His Good Opinion: A Mr. Darcy Novel (3 page)

"My thoughts exactly."

"Very well then, call her in."

Richard left the room and returned a moment later, accompanied by a woman. Her apparent youth startled Darcy--she did not look much older than he was. However, her upright bearing and sensible blue walking dress (coupled with the recommendations she possessed) convinced him to listen with an open mind.

He rose from his chair and bowed slightly when she entered the room. "Good day, Mrs. Annesley. I am Mr. Darcy and this is my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam."

She smiled and took her seat. "Good afternoon, gentlemen."

"May we offer you some refreshment before we begin? A cup of tea perhaps?"

"Thank you; that is not necessary."

As per their arrangement, Darcy observed while Richard asked the questions. "Your references are glowing, madam. May I ask how you came to be in need of a new position?"

"My previous charge is to marry Lord Rathbourne next month."

Darcy raised his eyebrows a little. Rathbourne's engagement had been the talk of the Season. Mrs. Annesley clearly felt at home in the highest circles; that was good. As the granddaughter of an earl, Georgiana could marry very well.

"Your position with Miss Darcy might be slightly different from what you are accustomed. Mr. Darcy and I are often away from town on business. During those times, we would depend on you to provide any guidance she might need. If that makes you at all uneasy, we need not go any further." Once again, Darcy was grateful for Richard's military precision; his words cut straight to the heart of the matter.

"Not at all," she said, and her calm, unaffected manner struck Darcy favorably. He could not imagine this genteel woman yelling at him as Mrs. Younge had.

Her next words cemented his high opinion of her. "In fact, my very first position was quite similar to what you just described. Estate duties kept the father often from London. With regular correspondence, I informed him of anything that required his attention, and he in turn trusted me implicitly."

Darcy shared a look with his cousin. She had just answered their most important question without prompting. Richard nodded almost imperceptibly, and Darcy turned back to Mrs. Annesley. "Thank you very much for your time," he told her. "By your answers, I believe you would be a good fit for the post. We will, of course, need to check into your references, but I do not imagine there will be any problem there. Expect to hear from us in the next few days to finalize the matter."

She stood and both gentleman followed suit. "Thank you, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Darcy. I look forward to hearing from you."

"Colonel Fitzwilliam will see you to the door."

It was a simple matter to check the references, and within a week Mrs. Annesley was installed at their townhouse in Grosvenor Square. Her presence forced Georgiana to be social, but Darcy noticed a hesitancy in her manner that told him all was still not well. He would not leave her yet so vulnerable, but he did not relish the thought of summer in the city. As little as he enjoyed London during the Season, the capital was even more unpleasant in the sultry heat. The stench alone was almost unbearable.

The one consolation Darcy had was that with the Ton largely absent, there were very few social obligations. There were no parties or soirees, no simpering misses to be avoided. In truth, it was almost too solitary for Darcy, and he was glad when Bingley paid a visit about a week after Mrs. Annesley's arrival.

"I did not think to find you in town, Darcy. I was most pleasantly surprised to see your card when I returned."

"The sea air did not agree with Georgiana, so I found it necessary to reestablish her here in London." Darcy hated the lie more with every repetition, but he would not expose his sister to gossip.

"Ah, that is too bad." Bingley rocked back on his heels, his eyes crinkled in a broad smile. "Oh, but this is a wonderful coincidence. I can issue my invitation in person."

Darcy tilted his head. "Invitation?"

"Yes. I just signed the lease on a lovely estate in Hertfordshire, and I would be honored if you would stay with me for a time this autumn."

Darcy hid a smile. Bingley frequently stated his desire to purchase an estate of his own, but Darcy privately wondered if his friend's easy personality gave him the drive for such an undertaking. If there was an estate to be let, it was doubtful he would ever feel it necessary. "What is the estate called?"

"Netherfield Park. It is but half a day's ride from London. Will you join me, Darcy?"

Darcy's smile slipped. In his amusement, he had forgotten Bingley's question. "I am afraid I have business that keeps me here for the present, Bingley."

He knew his friend too well to think this would dissuade him, and he was not disappointed. Bingley laughed and said, "You must rest sometime, Darcy. I leave for Netherfield on Sunday next, but I shall return the week following and will persuade you to join me."

"You have my permission to try, but I do not promise that you will succeed."

"That is as much as I can hope for today. I have business of my own to attend to, so I bid you farewell. I shall see you again Monday fortnight."

Darcy breathed a sigh when Bingley was gone. Though he hated lying to his friend, Georgiana's reputation demanded it. He had a notion that Bingley would make a fine husband for her, but even a man of his easy humor might be swayed by an aborted elopement.

As to leaving London to rusticate in Hertfordshire, that was utterly out of the question. Georgiana had not regained enough confidence for him to leave her alone. His heart ached when he saw her shy timidity, so different from the warm, happy child she had been not too long ago.

Richard, however, took a different view on the matter and let Darcy know his feelings over port two days later. "You cannot stay always in town, William. You know you will go mad in a matter of weeks if you do not return to the country."

Darcy tugged on his ear. His impatience with town life was indeed growing, but he would not relinquish his responsibilities. "If I remove Georgiana to Pemberley so soon, she will never be at ease in Society. She will see my actions as proof I do not trust her."

Richard snorted. "She already believes that."

Darcy looked up, startled. "She thinks what?"

"Watch her when we rejoin the ladies. She shies away from your gaze, thinking you only watch her because you doubt her judgment. Can you not see she is afraid of disappointing you again? That fear only increases the longer you stay, watching her like a mother hen."

Darcy did not want to believe it, but when they entered the drawing room, he saw immediately what Richard meant. Georgiana glanced away from Mrs. Annesley to him, met his gaze, and then looked away. Her speech faltered for a moment, and he suddenly felt like an imbecile.

He turned to Richard and said in a low voice, "What shall I do?"

"Do not go to Pemberley if you feel that it is too far, but do leave London. I will keep watch over Georgie so long as I am not needed elsewhere; you know she looks on me differently than she does you. You are the brother who is nearly a father to her. I am merely the beloved cousin."

Darcy contemplated for moment. "Bingley did ask if I cared to winter with him in Hertfordshire."

Richard shook his head and slapped Darcy on the shoulder. "Go! For God's sake man, go."

Darcy nodded decisively. "I will."

He told Georgiana the next morning, and she took the announcement with quiet resignation. "How long will you remain with Mr. Bingley and his sisters?"

"Of that I am not certain. Bingley, I know, plans to remain all through the winter, but I would like to be back in town for Christmas." Darcy and his father had always striven to make Christmas special for Georgiana, and in recent years it had become one of the few times of the year brother and sister were together.

"Very well, I will see you in December. Do greet them for me."

Georgiana's dispassionate response to his departure assured Darcy he did the right thing. If she could regard his absence with such calm, then his presence in London was not needed.

A short trip back to Pemberley was necessary, and he arrived back in London just in time to join Bingley's party as they journeyed to Hertfordshire. The carriage being full of Bingley's two sisters and the husband of one, he and Bingley opted to ride alongside. The open air suited his temperament better than being trapped inside a carriage for hours on end with Bingley's sisters, and he was glad of Bingley's company. His friend's gift for turning idle chatter into meaningful conversation kept him from worrying about Georgiana the whole ride to Hertfordshire, and for that at least he was grateful.

Darcy had been in Hertfordshire less than a day when he first wondered if he had made the right choice in accepting his friend's invitation. "I have promised our presence at the local assembly," Bingley announced at breakfast the morning after they arrived.

"A country ball?" Every inch of Miss Bingley's refined appearance, from her perfectly coiffed chestnut hair to the fine lace ruffle on her gown, proclaimed her disapprobation with such a scheme. "Really, Charles, you might have consulted us first."

Though Darcy did not speak, he was in private agreement. Public balls were an unpleasantness he avoided at all costs--the people were just as supercilious as the members of the Ton, but without enough manners and good breeding to make the engagement even tolerable.

When they entered the uncomfortably cramped assembly hall that evening, his worst prejudices were confirmed. Even in the low light provided by too few candles, he could discern the country styles and high spirits he disdained.

Though the dancing did not stop when they walked in, the room otherwise became noticeably quieter as people observed their arrival, and then steadily louder as they began to talk and speculate amongst themselves. Clearly, Bingley's arrival had been long anticipated, and with the flock of young ladies of marriageable age, Darcy did not wonder why.

Bingley led the way to the front of the room where a cheerful gentleman with a florid nose presided over the assembly. "Mr. Bingley, it is a pleasure to see you again."

"I am pleased to be here, Sir William. May I introduce my party? My sister and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Hurst, and my younger sister, Miss Bingley. The gentleman is our friend, Mr. Darcy. "

Sir William's low bow gave Darcy an excellent view of his balding head. "Ah, splendid! Mr. Darcy, I am pleased to make your acquaintance. Where are you from, sir?"

"From Derbyshire, sir." Darcy made no mention of his estate. It was bad enough to have town mamas crying after him; it would be unbearable in the midst of such low company.

Despite his efforts, whispers soon reached his ears:

"Fitzwilliam Darcy..."

"Ten thousand a year..."

"A large estate in Derbyshire."

He glanced at the door, but he knew very well there was no escape. The sensation of being trapped unawares added heat to his glower, and his curt refusals soon put off even the most stalwart parents. No, he did not wish to be introduced to the local daughters--no matter how pretty or amiable they may be.

His mouth turned down in disapproval as two young ladies danced by him, heedless of the spectacle they created.
No indeed, I do not wish to meet any of the young ladies
.

Duty required him to dance once with each of Bingley's sisters. Caroline Bingley tried to tease him into leading her out a second time, but he bowed and moved to the edge of the room. Laughter caught his attention, and the same two girls skipped across the room in a most unladylike fashion.

"Mama! Mama!" they called out in unison, and Darcy sneered when he recognized the lady they addressed.
Now I understand the lack of parental control
. Mrs. Bennet had been absolutely brazen in her attempt to attach Bingley to one of her five daughters. She had even tried to approach him, but he had moved away before she could reach his side. To think he would be willing to join himself to such a family insulted everything he believed in.

Much to his displeasure, his peace was soon interrupted yet again by a lady he did not recognize. "May I sit by you, Mr. Darcy?" the matron said on her approach. He nodded coolly, and she sat. "Thank you, sir. I am Mrs. Long."

The impudence of her manner disgusted him, and he turned slightly away. That, however, did not deter her. "My, this room is not quite large enough for the number of couples, is it?" She opened her fan to cool herself. "How unfortunate that there are so few gentlemen present. I see several young ladies sitting out the dance."

Darcy pressed his lips into a thin line. He knew from her tone that one of these young ladies was a relation to her. Courtesy dictated he should offer to lead said young lady out, but he stubbornly refused to be so blatantly manipulated.

The silence stretched on, and eventually she changed the subject to one he could not avoid answering. "I do hope you find Netherfield Park to your liking. Your friend will, I believe, be staying in Hertfordshire for a while?"

"I find nothing lacking in my accommodation. As to Mr. Bingley's plans, you will have to inquire of him." The terseness of Darcy's reply at last quieted the babbling woman. She remained by his side for a few more minutes, before making up the excuse that a friend beckoned her from across the room.