“Then you mean to marry one of my girls?” Mrs. Bennet cried with sudden warmth.
“That is my primary purpose in coming to Hertfordshire, madam.” Mr. Collins’ confirmation fueled Elizabeth’s apprehension. “Lady Catherine, in her wisdom, has deemed marriage to one of my fair cousins the proper way to proceed.”
Mrs. Bennet clasped her hands before her, prayer like. “She sounds wondrously wise.”
Mr. Collins nodded, his attention traversing them again before returning to Jane. Assessing her sisters in turn, Elizabeth imagined he would have more hope of winning over Mary or Kitty. One thing, however, seemed quite certain. It would be entertaining to have Mr. Collins in their home.
Chapter Seventeen
After speaking, or rather arguing, with Georgiana for some time, Darcy returned to his chamber to pen a letter requesting Mrs. Annesley’s presence, so she might escort his sister to Darcy House in London. Though technically his sister required no escort, she was still only sixteen. Not only did Darcy not care for the idea of her traveling or living alone, he preferred to maintain the façade of her innocence, for which he’d so far paid Wickham a small fortune.
Georgiana had, as Richard predicted, refused Darcy’s request that she depart Netherfield Park, but Mrs. Annesley would need to receive his letter, then make arrangements to join them. Nor would she turn around and depart immediately upon arriving. Darcy had several days to convince his sister to seek greater safety than Netherfield Park offered, and he would.
After asking Patrick to see the letter on its way, Darcy readied for tea. He attempted not to dwell on Georgiana’s reason for wishing to remain, namely her enjoyment of the Bennet sisters’ company. Darcy had assumed his sister would protest going out of guilt over the predicament she had helped craft via her ill-advised union with Wickham, not because she was enjoying the company of Misses Mary, Kitty, and Lydia. The assuaging of her remorse over repeated attempts to harm ‘Mr. Darcy’ should relieve him, and certainly did, so he would never admit to feeling a bit hurt by her rally. Apparently, the threat to his life, and by design Richard’s, was not so troubling in the face of girls her own age to chatter with.
Once satisfied with the suitability of his attire, Darcy left his room to stride halls dotted with vases of hothouse flowers brought up weekly. He worked to put his disagreement with Georgiana out of his mind and to gather his thoughts for his next difficult conversation. Now that he comprehendedthe implications of the cellar, Darcy could no longer uphold Richard’s deception when it came to the other residents of Netherfield Park. Miss Bingley and the Hursts had the right to know the precise level of danger they undertook by remaining. If Bingley would not tell them, Darcy would.
He entered the drawing room to the sight of not only Bingley, Miss Bingley, and the Hursts, but Georgiana and Richard as well, much to his chagrin. Around a small table, the gentlemen and Miss Bingley played cards, while Georgiana sat at the pianoforte. Mrs. Hurst alone occupied one of the low sofas around the empty tea table, needle bobbing as she embroidered.
“Colonel Fitzwilliam,” Miss Bingley greeted brightly, swiveling to regard him. “We did not know if you would join us. Shall I call for tea?”
Darcy frowned, aware that was an overly polite way of noting that they’d been waiting on him. “Certainly, but only after we discuss a matter of some relevance.”
Setting down his cards, Bingley asked, “Can we not discuss and eat? I am half famished and we have an evening at Lucas Lodge to ready for.”
“After you hear what I must say, you may no longer wish for an evening at Lucas Lodge.”
Miss Bingley leaned forward. “Have you learned something even more disreputable about them than that Sir William was once a shopkeeper? Perhaps why Miss Lucas is yet unwed, for I can discover no reason.”
“I thought she was unwed due to being rather plain,” Hurst said, finally looking up from his hand.
“Nonsense. She is not that plain, and is intelligent and capable.” Miss Bingley shook her head. “There must be something more.”
Over her sheet music, Georgiana’s eyes were wide with interest.
“Perhaps Sir William overspends and she has not a penny of dowry,” Mrs. Hurst suggested.
“I have had the same thought.” Miss Bingley turned back to him. “Is that what you have discovered, Colonel?”
“I am not here to pass along idle gossip,” Darcy said stiffly. What did they take him for?
“Where did we come down on the tea issue?” Bingley asked.
“Yes, Darcy.” Richard regarded him with amusement. “Do you truly mean to deprive Bingley of sustenance in his own home?”
With a scowl for his cousin, Darcy pushed a hand through his hair. “You should all know that you are in greater danger than you believe.”
Richard sighed and leaned back in his chair.
“How’s this?” Hurst asked.
“Danger?” Mrs. Hurst said tentatively. “From the people trying to abduct Mr. Darcy?”
“I am afraid you have been misled,” Darcy said stiffly. “The attempts are not of abduction, but murder. A ten-thousand-pound reward has been offered for whosoever can produce proof of my demise on the first of December.”
From a full half of Darcy’s audience, wide eyes, gaping mouths, and silence met his words.
After a moment, Hurst let out a low whistle. “Ten thousand pounds? I am half inclined to do you in myself, for that sum.”
