“And Higgins,” Darcy continued, drawing a sealed paper from his coat, “send Peter to my solicitor with this. Tell him to wait for a reply.”
“Yes, Mr. Darcy.”
“I also need to speak with Mrs. Nichols. Higgins, I am to be married on Friday, and the mistress’s chambers must be cleaned and made ready for Mrs. Darcy.”
The butler started at the announcement. “Right away, sir.”
“Only you and Mrs. Nichols are to know until I bring Mrs. Darcy home. I do not wish for a stream of visitors calling to offer congratulations. I have very little time to prepare. Whichreminds me, I am not at home. Take the knocker off the door. Reeves is about an hour behind me, and he is flustered, as you can imagine. Assist him in every way you can.”
“Yes, sir.”
Darcy paused in thought. “One more thing. I expect to be in London for one night only. Saturday morning, we travel to Pemberley. That will be all.”
The butler bowed and withdrew.
Darcy sat at his desk and wrote a short note to his cousin.
Richard, do not mention this to your parents. I am to be married on Friday. Come to Darcy House as soon as you are able.
The following note was to his stable master, instructing him to prepare two carriages and two horses for travel on Thursday. He would travel back to Hertfordshire after luncheon.
A few minutes later, Robert Miller appeared at the door.
“Miller, deliver this to Richard. Place it in his hands. If you cannot find him, bring it back, and we will try again tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir.”
The young man took the letter and left. Darcy then wrote his marriage announcement for the newspapers, though he would wait for publication until he was on his way to Pemberley. He intended to leave it with Kendall, his solicitor. He had begun a list of all that required his attention when Georgiana bounced into the room.
“Brother!” She ran to him and threw her arms around his neck. “Fitzwilliam, you are back! I have missed you.”
He returned her embrace. “Georgie, I have missed you too, my dear. You look taller. How can that be? I have only been gone two months.”
She laughed. “I know you are teasing, but I truly have grown. Jenny had to let down my hems.”
He placed his arm about her shoulders. “Come sit with me, sweetling. I have some news, and you may not like all that you hear.”
Her expression turned grave. “Are you well, Brother?”
“I am very well, my dear, but I have a story to tell you, and it may make you uncomfortable.”
“Oh, Fitzwilliam, tell me quickly. I might imagine worse than it is.”
He smiled faintly. “Very well. Mr. Bingley threw a lovely ball at his estate.”
“Yes, at Netherfield Park! You wrote that he was planning a lavish ball in his grand house.”
“Yes, it is a fine house. The ball was beautiful. Caroline and Louisa did a fine job organizing the food and floral arrangements, and all went well, until Miss Bingley said something cruel in the hearing of Miss Elizabeth.”
Georgiana’s face crumpled. “She hurt Miss Elizabeth? How could she? From your letters, I had supposed Miss Elizabeth to be a sweet and kind woman.”
“Yes, she is. And I am ashamed to admit it, Georgie, but Miss Bingley was repeating a dreadful jest that first came from my own lips. Only Charles, the Hursts, and Caroline were present when I said it. I never imagined she would repeat it publicly, butthat is precisely what she did, at the ball, in front of Bingley’s friends, and within the hearing of both Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth.”
Georgiana covered her mouth. “I expect she hates Miss Elizabeth.”
Darcy looked at her in surprise. How could the child know such a thing?
“Yes,” she continued softly, “I knew she would hate Miss Elizabeth the moment I finished reading the letter in which you described her as lovely, amiable, and clever. I knew then that you had developed a tendre for her, and just as surely that Miss Bingley would hate her, as she wants you for herself.”
