Beginning, Section II, Next Section
Part 13
Elizabeth's indignation diminished somewhat in the next few days that she did not see Darcy. She assumed that the gentlemen were again released from their duties to their aunt, when she saw Darcy from afar on one of her walks. The next day Colonel Fitzwilliam came to visit the parsonage once more, and Elizabeth was thankful that Darcy did not accompany him. The Colonel amused them by telling them of the people they had visited in the meantime, although he never more than implied they were boring.
When Elizabeth walked out later that day, she saw Darcy. Unfortunately he did not walk on, but he turned and walked back with her. "Are you enjoying your time in Hunsford, Miss Bennet?" he asked.
Elizabeth was not waiting for a chat, and she would rather have him stay silent. "As much as I had expected," she said curtly.
"I thought Mrs. Collins was your friend."
"She was -- is."
"Marriage must change a friendship, I suppose. Perhaps my friends and I shall not be the same either when one of us gets married."
Elizabeth looked at him strangely. She wondered if he was referring to Colonel Fitzwilliam. Perhaps he expected the Colonel to pay his addresses to her. He could not be talking about Bingley, because he did not seem to want Bingley to get married, and what other friends could Darcy possibly have? His cousin was bound to him by family ties, and Bingley was just too amiable. They had no choice but to be a sort of friend. She did not answer.
"Do you like Rosings Park?" Darcy asked when he had waited a few minutes until she would perhaps say something.
"It is an impressive house."
"Do you like the grounds?"
"I do."
"They look different in winter, but I do not know what you would like best."
But I do not come here in winter, Elizabeth thought. And what does it matter to you what I like best? She was silent again until they reached the gate of Mr. Collins's house, where Darcy took his leave of her most politely.
She met him one more time, until she changed the hour of her walk, before he would begin to think that he would always meet her at that hour.
Colonel Fitzwilliam was walking through the park when he unexpectedly encountered Miss Bennet. He did not mind to have his solitary ramble thus disturbed.
"I did not know before that you ever walked this way," she said to him with a smile.
"I have been making the tour of the Park, as I generally do every year, and intend to close it with a call at the parsonage. Are you going much farther?"
"No, I should have turned in a moment." Miss Bennet turned and walked with him. "Do you certainly leave Kent on Saturday?"
"Yes -- if Darcy does not put it off again," said the Colonel. Originally they would have left on Tuesday, but Darcy -- much to the Colonel's puzzlement -- had suggested that they stay a few days longer. "But I am at his disposal. He arranges the business just as he pleases."
Miss Bennet sniffed a little and said something that he could only describe as catty, about Darcy liking to have his way. She seemed to have something against Darcy. He wondered how well they were acquainted.
"He likes to have his way very well," he agreed. "But so we all do. It is only that he has better means of having it than many others, because he is rich, and many others are poor. I speak feelingly," he said, not very seriously. "A younger son, you know, must be inured to self-denial and dependence." He was not so very poor, but compared to his brother or Darcy, he had very little.
"In my opinion the younger son of an Earl can know very little of either. Now, seriously, what have you ever known of self-denial and dependence? When have you been prevented by want of money from going wherever you chose, or procuring any thing you had a fancy for?"
He had to admit that she had a point there. "But in matters of greater weight, I may suffer from the want of money. Younger sons cannot marry where they like." No, they cannot. The ladies they like will not give them a second glance because they have no money. Damn, why did I have to bring that up? She was not someone to pass over such a remark.
"Unless where they like women of fortune, which I think they very often do," Miss Bennet said with a quizzical look at him.
He felt she was too perceptive. That is correct. Has Darcy been telling you about my 'engagement' to Miss Bingley? In case Miss Bennet felt critical of it, he decided to defend himself. "Our habits of expense make us too dependant, and there are not many in my rank of life who can afford to marry without some attention to money," he said, his own resources nearly exhausted by the acquisition of his current rank. But I do not mean myself, of course, for it really is not those twenty thousand pounds of Miss Bingley's that I like. If I liked money, I should have gone after cousin Anne.
"And pray, what is the usual price of an Earl's younger son? Unless the elder brother is very sickly, I suppose you would not ask above fifty thousand pounds."
"No, twenty thousand would do for me very nicely," he replied lightly. But after that letter I sent her, I just might have reduced my chances to zero.
"I imagine your cousin brought you down with him chiefly for the sake of having somebody at his disposal."
There was this preoccupation with Darcy again. Miss Bennet really showed an unusual interest in him, the Colonel thought to himself. If we ever stray from the subject of Darcy as far as the subject of his cousin, trust her to put us back on the right course again.
"I wonder he does not marry, to secure a lasting convenience of that kind," said Miss Bennet.
He frowned, wondering if Miss Bennet herself was expecting any attentions from that quarter. It was a new thought to him, Darcy and Miss Bennet, and he pondered the idea. If Darcy was not always so annoyingly tight-lipped about his love-life, he would have known if it was possible. Perhaps it would be the thing for himself, securing a lasting convenience for when he next came to Rosings. Darcy was continually secluding himself, leaving Colonel Fitzwilliam to attend to Lady Catherine, who did not have a very high opinion of him anyway. It all came down to a lack of fortune: Caroline, Lady Catherine -- nobody took any notice of him.
"But," she continued. "Perhaps his sister does as well for the present, and, as she is under his sole care, he may do what he likes with her."
"No, that is an advantage which he must divide with me. I am joined with him in the guardianship of Miss Darcy," he said automatically, shaking off his other thoughts.
"Are you, indeed? And pray what sort of guardians do you make? Does your charge give you much trouble? Young ladies of her age are sometimes a little difficult to manage, and if she has the true Darcy spirit, she may like to have her own way."
The Darcy spirit? Again! She really cannot stop talking about the man, can she? He looked at her earnestly while she spoke, and he wondered about Darcy and Miss Bennet. She must think that Georgiana resembled her brother. "Why do you suppose Miss Darcy is likely to give us any trouble?"
"You need not be frightened. I have never heard any harm of her; and I daresay she is one of the most tractable creatures in the world. She is a very great favourite with some ladies of my acquaintance. Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley. I think I have heard you say that you know them."
Had she? He knew he had struggled very hard not to bring at least one of them up. Perhaps Darcy had, but if he had, he had not told Miss Bennet everything. "I know them a little," he said ironically. And one of them will never want to know me again, I am sure. Either that, or next year I shall not be walking here with you, Miss Bennet. But I had better change the subject before I say too much. "Their brother is a pleasant gentleman-like man -- he is a great friend of Darcy's."
"Oh! Yes, Mr. Darcy is uncommonly kind to Mr. Bingley and takes a prodigious deal of care of him."
"Care of him!" Fitzwilliam smiled. "Yes, I really believe Darcy does take care of him in those points where he most wants care. From something he told me in our journey hither, I have reason to think Bingley very much indebted to him. But I ought to beg his pardon, for I have no right to suppose that Bingley was the person meant. It was all conjecture." It must have been Bingley though, because Darcy had spoke of the person as being a good friend, and Bingley's character fit the whole story perfectly.
"What is it you mean?" Miss Bennet asked curiously, no doubt eager to return to the subject of Darcy again.
Colonel Fitzwilliam was reluctant to disclose the matter. "It is a circumstance which Darcy of course would not wish to be generally known, because if it were to get round to the lady's family, it would be an unpleasant thing."
"You may depend upon my not mentioning it."
He did not know if she was to be trusted, but she sounded sincere enough. It was best to give her another warning though. "And remember that I have not much reason for supposing it to be Bingley. What he told me was merely this; that he congratulated himself on having lately saved a friend from the inconveniences of an imprudent marriage, but without mentioning names or any other particulars, and I only supposed it to be Bingley from believing him the kind of young man to get into a scrape of that sort, and from knowing them to have been together the whole of last summer." When I was doing my military duties. Whatever you say, Miss Bennet, life is hard on a younger son.
"Did Mr. Darcy give you his reasons for his interference?"
He began to think that he should not have told her. Her eyes blazed already. "I understood that there were some very strong objections against the lady," he said unwillingly.
"And what arts did he use to separate them?"
It was very rude not to answer a lady's question, but he really thought this subject had better be ended and he forced a smile. "He did not talk to me of his own arts. He only told me, what I have now told you." And what you have wriggled out of me most expertly, Miss Bennet.
They walked on in silence and the Colonel studied her expression. She seemed quite indignant. "You are very thoughtful," he remarked.
"I am thinking of what you have been telling me. Your cousin's conduct does not suit my feelings. Why was he to be the judge?"
"You are rather disposed to call his interference officious?" he asked. Yes, pound on the man once again. You are so very critical of him that I would call it an unhealthy obsession. She said something about Darcy not having the right to decide for his friend, but he was glad that she dropped the subject, finally, and they could talk about other matters such as squirrels and rabbits.
Part 14
Elizabeth was so angry with Darcy that she felt a headache coming on, and because she could not stop thinking about the subject, it developed into a really bad headache. They were supposed to go to Rosings that evening, but she was determined not to go. Not for the world would she be in the same room as Mr. Darcy. She would not be able to vouch for her civility -- not that he deserved any. Consequently, she stayed home and begged Charlotte to make her excuses.
When the party had left and she was free from the sound of Mr. Collins urging them along anxiously, she sat down. What she really wanted to do was to talk to somebody about it. Somebody who would listen and agree that Mr. Darcy was a dreadful, presumptuous, arrogant, proud, unlikeable -- but there was no one she could confide in.
Charlotte was too connected to Rosings now, and upon hearing two different accounts of Mr. Darcy from Lady Catherine and from Elizabeth, she would surely believe Lady Catherine, if only because she was dependent on her.
Elizabeth liked Colonel Fitzwilliam, but he was Darcy's cousin. She doubted if he would give credit to a relative stranger's opinion of Darcy. Perhaps he would even be offended, just like she would not like it if a stranger spoke ill of Lydia, no matter how deserved the censure would be.
Her solitude was disturbed when Mr. Darcy was shown into the room. She looked at him with surprise and antipathy, giving him a barely civil greeting.
Mr. Darcy walked around the room a few times, now and then pausing to look at her quite desperately, and Elizabeth wondered why he had come if he was not disposed to speak. Perhaps he thought her too low to speak to and he was disappointed that the others were not present, but surely he knew they had gone to Rosings? Had he come for her especially?
"I hope you are well," he blurted out suddenly, gazing at her earnestly.
"I am. Thank you for your solicitude," she said coolly.
Mr. Darcy started pacing again, a frown creasing his forehead. "I came to inquire after your health."
Elizabeth gave him a questioning look that went unnoticed by him.
"For as soon as I discovered that you were not coming to Rosings, I felt most concerned about your health." He paced some more and stared out of the window.
Elizabeth felt extremely uncomfortable. Why was he staring out of the window? Could he not just leave? She had no wish to talk to him, and he could have no wish to talk to her. This situation would only be disagreeable to them both.
Mr. Darcy turned. "Miss Bennet --" But that was all he said, for he walked another turn about the room and gazed at her from different points, each time with the same earnest frown.
"Yes?" Elizabeth inquired after a few minutes. "Did I mistake your meaning? I thought you were addressing me, Mr. Darcy?"
"Uhh, yes," he said in an agitated manner and drew a deep breath. "Miss Bennet..."
"Yes, that is me!" she said with a hint of irritation.
"I know, I know," he said hastily and stared at the floor, lost in thought. "In vain I have struggled," he began, almost falling over his own words in his hurry to pronounce them. "It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed --"
The sound of the doorbell interrupted his speech and Darcy looked confused and annoyed. He looked even more annoyed when Colonel Fitzwilliam was shown into the room. The Colonel looked at Darcy in surprise. Elizabeth was glad to see him, however. She had been on the point of becoming very rude to Mr. Darcy. "Colonel, I am so glad to see you."
"I was sent by Lady Catherine to pick you up anyway," said the Colonel. "Even if you are unwell. What are you doing here, Darcy?"
"I am afraid I must decline, Colonel," Elizabeth spoke. "I do not feel well enough."
Darcy had taken up a position by the window again and he was scowling out of it.
"Very well, Miss Bennet. I should not want to inconvenience you," said Colonel Fitzwilliam. "Accept my best wishes for your health. I shall tell my aunt I did my best, even though I am excessively sorry to miss your company tonight."
"May I remind you that you are engaged, Fitzwilliam?" Darcy said sharply.
"What is an engagement to you, Mr. Darcy?" Elizabeth said just as sharply, though she was very surprised to hear the Colonel was engaged.
Darcy said nothing.
He gave Darcy a puzzled look. "Darcy, are you unwell too, or are you coming?"
"I shall join you in an instant," said Darcy, turning away from the window. "Please go ahead."
The Colonel bowed to Elizabeth and left the room with a puzzled frown. He could not make out what was happening here at all.
"Why are you not joining him, Mr. Darcy? Surely you can have no business with me?" Elizabeth asked.
Darcy paced and scowled again, before he paused in front of her. "You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love --"
"I do not believe anything you say!" Elizabeth exclaimed. She thought he was defending himself on the score of his engagement. "Not after what you have done to her!"
"To her?" Darcy asked incredulously. Who was she talking about?
"You treated her in the most infamous manner possible!" Elizabeth cried.
"Who?"
"Oh, do not feign innocence! You know very well who I am talking about! Your conduct was despicable, and in other cases too."
"Who are you talking about?" he cried in agitation.
"Why do you keep pretending that you do not know?" Elizabeth's voice rose.
"Because I do not!" Darcy's voice rose likewise.
"Is it of such little consequence to you that you ruin the lives of so many people by your thoughtless and selfish actions, that you do not even remember it?"
"What on earth," cried the Colonel as he threw open the door. "Is going on in here?"
Part 15
Darcy and Elizabeth stared at him nonplussed. "What is going on in here?" Colonel Fitzwilliam repeated, looking from one to the other. He had never seen Darcy look so rattled, and Miss Bennet looked flushed with emotion -- anger, was it? "Tell me if I need to protect either of you from the other."
"That will not be necessary," said a tight-lipped Darcy. "Would you please not intervene, Fitzwilliam? Nothing is the matter here. This was merely an energetic discussion."
The Colonel looked at Elizabeth questioningly. He would only believe it if she said it too.
"It is true," she said. "Mr. Darcy is correct. But I thank you for your concern, Colonel."
He began to feel a little foolish. Had he misinterpreted the sounds coming from this room? Surely not, but why did they say that nothing was the matter? But he could not keep insisting. "Very well," he said doubtfully. "If you say so." He bowed and left the room again, frowning to himself. He had been waiting in the hall, but he did not want to mistake another energetic discussion for a serious argument, and so he asked the Collins's maid to show him into another room where he could wait, and asked her to inform him of Mr. Darcy's departure.
As soon as the Colonel had left the room, Elizabeth's eyes flashed angrily again. "You were saying, Mr. Darcy?"
"Perhaps now is not the right time to say what I was going to say," Darcy said coldly, his fists clenched to stop his hands from trembling.
"I demand to know what you were going to say."
"I demand to know which person you were speaking of that I allegedly treated so infamously."
"Which person?" Elizabeth sneered. "It was more like persons! Your wickedness does not stop at one person."
"If you had not had the indecency to interrupt me you would have known how ardently I admire and love --" Darcy shouted, but he broke off his sentence when Miss Bingley stepped in through the French doors.
"Well, finish your sentence!" Elizabeth cried. "I daresay you will be backing out of it now that you have been caught lying."
"And why do you enter through the French doors?" asked Darcy, exasperated at the many interruptions.
"Because I came from there, " Miss Bingley pointed. "Anyone can hear your discussion out in the park. I was merely attracted by the sound of it." Miss Bingley looked from one to the other with a haughty expression. "I came for a hearty word with my fiancé," she spat out. "They told me he was here."
"He broke off the engagement!" Elizabeth cried. "You poor girl!"
Miss Bingley shook her head uncomprehendingly. "I beg your pardon?"
"If you want a word with Mr. Darcy, he is all yours!"
"No, I am sorry. I must --" and Miss Bingley dashed off into the hall.
"Now look what you have done!" Elizabeth said accusingly. "First you break off the engagement and now --"
"We were never engaged!" Darcy cried in confusion. He had not even proposed to Miss Bennet yet. How could she say he broke the engagement then?
"Never?" she cried. Had Caroline lied?
"Never! I swear."
"Is Caroline a liar?"
"Yes!" Darcy said, again confused, because he did not see what Caroline had to do with anything. Perhaps Miss Bennet and he were misunderstanding each other. "Miss Bennet, perhaps there is a slight miscommunication between the two of us."
"With regard to what?" she said with hostility.
"When did Miss Bingley come into our conversation?"
"When she stepped in through the French doors!" Elizabeth said archly.
"I do not mean that!" said Darcy.
"Then what do you mean?" It was Elizabeth's turn to look confused. Before Darcy could explain himself they were startled by the sounds of screaming coming from another part of the house.
Part 16
Colonel Fitzwilliam jumped up when Miss Bingley barged into the room. She drew out a letter and waved it at him. "How could you, you cad? How could you? How could you be so insensitive as to make me think that this came from Darcy? How could you play with my feelings like that? How could you cause me such a gigantic attack of nerves as to make all of London think I am insane because I was examined by three different specialists?" she screamed and ended in a sob.
The Colonel was speechless.
Miss Bingley went on. "And to no one I could reveal the reason for my distress. They might have wanted to place me in a private institution for observation! Imagine that! And it was all because of your villainous letter."
"I am sorry," he said sincerely.
"I beg your pardon?" Miss Bingley's sniffing ended right away and she looked at him searchingly.
"I am sorry. I had no intention of causing you any pain. I --" he swallowed. "I was under the assumption that your feelings for Darcy did not run very deep, and I deeply regret it if I was mistaken. If you truly care for my cousin, I am truly a cad."
Miss Bingley seemed intent on brushing a persistent speck of dust off her sleeve. "What happens on April the twenty-fifth?" she said after a while.
"Nothing."
"Nothing?" she echoed, looking rather satisfied.
"Nothing. I shall be with my regiment, I expect."
"All day?" she inquired.
"From eight onwards, and I have my dinner at home." Fitzwilliam did not know why she wanted to know.
Miss Bingley smiled to herself. What a perfect opportunity to strike back! "I shall have to leave now, before Louisa discovers that I am missing. Thankfully it is not far to Town. Thank you, Colonel, for clearing this little matter up."
"Allow me to kiss your hand, Miss Bingley."
"Only my hand?" she raised her eyebrows. "And I thought you were a cad!" But she took off her glove especially. Out in the hall she ran into Darcy and Elizabeth, who were looking at her, most intrigued. "Have a nice day," Miss Bingley said, and skipped off to her waiting carriage.
The Colonel appeared in the hall too and stared after her. "Most intriguing," he commented sadly. "I do believe I have ruined a perfectly sane lady's sanity. Look at her skipping."
"Perhaps you have worked on Mr. Darcy too," Elizabeth commented.
"What seems to be the problem?" Colonel Fitzwilliam asked curiously.
"A slight miscommunication, I believe," said Darcy. "Miss Bennet keeps referring to somebody that I treated infamously, but I did not treat anybody infamously at all. And she keeps saying that I broke off the engagement when I have not even got to proposing yet."
"Miss Bennet?" the Colonel inquired of her. "What did you mean?"
"He treated Miss Bingley infamously by breaking off their engagement."
Darcy looked amazed and Fitzwilliam shook his head. "No, no," he said. "He could never have done that, because Miss Bingley is not engaged to anybody, as far as I know."
"To you!" Darcy exclaimed.
"Well, that was all a joke."
"But she said..." Elizabeth protested.
"I was not there," said the Colonel. "I do not know what she said, but if she engaged herself to me, she asked my permission just as much as I asked her permission when I engaged myself to her. Frankly, I first heard of her being engaged to me when Darcy informed me of it on our way over to Rosings. Perhaps I should have cleared up that little misunderstanding then and there."
"So he did not treat Miss Bingley infamously?"
"Well, in her eyes perhaps, by not marrying her."
Darcy rolled his eyes. "Oh, please."
"But that does not mean you are redeemed!" Elizabeth continued. "There is still my sister Jane, and Wickham."
"He refused to marry your sister Jane as well?" the Colonel asked, narrowing his eyes at the mention of Wickham.
"No! He wilfully separated her from Mr. Bingley!"
"Oh! I heard of that. Serious objections to the lady Bingley was interested in, there were? But Darcy! How could you have any serious objections to Miss Bennet's sister?" Colonel Fitzwilliam asked incredulously.
Darcy was silent. How could he bring up the subject of the Bennets' connections and behaviour? But he had to say something, because they were both looking at him, expecting an answer. "I honestly had not thought there was much affection in the case. I tried to look at the situation objectively, but in her countenance I could never discern anything beyond friendliness. I wanted to spare Bingley a broken heart. There was an additional reason, but I have discovered that a person may overlook it when...when his affection is strong enough."
From the way he shifted uneasily the Colonel could see that Darcy was considerably embarrassed. Perhaps Darcy was in love with Miss Bennet? Yes, he looked at him again, and found it to be quite possible. The affection he spoke about was his own, then.
Elizabeth was tempted to speak, but she did not. How could he not have seen Jane was in love with Mr. Bingley? She knew Jane better than he did -- perhaps it was not as obvious to a stranger. Perhaps he truly had not seen Jane's affection. Perhaps he had truly acted honestly. She could guess his additional reason, but why should that matter in the case of true love? That was something she could not forgive him for so easily. "And Wickham?" she asked resignedly, suspecting that Darcy would be able to clear himself in this case as well. A headache was coming on.
"Wickham is a cad," said the Colonel immediately. "What business have you had with him?"
"He has been treated very ill. He accused Mr. Darcy of --"
"Accused?" Colonel Fitzwilliam asked crossly. "He is the one who should be accused. My dear Miss Bennet, did it never occur to you to check your facts, rather than to believe everything strangers tell you?"
"I trusted my judgement," Elizabeth defended herself, but the Colonel's groan told her that her judgement was perhaps not so very sound as she had always thought. She grew more ashamed of herself by the second.
"I shall tell you about Wickham, but it is a long story," said Darcy.
"Darcy," said his cousin. "Perhaps you should write it down. If we do not return now, Aunt Catherine will start a search party, and she will demand to know what we were doing, and I am completely unable to explain the confusion that went on in here."
"Perhaps you are right." Darcy rose. "Miss Bennet," he bowed. "Please accept my sincerest apologies for ever having led you to misunderstand me. Good night."
"Good night," Elizabeth said automatically.
"Good night," said Colonel Fitzwilliam and bowed as well.
Elizabeth watched them leave, and with burning cheeks she ran up to her room and threw herself on the bed in deep mortification.
"What were you doing there, Darcy?"
"I had gone to -- I do not know why -- to propose, perhaps."
"To propose?" Colonel Fitzwilliam exclaimed. "Dare I hope that you did not get to it?"
"You kept interrupting."
The Colonel sighed in relief. "Let me tell you that it would have been a very bad idea to propose to Miss Bennet."
"Why?"
"Oh, do not be stupid. She would not have accepted. You should not propose when the lady is not favourably inclined towards you."
Darcy kicked a pebble. "And how do I know if she is favourably inclined?"
"That is a great mystery," his cousin said thoughtfully. "Perhaps when she takes off her glove before you kiss her hand, but again, that may not mean anything other than that her hands felt hot."
Part 17
"Where have you been, Darcy?" Lady Catherine demanded. "Did Miss Bennet refuse to come, Fitzwilliam?"
The cousin looked at each other, for they did not know who was supposed to answer first. Darcy nodded at the Colonel to go first. "Miss Bennet was unwell," he said.
"So was I," said Darcy. "But Fitzwilliam persuaded me to come when he could not get Miss Bennet."
Lady Catherine looked at the Collinses. "My nephews are so fond of me, and they get along so well together and with Anne."
Anne looked alarmed at being mentioned and the two gentlemen looked sheepish.
"What was the matter with Miss Bennet, Fitzwilliam?"
"Something had disagreed with her, Madam," Colonel Fitzwilliam said truthfully.
"Your cook must not have paid attention, Mrs. Collins," Lady Catherine decided. "If I were you --" and her advice flowed long. When she had finished, she remembered that she had something else to find out. "Fitzwilliam, what business did that London upstart have with you here?"
"Which London upstart would that be, Madam?" the Colonel asked indifferently, as if he was frequently chased by London upstarts.
"Did she find you?"
"I do not recall seeing any London upstarts, Madam."
"Miss Bingley," said Lady Catherine. "Who imagined herself worthy of Darcy. I cannot imagine what she would want with you, Fitzwilliam."
"I cannot begin to guess, Aunt Catherine, if it is incomprehensible even to you," he said gallantly.
Darcy was glad not to have his aunt's attention fixed upon himself for once, and he seated himself next to Anne, not because he was so very interested in what she had to say because his mind was elsewhere, but because Lady Catherine would not dare to interrupt any conversation between them. He hoped. "I hope you are well," he said to Anne.
"Yes, thank you."
"I hope you enjoyed our trip to Dover."
"Mother says the sea air was very beneficial."
Darcy nodded. "I am glad."
Anne saw his eyes wander around the room and decided to say something to keep his attention. "Will you and Fitzwilliam take me to Dover again next year?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"If you wish."
"We shall never marry, shall we, Darcy?" she asked. He did not answer. "Perhaps you would like somebody like Miss Bennet. You look at her very often."
He turned red. "We cannot always have what we like."
"That is true. There are many things I should like to have, but nobody will ever find out."
"Why will nobody ever find out?" asked Darcy.
"Because I shall not tell people who think that the feeble-bodied also have feeble minds."
"Darcy! What are you and Anne speaking of?" Lady Catherine cried out and Anne's face regained its dull expression. "Is Anne sad that you are leaving tomorrow?"
"I should not dare to be so presumptuous," said Darcy.
"You must be sad that you are leaving, Darcy."
"I am, Madam." But not for the reasons Lady Catherine thought. He would not know when he would see Miss Bennet again. Perhaps never, and perhaps that was a good thing if she was indeed unfavourably inclined towards him. Seeing her would be torture. All he could do now was write that letter, but he was stuck here and he could not leave.
Finally Lady Catherine announced that she was retiring, and Darcy was free to write his letter. He explained the situation with Wickham to Miss Bennet as well as he could. When he had finished the letter it occurred to him that they might prolong their stay yet again. He walked to his cousin's room to discuss the idea. Colonel Fitzwilliam was doing a few exercises on his bed. "What are you doing?" Darcy asked.
"I am vain," the Colonel replied. "Well, I do not think so myself, but that is what my mother says."
"Oh."
"Have you any business with me?"
"Yes, what would you say to staying longer?" Darcy asked.
"Here?" Fitzwilliam rolled himself to a sitting position. "Nuh uh."
"Is that a no?"
"Yes, that is most definitely a no. I know I said that I was completely at your disposal with regard to our departure, but I received a letter this morning, requesting me to be back next Monday. I did not tell you about it, because I would be on time if we left tomorrow like we had agreed."
"Oh."
"But do not feel you have to accompany me, Darcy," the Colonel said as he touched his toes. "I should be perfectly happy to travel alone in case you wish to stay here to further you acquaintance with Miss Bennet. You must not let the working class stand in your way."
"You would not think it strange?"
"Oh no, I should do the same thing. Probably. If I were a man of leisure and not a hardworking colonel who even has to work on the fitness of his body during his holidays. But I am well-prepared for war. Ein Pferd," said the Colonel with a bad accent. "Donnez-moi ce cheval."
"Ich liebe dich, Liebling?" Darcy mocked.
If Colonel Fitzwilliam was surprised by Darcy quoting his letter to his sister, he did not reveal it. "Admit it, saying that is a way to test a lady's accomplishments. If she hits you, she is accomplished, but ill-mannered. If she does not hit you, she is not accomplished, but she is well-mannered."
Part 18
Darcy encountered Elizabeth in the park and he handed her his letter. She accepted without speaking and he quickly walked away. Since he was not leaving, he did not accompany Colonel Fitzwilliam on his walk to the parsonage, where he was to take his leave of its inhabitants.
"I have come to take my leave," the Colonel said. "Is Miss Bennet not here?"
"No, she went out for a walk," Mrs. Collins replied. "But I do not think she will be long. Perhaps she will return in a few minutes. Would you care to wait?"
"It would not be polite of me to leave without saying goodbye to her." He chatted agreeably to Mrs. Collins and Miss Lucas, but after half an hour he could not stay any longer. "I regret to say that I must leave. Please give Miss Bennet my warmest regards, and that I hope to see her here next year." He did not know that Elizabeth was busy reading and re-reading Darcy's letter and feeling very ashamed.
After the Colonel had left, she returned home. "The Colonel is gone," Maria announced. "He waited very long for you, though! I think he must like you."
Elizabeth tried to smile. "I am sorry I missed him," she said insincerely, for she was not really very sorry. She could only think of the letter and how she had misjudged Mr. Darcy.
"Mr. Darcy is staying," Charlotte said with a curious look at her friend. She had thought Elizabeth would be more concerned about missing Colonel Fitzwilliam's departure.
"Is he?" Elizabeth frowned. That was surprising. Did the Colonel not say he would leave whenever Darcy would? Why is he going alone now? "Why?"
"Colonel Fitzwilliam said that Lady Catherine said that it was because his attachment to Rosings increases with every visit," Charlotte said with a twinkle. "Therefore we may assume that that was not the reason. I think he knew, but chose not to tell us why."
"Oh," said Elizabeth. How confusing this all was. "Excuse me. I have a slight headache."
Charlotte looked at her with concern. She had always thought that Elizabeth had not inherited Mrs. Bennet's disposition, but the number of headaches that had been plaguing her friend these past few days was uncharacteristically high. "Again? Are you ill?"
"No, I am not ill. I slept badly."
"I am glad you decided to stay, Darcy," said Lady Catherine with satisfaction when they had waved Colonel Fitzwilliam off. "Anne and I are very pleased."
Darcy smiled politely and wondered how he was going to survive the long evenings without his cousin's presence. He would have to entertain Lady Catherine all by himself, and entertaining was not something he was very good at. She did not ask why he had suddenly changed his mind, and for that he was glad. She assumed that he had too much pleasure in their company. He seated himself next to Anne again, because although he did not doubt that Lady Catherine's topics of conversation had been exhausted yet, he had heard enough of them already.
"Why did you stay?" Anne asked when Lady Catherine had gone away for an interview with the housekeeper and Mrs. Jenkinson had discreetly removed herself to a short distance away.
"Umm..."
"I heard from our cousin --"
Darcy's head shot up sharply. "What?"
"Oh. Nothing," said Anne quickly. "Nothing of importance."
"What did he tell you?"
So Fitzwilliam knew why Darcy was staying, Anne thought. That was very interesting, and Darcy was obviously afraid that she would find out. "He told me why he left. He was needed."
"He always has those convenient excuses."
"Oh! So you do not enjoy staying here?"
"I did not say that."
"But that is what you meant. You envy him his convenient excuses," said Anne.
"I chose to stay."
"Yes! But I do not believe that you stay for our sake." Anne lowered her voice. "Is it Miss Bennet?" Darcy said nothing and looked at a painting. "Oh! It is, is it not?"
"Anne, has Fitzwilliam been working on you?" Darcy asked suspiciously.
"Working on me? Whatever do you mean?"
"Has Fitzwilliam been telling you to pump me for details?"
"That must mean there are details to be pumped up," Anne clapped her hands. "How exciting!" She sobered up. "I am sorry, but nothing exciting ever happens here. You must not blame Fitzwilliam. He is not to blame. I pumped him first, with regard to Miss Bennet, but he said he was not interested. To stop me from thinking that he was perhaps lying, he told me something else that I am not allowed to tell you." Anne was flushed with excitement.
Darcy was amazed. Was this Anne?
"Why do you look so surprised? Are you surprised that I can talk?"
"Uhh..."
"I do not always know what to say in company," Anne confessed. "But I talk a great deal to my ponies."
"What was it that Fitzwilliam would not allow you to tell me?" Darcy asked curiously.
"I cannot tell you that. He confided in me."
Darcy groaned. "But Anne! I am his cousin."
Anne pretended to lock her mouth and threw away the key. "So am I. I thought you were a gentleman, Darcy. Do not let Mother hear you begging for gossip!"
"I shall write him a letter."
"Pooh!" said Anne, fanning herself conceitedly. "I do not think that will make you any wiser."
Part 19
Darcy had seen the Collinses and their guests in church. He had kept staring at them, but thankfully nobody had noticed it, he thought. He had wanted to call on Miss Bennet, but Lady Catherine had found something for him to do on Monday. On Tuesday he had called, but Miss Bennet was out walking, and he had been forced to chat to Miss Lucas, who was incredibly silent. This had discouraged him from paying a visit on Wednesday.
Anne was sitting in her small dressing room, reading a letter from Colonel Fitzwilliam. It had been delivered very quickly, for it had only been written two days before.
London, April 25Dear Cousin Anne,
I trust you did not betray my confidence. The things I told you were meant for your ears only and not for our cousin Darcy. He would only make a terrible fool of me if he ever heard it. I thank you for being so kind as to have listened to me. However, I am resolved to forget all about it and become wise. Good idea, not?
Your cousin, &c.
Anne frowned. She shook her head when she thought of the whole business. Forget? Ha! He had written her another letter, and she picked up that one.
London, April 26Dear Cousin Anne,
I know it is only a day after my previous letter, but something of a serious nature has happened. Yesterday I was in my office when my sergeant announced Miss Bingley at ten o'clock. I was very surprised, but I faced her with composure. She looked lovelier than ever, even if she wrinkled her nose at being inside a military building. There was a gentleman with her whom I did not know.
"We are getting married," she announced and I was devastated. I had never known she was so cruel as to flaunt her new fiancé in front of her most devoted admirer. I could not speak. "Well, Colonel, what do you say?" she urged. The man was absolutely hideous. Why him and not me, I wondered. Still I could not speak, nor move. It was terrible. She was going to marry a clergyman. "I have the license here. Charles got it for me, good brother that he is." She placed a piece of paper before me, but I could not look at it. Only at her. Suddenly I noticed my sergeant and half my staff grinning near the door. What humiliation! To be bowled over by a clergyman. My vanity and pride were seriously wounded.But Anne, you will never guess what transpired next, for Miss Bingley's intention was none other than to marry me! Me! Me! Me! Me! Me! Me! I do not know who was more surprised: you upon reading this, and me upon discovering her intention.
I know I am a tease, but I should have liked to enter the state of matrimony with less trickery on either side of the partners. I was beaten at my own game, however, and I know when to admit defeat. Therefore be amused and not amazed when I tell you that I agreed to proceed with the ceremony (as if you had any doubts, Anne).
Mrs. Fitzwilliam, as I must awkwardly refer to her from now on, seemed to have given just as much deeper thought to the consequences of her actions as I had to my letter to her, for she laughed after the ceremony, told me it was a great joke, and left. She left! She left! She left! She left! She left! She left!
I do not know how to proceed, Anne. I have no idea what Mrs. Fitzwilliam's intentions are now that she has "squashed my opportunities of behaving like a rake towards any other lady." These were her words, spoken with a smile.
Your very confused cousin, &c
Anne reread the letter and smiled. She was not used to laughing out loud, but it almost happened. This was what he had wanted, in some way, but of course he had not wanted his wife to go her own way after the wedding. That was odd indeed. She pictured Miss Bingley when she had showed up at Rosings last week -- boiling fury. She had been so angry with Fitzwilliam and a few days later she had got over this anger and married him? That was even more odd. Anne wondered what had happened during their meeting, if Miss Bingley had indeed found him when she had gone after him. Perhaps she had thought she was angry and then she turned out to be in love. What a revelation! Anne giggled. She thought deeply. Perhaps Mrs. Fitzwilliam had not really realised it yet, only that she wanted to marry him, but of course she had not wanted to say so. She took up her pen and felt extremely serious and proud because she had been confided in. Now she must write him an encouraging reply.
Dear Fitzwilliam!!!
First of all I must congratulate you on your marriage!!! Mrs. F. wanted to protect other ladies from you, you wrote. (May I say that I think you are extremely dangerous?) It is my experience that people (do you need names?) who say that they do something for the good of others usually have their own interests at heart!!! Do not despair, Richard!! (do you mind my addressing you like that? Mother would of course think that it would not do at all, but do not show her this letter. It goes against everything I have been taught about letter writing.) I look forward to receiving you and Mrs. F. here at Rosings next year. By the way, should your marriage stay a secret? You did not mention that, but I shall leave it to you to spread your happy news.
Your secretive cousin, &c.
Anne sighed and thought of her other cousin. He was also having trouble with a woman, she knew. How wonderful to be considered an equal now by at least one of them! Perhaps Darcy would confide in her too, and she would no longer feel the young, ignorant cousin she had always felt like. Fitzwilliam had told her Darcy had wanted to propose to Miss Bennet, but that he kept being interrupted, fortunately. Anne had been amazed then, but after reading about how marriages were really decided on, nothing really surprised her anymore. She wondered how Darcy was faring with his wooing. He had not gone over today, she thought. Perhaps he was still downstairs, sulking. He was very good at sulking and she never dared to approach him then, but perhaps it would lift his mood if she suggested that they go to the parsonage. Would he not think it strange? Perhaps. But I do not care.
Anne walked down and found Darcy in the library -- like she had thought he was sulking. "Darcy?" she said hesitantly.
"Yes?" He looked rather surprised at being addressed.
"Would you like to take me for a little walk?"
Part 20
Darcy looked incredulous. "A walk?" he repeated. "Do you want to go for a walk?"
"Yes, I should love to go for a walk. But --"
"But you never take walks!"
"That is why I thought I needed a companion," Anne said softly. "Perhaps we could stop somewhere in the middle so I can rest."
Darcy never ignored polite requests and he raised himself from his chair. "Are you ready?" he asked curtly.
Anne coloured because she was not ready yet. "Not yet. One minute, please."
Darcy sighed while he waited, but then it occurred to him that Anne would probably not be very talkative, so he would not have to keep a conversation going. Breathlessly she arrived back downstairs and he escorted her outside. "Where would you like to walk to?"
"Oh, that way would be nice," Anne waved in the general direction of the parsonage.
Darcy did not think that was such a bad idea. If he played it right, they could pause at the parsonage. Anne would never think he had an ulterior motive, probably. He had been right -- Anne did not speak much. "Are you tired yet?" he asked when they were right in front of the parsonage, telling himself that his intention was rather obvious.
"Yes," Anne lied.
"Perhaps we could call on the Collinses," Darcy suggested.
"I should like to sit down for a while," Anne pressed her head against her forehead.
Darcy led her to the door and they were shown into Mrs. Collins's room. Both were grateful that Mr. Collins appeared not to be home. Miss Bennet and Miss Lucas were, and one looked surprised and the other impressed by their visit. He looked over at Miss Bennet, wanting very much to ask her if she had read his letter and what she thought of it, but he could not do so. Instead, he looked for signs in her behaviour towards him. Perhaps she behaved differently now. Perhaps she was favourably disposed towards him now, although he knew that was probably impossible.
"Do you walk very often, Miss De Bourgh?" Elizabeth said sweetly.
Anne coloured. "N-N-No," she stammered.
"That is what I thought. I frequently encounter Mr. Darcy -- in fact, I always encounter Mr. Darcy on my walks," Elizabeth said archly. "You must not be seeing very much of him at Rosings if he is always out of doors."
Anne said nothing, and Charlotte, seeing her embarrassment, spoke up. "Miss De Bourgh must be seeing as much of Mr. Darcy as I see of you, Elizabeth."
Elizabeth laughed. "Do you hear that, Mr. Darcy? My hostess complains about my behaviour."
"I am sure it was not meant so," said Darcy generously. "I am sure we met by accident," he lied. "And not by design, unless you confess to walking the park all day with the sole intention of meeting me." He smiled a little when he said it. All ladies stared at him in amazement and he coloured. Perhaps he had laid it on too thickly.
Elizabeth was most stunned by the thought that he sounded as if he would actually like it if she had done just that. But perhaps that was just because he was proud and arrogant and expected everyone to like him.
Anne grimaced knowingly, but her expression did not go unnoticed by Charlotte. Of all the ladies, she paid the most attention to Miss De Bourgh. Elizabeth was all eyes for Mr. Darcy, and Maria too, because Miss De Bourgh did not speak.
"Perhaps tomorrow morning you will all accompany Miss De Bourgh and me for a walk?" Darcy asked, trying to keep his voice calm and steady, and pressing his nails into the fabric of the chair.
Anne's eyes darted to her cousin in confusion. She knew nothing about this. Again Charlotte noticed her reaction and she declined the offer. "I have some business in the village, Mr. Darcy, but my sister and Miss Bennet can accompany you, if they wish."
Maria looked frightened and Elizabeth looked undecided. It would probably reflect badly on Charlotte if she declined any offers from the family at Rosings Park, so she nodded. "We shall come, shall we not, Maria? Thank you, Mr. Darcy. It was very kind to invite us."
Darcy and Anne did not stay long, and when they had resumed their walk, Anne smiled. "Smooth," she said.
"I beg your pardon?" Darcy asked.
"Smooth," Anne repeated.
"What does that mean?"
"I suppose I shall have to walk with Miss Lucas?" she asked innocently.
"Yes, then you can be silent together," Darcy said a little harshly.
"Darcy," said Anne, feeling a little bold. "I did not betray you by saying I did not know anything about the walk. I do not think it is very fair of you to...to --"
Darcy apologised. If she did not want to reveal Fitzwilliam's secret, perhaps she was really discreet. He wondered why Fitzwilliam had told Anne in the first place, and not him. Anne must be a good confidante. He looked at her again. Perhaps he could try too...
"Amazing!" said Elizabeth with a laugh. "Miss De Bourgh and Mr. Darcy walking over to our humble --" she checked herself before she could offend Charlotte. "-- home."
"It is a great honour," Charlotte repeated. "Mr. Collins will be disappointed to have missed it."
"I wonder why they came."
"Miss De Bourgh needed a rest," said Maria who took things at face value and repeated Darcy's excuse.
"I shall believe that, but only because other explanations are too ridiculous! No matter! I am going to sit outside to read Jane's letter." Elizabeth sat herself on a bench and began reading her sister's letter. When she had read it she went inside to write a reply.
Dearest Jane,
I am still enjoying my stay here. Did I write you about the Colonel? He has left now, so we thought we were in for a dull time, but imagine our surprise when we were visited by none other than Mr. Darcy and Miss De Bourgh, who had condescended to call on us on foot. I cannot imagine why! Though he was not so very dull. Perhaps the Colonel put him in the shadow a little. Enough of the men here, tell me more about Bingley! You saw him, did you? Why did you write so very little about those meetings? In your next letter I demand a full report! And by the way, I agree with your opinion of Caroline -- not sane yet. She came here, quite unexpectedly, looking for her fiancé, but I later heard from the Colonel that she has never been engaged. It is a sad thing to see it happen in such a young person. I fell sorry for you, to have her for a sister. You see I have not given up hope! These meetings you had with Bingley, even though they were on the stairs, gave me new hope for your happiness. Give everyone at Longbourn my love.
Your sister, &c.
She laid down her pen and thought of the walk tomorrow. What a strange request from Darcy!
Part 21
The next morning Darcy and Anne collected Elizabeth and Maria, and because Anne smiled at Maria, Elizabeth was forced to accept Darcy's arm.
"How are you this morning, Miss Bennet?" Darcy asked politely. "Is the weather not good?"
"It is excellent for a walk," Elizabeth replied, unsure what to think of Darcy's sudden politeness. "I did not know that you and Miss De Bourgh were such great friends. You hardly speak to each other in company. No, you never speak to each other."
"I am willing to answer if she should address me," Darcy said defensively.
"But you are not willing to address her yourself?" she asked and raised her eyebrows.
"I am! Sometimes."
"I should hate to be Miss De Bourgh with such a cousin, in spite of her being the heiress to Rosings."
"And I should hate to be you with such a cousin," Darcy retorted. "Well, Anne and I speak when you are not there."
"Really? What do you talk about?" Elizabeth asked.
"I am afraid I cannot tell you that. It is a secret."
"Oh, a secret!" she mocked. "My sister saw Mr. Bingley in London," she said, gauging his reaction.
"That must have been a pleasant occasion for the both of them," he said calmly.
"I do not know. I do not think they saw each other long, because my sister was there to see Miss Bingley, who, as you know, went insane after being treated ill by a cad."
"I did not know that," Darcy said in surprise. "I hope that cad was not me."
"His identity was never revealed," Elizabeth said gravely. "But I am very curious nevertheless, Mr. Darcy, what you could possibly have done to fear such a thing?"
"Nothing!" he vowed.
"Really?" she inclined her head a little. "Will you swear to not being a cad?"
"I am not a cad."
"That relieves me no end. I do not think my father would approve of my walking with a cad."
"Would he approve of your walking with me?" Darcy asked immediately.
"Mr. Darcy, I shall not presume to know what my father would answer to that. Have we lost Maria and Miss De Bourgh?" Elizabeth turned around. "Yes, we have. Shall we turn back?"
"I do not think my cousin will get lost," Darcy said reassuringly. "Shall we walk on?"
"Do you like Hunsford?" Anne asked shyly.
"Yes, I do," Maria answered just as shyly.
This gave Anne some more courage. "Would you like to live here?"
"Not with Mr. Collins!" said Maria. "He is...well...ugh! I do not see why my sister married him! I should not have done it. Never!"
"Yes, ugh!" said Anne.
"Are you engaged to Mr. Darcy? He is much better."
"No, we are not engaged. My mother likes to say that so I do not get bothered by fortune hunters. I am a heiress, after all."
"Oh," said Maria, who did not understand one bit of it. "I should not mind to be engaged to someone as handsome as Mr. Darcy. Not Mr. Darcy himself, of course, because I am a little afraid of him. Someone like that handsome footman with the dark hair."
"Which footman?"
"A footman at Rosings Park. The one who takes your cloak when you come in? You must know him! I think he is adorable!"
Anne frowned as she tried to recall the faces of all the footmen. "Christopher?" she tried.
"Is that his name?"
"I am not sure. Point him out to me next time you are invited to Rosings."
"Yes!" said Maria with a smile. "Oh! We have lost Lizzy and Mr. Darcy."
"I do not think he will get lost," said Anne. "Let us sit and rest for a while."
Meanwhile, Jane Bennet was hoping that Bingley would return to Netherfield soon, and she was not disappointed, for only a week after her return from London it was rumoured that the servants had arrived at Netherfield to prepare the house for their master's arrival. This was wonderful news to Jane and Mrs. Bennet. A few days later Bingley indeed arrived, and the Bennets were the first family he called on.
"It is a pity about your sister," Mrs. Bennet whispered to him after a while. She had heard a little from Jane.
Bingley looked confused, for he had just been chatting agreeably to Jane. "My sister?"
"I heard she lost her mind."
"I hope you will not stop receiving me because of my sister," Bingley said hopefully.
"No, indeed, Mr. Bingley! You may even bring her, if you wish."
"Thank you, Mrs. Bennet."
"Have you not brought any other unmarried friends this time?"
"No, Mrs. Bennet, but one of them is where your daughter Elizabeth is."
"Oh!" Mrs. Bennet threw up her hands. "Little good that will do her! She keeps refusing suitable men, that foolish girl. Jane, promise me you will never be so foolish."
Colonel Fitzwilliam had gone on with his duties. He had received Anne's letter, but he had not derived much comfort from her assurance that it had been in Mrs. Fitzwilliam's own interest to marry him. He had heard here and there that Miss Bingley had accompanied her brother to Hertfordshire for an indefinite period of time, and because he longed to know where he was standing, he contemplated abducting her from there. All he needed to find out was where Bingley's house was situated. It would be kind of a military expedition, he mused.
Part 23
While Darcy and Miss Bennet enjoyed their walks, Anne spent most of her days reading and writing letters, while she was entertaining Miss Lucas. Maria did not mind at all. Every finished letter meant that Anne would ring for a footman.
Colonel Fitzwilliam, in London, anxiously awaited a letter from Anne. Finally one came, but he shook his head at the contents. She advises me to dress up as a footman and observe my wife because she will not notice me if I do? But I do not want to observe! I want to -- I do not know what I want to do!
Before he could leave for Netherfield, Georgiana came to visit him. "Richard, I thought my brother was not interested in Miss Bingley?" she asked anxiously.
"I hope not."
"Oh, but Anne wrote -- and Caroline behaved so -- and William is staying so long at Rosings --"
"Georgiana, I must tell you something," the Colonel said in a serious voice.
"What?" she said with wide eyes, fearing the worst.
"I just want you to know that I am an honourable man, despite whatever you might hear to the contrary in the future."
"What?"
"I must go now."
"Where are you going?" a confused Georgiana asked.
"You will hear from me before long, I hope. Good bye."
On the road to Netherfield he wondered if he was doing the right thing, but he thought that waiting until his wife would come to him sounded rather foolish. He had no idea what he would do, but as it was rather cold outside, it would perhaps not be a bad idea to get inside the house. He rang the doorbell and he was shown into the dining room where Bingley, the Hursts and Mrs. Fitzwilliam were having dinner. They all looked surprised, but Caroline looked a little afraid.
"Fitzwilliam! Do join us," said Bingley jovially. "We have only just started."
"Thank you, but I came to --"
"No! I insist."
Since he was rather hungry, the Colonel sat down and had his plate be filled.
"What brings you here?" Bingley asked.
"I am looking for Mrs. Fitzwilliam," he said seriously, unable to resist the temptation of glancing at Caroline, who cast down her eyes at her plate with a heightened colour.
"Here?" Bingley asked. "I am sorry we cannot help you. We are not acquainted with your mother. What happened to her?"
"She is probably running away from a villain," said Caroline, pushing her meat around with a fork.
"Caroline, you do have a strange obsession with villains. You see them around every corner," Louisa said irritably.
"I cannot get away from them."
"You will probably end up marrying one then," Colonel Fitzwilliam said good-humouredly, and she coloured even further.
The rest of the conversation was on other subjects, and when Bingley discovered after dinner that the Colonel had not yet got a place to sleep, he offered him a room, which he accepted graciously. When they rejoined the ladies, they were entertained with music, and after supper everybody retired.
Now is the time, thought the Colonel, sitting on his bed. He had trouble standing up. What do I say? Dear Mrs. Fitzwilliam, what were your intentions?
Part 24
"Good evening," said Colonel Fitzwilliam. He had finally mustered up enough courage to go to her.
"Colonel..." Caroline said in alarm. She hastily donned her dressing gown.
"Mrs. Colonel," he bowed.
"Argh!" Caroline sat down on her bed. "I..."
"If you dare tell me that that license was a fake, Caroline, I am going to throw you over my shoulder and drag you off to Gretna Green."
"I..."
"And if it was not a fake, I am going to throw you over my shoulder and drag you off to Gretna Green anyway, just because you deserve to be thrown over my shoulder."
"I..."
"It is not good manners to start your sentences with I," he said and walked over to the bed. "Was it a fake?" he asked.
Caroline reclined. "I warn you, Colonel. I shall scream."
"You did it again. Twice you started with I."
"I --" she broke off and tried to wriggle out of his grasp.
"Well?"
"I love --"
Colonel Fitzwilliam shook his head.
"You insufferable fool! Why did I ever marry you?" Caroline cried. "I am cursed! Cursed! Stuck with you forever! And the worst thing is that I am fonder of you than I am of myself! How dreadful! How can I live with it? I am doomed! I shall go mad!"
"You are fond of me?" he asked.
"No!"
"Are you fond of yourself?"
"No! I hate myself for being fond of --"
"I have the solution. It is quick and painless."
"What? Poison?"
"No, allow yourself to be fond of me."
"Oh, you do not know what you are asking!" Caroline groaned.
"Sit back and close your eyes. Think to yourself what a wonderful person I am. Enumerate all my good qualities," Colonel Fitzwilliam said soothingly. "And then consider whether I am not a perfectly decent human being to be fond of."
"You are conceited and insufferable."
"So are you. We are a well-suited pair."
"I am not."
"You are fonder of me than of yourself, remember that. If I am conceited, you are even more so. Assuming that you are not fond of conceit, but you would not have accused me of being conceited when you loved it."
"I do love it."
"I knew something in your reasoning was not quite logical," the Colonel said triumphantly.
"Please be quiet and abduct me, or be quiet and leave, because if you make any more self-satisfied comments I shall scream."
Part 25
At Hunsford Mr. Darcy and Miss Bennet had progressed to such a level of friendship that they could be described as intimate friends. Elizabeth felt she was very well able to sketch Darcy's character now and she admitted to herself that she liked him.
If Darcy had not known that should he propose anything beyond a walk through the park, Lady Catherine would get very upset, he might even have called it a courtship. However, their increasingly good understanding was getting in the way and with each passing day Darcy found himself increasingly tempted to brave his aunt's disapproval and his own opinion of the Bennets' connections.
He had thought it through and he had concluded that he would be able to survive such a connection. People would talk, but it would not affect him as much as he had first thought, and he was no longer so blinded by Miss Bennet that he could not think rationally of her feelings. When he had thought of proposing the first time and he had been prevented by Colonel Fitzwilliam, he had not given much thought to Elizabeth's feelings. All that had mattered had been his own.
At this moment he was fairly certain that she liked him, perhaps even admired him. They had come to share many looks that had made his heart beat faster and he did not doubt that she was affected in some way too when they shared another look.
With their growing intimacy it had not been inevitable that the subjects of marriage, Lady Catherine's wishes, and themselves, had come up. It had not taken them very long to discover the other's feelings and Darcy knew what he had to do. He proposed, and was accepted.
The remaining problem was that Lady Catherine had no idea what had been happening under her very nose. She would be extremely angry, Darcy was sure. He and Elizabeth discussed it and decided that it would not be wise to break the news to her there at Rosings. They did not look forward to her reaction, for she would try to undo things.
While talking about this problem with his betrothed, Darcy got a luminous idea. If they eloped and got married in secret, nobody would be able to interfere and everybody would just have to accept it, because it would be a fact that nobody could change. That would be perfect. Just the thought of everybody interfering alone repulsed him and the idea of an elopement became more and more attractive.
Elizabeth was not so convinced of its advantages at first, but Darcy soon talked her into going along with the plan.
Anne and Charlotte were not at all surprised when both Darcy and Elizabeth were ill the day after -- they had been taken into the couple's confidence. Lady Catherine was not allowed to know, but she continually kept up a communication with Darcy's valet, who was supposedly attending to the patient.
The trip to Gretna Green was long, but they finally arrived there. There were many couples waiting to be married, so the ceremony was very short, but no less effective, and the journey back was undertaken without delay. It could all be done very quickly, if necessary.
The newlyweds spent one night on the road, and when Darcy wanted to throw something at an annoying person who was whistling very loudly at an early hour, he received a rather big surprise when he stuck his head out of the window, for none other than his cousin was sitting on the adjoining balcony with his feet propped up at the railing, and he was the one who was whistling the annoying tune.
Part 26
"Fitzwilliam?" Darcy asked incredulously.
His cousin peered at him through the darkness. "Good morning, Darcy," said Fitzwilliam cheerfully when he recognised him, as if it was perfectly natural to be out on a balcony at five o'clock in the morning.
"What the devil are you doing here?"
"Look at the sky. It is beautiful, do you not think so?" he said in a soft voice. "And please keep your voice down."
"Why are you not in bed?"
"I am pretending this is my bed. Why are you not in bed?"
"I was, but some annoying person was whistling."
"Be gone, Darcy."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Go back to bed."
"Why?" Darcy asked.
"Leave my friend and me alone."
As far as Darcy could see, the Colonel was alone. He peered again and thought he discerned a shadow beside his cousin. "Eeeeee!" he gasped. "Who is with you?"
"Go away, Mr. Darcy," a lady snubbed. "I am too scantily dressed for you to see me and dawn will be breaking soon."
Darcy gasped again at the revelation that Colonel Fitzwilliam sat on balconies with scantily dressed ladies whom he called friends. "Fitzwilliam, I thought you were more decent than that."
"Why? It is not I who is scantily dressed."
The lady chuckled and Darcy heard her whisper something. "Well, good night," he said hastily. He did not want to get involved in any immoral schemes. "Fitzwilliam?"
"Good night," it sounded quite muffled.
"Please tell me you are not doing anything immoral, as Georgiana's guardian."
"I am not doing anything immoral in that capacity, no."
"We are not doing anything immoral in any capacity," the lady said indignantly.
Darcy wondered where he had heard her voice before. It sounded rather familiar. "Miss Bingley?" he asked incredulously. "Fitzwilliam, you are here with Miss Bingley?"
"No, I am not."
Darcy was nonplussed. He was sure he had recognised her voice. "Oh," he said lamely. "She sounds like her."
"That is what I often hear," said the lady. "But Miss Bingley married a villain."
"Ahh," said Darcy. "Did she elope with him too?"
"No, he threw her over his shoulder and dragged her off."
"Goodness, what a barbarian."
"I know, isn't he just?"
"Does that mean she will no longer bother me?" Darcy asked. "Am I finally free from her annoying attentions?"
A deadly silence followed. "A word of warning, Darcy," said the Colonel eventually. "I do not think her husband would appreciate such remarks."
Darcy retreated back into his room. "Elizabeth?" he asked.
"Yes?" it sounded sleepily.
"My cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam is on the balcony next door with a woman."
"Oh, best leave him there, then. He might not appreciate your knowing about it when he is sober," Elizabeth yawned.
"Do you think so?" Darcy asked doubtfully. Fitzwilliam had not sounded drunk at all.
"Hmm...what? Yes..."
Part 27
When Darcy woke up the next morning, he remembered his conversation out on the balcony, but he could not be sure that it had truly happened and that it had not been a dream. "Elizabeth?" he asked.
"Yes?"
"Did I go out onto the balcony during the night?"
"I do not remember," said Elizabeth, who had been more than half-asleep when it had happened. "Why?"
"Because I remember bits and pieces of a conversation, but it was so odd that it could not possibly have happened for real."
"Then it must have been a dream," she commented.
"Yes, I suppose so. Are you ready for the confrontation with your parents?" he asked.
"I think I am. I do not think they will pose too much of a problem. Once my mother has recovered from the attack of nerves that she will undoubtedly have, I think she will be rather pleased that one of her daughters is married to such a gentleman as yourself," she said teasingly.
"I hope so." Darcy was not so optimistic. After all, he had eloped with Elizabeth. "And your father?"
"He trusts my judgement, I hope."
"I hope it goes well and we can face the next problem, which will be even greater: Lady Catherine."
"I can take Lady Catherine," Elizabeth said calmly. "I am not afraid of her. In fact, my courage rises already when I think of her attempts to intimidate me. Do you have any other relatives who will criticise your choice?"
"I do not think so. My sister will be pleased to have a sister, and I know for certain that she will like you. It is a pity you have not met her yet, and the greatest problem is that she will probably not forgive me for not introducing you to her sooner."
"You flatter me, Mr. Darcy."
"Fitzwilliam, please. We are married now. And my uncle -- I do not think it will matter to him. He has so many children of his own that he cannot possible spare the energy to fret about his nephew. His reputation is so solid that very little I do could ever change that. Besides, he is rather tolerant and permissive."
At the same time, at Matlock Hall, the rather tolerant and permissive Earl of Matlock was very upset. "It is of no use that they list the location of my residence in those books on the peerage!" he fumed. "When even my own son cannot find his way here! Did he forget where I live or does he have better things to do? I changed the date of this family gathering especially so it would suit Colonel Fitzwilliam's period off-duty, and now the rascal does not even find it necessary to make an appearance!"
"Papa..." said one of his daughters, who had the misfortune of being seated nearest to him.
"Be quiet, Evelina. Nobody asked you any thing."
"He may still be coming," Evelina sulked to one of her brothers-in-law on her other side. She looked down the long table, where all her sisters and their husbands, some of her nieces and nephews, her brother and his wife, and her mother were sitting. "It is not as if there is nobody here when Richard is not, is it?"
"Did he not write to you, Mama?" Deborah asked, as her father kept on mumbling to himself.
"I have not received a letter since last Friday," Lady Matlock said.
"He should marry!" said the oldest sister Catherine. "He needs a wife to remind him of all his engagements. Francesca, did I not hear you say that you knew a young lady who would do very well for him?"
"Oh, she would not do at all," said Agnes with great conviction. "I know whom you are talking of. She would perhaps do better for Darcy."
"Darcy?" Francesca frowned. "I disagree!"
"Really! No, I swear it would be the greatest match."
"Oh, Agnes! Do not be such an ingénue!"
"What about that German Baroness?" Evelina suggested to stir things up, but her suggestion fell on deaf ears as her sisters kept bickering about the girl Francesca knew. Apparently Richard had not written about the Baroness to any of her sisters. Only her elder brother chuckled. "Oh dear!" he said. "The Baroness indeed. I wonder what he wrote to you about her. It must have been capital. Do you still have the letters? Can I read them?"
"Edward, you may never read any of my letters!" Evelina cried.
"Please," said Lady Matlock in a voice that was not strong enough to drown out the sound of her daughters and her grandchildren chattering. "Do not shout so. I am talking to Beatrice and I can hardly hear a word she is saying."
A footman came in and coughed. At long last he rang a little bell to draw attention to his presence and the table fell silent as they stared at him expectantly. "Colonel and Mrs. Fitzwilliam," he announced.
Part 28
"Finally!" Lord Matlock bellowed through the silence. "Finally he sees it fit to grace us with his presence. Son!"
His son was not very quick to appear, because he was experiencing difficulties in persuading the aforementioned Mrs. Fitzwilliam to go in and greet the dauntingly large welcoming party that awaited her.
"Son?" the Earl cried again. "Where is that boy? Did the army not teach him punctuality?"
"It did," he answered, and his appearance was met by many exclamations from his sisters. "Did you reserve a place at the table for us?"
The Earl was so glad to see his younger son safely home at last, that it did not occur to him to inquire after the young lady his son had brought. In fact, his numerous offspring had rather made him lose track of who had married and who had not. He was known to frequently mistake his sons-in-law for one another.
Colonel Fitzwilliam did not know what was best: to sit near his father and be admonished for being late, or to sit among his sisters and be admonished for being married. Fate directed him to the only two vacant chairs, which had been vacated by a niece and a nephew upon his arrival, at the orders of Lady Matlock, who desired her son to be seated near her.
Caroline's attention was immediately engaged by the Colonel's sisters, who knew her and who demanded to know exactly -- in a well-bred, yet very persistent, manner -- what she was doing there with their brother.
"Why were you late?" the Countess asked the Colonel.
"He practically abducted me," they heard Caroline say to Francesca before Fitzwilliam could answer.
"You?" Lady Matlock asked the Colonel.
"Where am I?" Caroline looked around with an innocent look.
"You are at Matlock Hall and you are very welcome," Lady Matlock looked rather ominously at her youngest son, who had done something that she as yet did not know the particulars of, but that she would soon know all about.
He shifted in his seat. He had no idea what Caroline was trying to accomplish. All he knew was that her comments would certainly raise a lot of questions with his mother. "It is not what you think, Mother," he tried.
"For your sake, I hope that too."
"Are you married?" Agnes asked in amazement. She had always thought Miss Bingley would match well with cousin Darcy.
"Yes," Caroline answered.
"But you have no ring!" Agnes pointed out.
Caroline looked at her hands. "Oh, you are right." She sounded just as amazed as Agnes. "I think it must have slipped my mind."
Colonel Fitzwilliam was alarmed. Had it been a mock ceremony then? Real ceremonies always involved rings. Was he not really married? Fortunately everybody seemed to think that it had slipped Caroline's mind to put the ring on, and they did not begin to question the validity of the bond. They merely demanded to know why, when, and where. He left it to Caroline to answer all that, for he was too caught up in the question of the lack of a ring.