Page 6 of Mr. Darcy Comes to Town

“He is a scholarly gentleman, as it happens,” Bingley said. “You will like him, I think. Ask him about the Peloponnesian war, and he will like you, too.”

“I shall have to reacquaint myself with the intricacies of the Athenian and Spartan civilizations before I attempt to hold my own with a scholar.”

“He does not mind if you know nothing about it,” Bingley assured his friend. “Simply ask intelligent questions.”

“Were you able to do that?” Darcy asked, grinning.

Bingley barked out a laugh. “I confess, Miss Bennet primed me ahead of my attempt to engage him in a conversation other than commonplaces.”

“You speak of Miss Bennet often,” Darcy observed. “Is she your newest flirt?”

To Darcy’s surprise, Bingley’s lips tightened and his eyes narrowed.

“She is not my flirt,” he said in a steady, forced-calm voice. “She is a sweet, respectable lady.”

“I beg your pardon,” Darcy said, his eyebrows rising. “It was not my attention to imply that she is anything other than a respectable lady.”

Bingley acknowledged his apology with a stiff nod.

“How long have you known her?” Darcy asked.

“A fortnight.”

Darcy waited for more. It did not arrive. Finally, he asked, “Where did you meet her?” Good Lord, will I have to wrest every bit of information about this woman out of him?

Bingley’s expression softened. “I met Miss Bennet at the home of their near neighbors, Sir William and Lady Lucas. Sir William is a jolly fellow, and his wife is very obliging. They have a large brood, including a daughter around the age of the Bennet sisters. Miss Mary Bennet also attended their afternoon party.”

“An afternoon party?” Darcy asked, blinking. “Was it someone’s birthday?”

“No, no. It was an informal party where games are played inside if the weather is not fine, and lawn games are played when the weather permits. The party is to give the children a chance to socialize with their peers. Caroline came with me.”

“Did she enjoy the party?”

“We-ell, you know my sister,” Bingley said, shrugging and displaying a grimace. “I insisted she come with me so we could get to know our neighbors.”

“Laudable,” Darcy said, his tone dry.

“Darcy,” Bingley said, an unexpected warning note entering his voice. “I may choose to purchase Netherfield. These are my neighbors. Please make an effort to be sociable.”

Darcy drew in a breath and let it out slowly as he calmed his instinctive desire to shut his friend down. What is wrong with me today? Bingley does not usually put my back up. Am I simply still tired from my journey? I think I am going to blame my uneven tone of mind on that cat.

“The countryside is beautiful,” Darcy finally said, forcing a conciliatory note into his words. “I enjoyed what I saw of Meryton when I drove through it yesterday. It seems to be a nice, tidy town. If you like the society you find here—which I expect you will—then you could certainly do worse than to purchase Netherfield.”

“It is nicely situated as well,” Bingley said, smiling again. “Near to London, I mean. Under a half-day journey with a good team in harness.”

“Precisely,” Darcy said, nodding.

The lamb bleated mournfully.

“Poor little tyke,” Bingley said, frowning and glancing over his shoulder. “It will not be long, fellah, before we take you out of that awful box.”

“I doubt he can hear you,” Darcy said with a twisted grin.

Bingley scowled at him. “He knows I have a friendly feeling toward him.”

“Does he?”

“You have said it often enough,” his friend reminded him.