“That it shall,” Darcy said, hiding a laugh as his sister munched away.Hardly ladylike, but he would not chastise her. Not when she had not been this joyful in more days than he could count.“Now then, let me lead you to your room; you must be wearied.”
“Cousin has had that room before,” Cathy said as her brows furrowed. “He should know the way by now.”
“But it is the mark of a good host to see to their guests,” Darcy said as he hurried to stand, one hand extended toward the door, “Let us see you settled.”
“Of course,” Fitz nodded, lips pursed and brows drawn as he passed; the pair quickly making their way down the hall and up the grand staircase, before he stood stock still, arms crossed as he stared at Darcy two steps down. “Now then, what is it you wish to say?”
“You have heard the news, I suspect. Of the new state of war with America?” Darcy frowned, gaze falling to the railing awkwardly.
“I have. Is that why you drew me away, to see if I had heard? If so, I see no reason for it; I had not even enough time to tease your sisters of the gifts I brought, for you know I would have tempted them with it and given reason why it ought to wait ‘till the morrow,” Fitz laughed, though his eyes stayed on Darcy, flitting over him as he sought to work out the puzzle before him.
“You would tease them,” he smiled softly, even as his hands furled and unfurled beside him, emotions and topics swirling within. “Yet, surely you must know what this war means. I know you do. If things have been difficult maintaining a known connection with us, how much more now? Already the sting of it is felt for Pemberley. I invited four local families to join us one evening while you are here, the invitations sent before I knew of the war…allinvitations were met with rejections. Half courteous. Half filled with insults that held little enough veil for polite society. That is what we are to endure… I pray that you might avoid it.”
“Do your sisters know?” Fitz queried, tone stilted as his eyes blazed. “They did not read them, did they? If so, I would gladly throttle the heads of those families responsible. Or anyone else who requires it; somehow to lay blame at your or your sisters' feet.”
“No. I did not tell them of my plans to invite anyone; they know not of the rejections. Still, you are changing the subject. You have already endured trials on our account.” Brows knitting, Darcy gazed up at his cousin, “How did you manage this rise to Colonel given that?”
Sheepish, the now colonel hesitated momentarily, “It seems last year when I served on the Peninsula that I saved the life of a colonel with high connections, for, once he rose to the rank of general a month back, he began to press for my advancement. I doubt he did so without opposition, however, he did manage it in the end. As great a repayment as I might ever have expected.”
“Astounding! Though well deserved. I have no doubt your record and bravery spoke well of you–not only that one instance. Even a grateful man with connections could not have seen it done were you not worthy. I simply wish our connection did not prove a hindrance in your career.” Hesitating, he frowned, “I have the answer… we tell my sisters you are called back to your regiment–a message delivered while we were busy conversing–then you return to London and denounce all acquaintance with us publicly. I could explain it to my sisters later.”
“Darcy, enough! Have you taken leave of your senses? It is my choice. I will not lay aside family who are as dear to me as any. Not for any reason, much less this fanciful one of yours. Yes, thereMAYbe certain repercussions, but not those you lay claim. Not dire ones only solved by deceit and disloyalty. This is not who you are, nor is it who I am.”
Laying a hand on Darcy’s shoulder, the Colonel gave a sad smile, then turned up the stairs, leaving Darcy standing on the stairway.
His cousin was loyal… and stubborn. There would be no moving him from his decision. To his sisters that family connection might prove a saving grace, but it would do no favours to Fitz. And for all that he may have been wrong about lying to his sisters, he had the right of it in the rest. There was no fanciful difficulty to Fitz or his sisters and he… it had already proven real. It had given enough pain to demonstrate that. More than enough by far.
∞∞∞
“Darcy,” Fitz announced, the letter he held aloft fluttering as he entered the library, “a friend of mine wrote several days ago; he is in the area and wishes to see me. I took the liberty of inviting him to stay… he has accepted the invitation. He shall arrive Tuesday and remain a sennight.”
Head tilted, Darcy stared at his cousin incredulously.Surely. Surely he had misheard.
“You invited himHERE? Without speaking to me? Without even telling me his name or where he is from… or anything, aside from his being a friend.”
“Mr. Charles Bingley, the only son of a wealthy tradesman. He is in search of an estate to rent or, if he likes one enough, to purchase. Well, his two sisters are much keener on his purchasing than not, the unmarried one in particular.” Shuddering dramatically he laughed, “Be thankful I did not extend the invitation to her; she is in London with her sister presently so it did not matter, but I still could have offered. In any case, I did not obtain your permission because this foul mood you are in would have you reject royalty the privilege of lodging here. Mr. Bingley may not yet rank amongst the gentry, but he is an amiable, honest sort of fellow whose company you, I, and even your sisters would benefit from. You cannot brood forever… not when it hurts your sisters. You will recall, they have not been told the reason.”
Divided between packing Fitz’s belongings so he might be dismissed from Pemberley and apologizing to him and his sisters for his foul mood, Darcy frowned. Neither option pleased.
“Does this Mr. Bingley know who he is to be staying with? Of the stain to all who reside with us?” Darcy taunted, his heart squeezing as he did.Why? What had come over him of late?
Sighing and growling in the same breath, Fitz answered, “You exaggerate… again. Though, to answer your question, heDOESknow and he does not care.”
He had to apologize. He had gone too far; though Fitz had goaded him and insulted him… his words held truth.
“Well then, he shall be welcomed at Pemberley. By my sisters… but also by Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, a weary man who seems to have lost his way.” Rubbing at the familiar knot between his eyes, he let out a short, hollow laugh. “I admit I exaggerate some… I wish I exaggerated as much as you say. Still, we shall say no more about this, save that I regret injuring my sisters and yourself, and I beg your pardon for it. Though I lack your gregarious nature, I promise to make every effort to entertainourguest.”
“That is all I ask,” Fitz said as he made himself comfortable in the chair nearest the fire, booted feet draped carelessly over the arm, a wide smirk forming at Darcy’s scowl.
Chapter 8
Hertfordshire, England – 1811
In the final days of their father’s absence after he had been away two long months, each of the girls began preparations for his return. Elizabeth readied the chess set and purchased a copy of William Wordsworth’sGuide to the Lakes. Lydia designed a menu befitting royalty. Jane readied his study. Kitty embroidered a handkerchief for him. And Mary worked with one of the local craftsmen to have a fine new walking stick made. None of these preparations in any way outshone Mrs. Hill’s, for in the days leading up to Mr. Bennet’s return not one speck of dust could be found, or one trace of dirt on the floor, as she and her staff readied the house as it had never been before.
“Do you think PaPa will be much altered?” Jane asked as she set down her cup, her sisters glancing at her from their places around the table.
“The two letters he sent seem to suggest it, given that he enjoyed spending time with his nieces and nephews,” Kitty noted as she twirled her fork. Shaking her head, she returned her attention to her plate, “It is a good sign, for the company of more than one person added to our number seemed too much. That he is enjoying the vivacity of four children is miraculous!”
