Page 12 of London Holiday (Sweet Escapes Collection #2)

Chapter twelve

“ W hy, Aunt Catherine, such a pleasure to see you again.” Richard gave a short, very proper bow before his aunt. “I came to call on Darcy, as I had intended. Is he at home?”

Lady Catherine looked him up and down suspiciously. “You still do not know his whereabouts? I have not seen him.”

“The blighter! Oh, do forgive me, Aunt. I did not intend to speak so callously. I am merely affronted on my cousin Anne’s behalf, and I fear my feelings overcame me.”

“Richard Fitzwilliam, I believe you have been corrupted by your years in service,” she accused.

“Alas, I fear that even General Wellington himself, the most gallant gentleman alive, is not quite so mannerly when he has just returned from a campaign. Pray, forgive my faux pas.”

“I shall forgive a great deal if you can discover Darcy’s whereabouts, so that I might have a word with him. Have you seen him at all?”

“Darcy? Why, the last time I saw him was… yes, I believe we had taken a carriage ride… to a part of Town I did not know well. But that was some time ago, of course. I have not seen him since.”

“It matters little,” sniffed the lady, “unless he has become indisposed or injured somewhere. Naturally, we are most concerned for his safety, but I think such a calamity unlikely. I am terribly distressed that he has not returned, for he must do his duty by Anne! Much must be planned, and he ought to consider his bride’s sentiments before slighting her publicly as he has done. ”

“Of course! That was another reason for my call. I had hoped, dear Aunt, to express my very fondest congratulations to my cousin. Is she receiving callers?”

“She is in the blue drawing room, for it is warmer. She must be very careful of her health, after all. I shall attend you.”

She led the way, commending her daughter’s fine qualities and expressing her satisfaction that at last the dearest wishes of her departed sister were to be answered. He nodded politely as the door was opened to them.

“Anne, my dear, your cousin has called to offer his congratulations.” Lady Catherine gestured what he was to do, and Richard did not dare disappoint. Anne rose, wrapping herself in a thick woollen shawl as she did so.

Richard squared his shoulders and pasted a courtly smile on his face. “Greetings, fair Cousin. How do you do?”

“As well as might be expected, with circumstances as trying as they have been,” she sighed, casting baleful eyes to the gilded ceiling.

Richard appraised her person carefully as he approached to kiss her hand. She had still that sickly pallor about her that she had always possessed, but there was a certain flush to her countenance, a particular gleam in her eye which seemed altogether new. He took her hand to kiss it and found it ice cold. “I am certain you shall prevail, fair Cousin. I have always felt that your strength was generally underestimated. Might I add that you are looking remarkably well today? Darcy is indeed a fortunate man.”

Even as he spoke the lie, he was shaking his head inwardly. Poor Anne! Saddled already with dismal health and an overbearing mother, fate had decreed that she also should be granted a figure which resembled a ship timber and a voice which grated on even the most weathered of ears.

These handicaps might have been sufficient, but alas, the woman had the feet of a horse and the teeth of a donkey, and owing to her persistently bad health, breath which could knock down either. Such deficiencies, coupled with the haughty bitterness of spirit which had always been her heritage, rendered her the poorest choice imaginable for the future Mrs Darcy. Richard began to hope fervently that Darcy might find himself far too entangled with his tradesman’s daughter to escape an obligation from that quarter and thus be spared a hideous fate.

“Richard,” she whined with dramatic flair, “have you seen Darcy at all? We must speak of wedding dates, particularly after everything…” Here, she batted her short little lashes and blushed suggestively. “After all that has happened.”

“Darcy? Why, I do not know precisely where he is. I came here to call on him, as you see, but I fear I shall have to return another day. I wonder, might I instead have a word with his valet?”

Anne blinked to her mother. “His valet? Whatever for?”

“Ah, you see, there was this particular style of breeches he had which have become all the rage in the better circles. I am invited to a party next week, and I had hoped dearly to cut a fine figure. I must speak with a tailor at once if I am to be ready, but I have no notion where to begin.”

“Is it now the task of gentlemen to ask other gentlemen’s servants how their clothing is to be made?”

“I should have sent my batman, of course, but I had assumed I would be able to speak with Darcy in person, you understand. My appearance shall be of the utmost importance that night, for there is a particular young lady with eight thousand pounds whose notice I have been wishing to attract.”

Lady Catherine dismissed his excuses with a wave of her hand. “I have no interest in your intrigues, Fitzwilliam.”

“I beg you would excuse me, then, Aunt. I shall enquire of the butler rather than troubling you. Now let me think, what was the valet’s name? Williams? Willard?”

“Mr Wilson, I believe. I shall have him sent to you at once.”

Richard bowed. “Thank you, Aunt. My mother and I are most grateful. ”

“Your mother! What can she possibly have to do with Darcy’s valet?”

“Ah, well, she is most particularly interested in seeing me married off. I am duty-bound to oblige her, if I can persuade the lady.”

Lady Catherine thinned her lips at his bit of frippery but clapped her hands lightly, and a servant came forward to do her bidding. “I have correspondence to attend, but Anne will be glad of your company while you wait. At least some in this family know how to pay their respects to a bride!”

“Then I am gratified to be of service,” Richard bowed again as she left the room.

Anne offered him a simpering smile. “Will you be seated, Cousin?”

Richard accepted with good grace and was at once situated with a glass and something much stronger than tea to drink. He nodded his gratitude and saluted the lady. “My felicitations to you, Cousin. I say, I must confess to being a little surprised at you.”

“Me? Whatever for?” Anne shrugged her heavily cloaked shoulders.

“Why, at settling for Darcy, of course. I had thought you could do much better.”

“Better than a man with a large estate and ten thousand a year?” she scoffed.

“But no title,” Richard pointed out. “Certainly, with a fortune such as yours, and being the granddaughter of an earl, you might have caught someone’s eye.”

She flicked her fingers. “Darcy is as fine as any other man.”

“Ah, that he is, but I never thought you wished to settle in Derbyshire. Is not Lord Wharton from Hampshire? And Viscount Hallstead, now he is from Kent like yourself. Is not the weather much more agreeable to your health?”

“What matters the location of the estate? I have no intention of living there, save for a visit in the summer when it is at its finest. I shall remain in Kent, of course, or London during the season. ”

“Naturally,” Richard agreed, “it is far better for your constitution, I am sure. Although, I am rather surprised that Darcy agreed. He is rather unreasonably attached to that miserable county in the north. I congratulate you on prevailing, Cousin, for I know few who can against him.”

“Darcy is hardly an ogre, Richard.”

“Perhaps you have little seen this side of the man as yet, but I assure you, he gives small credit to comforts. Why, poor Georgiana once rode astride for two days together because Darcy would not slow their journey north by taking the carriage.”

“Richard, do not be ridiculous. He would never set Georgiana on a horse to travel and certainly not astride for such a trip.”

“I assure you, he did, and when we arrived at Pemberley, no rest was awaiting us but several days of work, for the fields were flooding that spring. Why, even Georgiana had a list of tasks. Darcy did permit her a pair of Wellingtons for her work in the field….”

“Richard, I do believe you are teasing me. Georgiana wearing boots and working in the fields! Preposterous.”

“Nothing of the kind, dear Cousin! I would never speak an untruth about Darcy, for I love him like a brother, for all his peculiarities. I must, or I certainly would never have arranged quite so many affairs for him.”

“Affairs?” Anne laughed. “Forgive my rudeness, Cousin, but what could you have possibly arranged for Darcy? I always thought it was the reverse, for I am certain you have had access to his purse.”

“On occasion, indeed, both assertions have been true, but… well, it is hardly fitting knowledge for a lady. I suppose as you are to be his wife, you will discover soon enough what his ways are. There are certain matters for which a less refined sort of expertise is necessary.”

“Richard Fitzwilliam! If you intend to imply that Darcy has had his indiscretions—”

“Indiscretions! That is a mild description. I have certain knowledge that he spent the night, just recently, mind you, hiding in the servant’s quarters with one lady—or perhaps ‘lady’ is too strong a descriptive.”

“It matters not, for I am to be his wife, so all that must be in the past.”

“Oh, to be sure, Darcy is a fine man and will certainly never disgrace his wife… at least, not intentionally. There may yet be some bother with that one from.…” Richard stopped, affected a frown, and then shrugged. “Certainly, it must not matter to you, so I should not repeat it.”

“Which one?” Anne insisted.

“Well, it is only hearsay, after all. There may be little truth in it.”

“And do I not have the right to know what is being said about the man I am to marry?”

“You do have an excellent point, fair Cousin. It is only that some say Darcy visited the home of a certain paramour just after his interlude with you last evening. I understand he—”

“Richard Fitzwilliam!” Anne stood, shaking and white, as she pointed one of her talon-like fingers toward his chest. “These are the basest, vilest of accusations!”

“It is nothing but the truth. You desired to know of his habits, and rightly so, for you are to be stuck with the man.”

“I did not wish to hear jealous slander,” she sniffed.

“Slander! All the men at the club have nothing but the highest regard for Darcy and his exploits.”

“I care nothing what the gentlemen at the club think! My interest in him is that of a respectable lady toward her future husband.”

“Do you think you can live with a man and remain ignorant of his secrets? If you do, I pity you, Cousin, for your disappointment will come as a rather wretched surprise.”

“Nonsense! I insist you leave this house at once, Richard, and do not return until you have recanted these odious defamations.”

“I beg your pardon, Cousin. I fear I have overstayed my welcome.” He bowed a proper farewell, rolling his eyes as his face was hidden from her. “May I only beseech you, dear Cousin, consider carefully and enter this marriage with all due contemplation. I am naturally concerned for your happiness and would wish you to know something of the man before you take his name.”

As he turned to go, leaving her scowling and turning pointedly away from him, a footman opened the door. Just in the corridor stood Wilson, looking expectantly to him with a hopeful eagerness in his face.

“Ah! Excellent timing, Mr Wilson. I was hoping you might have the name of Mr Darcy’s tailor for me.”

Wilson bowed and extended paper, catching Richard’s eye with a significant expression. “I understand, sir. I have written down the direction. Please inform me if I may be of further assistance.”

“Very good, thank you, my good man. I think this is sufficient to the moment, but I shall not hesitate to enquire if I have forgotten something.”

Turning back to his cousin, he inclined his head. She ignored him, but he bade his farewell all the same. “I wish you a very good day, Cousin. Please do give my regards to my aunt.”

She never answered.

Darcy shifted the parasol in his hand, trying to discover how to carry such a device and not feel himself the fool. “How, precisely, do you propose we find your uncle? I appreciate your willingness to be of assistance, madam, but there are any number of attorneys on a single street in this part of Town, and we were given very little direction. I think perhaps we would do better to return to Gracechurch Street to await your uncle.”

“That will not be until this evening, and he is likely to be occupied when he does come home. You know, you ought really to put your hand out if we wish to summon a hack chaise, for it looks rather badly if I should do so when I am accompanied by a perfectly good footman. ”

Darcy groused and gave a half-hearted toss of his hand at a passing hackney, but it was already occupied. He turned back to her in near defiance, relieved that he had not truly gone so far as to summon a carriage like a common domestic.

“If your uncle is late returning,” he protested his earlier point, “then will it not be because he has been honestly detained? That is yet another reason I am reluctant to disturb him. If he is about other business and I insist upon his notice, he may not be well disposed toward me. It is a ridiculous predicament, but I am forced to depend upon his goodwill. I would rather not approach him at all than to offend him and further complicate my circumstances.”

She smiled back at him. “You are accustomed to high-mettled gentlemen of the ton, I think—easily offended and quick to set themselves against one who might impose upon them. My uncle is not of that disposition, and you have no need to fear his censure. In fact, it may profit you greatly to make your request in the presence of his legal witness, for he will certainly see that it is drawn up properly. As to discovering his whereabouts, that is simple enough. He always uses the same attorney for business matters. My other uncle, do you see, is an attorney in Meryton and he has a partner here in London.”

Darcy felt his face twitching. “Your uncle is an attorney? And the other is…”

“A merchant, yes, we have already canvassed this. I am afraid I cannot produce any lords or even knights from my pedigree to make your acquaintance.” She glanced back with a look which was hardly apologetic for her poor connections. “My uncles both labour for their livings, but that fact renders them no less agreeable in my eyes.” There was an iron in her gaze and heat to her tone which Darcy did not dare contradict, however much he might cringe at her situation.

“I am certain they are perfectly respectable,” he agreed unevenly. “But… what of your father? ”

“I could tell you much of his situation which might sound flattering, but I have no interest in leading you on to some pretty images of great houses and lands. My father is a good man, but I can boast of little in the way of connections by him. I am certain that so discerning a fellow as yourself would find our house, as well as its master, beneath your notice.”

“A gentleman does not judge another man by the size of his house, but his management thereof, and his attendance to his duties,” he clipped out, with a tightness to his voice which, if she cared to notice, could not help but betray his own uncertainty on the matter. “Pray do not suspect me of thinking meanly of a man I have never met. You have already informed me that he is a fair and reasonable father. Surely you and your sister have no cause to repine.”

“Which sister? For I have four of them.”

Darcy stumbled to a halt. “ Four? There are five of you, altogether? ”

“Of which I am the second, and I shall spare you the indelicacy of enquiring after my brother, for I have none. Do keep walking, sir, for it looks odd that a lady’s footman should fail to keep pace on the street.”

Darcy forced his feet into motion again. “But your father must have a brother, of course. Someone to care for his family, should the unforeseen strike?”

“Not one, and I would hardly call a man’s eventual demise ‘unforeseen,’ for as you know, sir, none of us escape this world alive. My mother has a holy terror of the hedgerows, but perhaps that is unwarranted, for my father does have a relation. He is a man of the cloth and has vigorously sought to amend that breach… it is only a pity one cannot tighten that cloth a bit more snugly about his parsimonious neck!”

Darcy made a strangled noise in his own throat, perhaps in sympathy for the unknown gentleman who had also fallen victim to this lady’s barbed tongue… or perhaps in unwonted laughter. She, ho wever, seemed to understand him to be commiserating with her, for she offered a mischievous little smirk over her shoulder.

“Ah! I am irreverent, and I know it very well. You see, however, something of the predicament in which a lady may find herself, quite apart from any fault of her own. Agreeable gentlemen can be in rather short supply when ladies are so bountiful.”

Good heavens , Darcy’s chest froze. Bingley ! To such a family, in such a neighbourhood, his friend would be as a prize bull…. No, not a bull. Not Bingley. The fool would be little better than a bleating lamb with wide, innocent eyes, happily trotting toward the slaughter.

“Madam,” he enquired hesitantly, “what of your neighbours? Have you,” he coughed, “any acquaintance among the local gentlemen?”

She looked back to him again. “You must cease calling me ‘madam,’ for it really does sound ridiculous. Miss Bennet will do nicely, as my older sister Jane is not present. It is a pity, for I think you would have liked her—everyone does—but Mama desired her to remain at home when word was had that Netherfield’s new tenant might be a person of interest.”

Darcy’s stomach knotted. Damnation … one lady already being groomed to be thrown into his friend’s path, and he had yet to even take up residence in the county! Yet even if this elder Miss Bennet had warts and a witch’s cackle, Hertfordshire was apparently overrun by ladies. There would be entire legions of simpering misses, no doubt led by a battalion of strategising matrons such as would do His Majesty’s army proud! Bingley would not have a prayer. He would declare the first lady he danced with an angel and would host the very enemy upon his own doorstep if it meant some fair creature would spare him but a smile.

“My eldest sister,” continued the dark-haired vixen, just as if she could have read his thoughts, “is the sweetest, most generous person alive, not to mention the most beautiful lady in the county. I have the greatest affection for her. I am not of the persuasion of some, who might be led to act out of desperation to preserve her family, but I do earnestly hope matters resolve to everyone’s satisfaction. If anyone deserves her happiness, it is Jane.”

“Not yourself?” he could not help but ask, then bit his tongue. If he were not careful, he would end up no better off than Bingley!

“I have not half of Jane’s goodness,” she answered plainly. “I do have such a habit of letting my tongue run on, and occasionally it is rather sharp. My sister possesses every virtue I lack. She is as genuine and true-hearted as she is beautiful.”

“Warm praise for a sister, Miss Bennet. I wonder if anyone can truly be deserving of such high esteem, for such has not been my experience.”

“Such a cynic, sir! Surely there must be someone you admire without reserve. Perhaps a near relation?”

He found, much to his chagrin, that he was beginning to smile. Unlike most ladies, she was not easy to talk to, in that she eschewed the banal, safe topics and forced him to defend his position, but he was growing to be at ease in her presence. She was interesting, at least, a thing which could be said for few among his acquaintance, almost none of whom were female. “I must confess to the very sincerest affection for my own sister.”

“You have a sister? Will you tell me something of her? Has she your grave turn of countenance, or is she agreeable?”

“You think me disagreeable?”

“I think you are inclined to a more generous opinion of yourself than others might accord you,” she returned tartly, but not without a teasing lilt to her voice.

“I think I am justified in punishing you for that remark. Therefore I will refuse to answer your question regarding my sister.”

“Ah, but you have no choice, for you see now I am free to think the worst of her. Shall I assume that she is sour, ill-favoured, and lacking in all talent?”

“You may not, for she is none of those things. ”

“Then is she perhaps of an unpredictable temperament? Given to fits of melancholy, or rage, or scandalous behaviour?”

Darcy dropped his gaze and stubbornly followed in silence, refusing to allow her the victory.

“Oh, dear, I have touched a little near the mark,” she apologised, all the animation and playfulness gone from her voice. “Forgive me, sir, if I have spoken when I should not have.”

“You mistake my silence for a confession,” he replied quickly. “I assure you, my sister has a very generous and mild disposition. I would not have you think otherwise. She has, however, fallen victim to the pretty words of one who is insincere, as young ladies occasionally do. Her spirits have been slow to recover from such an injury.”

The lady walked on with a lowered head. “My apologies, sir,” she murmured after a moment. “I can see that you are very fond of her, and she is not the first to make the acquaintance of a false friend, lady or gentleman. I ought not to have teased you.”

“You did not know,” he answered matter-of-factly. “None do, save my cousin, whom you met before.”

“And I know nothing either, as I do not know the lady’s name and I will nobly forget your cousin’s. There, she is quite safe from me. I am certain she is a lovely girl and will recover well in time.”

Darcy smiled in earnest. “I hope so. I have endeavoured to guide her as best I may, but there is much an elder brother cannot understand.”

“Yet your concern for her does you credit,” she replied warmly. “It almost makes me envious that I have no brother. Oh! I should not confess the turn of my thoughts, but you are harmless, are you not?”

“Far from it.”

“Only one who intends to do no harm would speak so. I was only thinking that if I had a brother, I would not be walking over London to avoid my aunt’s guest. I would have remained, and he and I would be agreeably engaged in concocting all manner of mischief to torment a respectable man.”

He stifled a chuckle. “It seems, madam, that in half a morning’s time, we have come to know both everything and yet nothing about each other. You have only insinuated, not fully confessed, the reason you wish to remain at large rather than returning to your relations.”

“My good fellow, I must protest. In the time we have been walking as lady and servant, all while secretively chatting about sisters, you have let at least three vacant hackneys pass. As we must go some distance yet and you are in haste, I insist you catch that next one, or I shall be forced to reconsider your employment.”

The corner of his mouth twitched helplessly. “As you wish, madam.”