Page 42

On presenting himself at Carlton House, Darcy was pleased to be taken to a small study with only the Prince Regent and a few of his closest advisors. He had expected to be paraded in front of a large audience as the new Earl, and was grateful for the less public nature of this first meeting.After formal greetings and a short interview were concluded, the Regent dismissed those attending. When they were alone he looked at Darcy solemnly.

“I truly am sorry for your loss, Darcy. Your uncle was a fine gentleman and a good ally most of the time. I only met Colonel Fitzwilliam once many years, but I have read many reports on him since his father’s death when I expected him to be where you now stand. All of them good of course, if you exclude the occasional episode of him taking a prank too far.” He said with a laugh.

“Thank you. Richard did have a habit of going all in, even on the more foolish endeavors.”

“As you only wear the armband, I take it you will not go into full mourning for him?”

“No. We have decided that since his death occurred before my uncle’s, it would be pointless. We need to move on from this tragedy.”

“We?”

“My sister and cousin, especially Lady Anne, as he was her brother.”

“I see. Good. Yes, well. After that, I hate to jump right into the politics.”

“I expected it would come up.”

“The question is, can I count on you when you take your place in Parliament?”

Darcy shifted uncomfortably. The Regent raised an eyebrow. “Your Highness, you must know I have no interest in politics.”

“I am well aware you avoid politics as much as you have marriage. That, in my opinion, makes you the perfect man in this sordid business. You could have stood for parliament in the Commons and won. Easily from what I am told. I know you did not seek power, but as it is, fate has placed it on you.

You do not need the money and do not appear to be a man of greed, so you will not be selling your vote. While you are expanding your fortune with prudent measures, you also give generously. The only mal comment I have heard about you is that you are too reserved, and since it came from Brummell, it can be disregarded. Quite frankly, Darcy, the only way out of this for you is to let the title go extinct.”

“I had considered that option but could not do that to my mother’s memory.”

“Then it is settled,” the Regent said with a wide smile.

Darcy nodded. “So you know upfront, I will only promise to do what I deem best.”

“Good. Shall we move on to the minor triviality of your elevation?”

“What would that be, Sir?”

“Your blasted name, Darcy. Your Christian name. It was most inconvenient of your parents to give you that name.”

“It was meant to be a tribute to my mother’s family.”

“William would have done perfectly well, and all would have understood. They have made it most inconvenient.”

“I do not know what to say. They never expected me to be in this position.”

“That is not the point. What would you say to issuing new Letters Patent? It would be best to get it over with before you ruffle any feathers in parliament. What would you say to being Earl of Pemberley?”

“I do not want my current lands incorporated into the earldom. It would deprive any other children I might have of an inheritance.”

The Regent sighed and shook his head slightly. “I shall take that answer for now, but it will come up again,” he replied with a clap of his hands, which he then rubbed together. “Good, now that the tedious business of government is settled. It brings me to the next item of business. To put it bluntly, you need to find a wife. The news of your elevation is already swirling. The old matrons are chomping at the bits to see their daughters becoming the next countess. You are a lucky man, Darcy. The noble families are primping their eligible daughters for your perusal.”

“Yes, I am well aware they are circling. A mound of invitations awaited my attention the day after I arrived in town.”

“I know you have been studiously avoiding marriage, but it is high time you stopped running and succumbed to the natural order of things, my boy. Especially if you want those other children to have Pemberley.”

“Then it should please Your Highness that I have found the woman I would like as my wife.”

A look of shock briefly came over the Regent’s countenance, but he recovered with practiced ease.

“Please do not tell me you have not finally submitted to your aunt’s insistence on her daughter. You will never produce an heir if what I have heard about her sickly nature is true. If you accept the title to save the family domain, you would not want it to become extinct on that account.”

Darcy shook his head. “No. I would have been married years ago if Anne and I had an understanding. Although I am sure my aunt is plotting at this very moment on how to accomplish her goal.”

“A frightful woman.” The Regent shuddered. “I am profoundly happy she no longer comes to court.”

Darcy shrugged. He agreed but did not want to acknowledge it. His yearly visits to Rosings were taxing all around. While he had some fondness for his aunt, he preferred to be near her as little as possible. His yearly visit was to review her books and ensure her estate was in good repair. It was one of her oddities to involve herself in the smallest of problems of the community around her, but thought it was beneath her to look after the running of her estate.

“Is it Lord Spencer’s daughter? She is incomparable. You spent a good amount of time with her during last year’s season. The Beau Monde had expected a wedding by the end of the year. I lost money on that bet.”

“I am sorry to hear about your loss, but we found we did not suit.”

“I would have been a hundred pounds richer if you had,” he grumbled. “Now come on, man, tell me. Who is the lucky lady that has caught your eye? Or more than your eye if you are going to marry her.” He said with a chuckle and a wink.

“You would not know her. She is from a small estate in the country.”

“Good god, man, have you…” he stopped and scrutinized Darcy. “No, I expect not unless you have made a complete turnabout from your reputation, and I doubt that very much.” He clapped his hands and smiled. “When will we see this announcement in the papers? I cannot wait to hear the reaction of the ton. I can think of a score of mothers that will be caterwauling from the rooftops,” he said with a mischievous grin.

“That is still up in the air as she has yet to agree.”

The Regent stared at him in surprise and shock. This time, he did not recover with ease, as his answer was so unexpected.

“Not agreed?”

Darcy let out a long sigh. “She turned me down the first time I suggested marriage.”

“If she turned you down, I must meet this woman. Wait a second, suggested? You suggested she should marry?” he said with a hearty laugh, “Darcy, old boy, you have much to learn about dealing with the fairer sex.”

“Yes, you see,” he said hesitantly. “It is rather complicated as we were not courting and barely know each other.”

The Regent held up his hand to stop Darcy. “Hold on there. This sounds like it will be a story where a glass of brandy or two is needed.”

It was too early for Darcy, but one did not deny the Prince Regent when he suggested a drink. As a dutiful subject, he went to the side table and poured two, one with half the amount of the other. Darcy took a small sip before setting his glass down and beginning his tale. The Regent did not interrupt with questions, as he was known to do, but occasionally uttered a single word. The most common being “interesting.”

Darcy took another sip as the Regent mulled over what he had been told.

“I do not believe I have ever heard of a Bingley, let alone met one. Should I have?”

“No, his father made their fortune in the wool trade, and he inherited a great sum but with no estate.”

“Then perhaps I should meet him. Is he a gambling man?”

“His only vice is falling in and out of love with those ladies with fair skin and golden hair.”

The Prince laughed. “That is a shame. About not being a gambling man, not falling in love. What man can resist falling for a pretty face? Other than you until now.”

“We shall see what happens.”

“Mark my words, Darcy. This lady you have found will be the talk of the ton once they discover she has rejected you. They will consider it a far greater sin than what happened.”

“There was nothing…”

“Yes, yes,” the Regent replied, waving his hand as if he did not believe the protest of innocence. “You know as well as I do nothing that is said will be believed. People love to gossip, especially regarding indiscretion, truth or not.”

“No doubt.”

“Perhaps I could solve your problem,” he replied, holding out his empty glass. Darcy looked at him skeptically as he took the glass to refill it. “If her father is unwilling to make her, a word from me might do the trick.”

“I fear that may make her more adamant.”

“Perhaps I should meet this lady of yours. She sounds like a woman I should know if she is willing to reject you and not heed my command.”

Darcy handed him the refilled glass. “Bingley is having a ball later this week if you are so inclined,” he said in jest.

“Now that would be the talk of the ton. If I happened to go to a tradesman’s ball in the country, fortune or not. Although your little secret will surely become known.”

“I did not mean…”

“I could kill two birds with one stone. Meet your lady and this Bingley fellow.”

“I did not think you would take it seriously.”

“Do you think Bingley would object if I graced his ball?”

“No, it is just that…”

“Good, it is settled. I shall consider attending. How far out in the country is it?”

“An easy two-hour carriage ride. Not far off the Great Northern Road, near a town called Meryton.”

“Meryton, Meryton, that name rings a bell,” he muttered as he looked up at the ornate ceiling in thought. “No matter, it will come to me or not.” He said and gulped down the rest of his drink.

Darcy did not give much stock of him showing up at Netherfield. His official duties and obligations would take precedence over a jaunt into the countryside.

“Well, I think all is settled for now. I believe your investiture ceremony is set for Wednesday, so I will see you then. Before you leave, let my secretary know all the details about this ball. We shall see about getting you a countess,” he said and laughed at the oddity of it.

“Your Highness, I do have one tiny favour to ask.”

“Now I am intrigued. I do not believe you have ever asked anyone for a favour. Let me hear it then.”