“Darcy,” he replied.
They spoke of the assembly, though Bingley studiously avoided any mention of Miss Jane Bennet other than to say that Miss Bingley had been quite taken with her. Instead, he spoke of his delight withallwho had attended, and eventually they moved on to discussing his decision to lease Netherfield Park.
“I came into my inheritance earlier than expected when I lost my father two years ago. It took time to understand his business affairs, but I have a better footing now.” His expression was rather sheepish. “My father always wished for me to purchase an estate and join the gentry, but I will admit my purpose in leasing Netherfield was more its proximity to London and the shooting.”
“Yet your first day of shooting is not being conducted on your property, but mine,” Bennet said with a smile.
“I would be foolish to turn away such an offer, and from a former general!” Mr. Bingley replied with a laugh. “In fact, I should not dare. I do hereby extend an invitation to you all for some shooting on Netherfield’s grounds. The steward assures me there is game aplenty.”
“I shall accept that invitation with alacrity,” Fitzwilliam said. He shook his head at his weapon before glancing over at their new acquaintance. “I can only hope you will lend me a better gun. Mine is nearly useless this morning.”
Mr. Bingley motioned to the gun. “I know something about the mechanisms. May I have a look?” he asked.
Fitzwilliam, who also knew the parts of his weapon inside and out, shrugged and handed it over. He must truly be feeling poorly to do so, but that was his own fault.
The younger man checked the barrel and pressed his lips together. “Is it taking too long to fire?”
“How did you . . .”
Darcy burst out laughing, and Bennet chuckled.
“Shut it, you two,” Fitzwilliam growled.
“Even my girls know not to add too much powder,” Bennet said at last, wiping his eyes.
“We have not been home four months, cousin,” Darcy teased, “and you have already forgotten how to load. It is good you have removed yourself from the field.”
“I was rather too free with the wine last night,” Fitzwilliam confessed unhappily.
Bingley’s face was flushed red, and he was so fair there was no hiding it. He held the gun out and Fitzwilliam snatched it back. “There is a fully stocked gunroom back at Netherfield,” he told them all to draw their mocking attention away from Fitzwilliam. “When you join me there, you may have your pick, should you like to try something new.”
“That is handsome of you, Bingley,” Fitzwilliam replied politely. He glowered at Darcy and Bennet.
Bingley waved Fitzwilliam off. “It is nothing. Have you had good shooting so far? I am sorry to be late, but Netherfield is on the other side of Meryton, and it was difficult to keep my time.”
“Many merchants spying a young man with money to spend?” Bennet inquired with a laugh.
“Indeed,” Bingley replied with a good-humoured shrug. “But if they expected to find me an easy mark, they were sadly disappointed.”
“Good man,” Bennet said with a nod.
“My sisters spend rather freely,” Bingley continued. “At least, they certainly do so in London. I will suggest they shop a bit in Meryton, and of course the estate will make purchases here.”
“My daughters offer our custom to the local merchants,” Bennet replied. “It is the proper thing to do. However, some things they wait to procure in London when we visit my wife’s relations there.” He grimaced. “I am informed that the sort of ballgowns and lace that women wear to the goings-on in London cannot be readily procured in Hertfordshire. And Lizzy has her walking boots made there, as the shoemaker hereabouts has rather strong opinions on young women who walk about as much as she does. Oh, and we purchased their pistols there as well.”
“Pistols?” Darcy asked, surprised that Miss Elizabeth had never mentioned it.
Bennet just smiled.
“Then why not bring them out with us, Bennet?” Fitzwilliam was only partly in jest.
“My girls do not shoot for sport,” Bennet said. “Should they be required to use their weapon, they will only have time for a single shot.” He glanced over at Bingley. “I have taught them to make it count.”
It was amusing to watch Bingley pale, but he rallied admirably.
Darcy and Fitzwilliam nodded approvingly. It fit Darcy’s understanding of Bennet that his daughters would each be proficient with a gun.
“Are they muff pistols, sir?” Bingley asked. “My sister keeps one with her in London, but if I am not mistaken, it is mostly for the look of it. I very much doubt she even knows how to load such a weapon, much less fire it.”