The colonel’s shoulders jumped beneath his coat, and he turned to face the door, his expression apprehensive. “Cousin?”
Darcy had paused in the door, wearing clean clothing, but otherwise all but ungroomed. He returned Richard’s greeting with a hard look. “You were to leave last night.”
“I was otherwise occupied last night,” Richard shrugged, then sauntered to the table again. He caught Miss Bennet’s eye, but her look was not hopeful.
Darcy entered the room in silence. He drew to the board, but merely stared at its provisions.Waiting for someone to fill his plate, I should think, Richard rolled his eyes. Another glance at Miss Bennet, however, revealed some degree of disquiet in her expression. She was watching him pensively, apparently less confident in his responses than Richard.
Darcy turned from the board, empty handed, and came to stand near Miss Bennet. He did not touch her, nor even speak to her, but the look they shared for a long, uncomfortable moment, sent a tingle down Richard’s spine. The young lady was weary, that much was clear, but she shone back such a look of encouragement and trust, and Darcy was hungrily drinking it in. Richard looked back to his plate.
“Richard, you may take an hour’s time to gather your belongings, and then you will depart.”
He dropped his fork. “What? After I spent the entire night out searching for you—and cold, too—and before that raced here from Liverpool in a time I could have posted at Newmarket?”
Darcy stiffened. “Your services are no longer required, Richard.”
“My ser—” He jerked his chair back and threw his napkin back down on his plate. “Darcy, I would speak with you in private, for what I have to say to you is not fit for a lady to hear!”
Darcy seemed to flinch a step closer to Miss Bennet, though in fact his feet had not stirred. “That will not be necessary.”
Miss Bennet shifted in her chair. She did not speak, but Darcy’s gaze snapped instantly to her. Her expression, full of regret and pleading, seemed to chase some of the tension from Darcy’s shoulders. His tall frame drooped, and for the first time that morning, Richard spared a second to look beyond the wild beard, beyond the imposing figure. The man was barely standing, and likely had not rested even a moment. He stared long at Miss Bennet, but when his eyes rose again to Richard, they were still guarded. “You may take the new carriage for your journey.”
Richard shoved his chair back under the table with a clatter. “As you wish, oh, Master of Pemberley! I shall return to London this instant. Be a good chap, and bid my cousin farewell for me. I do hope you plan to speak to her this morning.”
He turned to go, but just before he gained the door, Darcy’s voice stopped him. “Richard….”
He paused, tilting his head low to hear, but not turning round. “Darcy?”
There was an uncomfortable silence, and Richard could imagine Darcy’s fingers twitching behind his back as they used to do in crowded ballrooms. He thought he heard a whisper from Miss Bennet, but could not be certain.
He could almost hear Darcy’s teeth grinding. “I will speak to Georgiana. You may delay your departure until after I have done so.”
Richard glared over his shoulder. The arrogant, conceited, stubborn ass! Darcy had drawn himself up once more, his chin high and his hands locked into fists at his sides. Richard sighed and left the room. Let Miss Bennet work her magic, else the man was a hopeless case.
“Fitzwilliam!Fitzwilliam,itisreally you!” Georgiana flung herself across the room, not noticing until it was too late that her brother had braced himself for her affections, and was now trying to disengage to some degree.
“I thought you were dead!” she sobbed. “And last night, it was so brief, I thought I must have been dreaming it all. Tell me, you are here, are you not?”
Darcy pushed her back to her own feet, but allowed his hands to rest upon her shoulders. “I am here, Georgie,” he answered quietly. “Are you well? Have you been well looked-after?”
“Yes, Brother, but first tell me how you came back! Where have you been for so long?”
He hesitated, his mouth formed to speak, but he could not think what to say. “Some distance away,” he finally managed.
“Oh, but Richard must have found you! He would not tell me. He said he had nothing to tell yet, but he must have gone looking for you!”
“It was not Richard who delivered me, but two kind souls.” His face pinched. “I hope I have not cost them their own security.”
“But you came back at the same time as Richard!” Georgiana protested. “He was looking for you, I know it.”
“Do you? Georgiana, I cannot trust anyone so easily, and nor should you.”
“But you are free now! What can anyone do to harm you?”
“What did they want in the first place? I’ve a notion they did not get it. Until we know, we shall trust no one. Our ‘guests’ are all to depart at once.”
Georgiana’s eyes widened. “Does that include my friends?”
He shifted uncomfortably. “Mrs Wickham must not remain. We will arrange suitable lodgings for her in consideration of her condition, but her husband I do not trust. I will not have her here.”
