Page 53 of Master of Netherfield
“And so, she does not have kind feelings toward the Darcy family.”
He considered his options and shook his head before saying, “I should like to speak to her in the next fifteen minutes with your attendance of course.”
Very quickly, the maid was found and brought to the study. The girl–barely fourteen years and resentful–stood on the carpet before the new master. Mrs Reynolds stood behind her and William wondered if the girl was scared of him or of the housekeeper.
“What is your name?”
“Lily Marsden, sir.”
“And Lily, you were serving as a chambermaid for my sister this morning?”
“Yes sir.”
“And you told my sister stories of Mrs Murray?”
“Yes sir.”
“And you made comments about my sister as well.”
“Yes sir.” Lily’s hands were picking nervously at her dress by this time.
“Is it true that your family has suffered a misfortune at the hands of Mr Wickham?”
“Yes sir. My sister Anne was turned out by me father when she begun to show, and Mr Wickham wouldn’t marry ‘er.”
William frowned. “I believe that my father found her a husband, gave her dowry of fifty pounds and paid for her marriage within the church.”
As she grew agitated, Lily’s tenant farm dialect appeared. “Yes sir, ‘er ‘usband can’t sell ‘er at the fair like a cow or none such.”
“I am sorry that your sister suffered but Mr Wickham has been removed from Kympton and shortly...”
“But ‘e was ‘ere this mornin’! I seen ‘im walkin’ proud and ‘e ‘ad a purse...”
“Hush girl!” Mrs Reynolds scolded.
“Mr Wickham was here but I have dismissed him and sent him from here to never return,” Mr Darcy told her. “He leaves Lambton on the coach today.”
“No sir. ‘e says ‘e had to call on Mrs Murray quick like!”
Darcy was surprised only for a moment by the revelation, and he closed his eyes as he struggled to restrain his anger. When he looked up again, the girl and Mrs Reynolds both were silent and frightened.
“Lily, you are not dismissed from service at Pemberley, but you may not work with any of the family or any guests again. Mrs Reynolds will assign you work befitting your skills. If I ever hear of you speakingagainst me or my sister, I shall dismiss you and your father will be turned off his farm.”
Lily waited until she reached the hallway before she burst into tears, but Mrs Reynolds cuffed her ear and said, “Silence! The master could have dismissed you without references. ‘e was exceedingly kind to you!”
“But what would ‘appen to m’ family if ‘e turns ‘em out?”
“Keep your tongue in your ‘ead and they won’t be on th’ road,” Mrs Reynolds fussed as her emotions overwhelmed and her own origins slipped into her speech.
**++**
With the secretary and solicitor in tow, Mr Darcy left Pemberley for Lambton. The coachman assured his employer that he knew the house where Mrs Murray was in residence and in under an hour, the carriage pulled to a stop. Darcy followed by the two men made his way to the door and knocked. When the housekeeper opened the door, Darcy pushed his way inside.
“Where is Mrs Murray?”
“Madam has a guest in the back-parlour sir, but...”
Darcy slipped around the woman and hurried down the hall to a door that he opened without knocking. He found George Wickham and Mrs Murray in close conversation while seated on a sofa.
