Before Darcy could offer her another caution, Mr. Baldwin interrupted with the tea service. They waited until the man had retired before continuing their conversation.

“And I assume this Lieutenant Harwood paid Anne undue attention,” Darcy encouraged.

“He did, but I remained unaware for some time. The man subversively began to correspond with Anne, sending her letters under the guise of writing to her maid, pretending to be the girl’s brother. The chit will be seeking other employment as soon as we return to Kent. She will rue the day she helped Anne to defy me!”

Darcy thought he might find the girl another position before that time. He would not blame a servant for doing what his cousin had obviously asked her to do, even if that request denied reason. As Anne was shy and withdrawn, her maid had probably rejoiced at her employer’s interest in the man. They all wanted Anne’s happiness. “So you brought Anne to Pemberley to remove her from this man’s attention?”

“I wish that it were that simple.” She sipped her tea. “Under the guise of going to London to see her modiste, Anne, after many weeks of this secret correspondence, made a trip to Liverpool to meet Harwood.” Her voice wobbled, and her hand trembled.

Darcy reached for her cup and returned it to the tray. He took her gnarled hand in his. “Tell me, my Dear.”

“I found her…my Anne…in a room in a seedy inn…one this Harwood character had arranged for her. Oh, Darcy, what will I do?” she whined. “I certainly cannot have Anne marry such a cad.”

Darcy fought back the smile creeping across his face. His cousin Anne had finally defied her mother. Possibly, “this Harwood character” did see his cousin as an easy mark and wanted to secure a quick marriage to claim Anne’s substantial dowry. As Rosings Park came unentailed to Lady Catherine after her husband’s passing, Anne’s husband would take control of a vast fortune soon enough. Then again, possibly, the man had developed a true affection for Darcy’s “sickly” cousin. Darcy would need to ascertain which case prevailed. “Do you wish me to speak to Anne?”