Page 38 of Lord Lonbourn's Daughter
Darcy held his peace and tried to scowl at his cousin. It never worked; Richard had the cunning ability to read his mind. A whistle escaped the colonel’s lips before he said, “For what it is worth, you are wrong in that assumption. She is very aware of you, where your stoic person is situated and what little you mumble in your chosen corner. An apology would not go amiss after your rude, dismissive remarks. You know,forgive meis not enough. You must do something special to prove your affection.”
“She has been a champion and has not uttered one complaint about the hurried simple affair of our wedding. I have ordered her a new carriage—there was no time before the wedding. Neither did I have time to order her a custom wedding ring. She has to wear an old ring I inherited from my grandmother.”
“She loved that ring!” Richard protested.
“She did, but I had imagined I would design it myself. Something that reflected her personality,” Darcy admitted.
“So, what carriage did you order? A dormeuse[5]?”
Darcy scowled at his cousin, who needed to redirect his sordid thoughts.
“What? I only thought you may need a carriage with a bed fitted so that you could sleep more easily on those long and tedious journeys back and forth between London and Pemberley.”
Richard threw up his hands in mock surrender when Darcy’s scowl only deepened at that remark.
“By all means, buy her expensive gifts, but a lady like your wife cannot be bought. If you do not know what to do, ask her. What does she want from marriage? What are her hopes and dreams? Does she prefer town or the country? A play or a museum? Talk to her! You are so tongue-tied when she is about, but you need to practise.”
“Thank you, Richard. I owe you because your admonishment just gave me a wonderful idea.”
“Think nothing of it, Darcy, though I am glad you owe me because I have a favour to ask. A big one that you will question and fail to understand, but I shall ask it of you in any case. I beg you not to put the announcement of Bingley and Lady Jane’s engagement in the paper. I have my reasons, something I cannot divulge at this particular time, but I hope that the extortionists will become impatient and make a mistake. I am aware that it is a high-risk game, but I have an inkling about something here, in London.”
“Why would you not want the engagement to be known?”
“Bingley is your dear friend, Darcy, but even you must see that he has a larger capacity for admiration than cool judgment. He has proved to bea fool in love,or should I say, in and out oflove? In addition, he is only one generation removed from trade. He is not good enough for Lady Jane, despite his vast fortune in the bank.”
“One might think you have a personal interest in the lady,” Darcy accused his cousin.
“An interest you as her brother should certainly take seriously. Would you consider Bingley as a spouse for Georgiana?”
Darcy preferred not to consider this turn of events at this particular moment. It was food for thought he needed to address at another time. Instead of answering Richard’s question, he changed the subject.
“With a population of more than a million and an abundance of rookeries and gaming-hells, how are you going to find Georgiana?”
“Have faith in me, Darcy. I would not ask this of you had I not thought I could find her. Give me a few days. You have nothing to lose.”
“It is no ordinary pickpockets we are after,” Darcy warned.
“Do you not think I know that? No, I am not looking in a rookery. The areas I have my suspicions about are not in the disreputable parts of town. You will have to be patient, though. I am loath to level these kinds of accusations against a person of rank if my suppositions prove to be incorrect.”
“You have a particular suspect in mind?” Darcy enquired.
“I do, but I must leave it at that for the moment. Has it occurred to you that it is strange the kidnappers have demanded no money?”
Darcy pondered incessantly on his way home. His fear for Georgiana was ever-present, but in addition, he wondered whether the carriage he had ordered for Elizabeth’s wedding present had been a good idea. No, he could not regret giving Elizabeth what was her due.
He must stop at Darcy House to collect his correspondence before he joined his wife at Bennet House. A musical soiree sounded the least of evils if he were to appear at an event with his wife.
When he entered, Bennet House was quiet. The residents had already retired for the night. He undressed stealthily in his wife’s dressing room and approached the bed where Elizabeth’s still form was breathing evenly. She must be asleep. He eased his way under the covers, careful not to wake her.
#
Lady Jersey’s musicale
Darcy’s massive person weaved its way forwards. As long as his wife stayed in his wake, she would make it safely to her seat without having to speak to anyone.
Elizabeth was not shy of society or conversation, but recent events had madehimeven less capable of mustering the necessary cheer. He understood the need for keeping up appearances, which was why he had requested they attend Lady Jersey’s musicale.
The room was dimly lit to create an ethereal atmosphere of mystery and romance. It did make avoiding introductions a little easier as they wove their way between the seats, conscious of not being tripped up by the protruding leg of a chair or a person.
