Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
ALARMING SUSPICIONS
Richard’s duties at the camp once more began to swallow up his time.
The former recruits had been dispersed to their various units for deployment to the continent or to other places overseas, and a new group of young men appeared, ready for their training.
The sergeant-at-arms was kept busy with these soldiers and had little time to engage with Richard in their accustomed sparring exercises.
Furthermore, Darcy had departed for Pemberley immediately upon witnessing the wedding of Lydia to George Wickham, leaving little excuse for Richard to sojourn to London. All news of Colonel Barrow had, therefore, to be received through Emily’s frequent letters.
At first, the news was grim. Her father was exceedingly frail, and she despaired of seeing him live to the end of the day, but as the days and weeks passed, he grew stronger.
Dr Jacobi expressed his cautious optimism for the man’s eventual recovery, and Emily’s tone grew lighter.
This was welcome news, but it also did not give Richard any pressing reason to travel to London, and thus he spent much of the next month at the camp.
He was surprised, therefore, when one of the letters upon his desk one morning bore his cousin’s familiar handwriting.
Richard,
I shall be in Town for a day or two next week.
I have spoken at length with Bingley, who has decided to return to Netherfield in Hertfordshire to hunt.
I believe he wishes to renew his acquaintance with Miss Jane Bennet—Miss Elizabeth’s sister—and to ascertain whether that lady regards him with any favour.
He is there now. I shall join him by the 26th or 27th.
If you can join me at my house on Thursday or Friday next, I shall be pleased to see you.
Yours, etc,
FW
The timing was inconvenient, but the opportunity to return to London was too attractive to pass up, and on the evening of the following Thursday, as the sun touched the horizon, the carriage rolled to a stop before Darcy’s town house.
“What news?” Richard greeted his cousin as he grabbed his roll from the carriage seat beside him. Darcy was standing at the steps to his house, a quiet smile upon his face.
“Georgiana sends her love. She was well when I left her two days ago at Pemberley, and eager to play as much as possible upon her new pianoforte. Mrs Annesley has undertaken a new course in water colours as well… but that is not what you wish to know!”
“No, indeed! I am, of course, all eager to hear of Georgie’s ventures, but I need to know about Bingley! I thought he had quite given up Netherfield. What happened to make him return?”
“Come in. Franks will take up your bag.”
Richard sent the carriage off to the stables at the War Office’s buildings and followed his cousin into the house.
As he poured a drink for each of them, Darcy continued.
“Bingley will tell you he wishes to take advantage of the hunting in Hertfordshire, but he has returned to see if Miss Bennet still returns his affections. I have never seen him so besotted with a lady. I thought, at first, that she did not have any particular liking for him, but I have come to change my mind. I now believe she likes him—or liked him, at any rate—quite well indeed.”
“And if her eye is favourable?”
“Then I believe he will offer for her.” That same odd look that had haunted him the previous spring stole once more over Darcy’s face.
“You still love Miss Elizabeth.” It was not a question.
“This is why I am joining him. If I hear you repeat a word of this, I will disavow every syllable and refuse you further access to my cellars. But I need to see… I need to know if Miss Elizabeth will allow me any hope.”
“Does she know of your efforts with respect to her sister Lydia?”
Darcy shook his head. “No. And I beg you never to tell her. I do not wish her to feel a sense of obligation to me. If she is going to alter her feelings, to accept my suit, it must be out of genuine affection and not gratitude. Richard, I have spent all my life avoiding people who put claims upon my friendship solely because of my wealth. She is not one of those, having rejected me once, but I have never known if I am liked purely for myself. This is the one time I shall know—I hope—that any affection is freely offered. Please allow me this!”
“Yes, yes! Of course!” He took a sip. “I would not break your confidence for the world.
Now a dire thought occurred to Richard. Had he altered his own hopes of happiness by his actions around Colonel Barrow and Dr. Jacobi? Would Emily, perchance, accept his offer out of gratitude for his procurement of the physician’s services and his assumption of the costs?
But no! He could not have done anything other.
He had to act, and quickly, for the colonel’s life depended on it.
And it was likewise true. The Barrows now had to be most careful of their small income.
Half-pay, even for a colonel, was no great fortune; indeed, for a man with dependants, it was barely enough to keep a roof over their heads and decent food in their bellies.
The doctor’s fees, and those of the attendant now helping with the stricken colonel, were far beyond their means.
And Richard had money. Not a great deal of it, but more than enough.
He lived in the camp, and when in town he stayed with his cousin.
He had few claims on his purse and had only himself to support.
And it was further true that he had enough of a modest fortune set aside that he would not miss these expenses.
Miss Bennet had the right of it when she spoke in Kent, all those months ago: An earl’s son would know very little of poverty or deprivation. He was chastened.
“What is bothering you?” Darcy asked over his glass. “All of a sudden you have a case of the blue devils.”
Richard sighed. “Nothing of any real import. I wished to be of use to the Barrows, but now I see I have acted so as to procure their gratitude. And, like you, that is not my desire.”
Darcy put his glass down on a small table at his side and turned to look directly at his cousin.
“Do not base your behaviour on mine. We travel different paths and encounter different people along our ways. You did what you needed to do. The Barrows do not seem the sort to base their entire opinion of you on a single gesture. They all,” he stressed the word, “liked you more than well enough beforehand. This will only secure their sentiments. It will not change them.”
Darcy could be perceptive at times.
Richard remained in London for two days after Darcy’s departure.
He was a frequent enough guest at Darcy House that the staff accepted his presence even when their master was away.
He was due back at the camp on Monday morning, but this allowed him all of Saturday and Sunday to look in on the Barrows.
The colonel was much improved from when last Richard had seen him, although he was still extremely ill and weak.
All the same, Emily was no longer so afraid for his life as to deny herself a walk with her friend.
Neither wishing to wander too far from the house, in case they were wanted, they returned to the small square near the Barrows’ abode.
“I find myself having to alter my plans.” Emily retied her bonnet under her chin.
“I had hoped to set up my own household, but now that seems impossible.” The day was sultry and not too sunny, but the air shimmered with damp heat.
“I have to look after my parents. Between Father’s half-pay and the interest from my small savings, we will be able to manage well enough if we are prudent. ”
This was something that had been bothering Richard. He had finally found Emily. He could not bear to lose her again. “Where will you go? Will you stay in London? Your sister…”
She shook her head, and he watched the ribbons under her chin wave in the languid heat.
“No. Margaret has no room for three relations. If it were only Mother… But it seems that Father will live, thank the Lord. She cannot take both in. And certainly not me as well. Further, I think we need to remove from London. The city air cannot be good for Father’s health. ”
“Your uncle? He is in Bedfordshire, am I correct? He is a baronet; surely he has room for three worthy relations.”
She made a noise somewhere between a laugh and a snort.
“No indeed! My uncle is a good and kind man, but his wife—” She left the sentence unfinished.
“I could not live with her, and she certainly could not live with me. She and Mother would tear each other apart.” Richard could not imagine the kind and gracious Mrs Barrow being at odds with anybody, but then he thought of his aunt Catherine.
It would take a saint to live in peace with her, no matter how tranquil her disposition.
Emily spoke on. “I believe the reason my uncle gave me so generous a gift when we returned to England was precisely to allow me my independence, so I would not knock at his door! Again, if it were only Mother…”
“Then you need some accommodation, in the fresh country air, for you and your parents.”
She was silent for a moment, then looked at him meaningfully. “Our present landlord informs me that our rent has been paid to the end of the year. I suppose I ought to thank you for that.”
“It was well-meant!” He prayed she was not offended by his actions.
“I am not upset. I should be, but I cannot afford that luxury. Instead, I am grateful. I am humbled. And it is more appreciated than you can realise. Mother has enough to worry her now. Knowing that she is secure for the time being is a great relief. Your thoughtfulness is not unnoticed.”
There were a few more moments of silence.
“With your leave, I shall speak to my cousin Darcy. He may know of a suitable place in or near his estate for you. I, too, shall think on it.”