Page 97 of Master of Himself

“Mr Darcy received a note and has gone to the village to meet with Mr Denny,” Miss Elizabeth said.

Charles supposed that Denny had determined the last of Wickham’s debts to be settled.

“Sir William called today, Mr Bingley, and he was most cordial,” Mrs Bennet said, her vinaigrette nowhere in sight.

This was just as Charles had hoped. “He was out when I called on Lucas Lodge, but Lady Lucas and her daughters were pleased with my news, and send their best wishes to you, Mrs Bennet.”

Mrs Bennet curled her lip and exchanged irritable glances with Jane and Miss Elizabeth. “How kind of them to think of me,” she said with a bland smile and a sarcastic edge to her voice.

“’Twas quite civil of them, Mama,” Jane said, then reached for the tea tray. “Shall I pour you a cup, Mr Bingley?”

Charles declined. “I’ve had my fill of tea, for now.” He’d consumed an abundance of tea, biscuits, fruit tarts, and cake at the neighbours’ houses and was near to bursting.

Mirth sprang to Mr Bennet’s eyes.

“Did you see Mr Goulding?” Jane inquired.

“And his wife,” Charles said. “They were both warm and welcoming, and send their compliments to you, Jane. I received much the same from Mrs Harrington and Mrs Long, who had also called at Stoke with her nieces. I had a nice long chat with Mr Robinson, and he plans to call tomorrow to wish you happy.”

“It sounds promising, don’t you agree, Mr Bennet?” his wife inquired with a hopeful air.

“I believe we owe a great debt of gratitude to Mr Bingley, my dear,” he said, rising to shake Charles’s hand, which he easily accepted.

“Calling on the neighbours was no great hardship, I assure you.”

“Perhaps we ought to advise Kitty of Mr Bingley’s success, Mary,” Miss Elizabeth said, reaching for her sister’s hand, and casting a meaningful glance to Jane.

“Yes, let’s go up,” Jane said, following her sisters. As she passed Charles, she whispered, “Library.”

Her meaning was perfectly clear. At long last, they would have a few minutes alone together.

Intent on speaking to the housekeeper, Mrs Bennet went off in a flurry of skirts, leaving Charles with Mr Bennet. While Charles plotted to make some excuse to leave the room, Darcy entered, and gave a quick nod.

“Well, that’s it then,” he said, sinking into a chair. “The last of Wickham’s mess is now sorted.”

“Was it quite costly?” Mr Bennet inquired.

Darcy shook his head. “Not as bad as I expected – only two hundred pounds. I feared it would be much worse.”

Mr Bennet scoffed. “Two hundred pounds is no trifling amount, considering he was only in the neighbourhood for a sennight.”

“He’s quite careless, but at least he’s far enough away that he can’t cause further trouble here,” Darcy said. “How did you fare on your errand, Charles?”

“Everyone received me with perfect civility,” he said, hoping to cut this conversation short. “And I drank an excess of tea. If you’ll excuse me a moment.”

When Mr Bennet turned his attention to Darcy, Charles slipped out of the room and headed straight for the library where he found his angel waiting patiently.

He closed the door against all interruptions and she flew into his arms. “Oh, Charles, I’m so proud of you.”

He hadn’t done anything extraordinary, but with her soft body pressed against his, he believed he would do anything to please her. He would endure the stuffiest drawing rooms, listen to the dullest stories of years past, and consume barrels full of tea and mountains of cake. If her sweet kisses were to be his reward, nothing she asked of him would be too great a burden.

***

Thursday 5 December

When Darcy reached the spinney, he felt like the greatest beast in nature for arranging this early morning rendezvous. It had rained overnight, but there Elizabeth stood, bundled against the cold and clutching her skirts to keep them from getting soaked by the sodden ground. Yet, with her rosy cheeks and welcoming smile, she’d never appeared lovelier. He swept her off her feet and kissed her until they were both breathless.

“Now I understand the appeal of riding off into the sunset with a handsome rogue,” she said, caressing his unshaven face.