The Fire at Longbourn by Kendig Laraba

Author:Kendig, Laraba
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-03-31T00:00:00+00:00

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Netherfield

The Next Morning

A soft tapping woke Darcy, and he opened his eyes and looked around with confusion until his mind helpfully provided him with the reason for his current situation. He had slept on a sofa, a surprisingly comfortable one, in the parlor to keep safe from Miss Bingley’s machinations.

He sat up and swung his feet onto the floor and watched as Percy, his valet, immaculately attired in spite of his own night on the floor, opened the door and gestured for Bingley to enter. “Would you like me to bring you some tea, sir?” Percy asked.

“Thank you, yes,” Darcy replied, and waited until his man had departed before turning a bleary gaze on Bingley. “Well, what happened last night? I hope that we were merely being alarmist?”

Bingley, whose face was pale and sported dark circles under his eyes, collapsed more than sat on a chair near the fire and said heavily, “I fear not, Darcy. As planned, I sat by the fire in your bedchamber, and I confess that I was nearly asleep when Caroline crept into the room at two hours past midnight and was extremely displeased to discover your bed uninhabited.”

Darcy felt his heart clench within him at these words, and he leaned back, suddenly breathless.

“That is regrettable,” he managed to say.

“Regrettable?” Bingley repeated bitterly. “That is certainly one way to describe it, old friend. Indeed, I am not certain whether I dare claim you as a friend anymore. I apologize profusely for my sister’s horrifying actions and entirely understand if you feel the need to end our association.”

Darcy sighed and asked, “What do you plan to do with Miss Bingley now?”

“She is already gone,” Bingley replied with grim satisfaction. “Several of the servants were told that an emergency had arisen and that Caroline was required to attend to our aunt Cynthia immediately. An hour ago, I put my sister and her personal maid into our carriage and sent them away with orders that the coachman convey her to Bath as quickly as possible. I sent an express to Aunt Cynthia so she will have some warning before Caroline descends upon her.”

Darcy grimaced. He was naturally pleased to have Miss Bingley safely away, but he felt rather sorry for the aunt.

“You need not worry about Aunt Cynthia,” Bingley said, apparently sensing his thoughts. “She is the widow of a man of trade, wealthy, and mother to four grown sons and two grown daughters. She has a phlegmatic and very determined disposition. She will manage Caroline successfully; it is grimly obvious that I have not.”

“There is a difference between being a brother as opposed to an older relation,” Darcy mused, his mind shifting back to the disaster at Ramsgate but a few months earlier. He had thought himself an excellent guardian of Georgiana, only to realize that he had, in fact, failed miserably by not warning his sister of Wickham’s foul character.

“I suppose,” Bingley said disconsolately.

Darcy stood up and wandered over to drop a hand onto his friend’s shoulder.

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