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“Hurst told me where you were.”

“At the club or the house?”

“The house. Mrs. Hurst stuck me in Hurst’s study and left me there to cool my heels in the expectation you would be arriving shortly. He was surprised to find me there.”

“My manservant confessed that he had been forced to tell my sisters where I was staying. They knew very well I would not be home. I wonder why they detained you?” Bingley’s lifted brow and pursed lips indicated that he knew very well.

“I was there to speak with you, not them,” Darcy said.

“How long did they keep you waiting?”

“Thirty-two minutes.”

“That is rather exact.”

“There was little else to do.”

That made Bingley laugh a little, but it was not a reassuring sound. “They were no doubt arguing about what to tell you. You are fortunate Hurst found you, for they can go on for hours.”

He did not ask what Darcy wanted to speak about, nor did he offer to leave Jackson’s so that they could converse privately.

“I regret the manner in which we parted on Saturday, Bingley,” Darcy said.

“Do you?”

“Of course.”

“Why?”

“Because I fear this is causing a breach between us, and I value your friendship.”

Bingley tossed the towel over his shoulder. “So you regret the consequence, but not the cause.”

“I feel the cause was sound,” Darcy said.

“Are you ready for another round, Bingley?” the broad-shouldered man called.

Bingley declined and then tossed a set of mufflers at Darcy.

He caught them. “You wish to spar with me?”

“I find most men choose their words more carefully if there is the chance they might be struck for them.”

Jackson, who had been walking the length of the floor, must have heard, for he coughed into his fist in a way that did not sound like a laugh.

Darcy shrugged, and five minutes later, he stood opposite Bingley, having removed his waistcoat and cravat. He passed Jackson’s inspection of the mufflers. Bingley bounced upon the balls of his feet. He was quick, but Darcy was more than a stone heavier and had a longer reach.

“You are leaving your left side completely unguarded,” Darcy told his friend.

“We have not yet begun.”

“You need not wait until after the consequence to correct the error.”

“Excellent advice,” Bingley said with a hard stare. “You ought to take it.”

Jackson signalled them to begin.

Bingley came forward quickly. Darcy turned the first blow, narrowly avoided the second, and then touched Bingley’s shoulder. Bingley danced back.