Author's Note: Why hello there, my lovely readers. I went to the Library today, only to find that it was closed. Sad fact of life isn't it. Well, without further ado, Chapter Ten.
Disclaimer: I still own nothing.
Conceit and Contemptuousness
Chapter Ten
Months passed by in the blink of an eye. Shane and Shannon were married and moved out to Shannon's cottage. The Models moved to Portland, stealing the colorful Miss Wickham away. John left for Olympia. Things were utterly boring until it was time for me to call on the newlywed Lucases.
The journey was uneventful. We didn't meet any robbers along the way, and the chauffeur was good company. Shane and Shannon ran up to greet me as soon as the vehicle pulled up into the driveway.
"Freddie!" Shane welcomed. "Here, let me help you with your bags." I passed one of my suitcases to him and grabbed the other for myself. We chatted the entire way to the guest bedroom, with Mrs. Lucas going on and on in the backround about the various types of flora in her garden. Shannon may have been studying to become a mathematician, but she sure would have made a great horticulturalist. Shane and I set my things down and moved into the study for some Coke.
"We won't be bothered here. This is my private study." Shane said.
"So, what's new with you?" I inquired.
"Oh, nothing much. The house is lovely, and sometimes Lord Charles invites us over for supper. It's very high class."
"Darling!" Came Shannon's voice from the open window.
"What is it? Has the cat got out again?" Shane asked, then sauntered over to the window. "Oh dear! It's Lord Charles!" I ran towards the window just in time to see a limosine pass by.
Shannon ran up to the window to talk with her husband.
"Lord Charles has invited us to dinner. Do not make yourself uneasy, my dear cousin, about your apparrel."
"Just put on whatever you've brought that's best." Shane added.
"Lord Charles has never been averse to the truly humble."
Several hours and a suit later, I sat upon a divan in Lord de Briggs' Drawing Room. The burgundy walls were plastered with framed photos of Randi Jackkson, the firm but fair judge from Regency Idol. The couches were upholstered in red and green plaid. Even the rug was plaid. I detected a theme.
I turned to get a better look at my host. Lord Charles had a tight face, pinched so he seemed slightly like a vulture. He had cropped red hair and wore black rimmed glasses and an expensive looking suit.
And then I saw the bane of Spencer Bingley's existence, Jeremy de Briggs. Sam had been betrothed to this sickly boy since the day she was born. Germy, as I'd nicknamed him, was slighly pudgy with a round face, tan skin, and long dark brown hair. Every few seconds he had to sneeze.
The first thing he said to me was, "Pleased… achoo! To… achoo! Meet… achoo! You… achoo!" How I pitied poor Sam. Speaking of Sam, she burst through the door at that exact moment, wearing a lovely aquamarine cocktail dress followed closely by a pretty redhead in a Model's uniform.
"Miss Darcy?" I exclaimed in surprise.
Lord Charles posed a question, "You know my niece?"
"Yes," I answered. "I had the pleasure of meeting her in Seattle."
"How very interesting," Lord Charles commented.
Sam pointed to the girl behind her and said, "Mr. Bennet, allow me to introduce my close friend Colonel Wendy Fitzwilliam."
"Hello," I said. With that, Lord Charles announced it was time for dinner. We all filed into the Dining room where we sat down, after our gracious host of course. We were all about to dig in when Lord Charles interrupted us.
"Mrs. Lucas, you cannot sit next to your husband. Switch with Mr. Bennet." I obediently got up and found myself between my good friend Shane and the always strange Sam.
"So, Mr. Bennet, how are your brothers?" Sam asked me.
"They were fine when I left. John had gone to Olympia so I am not positively sure."
"How many siblings do you have?" Lord Charles wanted to know.
"Four brothers," I replied.
"Four!" Lord Charles seemed appalled. "Your tutor must have had a time with you."
"We never had a tutor."
"Never had a tutor? Well, then your father must have taught you."
"No, we taught ourselves."
"Goodness. And how many of you are out in society?"
"All."
"All? All five of you at once? And while the eldest remains unmarried? I never heard of such a thing."
"I think it is a wonderful way to encourage brotherly affection." Lord Charles remained silent after my last remark. Wendy started a new conversation.
"How was my good friend in Seattle?"
"Well, prepare to be appalled. The first time I met Miss Darcy, she danced with no one, even though there were plenty of men without partners."
"I knew no one beyond my own party!" Sam protested.
At this point Lord Charles deemed that it was time for us to retire to the Drawing Room. We all gathered and removed ourselves to that space.
"Tell me, do you play an instrument, Mr. Bennet?" Lord Charles asked.
"Yes, I play the trumpet, although I have practiced very little." I responded.
"I love music. Especially the bagpipes. They are good for the soul. Jeremy would play if his health allowed him." Here Jeremy chose to sneeze.
"Play for us," Lord Charles commanded.
"But I don't have a trumpet, or even a mouthpiece!" I objected.
"Nonsense, I have a trumpet and a clean mouthpiece in the case over there." He pointed to a case sitting on the floor in the corner. I dejectedly walked over to the brass instrument, assembled it and blew air through to warm it up. There was a chair with a music stand nearby so I sat down and began to play. Sam walked over and stood behind me.
When the song was over and I paused for breath I said, "You mean to frighten me, Miss Darcy, by coming in all your state to hear me, but I won't be alarmed even if your brother does play so well."
"I am well enough acquainted with you, Mr. Bennet, to know that I cannot alarm you, even shoul I wish it" she returned.
"I do not have the talent of conversing easily with people I have never met before," she whispered.
"Well, perhaps you should take your uncle's advice and practice." I recommended. And I brought the trumpet back to my lips, bringing forth a melodious ballad. And I watched Miss Darcy out of the corner of my eye, so that she wouldn't take me by surprise.