A rare smile crossed Lady Catherine’s lips. “Yes, she might at that.”
“THEN SHE HAS ACCEPTEDyour strictures at last?”
Bingley, who sat across from Darcy, nodded, appearing relieved. “She has. Whether the threat of many more months in the hinterlands has convinced her, or she has given over all pretense of gaining your attention, I do not know, but she has agreed to consider any suitors that present themselves.” Bingley paused and muttered: “To own the truth, it is far more than I had expected.”
They were speaking of Miss Bingley, of course, who had been staying with Bingley’s family since he escorted her there in early January. There was no reason to consider his feelings for her, as that had been a matter Darcy had reflected on ad nauseam. Were he to guess, his knowledge of Miss Bingley’s preference for London and her disdain for her roots had taught him that even if she could not have him, any man of society would be preferable to wasting away in York.
“Then when will she arrive?” asked Darcy.
“One of my uncles will escort her here before the end of the week.”
Darcy nodded, distracted. “Can I assume you wish to be rid of her care before your wedding?”
Bingley shrugged. “That may be too much to ask, for I would not give Caroline away to the first man who asks without concern for her feelings. Any man who wishes to marry her with such alacrity must have ulterior motives. If she is agreeable to other men, I can afford to be patient. But the moment I see her, Iwill inform her that Miss Bennet will be my wife and the mistress of my home, and Caroline must defer to her.”
“That is well, Bingley,” nodded Darcy with approval. “If she understands you will not tolerate poor behavior, that will make the chances of her contemplating it more remote.”
“That is my thought, too.”
Of more importance to Darcy, he would not need to endure her. They returned to London at the start of the season, and now two weeks later, they had settled in the city. Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth were staying with the Hursts, having deemed Bingley’s house more convenient to attend events of the season than their uncle’s. As his fiancée was staying at his house with his sister and brother, Bingley could not live there, so he was staying with Darcy and Georgiana. It was a simple arrangement, and one they both appreciated, as it kept them close to the Bennet sisters to whom they were betrothed. Of course, when Miss Bingley returned, that must change, for her residence in the same house as the Bennet sisters could not be contemplated.
Even with that arrangement, they saw the Gardiners at least once a week, for both men had grown to esteem the Bennets’ relations. The other Bennets remained in Hertfordshire. From Elizabeth’s letters, it seemed their youngest sisters still chased after the officers, and Mary moralized, but Darcy did not suppose they were beyond amendment. When they were married, the Bingleys and Darcys had agreed to take a hand in Kitty and Lydia’s reformation, taking them into their homes and teaching them what they must know to move in society without embarrassing them all.
“When shall you travel to Kent?” asked Bingley.
“The week before Easter.”
Darcy did not know what to expect this year at Rosings. Lady Catherine had confounded him with her acceptance of his interest in Elizabeth, and her connection with Mrs. Collins hadprovided the excuse to insist that Elizabeth visit Rosings that year so Lady Catherine could make her acquaintance. What Lady Catherine meant to do, Darcy could not say. Lady Catherine had a cordial relationship with Mrs. Collins, yet he could not forget that she was a commanding lady who spoke and expected obedience. Perhaps it was all innocent, but Darcy suspected she had, at the very least, planned to ensure Elizabeth met her standards.
“Well, Darcy,” said Bingley, setting his glass to the side, “I believe I shall retire. Though I enjoy your company, dreaming of Miss Bennet until I am with her again is a much more pleasant way to pass the time.”
“With that, I cannot disagree, Bingley,” replied Darcy.
“YOU APPEAR SMUG, WILLIAM,” said Elizabeth when her fiancé entered the room at the parsonage.
William grinned, proving her supposition correct. Elizabeth was only to stay for two weeks with Charlotte, and as much as she was enjoying her reunion with her friend—and even Mr. Collins was tolerable—she enjoyed spending time in his company. They were together for several hours every day; that very day, they were to dine at Rosings, and Mr. Darcy had departed from the parsonage to prepare for the evening several hours before. Now, however, he was back when she would not have expected to see him again until they arrived.
“Yes, I suppose I am,” said William, then greeting Charlotte.
“You are welcome at any time convenient, Mr. Darcy,” said she, “though I suppose you must have some particular reason for returning. Are the pangs occasioned by your separation from my friend such that you cannot even countenance a few hours apart?”
William grinned, unrepentant. “You have the right of it, Mrs. Collins, though Iwillsay that even a brief separation from her is not palatable.”
“Then you had best inform us of why you have come.”
“I have received word from Fitzwilliam.”
Curious, Elizabeth regarded him. Colonel Fitzwilliam’s sudden departure from Kent had come as a surprise—William had often jested that he depended on his cousin to help him endure his aunt. Elizabeth viewed that last bit with a healthy respect for the apparent changes in Lady Catherine. Given some of what she observed from the lady, Elizabeth suspected she could be a tyrant when she put her mind to it, but her behavior had been almost cordial since her arrival.
“Yes,” replied William, “for you see, Fitzwilliam has been engaged in a most important task since January, one that will interest you.”
“That is curious, Mr. Darcy, for I have heard nothing of it. What is this task of which you speak?”
“Discovering the location of our deserter.”
Elizabeth understood what he meant at once. “Colonel Fitzwilliam has been looking for Mr. Wickham?”
“Today, he sent word that he had captured Mr. Wickham. That is the reason for his return to London—his men had closed in on his whereabouts, and he left to ensure there were no mistakes.”
