Page 17 of The Secret Diary of Anne de Bourgh

Darcy and Richard should be here today. Darcy’s man came with a note for Lizzy telling her that they would be setting off early and travelling slowly to avoid exacerbating Richard’s injuries, so not to expect them before late afternoon.

I could not settle to anything. Miss Bingley asked if I had a case of the fidgets, so I escaped to the library. Bingley’s shelves held nothing I had not read. I was considering As You Like It for the fifth time when he came in.

“Miss de Bourgh! Another reader disappointed by my library, I see. Perhaps you could help me improve it? We might drive into Hertford and visit the bookseller.”

I agreed at once. By the time the carriages were ordered, Miss Bingley and the others had decided to join us. We went in two carriages, one of them Darcy’s, which he had left for Elizabeth’s use.

Hertford proved to have a great many more shops than Meryton, and Miss Bingley brightened significantly at the diversion, sweeping into a draper’s and demanding the attention of all the staff. Lizzy and I shared a look and made our way swiftly to the bookseller.

Georgie and Mr Bingley accompanied us, leaving Jane and Kitty with Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley. Mr Bingley assured us expansively that he would be happy for us to expand his library as much as we saw fit, and told the bookseller to package up all purchases for us, before heading along the street towards a gunsmith’s shop.

Georgiana, Elizabeth and I soon had three piles of books on the counter. Mr Bingley had promised we might choose as we pleased, and the bookseller took him at his word.

Mr Bingley paid the bill without a qualm when he returned, and had his footman come to collect the parcels and stow them in the carriages. We went to join the other ladies – Bingley wisely decided that he wanted to visit another shop entirely – and spent another enjoyable half-hour there. Or it would have been enjoyable, without Miss Bingley’s presence.

Miss Bingley tried to persuade me to buy orange satin, though she had spent most of the visit calling the attendants away whenever Jane or Elizabeth needed them. Mrs Hurst drew her off to ask about several silks, and Jane could at last speak to the shopwoman.

We lunched at the inn, and departed for Netherfield with the carriages so full of parcels Bingley joked that he should sit outside with the driver. Jane told him that he should do no such thing, even if she had to sit on his lap to make room. She at once blushed when she realised what she had said, and tried to hide her face in his shoulder.

Miss Bingley muttered something disparaging about ill-breeding under her breath, and I sent her a nasty look before speaking up.

“Mrs Bingley, such evidence of affection between yourself and Mr Bingley is heart-warming, truly. And since we are all of an age to be wed, I should hope none of us are so missish that the inference that a wife might sometimes sit upon her husband’s lap should cause us to swoon!”

“Well said, Anne,” Georgiana said, rather more loudly than usual. Miss Bingley had no answer for either of us.

Darcy and Richard had not yet arrived when we returned. Elizabeth gave me the new books to sort and shelve with her. We were still at work when Jane came to say she had ordered tea.

We accepted, and I was quite glad of it for my throat was dry and tight with excitement. I could only sip at my tea and nibble at a biscuit as the others talked – the conversation punctuated as usual by Mr Hurst’s snores – until the sound of carriage wheels reached us.

Elizabeth gave me a warning glance, and I stayed in my seat. Kitty took my hand.

He is here. Richard is here.

Jane set down her cup and stood. Miss Bingley rose beside her.

“Dear Jane, I shall come and help you greet our guests,” she said patronisingly. “No doubt the Colonel will require a great deal of assistance, and I am happy to help.”

I heard Elizabeth suck in a little breath at Miss Bingley’s presumption, and then she was standing too. “What are we waiting for, ladies?” she said gaily. “I am most eager to see Fitzwilliam again; I declare this is the longest separation we have had to endure since our wedding day!”

Miss Bingley scowled at that, but followed the two sisters from the room. I could only sit, paralysed, until a most unexpected guest entered.

“Mary!” Kitty exclaimed, jumping up. “What are you doing here?”

Mary embraced us. “Mr Darcy asked me to accompany the Colonel. I know which medicines Captain Spears has prepared for him, and the trained nurses are needed in London.”

“Well we are all most glad to see you,” Georgiana said sincerely, and I echoed the sentiment, adding that no doubt our cousin was grateful for her care.

I could hear a commotion out in the hallway, irritated voices, and then I heard Richard’s raised above the rest.

“For God’s sake, Darce, leave off fussing! I am going to walk in there and greet my cousins properly, and then you may put me in a sickroom and coddle me.”

I could not hear Darcy’s reply over the thunderous beating of my heart.

Richard stood in the doorway, still tall and handsome, but thinner and paler than I had ever seen him. His clothes hung loosely, his right hand was heavily bandaged, and he gripped a stick in his left.

He was still the most beautiful sight I had ever seen.

Georgiana hurried to embrace him. Over her shoulder he caught my eye and smiled.