Revelations an adaption of Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 47

Meanwhile, Darcy makes his way to Mr Manners' bedroom, and knocks quietly.

'Come in, Mr Darcy,' is the answer.

'You guessed it was me?'

Mr Manners is sitting in a comfortable chair in front of a cheery fire.

'You'd want to know what I saw, and how Grenfell is doing. I would, though I'd want to kill him, too. Will you sit down for a moment?'

Darcy sits down in a second comfortable chair, and Mr Manners pours and hands him a glass of brandy.

'A naughty habit of mine, drinking brandy just before turning in. I couldn't sleep. He is my friend, you know, I knew he had a hard time handling adversity, but I never thought he'd stoop so low.'

'According to the maid he planned to abuse her every time he saw her. It sounded as if this was not the first time, Mr Manners.

But first of all, how is he?'

'Perfectly well, Mr Darcy, your brother-in-law must be an expert in the application of violence, for Grenfell was out when I found him, but he got up and walked to his room within fifteen minutes, and without a mark on him.'

'I cannot imagine him making life hard on my brother-in-law in the army, was that bluff or does he truly have influence?'

'I suppose he may have a family-member there, but I guess they know him as well as we do. Besides, I've heard you're very well-connected?'

'I am, I am, I guess I can pull some strings if needed. Frankly, I'm tempted to call him out, he assaulted one of my staff, a young girl who trusts me to protect her from harm. I'm going to have to convince her fiancée tomorrow not to act in revenge, I feel obliged to get satisfaction for her myself.'

Now Mr Manners looks decidedly uncomfortable.

'Would you mind very much if we handle this among ourselves, Mr Darcy? We're a close-knit group, and we know how to deal with one of us crossing the line. We've calmed down a lot, you see, but we used to be quite a rowdy lot. Yes, even Bingley, I can see you don't believe me, but he was as bad as the rest of us.

I thought I'd talk to the rest, starting with Bingley of course, then call Grenfell to order and have him keep his peace towards the girl, any other dependants, and your brother-in-law.

If we make a big deal out of it, chances are Mr Wickham will be the greatest loser in this, and he seems quite capable and ambitious, and quite the hero. He deserves his future in the rifles, I spent some time on him tonight, and he told me about his ambitions.

You know how the world works, Mr Darcy, and as yet Grenfell's friends have the biggest influence on him.

Can you live with that?'

'Frankly, I have a huge problem letting him get away with trying to abuse a helpless girl.'

'Who said he was getting away with it? I said we'd handle this, he will not escape his punishment, we have our ways of enforcing boundaries, Mr Darcy. Can we do away with the honorific, by the way? I like you, and I feel as if we have known each other for some time already.'

Darcy nods, it is fitting they should do that, but he still doesn't understand what Manners is saying. Is he suggesting they will punish Grenfell among themselves? What will keep him from just leaving?

'I can see you have a hard time believing he'd actually feel punished by our measures, Darcy. Let me assure you it will hit him harder than the law, it doesn't really care about a female being bothered, certainly not a lowly servant. But we care, and we are Grenfell's friends, we're closer than family, we are everything he has.