will, I'm sure there is nothing to worry about. I'm sure no-one knows Miss de Bourgh is here and even if they do, you know Lady Catherine doesn't expect her to be here and she never talks to servants. Just you think of Lady Catherine as a lonely old lady, she is lonely, you are the only one who still goes to see her. Mrs Jenkinson wouldn't even take money to live with her. You just play cards, drink some hot chocolate, you know you like hot chocolate very much, and then you come home to me and to little William and I'll make it up to you. You can sleep with us tonight, would you like that?'

'May I? Really? Then I can handle anything. I'd better go then, to have it over with. Thank you, dear Charlotte, you're so good to me.'

Poor fellow, to have no spine at all, what makes a man behave like that? Nick would turn to armed robbery before demeaning himself to a rich old lady and, let's be honest, to his wife as well. Allowed to share her bed for a night. Well, better her than him, chubby unattractive fellow, he can understand why his wife prefers to have him far away from her at night.

When the door closes behind Mr Collins his wife returns to their main room for a night of chat with two ladies, she will love the presents they bought her. Nick counts to fifty, then follows the clergyman in his tracks. Well, follows, that turns out to be a lot harder than he thought, it is incredibly dark outside, of course Nick is a city boy and there is always some source of light in the city. But there isn't out here, everything is quiet and pitch dark, and for a moment Nick feels a little out of sorts. But if Mr Collins dares to step outside, Nick cannot shame himself by asking for a lamp.

And his eyes soon get used to the dark, once on the path towards Rosings the trees are spread further, allowing a little more moonlight to reach Nick's eyes, and he finds the right gate without much trouble. Dora is already there, waiting. She embraces and kisses him, barely decently he may add, better have that talk with her again, about colleagues and affairs. They will be part of the same household pretty soon, within weeks if Anne has the rights of it and the wedding will take place in Derbyshire. But for now, Dora is excellent company, she has obviously had a perfect day and is looking forward to seeing her former colleagues again. But that is not the first thing she says.

'Are you guys idiots to go out into the village and drink tea in the Hunsford Arms? Couldn't you have brought a herald to announce Miss de Bourgh to the entire county? I would have expected more sense from someone hired as Miss Anne's guard.'

So someone did recognise Anne.

'Is it still safe to leave her for an hour? I really didn't think anyone would recognise her, she has changed so much.'

'It was a maid who'd known her from a child, Nick. Of course she'd recognise her. But don't worry, no-one will tell on Miss Anne, they were happy to see her healthy and happy, they've all felt sorry for her for years, and no-one likes Lady Catherine anyway except Mr Collins.'

She should have heard him just now, poor man.

'And you, pretending to be Mr Manners in a gentleman's coat. I've heard three versions of your visit already, in the first you are here to denounce your mother-in-law and take possession of Rosings, in the second you are to challenge the doctor to defend Lady de Bourgh's honour and in the third you are set to beg forgiveness for your bride-to-be running away from home. No-one really believes the last. Or the other two, frankly they have no clue what you are doing here. Maybe you should have worn your coat instead of your livery. I know how to tie a cravat properly, Fanny taught me. You could pretend to be Mr Manners to the staff and have a good laugh. All right, let's go in.'

'Wait, Dora. Did you have a good time with your family?'

'Yes, I had. I should have sent them a letter to know how I was doing, though. They had been worried.'

'Why didn't you then? It's not that much of an effort, is it?'

Now Dora takes hold of his arm, he cannot see her expression because she avoids his gaze, but she is affected.

'Because I can't write, Nick. I can't even read very well, and I was too ashamed to ask for help. But now I will, my mum was so relieved to see me, she had worried so much, and no news was to be had from the Rosings staff, they knew nothing either, just what the paper said. Everyone thought Miss Anne had fled or been rescued, they really thought she was a captive at Rosings, thus the denouncing and taking vengeance stories. Will you help me write to my family, Nick? Since we're going to be of the same household sooner or later?'

'Dear Dora, you don't have to be ashamed of your upbringing. And I'll do better than writing your letters for you, I'll help you to learn to write yourself, there'll be plenty of time for lessons at Pemberley. I suppose we'll be bored stiff there.'

'Maybe you can teach the gentlemen how to fight dirty. It might come in handy if you all go abroad, I suppose you cannot trust those foreigners at all. It was lovely, Nick, to be back home. But I'm used to the city now, I don't want to go back to Kent, not even if Miss Anne goes abroad.'

Poor Dora feels left out, everyone planning to see the world and she doesn't even know whether she will have a position after her mistress gets married, better talk to Anne about that.

But first they pass through the gate, across a pitch-dark path that sounds like gravel, towards the enormous house. It's easy to find because there is light behind a lot of the windows, so many rooms and so many servants for just one elderly lady!

'This is a beautiful path, Nick, I wish you could see it by day. Here we are, the back entrance. Now you wait and see how we'll be received here, everyone will want to know what happened in London.'

Well, that is something Nick can imagine, especially if Anne has been recognised in Hunsford despite having changed so much. Fearlessly opening a door at the back of the huge building, Dora enters and is immediately hailed in a happy male voice.

'Dora! We were hoping you'd drop by, so good to see you!'

A tall, broad man in his late forties wearing a livery in what must be Lady Catherine's colours takes Dora in a loving bear hug.

'You left so suddenly, your parents were distraught, all the news we got was from the newspapers and they only mentioned Miss de Bourgh. You know everyone will want to hear what is true and what is not, don't you?'

Before Dora can say anything, the man looks at Nick in surprise and blurts out, 'You cannot be Mr Manners! You're wearing a livery!'

Dora is obviously very much at home here, she laughs merrily and addresses the older man.

'No, Hughes, he isn't Mr Manners. Please meet Fowler, Miss de Bourgh's brand-new guard, who actually looks a lot like Mr Manners himself and is in his service to protect his hard-won fiancée.'

'So it is true then, Miss de Bourgh is engaged to this fellow? Is he any good, Dora? Or is he merely marrying into a quick inheritance?'

'Calm down, Hughes, calm down. I'll tell you straight away that Miss Anne is much better, perfectly healthy, actually. No-one will gain easy money from her, believe me. And yes, I believe Mr Manners is a man of honour and very kind, though I don't know him all that well. Fowler is much closer to him.'

They cannot stay and chat with everyone they meet in this huge house, there must be at least two dozen people caring for one crabby old woman. But since this is the first person they meet and he is taller than Nick and someone of rank if Nick has any insight in liveries and demeanour, he'll try to settle this man's worries.

'Dora is right, Mr Manners is an honourable man who will treat Miss de Bourgh well. She does not plan to return to the country, she enjoys city life more than anything and Mr Manners is a big name in London society. They'll have the best time together, believe me, Miss de Bourgh could have had her pick of the gentlemen, she chose with her mind, not her heart.'

For that is Nick's, seeing all this he is more proud than ever of having caught her attention and won her love.

'We want to tell you all about Miss de Bourgh, Hughes, but we have an errand from her as well: she wants Fowler to retrieve some things she is attached to, keepsakes her father gave her. She will not return to Rosings, she found out about the doctor and no longer acknowledges Lady Catherine as her mother. Can we fetch the items first, then join you in the back and tell everyone at once? I've heard outrageous tales about her, she'll be pleased to have them set to rights.'

The tall man bows to Dora and observes, 'You've grown Dora, I remember a shy young girl, but you're clearly a self-assured woman now, town has done you good. We'll do as you suggest, the mistress is engaged with Mr Collins at the moment, she will not stir for at least an hour, most likely two. She has few visitors left, Dora, and yet she still doesn't acknowledge us as people. But we can talk about that later. First you retrieve Miss de Bourgh's things. I wish we could see her, we've been worried for so long, not just when she disappeared with her uncle. You remember where to go, do you want a lamp?'

'Yes, please, Hughes, thank you, it will make finding things easier. You'll be pleased to hear what happened, truly, there was nothing really wrong with her all this time.'

They are following the liveried servant, Nick wonders what his rank is, he looks so confident. Soon he enters a room, to return with a lamp already giving off a nice bundle of light. He hands it to Dora, not to Nick, good, he respects her despite her being a girl and rather young.

'See you soon, Dora, we can't wait to hear everything.'

This will not be a quick excursion after all, but Nick admits they have a right to know what happened to their mistress.

The house seems endless, they cross room after room after room, is there no hall connecting all the rooms so they won't have to go out in the open?

'What if you have to cross a room with Lady Catherine in it?'

'There is a hall in the back of the house that goes from one side to the other, but I wanted to see these rooms again, it may be my last chance. We'll take the other route on our way back. Besides, Lady Catherine is in a totally different part of the house, the main rooms are on the first floor. Don't worry, I've done this before, we will not be caught.'

Looking about him, Nick can see these are most likely bedrooms, opulent ones but so tidy they cannot be in use. After a while he loses count and just follows Dora, who seems to be almost in a dreamlike state, undoubtedly remembering the time when she was still much younger and hard at work to clean these rooms or make fires for highborn guests.

One more door and they enter a chamber with a different atmosphere, this must be Anne's former room, it's a girl's room as far as Nick can tell by the light of the lamp, and it looks lived in, though Anne hasn't been here for almost three months. The staff have not put it to rights, yet, maybe they still hoped she'd return.

Nick cannot help being affected, this is where Anne spent ten hopeless years, bled white and listless, fearing death yet longing for release from her endless ordeal. The place doesn't smell like a sick-room, of course Anne wasn't actively sick, she just had no energy to actually live.

'My room was right here, Nick.'

Dora walks on, her voice affected, she feels it, too, worse probably since she actually saw Anne in her despondent state. Nick follows the little maid to an adjacent chamber, not bare but not exactly inviting either, Dora cannot have led a good life here.

'I only slept here, by day I was supposed to be in the back of the house and Mrs Jenkinson attended to Miss Anne. We never talked, I suppose I must have been like a prison warden for her, keeping an eye on her all the time, even at night. She said I couldn't have helped her but I still feel so guilty for not telling her about the bloodlettings, what the other maids said about it.'

Poor Dora, she probably didn't realise there were bad memories attached to the house as well as good ones. Despite his misgivings he cannot but give her some support, Dora is like a sister to him and she needs a hug right now, though Nick knows she does not see him as a brother and may fall in love with him at any moment. He holds her and lets her cry on his livery, then observes, 'If Miss Anne says she doesn't reproach you and wouldn't have believed you, she is not trying to spare you, Dora. When I met her at the Blackwoods' for the first time she was outraged I dared to ask her how she was, she did not want to be addressed by a servant. She was different then, truly. She is happy now, and she will make sure you will have a good position, even if she does go abroad eventually. Please believe me, she will not let you down.

Is there anything you want to take with you? Then take it, and let's go, this place depresses me, how unhappy poor Miss Anne must have been here, with no-one to talk to and nothing to do.'

'You love her, don't you, Nick?'

There is nothing Nick can say, she was bound to find out sooner or later, they have not been careless.

'I can hear it in your voice when you talk of her, or to her. I'm sorry for you, Nick, I hope you're not too unhappy about it. But should you be working for her husband, isn't that too painful? Shouldn't you just move on instead of trying to be close to someone you'll never be allowed to love?'

Still Nick can think of nothing to say, if Dora doesn't know about Anne and him he cannot tell her, not without Anne's and Frederick's permission. But he won't deny his love for Anne either, it would be a damned lie and Dora deserves better. Let her think he loves hopelessly, it may keep her off his back. Or it may cause her to try and comfort him by coming on to him, she knows his reputation.

'I'm not unhappy with the way things are right now, Dora. And Mr Manners doesn't worry about Miss Anne and myself doing things together that he doesn't approve of.'

'So he knows and he trusts you. And her. Well, it's none of my business anyway.'

Oh yes, Mr Manners trusts Anne and himself to do all kinds of things, including giving him an heir. Today has proven his theory at least, that Nick's children will pass easily for Frederick's. Frederick. Such a strange thought, that Nick will be inextricably linked to him and Simon for as long as he loves Anne. But Dora is waiting, they have a job to do.

'Thank you for your understanding, Dora. I am not to be pitied, really. Let's retrieve Miss Anne's keepsakes and get out of this room, it's depressing. I'm glad she'll never have to see it again, I was close to tears myself for a few moments, imagining her life here.'

Dora is all business again and quickly rummages in several drawers, even a secret one that she unlocks with a hidden lever. They carefully stow every item in a satchel Dora has taken from under the bed, she must have known it was there.

'Miss Anne told me about the secret drawer, Nick, I did not know it was there or how to operate it.'

Good of her to tell him, he did wonder. He feels a bit shut out Anne didn't tell him instead until he realises that would have given away their involvement.

'Can you carry this lamp? It's too fragile to put in the satchel and it's quite heavy. She said to leave it because of that but I know she wants it, her father gave her that and she loved him so. Hughes' help means we can take whatever we want without being bothered, you might call him Lady Catherine's head of security. He does not answer to the housekeeper but only to the steward. If she'd sent him to retrieve Anne you would have had less success defending her, but of course she wouldn't have asked him to kidnap someone, he'd never stoop so low. He has a daughter Miss Anne's age and felt as sorry and as guilty as the rest of us.'

Nick still thinks he can take the fellow, especially with his slapjack hidden beneath his livery. But of course it's not an issue, they will be allowed to take whatever Anne wants, and Nick needs to stop wanting to prove himself to men taller than himself. He has everything he ever dreamed of, an easy job and plenty of freedom. And something much better, something he never expected or even wanted to have: a woman who loves him exclusively, and whom he loves more than anything or anyone in the world.

Already in the doorway, Dora hesitates, runs back in and puts one more item in her satchel.

'I think I do want to take this and Miss Anne won't mind my taking it, she doesn't need it anymore. We're set, let's take the servants' hallway back to the common-room. Though we don't call it the common-room, we call it the drawing-room, you'll see why.'

Sadness forgotten, Dora is obviously looking forward to meeting all her friends and telling them how well Miss Anne is doing.

The hall behind the rooms is very convenient, but it makes the separation between staff and family painfully absolute, no chance to run into a servant accidentally. The atmosphere in the back of the house is totally different, there are lights everywhere, making the whole a lot more welcoming. Dora leads Nick through a very nondescript door, as if they're accessing a store room and for one moment Nick thinks they have, since they find themselves in a tiny room with shelves. Then she opens another door and laughs, 'Welcome to the real drawing-room at Rosings, Nick!' letting him go in before her.

Nick is totally speechless, a state he rarely finds himself in as former street kid from London. This is not what one expects from a servants' common-room, this is a true drawing-room, like Mr Blackwood has, or even more like Mr Darcy's in town, as rich, but even larger. Princeless furniture and velvet hangings, rugs on the floor, and even a piano-forte.

'We took that from Mrs Jenkinson's room, she didn't need it anymore.'

Though Nick doesn't have a clue what that means, Mrs Jenkinson was Anne's lady companion, why did she have a piano in her room?, Dora knows, and she practically jumps the person speaking, a tow-haired boy of about eighteen.

'Frank! I've missed you!' she exclaims, and Frank looks at her strangely, poor fellow, he must have been crushed when she just disappeared without a word or a goodbye.

'Dora, why didn't you send word? Your parents have been so worried, and all of us barely less so!'

Maybe he is a little older than eighteen, he sounds very sensible. Too bad for him that Dora wants to go back to town.

They are invited to sit down, and Nick is introduced to at least a dozen people, maids, a butler, cook's helpers, a gardener or two, and a sedate older man who apparently is the steward. No wonder Simon said the servants at Rosing had a better time than its mistress and her relatives! This man is responsible for Lady Catherine's finances and he is enjoying this undoubtedly secret room right with the rest of them.

On closer inspection the furniture is still of a superb quality, but rather out of date and slightly worn, it must be the stuff that most families store in their attic, like Mrs Fielding's boudoir only less tastefully decorated. This is what Lady Catherine's house looked like a decade ago, the staff just took the old furnishings and put them in here. Frankly, it looks much like Earl Compton's town house scaled up to country size. People are chatting, playing cards, someone is playing the piano, just like a noble family would after dinner. Nick can hardly believe it, how do they keep this a secret? Even Mr Blackwood would soon find out if they were hiding a room like this in his house. Of course his house is a lot smaller, and he does his own finances.

For Nick can even see the usual treats being served, coffee, hot chocolate, with pastries and pieces of pie. Anne doesn't know about this, and neither do Mr Darcy or Colonel Compton and his father the Earl. Incredible, the nerve of these people!

'I admire all of you,' he says to those closing in on the pair of them. Of course they want to know what is going on with Miss de Bourgh and Dora and the reports of Mr Manners being at Hunsford. They laugh at his remark, there is no reservation towards him, he is Dora's friend and therefore accepted in their midst.

'How do you know what is going on outside this room?'

Hughes answers readily, 'We all take turns manning the real common-room, a rather bare place close to the kitchen. It's where we receive new staff and staff of casual visitors. Most regular visitors bring the same staff each time, and they are welcomed. Do you know Mr Darcy?'

'I do, yes, I've stayed in his town-house, in the back.' And in Anne's bedroom, but they shouldn't know that.

'Well, his valet Simon is always very welcome here, he is the best company, though he refuses to tell us anything about his family. We respect that, especially since all the girls are out of their minds about him. But if you been to the Darcy's town house you should know him.'

'Pretty well, actually, yes. And yet he never told me about this place. He knows our mission here, he must be laughing his ears off right now. He did tell me Rosings was more fun in the back. Incredible.'

'Enough talk, Hughes, we want to know about Miss de Bourgh, and Mr Manners and everything. Come on, Dora, tell us what happened after you left.'

Frank likes a good story, that much is clear, or maybe he just likes to hear Dora talk. She sits back on a luxurious sofa, the others gathering around her, listening expectantly, then starts to tell her tale.

'Miss de Bourgh ordered me to pack for three weeks and make it really fast, we were leaving with her uncle Earl Compton within the hour. So I did, and packed my own bags for the same period of time, I didn't get the time to take leave from anyone, before we knew it we were in a carriage with Miss de Bourgh, the Earl, Mrs Jenkinson and myself. We dropped off Mrs Jenkinson at her place, she didn't know anything either. I suppose Miss de Bourgh wrote to her when she decided to stay in London.'

At this preview of things to come, her audience makes appropriate sounds of surprise and approval. Dora merely continues with their stay at Earl Compton's house, their visits to Mr Darcy's house and the week or so at the Blackwood house. She tells only the most important things, how Miss Anne improved in health, bought new dresses and enjoyed society and especially the company of Mr Manners. Nick cannot catch her at revealing even one indiscretion, Dora is truly a very worthy maid for Anne. Then Hughes asks, 'Do you know what was wrong with Miss Anne, Dora? She truly seemed worse every year, and now you say she is completely recovered and Madge, who saw her at the Hunsford Arms, said she had gained as much as ten pounds, and was blooming. How can that be in a few months? She was so weak and sickly she could hardly stand.'

Now Dora looks at Nick, she is in doubt how much to tell them and besides, she doesn't know as much as he does.

'Will you tell them, Fowler? I think you know more about what the doctor said.'

He nods and starts to speak, 'Mr Manners' doctor said she did not have a weak constitution but a very strong one or she would have died years ago: the constant bloodlettings took as much as a quarter of her total amount of blood each month, some people would not have survived losing so much blood regularly. Still the loss made her weak and unable to eat. Keeping her blood where it was needed, and eating restorative foods the London doctor proscribed her she strengthened quickly and got a good deal fatter within weeks. Exercising and eating regular meals, as well as making fun with her new friends and having a future to look forward to gave her bloom. She is stunningly beautiful now. Did you read about Miss Darcy, now Mrs Fielding's, wedding? And the French couture that turned out to be from Cheapside?'

The others nod, they read that or heard about it.

'Well, Miss de Bourgh bought some of those dresses and they make her look like a princess. And now she has conquered her prince, who will bring her into society and let her enjoy herself as much as she likes. She need never sit at home again if she doesn't want to, that is why she agreed to marry Mr Manners. I like him a lot, he is my employer now to guard Miss de Bourgh from any harm.'

At that very moment someone storms into the drawing-room and calls out to Hughes, 'The mistress has had a big row with Mr Collins and wants you immediately, Hughes. It has to do with Miss de Bourgh.'

Nick jumps up, ready for action, and addresses Hughes frankly.

'If your mistress has found out Miss Anne is at Hunsford Parsonage and she wants you to kidnap her, you will find me on your path. I will not let harm come to my charge. I like you, Hughes, but I warn you, I am a lot more dangerous than I look.'

The tall but older man makes a conciliating gesture and says calmly, 'You look dangerous enough right now, Fowler, please stay calm, I have known Miss Anne since she was a little girl and I am not going to harm her. You have told me what every one of us knew in our hearts and felt guilty about. We should have done something to help her, all these years she spent in misery and depression and we could have stopped it. We knew that doctor was a quack, we knew what he was actually coming for.

You go to Miss Anne right now, we'll have her things delivered tomorrow, leave them here with Dora and I'll go to my mistress and try to talk some sense into her. I'm not going to incur the wrath of Mr Manners by trying to steal away his fiancée, and I know Earl Compton will not let her be harmed either. No need to fight, Fowler, I promise.'

And he holds out his hand with an earnest face. Nick takes it, this man can be trusted, and if he breaks his word Nick can beat the stuffing out of him after all. Then he asks Dora, 'Will you show me the way out? I won't be of any help if I walk myself lost.'

Frank now offers, 'You stay, Dora, and talk to the others until I return. I'll show Fowler the shortest way back to the parsonage. Don't go, Dora, don't leave so suddenly yet again!'

And he means it, if she leaves him again without a word she will break his heart.

'I won't, Frank. Good luck, Fowler, Miss de Bourgh is not in danger, don't feel bad, she's with Mrs Darcy, remember, I've heard she can handle Lady Catherine very well.'

That is right, Mrs Darcy is there, and Anne will not let some servant of her mother's take her. Still, Nick should have been with Anne instead of telling stories to her mother's servants. Frank motions him to follow, and there is nothing else Nick can do, he has no clue how to get back to the parsonage on his own. At least the fellow seems to realise the importance of speed, for he walks so fast Nick has to run to keep up, and before he knows it they are back outside the great house in the pitch-dark, gravel crunching under his boots once more.