"Good God!" She gasped, "But how can that be?!"
Colonel Fitzwilliam bristled, "Miss Bennet!"
Elizabeth recollected herself and cut him off before he could fully express his horror at her thoughtless outburst. "Forgive me Colonel, I can understand your low opinion of me considering all you have just revealed, but I would like to think even I could not sink so low as to doubt your honesty." She watched as he thought better of speaking his mind and allowed her the chance to explain her reaction, merely inclining his head a little in permission. "I apologize heartily for my words just now, I never intended them to be a slight on your character or doubting your story in the slightest, I am quite simply in shock. I cannot..." Elizabeth shook her head gravely, wholly disgusted with herself. She continued, almost mumbling to herself, "I, who pride myself on being such a good judge of character, so pleased with my cleverness and wit..." She wrung her hands despondently.
"There is no need to be too hard on yourself, believe me, many young women, and men for that matter, have been taken in, as I am only too aware." Fitzwilliam gave a wry smile, trying to placate her, pleased at her reaction and mollified by her guilty countenance. "He can be quite charming, it's hard sometimes to see through his lies."
"But Miss Darcy! How could he?!" The Colonel had to resist from smiling when he saw her little hands curled into fists, then her face changed into sweet concern. "How does she fair now? I dare not hope she is fully recovered, but is she well enough considering everything? Where is she now? I cannot imagine going through all she has suffered, but I hope she has found some comfort in her family and friends."
"I thank you for your concern, Miss Bennet, I expected no less from your generous heart." He smiled down at her kindly, but she waved away the praise.
"How could I think otherwise? Poor thing!"
"I confess, she is not doing as well as we would like. She almost became a recluse, a shell of her former lovely self, feeling so racked with guilt. No matter what Darcy or I say to her, nothing seems to shake her from this melancholy. But her new companion, Mrs Annesley has lately been able to bring some consolation. But it will take time for her to trust herself again, let alone anyone else. Poor Darcy was at his wits end, trying to be there for her but not knowing how to fix it. 'Tis why he ventured to your part of the world, to give her some peace and quiet."
"I only wish there was something I could do to ease her mind." Elizabeth pondered this for a few minutes, but came to no decision. Still overwhelmed by all she heard, suddenly she felt fatigued, and when she looked up, was surprises but grateful to find herself in front of the parsonage. "Thank you for telling me, Colonel Fitzwilliam. Though I know I don't deserve this confidence you have placed in me, I swear I won't breathe a word of this to another soul."
"I never doubted it." He released her arm and gave a bow, struck anew by how perfect a woman she was for any man, but more particularly for his cousin. He would do whatever he could. "Miss Bennet, may I beg another favour of you? Many things have made Darcy the man he is today, someone who I call not only my family, but my best and most loyal friend. I don't intend to force you to change your mind about him, but please give me leave to tell you more about the man you have professed such a dislike for. Once you know all, I will not interfere again, but I feel I cannot let you go without pleading the case on his behalf." He held onto her hand, looking into her eyes, willing her to say yes.
Immediately she went to say no, but something in his tone and eyes made her stop to think. Her heart beat a little faster and a voice whispered in her head that she had already misjudged him once... "Very well, Sir, I agree." Elizabeth lowered her gaze slightly when he heaved a sigh of relief. Clearly this meant so much to him. "Perhaps at the same time tomorrow by the old tree?" Without saying any more, she headed through the vicarage gate, only pausing to nod a goodbye as she reached the door.
Richard tipped his hat and turned to head back to the old house, a little spring in his step. He could fix this, he was sure of it. But in the event nothing changed, he couldn't tell his cousin, not yet.