Richard asked, “Where the deuce did you get this coffee? In my regimental mess we would have killed — I joke not — to gain a supply such as this.”
Darcy laughed and tapped his forehead. “Secrets — horridly expensive, I warn.”
Richard shook his head. “Only time I’ve had the equal was Spain after we drove off Napoleon’s brother and gained his kitchen and silver chamber pot. Promptly mixed a good punch in the bowl after giving the silver a good cleaning.”
“Chamber pot!” Bingley coughed and spewed the coffee from his mouth. “You drank out ofthat!”
Darcy had heard the story several times before, andthistime kept his composure. The tale still sounded…unhygienic.
“We cleaned it well.”
“I still would not.”
“Pusillanimous creature.”
“What?”
“I mean lily livered — true men drink from some receptacle of their conquered foes.”
“I had thought the typical practice of soldiers,” Bingley replied, “was to drink ale from their enemies’ skulls.”
“We did not capture ‘King’ Joseph, only his toiletries, so the opportunity to remove his skull did not come. Besides, a large punch bowl is required for an entire regiment. The Bonapartes have small heads.”
“Did the men know they were drinking from what the King of Spain had relieved himself in?”
Richard laughed gaily. “My boys? Zounds, they did.”
Darcy grinned at the interplay. He took another swallow of the hot coffee. A perfect brew.
“Hello.” Georgiana and Jane entered the breakfast room, both dressed for the wedding. His sister wore a lovely pale yellow dress with pearls around her neck that Darcy recognized had once belonged to his mother. There was an old sapphire-encrusted hairpin which had always been a favorite of Georgie’s because their father had given it to her.
The earl’s daughter would have disapproved; her husband too.
Georgiana smiled but when her eyes met his there was uncertainty. The previous day had been busy, and Darcy had talked for more than two hours with Mr. Peake. But he and Georgiana had little chance to speak, and she was to marry before noon.
Bingley coughed and said to Richard and Jane. “Well. Well — we all have matters to attend to. Out! Out! There will be food enough to feed us later.”
The two were left alone in the room. There was an awkwardness between them. Darcy did not know what to say, but he knew it was his duty to say something. He looked between Georgiana and the oaken door frame. “Very different.”
She tilted her head at his cryptic statement. “You wanted me to marry a different sort of man. But I have loved Peake for years and—”
“Not that.” Then Darcy shook his head. “Though I should not interrupt a lady in the midst of her speech.”
“You do not despise me secretly? I hoped you would come. I desperately hoped it — but you made it clear that Mr. Peake is beneath you, and that you cannot respect him, and even though you said… I am afraid you don’treallyaccept my choice and…”
“I respect him a great deal. Georgie, I had it wrong — my pride is not worth your happiness.”
“Do you mean that? Truly?”
Darcy nodded. She embraced him again.
“I shall miss you and Anne,” said Darcy.
“You shall always be my brother.”
“But we will be so different.”
“I hope — it is something Lizzy said — friends must be equals. Perhaps now that you no longer must guard and care for me, we can be truer friends.”
