The man was merely a distant cousin.
The man was merely a distant cousin, a guest, and a gentleman—more or less. Darcy disliked him already. The realization grew no more flattering upon reflection.
By the time he returned to Netherfield, the household had gathered in the drawing room, where Miss Bingley’s voice reached the hall before Darcy himself crossed the threshold.
“Another dinner at Longbourn,” she declared with dramatic despair. “I confess, Charles, Hertfordshire society demands fortitude beyond expectation.”
Bingley lounged near the fire looking untroubled.
“Then remain home if you prefer.”
Miss Bingley blinked in genuine surprise.
“Remain home?”
“You complain every time we visit our neighbors. Surely the simplest solution is returning to town.”
Mrs. Hurst lowered her gaze to her teacup, though the corners of her mouth betrayed what appeared suspiciously like a smile.
Miss Bingley recovered quickly. “I only mean the society lacks refinement.”
“Then improve it with your presence,” Bingley replied cheerfully.
Darcy moved farther into the room.
Miss Bingley turned toward him as though seeking alliance.
“Mr. Darcy must agree these constant country dinners grow tiresome.”
“I do not,” Darcy answered.
Her expression tightened slightly.
Bingley grinned outright.
“I thought not.”
Miss Bingley rallied again. “Well, at least this new relation of the Bennets promises novelty. Mr. Wilson, is it? Trade seems determined to assemble itself within Hertfordshire.”
Darcy’s jaw hardened before he could prevent it.
Bingley either failed to notice or wisely pretended not to.
“Wilson sounds interesting enough.”
“Interesting rarely improves dinner conversation,” Miss Bingley muttered.
Darcy excused himself soon afterward and retreated upstairs under the pretense of correspondence.
No letters awaited him.
Instead he found himself standing near the window of his chamber staring out toward the distant direction of Longbourn while thoughts of Alfred Barnett Wilson returned with increasing persistence.
What precisely was the man’s purpose in Hertfordshire?
Family connection alone seemed insufficient explanation for such sudden interest after years of silence.
And why—
