Pride and Proposals

with no fortune. When Richard had refused their request to end the engagement, they had treated Elizabeth with little welcome.

“I hope you can demonstrate to Elizabeth that some of my family does not disapprove of our match.” Richard watched Darcy carefully as he voiced the request.

Darcy suppressed inappropriate laughter; after all, he did disapprove—most strenuously. The irony was so thick it threatened to choke him.

His face must have betrayed this bewildering array of emotions. Richard was regarding him with consternation. “You are my oldest and dearest friend. I hope you can be a friend to my future wife.”

Darcy closed his eyes briefly. If only Richard knew how friendly Darcy could be with Elizabeth! But apparently, he had given a performance worthy of a master thespian.

“I will do everything in my power to support this marriage.” Darcy’s vow was rewarded with a smile that almost made all the pain worthwhile. “I never intended to cause Miss Bennet discomfort and will endeavor to amend my behavior.” The words sounded stiff and formal in Darcy’s ears, but more emotion-laden language might betray too many of his secrets.

Darcy stared at his now-empty glass, wishing he could dare refill it. But there would be wine with dinner and then port after. Getting foxed held some appeal, but he might reveal too much to Richard—or, God forbid, Elizabeth—in an unguarded moment. Instead, he promised himself an evening of dissipation when he was safely home.

“Thank you.” Richard’s tone was warm as he strode over to his cousin and clapped him on the shoulder. He glanced at the clock on the mantel. “The other guests will arrive soon.”

Darcy stood, straightening out his waistcoat and cravat. Despite recent events, he could not break the habit of looking his best for Elizabeth.

He followed his cousin to the door, but Richard turned before opening it. “Oh, I seated Elizabeth beside you at dinner, so you will have an opportunity to correct her misimpressions.”

Darcy suppressed a groan. His cousin would have made an excellent medieval torturer. Darcy had anticipated that Elizabeth would sit adjacent to Richard and half a table away from himself. Then Darcy could gaze silently upon his beloved and pretend the smiles she bestowed on his cousin were actually for him.

Richard glanced over his shoulder as they exited the study, expecting a response. Darcy attempted to infuse his tone with enthusiasm. “Excellent.”

The closer they drew to the entrance hall, the more Darcy’s stomach churned with anxiety. Speaking with Richard alone had not been very difficult since the pattern of their friendship had been established since childhood. But seeing Elizabeth …

They arrived in the entrance hall just as the butler opened the door to admit Charles Bingley and his sister Caroline.

Bingley?

Darcy frowned. To Darcy’s knowledge, Richard had never met Bingley. How had this come about?

“Bingley! So glad you could make it!” Richard strode across the entrance hall’s stone floor and gave the other man’s hand a hearty shake. A little bemused, Darcy followed his example.

“I suppose we are a bit early, but no matter!” Bingley’s face had recovered some of the color it had lost over the winter. “Colonel Fitzwilliam, allow me to introduce my sister, Miss Caroline Bingley.” Surprisingly, Bingley’s manner in addressing his sister was cold and brittle. She ignored it, fluttering her eyelashes at both the colonel and Darcy as she curtsied.

Richard smiled amiably as he bowed. “My pleasure, Miss Bingley.”

“Charles said you had become the new master of Hargrave Manor.” Miss Bingley’s smile was excessively ingratiating. As a wealthy landowner, Richard must now warrant her particular attention. Darcy caught the lady giving him a sidelong glance. Perhaps she intended to provoke Darcy’s jealousy, but he was quite pleased to share her attentions.

As Miss Bingley and his cousin spoke, Darcy approached Bingley. “Charles, I was not aware you were acquainted with my cousin.”

Bingley smiled widely. “We were not acquainted until a few days ago. I unexpectedly encountered the colonel and Miss Elizabeth out for a stroll near my townhouse.”

Darcy suppressed a smile. Unexpected indeed! Elizabeth had cleverly engineered a meeting between the two men, most likely with the aim of inviting Bingley to this very event. He could only admire her inventiveness. Then a thought struck him forcefully.

“Has Miss Jane Bennet been invited for the evening as well?” Darcy asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I believe so,” Bingley replied. Then he lowered his voice. “She has been staying with relatives in Cheapside these past weeks. Caroline and Louisa visited her, but they concealed Jane’s presence from me.” Bingley regarded his sister coolly. “I am quite put out with Caroline. We had a horrid row and have barely spoken two words together since.”

“Indeed?” Darcy had never known Bingley to bear a grudge.

Darcy hoped Elizabeth’s scheme would repair the damage he himself had wrought to the incipient relationship between Bingley and Jane Bennet. Fortunately, Bingley seemed unaware of Darcy’s role in the sordid affair. Perhaps someday he might confess, but tonight would be difficult enough without the revelation.

The sound of Miss Bingley’s grating laugh echoed off the marble of the entrance hall, drawing the attention of both Darcy and her brother. Without awaiting an invitation, she linked her arm with Richard’s; he appeared startled at the familiarity. “May I say, Mr. Fitzwilliam, it is a delight to spend an evening in company with people of quality and breeding.”

Caroline Bingley slanted a look to Darcy and her brother. Were her words meant as a condemnation of Bingley’s preference for Jane Bennet or the preference she suspected Darcy to hold for Elizabeth? No matter. The evening promised to hold some unpleasant surprises for her. Despite his discomfort, Darcy was cheered by the prospect of such entertainment.

A knock sounded, and Fitzwilliam’s butler glided to the door. The first person through the doorway was Elizabeth. Miss Bingley’s mouth dropped open in shock. Apparently, Bingley had not troubled himself to inform her of the guest list for the evening.