She turned to him and offered another curtsy. “A pleasure to meet you, Colonel.”
“Ah, yes,” Darcy managed.
The remainder of the farewells were made, and Richard shepherded Darcy back to his carriage. They climbed in to find Georgiana still asleep, and both took the seat facing her.
As they rolled forward, Darcy turned to his cousin, not troubling to hide his anger but mitigating his voice to a harsh whisper as he asked, “What the—”
“Not here,” Richard hissed. “At Netherfield Park. When we are alone.”
Darcy met that with a scowl but clamped his mouth closed.
“I will explain, but I require you to depart with all haste,” Richard said quietly.
“Depart?” Darcy shook his head. “I think not.” He hadn’t dragged his sister here so they might turn around and return to what had become a truly dreary existence in Pemberley. “Not until you tell me what you and Bingley are doing, and certainly not today. We have been long on the road and Georgiana must rest.”
Richard studied him, assessing. “If you will not depart until tomorrow—”
“Ifwe depart tomorrow,” Darcy corrected.
“—may I ask how many servants you brought?”
“Patrick, my driver, a—”
“Never mind,” Richard said, cutting him off yet again. “They must all be sent away immediately, with the exception of Patrick and your coachman.”
“Must they?” Darcy whispered back with heavy sarcasm.
“Yes. As soon as your cases are unloaded. I do not want a single one of them to speak with anyone hereabouts. They can continue on to London. You can call them back tomorrow.” He met Darcy’s gaze unflinchingly. “This is important.”
“I fail to imagine what could be important enough to necessitate the sort of ruse I suspect you and Bingley are perpetrating, and I have not agreed to depart tomorrow.”
“Your life. That is what is so important.”
“My life?” What did Richard mean?
“Yes. It is in grave danger.”
Darcy stared at him, disbelief warring with worry. “What the devil are you on about?”
Richard nodded to Georgiana, who appeared to be asleep still. “Soon.”
Soon would have to do, Darcy decided. ThoughbeforeRichard and Bingley began whatever they were up to would have been far better.
Richard ushered Darcy and Georgiana up Netherfield Park’s wide front steps while rapidly issuing instructions that would ensure all but Patrick and Darcy’s coachman, both in Padgett’s employ, would depart immediately and be in London by dinner. That seen to, Richard followed his cousins into the high-ceilinged entrance hall.
There, the butler met him with, “Mr. Darcy?” which caused Darcy to turn as well.
With a glare to urge his cousin to keep silent, Richard said. “Yes?”
“A courier came while you were out, sir.” The butler, also employed by Padgett, as were most of the staff at Netherfield Park, held out a thin missive.
“Is the man who brought this still here?”
“He is.” The butler nodded in the direction of the kitchen. “I sent him for a meal. He had a rough time of it. His horse came up lame and he was forced to find another.”
Later, Richard would have a report from Patrick of how Darcy had ended up in Meryton without any warning, but the butler’s explanation already told him what he needed to know. “Good thinking.”
“Do you require him?”
