Lymington continued to declare that either Fitzwilliam would comply or Lymingtonwouldhave satisfaction. Disputes like this broke out between gentlemen in London often, and even amongst the recruits in the regiments, such conflicts were common. There was no doubt that this one would be discussed by the gossips and in scandal sheets all over town tomorrow.
“I want it on record for his father that he gave me no other alternative than either to destroy him at the tables, or kill him,” Fitzwilliam announced. The men in the room all grumbled their agreement, displeased with the reckless libertine. It was all too obvious he would make no better an earl than a viscount.
The game began, and it truly seemed to Darcy that his cousin’s heart was not in it. Darcy wondered if Richard would lose on purpose. Twelve thousand plus whatever he had won from the other men before they left the game, half in investments and the other half in the percents, would greatly improve his retirement, when he finally decided to retire his commission. And though an estate of six thousand a year would serve him even better, Darcy knew his cousin would not wish to take one like this.
It did not seem to be in the cards for Richard to lose, for fortune had been extremely unkind to Viscount Lymington. There was absolutely nothing useful in his hand, even a pair of threes would have beat him. The men close enough to see his cards cried out in frustration, and when Fitzwilliam laid down his own, there was a collective sigh of acceptance. Fitzwilliam began to receive claps on the shoulder from the other men about them, as they all agreed that he had done all that one could expect of him to encourage the young nobleman to consider another path. It was agreed by all that the earl was to be pitied for his unfortunate heir, and that the earldom and its coffers would one day be doomed.
Lymington stood and said flippantly, “As I said, perhaps now my father will cease his attempts to improve me.” He left the table with the majordomo, who had been a solicitor before his employment atSedgewick’s. It was his responsibility to watch the play, to make judgements when plays were questioned, to ensure that debts were properly recorded, and payments were legally transferred.
Most of the patrons had gone home or to a nearby brothel that had a business agreement with the gaming club. When Fitzwilliam emerged from the majordomo’s office, he and the other gentlemen departed. By the time they arrived at Darcy House, it was nearly eight in the morning. Thankfully, the cook had breakfast ready early, expecting Darcy and his guests home any time. The men joined one another in the breakfast room, and enjoyed a hearty meal before going upstairs to wash and sleep.
“I cannot believe the idiocy of that damned fool,” grumbled Fitzwilliam to the others as he ate. “I attempted to get him to stop somewhere around seven thousand, long before you two joined the others. Each time I attempted to get him to call it a night, he would become belligerent, and demand that I allow him to win the funds back. At first I agreed to a few more hands, but then it quickly became obvious that such an outcome was completely impossible. I began in earnest to convince him, but that only seemed to make him worse.”
“Everyone present could see that,” assured Darcy. “His father will hear of it. The man was excessively aggressive; what were you expected to do, shoot him? I doubt his father would prefer it.”
“You never know about that. I have heard that his father is widowed, and looking for a young bride in the hopes of providing another heir, considering that Lymington may not even survive to inherit,” said Bingley. “Hardly surprising given the man’s habits. Someone will shoot him one day.”
“What will you do with the estate? Will you finally resign your commission?” Darcy asked.
“Not yet. Six thousand a year will suit me admirably when the time comes. But as a younger son, it is my place to contribute to the glory of the Fitzwilliams’ duty to the crown through my service in the army. When the war is over, and I have won the requisite medals to further distinguish the Fitzwilliam name, then I shall resign my post, and take a wife. In the meantime, I shall hire a steward, and Darcy mighthopefully be willing to have his man keep a weather eye on things until I am ready to take over management.”
Over the next week,the men engaged in an endless round of manly activities. They fenced and engaged in pugilism at Gentleman Jack’s by day, and made a round of the boxing matches, cockfights, gaming hells, and even a brothel by night. Darcy detested such places, and he touched no one and allowed no one to touch him, but he reminded himself that every day his cousin was away, he might die. It was such a little thing to ask that Darcy show him a good time before he returned to his regiment. His cousin found so little of such entertainments otherwise.
It ended up being true that the scandal of the card game reached society and the gossip columns. Fitzwilliam received a scathing letter from his mother, as well as a congratulatory one from his father. The latter was filled with satisfaction for his younger son’s good fortune, as well as a warning about becoming too fond of the tables. By the end of the week, Richard had won eighteen thousand pounds, the estate near Birmingham, an expensive set of duelling pistols, a gold watch, as well as an amethyst parure, and a valuable silver tea service that would make his future wife very happy one day. Added to the funds he had in the bank and investments already from previous gaming adventures, he felt very comfortable announcing that he was retiring from high stakes gambling forever.
“A gentleman must quit while he is ahead,” he insisted firmly.
At the end of the week, Bingley, rather worse for wear from attempting to keep up with the other men, and bearing Darcy’s promise to join him later, left them and returned to his house to collect his sisters and head for his new country seat. As Darcy expected, when Bingley had gone, Richard looked at him and said, “Darce, the city is deathly dull. What do you say we go to Georgiana straight off tomorrow morning?”
CHAPTER 2
Elizabeth Bennet was returning to her home at Longbourn in Hertfordshire after her morning walk to Oakham Mount. Her family was likely awakening and going about their morning now. They had all slept a bit late after having dined at Netherfield the night before.
The new young couple at Netherfield, Mr and Mrs Lockhart, were charming people, and Elizabeth looked forward to having them for neighbours. Mrs Bennet was still smarting from the blow that Netherfield was not to be taken by a single gentleman of large fortune. Fanny Bennet had, at least, refrained from being embarrassing about it in their company, and had been gracious with Mrs Lockhart.
As Elizabeth came down the hillside, she noted a carriage approaching Longbourn. It looked like her Uncle Gardiner’s carriage. Elizabeth wondered what could possibly be wrong to bring her uncle so far unannounced at such an early time of day. He must have left London before dawn. Could her aunt or the children be ill, perhaps? She hurried as quickly as she could to the house.
“Uncle!” she cried as she entered the hall from the back of the house. “Is everything all right? Are my aunt and the children well?”
“Everyone is fine! Everyone is just fine,” Edward Gardiner smiled at all of his other relatives who had joined them in the hall with the same concern as Elizabeth. “I have some business with Thomas in his study, but first, I will join you all for breakfast if I may, and hear your news.”
“Of course, of course!” his sister crowed, allowing him to kiss her cheek. “Into the breakfast room, all of you! You may sit by me, Brother, and tell me what my sister-in-law has been up to in London. I am vastly excited about what Madeleine told me in her last letter about the new fashion for long sleeves!”
The family were all their usual selves as they spoke to and over one another at the breakfast table. No one questioned Mr Gardiner again about the reason for his visit, because when gentlemen had business together, it was none of the women’s concern. Elizabeth could not, however, help wondering what was happening, particularly because her uncle kept looking at her and smiling.
It was evident that Thomas Bennet was similarly curious, for the moment his brother-in-law laid down his fork, Bennet was hurrying everyone from the table, and encouraging them to go about their mornings. Jane had work to do in the still room. Mrs Bennet was to be at home to callers in the drawing room. Mary went to practise her instrument, and the younger ladies went upstairs to change the trim on one of Lydia’s gowns.
“Well, Edward, what is it?” demanded Bennet as they rose from their chairs.
“In your study, please, Thomas,” Gardiner insisted, and followed his host into the hall. He caught Elizabeth there, and hissed, “Do you still have it? The lottery ticket.” When Elizabeth opened the book she was carrying, and showed him the ticket she was using for a bookmark, he said, “You will want to frame it after today. Go to your father’s study.” He then went to the front door, whistled for his manservant, and bid him to wait outside the door of his brother’s bookroom, ensuring their privacy.
“Elizabeth, what are you doing here?” her father asked as she entered the room behind him.
“Uncle instructed me to come in, Papa,” Elizabeth said meekly. She had no idea how she could be concerned with the men’s business. Could it be possible that she had won the smallest prize of the lottery, just as her uncle had told her she might? What would she do with five hundred pounds?
Uncle Gardiner finally entered behind them, carefully closed the door, and embraced Elizabeth, spinning her about. “Lizzy! You won! You won the lottery!”
“Whatever can you mean, Edward?” said Bennet, rising to his feet.
