“You cannot be in earnest,” Darcy retorted, rounding on him. “From my vantage, it seems you have taken leave of your senses.”
“A charming house on the best street,” Saye replied. “Try having a little imagination, Darcy, it will only hurt for a minute.”
“I would hardly describe this…placeas a house. More like a collection of building materials loosely held together by rusty nails, sea air, and good luck.”
Across the vestibule, Fitzwilliam laughed. “It beggars belief to imagine it used to be worse.”
“We are not staying here,” Darcy said firmly.
“As you wish,” Saye replied with a shrug. “There is almost certainly a spare tent somewhere up on the hill. Only do let Georgie stay. I do not like the idea of her becoming friendly with the officers.”
Darcy looked at him sharply. His eldest cousin did not know about Georgiana’s near-elopement with Wickham, and Georgianadid not know that Wickham had since joined up with a regiment—and so it would remain, if Darcy had anything to do with it. Fitzwilliam had made enquiries before they came to discoverwhether the rogue would be stationed in Brighton and, upon finding that he would, had used his influence to have him reassigned elsewhere before their arrival. Nevertheless, Darcy would rather the topic of officers be avoided as much as possible.
Catching his eye, Fitzwilliam gave a slight, conspiratorial nod then said loudly, “Perhaps the worst of it is directly before us. Let us investigate the state of the bedchambers before we make any plans to pitch tents.” Taking Georgiana by the arm, he led her and her companion, Mrs Annesley, hastily up the stairs, bellowing at workmen to get out of his way as he went.
“You see, Darcy?” Saye said. “They are feeling at home already.”
Darcy levelled a baleful glare at him. “What do you propose—that we share the house with labourers? Or roll up our sleeves and muck in?”
Saye quirked his brow, no doubt preparing an inane response, but to Darcy’s infinite relief, he was pre-empted.
“My lord, I was not expecting you. I shall have the men cleared out forthwith. If I might just apprise you of which parts of the house are useable?—”
“Ah, Tucker. Just the man. This is my cousin, Darcy. Pray run over the particulars with him, there’s a good fellow. I am too fatigued to pay attention, but he positively salivates over such dull matters.” Saye did not wait for any response, instead sauntering up the stairs with Florizel trotting beside him, not needing to bellow for anyone to get out of their way, for everyone in his path naturally drew back to peer at the spectacle of him in utter bewilderment.
Mr Tucker’sprécisof the house was as thorough as it was worrying. By the end, Darcy was even morevexed with Saye for having brought them there, the only saving grace being Mr Tucker’s competence and breadth of knowledge. It was agreed that the rooms which were not yet completely safe would be boarded off with work continuing behind the barricades. Those which were structurally sound but incompletely decorated would be furnished as a matter of urgency, both men agreeing that tables and chairs were of more importance than wallpaper at this stage.
“Will the owner have any objection?”
“Since I shall ensure the work continues apace wherever it is possible, I do not believe so, sir.”
“And you think you can keep the number of workmen to a minimum?”
“I shall do my best, Mr Darcy. And I shall inform the I have lined up that their services are required immediately.”
“How will we eat? I cannot imagine the kitchens will be of much use to us.”
“I have arranged, sir, for Lord Saye’s cook, who I understand came down from London with you, to have the use of a neighbour’s kitchen. It is not ideal, to be sure, but you will not starve. Rest assured, I anticipate this kitchen being ready in a matter of weeks.”
Darcy took a long, hard look at the man. He knew not where Saye had found him, but he was extremely good. He wondered whether his cousin would baulk if he tried to steal him.Probably,he thought. A man willing to suffer Saye’s outlandish demands must be hard to come by and likely not forfeited without a fight. He thanked Tucker and trudged upstairs to the room that was to be his bedchamber.
It was the last of the available rooms—all the others had either been taken by the others or were out ofbounds—and it was, consequently, the worst. There was no view of the sea, being at the rear of the house, tucked behind the crumbling excuse for a library, and whatever his window faced onto was obscured by scaffold planks. There was no furniture except the bed, which he sat down on heavily. He rubbed his hands over his face. There was a small creak. Then a louder one. Then the bed collapsed beneath him.
He had not yet regained his feet when the door flew open and Georgiana rushed in.
“Brother, are you well? We heard a crash.”
He dismissed her with an impatient gesture which would have looked more convincing had he not still been arse-backwards within the mattress. “I am perfectly well, thank you.”
“Which is more than can be said for the poor bed,” came Saye’s voice from behind them. Darcy stood to see his cousin grinning gleefully in the doorway, with Fitzwilliam peering around him, clearly equally amused. He wanted to tell them both where to go, but refrained, for Georgiana’s sake. “The bed was as dilapidated as the rest of this house,” he said coldly.
“None ofourbeds collapsed,” Fitzwilliam said with a look of absolute delight.
“We had better hope there are no cream ice shops in Brighton,” Saye added. “The furniture would not stand it!”
It was as much as Darcy could tolerate. “I am going out. Find me another bed by the time I return, or I shall be leaving for Pemberley before sundown, and taking Georgiana with me.” Pretending not to have heard his sister’s dismayed gasp, he strode from the room and was outside as quickly as could be.
The situation of the house was inarguably its onlygood quality, for he was on the beach within minutes, taking deep lungfuls of sea air to collect himself. He loathed looking a fool, but it was no excuse for an ill temper. He looked down at his waistcoat ruefully. He truly did not think he had grown stout, and he refused to take responsibility for the rickety bed frame, but he began to think that perhaps he ought not yet to give up the exercise regimen he had begun in London. He set out, striding along the beach, soon moving up onto the Promenade where the proliferation of pebbles was not an impediment to walking with any haste.
