"I knew Father visited the former colonies often," James quipped over supper that night, a glass in his hand every other minute. "I did not know we had family across the ocean - although I suppose it is not surprising."
William nodded wordlessly. It was a gesture he had repeated over and over since the strange introduction that afternoon. Mr. James Darcy, talkative and eager, had quickly pointed out the identities of all the other current guests of Pemberley soon after their acquaintance: Mr. and Mrs. Bingley were his friends, Miss Bingley their sister, and Miss Bennet Mrs. Bingley's sister. Miss Bennet was engaged to James, and they were set to wed after the repairs in nearby Brigham Park were finished. The wedding had been delayed only because the Bingleys' estate had suffered extensively during a recent storm, and thus the current party in Pemberley while repairs ensued.
William did notice that Miss Bennet did not seem to look particularly regretful at the mention of her wedding's postponement.
But, truly, he had no reason to believe he knew how she thought based on a few hours' fleeting acquaintance.
William had offered, after the thorough and speedy introductions, to speak to James privately. He dared not presume, after all, that the man would take kindly to the fact that he had a brother, not just a distant cousin, with him here in Pemberley. The lack of an audience would be preferred for such a significant revelation.
James had declared, however, that it was nearly time to dress for supper - and William had been promptly sent to his guest room to find a decent outfit for the evening.
"I am glad your cook listened to us, Mr. Darcy." Miss Bingley remarked after resting her spoon upon the empty bowl. "The soup is much more palatable tonight."
William glanced downwards at his own bowl, its shallow contents swirling. He did not particularly enjoy the soup. He rather missed the heartier fares of their dinners at the ranch.
But he was hardly ill-mannered enough to complain when James was hosting him so generously.
"We are blessed to have plenty," Mrs. Bingley commented. "Not all are as fortunate as we to have food to our tastes."
Miss Bennet agreed readily, as did Mr. Bingley.
William considered how meals felt at Darcy Ranch - with laughter and conversation flowing freely between him and Georgiana - and often including whatever guests they may have.
The quiet looks between Mrs. Bingley and Miss Bennet hinted that the sisters, perhaps in their own private hours, shared such confidences as well.
Tonight, however, every word and phrase felt stilted and stifling.
William had no doubt everyone was exercising caution because of him.
"We must have some music," Miss Bingley spoke again after a moment of quiet. "Perhaps I can play for you tonight, James?"
The young lady reached over towards their host, laying a not-so-subtle hand upon his arm. James offered her a grim smile. William frowned as he scrambled to recall the rushed instructions Mrs. Richter had muttered before he'd travelled to the dock two long months ago, far across the sea. As far as he could remember, such gestures from a lady were hardly considered genteel.
"I would be delighted to hear some music from our dear friends," James complimented smoothly. He turned to his other side, away from Miss Bingley's reach, and laid his own hand upon Miss Bennet's arm. "Perhaps you would honor me with a song tonight, Elizabeth?"
William watched with fascination once more as Miss Bennet seemed to stiffen under her betrothed's touch.
"I can oblige, if needed," she responded, neither enthusiastically nor morosely. "I have been rather out of practice, however."
"Any song you warble brings joy to my ears, my love."
Miss Bennet nodded stiffly, the bright-eyed smiles William had first noticed from her seeming to have disappeared completely. It was clear to him now that Miss Bennet either feared or did not particularly like her fiancé. William only hoped that her discomfort was not due to his ever having caused her any harm.
William cleared his throat. "Mr. Darcy, if I may, perhaps I can request a quick audience with you after supper? Perhaps in your study?"
All eyes turned towards William, seemingly surprised at his request. A moment later, James's eyes narrowed.
"Is there something you wish to share that cannot be pronounced here at this table, sir?" He questioned William, his words slow and deliberate.
William nodded in a way that seemed almost like a bow. "I carry with me a letter - some letters - that I believe may be of interest to you, sir."
James regarded him for a moment. William waited for the man who looked so very like him to consider his reply.
"Very well, perhaps for just a moment, before we convene with the ladies. Bingley, you can keep them company while they practice their instruments, can you not?"
"Of course, James. It shall be my pleasure," Mr. Bingley replied.
The two Darcy relatives nodded at each other, a silent appointment.
William hardly ate another bite for the rest of the meal.
William strode into Pemberley's study behind its current owner, his heart in his throat. He had not known what to expect upon arrival at Pemberley. He had considered the possibility of an empty house, or perhaps a steward running the estate. He had wondered if his father's English home rested in abundance or disrepair.
To come face to face with another man, clearly a relative, who freely claimed to be the current owner was hardly a thought that had ever crossed William's mind.
"Do you wish for port?" Mr. James Darcy asked over his shoulder, his relaxed gait a far cry from William's own measured steps. William was hardly a military man, but no one ever survived well in the former colonies without a certain degree of physical strength.
Unlike the homes here in England, the ranches in the New World mingled closely with nature.
It was a nature as threatening as it was beautiful.
"I would not mind a glass," William replied to the host's offer.
James nodded before serving them each a glass.
"Thank you," William acknowledged.
"Right," James muttered before he settled himself and his fancy dinner clothes upon the chair at the desk. He gestured to a chair. "Do sit."
"Thank you," William said once more. He bowed slightly before choosing a fairly spacious wooden chair across the desk from James.
With the myriad thoughts currently occupying his mind, William hardly needed a chair.
"You said you had letters?" James asked directly, his glass dangling from his right hand. There was a hint of doubt in his voice, as if he wondered if the aforementioned letters were merely an excuse.
William nodded before reaching into his jacket. He had with him other papers - including a copy of Father's will that he had drafted and stored in America. An intuition in his gut prevented him from mentioning that document, and he withdrew instead a handful of Father's letters.
"I did not know how best to inform you of this," William began. He shuffled the pages in his hand, making sure these letters did not mention too many particulars about the running of Darcy Ranch. He looked up towards the man behind the desk. "I am, as our names and appearances easily lead one to conclude, a relative of yours from America."
James nodded. He took a rather large sip of his drink.
William set his lips in a grim line and presented the stack to James. "These letters from Mr. George Darcy might shed light upon the exact nature of our relationship."
James accepted the letters, although he did not read them just yet.
William inhaled deeply. "If my assumptions prove true, we may discover that we are not merely family in the cousinly way - but, rather, as brothers."
The word, finally uttered, seemed to cast a cloud upon James's face. The young man glared at the letters in his hand before reading them thoroughly. William waited patiently for James to comprehend what he himself had known all day.
"We are brothers," James uttered, his hands dropping the letters upon his desk. There was a sadness in his eyes that aged the man. William did not know if James and Father had been intimate correspondents. He did not know if James ever knew of Father's family and properties in America, or if he had been kept as much in the ark as William himself had been.
William had always wanted a brother.
He merely did not expect to discover he already had one.
"Father had - another family," James muttered, his eyes both hardened and far away.
William nodded and sighed. "I understand the unpalatable nature of this truth. Frankly, I myself had not been aware Father raised another family, or even maintained a home, on English shores."
"He travelled often to the colonies," James said, rather distantly. "He had a family - another son - in America."
William frowned along with the man he now knew to be his half-brother. He had not liked the idea when it first occurred to him. Surely, James was not enjoying being enlightened of it now.
"I - I did not know - "
"Neither did I," William assured.
James nodded slowly, as if the different pieces of a shredded paragraph were being gradually aligned in his mind. When he raised his head to regard William once more, a newfound wariness had settled upon his features.
"The hour is rather late. Shall you not retire for the evening, Mr. Darcy?" James all but commanded him.
William stood, understanding that his brother would much rather be left to his own devices. "Certainly. We may convene about this matter again tomorrow. For the moment, may I - "
"These - " James's fingers tightened around the stack of letters, his body withdrawing slightly. "These I shall show to my solicitor tomorrow. I - I must have him attest to their veracity."
William frowned, taken aback.
The request was not entirely unreasonable - but it was rather unpleasant to be doubted thus. Was the similarity of their features not sufficient enough proof?
Still, William humored his brother. He always did like to humor his siblings.
"Very well," he returned his hands to his sides, standing tall as he could. "I shall see you tomorrow - James."
James frowned, as if he disliked the familiarity. William considered just how confusing it would be to have two people called Mr. Darcy roaming about the house.
"My family calls me William," William offered, when the consternation seemed only to grow.
James nodded then. "Very well, William. We shall speak at another time."
William nodded before he departed, determined to rest despite the excitement of the day.
He would need a clear mind indeed for whatever revelations were to follow.
A/N: After the last chapter's reveal, this is really more of an aftermath chapter. I hope it did provide some enlightenment. The idea of a man having two families on both sides of the ocean was the primary inspiration for this story. It was a practice that actually happened more often than it should have, especially in an age of immigration.
In other news, Words Unspoken, along with a short new epilogue, is now up on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited. If you're curious about it, I'd really appreciate the support! Thank you for reading my stories!