“Good morning, Charles,” she whispered.
“It is the best of mornings,” he whispered back.
When the officiant prompted Mr. Bingley to produce a ring, he reached into his pocket and slipped a ring onto her finger. She gazed at it; it was a gold ring with a large diamond in the center, surrounded by smaller diamonds. “Beautiful,” she whispered to him.
In short order, they were pronounced man and wife.
Despite the paucity of attendees, the Countess’ kitchen staff produced a lavish wedding breakfast, complete with a wedding cake that had been heavily soaked in brandy. Georgiana did not think she could eat so much as a bite of it, but her aunt had foreseen this, and packed several slices of the cake into a box.
Once the breakfast had been consumed, her trunk was strapped on to the back of the Bingley coach. The Bingleys were then on their way to Hertfordshire.
***
Before the week was out, thetonwas amazed to learn that Miss Georgiana Darcy had not eloped with the steward’s son, as had been reported.
The previous information regarding Miss GD of Derbyshire was, we are forced to admit, in error. In fact, that young lady is married to her brother’s dear friend, Mr. CB. The two are expecting their first child. In addition, there was no pounding on the Matlock House door, as was originally reported. We deeply regret the errors and offer heartfelt apologies and best wishes to the couple.
The story of Miss Darcy having been seen in the park was circulated widely. The man accompanying her must have been her husband! Astonishing that the newspaper had gotten it so very wrong.
***
Miss Caroline Bingley saw the notice in the newspaper. She had heard the gossip about the Darcys and had thanked her Saviour on her knees that she had not condescended to marry Mr. Darcy. Now it appeared that the gossip had been much mistaken. Evidently, Georgiana Darcy, that spineless and insipid creature, had managed to marry after all. She wondered if she might have met this Mr. CB. She had thought Charles to be Mr. Darcy’s only dear friend, but evidently Mr. Darcy had another friend with those same initials.
Unless…?
No. Not possible. She dismissed it from her mind.
Chapter Fifty-Eight
With Georgiana on her way to Netherfield with her new husband, Mr. Darcy and Richard were free to journey to Chestnut Creek. “My wedding is the twelfth of January, cousin,” Richard reminded Mr. Darcy as soon as the carriage was in motion. We must be back in Meryton in plenty of time. I do not want Jane to worry.”
“And I have my own reasons for wanting to go to Meryton as soon as may be,” Mr. Darcy returned. He had not given up on Miss Elizabeth; he was more determined than ever to win her hand.
“Say, will Bingley let us stay at Netherfield? That inn in Meryton is none too clean or comfortable.”
“Bingley is now my brother and your cousin; I think there will be no difficulty in us staying at Netherfield. And it will be an enjoyable experience, I trust, as Miss Bingley will not be in residence.”
The two men chuckled together.
With no ladies traveling with them, they did not need to stop often, and so made the journey in just two days. Mr. Darcy knew, of course, exactly where Chestnut Creek was located, so the map he had drawn for Richard was not needed. The carriage pulled up in front of a large, handsome two-story house.
Climbing out of the carriage, Mr. Darcy led the way. “The house is about a century old,” he began. “When the Darcys acquired it, the roof was leaking and the furniture was rotting from the damp. The roof has since been repaired and the plasterwork redone, but there is not a good deal of furniture.”
He knocked on the door and greeted the housekeeper when it was opened. “Ah, Mrs. McGraw. You are well, I trust?”
“I am, sir, and I thank you. We received your message and all is in readiness for the Colonel. I can have refreshments brought at once.”
“I will give your new master a tour first; perhaps in an hour, Mrs. McGraw?”
“Of course, sir.”
“Come, Richard.”
The Colonel was not in the habit of finding himself overwhelmed by circumstances – fighting the French tended to teach a man to keep his head if he wanted to survive – but his unexpected acquisition of such a handsome property had stilled his tongue. He said not a word as Mr. Darcy walked him through the house, pointing out the drawing room, the study, the dining room, the breakfast room, the kitchen, the larder, the cellar, the servants’ quarters, the guest rooms, and finally the quarters assigned to the master and mistress of the house.
“Every room has a fireplace, of course; you will recall how cold the winters are here in Derbyshire.”
Richard nodded.
