Page 77 of Compromise & Consequence
Bingley sat, elbow on the arm of the chair, his chin cupped in the palm of his hand. Now and then he would release a great sigh. Richard, with a slight tilt of his head toward the younger man, gave Darcy a look that he understood immediately. It was a,what do we do now? kind of look. He had no answer and replied with a slight shrug of his shoulders. Not too many minutes had passed when Bingley heaved another of his heartfelt sighs and then rose to his feet. Darcy and Richard stood as well.
“I have a meeting with my solicitor this afternoon, so I must not tarry any longer.” Bingley straightened his waistcoat. “Shall I see you gentlemen at the theater later this week, or perchance our club?”
“Most assuredly at the theater. Elizabeth is looking forward to the evening. I cannot speak for Richard, but I usually attend my club on Tuesdays, so if you are there at the same time, let us enjoy a drink together.”
Away from your sister, Darcy did not add.
“I would like that, Darcy.”
Bingley gave them each a polite nod of the head. They watched Bingley leave, shoulders sloped, having had his hopes dashed, and Darcy wondered if his friend would broach thesubject of the letter with Miss Bingley, and even if he did, would it make a difference in how his sister behaved around Elizabeth and her family? Thinking of his extended family, Darcy needed to have an uncomfortable conversation with Richard.
“Now, about that sunrise,” Darcy said in a voice that brooked no prevarication from his cousin after they had returned to the library.
“I may, or may not, have traveled to Meryton a few times after Christmas, and may, or may not, have met with Miss Bennet on Mount Oakham to welcome the day.”
“Richard, what if you had been seen?”
“Very likely we would be married. I should have made a lot of noise and alerted the neighbors. I would be a happy man if someone had discovered us.”
“Be glad that did not happen. I do not think her family could survive another scandalous marriage.”
“The Bennets are stronger than you think, cousin.”
“I am aware, but why visit trouble when you can court the woman honestly.”
“How poetic, Darcy. Having a wife has been good for you.”
“Having Elizabeth as my wife has been good for me.”
“She was magnificent last night, eh?”
“I thought she was going to eviscerate Caroline, right before our eyes.”
“Miss Bingley is lucky she managed to escape with her turban intact. I thought my mother was formidable but having seen Mrs. Darcy in action…” Richard gave a fake shudder. “The Mater is quite taken with your wife. The two of them together will be unstoppable.”
“Miss Bennet was no wilting flower. She held her own. Shewas well within her right to cut Miss Bingley directly, yet she stayed.”
“I am intrigued by the dynamic between Miss Bennet and her cousin.”
“Her father once told me they were two sides of the same coin. He was not wrong.”
“Just as we are, Darcy. I am the laughter and light, you are dark, brooding, foreboding−”
“I got the picture, Richard. No need to beat a dead horse.”
“Twice now, you have said that you love Elizabeth in front of others alongside your wife.” Richard turned his astute gaze upon him. “Has she commented on this?”
“As you said earlier, not that it is any of your business, we are continuing in the process of becoming more comfortable with each other. I know she does not return my feelings, yet there has been a thaw in her manner. We are growing a friendship.”
“How appropriate as spring is but a few months away.” Richard picked up his riding gloves and slapped them against his thigh. “Can we now go for a ride before the park becomes too congested?”
“Yes, although it will be considerably shortened in length as I would like to join my wife for breakfast.”
“I also wish to return for breakfast and gaze upon the lovely Jane Bennet, dreaming of when she will grace my table alone.”
“You will behave cousin, or I will call in reinforcements.”
“Reinforcements? Who?”
