He only grinned at her youthful exuberance and hit the roof with his cane for the carriage to stop. “I will ride alongside the rest of the way. I am afraid my legs need to stretch.”
Upon reaching London that afternoon, Darcy’s man was readying for him to travel to Hertfordshire, when his butler entered with a note.
“Sir, Colonel Fitzwilliam charged me to put this directly in your hands immediately upon your arrival.”
Nodding, Darcy dismissed him and tore open the missive.
Darce,
I regret this letter more than any I have ever penned. In preparation for our departure to Scotland, Anne and I came upon James Hamilton. I assume he has secured the hand of Miss Elizabeth as he stated he would convey our best wishes to her as he was sending a letter to Longbourn that day. My shame is great as I now live in a world of joy and you do not.
My regards,
Richard
Chapter 26
December 30, 1810
Darcy House
He had survivedthe previous two days by removing the knocker from the door and finding solace in a bottle of French brandy. However, that morning as he pulled off his counterpane, he realized the pain would never go away and neither would his responsibilities as Fitzwilliam Darcy, the first of which was his sister. In the breakfast room he found her going through her post. “Good morning, Georgie.”
“William.”
She said nothing more, pursing her lips together and taking a knife to spread lemon curd over her beloved scones.
“And what have I done to deserve such a response so early in the morning?”
“You have disappointed me, Brother!”
He was taken aback at her fervor. “I have disappointed you? How so?”
“William, you are free to do as you please, and yet here you sit doing business, planning a trip to Pemberley, going through your correspondence…”
“Georgiana!”
“Why do you not go to her, William? Go to Hertfordshire! Elizabeth loves you. I know it. You love her! What reason do you have for not charging to Longbourn?”
“Georgiana, you know not of what you speak!” Her imploring countenance showed her confusion, and Darcy’s jaw tightened. “She is engaged, Georgie.”
“That is impossible!”
“It is not and has been confirmed by her new brother. I had it in a letter from Bingley while at Rosings. He wrote of how Hamilton spoke to Mr. Bennet the week leading up to Bingley’s wedding, and how even Mrs. Bingley was certain Miss Elizabeth was eager to accept. And upon our return, I received a letter from Richard.” He paused, regulating his tone. “He and Anne saw Hamilton in London. He intimated that Miss Elizabeth had accepted his proposal. You see, Georgie?” He picked up his toast then took a sip of his coffee. “Things do not always transpire as they do in your romance novels, dear girl.”
Eager to end the conversation, he rose to leave. “I will be meeting with my solicitor then dining at White’s this evening.”
Georgie shuffled through her letters, not listening to her brother. As he made to leave the room, she exclaimed, “Wait! She is not engaged!” She waved a letter at him. “Kitty says Elizabeth refused Mr. Hamilton!”
“What? When?” Darcy spun on his heels and took a step toward her. “What did you say?”
“She refused him. More than a week ago. She said she could not marry a man she did not love nor one who did not respect her. She said that—”
“She is not engaged?”
“No, Wills, she is not. And according to her sister, she will not become engaged unless the man she loves asks her!”
“Turner, Turner! Tell the groom to saddle Ulysses immediately and Briggs to pack a bag. I will be leaving at once, Georgie…” he called over his shoulder.
