A Wife for Mr. Darcy

the swirl of events taking place in London, and for that, Richard was in need of the services of Gregg, Antony’s manservant, an accomplished horseman. Richard brought his brother up to date on the disaster-in-the-making that was the Montford/ Darcy courtship.
    “This does not sound like the Darcy I know,” Antony said. “But if he is not going to learn from my mistakes, then why should I help him? On the other hand, he is my cousin, and on occasion has lent me money. So I shall agree to send my man to Kent, as Darcy lacks my experience in handling unpleasant situations. However, I would like to know how Anne is going to help prevent a marriage in London when she is sequestered with Empress Catherine in Rosings Park.”
    “I need Anne’s help to get Darcy to Pemberley. Once there, our cousin will be unable to resist the charms of Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I am telling you, Antony, he is head over heels in love with the lady. This is a Will Darcy you do not know.”
    Richard also took Mercer into his confidence, urging him to plant seeds of doubt about Miss Montford whenever possible, even at the risk of his master’s displeasure. Mercer readily agreed, as he was a daily witness to his growing unhappiness. When Mr. Darcy had repeated a comment made by his housemaster at Eton, “You have made your bed, and now you must lie in it,” Mercer had responded by saying that was an excellent lesson for a boy, but perhaps being miserable for the rest of his life might be too harsh even for his housemaster.
    “And what did Mr. Darcy say?” Richard asked.
    “He told me he wished to hear no more on the subject.”

    The next evening, after dinner, Darcy took the day’s post into the parlor and was happy to see that he had a letter from Anne de Bourgh.
    “Damn!” Darcy said after scanning the letter.
    “What?” Richard asked innocently.
    “Anne is to go to her Aunt Hargrave’s and will not be at Rosings when I had planned to visit,” and he read on. “However, she is eagerly looking forward to receiving a description of the autumn colors from Georgie. Very interesting since I had not mentioned that Georgie was in Derbyshire. I had intended to tell Anne when I saw her.”
    “I may have mentioned it to Antony, and I know he is in frequent correspondence with Anne,” Richard said, quickly trying to cover up Anne’s mistake. He could not blame his cousin for the slipup as she was a novice conspirator.
    “Am I to believe that Antony immediately dashed off a letter to Anne to apprise her of Georgie’s whereabouts? So my next question is, did you have something to do with this?” and he held out Anne’s letter.
    “I thank you for the compliment. If you think I am capable of informing Anne in Kent of events in London that have only just happened, you obviously think me a clever fellow.” Darcy agreed that it was unlikely. “Listen, Darcy,” Richard quickly added, “you cannot avoid Miss Elizabeth. Her sister is to marry your closest friend, and you will see her at the wedding, at christenings, when you visit with Bingley at Netherfield, and on many other occasions. I suggest you write to Georgiana and tell her you are coming to Pemberley for the shooting and fishing and that you will have limited contact with her guests.”
    “I don’t know what else I can do. If I am supposed to be in Derbyshire, I cannot be seen anywhere in town. I am beginning to feel like an adolescent incapable of managing his own affairs.” After several minutes of thought, Darcy agreed. “You have convinced me. I shall tell Mercer to make preparations for us to go to Pemberley.”
    Mercer stepped into the room from his listening post in the hall. “I assume that we are to leave first thing in the morning, sir. May I suggest that we travel lightly? I will arrange for a wagon to come to Pemberley the next day, carrying your trunks as well as the colonel’s. In that way, we will make excellent time because we will have a lighter load.”
    “Mercer, tell me the truth. Had you already started packing?” There was something going on here, but he had not figured it out yet.
    “Sir, part of being a good valet is anticipating the master’s wishes, so I have packed some things, but not all, and there is much to be done.”
    “Well, it seems the Fates, being helped by others, I suspect, have conspired to have me in Derbyshire, and I will not defy them.” But what would he do once he got there?

When Colonel Fitzwilliam emerged from the