Page 70 of Master of Himself

The colonel shook each hand. “It’s my great pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

“We have a bit of a conundrum that requires your expertise,” Charles said once they were seated.

“I suppose I should begin, since my daughter is the reason for this meeting,” Mr Bennet said, then acquainted the colonel with the recent course of events.

The colonel listened attentively, scowled when Wickham’s name was mentioned, and nodded his approval at the suggested solution. “I believe General Stanhope’s regiment in New Castle would be the best solution. He is stationed far enough away from town that Wickham couldn’t return and cause further trouble without significant expense.”

“Can we make the arrangements through you?” Charles inquired. “We’ll see to the commission, but if we give the money to Wickham, he’ll spend it before he leaves town.”

“I understand perfectly and will make all the arrangements in the morning,” the colonel said in a confident tone. “I’ll contact Darcy with the final details.”

“Thank you, Colonel,” Mr Bennet said, rising to shake his hand. “I shall be forever in your debt.”

After Mr Bennet moved on to speak with his brother-in-law, Colonel Fitzwilliam leaned in to whisper to Charles, “It seems our old friend Wickham has a bad habit of abducting fifteen-year-old girls. I should have dispatched him months ago.”

Charles suspected this comment referred to the incident with Miss Darcy, but having no taste for violence, he deflected the idea. “Hopefully he won’t trouble us again.”

Frowning, the colonel shook his head. “General Stanhope is an excellent commanding officer and won’t stand for his insubordination.”

Charles couldn’t be sorry that Wickham would finally be brought to heel. Despite having been given a gentleman’s education, he’d never taken responsibility for his own future. Every young man must have his wild starts, and the Lord knew Charles had had his fair share of madcap adventures, but at least he had never involved a woman in his larks. What’s more, despite Charles’s past flirtations, and there had been several, he’d never taken advantage of any of them. He could only hope that Wickham would use this opportunity to make a fresh start.

When Mrs Gardiner returned, Charles introduced her to the colonel.

“Will you join us for supper, Colonel?” she inquired, to which he humbly accepted.

Charles’s stomach grumbled irritably. This meal couldn’t come soon enough for his comfort.

***

Darcy could well understand his cousin’s confusion on being summoned on such an errand. To come to a stranger’s house, where he was acquainted with no one but Darcy, who wasn’t even who he claimed to be, must have put him on his guard. He cautiously approached Richard and drew him into a quiet corner.

“I am also in your debt for arranging matters with Wickham, as I have a special interest in another of Mr Bennet’s daughters.”

“Ah, I begin to comprehend the gravity of the matter,” he said with a sly smile, then gestured to Charles to join them. “Is there perhaps another Bennet daughter in your sights, Darcy?”

Charles raised his eyebrows. “You might say so.”

Richard grinned, his head bobbing. “Well, well, well,” he said with his usual teasing smirk. “The plot thickens.” Naturally, his cousin, who had been as close to him as a brother since their nursery days, never missed an opportunity to mock him.

Unlike Darcy, Richard Fitzwilliam made himself comfortable in any setting and fell into easy conversation with people in every rank of society. Besides his intelligence and competence, he was obliging, amiable, and engaging; the very embodiment of In Veritate Victoria. Possessed of every good quality, he was worthy of the highest praise.

An enjoyable supper hour passed. No arguments were fought, no demands nor threats were issued, and no disputes were raised. Lydia conducted herself reasonably well, which was all anyone could expect at this juncture, and at the end of the meal, she followed her aunt out of the dining parlour without complaint.

The men used the opportunity to finalise their plans for the next day. Darcy repeated his offer to pay for Lydia’s tuition, but Mr Bennet and Mr Gardiner strenuously opposed this idea.

“If your assistance were to become known, my niece’s reputation might easily be subject to speculation,” Mr Gardiner said. “I shall cover that expense on behalf of my brother, but I am not well known in that part of town, Mr Bingley. Your recommendation might go a long way in persuading Miss Huntington to admit Lydia into her school.”

Although disappointed, Darcy was forced to concede on this point. Furthermore, he privately admitted that he had vastly underestimated Elizabeth’s Cheapside relations. Mr and Mrs Gardiner were not the vulgar mushrooms that he had once supposed, but rather perfectly respectable, fashionable, and hospitable. They had graciously welcomed three strangers into their home, served them an excellent meal, and entertained them with intelligent conversation.

When Darcy bade the family goodnight at the end of the evening, Mr Bennet warmly shook his hand and repeated his thanks for his intervention. “I owe you a great debt of gratitude, Mr Bingley.”

“I hope to call on you soon, Mr Bennet,” Darcy said, thinking of that gentleman’s enchanting daughter.

“I shall look forward to it.”

When he and Charles left the house with Richard, their carriages awaited on the street. Darcy shook hands with his cousin.

“It’s been a pleasure meeting you, Mr Bingley,” Richard said in his usual affable manner.