Page 20 of Her Whole Heart
“Yes, a falcon, that was it,” Bingley mused. “Well, the Torrington family has a large house and land out in Kensington, so I suppose there is plenty of room for it to hunt.” He finished his drink and set the glass down. “Iescorted Miss Bennet to her sister later in the evening, and she joined in the conversation without missing a step. She said certain owls are taught falconry too. Most interesting conversation I have heard in a ballroom in ages.”
“Falcons.”
Bingley chuckled. “And owls. Yes.”
“What about falcons?” Fitzwilliam asked as he barged into the room ahead of a perturbed Mr. Yardley.
Darcy scowled. “Apologise to Mr. Yardley for not allowing him to do his job.”
“Right good of you to let me in, Mr. Yardley,” Fitz said, and smiled at the older man’s narrowed eyes. “I say, Darcy,” he continued after the butler closed the door to the study, “your man is losing a step. Time was he would have had me up by my collar no more than five feet inside the door.”
“You have been on the continent,” Darcy replied. “And, as you are the only person of my acquaintance who refuses to be properly announced, his skills have not been required.”
Fitz rubbed the back of his head. “Seems a terrible waste of time when I know you shall always be home to me.”
Darcy sighed. Of course he would always be home to Fitz, but was it necessary to flout polite behaviour at every turn? Rules were rules for a reason.
“Good day, Colonel,” Bingley said amiably.
“Bingley.” Fitz glanced at the glass in Darcy’s hand.
With a sigh, Darcy poured out a drink for his cousin.
“Thank you,” Fitz said after he had taken his first sip. “That is just the thing for a day such as this.”
“Has something happened?” Darcy asked. Anything to move the conversation away from his dealings with Lord Carlisle and Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
“Hen is being herself,” Fitz replied. “Almost makes a man wish to return to war.”
“What now?” Darcy inquired. Bingley knew that Lady Henrietta was something of a mystery to her entire family, so it did not matter if he heard. The earl was a dedicated Whig, and yet his daughter flaunted her rank at every opportunity.
“She had a letter from Lady Penelope yesterday, and today she has been accepting callers and speaking poisonously of the Bennets. Father received his own summons to Carlisle House, and when he returned yesterday, he put an end to her visiting hours for the week. She is not pleased.”
“How could anyone speak poorly of Miss Bennet?” Bingley asked, before hastily adding, “Or Miss Elizabeth either?”
Darcy did not respond. He had. He could only hope Lady Henrietta had not taken that news as permission to do the same, for he had been in the wrong there.
“Father is concerned about his political relationship with Lord Carlisle, I suspect.” Fitz drew up a chair and crossed one leg over the other. “I have been sent to inquire what Lord Carlisle said toyou, since you clearly do not intend to inform me of it on your own.”
Bingley’s eyes narrowed. “I was only in jest before, Darcy. When did you speak to Lord Carlisle?”
“The earl invited him over for tea ages ago,” Fitz replied.
There had been no tea.
“I had no idea you were on such good terms,” Bingley said. “Though I suppose I ought not be surprised.”
Fitz laughed, and Darcy frowned.
“We are not on good terms,” Darcy said. “As Fitz well knows.”
His cousin subsided, but Darcy had no doubt that he would return to the subject the next time they were alone.
Bingley glanced between the two of them and shook his head, giving up whatever he was about to say.
“If you are determined to keep your own counsel,” Fitz said, leaning back in his chair and crossing his legs, “answer me this—what did Lord Carlisle and father speak about? For he castigated Hen severely when he returned from Carlisle House.”
When it came to Lady Henrietta, Darcy had absolutely no understanding. “Truly, Fitz, I do not know. I did not even know he had called.”
