Chapter 2 #3
For a moment, silence prevailed. Then one of the boys—Darcy could not have said which—rose to his feet.
“We were doing nothing,” he said.
Darcy regarded him with composed interest. “Indeed?”
The second boy stood as well. “We were only looking.”
“At what?”
“At you.”
Darcy allowed himself the smallest pause. “And what have you concluded?”
“That you are a gentleman,” the first boy said.
“And that you have very fine boots,” the second added.
Darcy glanced down briefly. “I am gratified that my boots meet with your approval.”
“They are much finer than George Lucas’s,” the first boy said.
“George Lucas possesses few boots worthy of serious consideration,” the second clarified.
“I see.” There was a brief silence. Darcy considered them. “And who are you?”
The boys exchanged a look.
“I am Thomas Bennet,” said the first.
“And I am Toby Bennet,” said the second.
“Though he is the younger,” Thomas added.
“Only by a very small amount,” Toby said.
“Still the younger.”
Darcy inclined his head slightly. “Mr. Thomas Bennet. Mr. Toby Bennet.”
They appeared pleased.
“You are Mr. Bingley,” Thomas said.
Darcy’s brow lifted. “I am not.”
Toby frowned. “Then you must be the other one.”
“The other one?”
“The one who came with him,” Thomas said. “We saw you from the tree.”
“You were in the tree?”
“It is a very good tree,” Toby said.
Darcy did not pursue that line of inquiry. “And what brings you here?” he asked instead.
“We came to see the new gentleman,” Thomas said.
“And to determine whether he is suitable,” Toby added.
“For what purpose?” Darcy asked.
The boys paused. Then Thomas said, with some importance, “For society.”
Darcy’s lips curved, despite himself. “A considerable responsibility.”
“We take it seriously,” Toby said.
“I have no doubt of it.”
They regarded him for a moment longer. “I think you are suitable,” Thomas said.
“I agree,” Toby added.
Darcy nodded his head again. “I am honored by your approval.”
There was another pause, during which the boys seemed to consider him further.
“You do not speak very much,” Toby observed.
“I speak when I have something to say.”
“That is sensible,” Thomas said.
“George Lucas speaks a great deal,” Toby said. “Though not always with success. Or sense.”
“I shall endeavor to avoid that particular failing,” Darcy replied.
The boys smiled.
“Have you always been a gentleman?” Thomas asked.
Darcy considered the question. “For as long as I can remember.”
“Were you ever a pirate?” Toby asked.
Darcy’s expression stayed the same, though something in his eyes suggested amusement. “I regret to say that I was not.”
“We were pirates yesterday,” Thomas said.
“In the orchard,” Toby added.
“And we defeated all our enemies.”
Darcy saluted the boys. “A commendable achievement.”
“Did you never wish to be a pirate?” Toby pressed.
“I had other occupations.”
“What were they?”
Darcy paused.
“I was once a boy who preferred climbing trees to attending to his lessons.”
The boys’ interest sharpened.
“Did you fall?” Thomas asked.
“Frequently.”
“And did you get into trouble?”
Which boy was it speaking now? “Occasionally.”
“Did you mind?”
This is Thomas… or maybe Toby. Darcy could not tell them apart. “Not as much as I ought.”
This seemed to satisfy them.
“You are very agreeable,” Toby said. Or is that Thomas speaking?
Darcy raised his brows. “You are very direct.”
“That is because we wish to be understood,” Thomas said.
Darcy gave up trying to tell the lads apart. “A sensible approach.”
They stood for a moment longer, as though reluctant to conclude the conversation.
Darcy reached into his pocket.
“Since you have taken the trouble to inspect me,” he said, “it seems only proper that I should acknowledge your efforts.”
He produced two small coins and held them out.
The boys accepted them with evident delight.
“For what purpose are these?” Toby asked.
“For whatever purpose you think most suitable.”
They considered this.
“We shall not spend them at once,” Thomas said.
“That would be imprudent,” Toby agreed.
Darcy dipped his head slightly. “I commend your restraint.”
They peered at him again, their expressions bright.
“We like you very much,” Toby said.
“Very much,” Thomas echoed.
A faint smile touched Darcy’s mouth. “I am pleased to hear it.”
They turned then, as suddenly as they had appeared.
“We must go,” Thomas said.
“Before we are discovered,” Toby added.
They began to run, then stopped and turned back.
“Goodbye,” they said together, waving.
“Goodbye,” Darcy replied.
They vanished into the trees. Darcy remained where he was for a moment longer. Then he shook his head slightly, a quiet sound of amusement escaping him.
“Darcy!”
Bingley’s voice carried across the garden.
Darcy turned.
Bingley approached at a brisk pace, his expression curious.
“What is amusing?” he asked.
Darcy’s expression had already returned to its usual composure.
“Nothing at all,” he said.
Bingley stared at him for a moment, then chuckled.
“Very well. Come—we have more to see.”
Darcy fell into step beside him, though his thoughts lingered, just briefly, upon two identical boys and their earnest inspection of a stranger.