Chapter 50

50

D arcy was thankful he had sent Mr. Leigh here this morning. If he had not, Miss Elizabeth would certainly not be looking on him so calmly.

He watched her as she listened to him, and although she was obviously curious, she was not asking more of him than he felt able to give. His heart warmed, she was kind, and her kindness was for him, rather than in satisfying her own curiosity.

She turned the conversation away. "So, is your sister soon going to be able to be carried downstairs to her pianoforte, Mr. Darcy? I remember you informing me how much she missed the instrument on just the few days when you were travelling north!"

He chuckled. "I am hoping she will recover quite soon, Miss Elizabeth, and I doubt she will be willing to remain upstairs for very long."

She nodded. "I agree. There is nothing duller than being confined in a bedchamber unless one is feeling exceedingly ill."

He bowed slightly. "I believe you found it very restrictive when you were at Netherfield, caring for your sister."

She laughed lightly. "I had forgotten! But then I was not ill, so I will confess that although I was happy to be there to care for Jane, I was indeed wishing I could be out of doors much of the time."

"And in the music room the rest of it, no doubt," he commented.

But she tensed and looked away. What had he said?

Confused, Darcy hastily changed the subject. "I hope, though, that you were able to forget your imprisonment by enjoying a book, even if Bingley's library was not impressive."

She appeared to pull herself to politeness. "I will admit I had already read most of the books at Netherfield. Reading to Jane could not hold either of our attention easily." She shook herself. "But that is past. We have a wedding to plan, and I thank you for assisting to ensure our safety so we do not have to look over our shoulders and instead will be able to enjoy the anticipation, and the day itself."

Darcy looked down at her. "Are you … are you standing up with your sister?"

She nodded. "I understand you are the groomsman, Mr. Darcy, so you are duty bound to attend me during the wedding breakfast!" Her smile was mischievous, and his heart turned over.

"I have hopes that you will be looking after me, madam. I am not at my best in company, and you will undoubtedly know more of those attending than I do." He smiled tentatively, and her laugh was unrestrained.

"You will have to pay a great deal of attention during the introductions at the receiving line, Mr. Darcy. Afterwards I will test you to see how much you remember!"

His alarm flared. "How …" but she interrupted him.

"I see you do not know when I am teasing you. Be assured, whenever we begin a conversation with anyone, I will first call them by their name to remind you."

He knew the relief sounded in his voice. "Then I will remain assiduously by your side, madam."

"Not too closely, I beg you." Her gaiety was infectious. "Or all the gossips of the town might make things difficult for both you and me."

He found himself grinning. "I would not wish to cause you any embarrassment." He had an idea. "Perhaps we can discuss some of your friends and neighbours and their families now. Then I may know of any anecdotes and suitable childhood incidents of yours which may form conversation starters."

Her wondering gaze met his. "I had not thought you might wish to get to know them so well as that, Mr. Darcy. But I will take you at your word if you wish it, and begin with my dearest friend."

"Miss Lucas?" He thought he was on safe ground there.

"Indeed." Her whole face softened at the thought of her friend. "I will be very thankful that Meryton is now safe and we may resume our long walks where we often talked away the days, putting our world to rights and dreaming of our futures."

"I know what you mean, Miss Elizabeth. My cousin has been the same sort of friend to me. I believe he knows me better than I know myself; he can be quite brutal when he thinks I have not behaved as I should."

Her eyebrow arched, and he almost staggered at the light in her eyes. "You are referring to Colonel Fitzwilliam?"

He nodded, and she grinned ferociously. "Any time you wish to give him a set-down, I will challenge him to a chess match!"

His heart swelled at the thought she was feeling protective towards him, and her hand on his arm warmed him further. "If his admonishments become too severe, madam, I will definitely threaten him with your challenge!"

She laughed lightly again, and they turned for their fourth circuit of the path. He bent his head. "You are well, still walking? I know you go long distances when in the country."

She nodded again. "I am enjoying being outside, even though the weather is cold." She turned an impish glance up at him. "Perhaps I will begin talking about the Lucas family. You already know Sir William." His laughter joined hers. "Of course, his outer appearance of bonhomie covers an intelligent and astute man. We are proud to have him as magistrate, and he makes sure to keep the peace among the neighbours."

Darcy rubbed his ear ruefully. "I remember being taken to task by him. But he has been generous since and does not constantly remind me of my error."

She nodded. "Charlotte has two older brothers, and a younger sister. The second son, Toby, is away in the navy, and you have met the elder, John, I believe."

"I have, Miss Elizabeth. I believe he will do well in continuing his father's legacy in the future." He stopped, seeing a look of disappointment cross her face.

She saw his confusion though, and shook her head. "You have not erred, sir. But my aunt is beckoning; I believe she thinks we have been long enough outside."

Two hours later, Darcy was sitting in his library, more contented with his life than he had thought he could be. A thunderous knock echoed from the hall and he shook his head, forcing himself to rise as Richard burst in unceremoniously.

"Good evening to you, too, cousin." Darcy held out a glass of whisky.

Richard emptied it and put the glass on the table before he drew his cousin into a one-armed, crushing hug. "I came as soon as I got your note, Darce. Are you well? And Georgiana?"

Darcy nodded. "She will be well, although the shock was delayed in showing itself, and the physician has recommended a little laudanum to last through the night." He grimaced. "I wish she had not twisted her knee when she fell. Having to stay abed will not be good for being too busy to forget what happened."

"True." Richard looked intently at him. "And are you really all right with what happened?"

Darcy shuddered. "I believe I will be, cousin. I cannot quite think about it yet. But tomorrow I will confront my feelings." He looked up at the man who was his best friend as well as his cousin.

"I remember after Ramsgate, that I prevented you finishing it because Father had loved him. If only I had not done so, Georgiana would not have been put at risk. That is what I am sorry about; and that I was not confident of a head shot, the body shot was neither quick nor clean."

"But it was effective." Richard clapped him on the shoulder, and pushed him towards the chair. "And shooting someone is never clean, so do not worry about it." He turned to the decanter and poured another drink for them before taking a chair close by and looking Darcy in the eye.

"I recommend you have several more drinks before you retire, Darcy. Or you will not be able to sleep this first night. First time, without the support of other troops around you, and that it was someone you knew and recognised — there is no shame in feeling it acutely."

Richard poked him in the chest. "He was a dead man, anyway. You know that. Leading an insurrection; desertion; Ramsgate; and the amount of his debts and ruined women. He was already as good as dead five times over. You only made it quicker and cleaner than hanging."

Darcy nodded. "Let's play billiards. I am not quite ready to talk. Perhaps in the morning."

Richard nodded, and they picked up their unfinished drinks and carried them through to the billiard room.