Page 17 of An Accidental Meeting
Darcy watched the Gardiners’ carriage roll away from Pemberley with a sense of profound satisfaction. They would return in the morning, perhaps early enough for breakfast. He would speak to Bingley first thing upon his friend’s arrival to explain himself. He had not seen Bingley since before his trip to Rosings until they met to travel north, and thus far his friend’s sistershad demanded all his attention. Poor Georgiana had resorted to sleeping—or pretending to sleep—to get away from their incessant gossip.
No, Bingley’s sisters deserved no warning at all. Darcy had helped convince Bingley that Jane Bennet’s feelings were not equal to his own, for at the time he had truly believed it. He had also been aware she was in town, but that was all. Miss Bingley had concealed the fact that she had exchanged visits with Jane Bennet. He winced as he thought about the letters Elizabeth had been reading at the parsonage the evening he had burst in on her and proposed. Had Elizabeth’s sister written to her of the Bingley sisters’ visit? Had Elizabeth been reading about it before he arrived? If so, it was a wonder she had not speared him with the fireplace poker.
“Mr. Rhoades,” he said as he re-entered the house, “will you have a maid check in on Mrs. Reynolds for me? I would like some word on her health before I retire.”
“Of course, sir,” Mr. Rhoades said, and walked briskly away.
He stepped into his study and flipped aimlessly through a ledger until Mr. Rhoades returned.
“Mrs. Reynolds says that she shall be upstairs tomorrow, sir.”
“Mr. Rhoades,” Darcy replied disbelievingly, “are you saying Mrs. Reynolds expects to return to her duties in the morning?”
The butler appeared resigned. Perhaps he had attempted to reason with the housekeeper, perhaps he had considered the futility of such a measure, but it did not matter.
“The physician’s orders were for her to remain in bed tomorrow and in her chambers for one day more before attempting alightday’s work.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I see,” Darcy said brusquely. “Thank you, Mr. Rhoades. Please, go down to your dinner.”
The butler bowed slightly and backed out of the room.
Darcy sighed. HewantedMrs. Reynolds to be fit to run the house, particularly as Elizabeth and her aunt and uncle were coming to stay. But she was not, and he would not allow her to do herself more harm. He closed the ledger and shelved it, making certain that everything was in the correct order before exiting the room himself.
Chapter Six
It had been many years since Darcy had descended the stairs to the housekeeper’s room, but he remembered the way. It was on the same hall as the kitchen, and the servants’ dining room was a bit beyond. He could hear a group of them chatting as they at last sat down to their own meal after having done such a splendid job this evening.
He was careful not to overhear any of the conversation. Mr. Rhoades was there to stem any inappropriate talk, and that was all that mattered. Servants deserved their own place in the house just as those who lived above stairs did.
As unobtrusive as he attempted to be, of course, the sound of his knock on Mrs. Reynolds’s door drew Mr. Rhoades from the dining room.
“Come in,” he heard the housekeeper call.
“I will not be long, Mr. Rhoades,” he told the man, whose stony countenance was betrayed by the slightest smile. “Please, go back to your meal.”
With a silent half-bow, the butler did just that.
“Mrs. Reynolds,” he said, closing the door behind him, “I have come to see you for myself.”
“Oh, Mr. Darcy!” she exclaimed, patting at her greying hair. “You need not have come all the way here for that.”
“All this way?” Darcy teased her, pulling up a chair and sitting near her bed. The maid stood from her own to tend the fire. “It is one staircase and a hall, Mrs. Reynolds, not a journey to London.”
He evaluated her. She was still paler than normal, but otherwise, she appeared well. There was not even a bandage around her head.
“It was little more than a scratch,” she assured him. “I am having Miss Bennet’s handkerchief laundered. Did she happen to leave word where she and her family are staying?”
He smiled. “You may have them return it to me and I will see it rightly home. I have invited Miss Bennet and her uncle and aunt to stay here with us during their time in Derbyshire. They will arrive tomorrow morning.”
Mrs. Reynolds sat up and tossed the covers back. “I must speak to Cook.”
Darcy was in front of her in a trice, blocking her way.
“Sir, I must . . .”
“You are still in your nightrail, Mrs. Reynolds,” he informed her sternly, his eyes focused on her face. “And you are not leaving this room until Mr. Hammond gives you leave to do so. I am told that will be at least the day after tomorrow.”
