“The last time was three days after I arrived in Hertfordshire. The brief note stated that after moving around town, Cole had not left his rooms in almost a week.”
Elizabeth said, “The harvest assembly was held on the evening of the twenty-fifth of October, the night of the half-moon. This was the evening we met. Three days later would be the twenty-eighth. Since today is the twenty-ninth of November, you have been in Meryton for thirty-three days. The letter was delivered just over a month ago.”
Richard sat forward in the chair. “Since it takes at least three weeks to cross the Atlantic, it had to have been written prior. Good lord! He could be well-established already in Town. Would you consider Cole to be a creature of habit?”
“I would.”
“Then, once we have Wickham and Georgiana sorted, I will gather some of my men to search his former neighborhood. I would not be surprised if he did not settle somewhere close to, where was it, Gracechurch Street in Cheapside?”
Elizabeth startled. “Oh, my uncle and aunt Gardiner own a house there. They have lived in it since they married twelve years ago. They are still at Longbourn.Should I send a note to my uncle and inquire if they have seen him?”
Darcy shook his head. “Gardiner told me he knew Cole. When we spoke, he would have mentioned if he had seen him in the locale since I specifically informed him that my former man of business now lived in America.”
“But,” Elizabeth said, “What if he changed his appearance like your uncle suggested? What if he is hiding in plain sight?”
“Then we need to find him.”
24
Later, Darcy held Gardiner’s reply in his hand.
“Like us, he feels Cole would be easy to overlook, so he cannot say with certainty that he has not seen him.”
“Blast that Wickham for being an easy mark for a worse cheat to prey upon!” Lord Matlock exclaimed.
The butler interrupted them. “I beg your pardon, sir. Your guests have arrived.”
Darcy’s stomach roiled.
Lady Matlock said, “We shall not go out to welcome them. They will come to us.”
They heard Miss Bingley once the front door was opened.
“Well, I never! Where is Charles? I apologize that you are not being greeted properly, my dear George. Do not be concerned. I shall have the house set to rights before we are served the evening meal.”
Richard mouthed, “My dear George?”
Darcy clenched his fists, then shook his head to keephis cousin from commenting aloud.Poor Georgiana, tolerating Caroline Bingley’s over-familiarity.
Miss Bingley barged into the drawing room, coming up short when she saw the occupants.“Where is my brother?”
Darcy replied, “Your brother no longer lives here. I am the master of Netherfield Park, and my wife is its mistress.”
“You? The master?” Her eyes darted to Elizabeth at his side, her sharp gaze slowly moving from head to toe. “Who is she?”
Ignoring her rudeness, Darcy focused on the corridor. The next to enter was Wickham, followed closely behind by the Hursts. Last, Georgiana stepped into the room.
He was gutted. Everything whispered about Georgiana’s situation was true. Her skin was pale. Her traveling cloak hung from her shoulders. Her head bowed, her hands clasped together until her gloves pulled tightly over her knuckles as she studied the floor.
“Georgie.” Richard bumped Wickham as he rushed to embrace his ward. “Let me look at you, Imp.”
Darcy studied her as thoroughly as his cousin, though from a distance. His heart was crushed. Swallowing back his rage against Wickham, he said, “Mrs. Darcy and I welcome you to Netherfield Park, Georgiana.”
“Mrs. Darcy?” She finally looked up at him. “You are married?”
“As of this week.” He saw the hurt in her eyes.
“You did not think to invite me to your wedding?”
