Chapter 5

Darcy looked up from his book at the knock on the door. “Enter.”

The landlord bowed. “A note for you from Longbourn, sir.”

Darcy frowned. How did Bennet know he was here? “Who delivered it, Mr. Graham?”

“Young James, the stable lad from Longbourn, sir. ’E says he was told to ask if you was here and if so, to give you the letter.”

“I see.” Darcy accepted the proffered note, then looked up. “He wasn’t asked to go to Netherfield first?”

The innkeeper frowned. “I don’ believe so. I will ask ’im, sir.”

Darcy smiled faintly and broke the seal on the letter.

Mr. Darcy

From a small matter that has come to my attention, I believe you may now be staying at the inn. If so, I am aware that there may be little to do and a rather confined space to endure.

If you wish for alternative occupation, I am quite at leisure this afternoon; and if you play chess, I would welcome a worthy opponent.

Yrs, etc

Bennet

Darcy smiled slowly. The invitation was welcome, even if unexpected, and he wondered if he might find out what the small matter might be.

* * *

An hour later,he was announced into Bennet’s library for the second time that day, and his host rose to his feet. “I did wonder if you might find time would drag with little to do.”

“Mr. Bennet.” Darcy bowed. “The thought of a game of chess was welcome.”

Bennet laughed and indicated the board already set up by the window. “Should we start the afternoon with coffee, or move straight to the whisky?”

“I believe that, given your eagerness to play, I ought to keep my wits about me.”

“I do confess that I have not recently had much challenge at the game, unless it’s from Lizzy.” Bennet grinned at Darcy’s expression. “While she is a very good player if you merely look at how much she wins; she is quite unorthodox in the way she plays, which I can find exceedingly disconcerting.” He held out both fists.

“How so?” Darcy indicated the man’s right hand which he discovered contained the white pawn.

“I can see you are a regular player,” said Bennet as he responded to Darcy’s first move. “But each day she moves a piece that I never expect and it takes me a while to get into the same frame of mind when playing her.”

Darcy frowned and moved his knight out. “Are you able to give me an example?”

“Certainly.” Bennet followed suit with his own knight. Just last week, she moved her knight first, and within four or five moves, she somehow had her queen behind my pawns.” He shook his head. “I never recovered.”

“I can see that might be quite baffling.” Darcy set his bishop to cover the centre area and wondered how he would manage such an unorthodox player. He smiled slowly, he was discovering more about Miss Elizabeth. “I look forward to challenging her to a game.”

Bennet chuckled. “She may use it to test if you are a bad loser.”

Darcy grinned. “Unfortunately, I regularly lose to my cousin and he enjoys crowing over me for days at a time. He excels at strategy and seems to know what I will play before I do.”

They played in companionable silence for a time, before Darcy raised the matter of his accommodation. “I wonder, sir, if you might tell me how you knew I am staying at the Swan? I find myself curious.”

Bennet laughed. “I knew you would rail against the lack of occupation!” Then he grew serious. “I believe Miss Bingley might think you had already left for London when she sent over this note to my Jane.” His gaze was intent and astute, and Darcy leaned back and took a deep breath before unfolding it.

He knew his expression darkened, and he forced himself to remain still as he read it again more slowly. He folded it and handed it back to Bennet.

“Thank you for showing it to me. How is Miss Bennet?”

A single eyebrow arched. “Your friend has been paying her very marked attention. If there is no intention for him to return, I believe she will not only be heartbroken, but will be the subject of much gossip in the town. As her father, I feel for her. Much the same way as you probably feel about your sister.” He nodded at the letter and Darcy scowled.

“My sister is but fifteen years of age, and very shy. She will not be marrying, or even be out for several years yet. And Miss Bingley wants only my wealth and estate. She is no more interested in me than I am in her.”

“Now you have seen the letter, what are you intending to do about it?” Bennet’s voice was deceptively light and Darcy glanced up.

“I have already written to Bingley to say I am staying in Meryton, and would he permit me to reopen the house and stay there, I also asked whether he intends to return. I do believe he intended to do so, and Miss Bingley made the decision to close the house in her own self-interest.”

He shook his head. “I also told him that his sister had dismissed all the non-essential staff, and that I had, as is right, guaranteed that if he did keep the house closed, he would pay them three months wages, given the lateness in the season and Miss Bingley’s uncharitable actions.”

Bennet’s eyebrows rose. “That is … a strong promise to make on his behalf.”

Darcy shrugged. “I don’t believe he intends … intended to close down the house, and if he did, he would have asked me the appropriate way to compensate the staff. He will be interested to hear of the decision made by his sister, and, I hope, will ensure she knows of the displeasure it would cause.”

“From what I know of Miss Bingley, I doubt it would concern her.” Bennet looked at the chess board for a moment. Then he grinned. “I believe she might have been aggrieved that you did not open the dancing with her at the ball, Mr. Darcy. Perhaps that is what infuriated her.”

Darcy raised his eyebrows at him. “I very much hope she does take the hint. She has proved obdurate so far.”

“Is it gratifying to be so pursued?”

“Certainly not!” Darcy shuddered. “Added to which, I had to arrange my valet slept on a cot in my chambers to prevent any attempt at a compromise. He snores abominably.”

Bennet laughed, and moved his rook out. “Checkmate.”

Darcy’s eyes snapped to the board and he groaned. “A good game, sir.” He stared at the board and went through the later moves in his mind. “Hmmmm. I should not have taken that direction, there, without having defended that square better.”

Bennet nodded. “It was perhaps unfair of me to give you that letter during the game. It must have been distracting.”

“I asked what the issue was, so it is my own fault if I was distracted.” Darcy kept staring at the board, but his error was there in plain sight. “Perhaps I might be permitted another game soon so I may attempt to even the score.”

You are welcome at any time,” Bennet nodded. “Perhaps after you have called on Lizzy one day.” He glanced up. “I have been very firm with her. She has developed the habit of being implacable in her opinions once formed; but she must learn that people are neither wholly good, nor wholly bad, and I hope this might be a salutary lesson for her, having to find the good in you and maybe even in Mr. Collins; and also see the bad in Lieutenant Wickham.” His eyebrows went up as he saw Darcy’s face. “What have you to say about him?”

Darcy took a deep breath. “I will tell you all about that libertine, and when my cousin arrives with the evidence I have asked him to bring here, I can prove what I say.”

Bennet nodded. “Is it the sort of story that requires a whisky?”

Darcy nodded, the man was right. He began to prepare in his mind what to say.