Page 22 of A Cleverly (Un)contrived Compromise (Love’s Little Helpers #3)
CHAPTER 22
C olonel Richard Fitzwilliam had known this was a terrible idea. Lord, how he hated being right all the time! And still, nobody listened to him. Darcy never did. Richard's own mother certainly did not, though he could excuse her more easily than he could his cousin.
How on earth were he and Darcy—two bachelors for Heaven's sake!—supposed to guide a prized heiress through the battlefield of courtship and matrimony while avoiding any mortal injury? So far, they had not fared well.
From the moment the Bennets had set foot in Bingley's parlor, charging the air with their arrival, Richard had known the concerns he had expressed five months ago in Darcy's study at Pemberley had been well-founded. He would never forget the hurt in Georgie's eyes with every display of Bingley's preference for the eldest Miss Bennet. Richard praised the heavens above that the lady's insight and sensibility had prevented the matter from worsening—not that her mother had not done her level best to try!
Miss Bennet had impressed Richard. She valued the same qualities he did—loyalty and steadiness. Twas a pity Bingley had seen her first.
Darcy's predicament unraveled in a comical display during the tea, but Richard was convinced the universe had given his reticent cousin a nudge in the right direction with Miss Elizabeth.
As for her family, it was plain that Mrs. Bennet had married up. Her manners lacked the refinement of the upper circles… or even the middling ones if Richard were being completely honest. The matron had made her hope of connecting one of her daughters to him cringingly clear. She seemed to believe she might prod him to propose to one of her daughters by the end of tea.
Mr. Bennet, quick as a whip, snapped several clever quips. He was clearly an intelligent man with a wry sense of humor. Unfortunately, where his family was concerned, the gentleman was woefully negligent. He could not be more different from Darcy.
However, the many flaws of the Bennet family proved to display the finer qualities of the two eldest Bennet daughters to greater advantage. With some sorrow, Richard watched them depart for their residence.
Miss Bingley brushed off her hands. “I thought they would never leave. I absolutely adore Miss Eliza”—she looked disingenuously at Darcy—“but her family is truly dreadful.”
Mrs. Hurst rubbed her temples. “Five minutes in their presence gives me a headache.”
“Shall we call Miss Bennet back? Five minutes in her presence will put you to sleep!” Miss Bingley tittered along with her sister.
Darcy, who still looked at the door through which his betrothed had departed, snapped to attention. “Criticism without understanding is the height of ignorance.”
Whether Miss Bingley heard his rebuke or not, Richard could not say, for the lady erupted with a series of sneezes. Once she was capable of hearing, he clapped his hands together to make certain. “I, for one, congratulate you, Darcy. Miss Elizabeth is as charming as she is clever.” Richard did not allow himself the pleasure of checking Miss Bingley’s reaction, but he knew he had hit his mark. “Now, perhaps Mrs. Annesley would help Georgie collect her kittens and remove them from Miss Bingley’s proximity. I have several messages to relay to Darcy from my mother. Might we occupy your study for a few minutes, Bingley?”
“Of course! Consider this house your own during your stay.”
“That is very generous of you.”
“No more so than you and Darcy have been to me. The good brandy is in the bottom drawer of the desk.”
Richard inclined his head in thanks. Everyone occupied, he spirited Darcy to the study, closing the door behind him and pouring two glasses of Bingley’s finest brandy. Raising one glass, he offered the other to Darcy. “I suspected there was a great deal you left out in your letter, and now I am convinced of it. You are too big of a fish to be easily caught.”
Darcy frowned. "She did not catch me. She did not even set her cap for me."
Richard grinned, pleased at how quickly Darcy rose in his lady's defense at the expense of his own pride—proof that love worked miracles. "I did not claim that she had. Not all cleverness tends to the scheming machinations so common among the ton .” He rubbed his hands together, liking this humbler cousin and indulging in his whim to tease. “Tell me, has she bested you in a debate?"
“More than once.” Darcy sipped from his glass. “You have had enough diversion at my expense. Why are you here?”
“Now that is a fine welcome.”
“You wrote that you were on your way to Pemberley. My instructions were clear. You could not have misunderstood them.”
“Did you not read my reply? I clearly said that Georgiana, with the help of my mother, wrote to Mrs. Reynolds with all their suggestions to ready Pemberley for your new bride. Georgie was too anxious to meet Miss Elizabeth to travel anywhere but here.”
Darcy did not look convinced.
Richard added, “Mother expects a full report.”
“You were sent to spy on me?”
Richard tsked. “If you do not want them to suspect that your sudden engagement is anything less than a love match, you had better play the part of a lovesick man better.”
Darcy groaned. “You know what my father said about disguise.”
“Yes, I remember well that he despised it. However, I also recall that he directed those words more often to Wickham than to you.”
“That is another reason you should not be here. You know he is stationed in Meryton.”
“Was. I called in a favor. He was reassigned to Ramsgate, effective immediately.”
“Ramsgate?” Darcy swirled the liquid in his glass, his expression pensive, lighter.
“Brilliant, is it not? Wickham will not be able to ask for credit there, as the shopkeepers are on to him.”
“Yes, yes, you did well. You are very clever, but did you not think of how disastrous it is for Georgiana to see Bingley smitten with another?”
So much for a proud moment. Richard’s success deflated before Georgiana’s disappointment. Darcy was not yet so humble to realize that he ought not attempt to govern the hearts of others, especially not his little sister’s.
Treading cautiously, Richard replied, “I am impressed with Miss Bennet’s gracious comportment. She will not stir up contentions or rivalries when her disposition is to make peace. No, Darce, I realize you are unhappy that Georgie and I are here, but I think you are precisely where you need to be.”
“What does that signify?”
Darcy, Darcy… Richard shook his head. “Georgiana still has at least two years before she will come out in society, four if we have our way. Were it up to you, you would forgo love until you saw Georgiana settled when what she needs most is to see you happy. I suspect that this interruption to your plans… that Miss Elizabeth is the best accident to befall you.”
“A happy accident? You would reduce the consequences of a scandalous compromise to a foolish oxymoron?”
“Never foolish. She is a charming young lady, witty, easy to converse with. I would go so far as to say it was rather astute of you to take a fancy to her. Now, tell me the rest of the story before Bingley tires of his sisters’ company and joins us. I take it he does not know.”
Darcy scoffed. “He was the first to wish me joy. He is convinced it is a love match.”
As Darcy relayed the rest of the deliciously scandalous story, Richard’s suspicions were confirmed. Darcy did not realize it, but he was helplessly in love with his betrothed. Richard would be able to give a truthful and convincing report to his mother and father, after all.
Once Darcy was done, Richard raised his glass. “You like her already. Now, go, fall in love with her properly. Court her honestly, unreservedly.”
“What about Georgie? And Bingley?”
“You leave them to me.”
Richard knew Darcy preferred that another not take on what he felt was his own responsibility, but he did not object. That was progress enough.