Page 5 of Master of Himself

“What’s going on here?” Hurst said, shifting his focus between Darcy and his twin.

Removing his sodden gloves, Darcy felt something strangely absent. “My signet ring is missing.” He had worn the heirloom ring since the day his father had died. “I must have dropped it outside when we freed Charles’s carriage wheel from the mud,” he said, fearing it was now forever lost in the mire.

“But if you were wearing your gloves—” His doppelganger stared agape at his own right hand. Darcy’s ring was on his finger.

The footman rushed into the cloakroom. “I have the towels, Mr Bingley,” he said, handing them off to the other men, then dabbing at Darcy’s face.

Darcy took the towel from him. “Yes, thank you, John. Please ask our valets to bring hot bathing water to our chambers,” he said, and the footman dashed off to do his bidding.

Laughter rumbled low in Henry Hurst’s throat, then burst into raucous hilarity. “I don’t know how, but Charles is Darcy, and Darcy is Charles,” he said, hooting and slapping his thighs.

“What are you blathering about?” Darcy said, which sent Hurst into riotous convulsions.

“Don’t you see? Ha, ha! Oh, this is too good. I can’t wait to tell Louisa.”

Darcy’s double seized Hurst by his lapels. “You can’t tell anyone about this, Henry.”

Hurst laughed heartily. “Everyone will figure out easily enough that you’ve switched places.”

Although Darcy couldn’t comprehend how this was even possible, nor could he allow word of this debacle to spread beyond this room. “You must give us your word that you won’t tell anyone.”

“I might need some…incentive.” Hurst opened his hand and wiggled his fingers.

Darcy reached into his pocket and pulled out Bingley’s change purse. “How much should I give him?” he asked his double.

“Name your price, Henry.”

“Two pounds from each of you will do quite nicely,” Hurst said, beaming broadly.

Darcy snarled. In his opinion, Hurst was enjoying his misfortune far too much. As he counted out the coins, he wondered how in the world he would explain this turn of events to Georgiana.

Chapter 3

Charles Bingley stared in disbelief at his identical twin. If Henry Hurst were to be believed, the unimaginable had happened, and he had changed places with Darcy. In his entire life, he wouldn’t have believed that any such thing were possible. Nor had he ever worn a ring, but there on his right hand was the golden Darcy insignia. What’s more, he towered over Henry and sounded like Darcy.

Henry’s and Darcy’s valets rushed into the room. “We heard what happened, Mr Darcy,” Mr Hobbs said.

Utterly bewildered, Charles allowed Mr Hobbs to strip him of Darcy’s mud-covered rain cloak, boots, drenched stockings, coat, waistcoat, and cravat, leaving only his shirt and breeches. “Please allow me to escort you up to your chamber.”

He exchanged fleeting glances with his sopping-wet self, and followed Hobbs through the servant’s quarters and up the stairs. “The ladies have already retired so they won’t see you in your bare feet.”

Henry Hurst followed behind with his valet. “What a night, Winters. Not fit for man nor beast,” he said, chuckling.

Charles shot a warning glance at Henry, who snickered under his breath.

Walking through the house, they entered the main hall and ascended the grand staircase. Once upstairs, Charles shivered as he turned towards the family wing.

“This way, Mr Darcy,” Hobbs said, gesturing in the opposite direction.

“Yes, of course.” Shaking his head at his careless mistake, he followed the valet to Darcy’s guest chamber. The shock of recent events must be his excuse, but another slip like that could be disastrous. Under no circumstances should he give the slightest hint that anything had gone amiss.

Once inside Darcy’s room, he was grateful for the warmth of the blazing fire.

“I’ve brought plenty of towels and your warmest nightshirt,” Hobbs said. The valet had set the wash basin near the grate, with a screen around it to keep in the heat. “The water is hot, and after you have bathed, you will be more comfortable.”

Charles winced at the pain in his head. “May I trouble you for a headache powder?” he said, hoping this was nothing out of the ordinary for Darcy.

“Right away, sir.” Hobbs dashed off without a moment’s hesitation.