Mr. Hurst shouted out names between bites of cake: Bob, Mr. Whiskers, Daphne, Clarissa. His wife even forgot herself and added a few suggestions of her own.
In the end, there were so many choices that Miss Darcy declared it impossible to select only four. It was unanimously decided that the individual who successfully named any of the kittens would have the privilege of taking that kitten home once they all were weaned in two weeks.
“Just in time for the wedding!” Mama’s mind never strayed far from the subject. “Two weeks from Sunday. Of course, you will stay to attend?”
The colonel answered with a devilish gleam. “We would not miss it for the world.”
CHAPTER22
Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam had known this was a terrible idea. Lord, how he hated being right all the time! And still, nobody listened to him. Darcy never did. Richard's own mother certainly did not, though he could excuse her more easily than he could his cousin.
How on earth were he and Darcy—two bachelors for Heaven's sake!—supposed to guide a prized heiress through the battlefield of courtship and matrimony while avoiding any mortal injury? So far, they had not fared well.
From the moment the Bennets had set foot in Bingley's parlor, charging the air with their arrival, Richard had known the concerns he had expressed five months ago in Darcy's study at Pemberley had been well-founded. He would never forget the hurt in Georgie's eyes with every display of Bingley's preference for the eldest Miss Bennet. Richard praised the heavens above that the lady's insight and sensibility had prevented the matter from worsening—not that her mother had not done her level best to try!
Miss Bennet had impressed Richard. She valued the same qualities he did—loyalty and steadiness. Twas a pity Bingley had seen her first.
Darcy's predicament unraveled in a comical display during the tea, but Richard was convinced the universe had given his reticent cousin a nudge in the right direction with Miss Elizabeth.
As for her family, it was plain that Mrs. Bennet had married up. Her manners lacked the refinement of the upper circles… or even the middling ones if Richard were being completely honest. The matron had made her hope of connecting one of her daughters to him cringingly clear. She seemed to believe she might prod him to propose to one of her daughters by the end of tea.
Mr. Bennet, quick as a whip, snapped several clever quips. He was clearly an intelligent man with a wry sense of humor. Unfortunately, where his family was concerned, the gentleman was woefully negligent. He could not be more different from Darcy.
However, the many flaws of the Bennet family proved to display the finer qualities of the two eldest Bennet daughters to greater advantage. With some sorrow, Richard watched them depart for their residence.
Miss Bingley brushed off her hands. “I thought they would never leave. I absolutely adore Miss Eliza”—she looked disingenuously at Darcy—“but her family is truly dreadful.”
Mrs. Hurst rubbed her temples. “Five minutes in their presence gives me a headache.”
“Shall we call Miss Bennet back? Five minutes in her presence will put you to sleep!” Miss Bingley tittered along with her sister.
Darcy, who still looked at the door through which his betrothed had departed, snapped to attention. “Criticism without understanding is the height of ignorance.”
Whether Miss Bingley heard his rebuke or not, Richard could not say, for the lady erupted with a series of sneezes. Once she was capable of hearing, he clapped his hands together to make certain. “I, for one, congratulate you, Darcy. Miss Elizabeth is as charming as she is clever.” Richard did not allow himself the pleasure of checking Miss Bingley’s reaction, but he knew he had hit his mark. “Now, perhaps Mrs. Annesley would help Georgie collect her kittens and remove them from Miss Bingley’s proximity. I have several messages to relay to Darcy from my mother. Might we occupy your study for a few minutes, Bingley?”
“Of course! Consider this house your own during your stay.”
“That is very generous of you.”
“No more so than you and Darcy have been to me. The good brandy is in the bottom drawer of the desk.”
Richard inclined his head in thanks. Everyone occupied, he spirited Darcy to the study, closing the door behind him and pouring two glasses of Bingley’s finest brandy. Raising one glass, he offered the other to Darcy. “I suspected there was a great deal you left out in your letter, and now I am convinced of it. You are too big of a fish to be easily caught.”
Darcy frowned. "She did not catch me. She did not even set her cap for me."
Richard grinned, pleased at how quickly Darcy rose in his lady's defense at the expense of his own pride—proof that love worked miracles. "I did not claim that she had. Not all cleverness tends to the scheming machinations so common among theton.” He rubbed his hands together, liking this humbler cousin and indulging in his whim to tease. “Tell me, has she bested you in a debate?"
“More than once.” Darcy sipped from his glass. “You have had enough diversion at my expense. Why are you here?”
“Now that is a fine welcome.”
“You wrote that you were on your way to Pemberley. My instructions were clear. You could not have misunderstood them.”
“Did you not read my reply? I clearly said that Georgiana, with the help of my mother, wrote to Mrs. Reynolds with all their suggestions to ready Pemberley for your new bride. Georgie was too anxious to meet Miss Elizabeth to travel anywhere but here.”
Darcy did not look convinced.
Richard added, “Mother expects a full report.”
