Chapter Eighteen #2
“Well… she loves to dance and is kind.” Charles’s voice drifted off. “She looks lovely in the shade of light blue; the color brings out her eyes.”
“You misunderstood. Tell me something of substance.”
“I… I…” Bingley floundered. “I have not seen her in months.”
“And whose fault is that?” Richard held up his hand to forestall Bingley from answering.
“Then I will tell you some things. Were you aware she has an old blanket tucked in her memory chest which had been wrapped around a puppy she tried to save when she was eleven? For three weeks she nursed the poor thing, only to watch the wretched animal succumb to its injuries. She kept the blanket as a reminder that the physical things we treasure are temporary.” Richard slid a glance at Darcy before he spoke again.
“At the age of fifteen, the year she came out, she and Elizabeth wrote a manifest of love, which is why they are adamant about marrying only for love and nothing else. She is allergic to mushrooms, and tears glisten on the tips of her eyelashes at the sight of a perfect sunrise. She loves her family with a fierceness which, frankly, surprises me, yet she still sees the good in people. Even those who try to hurt her. Did you know she cried when Mr. Bennet made her show Darcy the letter your sister wrote?”
“He what? She did?”
“Yes, would you like to know why?”
Bingley could only nod his assent.
“She worried your sister’s words would damage our friendship,” Darcy cut in before Richard could speak. “Not once did she mention the hurt your sister’s words did to her heart and soul.”
How had he not seen her goodness for himself? Even now, he was humbled by her generous spirit. Richard would do well to marry her.
“You and I will speak later of how you know Jane cries at the sight of a perfect sunrise,” Darcy said in a low voice.
A dull red crept up Richard’s neck and he nodded in agreement.
“I do not know what to do, Darcy. I followed your lead after the ball.” Bingley said, oblivious to the undercurrents flowing around the two cousins.
“If it is any consolation, Charles, I am extremely sorry for my behavior. At the time my anger was the only thing feeding my soul and I did not care who got hurt in the wake of it.”
“Darcy, you take too much on yourself. No one forced Bingley to leave Miss Bennet behind. He has to accept the consequences of his actions, just like you have had to accept yours,” Richard said, his tone exasperated.
Bingley sat, elbow on the arm of the chair, his chin cupped in the palm of his hand.
Now and then he would release a great sigh.
Richard, with a slight tilt of his head toward the younger man, gave Darcy a look that he understood immediately.
It was a, what do we do now? kind of look.
He had no answer and replied with a slight shrug of his shoulders.
Not too many minutes had passed when Bingley heaved another of his heartfelt sighs and then rose to his feet. Darcy and Richard stood as well.
“I have a meeting with my solicitor this afternoon, so I must not tarry any longer.” Bingley straightened his waistcoat. “Shall I see you gentlemen at the theater later this week, or perchance our club?”
“Most assuredly at the theater. Elizabeth is looking forward to the evening. I cannot speak for Richard, but I usually attend my club on Tuesdays, so if you are there at the same time, let us enjoy a drink together.”
Away from your sister, Darcy did not add.
“I would like that, Darcy.”
Bingley gave them each a polite nod of the head.
They watched Bingley leave, shoulders sloped, having had his hopes dashed, and Darcy wondered if his friend would broach the subject of the letter with Miss Bingley, and even if he did, would it make a difference in how his sister behaved around Elizabeth and her family?
Thinking of his extended family, Darcy needed to have an uncomfortable conversation with Richard.
“Now, about that sunrise,” Darcy said in a voice that brooked no prevarication from his cousin after they had returned to the library.
“I may, or may not, have traveled to Meryton a few times after Christmas, and may, or may not, have met with Miss Bennet on Mount Oakham to welcome the day.”
“Richard, what if you had been seen?”
“Very likely we would be married. I should have made a lot of noise and alerted the neighbors. I would be a happy man if someone had discovered us.”
“Be glad that did not happen. I do not think her family could survive another scandalous marriage.”
“The Bennets are stronger than you think, cousin.”
“I am aware, but why visit trouble when you can court the woman honestly.”
“How poetic, Darcy. Having a wife has been good for you.”
“Having Elizabeth as my wife has been good for me.”
“She was magnificent last night, eh?”
“I thought she was going to eviscerate Caroline, right before our eyes.”
“Miss Bingley is lucky she managed to escape with her turban intact. I thought my mother was formidable but having seen Mrs. Darcy in action…” Richard gave a fake shudder. “The Mater is quite taken with your wife. The two of them together will be unstoppable.”
“Miss Bennet was no wilting flower. She held her own. She was well within her right to cut Miss Bingley directly, yet she stayed.”
“I am intrigued by the dynamic between Miss Bennet and her cousin.”
“Her father once told me they were two sides of the same coin. He was not wrong.”
“Just as we are, Darcy. I am the laughter and light, you are dark, brooding, foreboding?”
“I got the picture, Richard. No need to beat a dead horse.”
“Twice now, you have said that you love Elizabeth in front of others alongside your wife.” Richard turned his astute gaze upon him. “Has she commented on this?”
“As you said earlier, not that it is any of your business, we are continuing in the process of becoming more comfortable with each other. I know she does not return my feelings, yet there has been a thaw in her manner. We are growing a friendship.”
“How appropriate as spring is but a few months away.” Richard picked up his riding gloves and slapped them against his thigh. “Can we now go for a ride before the park becomes too congested?”
“Yes, although it will be considerably shortened in length as I would like to join my wife for breakfast.”
“I also wish to return for breakfast and gaze upon the lovely Jane Bennet, dreaming of when she will grace my table alone.”
“You will behave cousin, or I will call in reinforcements.”
“Reinforcements? Who?”
“Ashton.”
“You would not dare!”
“One misstep in your courtship and your brother will descend upon this house like the plague.”
“I do not want the viscount anywhere near Jane. If he so much as catches a glimpse of her beauty he will envision the family jewels around her throat and the Viscountess Ashton’s tiara pinned atop her golden curls.”
“You must admit, the tiara is much coveted and would look good on my sister by marriage.”
“Do not even voice that suggestion in case it takes root and begins to grow,” Richard said and glowered in his direction. “Let us ride before anyone else interrupts us.”