Page 74 of Compromise & Consequence
“This early?”
Darcy strode to the window and joined his cousin looking down onto the mews.
“He looks a little haggard,” Richard said with more than a little self-satisfaction threaded throughout his tone.
“I may as well go down and wait for him. Jenkins, advise Burke I will see Mr. Bingley in the library and have him send in some coffee.” He crossed the room and said to Richard asthey walked down the stairs together, “I will see you later for breakfast, then.”
“Oh, no, no, no, no, no,” Richard tutted. “You are stuck with me like mortar to brick. Your flibbertigibbet friend is here to talk about his angel and if you think I am going to trot off like a good little boy until you are done, think again.”
Darcy held back a sigh of defeat. His cousin was tenacious and would not back down or retreat in the face of an adversary, no matter from what quarter.
“Very well, but please do not kill him. I had the rugs cleaned a few short months ago from when you spilled that brandy.”
“That was not me, it was Ashton.”
“I blame you both. You are too old to wrestle with your brother over who gets the first taste of my father’s French brandy.”
“You wound me, cousin. You are never too old to fight for a good brandy… or a good woman.”
Richard stopped at the study door and opened the door.
“After you, kind sir.”
They each settled into a chair and awaited the announcement of Bingley’s arrival.
“Mr. Bingley, sir,” Burke said after knocking lightly and pushing the door open.
Bingley hurried into the room, greeting the two men with a garbled good morning. He then realized he still had his hat in hand and handed it to Burke before advancing a few steps. Darcy took this time to study his friend and, Richard was right, he did look quite unkempt.
“Have you slept at all, Bingley?”
“Not a wink. Caroline ranted for most of the night and whenshe finally went to bed, I found my mind would not stop thinking.”
“That must have been a novel experience,” Richard muttered under his breath.
“This is my fault,” Darcy said and gave Richard a look that told him to keep his opinions to himself. “I should have sent a note and canceled last evening’s activities.”
“But why?” Bingley sputtered. “We have always come for Twelfth Night.”
“Charles, you must realize how awkward it was for everyone involved.”
“I know there is no love lost between Caroline and Mrs. Darcy, but surely we can all get past that as we might soon all be family.”
“What exactly do you mean you couldsoon all be family?” Richard asked in a deadly quiet voice.
Darcy instinctively tensed, ready to come between the two men if needed. Relief washed over his shoulders when Mrs. Whittaker appeared with a tray of coffee and biscuits.
“Thank you, Mrs. Whittaker. Has my wife called for her maid yet?”
“She’s already out and about on her walk.” At his look of concern, she hastened to appease his worry. “She always goes with one sturdy footman, Mr. Darcy. She knows not to walk alone.”
“Very good. That will be all, thank you.”
She poured them each a cup of coffee and then left the room.
“You did not answer my question. What did you mean by family?”
Richard had eased back in his chair, taking a sip of thestrong brew. Bingley picked up the silver tongs and dropped four pressed sugar lumps into his coffee. As he stirred the sugar to dissolve, he answered.
