“And Lady Catherine? She’s now living on Darcy charity, but her lifestyle is as profligate as ever, I suppose?”
The earl squirmed in his chair but still looked belligerently at Darcy.
“She will not talk of it. Even I, head of the family and an earl, cannot get her to tell what has been done.”
“Cannot the debts be purchased, most likely at a discount? The manor is extremely old-fashioned and in disrepair; also, the leaseholds and the dwellings require much maintenance and investment in drainage, laneways, and bridges.
Matlock thumped the table, causing coffee to spill from the cups.
“Rosings will not be sold—it is Anne’s heritage!”
“Come, sir,” said Darcy, “let us not dissemble. The scandal of Lady Catherine’s bankruptcy would spill over from the de Bourghs to both the Fitzwilliams and Darcys. We are all tied up in this. ‘Tis not only Cousin Anne who has much to lose in this affair.
“I am a lawyer. Moreover, as judge-advocate, I investigated many matters concerning debts, title deeds, and the like. You need a fresh eye on how to unravel Lady Catherine’s finances. But, before we proceed, I need access to all of the documents. Perhaps I can find a solution that we can arrange between ourselves, which has eluded your solicitors.”
It was done. Darcy had achieved all he could hope for at this first meeting. The earl agreed to forward copies of all deeds, wills, and mortgages to the House, and gave the direction of his solicitors if further documents were required.
For now, the issue of Darcy marrying either of his cousins,Felicity Fitzwilliam or Anne de Bourgh, had not been raised by his uncle. Being the middle of June, it would be another three months before Elizabeth would join him by Michaelmas, the 29th of September—surely he could keep his investigations dragging along until then. He was uncertain he could play thecoquetfor any length of time—it was alien to his nature and disrespected Elizabeth.
Maybe, he thought, I could display a certain hauteur and arrogance, as befitting my rank of lieutenant governor; if it were known that I seek a wife—a deceit solely for Matlock’s benefit—then matchmaking mamas will surely dog me at every soiree, card party, or other entertainment.
***
Miss Caroline Bingley could scarcely believe her luck. Her soiree, unfortunately out of season, was attended by the highest ranked person of her acquaintance. What were mere knights and baronets to anExcellency! Though Mr. Darcy was untitled, an omission surely to be remedied because of his service to the Crown, he was tall, handsome, very rich, and the heir to the largest estate in Derbyshire.
“I’m astonished,” said Miss Bingley, “that you could endure living in such a place. Why, society in a penal colony must be very limited indeed.”
“On the contrary,” said Darcy, “there is much to recommend it.”
“How so—surely, there are no drawing-rooms as refined as this?” She preened, waving her hand around the ostentatious drawing-room of her sister, Mrs. Louisa Hurst. Her husband, Mr. Hurst, was a man of fashion and little fortune, so the decoration of the room was designed to impress by its gaudy display—there was nothing of true elegance and refinement. The place compared very poorly to Mr. Campbell’s parlourat Dawes Point, with its exquisite, carved panels and woven carpets.
Darcy endeavoured to be polite. “Perhaps, Miss Bingley, but London has nothing to compare to a ball held offshore, of a warm antipodean evening, on board a great Indiaman merchant ship. The band upon the poop, dancing on the quarterdeck, refreshments laid out in the Great Cabin. I can assure you, the stars of the Southern Cross and a bright moon provide better illumination than all of the dripping candles we see at balls here in London.”
He had erred towards loquaciousness. It was difficult to remain aloof when his thoughts wandered to Elizabeth, standing at the taffrail, her gloved hand upon his arm, her laugh more refreshing than an easterly onshore breeze, her smile brighter than an ivory moon suspended high in the sky. And what a clear sky! Not the smog and stench of London—who could conceive of holding a ball afloat that great sewer, the Thames?
“Oh, you tease, sir.” Miss Bingley lightly tapped his arm with her fan. “Certainly, we wouldn’t wish to dance on a merchant ship. How preposterous.”
“Indeed, ma’am.”
“Charles said you’ve a sister. Is she in London?”
“No, she is at our estate in Derbyshire. London air, especially in the summer, agrees with her very poorly. My father and I will shortly remove to the country as well.”
At that moment, Bingley came up to the conversation. “I believe I met your sister, Darcy, but then she was only six years old. She must be quite grown by now.”
“Not as tall as me, of course.” Darcy chuckled; there were none taller than him in the room. Georgiana was certainly not as tall as Elizabeth, with fair hair to Elizabeth’s dark. Miss Bingley’s hair had a reddish tint, but darker than Bingley’s. Fortunately, the peacock feather had been left in the aviary.
“I would so love to meet her,” said Miss Bingley. “She must have attended the best school and be ever so accomplished. I, myself, attended a seminary here in town. I may have met her, without realising who she was, for I know many truly accomplished ladies who went to school with me.”
So maladroit, attempting to forge an acquaintance where none existed. Darcy shifted uneasily. Was all conversation so gauche?
“It’s amazing to me,” said Bingley, “how young ladies have the patience to be so very accomplished, as they all are.”
“All young ladies accomplished! My dear brother, what do you mean?”
“Yes, all of them. They all paint tables, cover screens, and net purses. I scarcely know any one who cannot do all this, and I’m sure I never heard a young lady spoken of for the first time, without being informed that she was very accomplished.”
“Your list of the common extent of accomplishments,” said Darcy, drily, “has too much truth. The word is applied to many a woman who deserves it no otherwise than by netting a purse, or covering a screen. But I’m very far from agreeing with you in your estimation of ladies in general. I cannot boast of knowing more than one woman, in the whole range of my acquaintance, that is truly accomplished.”
