The only thing Darcy could imagine making his life uncomfortable was the presence of George Wickham in the area. He hoped that Richard's not too subtle warning would be enough to keep Wickham in check while the militia remained in the area, but he had little faith in Wickham's acuity. He'd proved time and time again that his own ego blinded him to the effects of his actions. In fanciful moments Darcy thought that George Wickham lived in a bubble oblivious of the rest of the world. He went around blithely committing all kinds of offenses against his fellow citizens and when caught assumed his charm would let him off the hook. What Wickham didn't realize was that Darcy had the means to destroy him and would do so at the first provocation.
As they dismounted they both became aware of raucous singing coming from the vicinity of the apple orchard. As they made their way up the hill they came upon a scene that stopped them in their tracks. Richard, Guy and Josh was sprawled under an ancient tree and Humphrey Hurst was perched precariously on a beer keg. They were singing at the top of their lungs waving large mugs of ale to keep time.
Darcy and Bingley approached the quartet who mercifully ceased their caterwauling. "This is your shooting party?" Darcy drawled.
"Indeed it is," Richard replied. "We caught a large keg and are trying to put it out of it's misery."
"Are you aware that we are due at Lucas Lodge in three hours time?" Darcy asked in mild annoyance.
"I'm fine, Darcy," Richard said, "however my companions are pleasantly befuddled and I can't answer for them."
Darcy took a good look at Guy and Josh who were both slightly bleary eyed. Hurst was in his usual state.
"Did you know, Darcy," Guy spoke with difficulty, "that when I bid the ladies in Meryton farewell this morning, not one of them shed a tear? Is it possible that I'm not as charming as I thought I was?"
"At the moment I would have to agree with that assessment."
"Pamela thinks you're charming," Josh reminded him.
Guy grinned broadly at his friend, "that's true."
"Who's Pamela?" Bingley asked.
"The girl I'm going to marry," Guy replied.
At the look of surprise on Bingley's face, Richard explained, "apparently Guy has been holding out on us. He met Miss Pamela Mortensen in Shropshire shortly after her family bought an adjoining estate. This took place a couple of months after you and Darcy visited him."
Josh offered, "she has a cousin who Guy assures me will make a perfect wife for me and then we'll all live happily ever after."
"Good grief," Darcy said.
"But," Bingley said in some confusion, "if you're going to get married, what are you doing here?"
"Oh," Guy said, "she doesn't know we're getting married. I have to ask her first. Besides, I couldn't turn down your invitation, Bingley, in case there was another lady that appealed to me here in Hertfordshire. But there wasn't and so I've made up my mind."
Josh spoke up, "the Mortensens are spending a couple of weeks in London. That's why we're going to Town. The cousin's name is Prunela. Isn't that a beautiful name?"
Darcy didn't think so but diplomatically kept his opinion to himself.
The attention of the four men was suddenly directed to Hurst, who slid silently off the keg and sprawled in a hopeless heap.
Darcy and Bingley managed to get him to his feet and together they began to lead him back to the house.
"Do you think Guy's serious?" Bingley asked.
"It's possible," Darcy allowed. "I'm sure there's more to the story and if he ever sobers up, maybe we'll hear the whole of it. In any case, I think you have another chapter for your book. There seems to be a variety of ways for a man to find his mate."
"I hope Prunela doesn't look like a bowl of stewed prunes," Bingley said.
Bingley looked so concerned that Darcy laughed out loud and was still chuckling when he reached his room.
After a quick bath Darcy watched Thomas moving at his usual pace around the room, laying out Darcy's clothes. He watched his valet in silence. He had known his servant for more than twenty years and he knew Thomas as well as Thomas knew him. There was something different about him tonight but what it might be escaped him. Darcy had never seen his servant so quiet and introspective. If it had been anyone else he might have thought Thomas to be in love. But he was a confirmed bachelor and so it could not be so.
"If you're not feeling well," Darcy said, "you need not accompany me to Lucas Lodge tonight."
Thomas looked at Darcy in shock. "I'm perfectly alright, sir"
"Your family is well, I trust?"
"Very well, sir."
"Are there any rumors about me floating around town?"
"Not that I'm aware of, sir, but I'll keep my ear to the ground."
Darcy decided not to intrude further into his valet's privacy but he was not fooled. Something was amiss and Thomas would speak to him when he was ready.
There were other thoughts to occupy his mind. There was Elizabeth Bennett. When he and Elizabeth and Bingley and Jane arrived at Longbourn a scant two hours earlier, a French farce took place with Mrs. Bennett taking the leading role. She had apparently seen the two couples arriving and had rushed out of the house trying to rearrange the couples before they entered the drawing room. She seemed to be determined to couple Jane with Darcy and Elizabeth with Bingley.
Bingley looked his usual befuddled self as this silliness took place but Darcy was having none of it. Instead of taking a seat on the sofa next to Jane, he stalked to the window and waited until Bingley had taken his place next to Jane. Only when Elizabeth had seated herself on the opposite sofa did Darcy take his seat next to her. He dared a look of defiance at Mrs. Bennett who looked as befuddled as Bingley did. There was something about Mrs. Bennett that appealed to his sense of the absurd and he actually began to relax and enjoy himself.
Beside him, he felt Elizabeth shaking with mirth and he grinned at her which caused her to laugh out loud. If he thought her smile enchanting it was nothing to how he felt when she laughed. To share a laugh with the woman who had so bewitched him was like dying and going to heaven.
"Mr. Darcy," Mrs. Bennett said," you will be joining us at Lucas Lodge tonight, won't you?"
"Indeed, I will, Mrs. Bennett. I look forward to it."
"Oh, good. My Jane loves good company."
Darcy turned to Elizabeth. "Will you be there, Miss Elizabeth?"
Her eyes sparkled with glee, "I wouldn't miss it, Mr. Darcy. I love good company as well."
Now, leisurely dressing, he was looking forward to the evening ahead. There was only one thing he was concerned about and that concerned Miss Caroline Bingley. She expected to be spending the evening with him not knowing he was planning to spend the evening at Lucas Lodge. When she realized she'd been duped there was no telling what her reaction would be.
On the walk back to Meryton he'd brought up this very subject with Bingley but his friend didn't see a problem with this duplicity. He also informed Darcy that he was going to have a long and calm conversation with her in the morning as soon as Guy and Josh had left. Darcy made a mental note to be far away when this conversation took place.
When Richard knocked and entered his room Darcy raised a questioning brow.
"She's in the drawing room curled up with a book," Richard said with a broad grin.
"I feel uneasy about this, Richard," Darcy said, unable to laugh it off.
"Why should you? You're not answerable to anyone, especially Caroline Bingley. And don't forget, it was her choice not to attend tonight's function."
"Have our friends sobered up?"
"Guy and Josh are still sleeping it off, but Hurst is up. However," Richard added, " the Hursts are not coming. Louisa thinks it best if she stays here. She's afraid that once Caroline finds out that you're at Lucas Lodge she'll follow and make a scene."
Darcy shook his head in disgust, "this will not do. I've been acting like a coward and it just will not do."
"What do you propose?"
"I'm going to talk to her."
Richard let out a long whistle, "are you sure?"
"Richard, I don't have a choice. She's been hanging onto this delusion that I'll wake up some morning and decide that she is the woman who can make me happy. She doesn't love me...she doesn't even like me. How could she? I've ignored her for the past six years. I actually dislike the woman but she still clings to this delusion. I want her to get on with her life. I want to get on with my own life and she's a petty annoyance that I want to cease."
"Does getting on with your life include Elizabeth Bennett?"
Darcy regarded his cousin for a moment, "it's a distinct possibility" he said.
"There may be trouble ahead," Richard allowed.
"I promise I'll take my own advice. I've been telling Bingley for years to keep in mind that fifty years is a long time to spend in a loveless marriage. But if I decide that Elizabeth is the woman for me and she will have me, nothing on earth will keep me from marrying her. I hope you'll stand by me."
"You know I will. But first things first. I think I should be with you when you speak to Caroline."
"Agreed." They each drew a deep breath and descended the stairs.
When Darcy and Richard entered the drawing room Caroline Bingley looked up with a bright smile which faded slightly when she saw Richard.
"I'm so enjoying this book you recommended, Mr. Darcy," she said waving the volume.
Darcy managed a smile, "I see you're not dressed, Miss Bingley. Aren't you going to Lucas Lodge tonight?"
Her eyes flared wide. "I thought it was agreed that we would not go, Mr. Darcy."
"Really? How did you come by that? Oh, I see. Yes that was what I said yesterday but as you can see, I've changed my mind."
"My cousin," Richard said, "never misses a chance to spend some time with the ladies. And I can't blame him. There are a lot of beautiful ladies in Hertfordshire."
"I've seen nothing of beauty," Caroline sniffed. "The airs and manners of the ladies of Hertfordshire would certainly never draw attention from the ton except in disapprobation."
"I doubt if a man and woman can ever agree on what makes a beautiful woman, Miss Bingley," Darcy said"or what a man wants from the woman he marrys."
Before Caroline had a chance to respond, Bingley entered the room. "Ah, here you are. I thought you'd left without me."
We were about to discuss beauty," Richard said, "and how a woman's idea of beauty differs from a man. What are your thoughts on the subject, Bingley?"
Bingley glanced at Caroline, then at Darcy who eyed his friend with a look that Bingley understood. "I think," he said slowly, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Take Miss Jane Bennett, for example. To me she looks like an angel and makes me happy just to be in the same room with her. I plan to spend the rest of my life with her if she'll have me."
Caroline bolted from her chair, "you what?" she spat. "You can't be serious, Charles. She a nobody with no dowry. You can't marry her."
Bingley laughed, "I swear you sound like Richard's general or at least his imitation of that phantom entity."
Richard laughed hardily and Darcy joined him. "My dear Mr. Bingley," Richard said, "surely you don't doubt the existence of that formidable man?"
Bingley raised a skeptical brow, "there have been times when I doubted his existence, I admit."
Darcy watched his friends in growing amusement. Clever Bingley had shut down the dreadful scene which had threatened to erupt.. He felt the laughter bubbling to the surface but a look at Caroline quelled the idea of joining in the merriment.
The door opened and in strode Mr. Hurst. He looked sober and in a jolly mood and was followed by a wary looking Louisa who after a brief look at her sister's countenance looked resigned to her fate. "Is this a private party, " Hurst asked, "or can anyone join in?"
"Louisa," Caroline cried. "You must talk to Charles. He's actually talking about marriage to Jane Bennett. Tell him it's impossible."
"What would you have me say, Caroline? Our brother is five and twenty, owns his own townhouse in London, is leasing this beautiful estate, and has an income of five thousand a year of which he allows you a generous allowance. He's in love with a very sweet young lady and wants to marry her. What would you have me say to him?"
Bingley walked over to Louisa and put his arm around her and gave her a brief hug. "Bless you for that, sister."
Louisa rolled her eyes, "you're welcome, brother" she responded with a wry smile. "And will someone pour me a large drink? I feel faint."
Her husband responded with alacrity, pouring himself one too. He handed Louisa her drink with a wink, "that's my girl," he said, smiling broadly.
Anne now entered the room "have I missed anything?"
Everyone laughed except for Caroline who crossed the room to the door, "I'll be leaving in the morning, Charles. If you are determined to throw your life away on a country chit I don't think I can ever forgive you." She slammed the door behind her.
Louisa sighed, "I think we must go too, Charles."
"There's no need for that," Bingley said.
"It will be better if we leave, Charles. If you've made up your mind about Jane, this will allow you more time to get on with the business of courtship. Anne can act as hostess and with Darcy's sister arriving in a few days you'll have two chaperons. In the meantime I'll try to talk some sense into Caroline."
Darcy's appreciation and respect for Bingley's sister Louisa had grown considerably in the the last few minutes. He wondered how she had gotten together with a man like Humphry Hurst who seemed nothing more than a lazy glutton. There was something between the two people which seemed to defy all convention yet seemed to work. There was a real affection between them, he couldn't deny that. He guessed it took all kinds to make the world go round.