“Tell me you would not have said the same if the roles had been reversed,” Bingley challenged.
“You have the right of it,” Darcy admitted. “I wish you and Miss Bennet all the happiness in the world. I do have to ask a favour of you though.”
“You can ask me anything,” Bingley allowed.
“When you return to Netherfield Park, are you open to two Darcys and a Fitzwilliam accompanying you?” Darcy requested.
“Yes, you are always welcome as are both your sister and the Colonel,” Bingley agreed. “By the way, you remember thetradesmaninCheapsidemy sister was railing against as an inferior Bennet connection?” Darcy nodded. “That is none other than my partner, Edward Gardiner.”
“Oh, my goodness! Your joint ventures earn me a pretty penny each year and make up a significant piece of my income,” Darcy shook his head.
“One more thing. Gardiner is the owner of Netherfield Park.” Bingley smiled and offered his shocked friend some port.
Chapter 29
Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam sauntered into his cousin’s study on Tuesday morning prior to the time he knew William would break his fast. Richard had enjoyed a plate at his parents’ house before walking across the green to Darcy House, but there was more than enough room in his stomach for some of the excellent fare his cousin’s cook consistently delivered.
“Well?” Darcy enquired when he lifted his head from the letter he had been writing and saw who had disturbed his peace.
“It is done, Wicky is a resident of King’s Bench. If he ever manages to work off his debts, he will be an old man by then,” Richard reported.
“And is he healthy?”
“Basically. Hemaybe alittlebattered and bruised. I think he tripped and fell into my fist.”
“Richard, you are enjoying this too much,” Darcy chuckled.
“After what the bastard did, or tried to do, with Giana he is very lucky he is alive,” Richard told his cousin all about the confrontation and Wickham’s veiled threats, which had died in the coward’s throat when faced with the option of being silent or being run through.
“It is good he will never be able to impose on any innocents again. You missed aninterestingtime I had at Bingley’s house when I went to meet him. Thank goodness I woke up to my errors before I arrived at his door.” Darcy related what had occurred at Curzon Street the previous day.
“Well done Bingley! He knew what he wanted and did not need permission from you or anyone else. Based on your descriptions of the lady, it is a pity I did not meet her before him. What is being done with the pretentious tradesman’s daughter?”
“As far as I am aware, Miss Bingley is on her way to Scarborough already this morning. I showed the letter to your mother as I promised the shrew I would. Aunt Elaine will make sure if the harpy ever shows her face in Town again she will feel her own ruin keenly.”
“Do you have this letter of lies with you?”
Darcy opened one of his desk drawers, retrieved the offending missive, and then handed it over to Richard.
“If she was a man I would have called her out!” Richard exclaimed angrily after reading the vile missive.
“You would have had to queue up behind me and your father for that. I would never strike a woman, but the anger I felt at her using Giana’s name, threatening her reputation in such a cavalier manner may have pushed me to it if the letter had ever seen the light of day in society.”
“Her attempted compromise was not very well thought out,” Richard mused.
“Nothing she ever did was,” Darcy related. “As I told her, I would never have married her no matter what, even had she chosen to make her attempt in front of more than Bingley and the Hursts, who would have never supported her claims.”
“We, especially you, are well rid of her from our lives. What about you?”
“With regards to what, Richard?”
“The lady you mentioned in your letters to Giana?”
“I intend to try and win her hand. You still have leave until after Twelfth Night, do you not?”
“Correct,” Richard confirmed.
“Giana, you, and I are invited to join Bingley and the Hursts at his leased estate in Hertfordshire. That reminds me. I used Miss Elizabeth’s lack of connections as a reason to not pursue her. Do you know who her uncle is?” Richard shook his head. “None other than Andrew and Priscilla’s neighbours in Portman Square, Gardiner.”
