Darcy spoke through clenched teeth. “It was not an issue untilyoushowed up.”
“Is that what you think? I had hoped you would abandon the foolish plan entirely.”
“And watch Bingley make a muddle of his life?”
It pained Richard to think of Bingley with Miss Bennet, but he would not hear her maligned. “Miss Bennet would be the making of him.” She was the kind of woman to make any man better himself.
“My misgiving has nothing to do with her.”
“Then what?”
“What would Bingley do forher? Thrust her into the company of his pernicious sisters, who would never forgive him for marrying below their outrageous expectations? He has learned a great deal over the past months, but he has no permanent home to offer and still relies too heavily on the opinions of others.”
“Except when it comes to choosing a wife. He seems firmly settled on Miss Bennet despite his sisters’ advice and your influence to the contrary. Had I not bribed his bailiff to create a crisis requiring his immediate attention, Bingley would have accompanied me and Georgiana to Longbourn today.”
Darcy frowned. “I had not thought his bailiff the type of man to accept bribes.”
Richard grumbled. “I am out five pounds.”
“Methods aside, I am grateful to you for detaining him. I cannot stand by and watch Bingley ruin his life and Miss Bennet’s or hurt Georgiana. I swore I would protect her, and I shall live up to my promise.”
Sucking in a lungful of air, Richard released his breath slowly. Darcy genuinely believed he was shielding the ones he loved, but instead he denied them a choice in the matter. Even worse, he could lose Elizabeth over this. “An admirable goal, but who are you to make these decisions for everyone?”
Silence.
Richard tried another angle. “You cannot always protect Georgie.”
“I have to try.”
“Then you will do so at too great a cost.”
“She trusts me like a father. To withdraw my protection would be a betrayal.”
“But you can betray your betrothed? All Elizabeth will see, all that matters, is that you chose your sister over hers. You are choosing for everyone, and the choice is not yours to make.”
“You would have me stand by and do nothing?”
“Have you discussed your concerns with Bingley? He trusts you; he would listen.”
“But what if he does not?”
“Then he will make bad choices. That is what people do. They make poor decisions and suffer the consequences, but they learn from their mistakes and do better next time.”
Darcy’s shoulders tensed to his ears. “ThisisGeorgiana’s next time. She chose Bingley.”
“And he chooses Miss Bennet,” Richard said with a deep sigh. There was no point in arguing with Darcy when he believed himself to be right. If only he would be as stubborn for his own happiness as he was for his sister’s and his friends’.
They reached the stables. After helping the ladies down, Richard plucked the kitten off the brim of his hat and carried him into the parlor, where the rest of the household was gathered.
“How are the Bennets today?” Miss Bingley asked with a sly smile. “I do not know why you must call so often at Longbourn when your charming mother-in-law will make sure she and her lively daughters are frequent guests at Pemberley.” She giggled behind her hand, the bird of paradise feathers in her bandeau quivering. There was a meanness in her laugh that Richard could not ignore.
He turned to Darcy. “Mrs. Bennet is not in the habit of assaulting rose bushes, I hope?”
“She holds a certain hostility toward hedgerows, but I have never heard her speak against any other flora.” Darcy maintained a neutral expression, a true testament to his deeply ingrained manners.
Georgiana buried her face behind the cinnamon-spotted kitten.
Miss Bingley turned her nose up and huffed.
