“Of course,” Mrs. Hurst said quietly, rising from her chair.
When all were settled in the music room, Richard immediately begged to hear Georgiana play. The girl blushed a little but agreed with alacrity.
“This is quite an improvement over the sounds in the camp,” Richard said with a cheeky grin and a wink, causing Georgiana to giggle and fudge the first note.
After listening for a few moments, Richard leaned over from his chair to quietly speak to Darcy. “What are your plans for your sister and my aunt after the ceremony?”
Darcy set down his glass. “I have secured a small cottage not far from here,” he said. “Elizabeth and I will spend our wedding night there and remain for a short visit.”
Bingley, sitting nearby, nodded enthusiastically. “Jane and I are doing the same. That will allow the Hursts, Lady Anne, and Miss Darcy to remain comfortably at Netherfield… and yourself, of course, Richard.”
“Thank you, Bingley. I knew I could count on your hospitality,” Richard replied. “It is a good plan, and it will allow you all to have your privacy while also preventing your family from feeling as though they were intruding.”
“After a week or so,” Darcy went on, “Bingley and Jane will return here. Georgiana, Lady Anne, Elizabeth, and I will travel to London.”
Richard smiled faintly. “And after that?”
“A longer wedding journey will likely wait until summer,” Darcy replied. “Perhaps the Lakes.”
“An excellent choice,” Richard said warmly.
The conversation continued easily, the company lingering together with unhurried contentment.
Then, without warning, there was a loud banging from the front door.
Urgent.
Insistent.
Darcy rose from his chair. Next to him, Richard leaped to his feet and put his hand at his hip, though no sword was there.
“What the devil?” Bingley asked in confusion.
From the foyer came raised voices and the hurried footsteps of servants. Then a woman’s voice rang out clearly through the house.
“I must speak to Mr. Darcy at once! It concerns Miss Elizabeth!”
Darcy flew into action.
With his heart in his throat, he ran—for perhaps the first time in his adult life.
The footman had just stepped back to allow the visitor into the foyer when Darcy reached them. Standing on the threshold, flushed and breathless from exertion, was a woman who he vaguely remembered as being one of Elizabeth’s friends.
Miss Lucas… Charlotte?
She saw him immediately over the servant’s shoulder.
“Mr. Darcy!”
Darcy pushed past the footman. “What is it? Is Elizabeth well? Has she been hurt?”
Charlotte opened her mouth, then closed it and glanced nervously around the hall.
Darcy followed her gaze and realized that the entire household had followed him from the dining room. Bingley, Richard, Lady Anne, Georgiana, and the Hursts all stood watching with growing concern.
He acted at once. “Here, this way.”
He ushered her quickly into the small parlor adjoining the hall. Behind him he heard Lady Anne’s calm voice. “Georgiana, come with me.”
