Darcy, on the other hand, received many sincere congratulations on his betrothal to Elizabeth from those who had not been at the Long's party. When people told him how lucky he was, he could only agree with them.
He and Elizabeth had not yet set a date for their wedding, although they had agreed with Bingley and Jane to make it a double ceremony. In the hopes it would distract gossip away from Lydia's situation, Mr. Bennet had the vicar read the first of the banns for both couples. No one was terribly surprised, that Darcy could see, but it did show that whatever might have caused Lydia's quick marriage, he and Bingley were not deterred by the event.
Now, they simply had to wait for Denny's commission and orders. Darcy hoped Richard would receive the letter quickly and act just as quickly. He might not be in time to arrange a favorable post before one was assigned, but a transfer could be managed if the first assignment was not a good one.
On Monday, Darcy rode to Meryton to consult with Mr. Phillips over an agreement his steward had forwarded from Pemberley for approval. A few of the provisions worried him and he wanted the opinion of a man of law. Mr. Phillips found them more ambiguous than unfavorable and suggested some language to provide clarity to the intent of both parties. Darcy left feeling pleased with the changes. He would have a messenger carry the new version back with his approval should the other party be agreeable to them.
He was nearly to the edge of the village when he heard a familiar voice call out his name. Darcy turned around so quickly he almost fell from his horse. The animal shifted in surprise and he had to calm it as he spoke.
"Richard! Is that really you?"
The uniformed man on horseback made a show of slapping his thighs and chest and examining his hand before saying, "I really think it must be, Darcy."
The cousins brought their horses side by side, so they could shake hands. Darcy noticed the very full saddlebags that indicated Richard probably intended to stay.
"Are you here for a visit?" he asked.
"If Bingley will have me."
"Of course, he will."
Darcy pointed his horse back out of the village again and Richard fell in beside him. They rode for a while before dropping into an easy pace that allowed for conversation.
Darcy started the discussion by asking, "How did you find us? I thought you were still on the continent."
"I was detailed to provide a bit of diplomatic guard duty which brought me back to London a few days ago. Your rather unusual letter and I nearly crossed each other in transit. I checked on the commission with your man of business and he gave me the details and then I did a little string pulling on my own, so I could bring the new orders with me. Your people at Darcy House gave me directions to this place so I could play delivery boy. I just finished meeting with the commanding officer here and passed on the official transfer."
"Thank you, Richard," Darcy said.
"You owe me a favor some time cousin," Richard replied with a smile. "Now, let me see if I interpreted your coded letter correctly. You joined Bingley for a visit and insulted his neighbors with your haughty manners. Bingley fell for a pretty girl, but she did not have the wealth or connections his sister wanted, so the Harpy did what she could to separate them and you went along with it. Wickham showed up as a member of the militia and told his sad story about the evil Darcy and the denied living as well as secretly racking up debts and ruining women. You fell in love with the sister of Bingley's angel, but her wealth and connections were not sufficient for you either, so you left her. Wickham, however, saw your attraction to her and proceeded to blacken your name even more than your behavior had done. You had some kind of crazy, prophetic dream, or at least I assume that was Apollo's message, and you went back with Bingley to set things straight, not realizing how very crooked they had become. You had Wickham sent to the Marshalsea, and about time, too. Bingley kicked his sister back to London and the two of you made amends to the fair sisters. Now you are engaged, but their youngest sister did something scandalous and you had to buy a husband at the price of a commission and a good posting. Is that the gist of it?"
"Spot on, Richard," Darcy confirmed with a smile. "It lacks the subtle details but paints the overall picture well enough that it can be recognized from a distance."
"That letter contained quite the mix of Greek and Roman mythology. Not up to your usual scholarly standards, Cousin."
"I was working from memory. The distinctions between the two become a jumble after a while. I am surprised you noticed. You generally just read the bits about the battles."
"You forget I had to take all the same classes you did at school and write out the same translations as well. The only difference is that I did not read about anything other than the battles for pleasure later, unlike you with your bent towards reading anything in print. Of course, I know you have had little time to read anything at all purely for pleasure since your father died."
"It has gotten better in the last couple of years. I feel more comfortable running the estate and dealing with all the investments. That was why I felt I could be of use to Bingley and agreed to visit."
"What was that bit about the Harpy sacking a household? I know she has wanted to plunder Pemberley's riches for years, but we are far from Derbyshire."
"She sacked the servants at Netherfield Park – all of them aside from the skeleton crew the owner keeps on – without notice, reference or pay."
Richard whistled. "And you and Bingley came back here without knowing that? I am surprised whoever was left didn't provide you with boiling oil in your bathtub the first night."
"It was a bit tense at first, but once we learned what had happened, Bingley made amends with a grand gesture and the assurance the cost was coming out of his sister's allowance. The tension reduced even further after his sister arrived to try and take over again. He tossed her out on her ear and sent her back to London without even allowing her to step foot in the house."
"Oh, I wish I had seen that! How did he get her to leave?"
"He literally dragged her back to the carriage, picked her up and put her in. He then threatened Hurst to keep her there and return her to London. He also took away all her oversight of the staff, so she could not come back or sack anyone else. It was a thing of beauty, Richard." Both men laughed heartily.
"On the subject of things of beauty, when do I get to meet Aglaea and Euphrosyne?" Richard smirked as he used the nicknames.
"Today, if you like. We are all invited for tea. Mrs. Bennet never minds an extra guest."
"Bennet, is it? Presumably a family of little consequence?"
"Consequence enough for Meryton. They are one of the leading families in the neighborhood. Mrs. Bennet has some characteristics of Thalia, goddess of festivities and fine banquets. One is never suffered to go hungry in the Bennet household."
"And is she as fair as Aglaea and Euphrosyne?"
"She once was, although some of her outward beauty has faded with age and the raising of five daughters. I must warn you not to be put off by her manner of speech. She may sound shrill and mercenary, but she is a kind woman, known for her generosity to those in need."
"Meaning you mistook her for a vulgar fortune-hunter when you advised Bingley against his lady love?"
"Something like that, yes. I never thought the same of the young ladies, however."
"Euphrosyne, is it? I always thought you needed a little mirth in your life. I tell you now, though, if she is some giggling lackwit with more bosom than brains, I will take you out behind the barn and shoot you to put you out of your misery before you marry her."
"You will see, cousin. You will see. Have a little faith in my good judgement." Darcy turned the subject. "So, what are your plans now that you are back from the continent?"
"I plan to cash out. In fact, I have already started the paperwork. Getting the escort assignment was both a stroke of luck and something I took as a sign. My unit suffered heavy casualties right after I left, and it is likely I would have been in the thi
ck of it and probably not have survived. Well, I have had enough of war and so-called glory. The small property I inherited from my grandmother last year has been producing well and, with my savings, is enough to keep me. I have also given up on finding a sensible, practical woman among the available heiresses, since all the ones I found are too sensible or practical to take me. Instead I hope to find a respectable wife who knows how to make do with little and be happy at it."
"Sensible, practical, frugal and cheerful, is that what you seek? Cousin, I know just the woman for you." Darcy grinned, at his cousin and at the opportunity he had just seen.
"Is she another Bennet goddess?" Richard asked.
"One of them might do, but Miss Mary and Miss Kitty are both too young for you and probably not as practical as you need. No, in my letter I think I mentioned the close friend of my lady fair who was a good friend to me as well. Her name is Charlotte Lucas and she is the daughter of a knight, Sir William Lucas. Miss Lucas is very sensible, highly practical, and seeks nothing more than a home of her own through marriage to a respectable man. To gain that she was willing to accept the proposal of a cousin of the Bennets, a foolish clergyman who, coincidentally, held the living at Hunsford Parsonage."
"One of Aunt Catherine's fools!" Richard exclaimed. "How could that be a respectable marriage?"
"She did not know the whole of the circumstances when she accepted him. I told her of our aunt's behavior and urged her to break the betrothal, but she said she was bound by her word and would find a way to make the marriage a happy one no matter how difficult it might be."
"If that is the case, what makes you think she would break the betrothal to marry me?"
"The foolish clergyman is dead. He was coming to visit his betrothed, on Aunt Catherine's orders I am sure, in an open gig on an icy day. The horse slipped, he fell from the vehicle over the edge of a bridge and into the river where he drowned. Our ever-so-generous aunt did not think him worth the cost of delivering the body to the family. She had him buried at Hunsford, although she would not even pay the burial fees herself but deducted them from his effects. Then she instructed the cook at Hunsford to notify the family, passing off the responsibility for telling the man's betrothed to Mr. Bennet and insisting she wanted no communication with any of them."
"That sounds like Aunt Catherine. Still, what makes you think this Miss Lucas is a good match for me?"
"Well, as I said, she is both sensible and practical. I have found her to be an intelligent woman, with sound opinions. She is not as well read or witty as my Elizabeth, for that is Euphrosyne's real name, but they are close friends of long standing all the same, which would not be the case were Miss Lucas a fool. Her family is not wealthy, but neither are they poor. She has learned to manage her funds carefully and without extravagance but has not grown bitter by the necessity."
"Is she pretty?"
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, Richard. You know that. I think no woman more beautiful than my Elizabeth, yet Bingley says the same of his Aglaea, better known as Miss Jane Bennet. You will have to decide the answer for yourself."
"Well, I am willing to meet her, but let me also decide for myself if I am willing to marry her."
"Of course, Richard, you are your own man. I have given up trying to order the lives of others, although I am not above a bit of helping others find their path."
"Well, that is a change. You were always so sure you knew what was right for everyone you often forgot to ask their opinions or take them into account."
"I may still lapse at times, but I have been humbled by events which have taught me to order less and ask more."
Richard looked at him questioningly, but Darcy was not in the mood to tell him just then. He pulled his horse to a stop at the turning to a familiar drive.
"You have a decision to make now, Richard," he said. "This is the turn to Longbourn, the Bennet estate. Netherfield Park is the next estate along. I had intended to call in on my betrothed as I returned from Meryton, but now I ask your preference. Will you join me in a visit? Or do you wish for me to take you on to Netherfield and introduce you to the housekeeper, so you can clean up and get settled in while I return here for my visit? I will come back to get you in time for tea along with Georgiana and Mrs. Annesley."
"I dusted myself off before I visited Colonel Forster and I have not fallen into a mud puddle since. I think I will join you on your call." He noticed Darcy's grimace and asked, "What did I say?"
"Oh, I was just remembering falling in my own mud puddle. That was part of why we stayed with the Bennets during the snowstorm. Their carriage was stuck, and I ended up covered in mud after falling as we worked to free it. I became very ill as a result of riding outside the carriage in the cold and wet." He turned his horse into the lane leading to Longbourn and Richard followed suit.
"Allowing Miss Elizabeth to nurse you to health to show her undying gratitude?" Richard asked in a dramatic tone.
"Hardly," Darcy chuckled. "I was nursed back to health by Mrs. Hill, the housekeeper. And a very skillful nurse she is. You want her around if you ever become ill. No, despite the situation caused by the youngest girl, the older sisters would never do something so brash as to enter the bedchamber of an unrelated man."
"What is the situation with the youngest girl?" Richard asked him.
"Um, well, she entered the bedchamber of an unrelated man," Darcy said quietly. "One of the militia officers, as you know. She snuck into his quarters without his knowledge and lay in wait for him. She then insisted he marry her, or she would make a fuss that could have ruined him. Colonel Forster had put some strict rules into place after he learned of Wickham's activities and she put Denny in a bad spot."
"Had the good Captain given her any reason to think he would marry her? I mean, why did she choose him?"
"Oh, he had flirted with her just like most of the officers had, but I doubt he ever implied anything serious. No, he had the misfortune that she considered him the handsomest of the officers after Wickham left."
"That was her reason?"
"Well, that and she was jealous of her older sisters being betrothed. She wanted to be the first of the sisters to marry and gain all the attention for herself. I am just pleased she picked an honorable man, so far as I can tell. I dread to think what might have happened, or how expensive it would have been, had she done this with Wickham. The captain's commission is cheap by comparison, and I volunteered it; it was not a demand."
"Well, he has his commission and his orders now. When do they marry?"
"Oh, they married Saturday in a nice quiet ceremony with only family present."
"Oh, hoh!" Richard laughed. "So, she did not get any of the attention she wanted, even if she did marry first?"
"Correct. Not only that, she has been locked in her room since Denny returned her after the compromise and she will remain locked in her room until it is time for them to leave Meryton together for his new posting. Where is that, by the way?"
"A unit up north in Newcastle. It is not a glamorous posting, but I know the commanding officer. He is a fair man and has connections to help your military brother rise if he proves himself worthy."
"Not bad at all. Thank you, Richard. London, or some fancy spot like Brighton, would have been a disaster with that girl as his wife."
"Glad to be of service. Is that the house?"
They had topped a small rise and the house, stables and other outbuildings were laid out before them. Darcy nodded, although the answer really was self-evident.
"Yes, that is Longbourn. The estate has been in the Bennet family for over 300 years."
"It looks like a pretty solid and well-kept place. Good stables, too. I expect it is rather pretty in the summer with all that wisteria and ivy on the side walls along with the gardens and that little wilderness area over there."
"It is pretty. And it is in good condition. The estate could be managed a little better to increase the profits, but Mr. Bennet does not do well with anything
that requires sustained effort. He keeps the place running and out of debt, and that is enough."
"You realize you have not painted the prettiest picture of your future family? That must have been some dream to bring you back to a woman with a family so inferior to your former expectations."
Darcy smirked at him. "You sound like Aunt Catherine, and I listened to her for far too long. Come. Meet them with an open mind. You will soon understand the draw."
Darcy dismounted at the front door, handing his reins to a boy who emerged from the stables. Richard swung himself down from his horse with ease and tossed his reins to the boy as well.
"Lead on, cousin," he told Darcy as they approached the door. "I cannot wait to learn."
Chapter 24: Introductions
Mrs. Hill opened the door at Darcy's knock. After they stepped inside, he introduced his cousin to Longbourn's housekeeper, being sure to reiterate how helpful she had been when he was ill. She blushed slightly when Darcy praised her. Given the familiarity Darcy used, she felt comfortable speaking with his cousin a little less formally than she might otherwise have done.
"Mr. Darcy is more of a charmer than we would have believed after his first visit to Meryton, Colonel," she said. "Our Miss Lizzy should do very well with him. Now, are you here to visit the ladies or to chat with Mr. Bennet?"
Darcy bowed to her and replied, "I thank you for the reminder, Mrs. Hill. Although I had intended to visit with the ladies first, it would be more courteous to introduce my cousin to Mr. Bennet. We will start by greeting him."
"Very good, sir," she said as she took their outer clothes. "I will just take these to hang up until you need them again. You know the way to the study by now, I think."
Darcy led his cousin along the back way to the study, resisting the temptation to pass the sitting room or the music room where the ladies might be found. Mr. Bennet responded promptly to the knock on the study door, and Darcy made the introductions just as promptly. After they spoke the usual courtesies, Mr. Bennet addressed Richard.
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