Page 16 of A Christmas Understanding

Bingley’s next blow landed on Darcy’s upper arm.

“Asking her would not be proper, but deciding for her was?”

“I observed her.”

“So did I.”

“You are hardly impartial.”

Something unreadable crossed Bingley’s face. “Neither,” he said, taking a hard jab at Darcy’s stomach, “are you.”

Darcy caught the blow and returned it with enough force to make Bingley stumble back. He waited, giving Bingley time to recover.

“At least Hurst spoke with her,” Bingley said as he bent over at the waist. “You observed her for how long, Darcy? One night at a ball?”

He had learned a great deal during that ball. Unlike her sister, Miss Bennet spoke gently and was composed under every circumstance—the mother in her cups, the youngest sisters quite wild, the middle sister who commanded the pianoforte when she had not been invited, the father who had embarrassed everyone when he removed her. There had been a great many reasons to become discomposed that night, but nary a frown had marred her countenance.

One night such as that was all it took, surely. “What is your point, Bingley? You cannot deny the disadvantages of the connexion.”

“I do not deny them.”

“Her family is⁠—”

“Is her family. I am not marrying them.”

Darcy sighed. “Bingley, you know as well as I that a marriage joins families whether or not one wishes it.”

Bingley tipped his head back and barked out a laugh to the ceiling. “Have you met my family, Darcy? Have you forgotten yours?”

Darcy’s hand lowered an inch, and Bingley struck him squarely in the chest.

He stepped back, more from surprise than pain, and Bingley followed. The second blow glanced off his shoulder. Darcy ducked away from the third and caught Bingley with a sharp blow to the right side before Jackson called the round.

“Enough,” Jackson said. “Mr. Bingley has made his point. Perhaps you gentlemen ought to discuss the rest over a pint somewhere.”

“I am through discussing anything,” Bingley said, his anger disappearing only to be replaced with disappointment.

“You are my friend, Darcy,” he said. “I have, these past years, trusted you more than anyone. Without your help, I would never have survived my father’s death with my wits and my fortune both intact. But if we are to have a friendship between us, you cannot continue to regard my judgement in my own affairs as inferior to your own.”

He handed his mufflers to Jackson and went to retrieve his clothes.

Darcy removed his own mufflers. He could end this now with five words: Miss Bennet is in London.

Miss Bingley had asked him not to mention her letter, and Darcy had said that he had no intention of doing so. He had not, then. But his intention would have to change, for he would not sacrifice his friendship with Bingley to keep it a secret.

If he mentioned Miss Bennet, however, his friend would want to know where she was staying, and Darcy did not know for certain. Gracechurch Street was quite long, and if he was to admit to what he had withheld, he would like to have something to offer in the way of an apology. Miss Elizabeth had mentioned her relations while staying at Netherfield to nurse her sister a month or so ago. Guarder, was it? No, Gardiner.

He recalled Bingley’s sisters discussing the London relations more clearly than the name. Miss Elizabeth had been tending to her sister while they had laughed over a Bennet uncle who lived somewhere in Cheapside. Bingley had declared this mattered not a jot to him, and Darcy had replied that it would affect the quality of the marriages the Bennet sisters were able to make.

Bingley was about to challenge that assumption. He was gone by the time Darcy had donned his coat and determined what he would need to do.

Darcy stepped outside to his carriage, which was waiting by the kerb. Although it was cold, he did not immediately climb inside. If Bingley went to Netherfield, he would learn that Miss Bennet was in London. He would no doubt be provided with the direction. Then he would return to town and learn from the Misses Bennet that his sisters had been aware of their presence all along but had withheld that knowledge.

And his sisters would no doubt point to Darcy’s knowledge as support for their behaviour. Miss Bingley had already claimed that their removal from Hertfordshire had been his idea.

There was no longer any purpose in remaining silent, if there ever had been. Bingley was more determined than Darcy had ever seen him, and if he was determined to have the woman, there was not much Darcy could do.

He beckoned to the footman standing next to the carriage door and handed him a few coins for a hackney. “Find a Mr. Gardiner who resides in Gracechurch Street. He is in trade and presently has two nieces from Longbourn in Hertfordshire residing with him. I require the exact number before morning. You are not to approach the household, nor will you use my name.”