It was into this relative merriment that the door opened and Viscount Saye, Fitzwilliam’s elder brother, intruded. “Excellent news,” he told them. “We are all for Brighton this summer!”
Everyone’s laughter died down as they regarded him.
He took a seat beside Georgiana, tapped one finger upon the tip of her nose, and said, “If you are a very good girl, I daresay we might take you too!”
“Really?” Georgiana turned to Darcy, her countenance aglow. “Brother, might we?—”
“I am not going to Brighton,” Darcy said flatly. “And neither is Georgiana.”
His sister was immediately downcast. Darcy winced and added, “We must go to Pemberley once the Season is ended.”
“No,” said Saye. “You must not. I forbid it. Everyone who is anyone is going to Brighton this year—I have just had it from Georgette.”
“Miss Hawkridge?” Georgiana enquired. “I just adore her; she is so very elegant.”
Miss Georgette Hawkridge was Saye and Fitzwilliam’s cousin on their mother’s side and, though five years older than Georgiana, had always been exceedingly warm towards her whenever their paths crossed. That did not sway Darcy’s resolve inthe least. He had no desire to surround himself with yet more society, be it in town or by the sea. He wished to return to Pemberley, where he might recover his spirits in peace and tranquillity. He would have gone already were it not for the few engagements to which he had committed before he went into Kent.
“She has always professed her fondness for you as well,” Saye informed Georgiana. “And I do not doubt the greater intimacy that Brighton might afford between you would be beneficial to your coming out.”
Happily, Fitzwilliam intruded with reason. “It does not bear consideration, Saye. There is no possibility that we would be able to get a house. There are thousands of men down there from the various regiments. Why, I have heard houses are so scarce that even some of the senior officers are in tents!”
“Leave that to me,” Saye ordered him. “I shall find something, I am sure. With a sea view, of course! No sense going if I am to stare at soldiers’ arses all day.”
“Language,” Darcy scolded him with a look at Georgiana.
“You will not find a house,” Fitzwilliam repeated patiently. “If there was a house to be had, someone’s colonel would be housed within it.”
“Challenge accepted,” Saye replied blithely. “And once I do find my house with the view of the sea, you shall all give me twenty pounds.”
Darcy laughed. “Not I, for I will not go. I shall be at Pemberley.”
Georgiana cleared her throat and spoke in a softer voice. “But Brother, did you not say you meant to acceptallinvitations in the next fortnight?”
“Ha!” Fitzwilliam crowed. “Yes, you did, onlyminutes ago. You gave your word, Darcy, and now you must go!”
“Since when are you in favour of the scheme?” Darcy demanded of Fitzwilliam. “You were only just voicing your own objections!”
“My only objection is the sure knowledge that there will not be a house to be had by now,” Fitzwilliam said.
“What I am hearing is that you are all willing to go, presuming that I am able to find suitable accommodations,” said Saye.
“This is a nonsensical debate. I am sure Fitzwilliam is correct,” Darcy protested. “There cannot be a house to be had!”
“But if I can find one,” Saye said with an alarming gleam in his eye, “then you will go.Allof us will go.” He made a circling gesture with his finger.
Darcy sighed and rubbed his hand over his face, mostly to avoid seeing the excitement that had appeared on Georgiana’s countenance. She was clearly desperate to partake in the scheme, and he was equally desperate not to. “Difficulties with accommodations aside,” he said, “I fear I really must be at Pemberley.”
“You are certain?” Saye quirked an eyebrow at him as he leant back and crossed his legs. “Brighton, you know, is an excellent place to rid oneself of a bit of extra stuffing in the mattress. I am not sure Pemberley can boast equal efficacy.”
“Stuffing in the mattress?” Darcy had the sudden discomfiting realisation that everyone was looking at him and, upon their perceiving his notice, equally quickly made a study of something else. “I am sure I have no idea what you mean.”
Saye gave him a kind smile. “I am speaking of all of your visits to Benjamin and Gerald’s of late.”
“What is Benjamin and Gerald’s?” Fitzwilliam enquired.
“A new cream ice shop,” Saye informed him. “Down on Waterbury Road.”
“All the way down there?” Fitzwilliam wrinkled his brow. “Their business will be finished before it starts! People will never go all the way down there for a cream ice!”
