Page 158 of Mr. Darcy’s Diamonds

“We all thought you were dangling after naught but a bit of muslin when really you had a scheme toward being even more flush in the pockets than you already were. You should have spread some of that blunt around, Darcy.”

Darcy attempted a smile that was more of a grimace and continued moving through the group of men to seek his cousin.

“You must think us a bunch of flats for you to pitch the gammon like this. This is a havey-cavey business, Darcy.”

“Oh, you know Darcy is too strait-laced to ever make such a cake of himself as to fall for some lady-bird. This is quite a plumper, though. You had all the time in the world to set your cap at her without interference, not letting us in on your lark.”

“Indeed, Darcy. You went on as though she was nothing but a tempting armful, so we could have no chance to throw a rub in your way. We should have seen it was too smoky by half and that you would only go for the Top-of-the-Trees.”

Darcy’s restraint was thinning. “As my wife is of the highest quality, I will thank you all to cease speaking of her in such terms.” Thankfully, he saw Richard peeking his head out of a private room. “Excuse me, I have business to attend to.” He hastily made his way past the rest of the men and slipped into the room, securing the door behind him and leaning against it with a sigh.

“You look as though you have not been in society since the ball. Had you not heard all the talk before today?”

Darcy moved to sit in the chair beside his cousin’s. “Not as such. A few whispers at the ball, but I was rather distracted that night.”

Richard laughed. “I could tell.”

“Elizabeth and I cannot get out of London fast enough.”

“And here I thought your quick escape was the plan for marriage to a tenant farmer’s daughter.”

Darcy chuckled. “I suppose I should accept the ribbing more graciously.”

“Yes, well, we shall go out smiling to show them you are unaffected. Now, you must have ventured into White’s for something more than the stimulating on-dits about yourself.”

“Right. Elizabeth and I have decided you should take some of the diamonds⁠—”

“No, Darcy. The diamonds are yours. We have discussed this. Your father purchased them.”

“Yes, but Richard, listen. My father paid eight thousand pounds for his share. They have grown in value in this time. We are keeping a bag of diamonds presently valued at eight thousand pounds. We have no wish to keep the remainder.”

Richard stared at the wall before him, but Darcy noted his fingers drumming against his thigh.

“Yesterday, Elizabeth and I made a donation to the Foundling Hospital.”

Richard’s eyes shot to him, and Darcy thought he saw some anxiety there. He did hope for a boon, even if he sought to deny it.

“Why the Foundling Hospital? I would have thought she would wish to give money to her cousins if she did not want it.”

“Er, yes. I never told you what I learned…that is, who we thought Elizabeth’s father was before we discovered he was Lord Rowe.”

Richard watched him.

“Since she was fifteen and overheard only part of a conversation, she has thought she was not the daughter of a tenant farmer but an illegitimate child of some unscrupulous gentleman.”

“Oh, poor Mrs. Darcy.”

“Yes. It was difficult for her for many years, but she handled it with grace, as everything else she has faced in her life. She told no other person besides myself, and I charge you to keep it to yourself, though it is untrue.”

“Of course. So, the donation to the Foundling Hospital…”

“She has helped out there for years, thinking she was one of them who had been offered a better life merely by chance. Even after we discovered her true background, she has continued to help there, but we both wished to do more, especially as she will not be able to visit the children for a while. I sold some of the diamonds, and we donated twelve thousand pounds to the hospital.”

Richard’s eyes widened and then closed. “A veritable fortune. That was very good of you.” Darcy could tell his cousin was disappointed, even though he had never sought handouts. He had always been determined to make his own way on his army pay and a small allowance from his father.

“That left us with our eight thousand pounds of diamonds and another twelve thousand pounds’ worth. I wonder, would you prefer I deliver your share in the black bag or in the red silk reticule?”

Richard gaped at him.