Page 3 of Fitzwilliam Darcy Undone
“Father has discovered where Wickham fled.”
Darcy unintentionally tensed, his fingers coiling into the shape of a fist.
“After all these months I thought he might have sailed to the colonies.”
“What? And give up his long-held desire to ruin you and your family?”
“He has not succeeded in either venture and Georgiana will remain within your parent’s heavily warded home even after we find her a new companion.” Darcy slid a glance toward Richard. “Is that your only reason for risking Miss Bingley’s fawning?”
“I came to warn you Wickham is here.”
“Here? At the assembly!”
“Of course not. He’s buried himself in the _____shire militia as a good lieutenant and they will be arriving in Meryton in a few short weeks.”
“He won’t last long in an environment that requires discipline and little pay,” Darcy scoffed. “I give him three months and he’ll leave for greener pastures.”
“That’s why I’ve come to speak with Colonel Foster. I’ll drop a little information in his ear and let him be aware of what kind of trouble good old George can get into.”
“So, you really did come here to speak with the Colonel?” Darcy felt his shoulders release some tension. His truly did not want Richard to be aware of his deep-seated desire for Miss Elizabeth. He wanted some time to figure out what it was about her that filled him with disquiet.
“Oh no, dear cousin. I hadn’t planned on coming for another week, but I sensed your angst all the way from London. I had to see who got your balls so tight your legendary control slipped.”
“If that’s what you came for, you wasted your time.”
Richard leveled a narrow look at him. Darcy knew his cousin didn’t accept what he said.
“You know we can’t read minds, so stop trying. You’re worse than a determined mole trying to burrow into one of my gardens.” He turned back to watch the dancers.
The couples promenaded up the center of the room toward them and Elizabeth laughed at something her eldest sister said. He already knew the sound of her voice in a crowd. Blood lust rose from the pit of his belly and his body instantly hardened. Without even turning his head, he knew he could find her by scent alone. A mixture of honeysuckle with a hint of... lavender.
“A mole, is that the best you can do?” Richard scoffed. “Your insults have become commonplace. There was a time−”
Richard’s attention whipped to the dance floor, then back to Darcy. Eyes narrowing, he hissed. “Youareintrigued by someone here.”
Darcy silently cursed his momentary lack of control and took hold of his cousin’s forearm. “Not another word. You don’t know who is listening.”
“Does she−” Darcy applied pressure to Richard’s arm until the bone snapped.
“I warned you.”
“All right, not another word.” Richard pulled his arm free and passed his hand over the broken bone. Flexing his fingers, he said, “I hate when you do that. It’s a waste of good magic.”
“Be grateful I don’t remove your glamor and let all the young ladies see you as you truly are. A jaded Colonel who wishes for something more.”
“Aye, I do wish for something more,” his cousin said with a prosaic shrug of the shoulders. He resumed scanning the crowd. Darcy knew his intent was to discover which female could possibly be the one who piqued his cousin’s interest. “Am I allowed to at least enjoy a dance or two with these young ladies? It seems gentlemen are few and far between and I know you will not dance with someone not in your own party.”
“Of course. I won’t stand in the way of you having an enjoyable evening.”
Now that his self-control was under regulation, Richard could prance around the room all night if he desired. Nothing and no one would give him pause. His cousin beckoned Charles to come to them and when he arrived asked if he’d introduce him to some of the families. Always eager to please and overjoyed at the prospect of making new friends, Bingley complied right away.
A trickle of foreboding shivered down Darcy’s back.
“Richard,” he called out.
He returned and stood by Darcy while Bingley waited “Yes?”
“Wickham cannot know of this. If she is my soul mate, her very life is in danger and she’s an innocent.”
