Chapter Fifty-Two

M r. Darcy wasted no time making his way to Matlock House. He had seen his sister only twice since the day he had discovered her pregnancy. He knew he should give Georgiana more of his attention, but he simply could not trust himself to hold in his rage. This time, though, he had a mission.

Mr. Darcy waited impatiently to be announced and then strode into the drawing room. Only his aunt was there. "Aunt," he greeted her, bowing politely.

"I am glad to see you," she said.

"And I, you. I have news."

"Yes?"

"Mr. Bingley is willing to marry Georgiana."

Her brows shot up. "Mr. Bingley, the tradesman?"

Mr. Darcy held onto his temper only with the greatest effort. "Mr. Bingley, the son of a tradesman, who has five thousand a year, is young and well-educated. He could do far, far better than a despoiled young woman carrying the child of a scoundrel. Yes, that Mr. Bingley."

"No need to take that tone, Darcy," his aunt said, frostily.

"No need to refer to my good friend as a tradesman," he shot back.

"Very well," she said. That was as close to an apology as he would get, he supposed.

"He insisted that she be given a choice in the matter."

"That speaks well of him."

"He is a very good man, Aunt. He is the complete opposite of Wickham in every regard. And he likes Georgiana, likes her good nature, her kindness."

"And possibly he likes being related to myself and your uncle."

Mr. Darcy shook his head. "He truly does not care about such things, Aunt, but I know I shall not convince you of that."

"I shall need to meet him to see if he is suitable."

Mr. Darcy scoffed. "Suitable? You wish to see if a young, wealthy, handsome, kind man is suitable to marry your ruined niece? We should be on our knees, thanking God for such a blessing, not fretting about his suitability!"

"Thank you for that, Brother."

Mr. Darcy turned to see his sister staring at him, tears starting in her eyes. "I am sorry, Georgiana," he said, gruffly.

"He is right, though, Aunt. Who is the young, wealthy, handsome, kind man, Brother?"

"Mr. Bingley."

Georgiana started in surprise. "Mr. Bingley? Your Mr. Bingley?"

"Yes. And Miss Bingley has been relocated to her own establishment, if that helps you reach a decision."

"But why would he want to marry me?"

Mr. Darcy refrained from saying that he had asked that exact same question. "He likes you, Georgiana."

"He likes me!" She sounded pleased. "But does he know – well, yes, of course he must."

"He does know and he is willing to accept the child as his own."

"Do you like the man, child?" the Countess interjected.

"No one could help but like Mr. Bingley," she replied. "He is so very kind."

"I still wish to meet him," the Countess insisted. "Bring him here tomorrow for tea."

"Meet who?" The Colonel had entered the room in time to hear his mother's words.

The whole story had to be told again. The Colonel nodded. "A good match, I think."

Mr. Darcy eyed his cousin. "I did not think you liked Bingley."

"I did not like him for Miss Bennet, that is true enough. But no one can help liking the man."

"Exactly what I said," Georgiana put in, sounding pleased.

"Most importantly, he has not a malicious bone in his body and will treat our girl well. Hold – what of Miss Bingley?"

"Bingley has put her in her own establishment."

The Colonel pursed his lips together and whistled. "So he did it! Good for him. I admit that I did not think he had it in him, but I am glad to hear of his success. I would not have wanted Georgiana to endure Miss Bingley. By the way, I am glad you are here, Darcy, as I am about to leave for Meryton. I will be back soon."

"You are leaving?" the Countess demanded. "But we need you here!"

"I do not think you do, no. Between the Matlocks and Darcy, matters here are well in hand. But I must make certain that Miss Bennet knows I have not forgotten her."

His mother stared at him. "Who is Miss Bennet?"

"The woman I intend to marry," was the succinct reply.

"Richard, you have not told your mother about Miss Bennet?" Mr. Darcy was surprised.

"There have been more pressing issues."

"More likely you are concerned that she will talk you out of it."

The Colonel laughed. "Darcy, you sadly mistake the matter; I do not require my mother's permission to marry. I do, however, profess my warmest gratitude to you for Chestnut Creek."

"You received the paperwork?"

"I did. I will journey there to make certain all is in readiness before I escort my bride to her new home."

The Countess interrupted. "My head is swimming! What is Chestnut Creek?"

Mr. Darcy answered, "A small estate near Pemberley. I have gifted it to Richard to enable him to resign his commission and marry Miss Bennet."

"That was kind of you, Darcy, and you have my gratitude as well, as this will enable my son to stay off the battlefield. The Earl and I would have liked to have provided him with such a gift, but the Matlock properties are, one and all, entailed to the Matlock heir, as you know. But I ask again – who is Miss Bennet?"

Here Richard took over. "Miss Bennet is the kindest, sweetest, gentlest, most beautiful creature ever conceived by nature."

"And you met this paragon where?"

"In Meryton, while I was staying at Netherfield."

"Her fortune, her connections?"

"None whatsoever," her son replied promptly.

"And this Miss Bennet preferred you to Darcy?!" The Countess could not hide her surprise.

"Well, no thanks for that, Mother, but as it happens, Darcy preferred her sister, Miss Elizabeth."

"Richard," Mr. Darcy said, warningly.

The Colonel ignored him. "As it happens, that preference did not proceed as planned, so Darcy is still available to the ladies of the ton, who will doubtless crowd around him as before, once it is known that Georgiana did not elope and the Darcy name is as sanctified as ever." He snorted.

The Countess' brows were drawn together. "I have just learnt that my son has been gifted an estate and hopes to marry a young lady I have never met. I have also learnt that my nephew Darcy, was interested in a young lady – who I presume also has no dowry and no connections – but something went wrong. What, precisely, doomed the relationship I will not ask, but I shall, without a doubt, require brandy in my tea today."