Free A Spy at Pemberley by Fenella J Miller Page A

shall not leave here whilst they are still in residence. So if you intend for me to accompany you to London you had better come up with a way of removing them.'
    Then she was gone. He snatched up a ledger from his desk, was about to hurl it at the wall, but managed to restrain himself in time. God's teeth! She was pushing him too far. He was master here and she should not issue him with an ultimatum.
    There was no option open to him apart from sending a message to Bingley in the hope that he wouldn't ignore it. His friend was well aware of his sister's shortcomings – after all had not her interference caused his beloved Jane untold heartache before they were finally reunited?
    He slammed his hands down on the desk making the inkpot and documents jump into the air. At that time he had behaved far worse than Caroline Bingley and had persuaded his friend to abandon Jane as he'd considered the whole family beneath his notice.
    He thought his proud behaviour behind him. Falling in love with Lizzy had opened his eyes to a better way of doing things. Why then was he reverting to his previous character?
    He eyed the decanter of brandy on a side table and was sorely tempted to pour himself a large measure. Drowning his sorrows wasn't a sensible option – he must keep a clear head and come up with a solution to these apparently insoluble problems.
    As he was writing the note to Bingley he changed his mind. He would go next door himself – the staff there had been employed by him before they'd moved into the East Wing. They would not refuse him entry whatever Bingley or his wife might think.
    His boots were muddy, his breeches not much better; he had better smarten himself up before he left. His valet had already laid out an array of clean raiment and soon he was ready to venture out on his mission.
    The communicating door was still locked. No doubt it would remain so until this matter was resolved. If he was going to persuade Bingley to eject his sister and her paramour then he must come up with a reasonable alternative. There was a small estate presently unoccupied as his tenant had died the previous month. This would be ideal. The fact that sending them to live together without the benefit of clergy would be considered scandalous was of little import.
    Caroline and Forsyth had already stepped outside the rigid rules of Society and would be ostracised if they appeared in Town at the moment. After they had been married for a year or two the ton would have moved on and their behaviour would be forgotten.
    It would be better if he made his approach formal so he sent a footman ahead of him to announce his arrival at the front entrance to the East Wing.
    He stood a few yards from the door where he was clearly visible to anyone who cared to look from the drawing room window. The door opened and a brief conversation ensued between the servant and Bingley's butler. Darcy strode forward and marched in as if he owned the place – which technically he still did.
    'Darcy, come with me to my study. It wouldn't be wise for the ladies to see you here.' Bingley grabbed his arm and all but dragged him from the entrance hall.
    'Enough. Please release my arm, Bingley.' He spoke quietly but it had the desired effect.
    'You shouldn't have come here; it will only exacerbate matters when Caroline discovers I've spoken to you.'
    'I don't intend to hold a discussion in the passageway. Shall we keep our thoughts to ourselves until we can be private?'
    They walked in uncomfortable silence until they were safely ensconced in the study. He didn't wait for Bingley to speak again but immediately told him what he and Lizzy had concluded about the elopement, as well as telling him how Forsyth had accosted her on the terrace.
    'I didn't think things could get any worse, but they have. I don't know what Caroline was hoping to gain by her machinations. Is she so jealous of our happiness that she wishes to destroy it? I don't wish her to remain here anymore than you