Page 9 of Fitzwilliam Darcy An Honourable Man

Choosing to ignore his cousin’s jest, William backed away to look Richard up and down. According to his letter of months ago, Richard had been slightly wounded in the leg during a training manoeuvre.

“It seems you are well, as I cannot tell which of your legs was injured.”

“My left! But I assure you that it is completely healed. Nevertheless, if you see me limping when we are in public, think nothing of it!” William’s eyebrows raised in question. “I find that it elicits the most wonderful responses of concern from the ladies, and then I have the chance to expound on my heroism.” Richard smirked, causing William to chuckle.

“You have not changed in the slightest.”

“And you had better be thankful for that. I am the only relative you have that can make you laugh, and you dearly need to laugh!”

Precisely at that moment, Richard stopped to study his cousin. They corresponded infrequently, and he had seen William very little in the last two years—twice while he was in Scotland, and again when he met with him briefly before he made his way to Ireland. Richard realised with a start that time had not been kind, as William was thinner, and his hair was beginning to grey. His perusal continued for so long that William began to feel self-conscious.

“Richard, you are staring!”

“Sorry, Darce, but you look as though you have had a rough time of it since... well, since everything changed.” No longer glib, he continued, “You left England with no notice to your family, and you stayed away nearly two years. Had I not had my duty to perform, I would have collared you and brought you back. Is there anything I should know?”

The smile left William’s face as he walked back to his desk, taking his seat, and motioning for Richard to sit. Richard dropped down into one of the leather chairs in front of the desk and leaned forward, waiting for an accounting.

Seeing he would not be put off, William sighed. “It is simply that I needed to get away for a while. Get another perspective. Now, I have returned, and all is well.”

Richard stared at him in disbelief for several moments before shrugging. “Very well, if you are not going to tell me what is bothering you, then tell me how Georgiana and that dandy she married are faring?”

“His name is Evan! And you know he is not a dandy. He is a gentleman and a damn fine person. You have just never forgiven him for dumping you in the creek the summer you turned sixteen.”

“He did no such thing!” Richard protested. “I jumped in the creek to cool off!”

William tried not to smile. “Well, in any event, he and Georgiana are both well.”

“But, alas, still no children?” William shook his head, causing Richard to continue, “I know they want a family. It is a shame that they have been unsuccessful thus far.”

William’s gaze toward Richard was steady. “Evan confided something that I know will cheer you, but you have to promise not to repeat this, not even to your mother.”

“As an officer and a gentleman, you have my word.”

William smirked. “Well, I suppose the officer portion will have to suffice!” Richard chuckled, waiting for the revelation. “Georgiana has finally agreed to seek an orphan to raise as their own. For so long, she believed that if she accepted someone else’s child, it meant she was giving up the idea of having her own, and she would not hear of it.” William studied something in front of him that only he could see. “I pray that she will follow through as she promised Evan. She would make a wonderful mother.”

“Yes. Georgiana was born to be a mother, and I am sure there are children who need homes.”

They both sat in silent contemplation for a few moments before Richard spoke excitedly. “Oh! I forgot! You are in luck! Mother is having a ball day after tomorrow for my homecoming, now that my leg,” he stuck his foot out and wiggled it, “is well enough to dance. I insist you come!”

William groaned loudly, provoking Richard to laugh. “Come on, Darce! You have not been in polite society for most of two years. It will not kill you, and besides, I need your help.”

“My help?”

“Yes. If you will just stand beside me, flashing those dimples that all the ladies love, I shall be put in the way of the most beautiful women in London. Surely one or two of them will find me, shall we say, interesting!”

“Richard! You are incorrigible!”

“I am not! I am in need of a beautiful lady with a large dowry to support me in the style to which I have become accustomed.” At William’s laugh, he declared, “I am! Just ask Mother. She has been pushing one woman after another at me for the last five years. And I mean to tell you some of them were WELL-endowed, as well as having a large dowry!

“Then why have you not been captured by one of these well-endowed ladies?”

“I was not ready to abdicate my independence.”

“But you are now?”

“I am ready to agree that I need to abdicate my independence.” They both laughed. “Will you promise to come? I know Mother has already invited Mrs. Preston because Georgiana has instructed her to do so. Does she know something I do not? Am I to wish you joy?”

“Mrs. Preston and I are only friends. Georgiana would like us to be more.”