“Then she can freeze. That’s what she did to Georgiana.”
“Yes, but…”
“You have less than no right to challenge me, madam.” he snapped, and strode away.
The door slammed after him when he left.
Stunned, Elizabeth stood amongst the white-faced servants and tried to catch her breath.
Darcy had not lingered to watch Miss Crocker go. He also had no idea that the crowd of servants who descended on the woman were not inclined to help her on her way. They shoved her out of the door well enough, but after that their attentions were significantly more unfriendly. Elizabeth’s stomach rolled sickly. She was glad when the door swung shut, and she could no longer see.
“Will you stop them?” she asked Mrs. Reynolds weakly. The woman shook her head.
“They are fond of Miss Darcy, and very loyal to the family. They will stop soon enough and send her on her way as the master wishes.”
“I do not like to see people being hurt.”
The housekeeper gave her a steady look, “Neither do we, ma’am. And she hurt someone that we care about. Mr. Darcy has ensured that she will never get another opportunity. His servants will ensure that she regrets ever setting foot inside this house. There is more than one kind of justice, ma’am.”
“I… see.” Elizabeth swallowed hard.
“What are your orders, madam?”
There was a shuddering pause. Elizabeth’s words came out in a plaintive croak: “Miss Darcy… we must... must…”
Mrs. Reynolds placed her hand on her shoulder, “Breathe, madam.”
“I am… recovered, Mrs. Reynolds. We must care for Georgiana now. We must get her out of that horrible room. Take her to her bedroom - but keep the curtains drawn. Her eyes will be too feeble for the light at first. Give her something to eat. Not soup, something sweet like a custard. Oh, and we must send for Doctor Slant at once. He needs to know what Miss Crocker did - and answer for the trust we placed in him. Perhaps he can tell us what medicine she gave poor Georgiana.”
Mrs. Reynolds nodded at each instruction, sending servants off with small flicks of her wrist. By the time the last servants had vanished on their tasks, they were alone in the hallway.
Elizabeth had reached the end of her ideas, and stood with her eyes shut, her lips moving as she quelled her racing thoughts. The housekeeper had not taken her hand from Mrs. Darcy’s shoulder. Now, she gave it a little shake to rouse the lady from her daze.
“What will you do, madam?”
“I will follow my husband.” Elizabeth said, her voice trembling. “I fear that I must.”
The housekeeper’s arm tightened on her shoulder. “Nobody would blame you if you wanted to stay down here. He is terrible when he is roused.”
Elizabeth shook her head, “You know what he will do next. You saw his hands trembling as well as I did, Mrs. Reynolds. He will drink, and I must try to prevent it.”
“He won’t listen.”
“Of course he won’t. But I must try.” Lizzie scowled and rubbed her eyes. They felt gritty with her tears and the dust from beneath the piano. “I am not afraid of him anymore, Mrs. Reynolds. But if I should need you…”
“I will be here, madam.” the woman said softly, and kissed Elizabeth’s cheek. “Good luck.”
Chapter 26
“Go away, Elizabeth.” Darcy snapped even before the door was fully open. “I have nothing to say to you.”
“Oh, I think you do.” Lizzie replied, matching his fire at once, “I think you have a great deal to say to me, sir.”
“You think wrong, madam. You disobeyed me. You have lied to me! Do not deny it! And do not dare make any excuses.”
Elizabeth looked pointedly at the decanter. The stopper was out, a few drops were spilled beside a drained cup beside it, and the amount of port within was already much less than it had been before.
“I have no excuses to make, sir. Do you? Or do you dare claim that you are without fault?”
