Page 16 of London Holiday (Sweet Escapes Collection #2)
Chapter sixteen
“ I see you have won the favour of your fair lady.” Richard jerked his head back toward the bench where Miss Bennet sat. “At least she was smiling this time, rather than threatening to slap you.”
“She is not ‘my’ lady, and she would hardly be so vulgar as to assault a man.”
“Ah, you are defending her already. This is promising, Darcy! Tell me, did her uncle defer to her father, or are you already secure of his blessing? I can see it, your imagination has already leapt from admiration to love, and from love to—”
“Richard, desist!” Darcy snapped, glancing over his shoulder at the lady. “You know what you suggest is impossible, but Miss Bennet is a respectable woman, and I will not hear you jesting about her.”
“Fair enough, Darcy,” Richard held up a hand. “But it will be your loss. So, was this Mr Gardiner able to provide you with what you needed?”
“I have not yet been able to speak with him. Apparently, his business has demanded his attention in various parts of town today.”
“Oh.” Richard frowned. “That is… unfortunate.”
“A temporary setback,” Darcy agreed. “But not an insurmountable difficulty. Miss Bennet assures me that he is an amiable fellow and will not object to speaking on my behalf once we do find him.”
“I hope you are correct, Darcy. Your valet had some rather choice words regarding our aunt’s actions today. ”
“Such as?”
“Apparently she has been receiving numerous callers and has sent a flurry of notes among her acquaintances.”
“I would have expected no less. Does he know any names?”
“No, but a dressmaker has been sent for, a solicitor has called twice, and Aunt is making inquiries about a lady’s companion—for Georgiana, I presume. That was all before mid-morning tea. Another caller had just arrived when I was being shown to the door, but I could not learn who it was.”
“And what of the other servants of the house? What has he learned?”
“You will not find anyone to vouch for you. Aside from your head groom, who was apparently not worth the trouble, our aunt has purchased the loyalties of everyone else. Even should you call them to task and threaten their employment right now, I would not trust any.”
“Nor would I,” Darcy scowled at the ground. “Not after one betrayal. I will have to dismiss everyone, it seems. I still intend to make my position clear and to demand a truthful witness, but since I will not offer a second chance at employment, I cannot depend upon anything that anyone will say. Some might even concoct a worse tale out of revenge for the loss of their position! How could Lady Catherine have so thoroughly swept the house’s sentiments?”
“There are probably a few kitchen maids and dust boys who are innocent, but they could not be expected to know anything. They will be of no help to you.”
“Indeed. Richard, this is preposterous. I intend to go to the house at once to confront her. She cannot bring her will to bear by means of deceit, and I will not stand for it. It is my house, my staff, and my future she has taken into her hands!”
“Very well, then Darcy, what do you intend to say to her? Remember my father’s order, no public fracas will be tolerated. You must find a way to do this and still keep the peace, or the entire family becomes the talk of the ton . For myself, I would not care, but I would think you—”
“Yes, yes,” sighed Darcy. “Perhaps I will speak with Anne and discover what may be done. Perhaps she might be worked upon.”
“It would be so much simpler to shun a presumptuous young lady if she were not a relation,” Richard mused. “You have certainly proved that often enough with Miss Bingley, among others. But as to Anne, I have anticipated you somewhat.”
“How do you mean?”
“Oh! Just a bit of judicious slander, a few well-placed insults to your character—you know, the sorts of things that a lady would not wish to hear about her future husband. You can thank me later.”
Darcy groaned. “Surely there was a better way….”
“Do not doubt my strategic genius, Darcy. What could be better than to cause the lady to rethink her own wishes? Perhaps she will refuse to marry you!”
“Or perhaps she will be led to search more deeply into my personal affairs and discover a way to compromise me further!”
Richard’s face crumpled in thought. “You do not think—”
“It is not impossible, but I think unlikely. I have been very circumspect as you can imagine, and the solicitor I employed for that affair was one our aunt does not know of. I made certain that none connected with us have done business with him.”
Richard sighed in relief, then his brow wrinkled again. “Wise precautions, but you did not see the corruption in your own household until it was too late. Could you not be mistaken there, too?”
“They are vastly different things, but I do not intend to be blinded by the assumption of invulnerability a second time. I must bring this matter to a conclusion before any further damage can be done, and I remain convinced that a confrontation with Lady Catherine is inevitable. Since I must wait a little longer before obtaining the word of Mr Gardiner, I think the wisest course at present would be to escort Miss Bennet home, and then return to my own house to do what must be done.”
“I think perhaps you are a little premature. You are correct that matters will only become worse without intercession, but wait and see what more your valet learns. The man is a crafty one, and he has Aunt Catherine’s ear. She believes she can succeed, and I have yet to discover why. It is not as if you are a man easily swayed by belligerence, but she has some reason to think you will eventually capitulate. Additionally, I have never seen her so incensed as she is now that you have not returned. If you want my opinion on the matter, I recommend that you do not give her what she wants just now, which is you.”
“And what am I to do? Sit here in this park until such a time as I may reasonably expect to meet with Mr Gardiner?”
“Perhaps you do not have to stay in this same park, per se.”
“You are serious!”
“Perfectly. Darcy, she is searching for you. That was the last thing your valet told me. She has sent men round to all the clubs, fencing parlours, and every fashionable place she could think of. Now, would she do that if she thought she needed to beg and plead? No, Darcy, I tell you, she has some notion of how to force you, even beyond the supposed compromise. You may need far more than an alibi by the time you return to the house.”
“And how am I to know what that is?”
“As I said,” Richard grinned and clapped him on the shoulder, “let your valet sort that. When this is all over, you should buy that fellow a country house of his own. Meanwhile, Darcy, I suggest that you continue to make yourself invisible. By the by, you look as if you have a capital little situation here, not to mention agreeable company. Is that a bakery parcel I see over there? How very thoughtful of you, Darcy!”
“Hold here, you cannot truly be advising me to remain away, doing nothing at all. ”
“Why not? There is nothing else you can do at present. When was the last time you took a holiday?”
Darcy narrowed his eyes. “That is precisely what Miss Bennet asked me.”
“Hah! I am liking that young lady better and better. Now, shall we escort the lady to her home?”
“ We? ”
“Indeed. I should like the chance to know her, and you need a chaperon. What is she calling you—have you at last given up your name, or were you afraid she would attempt matrimony upon you as well?”
Darcy raised his brows in a short laugh. “She did not even wish to know it, claiming that matters were simpler for us both if she only knew of me as a footman. An enigma, she is. I have never known her like.”
“Truly! Well, then if I must address you directly, I shall call you ‘William,’ as Georgie does—no, do not look at me like that. I intend to enjoy this.”
“Richard, wait!” Darcy hissed, snatching once more at his cousin’s arm as the other made to move away. “I will not have you teasing the lady and leading her on to false presumptions!”
“No one is doing any leading but yourself.”
“I have not lied to her,” he growled reproachfully. “She knows something of my situation, or as much as either of us felt comfortable with disclosing.”
“Then I suppose that is enough for now. Let us enjoy a pleasant afternoon with an exceedingly charming companion. After that, you can obtain from her family what you need, then part from her acquaintance with no regrets and no cause for censure by anyone.” Richard turned and walked decisively toward the bench.
Darcy raised a futile hand again, watching his cousin approaching Miss Bennet. No regrets….
“Mama, where can he be?” Anne pouted. “It is not like Fitzwilliam to ignore his duties.”
Lady Catherine snorted aloud—although she herself would have described the sound as something far more refined. “And what has he done for the past eight years, but ignore his duties? I shall see an end to this, for my own dear sister’s son must learn his place.”
“You do not think he has left Town, do you? Perhaps some elaborate scheme to claim he was never here, or even…” Anne’s eyes widened, and her mouth rounded in a horrified gasp. “He could not have eloped with some other woman to Scotland, simply to avoid our marriage!”
Another indelicate sound escaped her lady mother. “Darcy is a selfish boy, but he is not a fool. He would never court such disgrace.”
“But he is wilful, Mama. How shall I ever manage him? He will be sure to make my life a misery if he does not get his way.”
“Never mind that. Even Darcy can be made to know what is best; you shall see. I depend on you to do your duty, and I shall see to it that he does his.”
Anne shuddered in distaste but said nothing.
“What is this?” her sharp-eyed mother remonstrated. “A man knows when a woman does not welcome him, Anne. You would do well to remember my directions. It is not as if Darcy’s person is objectionable! Many men have less than half his attributes.”
“That is just it, Mama. He is… rather large and strong. I should have preferred a more gentle-looking sort.”
“Let me hear no more of this! I know your preferences, but it will not do! Think you that sort could make a proper husband?” The lady sneered in disgust. “Darcy will correct the errors in your proclivities.”
“But he is hardly courteous! He has never once paid me a real compliment, other than what was expected of a cousin, and from what our cousin Richard has said— ”
“Rubbish! You should not listen to a soldier’s account of a gentleman, Anne. Men have their sport, of course, but Darcy has been trained from his infancy to conduct himself properly in decent society. He will treat you as the daughter of a knight and a peeress deserves.”
“Even when he learns… you know?” Anne whispered.
Lady Catherine’s eyes flickered in rage, and her lip curled over clenched teeth. “He will have no choice,” she hissed, “and we will not speak of this again!”
Anne subsided, toying with the lace of her shawl. “I only hope he does not make too much of a scene when he returns.” Then she shivered and drew the shawl more tightly around her shoulders.
“My dear, have you taken a chill?” Lady Catherine demanded in alarm. She cast about, and spying the shoulder of the footman standing at the door, summoned, “Here, you! Send for more wood for the fire, and have another blanket brought!”
“Mother,” Anne protested, “It is August!”
“It is the end of August, and there is a pronounced nip in the air in the mornings. Would you risk your health on the very day of your wedding?”
“ Today? ”
“Of course, today! Why do you think I sent for Collins? The license is prepared, the parson awaits my call, and I would see the matter settled at once. We cannot afford delay, and I would have Darcy’s word sworn the moment he returns to the house.”
Anne sighed and surrendered to the arrival of a maid with a new blanket for her. A footman stoked the coals back into a roaring blaze, and her mother appeared satisfied. A moment later, another servant appeared and bowed his obeisance, waiting for permission to speak.
Lady Catherine appraised him with interest. “Wilson, have you something to report?”
Darcy’s valet placed his hands behind his back and straightened his shoulders. “Yes, My Lady. The washerwoman who tends to some of Mr Darcy’s linens received word from a kitchen boy, who was told by—”
“Never mind the chain of hands the message has passed through. What word do you bring of Darcy?”
“Mr Darcy was seen calling on the Earl of Matlock, My Lady.”
The lady scoffed. “I had word of the same two hours ago! My brother the earl would not have neglected to tell me so much. What I wish to know is where he has gone after that. I thought perhaps he was in the company of Fitzwilliam, but we have seen the colonel since then.”
“Yes, My Lady, I spoke with him myself. I am quite certain that the colonel is doing all he can to assist your ladyship, but after hearing that Mr Darcy had been calling upon the earl, I believe I may have discerned what he might be about next if your ladyship wishes—”
“If I wish! Out with it, man. Where would my nephew have gone?”
“I believe he has gone to purchase a horse.”
Lady Catherine’s eyes bulged. “A horse? ”
“Or rather a matched pair. I have heard him recently to lament that his bays were looking rather aged this year, and the earl himself even recommended a more fashionable turnout, with the higher heads and steps which are so much in favour now.”
The lady was still glaring in astonishment. “A pair of carriage horses? When he has abandoned Anne… Mr Wilson, I believe you have taken leave of your senses!”
“Not so, Mama,” Anne interjected. “Fitzwilliam remembers how well I like a drive behind fine horses. You know I do not care for walking out. What a capital notion!”
“Indeed!” Wilson nodded vigorously. “Miss de Bourgh speaks well, for I have good reason to believe the master has gone to procure a gift for his bride. No doubt the earl recommended it, and Mr Darcy set about it without delay. ”
“Preposterous! Mr Wilson, I am of a mind to dismiss you at once. It is clear to me that you possess no true information and are grasping at whatever notion strikes your fancy.”
“I most humbly beg your ladyship’s pardon,” Wilson bowed from the waist. “However, it would not be out of character for Mr Darcy. Only a month ago, when he wished to deeply apologise to Miss Darcy for some transgression—it was not my business to know the nature of the affair—he set out without a word and was away the whole of the day. When he returned, he presented Miss Darcy with a new pianoforte, as well as a new phaeton which was to be taken directly to Pemberley for her exclusive use. She forgave him most graciously for whatever his infraction against her goodness might have been.”
“I am sure you are right, Mr Wilson!” Anne seconded with feeling. “Why, now that I remember properly, he did ask me last evening just before dinner if I did not wish to go driving in Hyde Park while the weather was still fine. It would be just his way to do his penance by the purchase of some elaborate gift. Mama, you do remember how he had that beautiful new rug sent from India after that summer when he and Richard bled all over your old one? I think they had been shooting and one of them fell down an embankment and nearly killed himself on a stick… I forget now which, but I do remember how put out you were with them for the blood.”
“It was Fitzwilliam,” the lady pronounced crisply. “Although Darcy was covered with nearly as much blood from carrying him. Mr Wilson, I can hardly credit this notion that he has gone now to purchase horses for Anne. After he has been away half the night and the whole of the morning, to excuse him now by the assumption of generous motives is sheer lunacy! If he wishes to honour his bride, he ought to be here in person to do so.”
“I am quite certain he will be soon,” Wilson bowed again. “Mr Darcy is a judicious sort, and no doubt since he was in the company of some friend since last evening, they have been detained for various reasons. I am sure they are making a properly thorough search for just the right pair to suit Miss de Bourgh. Your ladyship might consider sending word round to the stables to make ready for the new horses, if Mr Darcy has not already done so. I would be happy to carry word to the head groom myself.”
Lady Catherine made another guttural noise, eloquently expressing her scepticism. “Go then, if it suits you, but I grow impatient. If this ‘friend’ knows what is good for Darcy, he will cease to importune my nephew and either send word or return him here forthwith!”