Darcy left her and went to his study to work. Half an hour later, Richard joined him.
“Darcy, will you visit my parents tonight to tell them of your marriage, or shall I bear the news?”
Darcy ran a hand through his hair. “I wish I could put it off, Richard. You know how cantankerous Uncle Henry can be. He will play the earl, and I shall have to endure an hour ofsermonizing. I am too newly married, and too happy, to listen to such drivel from a man who neglects half his parliamentary duties and is unfaithful to his wife.”
Richard waited patiently while his cousin paced. Darcy sighed. “Still, it would be disrespectful for him to hear it from someone else.”
“He will hear nothing,” Richard said easily. “He knows no one in Hertfordshire. I am the only person besides yourself who knows, and I shall keep your confidence.”
Darcy paused. “You are right. He cannot hear it from Hertfordshire. But what of Mr. Collins? Might he inform our aunt?”
Richard shook his head. “I think not. He has a healthy fear of her. He obeyed her command to marry with great haste. Were he to reveal that her favorite nephew married another woman, she would vent her wrath upon him first. And when she learned that her nephew had marriedhiscousin, the very woman he should have taken to wife, she would likely send him packing.”
Darcy laughed. “Very true. He struck me as a man who knows when to hold his tongue. I shall enjoy the summer in peace before I need to inform either of them.”
“I agree,” Richard said. “Best to enjoy your first few months of wedded life untroubled.”
“Then I shall not visit tonight. We leave by half past seven tomorrow morning. Though I suspect my aunt has spies among my servants. When I discover them, they shall be dismissed. My staff must have loyalty to me, not to the Countess.”
“Good luck. She pays them handsomely, and for that reason, they will never reveal who betrays you.”
Darcy rang for the butler. “Higgins, see that no servants have the night off. I do not wish for one of them to run to Lady Helen to report that I am in town and that my wife is with me. Have breakfast served by six and the carriages ready by seven.”
“Very good, sir,” Higgins replied.
“Thank you, Higgins. That is all.”
But as the butler turned to leave, Darcy called him back. “On second thought, have luncheon served in half an hour and the carriages ready by two. I shall ride Rowan to give Ares a rest, but I will take both mounts with me. Richard, will you take my chestnut?”
“I will,” said Richard. “But I shall bring Cloud as well. I’ll alternate mounts on the journey north.”
“Excellent. Higgins, send Peter Miller to me. Have him bring a small trunk to the library. There is a set of volumes I mean to take to Pemberley. Also, send for Kendall. I have work that must be completed before we depart. That will be all.”
Then, turning to his cousin, Darcy asked, “Will you travel with us this afternoon or go to Matlock House first?”
Richard’s brows rose. “No, Darcy, I have no wish to see my parents. They will interrogate me about my whereabouts, your whereabouts, and Mother will demand to know whether either of us has found a prospective bride. She will then enlist me to find one for Phillip as well.”
Darcy chuckled. “Then I am glad you are coming with us. I shall see you in the breakfast parlor for luncheon. I must inform the ladies of our change in plans.” He sighed. “It seems a waste of time to have traveled south to London only to turn about and journey north again three hours later.”
“Not a waste, Darcy,” Richard replied. “It is imperative to preserve wedded bliss for at least a few months, especially since your wife has not yet fully accepted you. Besides, you have business with your solicitor, do you not?”
“Yes, I do. There are some investments I must attend to. And I wanted to take Rowan back with me for the summer.” Darcy sighed. “As usual, your counsel is sound. Nothing is more important to me now than avoiding a confrontation between the Earl and Elizabeth. I must make haste if we are to depart by two.”
Darcy ran up the stairs and tapped on his wife’s chamber door. Ellis opened it. “Yes, sir?”
“I will speak with Mrs. Darcy.”
“She and her sisters are in the garden, sir. She wanted exercise.”
“Thank you, Ellis.”
Darcy descended the stairs and stepped out through the library’s French doors. He spotted the four ladies among the roses, their laughter mingling with the morning breeze.
“Ladies,” he said, “I am glad to find you all together. I am sorry to say that there is a change of plans. We leave for Pemberley at two o’clock.”
Elizabeth turned to him. “Is everything well, sir?”
“Yes, all is well,” he replied. “But the weather is fine, and I have much work awaiting me at Pemberley. I am eager to be on our way. I have sent for my solicitor, and we will depart as soon as I have concluded my business with him.”
