“Answer me this: Does she at least have a chance?” Richard pressed.
“Do not do this. Not here. Not now,” Darcy begged.
Richard leaned forward. “Do you love her?” he asked in his commanding tone.
“It is complicated.”
“Hogwash! You either love her or you do not. It is simple.”
“If I do, do you not thinkshedeserves to hear about it before anyone else?”
Richard elbowed Georgiana, and they both grinned widely. “After we escaped from St. Giles, I told Darcy that he would thank me for packing him off to Hertfordshire!”
“Youaccepted Mr. Bingley’s invitation?” exclaimed Georgiana. “No wonder he was so cross!” She looked at Darcy. The way they carried on frustrated him. Did they not see the problem?
Richard nodded at him. “He still looks cross.”
Their optimism was unbearable. “Do you not realize that I cannot make both you and Elizabeth happy? Georgie, you are my family, my blood. I cannot disappoint you. It is not in me, and I beg of you not to ask me to do it.”
Richard rubbed his whiskers, his eyes squinting thoughtfully as he looked at her. “You did say you admired Miss Elizabeth for putting her family first.”
Her response was to roll her eyes in the manner that girls of sixteen were especially accomplished in doing and to flail her hands heavenward. “Then makeheryour family, too!”
Darcy’s heart raced at her suggestion, but it was not that simple. “Do you realize what you are saying? I promised that painting to you. It is yours.”
Her rebuttal was firm and confident. “I shall take comfort knowing where it is and that it is security for the future ofmy sister.”She paused for a moment, her tone softer when she added, “You have done everythingfor me, Fitzwilliam. It would make me so happy to do this for you.” Her eyes glistened and her lips quivered.
Her sincerity gave him hope. “Are you certain? Do you understand what this means? Mr. Bennet refused to allow me to purchase the painting.”
She did not waver. “Then my Rembrandt will stay at Longbourn until Mr. Bennet sees fit to part with it.”
“It could be a long time. Decades.”
“I would rather gain such a sister than recover the painting.”
The carriage felt too small to contain his joy and traveled far too slowly for his purpose. “I will need your help. I cannot do what must be done quickly enough on my own. You too, Rich.” Despite the gravity of the task before them, Darcy’s heart soared. All the energy he had devoted to finding the Rembrandt would be spent salvaging Elizabeth’s reputation.
Georgiana leaned forward. “Tell me what to do.”
Darcy pulled the sketch of his likeness out of his pocket and handed it to her. “Show this to Aunt Matlock while she is entertaining. Speak well of the young lady who drew it. Let them know her name. Show them her hidden initials.”
Georgiana squealed, already looking for the E.B. in the drawing. That had been yet another clue he missed. Georgiana had been looking for Elizabeth’s initials in the landscape paintings, not Caroline Bingley’s. Later that afternoon, Darcy had searched his sketch and had found a small E in one eye?not a C?and a B in the other. Even with that, he had notfigured out what Georgiana knew! He had been too angry.
“There they are!” She pointed at his eyes, showing Richard.
“The apple of Darcy’s eye,” Richard teased, then became serious. “What do you need me to do?”
Darcy took a deep breath. He had a fortune at his disposal, but if his plan was to work, he would have to strike quickly. “You will help me scour every art gallery and pawn shop. We will enlist the help of your batman, my valet, my man of business, and a few other reliable men I intend to hire. I will call at Sotheby’s, and we will return to the old woman at Seven Dials. Also, I shall write to Elizabeth’s uncle Philips in Meryton. She had to have help, and he is capable.”
“What are we looking for?” Richard asked, his hand already resting on Connie’s hilt, ready for action.
“We will find every work of Mario Rossi. We will tell everyone my desire to own his entire collection, part of which I will display at my London house and the other part at Pemberley.”
“Once word gets around, you will have competition.”
“Which is why we must act swiftly. We will make the paintings scarce at the same time their popularity is surging among our circles. Mario Rossi will be praised by ladies and gentlemen whose opinions are sought out and emulated. When the real identity of Mario Rossi is learned, they will watch my reaction, and I will show them the initials.”
Georgiana clapped. “The paintings will become even more desired! Everyone will want to have a chance to find the hidden initials!”
