Chapter 12 Games
The room looked somehow smaller now that the belongings of the occupants were nearly packed away.
Will Darcy felt an uncomfortable sense of change as he entered at his cousin's invitation.
He had spent many hours in this room over the past year and more, and already it looked completely different without the marks of Richard's life in it.
"I wanted to catch you before you left. I am glad I came when I did; it looks like you are done here," Will said.
Richard put down the filled saddlebag he had just been checking and offered Will a seat on the plain wooden chair by the bare desk. "I was planning to stop by and see you before I rode off," he said with a smile. "You need not have worried I was going to disappear like a thief in the night."
Will's answering grin still held a hint of worry to it. "Are you certain you really want to do this? It is a big step, and it will be hard to change once you take it."
"I have thought about this for years, Will," Richard replied seriously as he took a seat on the neatly made bed.
"I always intended that once I left this place, my formal schooling would be over.
That is why I have worked so hard and added in all the extra classes.
I wanted to get the most I could out of my time here, since I will not be heading on to a university.
It has been both my dream and my plan to enter the cavalry as soon as I could. Now, I shall."
"I just worry about you. We are at war, Richard. You could be injured or killed. Have you considered that?"
"Of course, I have. And if I had not, my father certainly considered and expounded upon it for me. I know there are risks, especially in time of war, but this is a role I think I was born to take on."
"Fine, so you really want to do this. I am confused, though.
You have spent the last several years telling me not to trust Aunt Catherine, yet you are now about to enter the military with a commission she presented to you over your father's objections.
Does this not contradict all those lectures you have given me?
" Will looked down at his hands as he fidgeted with the cuffs of his shirt.
"It might look like that," Richard admitted, "but looks can be deceiving.
You must trust me on this one, Will. And I still do not trust Aunt Catherine.
Accepting her gift does not mean accepting her beliefs or her plans for me.
There is more to this than you see, and someday I will be able to tell you about it.
Please do not let my apparent capitulation stop you from questioning anything she asks of you. "
Will stopped fussing with his cuff and looked directly at Richard. "I will miss having you here with me, cousin," he said. "I have enjoyed this year so much more than the previous ones since I let you push me into being more involved with the other boys and less reliant on George for company."
"I am glad to hear it. I hope you will continue to be involved with rowing, fencing and the chess club next year as well.
You never really needed George to help you.
Or me either. You just had to make the effort to talk to other people, even if it is a frightening thing to do, instead of waiting for them to come to you. "
"I did need your help, you know. Or, at least, your pushing. I would not have become involved in any of those activities without it, and they were what gave me something to talk about with the other boys. I think that was what my father hoped George would do for me from the start."
"Well, you are there now. Try not to slip back into your solitary ways. If you need a companion, I suggest that Bingley fellow we met a few months ago. He is cheerful and outgoing in an honest way."
"But he comes from trade," Will objected.
"That is Aunt Catherine talking. So he comes from trade? What of it? That doesn't make him less of a good fellow nor less honest and trustworthy. Give him a chance. I doubt you will regret it. You can help him in Society and he can help you be more sociable."
"I suppose you are right. I enjoyed talking to him and playing against him in the chess club once you convinced him to join. He certainly rows well."
"That is the spirit. You still have time to invite him for a visit to Pemberley over the summer, or at least to write to him and carry on the acquaintance.
Play a few games by post if that is all you can manage.
Whatever it takes to keep in touch. Just let me know how you get on.
You know I will look forward to letters from you as I head out into the unknown. "
"I will write. I promise. Now, what are your plans for today? I see the saddle bags. Is your father so upset he would not send you the carriage?" Will asked, only half joking.
Richard picked up the saddle bag again as he laughed.
"Not at all. I asked him not to. Instead, I had him send my horse.
I have a carter taking my trunks off to the London house, while I plan to ride straight from here to Longbourn.
I need to talk some things over with my godfather before going on to London. "
"Visiting the Bennets, hmm? Well, I will not say anything against them now, but I expect Aunt Catherine may give you an earful."
"Or a pageful," Richard agreed, placing the saddlebag back on the bed.
"Well, it is too late for her to rescind the commission, so I am going to visit with my godfather and his family and brave her displeasure.
If the ink she writes with catches on fire as I open her next letter that will just teach me to use tongs to open them in the future. " Both boys laughed at the thought.
~o~
"It is good to see you again, Richard." Bennet said, shaking hands with his godson before gesturing towards a chair. "Do sit down and tell me all about this news you bring."
"Well, sir, you are now looking at Lieutenant Richard Fitzwilliam."
"You have your commission! You saved enough to purchase a lieutenancy? When did this happen?" Bennet asked, his words tumbling over one another with his surprise.
Richard smiled at having achieved the effect he hoped for with the announcement. "Actually, it is not quite official, but I do have the commission, courtesy of my Aunt Catherine, and I will be reporting for duty within the week. I had not saved quite enough on my own, but that is now a moot point."
"Lady Catherine provided your commission? Oh, Richard, you must always be wary of anything appearing to be a gift from Lady Catherine. Her gifts come with a sting in the tail."
"Or soldiers in the belly of the horse? I am well aware of that, sir.
" Richard offered his godfather a rakish grin.
"I know she has been suggesting a military career for me as a way to annoy and worry my father.
He and I have discussed it more than once.
I also know his objections are because he loves me and does not wish to see me hurt, not out of any lack of confidence in my abilities. "
Without even realizing he had, Mr. Bennet smiled sadly and nodded agreement. The current subject might be distrust of Lady Catherine, but he also felt the same love and worry about his godson as his friend, Viscount Rand, did.
Richard continued, "I have been wary of Aunt Catherine from my earliest years.
As my father says, she would never put herself out, physically or financially, for altruistic reasons.
However, all her promptings aside, it is my choice and desire to become an officer.
I would have been inclined this way had she never said a word for or against it.
I also would have found a way despite all objections, even without this dubious gift of a commission.
I am not blinded to the hazard or carried away by bright dreams of honor on the battlefield.
You and my father have educated me better than that.
I know all her talk of glory and conquest is so much muck thrown out the back of the stable building. "
Mr. Bennet chuckled at the analogy, and Richard joined in. "The boy truly does have her measure," the older man thought.
After a few seconds of mirth, Richard sobered and spoke again.
"I know war is a nasty, brutish business, but a military career also has its opportunities.
There is a chance to be a leader, to make a difference and to protect those I love.
I was going to do this anyway, so why not accept her so-called gift and let her think she has won a turn of the cards and a point against my father?
The three of us will know better. In fact, that is what I wanted to discuss with you. "
"I am all ears. Tell me your thoughts." Bennet looked at him with anticipation.
"First, I assume Miss Stanton is busy giving the girls their lessons. There is little chance she might be lurking outside the windows listening in, is there?"
"Very little chance, since I believe she is in the parlor.
Today is Mrs. Bennet's day ‘at home' and Miss Stanton has begun to have Jane and Lizzy sit quietly in the room while their mother receives her callers.
I am not certain what that is meant to teach them, but it does keep them all trapped in the room for a few hours.
Of course, you are welcome to poke your head outside the windows and check to make certain there are no spies about.
" Bennet's chuckle rumbled around the room.
"I may do just that," Richard said, winking at his godfather as he got up to take a quick peek out of the two open windows.
"After all, it is spies I am worried about.
My aunt's spies, to be specific. As I said, we want her to think she has won a point against my father.
Good, no one there that I can see." He nodded in satisfaction as he sat back down. Bennet looked at him questioningly.
"I take it you want me to play a part?" the older man asked.