Chapter 7
Darcy
As Darcy let Gulltoppr have his head, racing the long way around a fallow field before heading to the spot where he would meet Elizabeth, Darcy examined his feelings about Richard’s visit.
More than two months ago, Darcy’s best friend and cousin had chased a weeping and angry Elizabeth across a public park, declaring his love for her, and had run away when Darcy reached them.
Later, Darcy had suggested a fencing bout at Angelo’s, since many times in their past the two men had expelled unwanted emotions through physical activity. After Darcy won, however, Richard did not shake the hand Darcy had offered, but instead struck Darcy in the gut.
Richard’s declaration of love to Darcy’s own beloved had been the worse of the two blows.
Of course, since then Richard had apologised and demonstrated his sincerity with his circumspect behaviour. Still, his visit might be quite uncomfortable.
On the other hand…
When Darcy had learnt about Richard’s intentions to visit, he had written an express asking that he bring a particular set of jewels from the Darcy House safe—jewellery Darcy had not thought of when he packed his bags for Hertfordshire.
Darcy looked forward to seeing Elizabeth’s face when she saw the engagement gift.
Actually, he looked forward to seeing Elizabeth’s face at all times! Her brilliant smile, sparkling eyes, and lustrous hair…. As he tied Gulltoppr’s reins to a bush, he saw that beloved face as Elizabeth emerged from the trees and strode towards him.
“Good morning,” they both said simultaneously. Their movements seemed choreographed as each reached for the other in a loving embrace.
Soon they were walking up Oakham Mount, each carrying food and beverages. Darcy spread the quilt and unpacked the picnic—but eating and drinking were delayed by their need to demonstrate their continuing devotion to one another.
Of course, their mutual need was not only a matter of devotion, but of passion, and Elizabeth was as fervent that morning as she had been the morning before. Rather than helping Darcy to maintain relatively safe boundaries, her responsiveness almost destroyed his resolution to be prudent.
Losing himself in their kisses, and in the memory of the dream that had awakened him less than an hour before, Darcy cupped Elizabeth’s breasts.
She gasped out the word “Yes!” as he began to knead them.
He had always admired his beloved’s breasts, but actually touching them through her layers of clothing was far more pleasurable than his dreams had suggested.
Her shawl worked itself loose and fell away, and suddenly there were only two thin layers of cloth between Darcy’s hands and Elizabeth’s skin.
He discovered that her nipples had hardened at his touch, and he played with them, noting which kinds of manipulation earned the most impassioned responses.
When they finally broke apart, hearts racing and breaths stuttering, Darcy almost apologised, as he always did when he added something new to their daily devotionals; however, Elizabeth put a finger to his lips.
She said, “Do not dare to say you are sorry to bring me so much pleasure, Fitzwilliam Darcy.”
He nodded and remained silent. When he felt that their bodies had calmed enough, he offered her a peach and a warm roll, and then he began to eat as well.
“So…you talked to Georgiana last night,” Elizabeth prompted.
“I did. My sister seemed very open as she said that she was well. She had been upset about something minor, she claimed, but our visit to Longbourn made her put the minor irritant in perspective. Overall, she assured me that she was happy.”
“And did you tell her what had been concerning you?”
“Oh.” He was embarrassed; he had forgotten Elizabeth’s advice to confide in his sister.
“You did not!” Elizabeth guessed “May I ask why not?”
“I was relieved that whatever had upset Georgie was of no further concern, and I saw no reason to worry her about something else.”
“By which you mean that you forgot to address the topic.”
“Yes, I did forget. My apologies.”
“Hmm…I suppose I will take my pound of flesh someday. And…in other news, Richard arrives today.”
Darcy nodded. “Yes, he does. How do you feel about seeing him this evening?”
“I suppose I will be well. But if Miss Bingley attempts to have me sit far from you and next to him, I expect you to stand up for me and arrange it otherwise.”
“Of course.” Darcy briefly wondered if he should ask the hostess ahead of time to make certain that Elizabeth would not be placed next to Richard, but he knew that Miss Bingley would seize upon the unusual request as a reason to dig for information, and she would make every possible effort to know all.
It would be better not to call Miss Bingley’s attention to anything amiss within his family.
“I expect my cousin around noon, and I will address the stolen-ring affair directly after luncheon. I imagine you will want to arrive at three in the afternoon?
“Should I give you more time to strategise and investigate the theft?”
“I do not think so. I feel that, if you arrived at two, as Bingley suggested, I would still be conferencing privately with Richard. But I would love to see you at three.”
“Then that is when I shall come,” she promised. “Until then, remember that I love you.”
“And I love you so very dearly.”
Richard arrived at a quarter until noon, and Darcy warmly welcomed him. He noticed that his cousin seemed to relax when Darcy drew him into a back-slapping hug. It was likely that Richard had worried that he might be greeted with less affection than usual.
While hugging, Darcy murmured into his cousin’s ear, “I need to consult with you about something that requires confidentiality. Not to worry—it has nothing to do with Elizabeth, nor either of us. So after lunch, when I make a move to speak alone, help me make it so.”
“I will,” Richard promised. “By the way, here is the last favour I did for you; I should likely finalise this one before conferring yet another.” He laughed as Darcy blushed, and he brought out from his pocket a box covered in dark green velvet and a velvet jewellery bag.
“Thank you, Richard.”
Richard decided to refresh himself right away, and Darcy went upstairs with him to lock away the jewellery Richard had brought from Darcy House.
As they walked away from everyone else, Richard said with a serious tone, “I am just teasing about the favours, but I do remember that I owe you lots of favours for what I put you through…you know….”
“That is not how friendship works,” Darcy said as he turned to unlock his room.
It was not long before everyone had gathered in the drawing room, ready for luncheon.
The Bingleys plied Richard with questions, and he told several humorous stories about life in the army.
But Darcy felt a jolt of concern about his cousin’s upcoming assignment.
Richard’s careful statements revealed that he was maintaining absolute secrecy about the location, which made Darcy worry that it would be the middle of the current fighting on the Iberian peninsula.
On a more positive note, Richard looked healthier than he had when Darcy had last seen him, in late July.
He was trimmer, his face looked less red, his eyes less puffy.
His every movement seemed more vigorous, more like his former self.
Darcy was almost certain that Richard had adjusted his habits in a more positive direction.
He hoped Richard was also well and truly done with his amorous feelings for Elizabeth!
At the end of the meal, it was very easy to gain Bingley’s leave to use the study, which was assured to be soundproof.
Darcy laid out every particular about his friend’s missing signet ring and about Mrs Nicholls’s interviews of all the employees, and her conclusions.
He explained Hopkins’s conclusions agreeing with Mrs Nicholls—that none of the servants were guilty of theft—and he explained why he and Elizabeth considered Miss Bingley and the Hursts to be just as unlikely to be involved.
Richard said, “If it was a theft, which seems to be the only rational theory since you say that the room has been thoroughly searched several times, and you vouch for Johnson’s excellent memory and honesty, it probably was not planned far in advance.
Not even Johnson knew he was coming until just a few days ago, you said? ”
“That is correct.”
“You could be dealing with someone who has a sort of stealing madness, as we have read reports about Mrs Leigh-Perrot. If that is the case, the person might have learnt how to pick locks and might have special tools with which to do so. Or possibly they could have purchased a skeleton key. I have no idea how well the latter works, but it might be quicker than lock-picking, and thus less chance of being spotted and less suspicious looking if they were seen.”
“Richard, you are a genius. I had not thought of things that way,” Darcy admitted.
“And if it was a case of madness, then doing the sensible thing, such as pawning or melting the evidence, would not necessarily be important to the person responsible. That would explain why they would not seem worried, why nobody has snuck away or asked for time off or made an excuse to go somewhere.”
“Ahh…and I admit that I had not thought that part through. But I believe you are correct.”
“So, should I tell Bingley all of this, and make certain that all the rooms are searched?”
“That would be very difficult if it turned out that a servant had the stealing madness we are discussing, but it would be devastating to Bingley’s reputation if it was either of his sisters or even his brother by marriage.”
Darcy sighed. “True.”
“I wonder if we should bait the thief. Leave out something very showy, and watch in secret to see who takes it? Then we need only search that one person’s room, and we could probably safeguard reputations while seeking help for the person with that madness.”
“That is a decent idea. But I think we need to plan the baiting carefully, not try to do something today, or tonight.”
Richard nodded. “Yes, I agree. Bingley mentioned that Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth are coming here for dinner?”
Darcy gave silent assent.
“So perhaps we should plan how to bait the thief after the ladies leave?”
“Again, that is a fine idea. I really appreciate your help.” Darcy hesitated to speak about his fears for Richard, but he made himself say something: “Richard, I cannot help but think that your next foray with the army is going to be very dangerous.”
Richard sounded as if he would make a denial, and Darcy held up his hand, saying, “I know you cannot confirm anything, but I wished to say that Georgiana and I will be thinking about you every day, praying for your well-being, hoping for your survival intact.”
Richard’s eyes brightened, and Darcy realised his own eyes felt moist. He remembered not long ago when both men said, truthfully, that they never cried, and he decided that part of being a grown man, perhaps, was facing things with more emotional honesty. And thus, sometimes, tears.