and explain to Georgiana about her birth.”
William’s head swung slowly side to side. “I cannot. Not when I have no idea who her real father might be.” He took a deep breath and sat up straighter. “Do not concern yourself for me, cousin. I have another two days until I have to face Georgiana and pretend all is well. I shall persevere.”
“And what will you do if the one woman who has managed to touch your heart is no longer available should you decide to extricate yourself from Gisela?”
William stared into space for some time before answering. “I suppose I shall just have to accept that she was never meant to be mine.”
Just at that moment there was a knock on the study door. “Come!” William called and he and Richard watched as it slowly opened, and Mr. Barnes warily stuck his head inside.
“Come in, Barnes,” William offered, knowing full well that he had not been the kindest employer since his return from Hertfordshire. Mr. Barnes stepped towards him, a silver salver in his hand and a letter upon it.
“This was delivered a moment ago. It came by express so I thought it might be urgent.”
William stood and took the missive. “Thank you, Barnes. You are most perceptive.”
“Thank you, sir. And Mrs. Barnes asked me to relay that the dining room is prepared and you may eat when you wish.”
As Barnes turned to leave, William added, “Would you tell Mrs. Barnes that the Colonel and I shall also dine together tonight?”
Mr. Barnes smiled slightly, his eyes meeting Richard’s before settling on William. “I will be most happy to do so, sir.”
Richard’s brow furrowed as he turned from watching Mr. Barnes exit the room, to see the scowl on his cousin’s face. “What is the matter now, Darcy?”
William kept reading for a moment before he looked up to meet his cousin’s gaze. “This is from Mr. Carter—the investigator hired to look into Bingley’s lost shipment. He has written that another of his ships has apparently been lost at sea. Carter thought I might be able to locate Charles without delay, as he sent a letter to his townhouse but has not received a reply.” William shook his head tiredly. “I told Charles to notify his solicitor when he was not going to be in residence in London, but I imagine he forgot as usual.”
“What do you plan to do?”
“I shall send an express to Charles asking him to come to London at once! This makes two ships in the last few months, and he will need to formulate a plan. He cannot operate a business without merchandise.”
~~~*~~~
Longbourn
A bedroom
Lizzy dropped down on the bed next to Jane, who sat staring at the invitation that had been delivered no more than twenty minutes before. Other than Mr. Bennet who was locked in his library, the house was empty, as their siblings and their mother had walked to Meryton.
“Are you actually going to dine with Caroline Bingley? I cannot imagine that she truly wants to get to know you—not after the way she avoided you at the assembly last night.”
“Oh, Lizzy, you are too quick to find fault with everyone. According to Mr. Bingley, Caroline did not feel well and almost decided to stay home.”
“Would that she had!”
“Lizzy!”
“I am teasing, Jane.”
“I pray so. Caroline has never been unkind to me, and since she has been gracious enough to issue an invitation for me to dine with her and her sister, I do not see how I can very well decline.”
“I could.” At Jane’s frown, Elizabeth laughed. “I said that I could! I know that you cannot, dear sister. You are too apt to see good in everyone. I just pray that you keep in mind what I have said.”
“I shall keep your warnings in mind. I promise.”
“Thank you. So, when is this grand experience to take place? Tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“Now, if only Mama will not try to make more of it than a dinner invitation. I thought she was going to pull Charlotte out of Mr. Bingley’s arms when they danced
William’s head swung slowly side to side. “I cannot. Not when I have no idea who her real father might be.” He took a deep breath and sat up straighter. “Do not concern yourself for me, cousin. I have another two days until I have to face Georgiana and pretend all is well. I shall persevere.”
“And what will you do if the one woman who has managed to touch your heart is no longer available should you decide to extricate yourself from Gisela?”
William stared into space for some time before answering. “I suppose I shall just have to accept that she was never meant to be mine.”
Just at that moment there was a knock on the study door. “Come!” William called and he and Richard watched as it slowly opened, and Mr. Barnes warily stuck his head inside.
“Come in, Barnes,” William offered, knowing full well that he had not been the kindest employer since his return from Hertfordshire. Mr. Barnes stepped towards him, a silver salver in his hand and a letter upon it.
“This was delivered a moment ago. It came by express so I thought it might be urgent.”
William stood and took the missive. “Thank you, Barnes. You are most perceptive.”
“Thank you, sir. And Mrs. Barnes asked me to relay that the dining room is prepared and you may eat when you wish.”
As Barnes turned to leave, William added, “Would you tell Mrs. Barnes that the Colonel and I shall also dine together tonight?”
Mr. Barnes smiled slightly, his eyes meeting Richard’s before settling on William. “I will be most happy to do so, sir.”
Richard’s brow furrowed as he turned from watching Mr. Barnes exit the room, to see the scowl on his cousin’s face. “What is the matter now, Darcy?”
William kept reading for a moment before he looked up to meet his cousin’s gaze. “This is from Mr. Carter—the investigator hired to look into Bingley’s lost shipment. He has written that another of his ships has apparently been lost at sea. Carter thought I might be able to locate Charles without delay, as he sent a letter to his townhouse but has not received a reply.” William shook his head tiredly. “I told Charles to notify his solicitor when he was not going to be in residence in London, but I imagine he forgot as usual.”
“What do you plan to do?”
“I shall send an express to Charles asking him to come to London at once! This makes two ships in the last few months, and he will need to formulate a plan. He cannot operate a business without merchandise.”
~~~*~~~
Longbourn
A bedroom
Lizzy dropped down on the bed next to Jane, who sat staring at the invitation that had been delivered no more than twenty minutes before. Other than Mr. Bennet who was locked in his library, the house was empty, as their siblings and their mother had walked to Meryton.
“Are you actually going to dine with Caroline Bingley? I cannot imagine that she truly wants to get to know you—not after the way she avoided you at the assembly last night.”
“Oh, Lizzy, you are too quick to find fault with everyone. According to Mr. Bingley, Caroline did not feel well and almost decided to stay home.”
“Would that she had!”
“Lizzy!”
“I am teasing, Jane.”
“I pray so. Caroline has never been unkind to me, and since she has been gracious enough to issue an invitation for me to dine with her and her sister, I do not see how I can very well decline.”
“I could.” At Jane’s frown, Elizabeth laughed. “I said that I could! I know that you cannot, dear sister. You are too apt to see good in everyone. I just pray that you keep in mind what I have said.”
“I shall keep your warnings in mind. I promise.”
“Thank you. So, when is this grand experience to take place? Tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“Now, if only Mama will not try to make more of it than a dinner invitation. I thought she was going to pull Charlotte out of Mr. Bingley’s arms when they danced
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