Page 64 of His Dark Heart
“A letter from Lord Bingley.”
“Lord Bingley? Whyever for?”
“I do not imagine I should know.” As soon as he released his wife's hand, Darcy broke the seal and commenced to read.
High Lord Darcy:
Dear sir, I regret to inform ye that the recent treaty we negotiated has not gone over well with several of our local lords. I have been assigned the task of renegotiation, and I fear the diplomatic process must take place as soon as possible. Pray expect a small party that will include myself and my sister, the Right Honourable Lady Caroline, within a fortnight.
With regards,
Lord Charles Bingley
“He could not have sent his letter by regular post? Lord, I thought some dreadful occurrence had taken place!” Elizabeth was not any more impressed with the disruption of their sleep than was he.
“It has. That treaty is vital. It was to allow safe passage of a large amount of gold through some treacherous territory. I wager the grouping of lords wants to renegotiate their protection price, which is unacceptable.”
“Then respond with a letter that says as much.”
“I cannot. That is the crux. The art of negotiation forbids me to refuse his offer to attempt.”
“Oh. This all sounds rather complicated.” Elizabeth paused, a thoughtful expression on her face as she came around the chair and helped herself to a seat on his lap. Her nose wrinkled. “Shall I be expected to entertain the Right Honourable Lady Caroline?”
The words might as well have been a punch in the stomach; the shock was so great. The one person in the world who should be as far away as possible was expected as well, and he would have to leave her to his wife! She was vengeful and capable and unpredictable. His one hope was that he still had enough power to control her.
“Do you not like her?” asked Darcy.
“Oh, not at all. She seems to think very little of me and very well of herself.”
“She does tend to give people the impression that she is above them.”
“I never said she was above me. I said she thinks she is.”
He chuckled. “Very true.”
“Were you lovers?”
He started and levelled a look at her. “What?”
“You have known Lord Charles and his wretched sister for years, have you not? Other women knew your bed before we married. I would like to know if Lady Caroline was one of them.”
He had promised to tell the truth, but how does one admit to fucking the witch who cast the spell that brought about an unwanted marriage and caused months of anger and tumult?
“Yes.” Easier than he would have expected.
“She does not seem like a woman you would love.”
“I never loved her. You are the only one I have ever loved.”
“Jane?”
“That does not even compare.”
“And yet you sought pleasure in Lady Caroline's bed. Did she have affection for you?”
“I could not say. She was very discreet. Her brother would have called me out if he had known I had bedded her.”
“He thinks she is a virgin?”
