Darcy growled and swore to protect her from the sailors on their return voyage.
#
Whilst waiting for Queen Charlotte’s answer to their request for an audience, Darcy used the opportunity to become better acquainted with Count Reimarus and Lord Ritterhof. Elizabeth was content listening to the gentlemen’s intelligent conversation.
“Do you have a supplier of cognac and wine to recommend?” Darcy suddenly asked the count. “My cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam spent his three weeks of leave depleting my cellar, and it is in dire need of restocking.”
“Of course. I shall call my man tomorrow. Colonel Fitzwilliam, you say. I believe I met the man in Altstadt.”
“Quite possibly because I know he has been there on diplomatic business. He is in Copenhagen at present but mentioned that he might visit later this summer.”
“Colonel Fitzwilliam was here at the end of last year,” Lord Ritterhof added with certainty. “He is a great connoisseur of fine wine and cigars.”
“I loathe cigars,” Lydia muttered.
“Is importing cognac not illegal?” Elizabeth interrupted lest Lydia launch into her usual rant against men and their foul-smelling cigars. It had not escaped her notice that Lord Ritterhof had lately given up the habit…
Darcy looked bewildered at first. “We have French wine in our cellar and drank champagne at our ball.”
“But, but…what if the Prince Regent were to discover it? You would be thrown into Newgate and hang by the morning.”
Darcy raised his eyebrows at her. “I am touched by your concern, but I very much doubt it. It is more likely that he would order several cases for himself. The Prince Regent is, after all,veryfond of French wine…”
“Can it truly be so?” Elizabeth would rather not see her husband hang, now that they were so happily reconciled.
“Prinny is prone to turn a blind eye to the crimes that benefit himself.”
“Oh… Like Admiral Nelson at the Battle of Copenhagen?”
“Exactly.”
Chapter 27 Batten Down the Hatches
“I am searching for my wife. Have you seen Mrs Darcy?” Darcy asked a maid.
Elizabeth giggled like a girl not yet out of the nursery.
“Silly man! I know there is a great deal of fabric and feathers, but my face is visible atop this ridiculous gown,” she chided.
She swung her hips to make her court dress dance in the mirror. It was the final fitting, and it looked splendid, if not particularly comfortable. “At least I can walk. Forwards. Walking backwards with this long train is a hazardous endeavour.”
“I have every confidence in you,” her husband assured her. “If not, we might consider moving to America.”
“We are at war with America,” Elizabeth reminded him.
“Yes. I forgot for a moment.”
“Do you think Mr Bingley and Jane have returned from Scotland yet? I long to see Jane. This is the longest we have ever been separated. Could we travel to Netherfield after our audience with Queen Charlotte?”
“That will not be necessary. Bingley promised to stop at Darcy House on his way home. I have extended an invitation for them both to stay there.”
“You think of everything,” Elizabeth fawned and kissed his cheek.
“I do not deserve your praise. I thought only of our sisters. Neither Georgiana nor Mary was happy to be foisted upon relatives during my absence. I had to promise it would be of short duration, engaging Bingley and Jane to keep them at home until my return.”
A pang clenched her chest. Not for her own sake but for her sister. “Poor Jane! What she will suffer when she discovers that we Bennets are not welcomed by thebon ton.Is she, who has never injured a soul in her life, to be subjected to derision and scorn? I hope that Her Majesty can be worked upon and that Jane will never know about our troubles. Will you promise never to tell her?”
“You want me to keep our ignominy from Mrs Bingley?”
