Page 62 of A Question of Character

“Near to Rosings Park, if you can believe it—if Bingley has written the name correctly.”

“Is it far from Ramsgate?”

“It is within a day’s journey, provided the roads behave themselves.”

Georgiana considered this with more satisfaction than his departure warranted. “Then you will not be so very far away.”

“No.”

“And Mr. Bingley is kind.”

“Very.”

“Then you ought to go. He values your judgment.”

Darcy looked down at Bingley’s letter, where three enthusiastic sentences had been written across one another in the margin. “He values my judgment when it confirms what he already wishes to do.”

“That is a common form of wisdom.”

“Who has been instructing you in philosophy?”

“Miss Bennet,” Georgiana said, and bit into the peach before he could reply.

Darcy was obliged to content himself with arranging Bingley’s letter beside the Pemberley accounts and pretending the name had no power to alter the room. Georgiana chewed with great innocence, though her cheeks had colored.

“I shall write to Bingley this afternoon,” he said. “If I leave tomorrow, I may meet him the following day.”

“So soon?”

“You have just argued I ought to go.”

“I did. That does not mean I must like packing.”

“You will not be packing.”

“No, but Barton will, and he always looks offended when trunks are required in warm weather.”

Darcy reached for a sheet of paper. “Barton looks offended by existence when the temperature rises.”

Georgiana laughed and came to kiss his cheek before returning to the window. “Mrs. Younge promised we might walk to the circulating library tomorrow. I shall choose something for when you are gone.”

“Nothing too foolish.”

“Miss Bennet likes novels.”

“Miss Bennet possesses excellent judgment.”

“Then novels cannot be foolish.”

“I have been trapped.”

“Yes,” Georgiana replied, pleased with herself. “Very neatly.”

Darcy wrote to Bingley with more brevity than his friend had used, though the answer contained all that was necessary. He would come. He would examine the house and grounds. Bingley was not to sign anything until Darcy had seen the terms. He added, after some hesitation, that Ramsgate had proved agreeable and Georgiana much improved, then stopped before he mentioned Miss Bennet. Bingley would seize upon that name with intolerable delight and all the subtlety of a brass band.

By evening, the household had learned of his departure. Mrs. Younge received the news with composed regret and assured him Miss Darcy would be quite safe in her care. She spoke with such propriety that Darcy felt a passing shame for the reluctance that stirred in him. He had no reason to distrust her. Georgiana liked her, relied upon her, and the woman had shown every willingness to arrange walks, music, and those small diversions by which a young lady’s spirits might be preserved.

“Should you wish any particular restriction observed during your absence,” Mrs. Younge said, folding her hands before her, “I shall be happy to comply.”