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“I wouldn’t ask him at the moment if I were you. He is in a damnably bad temper because of Robert. If he cannot get Robert up the aisle very soon, I understand there will be some very severe consequences. Barings are threatening to foreclose on their loans.”

“Barings?” frowned Darcy. “Your father banks with Drummonds...”

“Well, yes, he does. But they wouldn’t loan him any more, so he had to look elsewhere. That may not be all either. I saw a letter the other day in his study from Garth and Brooks.”

“Good Lord! He said nothing of Barings! It is worse than I thought!”

At that moment there was a knock at the door. Finn entered to remind his master that he had already been sitting for over an hour and should retire to his bed. Unwilling to finish his tête-à-tête with his cousin, Darcy invited Richard up to his room to drink brandy.

Assenting to this, Richard watched as Darcy was wheeled into the hall and lifted by Farley and Finn so that Hobbes could take the wheeled-chair upstairs. Seeing the old footman struggling to lift Darcy’s weight, Richard indicated that he should move aside and took his place with Finn to carry his cousin.

“Lord, Darcy!” huffed Richard as they reached the second-floor landing. “Why did you have to be so large!?”

“What is your problem, big strong cavalryman? I do not hear Finn complaining!”

“That is because you pay him handsomely to keep quiet. Why don’t you get another of those wheeled chairs made? Then the servants would at least not have to carry that up and down as well.”

“Oh, yes!” mused Darcy. “Why did I not think of that?”

“You’re too busy thinking of theorems and ways to make money,” retorted Richard.

After depositing Darcy on his bed, Richard collapsed gratefully into a chair to receive his snifter of brandy from Farley.

Once the servants had withdrawn, Richard restarted the conversation, “Where is Georgie by the way?”

“Almack’s with Princess Brunhilda.”

“Oh, well! After sending me out to scour London for you, I’m glad she didn’t get too emotional about your return!”

“I told her to go out. She was just worried because I disappeared! But once I explained my errand and why I had been delayed there, she was very happy and said I had done just as I ought.”

“You told her about your engagement?”

“Yes, although I asked her not to disclose it to the princess while she is staying here. I expect the princess will go back to Matlock House tomorrow now that I am home.”

“You needn’t worry about Hildie. She won’t blab. She’s true-blue.”

“Nonetheless, she is staying in your father’s house and after your revelations on my affliction I can do without more loose lips.”

The colonel took this reprimand on the chin and sought for another topic of conversation.

“I say,” he said, seeing a beam sticking out from under Darcy’s bed and bending down to investigate. “Why have you got a lumberyard under your bed?”

“That is a machine made by Elizabeth’s uncle. It is a modified patent rowing machine. Get it out and I will show you how it works.”

Both men nearly ended up on the floor as Richard guided Darcy down onto the seat.

Once he saw the principle of the thing, Richard was intrigued. “Do you really think you can gain your strength back this way?”

“I can feel my legs aching from the exercise I have already done. I am sure it is working.”

“Here! Let me have a go!” said Richard, giving his cousin a push.

With more stumbling the substitution was managed.

“This has potential...” said Richard, working the paddles back and forward, “but it would be better if there was more tension on the springs.”

“There are another two sets of stiffer springs in a box.”