usually closed but could be opened, to allow the cook's helpers to serve meals and coffee, and Darcy planned to spy on what was going on in the staff room from the kitchen.
Entering the kitchen through the door that was used to serve meals to the family, he explained to the cook why he wanted to stay in the kitchen unobtrusively for half an hour, and though the cook was surprised to hear it, he also admitted he was usually too busy and the kitchen was too noisy to hear much of what was going on in room right beside it.
Preparations for lunch and dinner tonight went on, the kitchen staff ignored him, and Darcy peeked through a knothole in the door at what was going on in the room itself.
Bob was indeed sitting there, chatting with one of the hired maids, a pretty young woman with a friendly expression. She had probably been hired specifically for their return to the household. After a short talk, the maid excused herself to go back to her duties, and the cook brought Bob his lunch and stayed for a while to catch up on the Pemberley news. Then Theo came in, and one of the cook's helpers brought him his lunch, which he ate at the same table as the two others. Everything seemed completely normal, just three men, one of whom had just arrived after a long absence, exchanging news.
The cook came back into the kitchen with a question written all over his face, and Darcy started to doubt whether Bob hadn't read the situation all wrong. But when the cook had closed the door behind him, Darcy having made way for him for a moment, the latter went back to the knothole and saw a totally different scene. Theo was sitting menacingly close to Bob and asked calmly why Bob didn't eat his lunch in the stables, where he belonged being the country bumpkin he was. Considering the smell he carried around him all day, there was only one place suitable for him, didn't he agree? With the other horses? They might be better company, too, same long nose, same big teeth, same level of intelligence.
When Bob didn't react, Theo shoved him once, hard enough that Bob nearly fell but just managed to keep himself upright. Devilishly clever of Theo, had Bob fallen someone would certainly have come running from the kitchen to ask for an explanation. As Bob righted himself, Theo spilled the contents of his cup of coffee in Bob's plate, ruining the food on it, then started to eat his own lunch, totally ignoring Darcy's trusted driver, forcing him to either complain to the cook and hope his word would be believed against the
highest ranking servant in the house, or do without lunch. Bob seemingly chose the last option and made himself scarce, undoubtedly to the stables.
Seeing the pleased expression on Theo's face was truly painful. How could he have kept such a sadistic nature from his master for so long? How could anyone enjoy torturing someone weaker than themselves?
Darcy decided not to confront Theo with his actions, not just yet, Theo might warn Janine something was up, and that was not useful at all. Instead, Darcy told the cook he had seen enough, and suggested the cook might want to peep through that hole himself sometimes when the room was almost empty, to see what was really happening in the servants' quarters. Then he swore the man to silence about the master's presence in the kitchen, and he did the same with the helpers. Last thing he did was claim another lunch for Bob, and Darcy was off to the stables to deliver his driver a well-earned meal and commend him for his bravery in facing an abusive superior.
In the stables he could hear a loud voice, and hoping to clear up this business quickly, he quietly peeked around a rough wooden door. And incredibly he could see Bruce, the much younger stable boy, giving Bob another dose of humiliation. Bob outweighed and outranked Bruce, but apparently he dared not resist this much more physical abuse either. He merely shrunk into himself and took what he seemed to think he could not avoid getting.
Darcy's anger had been rising steadily and now it reached a boiling point, and since the house staff never came into the stables he could do something about this situation straight away. He barged in and stepped in front of Bruce, face livid undoubtedly. Seeing his master in a fit of rage the young man positively blanched, struck dumb, but having been caught red-handed striking a senior colleague who had not lifted a finger to resist, there was not much to say. Bruce's reaction took the worst heat out of Darcy's anger, and the latter quietly turned around to hand Bob his lunch.
'I thought you might like some edible food after all, you must be hungry after driving the team through town. I always feel very safe with you on the box, Bob, know that you are not invisible to me.'
Realising his master had seen everything that happened, not just here, but in the kitchen as well, his relief was just incredible. He only managed to whisper, 'Thank you master. For your kindness and for the lunch. With your permission I'll go sit on the box now to eat my lunch, so you can finish your
conversation with Bruce in peace.'
So he did have some spirit left in him, good. Darcy almost thought it might be too late for poor Bob.
As Bob moved away slowly, Darcy merely observed Bruce. Would he have to be dismissed, too? He was still so very young and impressionable, but he had seemed to enjoy poking and slapping Bob a shade too much. No-one could see them here, no-one could have forced him to do that. What he had to say now was very important for his future, as far as Darcy knew Bruce was not married yet, but his mother did depend on his income, as well as his younger siblings. Finally able to speak, the young man fell to his knees and begged.
'Master, please have mercy on me, my mother and little sisters cannot do without my income. If you throw me out it'll be the poorhouse for them.'
So he did realise the magnitude of what he had done.
'Do you know what you have done, Bruce? You seem to realise that molesting a superior deserves the severe consequence of dismissal, but do you truly realise what you have done to a fellow human?'
Darcy felt his anger rise again, he would really like to kick this hypocrite heap of snivelling humanity out on his ear, right now, but Bruce was a human too.
'I do know what I have done master, I was brutal and he didn't even try to defend himself. He was always nice to me, he never did anything to hurt me.
I admire him, for he knows horses so well, and he can drive the thoroughbreds through that narrow street around the corner. I truly don't know why I started to pick on him, I must have been mad.'
Darcy raised himself to his full height and spoke with authority.
'Bruce, look at me.'
As the young man obeyed instantly, there was a semblance of true repentance in his attitude, but the decision would be up to Bob.
'I caught you molesting your superior, your position in this household is forfeit, I can dismiss you instantly with a bad recommendation. That means you'll be lugging bags of grain in the harbour, if they'll take you. Since you are not the only one in this house preying on the weak, I am inclined to think you are not bad by nature, just impressionable. Your fate is in the hands of your victim now, for only he decides whether you may stay despite what you did to him. If he allows it, you will work as the lowest stable boy
on my estate, three days away from here. You will be able to support your family, but you will not be able to see them for a year, and you will get acquainted with hard work under a strict master. But only if Bob can still bear the sight of you after what happened. You will not talk to him on this matter until I give you leave, on punishment of instant dismissal. You will not go into the house for meals or coffee or at all until I give you leave, again on punishment of instant dismissal. Do you understand?'
'Yes master, I understand. I did a despicable thing and I deserve punishment.'
He had not pointed the finger at Theo or anyone else, he took full responsibility, which in Darcy's opinion pleaded for him. But he was capable of a deed Darcy found unimaginable, and it would take some hefty recommendations from his dependable staff at Pemberley to regain his trust in this boy.
'Better get back to work then, I'll get back to you as soon as my other business is finished.'
Chapter 21
Now Darcy visited Bob
on the box of the carriage, his driver seemed relieved, but that was not enough. He deserved reparations for what happened, such a strong, calm spirit brought down to taking punishment from an adolescent without offering any resistance.
'I feel very bad about what was done to you under my roof, Bob,' Darcy said.
'Begging your pardon sir,' Bob retorted, 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 fellow, 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, he abused his position to torment you and he really enjoyed it, he should never have people working for him again which is why he will not get any references from me. 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 seemed very distressed at the thought, and he exclaimed, '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 said 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 reckoning.
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 left the stable, to hear his sister's voice somewhere in the house. Georgie was here, better find Elizabeth to have lunch together, Janine's reckoning would have to wait. And quite possibly it would have to wait two more days.
Georgie was still in the hall, a good opportunity to study Theo again, Darcy could see his sister handing him her coat and Mrs Annesley doing the same.
The butler's expression did not change. Good, at least Georgie was no longer imposed on. Having been greeted by her brother with a loving embrace and a few heartfelt kisses she immediately inquired after her new sister.
'Where did you misplace Mrs Darcy, Fitzwilliam?'
He did feel a need to hold his beloved, he had seen some shocking scenes today, especially Theo's glee after tormenting Bob had been 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 replied in the same spirit, 'so better make it ten minutes after all.'
But he did go straight to the library, where he indeed found his beloved, browsing among the rows of books, lost to the world.
'Improving you mind once again?' he asked her cheekily, and she turned around instantly, smiling, their reunion as loving as Georgie predicted.
'I've had a productive hour,' he told 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 you asked me to, but I'd prefer to know in what manner. Theo is not getting references. Bob has decided to keep Bruce, provided he gets sent to Pemberley to scrub stables as lowliest stable boy under Hugo. How many rooms did you see until you got stuck in the library?'
Smiling fondly, Elizabeth replied, '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.'
He couldn't keep a trace of pride out of his voice as he said, '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 didn't know what to do with her, so I just ignored 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 replied playfully, but actually he was starting to get rather concerned. Janine's behaviour was totally unheard of, she might actually pose a threat to Elizabeth, she seemed 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 felt his hand being released, and he was 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 kissed once more, then went to the dining-room, where Georgie greeted Elizabeth with affection, embracing and kissing her on the cheeks.
After greeting Mrs Annesley his beloved sat down in the chair next to him, exactly where he wanted her, and he took her hand until lunch was served.
As they started on their lunch, Darcy kept a steady eye on his maid, and at first she was her usual self, polite, obliging. But when Georgie started telling Elizabeth enthusiastically about her piano classes, clearly very much at ease with her new sister, Darcy stole another look at Janine and saw what Elizabeth meant. The maid was openly showing hostility towards Elizabeth, who didn't notice because she was intent on Georgie. Of course Darcy would have been too, if he hadn't decided to be impolite and look at something else, and he was truly shocked. He had never seen anyone look like that at another person, let alone a servant at her new mistress, his hard-won beloved whom he loved more than anyone in the world. What did Elizabeth ever do to her? And what should Darcy do with Janine? He agreed with his beloved that she could not share a roof with this creature, but where Elizabeth gave him a few days to solve the matter, Darcy wanted the woman away from the love of his life today. The maid noticed him looking at her, and a smile overspread her face.
'Master, 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 replied, '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 was relatively mild, she merely curtseyed and left. Very strange, and rather disconcerting.
They kept up a lively conversation through lunch, this scene was exactly as he imagined his sister and Elizabeth together, Georgie had so much more spirit with Elizabeth around, she coul
d not but benefit from the association.
Of course Elizabeth was used to having a sister, several actually, but only one she could really relate to. His beloved didn't seem to miss her sister as much anymore after their three weeks of marriage, but she was clearly glad to talk to Georgie.
After lunch he left Elizabeth and Georgie together in the drawing-room, Georgie demonstrating her new skills on the piano, Elizabeth relishing her performance. He addressed Mrs Annesley, who was working on a gorgeous piece of needlework, a real masterpiece as always, and Darcy decided to ask her tonight whether she kept everything she made. But now he merely entreated 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 found at least one member of his staff who was very normal, and she smiled a little at his foolishness and promised 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 affirmed.
'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 was off to the kitchen for the second time that day, again quietly, but he didn't see or hear anything. The cook had contrived to be alone in the kitchen, and told his master why he asked to see him.
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