Page 129 of Homeless

She drooped on the cushions a little, her eyes starry. “But still. Married. I have a sister! You — oh, but this is the best thing I have ever heard, this is —” She caught herself, dropped her voice, glanced over her shoulder, and turned back to him. “What is she like? You must tell me everything about her. When may I meet her? Oh, I have always wanted a sister, you know I have, and you have gone and got me one in Spain, of all the — is she very beautiful? Is she clever? She must be clever, you would never —”

“Georgiana!” He pressed her hands. “You must be calm. Truly. I need you to understand how much rests on this being kept close — not spoken of, not hinted at, not written in a letter that someone might read. Can you do that for me?”

“Of course I can.”

He raised a brow.

“I can, Fitzwilliam. I know I once gave you cause to doubt me, but that was three years ago. I would not do anything to hurt her, or you. I promise you, I can keep it.”

“I know you can. Forgive me. I did not mean —”

“You did, a little, but do not worry. I shall be so discreet you will forget I know at all. Only —” the eagerness broke through again — “only you must not make me wait very long to meet her.”

“Soon,” he said. “I promise you. There are things I must see to first — a few days, a little untangling, and then I will find a way to bring you together, and you shall have your sister.” He kissed her forehead. “She wants to meet you as much as you want to meet her. She said so to me, on the ship. She told me to come to you at once, and let you have your brother back first before she came into it, and that she will love you soon. Those were nearly her words.”

Georgiana's eyes filled. “She said that? Before she has even met me?”

“She did.”

“Then I love her already, and I shall keep your secret with my life, and I shall count the days.”

He was some while in disengaging himself from his family at Matlock House. He finally returned home a little after two, meaning to be quick about it — to change to a suit of clothes that looked sharper and more imposing, collect the papers from the study, and go straight on to the Foreign Office while the afternoon lasted.

Jeffries met him in the hall with a silver tray, and on the tray was a card. Darcy took it up and read it.

The Earl of Marchwood. And beneath, in a secretary's neat hand, a line begging Mr Darcy would do his lordship the honour of calling at his earliest convenience, his lordship being most heartily glad to learn of Mr Darcy's safe return, and most desirous of hearing his news.

“When did this come?”

“This morning, sir. Not two hours after you went out, by a footman in the Marchwood livery.”

He had walked off the Prudence onto a public wharf yesterday afternoon, come home in a hired cab long after the fashionable hour, gone out this morning to his uncle's house without sending word to anyone else. And in that narrow window, before he had made a single business call, the Earl of Marchwood had learned he was returned, and known it in time to have a card on his hall tray by noon.

Most desirous of hearing his news. Darcy's mouth curved, without much humour in it. His lordship must keep his own watch on the shipping lists, or on this house, or on both. It was not a comfortable thought, though he supposed he ought to have expected it.

He had meant to go to the Foreign Office. He wanted, badly, to go to the Foreign Office — to set the machinery of the claim moving with his own hands, today, while there was daylight and time. But one did not keep the Earl of Marchwood waiting, not when the earl was, whatever else he was, the single man best placed to hurry that same claim through the same office; and there was, besides, a kind of sense in getting it over. He would have to face Marchwood sooner or later. Better to do it now, with a good report to give and his wits about him, than to let the man send a second card and wonder why the first had gone unanswered.

And there was Lady Honoria. He did not let himself dwell on that part.

“Have the carriage brought round,” he said, and handed the card back to Jeffries. “I am going to Marchwood House.”

He went up to change after all — one did not make a business call in the same vestment he wore to greet his sister — and as his valet worked, he stood at the glass looking at the gaunt, bearded stranger in it. The game had begun before he had even chosen to sit down at the table. Marchwood had moved first. Marchwood always moved first. He would have to play the man very carefully indeed, and give away nothing he was not obliged to give, and remember every moment that the genial old friend who was so heartily glad of his return was also the one person in England with the power, and now perhaps the will, to see him ruined.

LI

Careful Truths

Copeland was a lean, sallow-eyed man of six-and-fifty. He had kept her uncle's books for twenty years, and had plainly been dreading and hoping for this call in equal measure. He rose when they came in with real feeling in his face.

“Miss Bennet, I am pleased to see you returned from Spain in good health. When we heard of Mr Gardiner’s capture, we feared the worst for you. Particularly when such a long time passed with no word of your safety.”

“My party met with some misfortunes, but I was well looked after, Mr Copeland.”

He bowed over her hand. “That is well, indeed, Miss Bennet. Please, do be seated. Mrs Gardiner, make yourself comfortable. I do not suppose you can help us in learning more of the circumstances than are presently known?” He sat down behind his desk and folded his hands upon it.

“Very little, I am afraid.” Elizabeth straightened her skirt over her chair, and then forced her hands to be still. If they shook, her aunt might learn to fear what could not be known, and that… well, it was unnecessary just now. “We were able to learn that my uncle was taken into the care of one Don Ibarra into the western Pyrenees north of Pamplona. The ransom, as I am sure you were aware, was to be sent to Estella, which is some distance to the south, down the Ebro River. I cannot account for much more.”

Copeland nodded. “Indeed, we heard as much, and then some besides.”