After having their tea and a little more discussion of Christmases past and planned, Richard decided to head back to Meryton and confirm his father had packed up and gone.
"I would not want him around to give trouble when they call the second banns in church on Sunday," he said with a chuckle.
"Bite your tongue!" replied Darcy.
"I would not put it past him," Richard said seriously, "or Aunt Catherine or Collins."
"I have worried the same, but there is little I can actually do about it. I hope your father shares his fury with Aunt Catherine over my decision to cut him and she realizes that I was serious in my threat to her. She might still find some way to use Collins. He is stupid enough to do her dirty work."
"I will check on father first. I will only send word if I find a problem. If I do not see you sooner I will see you in church on Sunday."
"Take care, Richard."
After Richard had gone Darcy offered to walk Elizabeth back to Longbourn. "I want to tell your father about the earl's visit and perhaps hear his side of the interview with Bingley."
He sent for Teddy and they bundled up for the walk leaving Georgie giving Mary a lesson on the pianoforte.
Darcy enjoyed the walk to Longbourn. He laughed watching Elizabeth carefully manage to step only in the untouched snow, not in any spot where she and Teddy had made footprints on their way to the dower house. "That is part of the fun!" she told him when he asked. "I like the crisp crunch when I step in a clean patch. The path I came on is slushy and slippery."
Teddy ran a little ways ahead of the couple, knowing his charge was in safe hands. Occasionally he would stoop to make a snowball to throw at the hedge. It seemed no time at all before all three found themselves at Longbourn's door.
Darcy informed Mrs. Hill that Teddy had performed his escort duties well. Leaving the boy to the housekeeper's care. Darcy and Elizabeth headed off to Bennet's study. Instead of Bennet they found Tanner and Barnes working on the compiled inventory. They explained the study had the best light for the work so Bennet had turned it over to them and taken his book to the back parlor. After checking on the progress of the work Darcy and Elizabeth went to join her father.
"How was your snowy jaunt?" Bennet asked as they entered the room. "Did Teddy stay close by or did he run off to play?"
"He was very attentive," said Elizabeth. "He takes his duties quite seriously. He only ran ahead on the return trip when he knew I was in Will's care."
"He also had another chance to demonstrate his bravery," Darcy added. "We have a tale to tell you."
"Well, sit down, make yourselves comfortable and speak," Bennet advised with a smirk.
They complied, with Darcy telling how their pleasant time with Georgie and Mary was interrupted by his uncle's arrival. He told of his uncle's demand that Georgiana pack for London and her refusal. Elizabeth told how the earl had ordered his servant carry Georgie off to the carriage, completely heedless of her injury, and how Teddy had run in and placed himself in the way. She described how Teddy stood his ground as the man went to hit him and how Darcy had caught the man's hand to prevent the blow from falling. Darcy finished with Richard's entrance and his own notification to the earl that all ties were now cut between them followed by Richard escorting his father to the carriage.
"Will that cause any problems for you in society?" Bennet asked.
"Honestly it is likely to cause more problems for my uncle. While he may have a title, I have a better standing. He is known for bombast, bluster and a dogged determination to get his own way in everything. Those characteristics have not always made him friends. My older cousin, the viscount, is known as a dissipated gambler who inspires little confidence. Between them the Fitzwilliam name has little cachet. No Darcy has disgraced the family name within the Ton by such behaviors."
"Has a Darcy disgraced his name by other behaviors?" Bennet asked. Darcy just rolled his eyes in response. "Ah well," said Bennet, "you knew I had to ask."
"Now that we are on the subject of your foibles, Papa, tell us how you rendered Mr. Bingley into such a dazed state yesterday," Elizabeth asked.
"Ah, Bingley," began Bennet. "Now that was amusing. You know how I called him into the study. I carried on with the stern act for as long as I could. I took him to task for announcing his engagement without first asking my permission. He apologized profusely but I did not let up on him. When I had gotten enough of the apology I asked him what made him think he was good enough for my Jane. What had he done to earn the honor of marriage to her? That floored him at first. He floundered through an explanation of how he knew he was not worthy of her but was trying to reach that state. He went on to speak of taking charge of his household and trying to be a better man, but he finally came to the right answer when he told me he believed he made her happy just as she did for him."
"You are cruel man, Papa."
"Indeed, my Lizzy, indeed. Be that as it may, my questions were not all for my own amusement. He needed to think about the things I asked although it was really only himself he needed to answer."
"You knew I had already thought things through and fully taken on my responsibilities. That is why you did not sport with me," mused Darcy.
"That...and I knew Lizzy would have taken me to task if I had done anything other than approve your request." Bennet laughed and soon Darcy and Elizabeth joined in.
