Page 21 of Fitzwilliam Darcy, Exile

“If your father agrees to engage my services.”

All eyes turned to Papa, whose shamed defeat had relaxed enough for him to shrug. “If Philips thinks it is necessary.”

Elizabeth bit the sharp retort on her tongue, grateful that at least he was willing to allow Mr. Robinson to do what he himself would not.

“It is necessary, Bennet,” Uncle said. “Mr. Robinson’s references are impeccable⁠—”

“Perhaps we should wait for Gardiner’s letter to confirm⁠—”

Uncle Philips’s palm slammed against the desk. “There is no time! For once in your life, Bennet, you must act with urgency! Today!” He took a deep breath, composing himself and taking his seat. “We cannot ignore these charges. They stem from your partnership with Imperial Spirits & Fine Goods.”

Elizabeth looked to her father for clarification.

“I do not understand how. I have not received any payment from them in years, not since the partnership dissolved.” He looked at Mr. Robinson. “It was an investment I inherited from my uncle. His shares came to me when he died in 1805. It was a profitable arrangement that required nothing from me—dividends appeared in my account every quarter, and I was happy to receive them while they lasted.”

“You signed a partnership agreement with them when you inherited your uncle’s shares?”

“A five-year contract renewal. A formality.”

Five years from 1805 brought them to 1810. Not quite two years ago.

“Did you receive a renewed contract from them in 1810?” asked Mr. Robinson.

“Yes, but I did not sign it. It must be in here somewhere…” Papa gestured about the room, as though he might in that moment chance to see the exact contract in question appear on the edge of a shelf. He gave up his search with a shrug. “When the dividends stopped coming, I assumed the partnership had dissolved naturally.”

“You did not request a formal dissolution?”

“I did not think it necessary.”

Uncle rubbed his temples. “Both Gardiner and I urged you to request the paperwork. We had heard some disturbing news about the company’s business practices after a change of ownership. Without legal documentation to prove you severed the partnership, you have placed yourself in the precarious position of being held liable for the company’s activities.”

Elizabeth grasped at the possibility implied. “Not by legal means, surely?”

“Legal? No.” Uncle looked at her over his spectacles. “It is my belief that Imperial Spirits & Fine Goods forged Bennet’s signature, using his name while their debts mounted.”

The last of Elizabeth’s hope shattered. They were in deep trouble, and her father had not even known. Or had he? She turned to her father. “The foreign letters? Were they from the trading company?”

A pause. “They might be. I cannot say for sure.”

She bit her lips together.

Uncle gasped. “They sent you correspondence? Did you not read the letters?”

Another pause, then a hesitant answer. “I did not think their contents worth my attention if they could not trouble themselves to write in English.”

“You did not read them,” she mumbled under her breath. Papa was fluent in all the Latin languages besides Greek and Hebrew. He had not read them because he did not want to deal with them.

Mr. Robinson asked, “Do you still have these letters?”

“Somewhere.” Papa gestured at the stack of papers Mr. Robinson had moved from the chair he occupied. “Perhaps in that pile?”

Mr. Robinson’s gaze regarded her father steadily. “We will need to find them.”

Like searching for a needle in a haystack. It would take days, weeks. The daunting task gave Elizabeth purpose, the reinforced tea fueling the spark fired within her. She straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. The sooner she started, the sooner she could find the evidence needed to clear her father’s name and save Longbourn.

CHAPTER 10

Darcy watched Miss Elizabeth transform before his eyes. Her pallor brightened, and there was a fire in her eyes. She sat tall, her jaw set and determined. She must have been terrified, but she would not break. She was stunning. Remarkable.