“I suppose I might guess,” continued his sister when he remained silent. “To that, I can only say that I look forward to making Miss Bennet’s acquaintance, for she sounds like a lady well worth knowing.”
“She is,” replied Darcy reflexively. “The issue is I have no notion of how to put myself in her company again.”
Georgiana frowned. “Thatdoesappear to be a dilemma. Had Mr. Bingley not gone to the north, you might have accompanied him to his estate.”
“True,” replied Darcy. “But I think Bingley going to the north was for the best at the moment.”
While Georgiana looked at him with interest, Darcy would not approach the subject of his recent failures in advising his friend. Hedidwish to keep some vestige of his dignity about him after all.
“Then why do you not ask his permission to make use of Netherfield while he is gone?”
Darcy considered the notion, and while it was tempting, he rejected it after a moment’s reflection. It would raise questions on Bingley’s part, ones he did not wish to answer at present, to say nothing of what his sister’s reaction would be upon hearing of the application.
“I would not wish to put Bingley to such trouble,” said Darcy aloud.
“Even at the prospect of introducing me to my future sister?” was Georgiana’s cheeky reply.
“Even then. I would remind you that matters between Miss Elizabeth and myself are not such that I could hope to propose and expect a favorable response.”
“Perhaps not,” replied Georgiana. “Yet I have every confidence in your persuasiveness, Brother. If you show Miss Elizabeth your true worth, I do not doubt you will win her over.”
The praise from his sister was flattering, though Darcy had always known of her esteem for him. They debated the various possibilities between them, throwing out several laughable notions that would only make him ridiculous. While Darcy was eager to grasp at any straws, both concluded in the end that something must change before Darcy could act to put himself in Miss Elizabeth’s company again.
So they continued, as the city grew warmer with the onset of summer and all that entailed. June had ended and the calendar turned to July, forcing Darcy to the realization that there was little reason to stay and every reason to retire to Derbyshire. Thus decided, the siblings prepared for an immediate departure.
Salvation, however, came from a curious source and in an alarming set of circumstances, such that Darcy was grateful they had not left earlier. It happened only two nights before they were to depart and without warning. The first notion Darcy had that something was amiss was the sound of footsteps on the tiles of the corridor outside the sitting-room. Even then, the door opened to reveal Fitzwilliam as he entered. Georgiana’s exclamation and quick movement to put herself in his embrace obscured Darcy’s view of his cousin.
Then, however, he noted that something was amiss, for while Fitzwilliam greeted her with all the affection he ever had, his expression when it fell upon Darcy was no less than grim. Soon Georgiana noted it too, for she pulled back and fixed him with a quizzical look.
“Darcy,” said Fitzwilliam, after giving Georgiana a brief smile, “We need to talk, for I bring tidings.”
Just like that, Darcy’s plans for the summer changed.
Chapter V
For a long moment, no one in the room spoke. Darcy looked to his cousin, a sense of dread filling him at what news Fitzwilliam might bring, and his cousin returned his look, the gravity in his manners heightening Darcy’s sense of alarm. Only Georgiana remained unaware, for she regarded Fitzwilliam, curiosity mixed with confusion.
“What do you mean, Anthony?”
Fitzwilliam took hold of himself and nodded at Georgiana. “I apologize, but I believe I must speak with your brother alone. This is not a matter I would canvass with you without first speaking with him.”
As a well-bred young woman, Georgiana did not question him, knowing there were affairs of which her guardians could not speak. “Shall I return to my room, then?”
With obvious affection, Fitzwilliam reached out and squeezed her hand. “That will not be necessary. I believe your brother’s study would be a better location for a conversation of this nature.”
Georgiana nodded and smiled, Darcy rising in response. “I shall find you when I have finished speaking with Fitzwilliam.”
“I will be in the music room,” replied Georgiana. Then she departed.
“In the study, Darcy,” said Fitzwilliam when Darcy looked to him with a question on the tip of his tongue.
While Darcy was impatient, he nodded and led his cousin from the room, making his way swiftly to his study. When they entered, Darcy turned at once, eschewing his chair behind his desk, impatient to know what Fitzwilliam was about. To his surprise, Fitzwilliam, who was not a man prone to excess nervous energy, took to pacing the room. In their usual meetings, Fitzwilliam would lounge in a chair with a foot up on the table or his desk, his posture resembling Hurst when he had consumed too much spirits. There was nothing of the languid gentleman about Fitzwilliam now.
“Tell me, Darcy,” said he after a moment of this uncharacteristic behavior, “what do you know of our friend Wickham’s last whereabouts?”
Darcy frowned. “What has he done now?”
“Thankfully, nothing yet,” replied Fitzwilliam, ceasing his restless movements, and turning to Darcy. “But we must move swiftly if we are to prevent it. Now, what do you know of Wickham?”
