“No, you’re right, madam, I suppose everyone enjoys that to a degree. Taking charge of others can be quite gratifying. But most people’s enjoyment of it is dampened when they see they are hurting others. And then there are those like that Mr. Lovell.”
“True enough,” said Jane. “And yourself, sir?”
“Me? What of me?” Mr. Hardy looked thoroughly confused.
“Do you enjoy taking charge of others?” she said.
“I am never in charge, Miss Austen,” he said with an ironic smile.
“Well, that simply isn’t true,” said Jane. “You are seemingly now in charge of this entire tavern, and you have always had a position here of some importance. And then there is the matter of the fact you weaponize secrets against other men to get them to do your bidding when it pleases you.”
Mr. Hardy went entirely still.
“Do not deny it, for I already know it is true, and it is, in fact, a service I need rendered from you today, which is the reason for my visit,” said Jane.
Mr. Hardy tilted his head down, his expression changing. “Pardon me, madam?”
“Well, I suppose I shall come around to it eventually regardless,” said Jane, “but I must say, you cannot go about terrorizing people in this manner, Mr. Hardy. You did not die this time, but you will get yourself killed if you continue thinking that blackmail is the way forward. You are running this tavern now for Mr. Seward and the two of you seem to have found a way to work together despite whatever you have threatened him with in the past, so I hope that you will continue in that manner after all of this.” Jane flinched. “Well, after you carry out one more blackmail request for me, I suppose.” She sighed.
“What are you speaking of?”
“It’s all very well and good to scold you out of one side of my mouth when I am asking you to perform the selfsame action out of the other side.” Jane shook her head. “Nothing for it, though, I suppose. Here it is. The valet didn’t do it.”
Mr. Hardy drew himself up in shock. “No?”
“No,” said Jane.
“Then who?” said Mr. Hardy.
Jane swallowed. “Now, before I tell you, I want you to understand that this cannot be done out of vengeance, you see. We shall do this, you and I, well, really only you, but I am bringing it about, so, yes,weshall do this for justice. Because Lord Byron protects friends, no matter what they have done, because Lord Byron has no scruples, and I am not Lord Byron, and I shall not stand by and allow a murderer to live a free and happy life without any consequence whatsoever!”
“It’s Beaumont,” said Mr. Hardy.
Jane nodded.
Mr. Hardy clenched his hands into fists. He moved past Jane and went to the door of the storage room. He opened it. “You had best go. I am feeling out of sorts, and when I get into a temper—”
“Yes, I know about your tempers,” cut in Jane dryly. “Did I not even now finish with a speech about justice versus vengeance?”
Mr. Hardy paused, back to her, muscles moving in his back beneath his clothes. A long moment passed, and then, very deliberately, he shut the door again. He turned back around to her. “Beaumont never cared a fig about her. He destroyed her, and he didn’t even care. He just used and discarded her like… like a rag he’d soiled. And then, I was left to try to gather up the pieces of her, but she never wanted me. And then, he just kills her. Just like that. Snuffs her out.” Mr. Hardy’s face twisted.
“Yes,” said Jane. “We are of one mind about this. And it bodes well that your anger is directed at him for his hand in Anne’s murder, not because his attempt was against you.”
“Right,” said Mr. Hardy. “He meant it for me. But why? Why did he want to kill me?”
“I suppose you don’t know, then,” said Jane. “But you will now have to pretend you have always known.”
“Known what?”
“Well, I don’t know all the details, and I don’t wish to know, for it is squalid. But Beaumont arranged for Mr. Eves to… assist somehow in the making of his heir. He seems to need a man there in some capacity, I suppose—”
“Oh, yes,” said Mr. Hardy in a dark voice. “Oh, yes, indeed.”
“I want him to go into exile,” said Jane. “I want him to leave England, to go elsewhere, and to leave enough of his fortune for his wife and child to live comfortably on for the rest of their lives. I don’t want him ever to return. It is less about punishing him and more about removing him from our lives. All of it starts with him, don’t you see? Every bit of this twisted saga begins withBeaumont and the way he used Anne. And then he finished it, and I want us to finish him.”
“Exile,” said Mr. Hardy.
“Yes,” said Jane. “That is what you will demand of him. Not money. Nothing for your own personal gain, do you understand me?”
