“My lady,” crooned the visitor, “whatexquisite taste! I simply must know where you obtained this piece, for it has such an air of the East about it.”
Richard’s mouth pursed in disgust. Andthisthe woman who had thought herself worthy of Darcy? She was vulgar as any scullery maid, yet she was so bold as to presume upon the Countess of Matlock and Georgiana Darcy! His mother made some blasé reply, an attempt to conceal her chagrin at her caller’s coarseness, but Caroline Bingley was not put off in the slightest.
“Naturally, your ladyship would have nothing less,” Caroline purred. “That is, of course, why I felt only Mr J—would do for a designer when I sought one to make over my new flat. Why, it is as I was saying to our dear Miss Darcy when last we were all in Derbyshire; a lady’s breeding is reflected in her surroundings.”
He strained his ears to catch Georgiana’s reply, but none was forthcoming. It did not take the work of a detective for him to understand that the time of which Miss Bingley spoke had, in all likelihood, been the last days Georgiana had spent with her brother. Had that ghastly woman shocked the poor girl into yet another grief-stricken silence? Concern and anger overpowered his manners, and without quite realising it, his feet carried him to the open door where he could observe her face.
It was Miss Bingley who noticed him first, even seated with her back partially turned to the door. She preened and arched her long neck round to look him full in the face. “Why, Colonel Fitzwilliam! I had not anticipated the pleasure.”
Lady Matlock was far too seasoned to permit her caller a glimpse of her disdain, but she graced her son with a stern glance of warning. Her lashes flickered darkly before she smiled and rose to greet him. “Richard! Heavens, my dear boy, but where have you been? You look positively dreadful.”
He bowed from the waist, scolded. “Forgive me for appearing so, Mother, I meant no interruption. I beg you will excuse me.”
Caroline Bingley had also risen to a curtsy, joined by her lady’s companion. “I am certain that the colonel must have many heavy burdens upon his mind. How good you are, sir, that even in the midst of your own concerns you devote yourself to comforting our dear Georgiana. I am assured, sir, that the poor girl would be quite at a loss without you.”
“My cousin is my highest concern,” he answered tightly, “but as you no doubt see for yourself, Miss Bingley, Miss Darcy is a sophisticated young lady, and not a child who wants cosseting. It has not been any goodness of my own, but my honour to attend her.”
“Spoken as a true gentleman,” Miss Bingley beamed smoothly. “I have long held that an officer, being a man of duty and courage, must naturally be also the epitome of grace and courtliness.”
Richard, exhausted and bleary-eyed after twenty-four hours on his feet, hesitated a moment before making reply. Was Miss Bingley flirting with him? Impossible! He shook himself inwardly and offered a bow in parting. “Indeed, Miss Bingley. I beg you would pardon my intrusion, I shall retire.”
“No pardon is necessary, I assure you. If I may be so bold, sir, I would extend my brother’s greeting. He always speaks so fondly of you, I know he will gratified indeed to hear that you are well.”
Richard stared, his stomach sinking in horror. Shewasflirting with him! He flitted a nervous glance to Georgiana, but he could not in all courtesy quit the room so readily after Miss Bingley’s little speech. “You are most kind, Miss Bingley. I trust Mr Bingley is well?”
“Oh! I suppose he is as well as he may be, after settling in such a backward county. I am very sorry for it—you know how well he enjoys the delights of Town, and I am afraid he shall come to regret his decision to settle in Hertfordshire.”
“I hardly think Hertfordshire backward! At any event, had he not intended to give up the lease of the estate and remove once more to London?”
The lady cast back her head in pitying resignation. “Alas, Colonel, he has determined to remain indefinitely! I expect that the close proximity to his wife’s relations has some influence on the matter, though I cannot fathom how he finds them agreeable.”
“Bingley married? I had not heard of this. I shall send my felicitations straightaway. May I inquire as to the name of his bride and her family?”
Caroline’s lip curled, very faintly. “I am certain the family could be of no interest, sir, but he has married the former Miss Bennet of Longbourn.”
This name brought the first signs of liveliness to Georgiana’s features, but Richard was more distracted by his own recollections. “Miss Elizabeth Bennet! Why yes, I believe I am acquainted with her. A remarkable young woman, to be sure. Bingley shall be well suited.” Even as he spoke his words of praise, something twisted deep within his gut. Though he had never been certain of it, that time in Kent had opened his eyes to the possibility that Darcy might, perhaps, harbour some strong feeling for a lady. That the lady had now married another echoed hollowly in his heart. Yet another silken thread to bygone days severed.
Caroline Bingley’s smile was now wooden, her eyes cold, as she sweetly corrected him. “Why no, colonel, I am afraid there are far too many Bennet ladies to account. My brother has wed the eldest, the former Miss Jane Bennet.”
A breath of relief flowed back into his lungs, followed instantly by humiliated shock. If Bingley had fancied Miss Elizabeth’s sister, so much so as to wed her almost immediately after Darcy’s disappearance, then some of his comments to Miss Elizabeth last April may have been exceedingly ill-judged! The matter had come aright, or so it appeared, but he must take that lesson to heart. Never would he forgive another officer for speaking so incautiously of matters military, but a sparkling smile and a fine pair of eyes—as Darcy had once described—had thoroughly loosed his tongue and undone his better sense.
Caroline was still smiling pertly, and his lack of response had grown awkward. His mother was pursing her lips in marked ennui, but Georgiana’s face had sparked to life for the first time in a long while. Her eyes warmed hesitantly toward him, but before she worked up the courage to speak, Miss Bingley had also noted her interest.
“Ah, Miss Darcy, you were acquainted with Miss Elizabeth Bennet as well, were you not? How clumsy of me to have forgotten that, but I recall now. She was traveling through Derbyshire last summer with her uncle—the one in trade, is that correct?”
Georgiana answered softly in the affirmative, and Richard turned to her in amazement. “You met Miss Elizabeth? I did not know of this!”
Georgiana’s shoulders were now heaving in laboured breaths, caught between joy and agony as she relived the memory. “Fitzwilliam introduced us. I liked her very much! I wish I could have come to know her better, but some family crisis called them away unexpectedly.”
The side of Miss Bingley’s mouth curved—a terrifying expression, to one who knew ladies well. “To be sure, itwasa most unfortunate event which called them away. Happily, the family must have some connection which was able to avert the larger part of scandal—oh! but I beg your ladyship to forgive me for speaking so indelicately. Certainly, it is not proper discourse for a morning call.”
Caroline Bingley could have made no more damaging remarks in the eyes of the Countess of Matlock. To impute that Darcy had made known to his impressionable young sister a woman with a disgraced family instantly cast the whole of his guardianship into doubt. To be quite truthful, Lady Matlock was no more pleased by Caroline Bingley, with her veneer of elegance only barely covering the stink of her grandfather’s factories, but there was nothing overtly immoral about the woman. Richard watched his mother’s practiced cool settling over her face, and it seemed almost as if the hearth fire had dwindled all at once.
Caroline Bingley also noted the chill, and within minutes, she and her companion were bidding their polite adieux. She came to him to offer a curtsey, giving him her gloved hand so that he might bow gallantly over it. “Until we shall meet again, Colonel Fitzwilliam. I do hope it need not be so long between our visits in the future. May I presume that you will be attending some of the Season’s events?”
“If my duties permit, Miss Bingley.”
She batted her lashes and blushed prettily. “Such loyalty is to be admired! I bid you a good day, sir.”
