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“That is what he said,” Kitty answered. “Mamma is very upset, but Papa will not be moved. He believes she needs training beyond what Mrs. Ellington and Mamma can provide.”

No one could think of anything polite to say in response to that, so the sisters remained quiet for several moments, until Mary spoke. “By the by, did you know that Mr. Bingley called early this morning?”

“What?” exclaimed all three of her sisters.

“Indeed. Mr. Lucas told me that he saw Mr. Bingley’s horse at Longbourn when he was out for a ride this morning.”

“What could have been his purpose?” asked Jane, almost to herself.

“You surely must know, dear Jane,” exclaimed Elizabeth. “The gentleman danced thrice with you at the ball.”

“Three sets?” exclaimed Kitty. “How did I not know?”

“You were preoccupied dancing with the officers,” teased Elizabeth. “That is why Papa was speaking with Mr. Bingley last night, when we wished to depart.”

“I thought he just wished to thank our host for a fine evening,” said Kitty with a self-deprecating smile.

“That feels so very long ago,” said Jane quietly. “And now he is for London for a week.”

“I am sure he will return as soon as he may,” assured Elizabeth. “A gentleman so enamoured cannot wish to long be separated from the object of his affection.”

Chapter 21

The journey to London was accomplished with a speed that matched Bingley’s impatience to settle his business and return to Hertfordshire. If all went according to plan, he would return to Meryton no later than Saturday. Normally, he would have remained at Darcy House and visited with Darcy and his sister for the afternoon, perhaps even residing there for his time in London, but that would slow his movements with the need for regular dining and polite conversations. Instead, he went straight to his townhouse, meeting that very evening with his senior staff, so they might not be taken by surprise when he—if all went as he hoped—returned with a wife in the spring.

Darcy, however, felt no such urgency. The rhythm of the carriage over the road did little to soothe him; Elizabeth’s words echoed with every turn of the wheel. She could not know his reasons for remaining silent, yet her admonishments had cut him deeply. He was not aware of having arrived until the carriage rocked to a halt before Darcy House. Only then were his thoughts more pleasantly occupied, his spirits lightened by the joy on his sister’s face when she caught sight of him.

“Fitzwilliam!” Georgiana cried softly, rushing forward and taking one of his hands in her own. “You have returned at last!”

“Dear Georgiana,” he returned, squeezing her hand before placing it upon his arm as they entered the house. “I am glad to be home.”

“Come, I have had Mrs. Wells set up a small nuncheon for you, brother. I hope you will like it.” Georgiana showed her brother into the small sitting room where Mrs. Annesley already sat writing a letter to a family member.

She rose at their entrance, setting aside her correspondence with a small, respectful courtesy. Mr. Darcy bowed slightly and greeted his sister’s companion, asking after the sister she wrote to.

“She is very well, sir. She has, of late, been in want of a position, however. Her last charge is now wed, so she returns to London soon for the season,” Mrs. Annesley answered.

“I hope she may find a position soon. I shall inform you if I hear of any gently bred ladies in need of a companion or governess,” Darcy answered. Then, he gestured to the table where the meal was laid out. “I trust my sister has not overexerted herself in anticipation of my arrival?”

“Miss Darcy is all that is attentive, sir. She will make a fine hostess someday, for she has seen that the meals today and tomorrow are planned entirely to your taste, sir. You must not worry, though, for I have made it a part of her lessons, so she might not exhaust herself.”

“Then I am very pleased, indeed,” Darcy said, filling his plate from the spread set out on the sideboard. The many cold meats, bread, cakes, and beautiful pyramids of grapes and nectarines would have done any hostess credit, should even the ladies of the ton have attended. He might have said as much to his sister, had he not known that his doing so would have caused her to go silent for the duration of the meal.

“Was your journey pleasant, Brother?” asked his sister in a way that he was certain was part of her instruction from Mrs. Annesley.

“Mostly,” he answered. “The roads were good despite the recent rain. Yet, Bingley’s company at the moment is rather insufferable, for he is smitten with a young lady from Hertfordshire.”

A look of horror crossed his sister’s face. “Not Miss Elizabeth Bennet?” she asked.

Darcy started at the name. “Miss Jane Bennet,” he answered slowly. “How do you know Miss Elizabeth?”

“I do not know her, Brother,” she laughed. “You do. You mentioned her many times in your letters.”

He thought back, considering the letters he had written to his sister. He supposed he had spoken of Elizabeth a few times, though not so often as to be called many. “Perhaps I did mention her. As Mr. Bingley is enamoured with her elder sister, we were often in company with the Bennets.” He hoped his voice was relaxed enough, for he knew already what his sister was thinking. He had to chase that notion from her mind immediately. “They are the family whose estate neighbours Netherfield, and although their fortune is small, marrying a gentleman’s daughter will help Mr. Bingley establish himself in the local society and erase his roots in trade.”

“Is she the sister who was ill at Netherfield?” asked Georgiana. “I thought it a very good thing that her sister was there to care for her. I would not like to be ill in a strange place with no family about me.”

“Indeed, it was very kind of Miss Elizabeth,” he said.