Though I think your comclusions are emininently reasonable, I think you also have to look at the 'dismissal' factor from the job POV. I mean, I know that's obvious and that DLS deals with it explicitly in the text, but it's a complicating factor, if Bunter is worried about losing *everything* - not just LP, but also home, hearth, and salary, all at once. Obviously he'd have gotten a glowing reference but having to start all over in a new job while emotionally bereaved would be that much worse.

Mind if I PM you? There's a fic I want to write and I don't have my books here - if you've been going through yours, maybe you can offer a suggestion or two.