He grinned. Opening the missive with care, he read the letter aloud.
Dear Brother,
Greetings from miserable Meryton. (Oh, and greetings to you, Lizzy, since you are probably peering over your husband’s tall shoulders reading this.)
You should know that almost since your departure from Netherfield Park, the heavens have wept tears of sorrow.Daily, mud on the road deepens. You can probably hear my sigh from where you are, I imagine.
This is not the source of my wretchedness. You see, the militia arrived in Hertfordshire. There are so many red coats that I feared my heart would burst with excitement and eager anticipation of my first proposal of marriage. Well, I have been patient, as you suggested. I even wore my beautiful bonnet to the first of many gatherings at Aunt Philips’ house, and…you’ll be surprised, I’m sure, that nothing happened. Truly. Absolutely, positively, nothing! Of course, several officers approached me. Yet, none of them saw fit to request my hand in marriage, not even after two hours in their company. What is wrong with men?
Then, I realized you were correct. Rather than flirt with them, I needed to stand back until they saw my worth, appreciating that I was a bud in bloom. For those whom I overheard calling me silly, I showed them my thorns. I am Miss Prickles, like your sister’s cute little hedgehog, and I refuse to be underappreciated any longer. In reviewing the company, I concluded that none in that group was acceptable to claim me as their bride.
Even though I know you are right, I will confess to you (and Lizzy) that this waiting and waiting and waiting for someone worthy to call is wearying. Did you hear my even more dramatic sigh?
Unlike me, Jane is being romanced daily by Mr. Bingley. As I am writing, he requested permission to speak with Papa privately. Out of mischief, I should wait to tell you the result in another letter, but I am desperately trying to act like the adult I am now that I am newly turned sixteen. Very well, then. Papa said, ‘Yes.’ Jane said, ‘Yes.’ Everyone is saying ‘yes’ butme. Well, and to be fair, Kitty and Mary, so I am far from being alone in this.
I hope this letter finds you and your family doing well. Elizabeth wrote that you are settled into a grand house. Should your host have handsome sons, please do not forget to promote me. My bonnet and I will be waiting.
For a long time, I wondered what it would be like to have a brother. Well, now that you are married to Lizzy, I finally know that I like having a brother just fine.
Your new favorite sister next to Mrs. Wickham,
Miss Lydia Bennet
Laughinghard enough to shake her from her head to her toes, Elizabeth could barely breathe. Again, holding her middle, she wondered if they might not have a child just like her youngest sister. Peering closer at her husband’s sparkling mirth, she thought she had better be careful with what she wished for.
33
As soon as there was a break in the weather, Darcy and his valet headed south to London. His first plan was to locate Richard. If anyone could help him find the man pretending to be Marcus J. Cinna, it would be his cousin. Then, he would take the copy of Wickham’s will to his attorney, Mr. Haggerston. Afterwards, as the sole representative of his sister, he would discover how much or how little Georgiana had left of her dowry. Only then would he have enough information to plan his next steps.
On the way, he stopped at Netherfield Park to see Bingley. As expected, he received news from his friend. Bingley hated writing letters, though he seemed to enjoy receiving them.
“Darcy, you are looking well, my friend.” Bingley was as jubilant as ever. “Marriage agrees with you.”
Darcy smiled. “I understand from Miss Lydia that you are soon to discover the joys of marriage for yourself.”
“Yes, Jane and I will wed in five months. She has always wanted to be a June bride.”
“And you?” Slapping Bingley on the shoulder, he joined him in the library after cleaning off the dirt from the road.
“I just want to be her husband.”
Drawing close to the warmth of the fire, Darcy eagerly accepted the hot cup of tea. Although they left the snow behind in Derbyshire, the cold followed them, seeping through his clothing to his bones.
Pulling a packet of letters from his pocket, he handed them to Bingley. “For the Bennets from Elizabeth and the Lucas family from their daughter.”
“They will be grateful to receive word. Jane misses her sister very much.”
“As does my wife.”
Bingley’s right foot tapped nervously on the carpet. “Darcy, you need to know that somehow, the butcher, Mr. Anders, escaped during the middle of the night before the judge arrived to hold the assizes. No one knows how someone opened the lock or how they transported Mr. Anders from Meryton. There were no footprints, no signs of horses, nor any evidence of a cart or a carriage. It is as if he vanished.”
“What?” Darcy sat forward. “Did anyone attempt to find him?”
Bingley tugged at his collar. “Ah, not as far as I know, although some men mentioned that someone should search for him.”
“But no one has?”
“Not as far as I know.” Bingley sloshed tea from his cup. Placing it on the table next to him, he dabbed at thedamp patch appearing on his trousers with his handkerchief.
