“Our visit tomorrow is actually a business one, Georgie. Until Mr Bennet is well recovered or their uncle Gardiner is able to arrive, Miss Elizabeth has been left in charge of the estate. She had some concerns in which she thought Bingley and I might be able to advise her.”
“Say no more, Cousin,” Richard waved his hand. “I have no interest in such matters. My yearly visit to Rosings is enough taste for me. It is just as well,” he stretched his shoulders inside his tightly fitted red coat. “I only have leave through tomorrow, though I could have requested an extension. I know my mother would like me to stop for dinner at the townhouse, and as you seem to have your love life well in hand, I think I shall return in the morning.”
“And leave me to my own devices? You are no friend.”
“Just whom am I to entertain whilst the two of you are off rescuing damsels and wooing fair maidens?” Richard’s eyes widened suggestively—he may not have been willing to slight Caroline aloud in her brother’s presence, but no one could miss his implication.
“Richard, I will still be here,” Georgiana pouted innocently. “Remember, you were going to teach me that scandalous new dance from the continent next… the waltz, did you call it?”
Darcy arched a critical brow at his cousin. “Indeed, Richard! Perhaps, Georgie, we may find a friend for you amongst the Bennet sisters who would behave with more decorum than your guardian.”
Richard chuckled, shrugging helplessly. “Young people these days! They say the most confounded things! Now, remember, Georgie, you promised not to tell himeverything.” Richard leaned forward conspiratorially, wagging his eyebrows to exaggerate whatever secret they had concocted.
Georgiana laughed, an innocent, girlish sound. Despite his suspicions that his co-guardian was perhaps exerting a less-than-stellar influence, Darcy enjoyed her good spirits. The old Georgie was coming back to him! It was as though she had finally given herself permission to live again. Though he and Richard both had steadily poured love and support into her since her near-disaster, she had remained hesitant and insecure. He felt he could point to her new inspiration by Elizabeth Bennet as the turning point to a better tomorrow for his beloved sibling.
Bracing his arm around his little sister, he snuggled her close to keep her warm. Relief and satisfaction filled him. Had Georgie not begun to come round, Wickham would have still had his revenge, even unawares. He reflected with pleasure on his evening. Wickham had tried to taint and sully everything and everyone he cared about most, but now both the women who held his heart were immune to that scoundrel’s poison. By thunder, things were going to turn right! Ignoring the knowing smirks from his companions, he smiled vacantly, the image of a vivacious beauty dangling before him the rest of the way to Netherfield.
Chapter 18
“Colonel,Ihopeyouare not leaving us so soon!” Caroline Bingley floated down the elegant staircase, her fingers trailing the polished walnut balustrade. She had lingered above stairs a great part of the morning, hoping to catch Mr Darcy, but she had finally concluded that he must have arisen far earlier, and she was losing time with him.
Fitzwilliam, having just received his outercoat from a footman, turned to face her. He straightened upon seeing her, then, as an afterthought, gave her a strictly correct bow. “I am, Miss Bingley. I am to return to my regiment by this evening.”
“I am indeed sorry to hear it. Poor Georgiana will miss you greatly.” She smiled smoothly, coming to stand uncomfortably close to him.
“My cousin prefers her brother’s company to mine, I assure you, Miss Bingley. She is most pleased to be staying behind.” He finished buttoning his coat and began to turn when she put out a hand to stop him.
“Pray… stay a moment, Colonel.”
He turned back, arching a quizzical brow. “Something I can do for you, Miss Bingley?”
“I wondered, sir… have you any concerns for the course our Mr Darcy has embarked upon?”
“Such as…?”
“Well, sir, of course, by now, you must be aware that the Bennet family are hardly presentable in the better circles. They are certainly not of the same calibre asyourillustrious family, Colonel Fitzwilliam. Do you foresee any troubles for him among your extended relations? I should think that, to begin with, obtaining the approval of the Earl for the marriage of his distinguished nephew to the daughter of a mere country squire might prove... trying. I only wish,” she put on a convincingly mournful face, “to spare our mutual friend any grief and regret in the future.”
Fitzwilliam began to smile slowly. “Darcy will indeed be glad to hear of your concern. I shall be sure to let him know that you wished to pave the way between himself and my father.” He felt a swell of satisfaction as alarm grew on her face.
“In fact,… now that you mention it, I believe I shall see what can be done to prepare Miss Elizabeth for her first meeting with my father. He is an old tyrant, you know, Miss Bingley. You have met him yourself, have you not? That was an unpleasant meeting foroneof you, as I recall. Sure to rake the novice Miss Elizabeth over the coals, he is—until, of course, he falls victim to that rapier wit of hers for the first time. I have no doubt she will leave him vanquished on the field! The countess, now thatisanother matter, and I am very glad you bring it up.”
He stroked his chin thoughtfully, then, his face brightening, snapped his fingers. “Aha! Mater has always been a soft mark for a young lass in the most fashionable attire—thinks it a mark of respectability or something of the kind. I shall mention to Georgiana that she should take her future sister to her own modiste in London before she meets my mother.
“Better yet... yes, that will do nicely. She and Miss Elizabeth are of much the same build, and William had just ordered Georgie a very generous winter wardrobe—more than she can ever wear, you understand—and she brought a good bit of it with her. You will make that recommendation to Georgiana for me, will you not, Miss Bingley? Your concern for your future sisters is truly touching.” He performed a chivalrous half-bow, favouring her with a suave smile.
Caroline did her best to swallow her dismay and consternation, swiftly replacing them with her mask of fond distress. Her façade cracked just at the end when the colonel referred to Eliza Bennet as her future sister. Impossible! Charles had gone and proposed to that ninny Jane Bennet over all her protestations!Pull it together, Caroline! You are worthy of Pemberley itself! Surely you can handle the insinuations of this clown!She forced her rumpled sentiments back into order.
“Fine feathers, Colonel, that is all. There are any number of young ladies in the latest fashions,” she squared her shoulders ever so slightly to make certain he noticed her rather generous bustline, accented so perfectly by her gold taffeta. “I highly doubt if Eliza Bennet should feel comfortable in a borrowed wardrobe… and in such attire as Miss Darcy owns! It is so far above that to which she has been used, do you see. Surely you must have noticed that she goes about rather… simply.” She let the word linger with a faint sneer.
“Hmm, indeed, Miss Elizabeth needs very little enhancement,” he stroked his chin in agreement. “Perhaps you are right. The woman is a natural beauty. Of course, as Darcy’s wife, she will come into the finest wardrobe money can buy, but I quite agree with you. Thereareany number of primped and powdered belles in London. Miss Elizabeth’s native radiance should be allowed to shine when she is first introduced to her new relatives.”
“Natural beauty!” Caroline’s nostrils distended indignantly. “Why, the girl is half wild, the way she traipses about! I should not be surprised if she is at this very moment climbing trees or slopping the pigs! The countess would be rightly affronted to be introduced to such a—a slatternlyfarm girl!”
Richard Fitzwilliam, well-practised at keeping his cool on the battlefield, began to laugh heartily. “I shall repeat your comments to Mater. She will be so highly amused!” He continued to laugh a little longer, enjoying the lady’s fuming visage. “I can speak with some authority on this though; the Earl and the Countess had all but given up on my cousin. Pater was threatening to import some Indian princess if Georgiana married before William.”
He wiped an imaginary tear of laughter from his eye. “Quite seriously, I think they will, in the end, agree that a… a ‘farm girl,’ as you say, is exactly what my antisocial cousin needs. He can retire peacefully to Pemberley and never be seen in Town again. She is of hardy stock too; my father will quite approve. ‘Pemberley needs an heir!’ he will say in that imperious way of his. Not that it will matter what their opinion is. Darcy is rather accustomed to having his way, regardless of the opinions of others.”
Caroline’s face was now beet red, fury seething from her dilated eyes. “I trust, Colonel, that you are correct, and he will be happy with that... thatchit!I wouldhateto see our dear friend at odds with his family!” she hissed in desperate reprisal. Balling her elegant hands into tight fists, she screwed her mouth shut and fled the foyer, taking the stairs so quickly she nearly stumbled.
