Page 56 of Compromise & Consequence
“Water under the bridge. As we speak, he is most likely hanging over the side of a ship, puking his guts out. Crossing the Atlantic in winter is not fun.”
“Rough seas?”
“Very rough.”
“Excellent.” Darcy smiled against the edge of his cut glass tumbler before enjoying a taste of his port brandy. “At least one good thing has happened this past month.”
“I would say two good things. You keep forgetting that you have a delightful wife, one whom you have been assiduously avoiding.”
“She is most desirous of me not attending her.”
“Can you blame her? You have treated her and her family most abominably.”
“She accused me of separating her sister from Bingley.”
“You may not have said the words, but you made sure he did not hold them with any regard when you left Meryton.” Richard took a sip of his drink. “Even during my short stay at Longbourn, I heard how he and his sisters fled without a word of farewell.”
“Oh, there were words given, in the form of a poison pen letter by Miss Bingley to Miss Bennet. Her uncle had me read it when I was there to have the new settlement signed.”
“Bennet mentioned the letter but I did not read it.”
“Ahh… finally. Something of which you have no first-hand knowledge. I shall have to mark this day on my calendar.”
“I knew it was harsh, but I would like to know what the orange shrew wrote.”
“I cannot repeat verbatim, but suffice to say, she told Miss Bennet she would consign all correspondence from her to the fire and give her the cut direct if seen. She then broadly hinted – no, that is too soft – she bragged of an anticipated alliance between Bingley and Georgiana and that both sides of the family were all in favor.”
“She is dead to me, Darcy. Pray she does not come across me at any future functions.”
“I told Elizabeth I would speak with Bingley and tell him the truth of the matter. We also discussed other things. Private things,” he said, lowering his brow toward his cousin in a warning. “I will apprise her of our conversation when I see her tonight.”
“No need, you will see her in a few minutes.”
“We are going to my house?”
“No, she is here as we speak.”
“Here!”
“Yes, having tea with the mater.”
“Why was I not told?”
“If you had broken your fast with your wife this morning, you would have been there when Mother sent a note. Instead, you hared off to White’s to placate your pet puppy.”
“Why do you hate Bingley?”
“Because he refuses to grow up. He allows his younger sister to lead him about by the nose and lives off the largesse of his brother by marriage or you, when in Town. This vacation he enjoyed in Meryton taught him nothing but how to throw a ball and how to leave a young woman behind. A young woman who has since borne gossip and derision of the acutest kind from neighbors and friends.”
“He gave her no promises.”
“No? Did he not say he was throwing the ball in her honor?” Richard did not wait for an answer before moving on. “Did he not dance the first set with her? And even though they did not dance the promised supper set because the whole family decamped to Longbourn after your tryst on the terrace, he had also claimed the final set.” Richard set down his now empty glass. “Let me ask you something. If any gentleman danced witha lady three times at one of these fancy balls we attend here in town, what do you think would be the consensus of theton?”
“They may as well have posted the banns.”
“Yet, he ran off to London because he thought his friend was not doing the honorable thing. The promise was implied.” Richard leaned back in his chair and stroked his chin. “Funny thing, society. The Bingleys firmly believe you have not behaved in an honorable manner and still wish to curry your favor. Because of that, they left the Bennet family to navigate what they knew would have been a sea of vicious rumors and innuendo.” He straightened. “No, I cannot like him, or his ungrateful shrew of a sister.”
“Richard, I cannot change what has happened. I can only move forward.”
