At length, the words roused his cousin from his reverie. “By all means blame me if it will make losing more tolerable.”
Fitzwilliam wasted no more time attempting to extract his secrets. He was a man grown, he would speak up if there were aught serious troubling him. “May I tell my father you will come?”
Darcy cavilled, but after a little persuasion—namely the inducement of watching Lord Matlock suffer the lamentable presence of his almost-dead mother-in-law—Fitzwilliam extracted his cousin’s word that he would attend.
Darcy arrived home to find Georgiana and Bingley awaiting him. He agreed with his sister that she would stay for the remainder of the day but left her with Mrs Annesley while he braved the inevitable discussion of Hertfordshire, eager to put it behind him. Despite his qualms, however, Bingley began with the mention of a different, wholly unexpected locale.
“Nova Scotia?” he said after his friend’s haphazard account of his cousin’s venture in the New World was done.
“Yes. This is the third time he has written to me. He seems determined to persuade me to his thinking.”
“Is he having any success?”
“Not a jot! I should not like to be anywhere nearer than Land’s End if the war were to make it that far north.”
“Must you oversee the project? Could you not simply invest and remain in England?”
“That is what I hoped you would tell me.”
“I can certainly enquire of Irving whether he knows of any attorneys with the relevant experience.”
“Capital! I knew I could rely on you.”
The conversation moved naturally to the implications of war with the Americas. Inevitably, however, it came around to that matter which one party was eager to discuss, and the other was eager to avoid.
“I travel to Hertfordshire Friday next.”
To Darcy’s vast consternation, the mere mention of the place set his heart to racing. He perfunctorily expressed his good wishes, then stood and moved away, unable to think of aught but what Elizabeth’s reaction to Bingley’s return might be.
“Will you join me?” Bingley enquired, twisting to look at him over the wing of his chair. “Your sister informs me you have been unwell, in which case, a spot of country air will do you wonders.” He broke into a wide grin. “Besides, if you come, Caroline will come, and then I shall have a hostess.”
“I am sorry, Bingley. Your sister may do as she pleases. I shall not be there.”
“You are quite sure? You do look rather tired.”
“Iamtired!” he snapped with all the exasperation of the sleep-deprived and broken-hearted. Then he cursed himself privately and added, “I cannot join you. I have business in Town. Besides, I have been away from Georgiana too long now. I would stay with her for a time.”
“Very well. Shall I pass on your regards to my neighbours?”
Darcy baulked at the notion of sending word to Elizabeth. God knew he longed to speak to her, to see her, tobewith her—even more so after Fitzwilliam’s earlier teasing. Yet, she would not wish to hear from him again. He had been certain of that even before all his recent revelations.
He rubbed a hand over his face. “If you have an opportunity to do so discreetly, I should be grateful if you could make your neighbours aware that I regret my manners last autumn.”
“I really do not believe there is need. But if it puts your mind at rest, and if the opportunity arises, then I shall.”
Thus, the visit was concluded. Quashing a potent surge of jealousy for Bingley’s destination, Darcy went in search of his sister and some measure of equanimity.
Longbourn
27thApril
Jane,
You must hasten home immediately. I had it this morning from Mrs Long—and it cannot be otherwise, for she had it directly from Mrs Etheridge, whose housekeeper had it from her niece, who is applying for work there. Netherfield is reopened! Mr Bingley is returning!
It can only be for you that he returns, therefore make haste and return this very day if your uncle can arrange it.
In anticipation,
