Page 2 of Leave Her Wild
Darcy shrugged his embarrassment. “I do not have the talent which some people possess of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot catch their tone of conversation or appear interested in their concerns, as I often see done.”
“My sons will assist you. Her ladyship and I will return to London in another month when Parliament comes back in session, but you should arrive earlier. Choose a young lady fair of face and mild of temperament.”
“As you did with Lady Matlock?” Darcy asked with a lift of his brows in challenge.
“Your aunt is very comely, even with her years,” the earl countered. “As to her usefulness as a countess, I require more than a woman who can run my different households. Your auntis capable of being mistress of Matlock House, but she also is quite useful in the stratagems of politics.”
Darcy thought, “Though I am not part of the aristocracy, I would prefer a wife who did not expect me to make every decision of her day. I do not relish the idea of being a puppeteer.”
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“I wish I was also going to London,” Kitty said wistfully.
Since Lydia had eloped with one of the local militia, the remaining four Bennet sisters had had their own hopes of marriage dashed. Lydia’s lack of shame was common knowledge among those in and around Meryton, and, like it or not, by association, her sisters were equally guilty of loose morals.
Their Aunt Gardiner had agreed to assist Miss Jane Bennet with a short appearance in London. Madelyn Gardiner had written, “Your Uncle Edward and I do not keep company with the upper echelon of British society, but I can assure that Jane will be exposed to members of the gentry and those who own successful business interests.”
“I do wish your aunt could arrange a full Season among the aristocracy,” Mrs. Bennet had said with a sniffle of despair. “It is a shame our Jane’s beauty will be wasted on a shopkeeper.”
“Some of those shopkeepers,” Miss Elizabeth Bennet said, “are wealthier than many with titles.”
“Even so,” Mrs. Bennet began again, but her protest died on her lips when Mr. Thomas Bennet reminded his wife, “My Brother Gardiner has been more than generous. He has paid for Mr. Wickham’s lieutenancy and the settlement on Lydia. And now, he offers Jane the opportunity to be introduced to society. Make the most of it, Jane. Your sisters are depending on your success.”
Elizabeth shot her father a look of disapproval. She corrected, “If it is to be so, find someone you think ‘tolerable.’Hopefully he will be someone you might learn to love, but, definitely, he must be someone who will treat you kindly. Do not accept a proposal simply to save your sisters. It would be beyond the pale to know our salvation came from your sacrifice.”
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Darcy studied his appearance in the long mirror. His valet, Mr. Alfred Sheffield, tied an elaborate knot in Darcy’s cravat. Darcy could think of a hundred different tasks he should be addressing in Derbyshire rather than to be “doing the pretty” at Lady Ellis’s ball. Yet, if he was not successful, all his efforts at Pemberley could be for nought.
A light tap on Darcy’s door had Mr. Thacker, his butler, announcing, “Mr. Bingley, sir.”
His friend Charles Bingley appeared in the open doorway. It had been a good while since he had spent time with the man he had ushered about during their university years. They wrote often, for Bingley was what society called a “rich cit,” meaning, though Bingley’s fortune was extensive, one larger than many of the aristocracy could claim, Bingley’s money came from the shipping and furniture businesses begun by the late Daniel Bingley. Mr. Charles Bingley had been the first of his family to have known a university education and to establish himself in society.
“Good evening, Bingley,” Darcy said, but he dared not extend his hand to his friend. “You remember Mr. Sheffield,” he continued with a smile and as an unspoken apology for a lack of social skills.
“Good evening, Mr. Bingley,” Sheffield said as he set a sapphire pin on the lapel of Darcy’s evening coat.
“Good evening, Sheffield,” Bingley said with a smile. “I almost did not recognize you without a book in your hand. I do not think I ever properly thanked you for assisting me with all those Shakespeare volumes we read at Cambridge.”
Sheffield used a brush on Darcy’s sleeves and shoulders. “I am always glad to debate the magnificence of Shakespeare, sir. I should have found another position after Mr. Darcy finished his oral exams and left Cambridge, but the master owns a library that rivals many royal ones, and he permits all at Pemberley who wish knowledge access to it.”
Darcy corrected. “Neither you nor I, Sheffield, have ever viewed a royal library. As for me, I cannot comprehend the neglect of a family library in such days as these.”
Finally released by Sheffield, Darcy shook Bingley’s hand. “I am glad you could join me this evening.”
“I am not complaining,” Bingley assured. “I had planned to write to you some time this week to learn if you knew of any estates I might let, as well as press you to join me for a few weeks, say, sometime after Michaelmas. I would very much enjoy both your company and your tutelage on what is important to complete during the autumn on an estate.”
Darcy chuckled, “And I asked you to join me this evening, for I am to begin my search for a wife. You know how large gatherings are not myf?rte.”
“So, Lord Matlock has insisted on your joining the marriage mart, heh?” Bingley asked.
“Yes, he is even sending Fitzwilliam and Lindale to join me through some of the social events. Matlock believes we all should consider marriage.” Darcy would not tell Bingley of Bertram Darcy’s manipulation.
Bingley bowed in an obvious jest, rising with a grin on his lips. “You are entrusting me to discover a young lady who will not bore the great Fitzwilliam Darcy?”
“I am entrusting my future happiness to you,” Darcy paused and offered a matching smile. “You and, of course, my two cousins.”
Chapter Two
