Page 67 of Mr. Darcy’s Diamonds

Calling his imaginary estate in Cheshire small had not put her off, but he should think of more details to add to impress her. Perhaps horse breeding or modern construction.

Unfortunately, her time on Bond Street was short today. Before handing her into her carriage, he asked permission to call on her the next afternoon.

The charming girl blushed again.

“Forgive me. I am leaving London for the next three weeks to visit my cousin Jane and her family in Hertfordshire. That is where I grew up.” A deepening blush.

“It must be a pleasure to be invited home to a familiar country estate.”

“Yes, it is still my favorite place.”

“May I call on you here in London when you return? You will be back in January, I presume?”

“I will return on the seventh. In town, I reside with my Uncle Gardiner at No. 90 Gracechurch Street.” She looked at him as though to judge his reception of this address. He knew its general vicinity and wondered why a girl so wealthy spent any time there, but he would learn more in January, and he let no sign of distress show. Even a wealthy girl could not live alone, and if she had relatives in town, it made sense to stay with them even if they were in a less-fashionable part of town.

“I shall call on the eighth, then.” Staring into her eyes, Wickham kissed the hand he had kept hold of this whole time, despite her footman’s growing agitation. She sighed, and he let her go, turning away from the footman’s glare and walking down the street before he heard her carriage door close.

His prospects were finally looking up again. He had nearly run out of the funds provided for him in old Mr. Darcy’s will, so a handsome bride who was likely a wealthy heiress would suit him very well right about now. The delay was inconvenient, but he would make the most of their time apart. He should borrow a gig or curricle to take her on rides, and he would obtain a gift or two. Minny would help him with that. He had not been to Bath to see her in nearly a month, but if he gave her his next three weeks, she would be satisfied while he was pleasantly occupied in the city once January arrived.

Chapter Thirty

Darcy had considered day and night what he must do. He would have to give up Elizabeth or give up his standing in society. Elizabeth or his self-respect. No, not that, surely. But how could he allow himself, the master of Pemberley, which had supported Darcys for five hundred years, to marry someone so far beneath him? Nobody would accept it. He could not accept it.

He had not even begun to consider the other barriers on his list. If he could not accept Elizabeth’s birth, he would have no choice but to give her up. With this grim outlook, he shook the snow from his greatcoat and boots before entering a side door. This storm had come on so suddenly he had barely made it back.

“Sir! Thank goodness you have returned.”

“Yes, the darkness came on quickly, Mrs. Reynolds, and the snow is increasing rapidly.”

“Sir, Miss Darcy went out about half past two and has not returned.”

“Are you certain? The house and stables have been thoroughly searched?”

“Everywhere, sir. And the lieutenant-colonel is out searching. He took five footmen more than two hours ago, but as it is dark now and the snow is picking up, I suspect they will be forced to return.”

Darcy turned to go back outside.

“Mr. Darcy, it is too dark to search now.”

“But my sister is out in this weather! She will be frightened and cold.”

Richard and the footmen came in with a gust of wind through the same door Darcy had used.

“Darcy. Has Georgiana returned?”

“No. I am going back out now to look for her. Where have you searched?”

“Everywhere within two miles of the house. We will resume our search at first light, Darcy. Even with lanterns, visibility is too low. We were lucky to get back right as the storm was increasing.”

“You cannot mean to leave her out there!”

“She likely found shelter an hour ago. She knows the grounds almost as well as we do. She will have found a cave or tenant’s cottage. Knowing her, she was visiting a tenant and failed to notice the sudden darkening of the skies.”

Darcy nodded, knowing he had no choice but to accept his cousin’s assessment, which matched his own.

“All we can do tonight is pray,” he said.

Richard could sleep under any conditions, but Darcy had fallen asleep only a couple of hours before dawn, when his valet had orders to wake him. He was relieved to see the snow had stopped falling, although they would be forced to deal with several feet on the ground.