Author's Note:
Hi, guys! Well, here you have a long chapter to make up for yesterday's short one. I have good and bad news. The good news is that I started my classes at uni again, the bad news is that I started my classes at uni again (haha). They sent me so much work, guys, it's crazy! I will try to keep posting once a day, but if I don't, you know why!
I hope you enjoy this chapter. We are finally in London meeting Lord and Lady Matlock. As far as I know, their eldest son takes the second most senior title, so Lord Henry Fitzwilliam is Earl of Matlock and his son Lord Anthony Fitzwilliam would be Viscount of Ashton (the name is fictional of course).
I don't know much about Regency Cambridge, but I assume that although there probably were some class divisions, everyone could meet. Maybe a certain friendship that you'll read in this chapter might not have been very likely… idk, but humor me.
Stay safe and healthy!
Jen
"And so you shall embarrass me from now until my marriage?" Elizabeth asked.
"I do not have any other option, my dear. And it was you who decided to bring those hens to your chamber, not me."
Everyone was laughing by the time Mrs. Bennet came back and announced dinner was ready.
23.
The next day, the Darcys, Bingley, Mrs. Bennet, Jane, and Elizabeth travelled to London. The Bennets were to stay with Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner while in town, so arrangements were made for all of them to dine at Darcy House the following day. There was much to do in town and no time to waste. The first thing in Mrs. Bennet's list was to order the brides' wedding gowns immediately, and so, Jane and Elizabeth were taken to the most expensive shop they had ever been in. The following days were a battle with their mother about how much lace and ribbon was really too much. It was not until Lady Anne, Georgiana, and Mrs. Gardiner accompanied them and supported their decision that Mrs. Bennet gave up on her quest for as much lace as possible. Jane chose a pale pink gown with white ribbons and a V-neckline, while Elizabeth chose a cream coloured gown with a little lace around the bodice and the square neckline. Both dresses were finely made and the fabric was the softest and most expensive the sisters had ever worn. Their measurements were taken and appointments were made for fittings during the next fortnight.
The Darcys renewed their friendship with the Gardiners. On their first coming to Gracechurch Street, the children were introduced and then—to everyone's surprise, but the Gardiners and Fitzwilliam—little Beth walked to Fitzwilliam, stretched her little chubby arms to him and said:
"Up, Mister Darcy?"
"Beth! Remember your manners," her mother said.
"Please?" the little girl asked to everyone amusement.
Fitzwilliam laughed and took the girl in his arms.
"It is good to see you, Miss Beth."
"Mama says you will be my cousin," Beth said.
"I will."
"You will marry Cousin Lizzy?"
"Yes."
The girl nodded in understanding. "She is my godmama, too."
"Yes, I have been told. Is she a good godmother?" he smirked at his fiancée who frowned accusingly.
"Oh, yes! She always reads to me and plays with me and brings me sweets, but we are not to tell mama that," she whispered.
"Beth!" Elizabeth laughed. "Everyone heard you!"
Watching Fitzwilliam with a little mischievous girl, Mr. Darcy and Lady Anne finally understood what he had envisioned when he spoke of a little Miss Darcy just like Elizabeth, and they beamed in happiness at the realisation that it would soon come to pass.
"Would you like to tell me, Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth said once they were alone, "how is it that my goddaughter seems to know you so well?"
"We spent some time together when your aunt and uncle invited me to their home during... well..."
"Oh, I see. I did not know you were so good with children."
"I am better with children than with adults," he smiled. "Children are honest and hold no pretensions. They do not care about money, class or connections."
"No, but they do care about what your third favourite bird might be," Elizabeth chuckled.
"Indeed. I hope we have many."
"Birds? I suppose it can be arranged."
Fitzwilliam laughed and shook his head before they were asked to join the rest.
A sennight after they had arrived to London, Fitzwilliam told Elizabeth as he and his family left Gracechurch Street after dinner:
"I meant to tell you earlier that my aunt and uncle have accepted our invitation to dine at Darcy House this friday. Richard and his elder brother will also be there and they are all looking forward to making your acquaintance."
"Except Colonel Fitzwilliam who has already made it," she commented as they walked outside.
"He does not know," he said sheepishly.
"You have not told him?" she asked and stopped walking to turn to him.
"I told him I was engaged, I did not mention you name."
"Why not?"
"I suppose I wanted to surprise him. He does not see it coming."
"What about your aunt, uncle, and elder cousin?"
"They know your name, of course. They insisted I tell them about you, but they promised they would not mention it to Richard."
Elizabeth laughed. "Poor Colonel. He will be the only one in the dark."
"He enjoys teasing me too much. It shall be my revenge," Fitzwilliam smiled. "My aunt and uncle are always late, so you and your family will probably be there already by the time they come."
Fitzwilliam tried to start walking to the carriage again and then noticed that Elizabeth had not moved.
"My love, are you all right?" he asked when he noticed her serious and pensive expression. He took her hand without caring about the impropriety of it as he waited anxiously for her answer.
"Oh, yes. I was only wondering if I would get a repeat of..." she trailed off.
"Of Lady Catherine?" Fitzwilliam guessed. "No, you need not fear. For one, my aunt and uncle are reasonable people who will be open to judge you for your merits. They fear, mostly, that you might be a fortune hunter, but I am sure, as my parents are, that after a few minutes with you, they will be quickly disabused of that notion. Besides, they know that even if they did disapprove, it would change nothing. I love you and my most immediate family loves you too. They have no power to come between us. Still, you have no reason to fear, for they are more like Richard than they are like Lady Catherine. My uncle, especially, is a more jovial man than one would expect of an earl. I have the feeling that you will like each other."
Elizabeth smiled. "You have done an excellent job in soothing me, Fitzwilliam. Shall you always do so?"
"It is my intention," he smiled back. He looked down at her smiling lips and had to remind himself that they were standing outside in between the house, where the Gardiners and the Bennets were, and the carriage, where the Darcys were waiting for him. "I so wish to kiss you, but it shall be impossible for even another sennight."
"Resist, my love," she beamed. "And meanwhile, you may carry this to remind you of me."
She took his hand and shoved a folded handkerchief inside before she turned and walked back to the house. Fitzwilliam put the handkerchief immediately into his pocket and did not open it until he was in his bedchamber. There, he pulled his gift from the pocket of his coat and examined it: there was a delicate flower design embroidery in the handkerchief along with the initials 'E.B,' and wrapped inside, there was a strand of hair, a perfect chestnut curl tied with a purple ribbon. He smiled and pressed her hair against his nose as he inhale her sweet lavender scent. He thought it was the most wonderful gift he had ever received right after her hand and her kiss.
Friday finally came much to Elizabeth's discomfort. She had been soothed by Fitzwilliam's reassurances and each time she spent in conversation with her future family, the more comforted she felt, but the truth was that she still wished to make a good impression. She took a long bath, allowed her maid to arrange her hair in an intricate style and put on her very best evening dress—at least for the time being, for her mother had insisted that as the future Mrs. Darcy and Mrs. Bingley, they both needed new dresses that would be ready in a few days. Her gown was of a pale peach colour and while it was simple, the fabric was the most expensive she currently owned. She noticed that for once, she was dressed more finely dress than Jane—though she thought she could not match her in beauty—for Jane had no relatives to impress to-night. Mr. Bingley would be there, of course, but she was not meeting anyone of his family for the first time.
Fitzwilliam had told her that Bingley had been furious—at least as much as he can possibly be—with his sisters for their intervention in his relationship with Jane. They, unlike Fitzwilliam, still believed they had done nothing wrong and did not apologise. Therefore, they had been cast away from Netherfield until the wedding, which was fortunate, for he did not wish to be present when Caroline read that Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam would also marry. Each sister would only be allowed to come to the wedding—and to Netherfield afterwards—if they promised to respect both the future Mrs. Bingley and the future Mrs. Darcy. And so, it came as no surprise when Fitzwilliam asked Bingley to come alone to Darcy House, for he had no wish to encounter Miss Bingley at present, especially while his aunt and uncle were there. Bingley agreed immediately and replied he had had no intention of bringing his sisters either way. Although Elizabeth did not fear Miss Bingley, she was still relieved that she would not have to see her that night.
The Gardiner carriage stopped at the front of Darcy House before the family descended. Elizabeth looked in awe at her future home as much as she had the first time she had laid eyes on it. Darcy House was in the elegant street of Grosvenor Square, in Mayfair, the most affluent and expensive area in the West End of London. She had been excited, mostly, by its nearness to Hyde Park, but upon seeing the house itself, she was utterly surprised by the size and elegance of it. Since it was a London house, and not their main residence, she had expected something much smaller. She had done her best to look unaffected and not as overwhelmed as she felt by knowing that someday she would have to be mistress of this house and Pemberley. She dearly hoped that her future mother-in-law was willing to guide her. She had immediately met Mr. and Mrs. Williams, who she had liked a lot, and had spent some time trying to remember as many servants' names as she possibly could—as it was her habit. Now, she entered the house and greeted them with a sincere and warm smile.
Fitzwilliam had been dressed and ready for more than an hour when he finally heard the Gardiner's carriage. He waited until Mr. Williams announced them and noticed with satisfaction—as he had the previous time Elizabeth had been at Darcy House—that both their butler and their housekeeper had been completely enchanted by his fiancée. He smiled affectionately at the thought of her kind and loving heart just when he saw her walking in. Had Fitzwilliam known that, a mere half hour ago, Elizabeth had deemed herself not as beautiful as her elder sister, he would have set her straight that very second. He found he recovered faster with each time that he was dazzled by her beauty, and so he walked to her and kissed her hand before he said:
"You look beautiful," he kept his voice down so as not to be heard by anyone, but her, though no one in the room could doubt what his words had been.
"Thank you," she smiled and blushed.
Greetings were exchanged and not a half hour later, Mr. Williams entered the parlour and announced:
"Lord and Lady Matlock, Lord Ashton, and Colonel Fitzwilliam."
The whole Fitzwilliam family walked in just as Mr. Darcy and Lady Anne were stepping forward.
"Good evening, Brother," Lady Anne smiled and embraced her brother briefly. "I am happy to see you."
"As I am to see you, Annie," Lord Matlock replied. "Darcy, how do you do?"
"Very well, thank you. Come, let us introduce you."
"Miss Bennet?" Richard said with a smile as he recognized someone among the strangers. "I do not believe my eyes, but it must be you!"
Elizabeth chuckled. "Indeed, it is me, Colonel Fitzwilliam," she curtsied to him. "It is very good to see you again, though I must correct you, it is Miss Elizabeth, for my elder sister is here."
"Well, then, it is truly a pleasure to see you, Miss Elizabeth," he beamed. "May I ask how did you come to be here?"
"Richard!" his mother scolded him.
"I am very surprised, Mother, and I know Miss Elizabeth enough to know she will not take offence."
"Indeed I do not, I am here as a friend to Georgiana, of course..." she trailed off and glanced at Fitzwilliam.
He stepped forward and smiled so lovingly at her that Richard connected the dots and knew it even before Fitzwilliam said:
"And as my fiancée, of course."
Even though he had suspected what he was about to say, Richard was still stunned.
"Fiancée? I am astonished," he said and tried to recover as soon as he could. "Although you were always an intelligent man, Fitz. I applaud you on your choice. Congratulations!"
"Will you introduce us, Nephew?" Lord Matlock asked after the couple had thanked Richard.
"Of course. Aunt, Uncle, Cousins, this is my fiancée, Miss Elizabeth Bennet; her mother, Mrs. Bennet; her elder sister, Miss Jane Bennet—who is also Bingley's intended—and Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, Elizabeth's aunt and uncle. You already know Bingley," he added before turning to the Bennets. "These are my aunt and uncle, Lord and Lady Matlock; and my cousins, Lord Ashton, and Colonel Fitzwilliam."
Bows and curtsies were exchanged before they all took seats. Lady Anne, Mr. Bingley, and Jane did their best to keep Mrs. Bennet entertained, which was not too difficult for she was already distracted by both the elegance of the house and the presence of the earl and countess. The newly arrived lost no time and sat close to Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth who were sitting with Georgiana and Mr. Darcy.
"We have heard a lot about you, Miss Elizabeth," said Lady Matlock. "Both from the Darcys and from Richard."
Fitzwilliam was not oblivious to the fact that Richard must have been more taken with Elizabeth than he had first thought for him to speak about a woman to his parents.
"From the Colonel, you say?" Elizabeth smiled, more surprised by this information than Fitzwilliam was. "Should I be worried that my character has preceded me?" she grinned mischievously at Richard. "Did you tell your family, Colonel Fitzwilliam, about a scandalous country girl in Kent who was much too opinionated for her own good and walked underneath the sun without a bonnet?"
Richard laughed. "Indeed! But I believe what truly stunned them was that you stood up to Lady Catherine."
"Did I? I merely replied to her interrogation. I could not know that she was not expecting an answer."
Now, Lord Matlock had joined in the laughter for he knew his sister too well.
"I believe, Miss Elizabeth, that my sister's questions are more often rhetorical than not," he said.
"Yes, I did find out on the third question, but by then I was too amused to go back."
Richard chuckled. "It was quite a show and one rarely has any fun at Rosings."
"I am always happy to entertain, Colonel," Elizabeth smiled.
"Did our aunt force you to play the pianoforte and then declared she and Cousin Anne would play better if only they could?" Lord Ashton asked.
Elizabeth smiled. "Yes, she did."
"Oh, but she always does that, Lizzy," Georgiana said. "You should not feel bad."
"I do not, Georgie. As you know, I have little faith on my playing skills."
"Do not believe her," Georgiana shook her head. "She plays beautifully and sings even better."
"Oh, I do sing well," Elizabeth smiled, "but it is a strategy to pull attention away from my poor playing."
"Georgiana is right, do not believe her," Fitzwilliam intervened. "She plays with more feeling than most."
"Oh, but such praise coming from her friend and her fiancé does not count," Lady Matlock said. "I hope you are willing to play for us tonight."
"Of course. I might as well prove I am right and sing so as to disguise most mistakes. But I have put you in an uncomfortable situation, have I not?" she smiled at the Fitzwilliams. "After I play, you shall have to either contradict me or declare I am a terrible player."
"Which would offend you more?" Richard laughed.
"Neither. I shall see the positive side and decide that you will also either compliment me or be honest."
Fitzwilliam smiled affectionately at her as he watched his family laughing at her liveliness. He wondered how and why he had ever fought his feelings. The whole party soon moved to the dining room and took seats. Lord Matlock, Richard, Georgiana, Jane, Bingley, and Mrs. Bennet sat at Mr. Darcy's right, while Lady Matlock, Lord Ashton, Fitzwilliam, Elizabeth, Mr. Gardiner and Mrs. Gardiner sat at his left. Fitzwilliam exchanged places with Elizabeth—he knew his aunt, uncle, and cousins would like to speak to her—and took the seat next to her.
"I am curious about something, Miss Elizabeth and I hope you might enlighten me," Lord Matlock said.
"I hope I can, my lord," Elizabeth replied.
"Is your name—Bennet, I mean—spelled with a single 't' or two?"
Elizabeth, in equal parts intrigued and amused, replied:
"One 't,' my lord, but double 'n.'"
"I see," he replied and appeared thoughtful.
"May I ask to what this question tends?"
"Oh, 'tis merely that I was a good friend of a man named Bennet a very long time ago, but I lost contact with him after university, when we both started forming our own families."
"I doubt he is any relation of mine, Your Lordship. Bennet is a fairly common name, after all."
"Perhaps you are right," he said.
"What was his full name?" Mr. Darcy asked.
"Mr. Thomas Bennet," His Lordship replied and looked at the startled face of Miss Elizabeth.
"Well... Thomas is also a common name," she said.
"I can tell you that he was the only heir of some estate in Hertfordshire," he added and on seeing recognition on her face he continued: "I assume you know him."
"You could say that," Elizabeth smiled. "I am his daughter, after all."
"His daughter!" Lord Matlock exclaimed, surprised. "Are you sure?"
Elizabeth smiled teasingly now and tilted her head as she said:
"That I am his daughter? Well, I do not look very much like him, but everyone will tell you that we are much alike in character. And my unbelievable physical resemblance to his own mother cannot be a coincidence."
"She is teasing you, Uncle," Fitzwilliam clarified with a smile. "She very well knows that is not what you meant."
"I see," Lord Matlock smiled as his sons and wife tried to hide their laughter.
"I am sorry, Your Lordship," she smiled. "But to reply your question, I cannot believe there is another Thomas Bennet in Hertfordshire who graduated from Cambridge thirty years ago. Was the estate he was to inherit called Longbourn?"
"Why, yes! I believe it was. Is that your home?"
"It is."
"What a coincidence! Do you not think so, Darcy?" he asked his brother-in-law.
"Indeed, it is! I never heard you speak of a Bennet before."
"It was thirty years ago, as the young lady said. Tell me, Miss Elizabeth, how is your father?"
"Very well, sir. He remained at Longbourn for he is not very fond of London."
"Oh, he never was, was he?" His Lordship chuckled. "How has he been these many years? I assume that if he inherited, old Bennet must have passed away."
"Yes, my lord. Grandfather Bennet died when Papa was six and twenty, four years before I was born. I never met him."
His Lordship nodded. "Then he married and had you and your lovely sister."
Elizabeth smiled. "Yes, only he had my lovely sister first and then me. I am the second of five daughters."
"Five daughters?" Lord Matlock smiled. "Well, that must have kept him well entertained to forget sending me a few letters."
"I am afraid writing letters is not one of Papa's skills," she chuckled. "I have not received a single one from him since I came to London and I do not believe I will."
"But he did write to you a very amusing letter when you were in Derbyshire," Mr. Darcy commented.
"Yes, but that was after I had been gone from home six weeks. He does not miss me enough yet to write."
"Will you tell him that I have made your acquaintance and that I would happy to see him again?" Lord Matlock asked.
"Of course," Elizabeth replied. "Although I hope you will come to the wedding and see him there."
"We shall certainly go," Lady Matlock said.
"You know," Lord Matlock said. "Your father might not have told you this, but he was the king of debate at university."
Elizabeth laughed. "Oh, he certainly did not! But you must tell me everything, my lord, for Papa is in a quest to embarrass me by retelling every mischief I have ever done when I was a child to my future family."
"Why would he do that?" Richard chuckled.
"He hopes I might change my mind and leave his daughter in his home with him if he scares me into the belief that my own daughter could be such a handful as Elizabeth was," Fitzwilliam replied.
"I was not a handful."
"That is not what your father says," Mr. Darcy laughed.
"Oh, you see, my lord? Papa is determined to paint me as a naughty child, but if you tell me of his university days, perhaps I might have some leverage on my side."
His Lordship laughed, "I am afraid there is not much to mischief to tell. He was a true scholar, more interested in his books than in other amusements the university had to offer."
"He has not changed much, then," Elizabeth smiled. "But you mentioned debate."
"Oh, yes, he excelled at chess, too, but debate was his forte. He had an amazing skill for argument."
"Why does it not surprise me?" Fitzwilliam smiled at his intended. "Apparently, Uncle, it is a skill that can be inherited."
"Is it?" Lord Matlock asked, surprised.
"Well, that would explain much," Richard said. "You see, Father, when we were in Kent, Fitz and Miss Elizabeth spent their whole time arguing. I now believe it was a strange form of courting I did not know about," he laughed.
Fitzwilliam squirmed in his seat, for he now knew the difference between Elizabeth's playful banter and her teasing antagonism. He now saw the signs that seemed to scream, loud and clear, that she truly did not like him then. Before he could pity himself more, he felt a small hand sliding in his open palm on his lap, and intertwining its fingers with his. The gentle squeeze she gave him seemed to say 'I like you now,' and he was further reassured when her thumb started caressing his forefinger.
By the time the night was over, Elizabeth had charmed the Fitzwilliam family, and to her relief, her mother had been happily distracted by her aunt and future mother to do any real damage. Elizabeth played decently and sang beautifully and although the Fitzwilliams had heard that her technique was indeed flawed, they had to agree with Fitzwilliam that she felt and enjoyed the music more than many others. She was then invited, along with her family to join them at the theatre in a few days and so the Bennets and the Gardiners departed soon after.
The next day, Richard arrived at Darcy House alone and found the three elder Darcys in the study. It was just what he had expected, since he knew Georgiana must be working on her studies at this time a day, and so, he was determined to speak to Fitz, at least.
"Very well, Cousin, I demand an explanation," he said teasingly, although he felt that he was quite serious at the same time.
"An explanation?" Fitzwilliam asked.
"I assume my dear aunt and uncle know everything," he nodded to the elder Darcys, "but you have kept me completely in the dark and I am utterly confused."
"About what, Richard?"
"Fitz! You know exactly what I am talking about!"
Fitzwilliam, who did know what his cousin was about, still teased:
"Do I? Pray, enlighten me."
"Very well, you leave me no choice. This is what I know: for a whole year now you have been acting strange, but I cannot understand how you came to be engaged to Miss Bennet! I thought you were in love with someone!"
"I am," Fitzwilliam replied, trying not to smile.
"Then why would you play with Miss Bennet's feelings?"
"I am not."
"Fitzwilliam," Richard said seriously. He rarely called his cousin by his whole name, claiming it was strange to call another man by his own last name. "You are in love with someone, but could not marry her for some reason." He started pacing. "I know it cannot be Miss Bennet, so why are you marrying her? I thought I was to meet this mysterious love of yours and I find poor Miss Bennet here, instead!" He stopped his pacing and faced his cousin. "Fitzwilliam, she is a good woman, do not play with her feelings."
Fitzwilliam regretted having played with Richard's then, for it was obvious that not only Richard was worried about Elizabeth, but that he also had some feelings for her to incite such concern in him. This was the most seriously Richard had spoken to him in years.
"Why do you think that Elizabeth cannot be the woman I love?" Fitzwilliam asked.
"Maybe we should leave you alone," Lady Anne said.
"No, I think you better stay," her son replied. "You know everything anyway."
Richard ignored this and replied:
"I think it cannot be her for I have seen you with her in Kent. You were more quiet than usual, you did not give her any attention at all, or even spoke to her! You spent the whole time you were in her company glaring at her! It did not look like love to me and judging by some of Miss Bennet's comments I even thought she disliked you just as much as you disliked her."
"I did not know you thought I disliked her."
"What was I to think? The only time you spoke, you argued constantly. I thought you found her too outspoken and independent."
"I think you should tell him everything, Fitzwilliam," his father advised. "He was very supportive of you throughout the whole ordeal even if you did not know it."
Fitzwilliam sighed as he knew his father was right and told his cousin:
"Take a seat, Richard. I will tell you the abbreviated version." Richard took a seat and waited expectantly for his cousin to continue. "You are wrong. I always liked Elizabeth, too much for my own taste, at first."
"What do you mean?"
"I liked everything about her, but the fact that she came with no dowry or connections."
Richard looked startled. "And why would you care? You have enough of both to spare. If I had your money, I would have..." he stopped himself and then said: "I would have married whoever I wished."
"I thought I could move on and so I left Hertfordshire only to find her a few months later in Kent."
"That was the reason you were so cold to her? Because you liked her? You are very strange, Fitz."
"As I said, I thought I could move on."
"But you could not."
"No."
"So she was the mysterious woman all the time? Her lack of money was the big impediment you spoke about?" Richard turned to his aunt and uncle. "I thought it was a true impediment! I thought she might be married, dead, or something like that."
"That was not the impediment," Fitzwilliam told him. "That was what had been holding me back until April, but then... I proposed marriage to her on our last night there."
Richard frowned in confusion until realisation seemed to dawn.
"She rejected you?"
"Yes, most vehemently. I left Kent thinking we would never marry."
"Then I was not wrong. She truly did not like you, then."
"No, she did not."
"However did you change her mind?"
"I am not sure," Fitzwilliam chuckled. "She visited Pemberley in the summer with her aunt and uncle and we cleared some misunderstandings."
"Wait!" Richard stopped him, thinking it all over. "Oh... oh no." He shook his head. "Fitz, I am so sorry."
"Why?"
"It was my fault. I did not mean... I was trying to do just the opposite..."
"Richard, what do you mean?" Fitzwilliam asked, now concerned.
"The day that Miss Bennet did not come for tea, the day you proposed, I had seen her that afternoon. I was taking a walk through the park, as I always do, when I saw her walking. I approached her and we talked. I... I knew she did not like you, and I know people sometimes think you are proud and aloof, so I tried to improve her opinion of you."
"What did you tell her?"
"I told her that you were a good son, a good brother, a good cousin, and a good friend, especially to Bingley. When I mentioned Bingley, she said that you took good care of him, and I told her that... Oh, God! I told her that you congratulated yourself on helping Bingley avoid an undesirable match with a lady whose family you objected," he confessed. "My Lord! Was it Miss Jane Bennet?"
"Yes, it was," Fitzwilliam replied.
"Fitz..." Richard sighed. "I am so sorry. I never should have... I swear upon my honour that I was trying to improve her opinion of you, not worsen it."
"I know, Richard. I would never think you cruel."
"And you proposed to her that same night! No wonder she told me she was not feeling well, I was speaking of her family! That was so ungentlemanly of me! If I had not opened my big mouth, she might have—"
"No," Fitzwilliam said. "She would not have accepted me then, even if you had not said it. She already suspected it, and she would have had it confirmed sooner or later. Besides, I had a few lessons to learn and that was not her only objection."
"She reproached you on your behaviour, did she not? Was that why you were so altered?
"Yes, and she was right. I had treated her and everyone she cared about horribly. Some of her neighbours in Meryton still keep their distance from me. Mrs. Collins' sister, Miss Lucas, was terrified of me when I asked her to dance on Elizabeth's birthday, so you might imagine how bad I had behaved."
"I can very well imagine it was the same way you behaved in Kent, but I said nothing for you were already crossed."
"You did not act differently with me."
"Because you cannot scare me," Richard smiled. "But I thought it must be our aunt that was getting on your nerves. What happened then?"
"Mother, Father, and Georgiana became acquainted with her, but before long she was called away back to Longbourn on urgent business. Richard, her youngest sister is married to Wickham."
"What?! How? When?"
"He took her from Brighton to London and lived with her there for a few days."
"Out of wedlock, I assume."
"You assume right."
"You had to pay him?"
"Only then, he would marry her."
"Damned Wickham!" Richard cursed and stood up again.
"It is done, Richard," his uncle said. "He was our responsibility and Miss Bennet's sister suffered the fate that Georgiana barely avoided."
"But why did he take her? The Bennets have not the amount of money he needs."
Fitzwilliam looked at his cousin intently.
"You have seen both Jane and Elizabeth," he commented.
"Yes, so?" he asked and when realisation dawned added: "Oh, are all the Bennet daughters so handsome?"
"Lydia looks a lot like Jane, Kitty and Mary resemble Elizabeth more, but yes, they are all handsome."
"So two of them are still single?" Richard grinned.
"Richard," Fitzwilliam warned him. "They are barely older that Georgiana."
Richard laughed and said, "I think my respect and admiration for Miss Bennet has grown now that I know she had the courage and integrity to reject you."
"My own did, too," Mr. Darcy said and they laughed.
"I cannot understand why does everyone think I cannot love Elizabeth. Bingley arrived at the same conclusion when I told him we were engaged! There is nothing more natural and logical than loving Elizabeth," Fitzwilliam said.
"'Tis because of your behaviour towards her!" Fitzwilliam argued. "But I agree with you that she is everything that is charming. You are a lucky man, indeed," he smiled, but if someone looked close, they would be able to detect a small degree of pain and regret in his eye, which he was trying to hide from his beloved cousin.
I do not own any Pride and Prejudice properties, nor do I make any money from the writing of this story.
Characters and situations, created by Jane Austen, are taken from Pride and Prejudice and from the Pride and Prejudice (1995) adaptation created by Simon Langton and distributed by BBC.
This story is released under the GPL/CC BY: verbatim copying and distribution of this entire work are permitted worldwide, without royalty, in any medium, provided attribution is preserved.
