Page 114 of Mr. Darcy Comes to Town

His cousin readily gave him a precise report of what had occurred earlier in the evening. “I took the grooms and my batman out into the grounds to search for Wickham, but we found no trace of him. I do not think he tarried.”

Darcy’s hand flexed around his brandy glass. “If he comes here again, I am going to give him a good thrashing.”

Bingley said, “Here, here.”

Douglas set his empty glass down on the mantle. “You will not call him out.”

Darcy kicked the raised hearth. “I will not. I promised Georgiana, and I am not such a fool as to cause an even greater scandal.”

“I am that sorry such a thing should happen while you are here at my home,” Bingley said mournfully. “Poor Georgiana.”

“Enough,” Darcy said, placing a hand on Bingley’s shoulder and squeezing it. “We must treat Georgiana as though nothing of import has occurred. She must not dwell on this unfortunate event. Tomorrow I will take Miss Mary and Georgiana to visit her new puppy. I wish her to concentrate on happy anticipation.”

“Yes, indeed,” Bingley said, nodding rapidly. “I will warn Caroline not to say anything about the intruder. She does not know it was Wickham.”

“Thursday night is the assembly,” Darcy mentioned. “The plan was for us all to go, but for Georgiana to remain at home.”

“I will stay with her,” Douglas immediately said. “We had a fine time tonight until Wickham arrived.”

“We could invite Miss Mary to visit,” Darcy suggested. “I do not believe she enjoys assemblies overmuch.”

“An excellent idea,” Bingley praised. “I will have Caroline talk to Chef and arrange for you three to have a superb late supper—crab cakes, and the like.”

“We will extend the invitation to Miss Mary tomorrow,” Darcy said, and then finished off his brandy. “I am for my bed.”

*

Lord, what a lark, George thought, grinning as he climbed into his bed back at the inn—and after he had sat in the taproom and drank a fair bit. I wish I had seen Georgiana, though. I expect she was cowering under her covers, frightened out of her wits. I cannot think why. I was just having a bit of fun. His grin turned into a scowl. What did Darcy say to her to make her afraid of me? What lies did he tell her about me? I suppose he told her I would have beaten her. Bastard.

He folded his hands behind his head. In a whisper, he asked himself, “What shall I do next?”

*

While sitting at their breakfast, Hill brought in the morning mail and set the salver beside Lizzy’s father’s place. He rifled through the cards and missives, passing them around the table as needed. He paused, looking at the name on the card.

“This one is for you, Mary.” He stood and walked around the table to present the card to her without any of her sisters seeing it first.

Lizzy watched Mary blink in surprise.

“There is a note on the front,” she said. “Georgiana wishes for me to go and visit her puppy with her this afternoon.”

“That sounds delightful, Mary,” Jane said, smiling.

“Stop delaying, Mary,” Lydia said, rolling her eyes. “What is on the other side?”

Mary pressed her lips together and turned it over. Her eyebrows lifted. “It is an invitation to supper and games on Thursday evening. They wish me to stay there until morning. I shall need to take a bag.”

“But that is the night of the assembly,” Kitty said, sounding shocked. “Surely, you will not wish to be anywhere else?”

“You must refuse,” Lydia said, snatching another slice of beef off the platter in front of her.

“I do not see why,” Lizzy said, frowning at her youngest sisters. “Miss Darcy cannot attend the assembly, and Mary does not enjoy them, so why should she not do something different? There will be other assemblies. Miss Darcy will not be here for long so Mary should enjoy her company while she can.”

“She will meet no eligible young men at Netherfield if everyone there will be at the assembly,” their mama said forcefully. “Besides, two young ladies at home alone? It is not at all proper.”

“We are often at home alone,” Kitty pointed out.

Mama flapped a hand. “It is not the same.”