A Duel in Meryton

by Renata McMann

  Darcy would also have welcomed a friendship between Georgiana and either of Bingley’s sisters, but she showed no inclination to become friends with them. In truth, aside from Richard, Darcy had no idea with whom his sister conversed. Mrs. Annesley reported to Darcy that Georgiana spoke with her a little but didn’t confide in her, and that his sister was no longer even talkative with young women with whom she’d attended school. Darcy wasn’t sure if he should describe her as shy or frightened.

  Georgiana hadn’t always been withdrawn. She hadn’t been quiet as a child, or in the years leading up to womanhood. Now, she barely spoke, even to him, and Darcy knew the precise moment of this unwanted change: The incident in Ramsgate with Mr. Wickham.

  On the heels of that thought, Darcy clenched his teeth, put Ramsgate and Wickham from his mind, and endeavored to focus on dinner. Georgiana correctly conversed with Richard for the first portion of the meal, although Richard appeared to be doing most of the talking. Earlier than was proper, but with surprising finesse, she switched to talking with Mr. Hurst, thus turning the table and requiring everyone to change those with whom they spoke. Richard took his cue and began conversing with Mrs. Annesley. Darcy removed his attention from Miss Bingley on his left to Mrs. Hurst on his right.

  Darcy was glad that Georgiana was handling her position as hostess of a formal dinner, but he had wanted this meal to be informal. That aside, she was doing an admirable job, except for turning the table too early. She spoke little, but Mr. Hurst talked to her throughout the meal. From the tidbits Darcy heard, they spoke about bets Mr. Hurst had made. Darcy was surprised Mr. Hurst chose that topic for a conversation with Georgiana, even though he knew Mr. Hurst enjoyed betting.

  Darcy worked to tamp down his disquiet about Mr. Hurst’s choice of topic and concentrate on conversing with Mrs. Hurst. Finally, the meal began to wind down. In the same moment he realized dinner was nearing a close, he also realized he'd been neglecting Mrs. Hurst. He turned to her to rectify that, but she was paying him no attention. Instead, she looked across the table at her brother.

  “Charles, tell us about the neighbors you’ve met in Hertfordshire. You told me many of them called on you there,” Mrs. Hurst said, surprising Darcy by bringing the informality he’d wished for into the meal by speaking with Bingley, who was not only across the table but one seat over.

  “They were very friendly people,” Bingley replied cheerfully. “In fact, I thought I might return soon. You are all invited to join me for a couple of months. I’ve imposed on you long enough, Darcy. I should like to return the hospitality.”

  “All of us?” Darcy asked.

  “Yes. Why not? Unless Miss Darcy is too busy with her studies, that is.”

  Georgiana raised her gaze to cast Darcy a beseeching look.

  “I am certain she can forgo meeting her tutors for a month or two,” Darcy said, ignoring his sister’s silent plea. It would be good for her to mix more in company, probably better than staying in London and only interacting with her masters and Mrs. Annesley. At his agreement, she dropped her gaze once more, but evidenced no other sign of disappointment, which surprised him. Was she so resigned to staying in the background that she didn’t expect him to heed her? He would feel remorse, but he was doing it for her own good.

  “Colonel Fitzwilliam,” Miss Bingley said. “You are invited also.”

  “Certainly,” Bingley said. “There’s always room for you, Colonel.”

  “That’s very kind and, though I’ve only now arrived in London, I shouldn’t mind taking you up on the offer.”

  Darcy turned a surprised look on his cousin. He’d expected Richard to decline. Since taking over Rosings, Richard has been so social as to be troubling. Tucking himself away in Bingley’s somewhat obscure country estate would put an end to that.

  Richard cleared his throat. “I should warn you first, however, that I’ve sold out. I would still be delighted to join you, if you can accept a mere Mr. Fitzwilliam.”

  Miss Bingley turned to him with bright eyes. “Sold out? Why, Mr. Fitzwilliam, does that mean you’re making ready to select a lady for Rosings?”

  Darcy knew Richard well enough to see the slight tightening of muscles about his eyes, though his cheerful expression didn’t otherwise waver. “If the right woman comes my way,” he said. “But it’s daunting to select someone to fill Aunt Catherine’s role. I certainly never feel that I have.”

  “Yes, Rosings is quite the responsibility.” Mrs. Hurst cast a meaningful look at Miss Bingley. “You need someone firm and well versed in running a household. Caroline, how long did you keep house for our father after our mother died?”

  “Oh, several years, as you know,” Miss Bingley replied.

  “Since it seems everyone else has had their fill, could you pass me the ragout, Darcy?” Mr. Hurst asked.

  “What is the estate you’re leasing called again, Charles?” Mrs. Hurst asked as Darcy offered the plate of greens to Mr. Hurst. “You mentioned that it is sizeable?”

  “Netherfield Park. Lovely place, and large, although it doesn’t compare to Pemberley,” Bingley supplied.

  “Why, that’s quite a lot to manage,” Mrs. Hurst said. “Don’t you think so, Caroline?”

  Miss Bingley shook her head. “It doesn’t seem so to me, Louisa. I do believe I could manage an estate three times as large, easily. It’s as if I’ve been born to the task, it comes so naturally.”

  “Yes, you do have a knack,” Mrs. Hurst agreed. “Maybe you were born to it, but you’ve also been very well educated. The perfect combination. Don’t you agree Mr. Darcy, Mr. Fitzwilliam?”

  Richard met Darcy’s gaze, the barest trace of amusement in his eyes. “I cannot help but agree, Mrs. Hurst,” Richard said.

  “Indeed,” Darcy allowed.

  “And that aspic, Mrs. Annesley,” Mr. Hurst said. “Darcy’s cook makes a divine aspic. Best in London. No reason to waste it.” He looked up from his plate. “Bingley, you should hire away Darcy’s cook.”

  “Poach Darcy’s cook?” Bingley shook his head. “A poor friend I’d be.”

  “Agreed,” Darcy said, though the praise pleased him. One of the staff, waiting unobtrusively about the room, would surely repeat Mr. Hurst’s words to Darcy’s cook. He might be required to issue a raise, but that was a small price for a happy cook.

  “Well, I’ll be delighted to see the manor and grounds at your acquisition, Charles, despite the rather remote location,” Mrs. Hurst said. “It must be lovely for riding. Caroline, you’re such an accomplished rider, so you benefit the most from Charles’ choice.”

  Miss Bingley nodded and turned to Georgiana. “Miss Darcy, have you come any further with your riding? We could explore the park together.”

  Georgiana shook her head. Riding had never been her strength. Since Ramsgate, Darcy couldn’t even get her to attempt it.

  A silent moment passed. Darcy’s companions always waited, polite and hopeful, for Georgiana to reply. He appreciated their solicitousness of his sister. He wished she would benefit from the kindness.

  With a fixed smile, Miss Bingley resumed speaking, turning the conversation to their travel plans. In some way that Darcy didn’t quite follow, it was arranged that Georgiana would ride with the Hursts and Bingley, while Mrs. Annesley traveled with Miss Bingley, Darcy and Richard. Normally, Darcy would put an end to such machinations, but Georgiana’s continued refusal to speak to those she’d known for years, to emerge from the shell she’d drawn about herself, irked him. When she didn’t protest, only leveled a glare on him, Darcy let the matter proceed as Bingley’s sisters obviously wished. Perhaps a carriage ride without Darcy, Richard or Mrs. Annesley to speak on her behalf would prove therapeutic to his sister.

  Later, after the Hursts departed with Miss Bingley, and Mrs. Annesley and Georgiana retired for the evening, Richard remained, joining Darcy and Bingley in the back parlor. Darcy poured them each a brandy and settled into his favorite chair, fairly content with the evening. Richard and
Bingley sat as well, completing a small ring about a low table. This being Darcy’s private parlor, there were only armchairs, not sofas.

  Darcy turned to Richard. “Joining us in Hertfordshire is a departure from your recent ways.” And an odd move for a man Darcy knew didn’t wish to encourage Miss Bingley.

  “It certainly pleased Caroline that you’ve agreed to come,” Bingley added, the look he leveled on Richard keen. “Is there anything I should know?”

  Richard took a sip of his drink. “I’m afraid not, much as you’d make a fine brother, Bingley.”

  Bingley leaned back deeper into his chair. “I rather thought not. I mean, you’re always polite, certainly, but I’ve never noted you as anything more.”

  “Why, then?” Darcy asked.

  Richard grimaced. “It’s my onetime companions. All my military friends assume I will entertain them at Rosings. They also assume I will be happy to send carriage after carriage to London to bring them there and that we will enjoy lavish, out of season fare.”

  “Is it really that bad?” Bingley asked.

  Richard nodded. “Worse than you’re imagining, I wager. Take this, and this is only an example, but the wife of my former general wanted me to buy four white horses to carry her around in style. Me. Buy her four white horses.”

  “To bring her to Rosings?” Bingley asked with a frown.

  “No, to bring her everywhere. Four horses, as a gift.” Richard’s tone betrayed his consternation.

  “What did her husband say to that?” Darcy asked. Gifting another man’s wife in so extravagant a way, or generally at all, would be quite the scandal.

  Richard snorted. “The general said that two horses of any color, as long as they matched, would be a good idea.”

  “That’s ridiculous.” Bingley’s tone held mild outrage. “Once my fortune became common knowledge, back when I started at university, I faced a similar barrage of demands, although none quite so outrageous. Worse, they were from false friends, for all my friends there were new. Darcy helped me deal with that.”

  “Yes, Darcy enjoys helping.” Richard turned an assessing look on Darcy.

  “Do you require my help?” Darcy asked Richard, the words more a challenge than an offer. Richard had required Darcy’s help when he first took on Rosings, but that dependence had lasted only a few months.

  Richard’s expression became equal parts amusement and effrontery. “I do not, but I thank you for the offer.” He took another sip of brandy. “No, much as I wanted to please them, I agree with Bingley. They were being ridiculous. Now that I’m no longer in the army, I can be cowardly and run away from them.”

  “Which is why you resigned your commission,” Darcy said.

  “Yes, and that was only the first step.” Richard nodded to Bingley. “Your offer couldn’t have come at a better time. My guests cost me all the funds I had left after administering Aunt Catherine’s will and I haven’t yet received the money from selling out. I’m living in my rooms off what little I had saved. I was about to humble myself and ask Darcy for board.”

  Darcy frowned. How much had Richard spent entertaining? It sounded worse even than Darcy had heard. “What about the quarterly income? And the harvest? Rosings usually produces enough that there’s some left over to sell.”

  Richard held up a staying hand. “Don’t glower at me, Darcy. Rosings had a bountiful harvest, and the quarterly income is all in, but the parsonage was in dire need of repair. There was dry rot that Mr. Grigg hadn’t noticed. I practically had to have the place rebuilt. Given his condition those last few years, I should have thought to check.” He narrowed his eyes at Darcy. “That’s one possibility you didn’t have on that lengthy list of yours.”

  “I apologize. I didn’t consider that.”

  “List?” Bingley chuckled. “Aback when I was at university, Darcy took me aside and gave me a list of all the reasons people might give as to why I should provide them with funds.” His expression became contemplative. “It’s a good list. I still have it.”

  “I should like to see it,” Richard said. “This was a good list as well. My brother, Walter, has an estate, as I think you know?”

  Bingley nodded.

  “I wrote to him about the list,” Richard continued. “He said he wished Darcy had given him one, as several of the things on Darcy’s list have happened to him and he wasn’t prepared. I sent him a copy, and added, parsonage dry rot.”

  Bingley chuckled.

  Richard shook his head, expression contemplative. “Eventually, I suppose, I’ll be grateful I inherited Rosings, but now I feel I’ve less financial security than ever before. It’s difficult to be beholden to so many people. I’d like to purchase a new horse, for example. A fine fast animal, for riding, but instead I fixed the parsonage and invested in the maintenance of the farmstead, because a new horse for me wouldn’t do the people who look to Rosings any good.”

  “You could always put up Lady Catherine’s house in town to be leased,” Darcy said, feeling somewhat responsible for Richard’s circumstance, though the dry rot couldn’t have been predicted. Who could have guessed, from afar, that Mr. Grigg’s condition had deteriorated to the point where he wouldn’t think to maintain his home?

  “Why not?” Richard agreed. “It’s expensive to maintain and I’ve no intention of taking up residence there. That would necessitate enduring and returning social calls, another expense. I don’t need anything fancy.”

  “It should bring some money,” Darcy said, pleased.

  Richard nodded, then looked between Darcy and Bingley. “I have a favor to ask.”

  “What?” Darcy asked.

  “Anything,” Bingley agreed.

  “I know word of me inheriting Rosings is already getting around, but I’d like to stem the tide of gossip as much as possible,” Richard said. “Go ahead and tell people that I’ve sold out because I inherited some property, but don’t tell them how much Rosings is worth. I’ve had husband-hunting women interested in me simply because I was a colonel and the third son of an earl. With Rosings, I won’t know a moment’s peace.”

  Darcy shrugged. “I’ve only discussed your change in circumstance with Bingley and am unlikely to do so with others, but I’m sure word is already out.”

  “And I’ve only discussed it with Darcy and my sisters,” Bingley said. “But Lady Catherine was known, and her death talked of. Everyone was keen to learn who inherited. I’m sure the whole of London is already aware of your change in circumstance.”

  “But it’s only been a season,” Richard protested.

  Bingley grinned. “Welcome to London society, Mr. Fitzwilliam.”

  “I’d draw you up a list of ways to avoid fortune seeking females, but I’ve yet to find a successful means,” Darcy added.

  “Oh, you do alright with your high and mighty Mr. Darcy airs,” Bingley said, grinning.

  “So, the remainder of my life is to be spent running from marriage minded ladies and their determined mamas?” Richard asked.

  “No.” Bingley shook his head. “Some of your time will be spent in Hertfordshire with Darcy and me hunting, riding, and dancing with country misses who have low expectations of capturing a gentleman like us but a divine eagerness to please.”

  Darcy shook his head. “But little in the way of wits or beauty with which to do so.”

  “There are pretty enough girls in Hertfordshire,” Bingley said. “You wait and see.”

  “I doubt there is a single one refined or well-favored enough to tempt me into making an acquaintance that cannot help but be tinged with vulgarity,” Darcy countered.

  “You see?” Bingley said to Richard. “It’s that sort of perfect hauteur that staves off all but the most diligent of fortune hunters.” Bingley cast Darcy a look bright with merriment, then turned back to Richard. “And don’t worry, I’ll be sure to mention to Caroline that Rosings is not yet profitable.”

  “Meaning no offense, but I’d take that as a kindness,” Richard replied. />
  “Would you like me to tell her the same about Pemberley, Darcy?” Bingley asked.

  Darcy shook his head. “I would not have you lie.”

  Bingley shrugged. “As you wish. I doubt she’d have believed me.”

  “We should have an interesting time in Hertfordshire,” Richard said.

  Darcy could only agree.

  Chapter Five

  Bingley must have told his sisters of Richard’s financial hardships, for somehow, despite their earlier plans, Richard ended up riding with the Hursts in Bingley’s carriage. In a further show of expert manipulation, Miss Bingley took Darcy aside and sweetly suggested that she could better draw out Georgiana if Mrs. Annesley remained behind. As Georgiana’s chaperone’s sister was ill and Miss Bingley made a fair point about Georgiana’s reticence, Darcy again permitted her machinations to succeed.

  Thusly, when the time came to depart London, Darcy’s carriage held him, Miss Bingley, Georgiana and Bingley. Darcy didn’t expect Richard’s reprieve to extend too far beyond riding arrangements, for Rosings was an excellent prize even with some initial hardship, but he could appreciate that Miss Bingley wished to pursue the best option available to her. Her unflaggingly mercenary attitude lent her behavior a soothing predictability. Darcy preferred that to lovestruck, emotional women.

  They rumbled through London, the streets filled with wagons bearing goods rather than carriages with the early hour. Georgiana, sharing a seat with Darcy, stared out the window. Across from her, Bingley stifled a yawn.

  Seated opposite Darcy, Miss Bingley narrowed her gaze at her brother. “You were eager to get us on the road this morning. I don’t see why we had to leave so early. It’s only a four-hour trip.”