Chapter 27 Saye Steps In
SAYE STEPS IN
It was merely two days later when a carriage bearing the Matlock coat of arms entered the gate of Netherfield Park.
Darcy was relieved and, along with Bingley, went to the entry hall to receive his sister and Fitzwilliam; to his surprise, it was Saye who came behind Georgiana and her companion Mrs Annesley.
“Well, this is not bad,” Saye said as he strolled into the hall. “Not bad at all. You intend to have this place make a proper gentleman of you, Bingley?”
Bingley, who was simultaneously pleased by the notice and caught off guard, said, “Ah…yes, I just might.”
Darcy observed his sister with concern; she appeared reticent and unsure, very nearly clinging to the wall.
Miss Bingley, who might have fawned over her in other circumstances, was too busy attempting to ingratiate herself with Saye to notice until Bingley urged her to take Georgiana to her bedchamber.
Georgiana allowed herself to be led away with only one last uncertain look at her brother.
Saye always travelled with a retinue, and it fell to Bingley to direct them all where to go and what to do. As he was thus occupied, Darcy turned to his cousin and said, “I rather expected Fitzwilliam.”
“Consider it your lucky day,” Saye replied with a grin. “The Season was too tedious by half.”
Darcy did not believe that for a moment. Never in his life had parties and routs been ‘too tedious by half’, so he merely fixed Saye with a severe look and waited for the truth.
“Sir Frederick had a party,” Saye began and Darcy immediately groaned. Sir Frederick Moore was Saye’s particular friend and well-known for his ill-advised and disorderly gatherings. “Pray do not groan at me so. It was hardly my fault such idiots as Barnstable showed up with laced muttons in tow!”
“Good lord!”
“Naturally I had no idea they were harlots,” Saye protested, pausing to bend and examine the carpet. To Bingley he said, “You will want to replace this with an Aubusson.”
He straightened. “In any case, the whole thing turned bacchanalian, and next you know, it’s all written up in The Times.
His lordship was fit to be tied and decided to send me to Matlock.
” Saye shuddered. “What he thinks I might do to amuse myself in Derbyshire all summer, I cannot venture to guess. Your note could not have arrived in a more timely fashion, and in any case, Fitzwilliam has been making love to Lord Randolph’s daughter—not the one with the strange voice, the other one. ”
“I shall warn you directly,” Darcy said sternly, “the society here is—”
“Savage?”
“Simple. These are people who do not go to town, lack the education and refinement that you in particular—”
“I know that,” Saye replied with a scornful flick of his wrist. “I usually despise that sort, ’tis true, but I have come prepared to be pleased. You will not hear a disgruntled word out of me. It is likely I will be scarce. I understand Miss Lillian Goddard is to come down to Ashworth.”
“Miss Lillian Goddard?”
“Do you know her?”
Darcy pondered that a moment before saying, “I think I was introduced to her at least once. Lately out, yes?”
“Yes, but only because her sister waited to marry until she needed a cane to get down the aisle,” Saye replied. “Miss Goddard is twenty-one and has thirty thousand which I think will do.”
“Will do for what?”
“For the lady who shall become Lady Matlock,” Saye replied. “I believe I am settled on her.”
“How splendid,” Bingley cried out happily. “See if we are not all happily married men by autumn!”
Saye gave him a withering look. “It sounds so disagreeable when you say it that way. As if come September we should all have paunches and lorgnettes, with hair sprouting out of our ears.”
Darcy chuckled at that and, being that Bingley did not seem inclined to do anything but stay in the front hall, gestured towards the stair. “I believe you are to be in the room next to mine. Is that not so, Bingley?”
Bingley agreed, and Darcy assured him that he could see his cousin there and they left him. Saye followed Darcy up the stairs. On the landing, Darcy paused. “Is Georgiana well? She seemed a trifle…anxious.”
“She is more than a trifle anxious.” Saye moved ahead of him but said, over his shoulder, “I may be somewhat to blame for that.”
Darcy groaned. “How?”
“Oh, just by observing that any woman with six or seven sisters was not likely to want another.”
“What? Why would you say such a thing?” Darcy demanded. “Nothing could be further from the truth.”
Saye flicked his hand nonchalantly. “She will forget it all by the time she is down again, I am sure.”