The Devious Schemes Collection (The Regency Retelling Anthologies #1)

Prologue

Fitzwilliam Darcy was having a terrible day.

He arrived at his house in Belgrave Square weary from his travels, and more weary from the events of the previous evening.

He muttered under his breath, cursing Bingley, balls, and every Bennet in the land as he strode into the house—he was not expecting to encounter his sister and their cousin in the drawing room, laughing and chatting by the fire.

“Brother!” Georgiana sprang up and ran toward him, her arms outstretched. He embraced her warmly, though his distemper could not be shaken so easily. She withdrew, looking up at him with a wary gaze. “I hope you do not mind that we have come from Matlock House to greet you.”

“I am astonished that you knew I was coming at all—I meant to visit you tomorrow, Gigi, once I had….” His voice trailed off. Once he had drank away his disappointment, in both his hopes for his friend and his private wishes for his own heart.

“Miss Bingley sent an express yesterday,” Georgiana explained.

“Was Hertfordshire really so ghastly?” Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam sipped at a glass of the fine brandy which he routinely claimed was his primary reason for visiting his favorite cousin in London.

Then he lifted a letter from the end table and made a great show of perusing it.

“Your devoted admirer suggests the entire neighborhood is completely barbaric, and even the society of the local gentry is insupportable. Tell me, has Bingley escaped the clutches of his latest angel?”

Darcy sank onto the sofa, with Georgiana still lingering at his side.

He sighed as Richard smirked and handed him the letter.

It contained just the sort of vitriol he might expect from Caroline Bingley, though he bristled at her self-assurance, for she assumed he would do her bidding in influencing Bingley against the match.

“I will confess, I was surprised that Bingley did not seek my counsel before proposing to Miss Bennet at the ball last night.”

Richard raised his eyebrows. “Astonishing indeed. So the Bingleys have not accompanied you back to London?”

“They are receiving the well-wishes of Miss Bennet’s relations at Netherfield—or at least they were, when I departed,” Darcy said, attempting to regulate his disappointment in this outcome.

Georgiana frowned. “Is she truly a fortune hunter? You described her sister as very charming and agreeable.”

Before Darcy could answer, Richard threw his head back and guffawed.

“The idea of Miss Bingley, of all people, calling somebody a fortune hunter! If this Miss Jane Bennet were really such a creature, it would be Darcy now plagued by the felicitations of ‘Hertfordshire’s most tiresome social climbers’ as Miss Bingley so endearingly refers to her future relations.

Of course, Miss Bennet may have decided that though Darcy here is richer than his friend, Bingley’s superior affability was worth glimpsing Pemberley only as a frequent visitor rather than mistress of the house. ”

Richard took another sip of his brandy and then asked Georgiana, “But what is this about Miss Bennet’s sister? Surely Darcy has not actually praised a young lady, for I know it is an activity he assiduously avoids.”

Georgiana furrowed her brow in confusion.

“He has said that Miss Elizabeth Bennet is generally well-liked in Meryton, that she plays and sings prettily, is a great reader, and is lively and witty in conversation. You enjoyed her company while the elder Miss Bennet was ill at Netherfield—is that not so, Will?”

Once again Darcy was cut off by the effusive japery of his cousin. “Ha! Darcy is in love! Excellent! Oh, I do hope it vexes you terribly, Darcy—how perfect it would be if she despised you, as I am sure the lady must do if you truly disapprove of her sister’s match with your friend.”

Georgiana gasped. “Oh! I had not thought of that! Will? Do you really admire one sister and disapprove of the other? Such inconsistency is not in your nature, I am sure of it—you are too good!”

His companions finally seemed content to allow him to speak, but Darcy knew not what to say as they stared expectantly at him, and he resented coming home to such an inquisition when he had wanted only to ruminate over the very conundrum they were quizzing him about.

“Jane and Elizabeth Bennet are as different from one another as Charles and Caroline Bingley,” he protested.

“So Miss Bennet is a fortune hunter?” Georgiana looked crestfallen. “Poor Mr. Bingley!”

“That is not exactly what I meant,” Darcy said.

“It would be more truthful to say that it is their mother whose motives are mercenary. Miss Bennet does not behave as Miss Bingley does—she is far more reserved, and shows Bingley only the same quiet civility she bestows on everybody. I shall admit her serenity and reserve seem to be as sincere as her kindness, though I have no doubt she would wed the very devil if instructed to do so by her mother.”

“And Miss Elizabeth? She is not kind and obliging? You said….”

Darcy waved off his sister’s question. “She is very kind. I was impressed by the affection she showed her elder sister, walking three miles to Netherfield to tend to her when Miss Bennet conveniently fell ill after her mother sent her on horseback just before it rained.” Darcy paused to frown at the mortification he had felt on Miss Bennet’s behalf, for it was evident that she had not wanted to put herself forward in such a way. But she had done it.

Inevitably, his thoughts drifted back to Elizabeth, and he felt his lips twitching into a smile.

“Obliging she is not,” he said, a note of pride seeping into his voice.

“Miss Elizabeth knows her own mind well enough, which makes for lively debates; even when she is thoroughly wrong, she is confident and sportive. Her mother could never command her into any great folly, though she is willful enough to get there on her own, and too stubborn to be dissuaded from her own nonsense when she does not wish it.”

Darcy scowled, thinking of his conversation with Elizabeth at the ball.

She had defended Wickham because he flattered her vanity, and no doubt the villain had spun his tale of woe for her, too.

If she did not despise him already, she surely would if she were to learn that he had intended to dissuade Bingley from offering for Jane Bennet.

Which was, his friend had confided that morning, exactly why he had told nobody of his intentions.

As Darcy brooded, Richard crossed the room to refill his glass of brandy, and made a gesture indicating he would pour one for Darcy, too, but Darcy shook his head; he made a habit to never drink in his sister’s presence.

Richard grinned as he returned to his seat.

“This Miss Elizabeth sounds utterly delightful. If she had any fortune, I would demand you introduce me, and woo her myself, since you have no such skills, and could never hope to win her heart, anyhow.”

Darcy grimaced at the affront, envy stirring in his chest as he considered how well Elizabeth would like his cousin.

Georgiana gasped and swatted at Richard. “How can you say such a thing?”

“Very easily,” Richard replied. “Your brother says Miss Elizabeth will not be led by her pernicious mother, which is certainly a point in her favor, and yet it may be better for your brother if she was influenced by his fortune, for surely his disapproval of a most beloved sister must sink him in her esteem.”

“As it happens, I have no intention of attempting to win her heart,” Darcy snapped. “Her family is entirely unsuitable.”

“Whilst our own is entirely without fault,” Richard drawled.

“I suppose you would not deny yourself the sublime pleasure of pining over her for the rest of your acquaintance—her sister is to wed your dearest friend, therefore you will often be together in company, I should imagine. It would be much better to soak up the scraps of her vivacity from the corner of the room, where you might glare at everyone as you imagine taking the lady in your arms—yes, this would be infinitely preferable to actually having her. Aha! See how he averts his gaze, Gigi? That is as guilty a look as I have ever seen!”

“I am sure, in time, we might meet as indifferent acquaintances,” Darcy said, attempting to affect nonchalance. “I cannot think why you should belabor a subject of so little importance.”

“Masterful deflection indeed, Darcy,” Richard said with a merry hoot. “I am always curious about how you behave amongst strangers, as I generally only observe you in a family setting. And your friendship with Bingley has ever fascinated me.”

“Vexing me has ever fascinated you,” Darcy drawled, but Richard predictably ignored him.

“I am sure I could write a treatise on such incomprehensible duality! Bingley has not your grand estate nor your noble connections, and yet he is ten times as cheerful as you, and clearly does as he pleases. You, on the other hand, have been given everything—men would kill for a fraction of your good fortune in every circumstance, for you are not only rich enough to make me ill in my stomach, you are connected to nobility, your estate is one of the finest in England, you are intelligent and able-bodied, and by all accounts rather handsome. You have more reason to be cheerful and more right to do as you please than Bingley. While I should normally deserve Bedlam for agreeing with Bingley’s sister, in this instance I think he has far more reason to be discerning in his choice of bride—if the Bennets are really so beastly, it will be more of a detriment to Bingley than it ever could be to you.

But perhaps you do not have the same affection for Miss Elizabeth as Bingley has for Jane Bennet. ”