“I know just the man. He was a sergeant in my unit in Portugal. I got him a job with my brother. He has matching livery to your coachman. He was looking rather down in the mouth when I saw him today. My brother released him from service. Shall I send him to you tomorrow?”
John couldn’t help himself and began to laugh, “That would be perfect. Just perfect! Hahaha!”
All three men were laughing so hard they were nearly crying when the waiter came back with the bottle of brandy. ‘What an interesting group.’ He thought to himself. ‘I best get their food. They must have come in already in their cups.’
“Thatwouldserve Theo right. My cousin is very high in the instep. He had some choice things to say about my ‘American Cousin’. He refused to meet any of you.”
“Didn’t want to soil himself with the American riffraff. The sot. My mother wants to meet Beth, by the way, will you all have time for tea before leaving for Hertfordshire?”
“Probably. I have been ordered to purchase more clothing. We’ll leave after some of it is ready, and I’ll make a trip back into town to get the rest.”
“Ordered?”
“Beth gets what Beth wants. She wants me to dress more like her brother. I’m not sure what I’ll do with such fine suits when we return to Virginia. Maybe have them cut down to fit Ethan.”
“No use for fine suits in Virginia?”
“Not for me. Mr. Darcy was using me as his secretary, but I’m just the steward’s son. I’ll take over for my pa someday, like as not. Ethan is my best friend. I’ll gladly serve him in any way he needs.”
Darcy squinted his eyes at him. He had bad experiences with a steward’s son. Richard ignored him. “So, tell us what an estate is like in Virginia. I’ve never been to America.”
“I don’t know what every estate is like, but Rolling Meadows is ten thousand acres. The manor house has about fifty rooms altogether. Old Mr. Darcy said it’s about half the size of Pemberley Manor. We run mostly cattle and horses and grow crops. The west of the estate is hills and rocks, so we have sheep there. I’m glad my ma and pa are there with Ethan. He was feeling kind of overwhelmed when I left.”
Darcy’s eyes got bigger and bigger as John talked. ‘Tenthousandacres? The manor house might be smaller, but the estate is bigger.Not by much, but still. Wait, did he just say they have over 150 horses?!’
“So many horses?! Once I retire, I’m asking Ethan Darcy for a job. You don’t have a third of that Darcy!”
“I do not. Why so many?”
“We supply farmers and ranchers for hundreds of miles around. Mr. Darcy was also fond of horse racing. He began breeding them before I was born. Almost as soon as he reached America. His first breeding stallion he brought over from Pemberley. Did you know?”
“I did not.” William was quiet for quite some time. The food was brought in, and he ate while the other two chatted happily. He had been looking down on his cousins. Why? Because they were from America? Because Beth wasn’t dressed as well as the ladies of the ton when he met her? She was in her mourning clothes for heaven’s sake! And yes, Mrs. Russell had married one ofthoseRussells. He was a younger son, but he was still higher in rank than Darcy. John Smith was obviously very well educated. He could speak on any subject. He had read the Iliad in Greek. He knew several Shakespearian sonnets verbatim and sounded like a stageperformer when reciting. And he dared to look down on these people? Poppycock! What a prig he had become.
“Are you alright Darcy? You’re looking a little pale. Do you need to go home? Is something wrong with your steak?”
“No. I was simply thinking of some unpleasant things. I apologize. I was not attending the conversation. I will do better.”
John looked at him knowingly. William Darcy was very much like his friend Ethan. They had the same expressions. Both thought they hid their emotions very well, but to John and Beth, it was written all over their faces. Funny how family could be so similar, even if they had been raised far apart. Both Ethan and William seemed to have the tendency to think very highly of their own discernment and think themselves above others. If you were in their inner circles though, they would do anything for you. They were the best of men. Honorable, loyal, upright and moral. Both sitting on their high horses looking down, though. Ah well. This Darcy seemed to be thinking better of it. Time would tell.
“I did not think to ask, how old are my cousins?”
“Beth will be one and twenty next month, and Ethan is five and twenty. There was another boy between the two, but he didn’t make it a week. Ethan wasn’t even two, so he doesn’t rememberhaving a brother. My ma told me about him. I’m not sure if Beth knows, so maybe don’t mention it. This brandy has loosened by tongue. Speaking of brandy, Beth wants to know if there’s any way to get some good French brandy, or maybe some particularly good cigars. She feels like she owes Gardiner for his help since we got here and wants to take her uncle something special too.”
Richard shook his head, “It’s nearly impossible to get French brandy at any price these days, and Gardiner carries the best cigars and tobacco in town.”
“I know where to get the brandy. I’ll have it when Beth comes to say goodbye to Gigi.”
“That would be most appreciated! Just tell us how much when we come by. Now, where can I find a retiring room?”
Richard pointed to the door in the corner. One of the perks of a private dining room. When John closed the door, “Giving up some of your hoard? You treat that brandy like gold bars.”
“It’s for family. You’ve drunk up enough of it.” Darcy smirked.
Chapter Eleven
“We’re going to meet a countess? How fancy I feel!” Beth made a little twirl and a deep courtesy.
“I do not think you will need to courtesy quite so low. Maybe if you meet a duchess. I never thought you would need to know such things. Your mother would be quite displeased with me.” Mamie said with a smirk.
