Chapter 11
While Miss Bingley was impressing Mr. Collins at Netherfield, a carriage was discharging its occupant at Longbourn. Henry Fitzwilliam, Viscount Millis was the opposite of his younger brother, Col. Fitzwilliam, in stature. While the colonel was muscular and fit from his active lifestyle, the viscount was thin, with spectacles perched on his nose, a delicate air about him, and the look of a youthful scholar about him. Both men shared plain facial features and while neither would be termed handsome, both were rendered agreeable by their open manners. He was greeted warmly by his friend and goddaughter, who were strolling together in the garden on his arrival.
"Well Henry, are you ready to meet Fanny?" Mr. Bennet asked, his eyes twinkling with humor at the upcoming show he expected.
"Yes, Thomas, it will hopefully be most amusing. I might regret not having done so sooner," Viscount Millis quipped back in the same vein.
"Once you are acquainted with Fanny's nerves and she insists that you either find a rich gentleman with a title to marry the girls or you marry one, you might regret meeting her at all."
"I thought a rich gentleman had already been secured."
"Father! Uncle Henry! You should not speculate about Mr. Bingley in such a manner. I expect better from you. You are not gossiping hens," Elizabeth gently rebuked the two fondly.
"It was not Mr. Bingley I was thinking of, but rather my own young cousin," Viscount Millis said dryly.
"Mr. Darcy?" Elizabeth ask in surprise.
"Yes. Tall man, scowls a lot, not fond of dancing."
"Lizzy and I were just canvassing her improved opinion of the gentleman while we walked. It in fact was one of my purposes in proposing our stroll. The other, of course, being on hand to greet you before you breeched the house," Mr. Bennet said mildly.
"Ah, and what dear Lizzy, is your opinion of my cousin? Is your admiration now mutual?" the viscount teased.
"Admiration?" Elizabeth exclaimed.
"Yes. Admiration, it means to like and esteem with respect and warm approval. Or atleast that is what Oxford claims in their little dictionary. Derived from the Latin word admirari or verb admiratio, to marvel or wonder."
"Uncle Henry you need not go into the defintion of the word. I was merely surprised, not unaware of what the word means. As far as admiring me or I him, Mr. Darcy I would consider to be a friend," Elizabeth answered.
"Just a friend?" Viscount Millis asked.
"Or perhaps something more?" her father added.
"Something more?" she exclaimed.
"You really need to stop this habit of repeating what we say. It is most unlike you Lizzy," Mr. Bennet said with a chuckle.
"A suitor. A man who persues a relationship with a woman, with an eye towards marriage. The Latin word is sequi," Viscount Millis was saying as Elizabeth interrupted him.
"Mr. Darcy is not my suitor! He is not looking to marry someone from our small corner of the kingdom," Elizabeth was quick to say.
"Not someone Lizzy, you. Why else did you think my younger brother rushed here in a flurry of masculine indignation? He has long since assumed he would vet any of your suitors before they even made it in the door, and his own cousin violated that belief."
"I find it very hard to believe, that even if we are now friends, Mr. Darcy would be considering marriage to me. I am, after all a country girl, not of the first circles of the London Ton."
"He is a country gentleman at heart and very likely in love with you. You might want to start seriously considering him. Now shall we go meet Mrs. Bennet?" the viscount said cheerfully.
Elizabeth, her equilibrium disturbed by the idea that a man, as handsome and pleasing as Mr. Darcy, could have intentions regarding herself, blushed and nodded.
When Mr. Bennet presented his wife of almost 23 years, with his dear friend Henry Fitzwilliam, Viscount Millis, heir to the Earldom of Matlock, before that gentleman could greet her properly, she fainted.
…
"My lord," Mrs. Bennet said reverently at dinner, "My Lydia, I am sure you noticed, is such a lively, pretty girl. Much like myself when Mr. Bennet and I married. She would make a very good countess someday I am sure. As Mr. Bennet could assure you, a man of your scholarly temperament, much like my husband's, could use a lively wife."
"Your daughter is only 15, is she not?" Viscount Millis stated.
"But so mature for her age! And a great favorite with the gentlemen," Mrs. Bennet confided loudly.
"I, my dear madame, am the same age as my esteemed friend,your husband and your daughter's father. I have no desire to marry a silly girl young enough to be my daughter. I am not looking for a lively wife. I prefer my peace and quite."
"Mary is very studious, though she is my plainest daughter. Perhaps she is what you seek in a wife."
"Miss Mary, while a lovely girl, is once again young enough to be my daughter. I am afraid that all of your daughters are too young for me, and I have never had a desire to enter the wedded state."
"So your younger brother will inherit the tittle?" Mrs. Bennet clarified.
"The officer that was here earlier?" Lydia shrieked excitedly. "I call him. He is mine. Kitty can settle for one of the local millita, I shall be a countess and an officer's wife. La, how grand!"
"It is very likely that he will. My younger brother though, is not looking for a wife currently and certainly not one so young."
"Every man is looking for a wife," protested Mrs. Bennet.
"I am not looking for one madame," Mr. Bennet commented dryly. "Neither is, I believe, Sir William Lucus."
...
The next morning, Darcy and Col. Fitzwilliam rode to Longbourn. Col. Fitzwilliam, speaking up before Darcy could, requested they be announced to the gentlemen first. When the two were shown into Mr. Bennet's book room, as Darcy went to greet his cousin, the scholarly man suprised him, with a right hook to his chin. His cousin, not being a robust man, did not pack much of a punch, but it none-the-less stung. Darcy looked at his cousin in stunned disbelief, while Col. Fitzwilliam amd Mr. Bennet laughed. "Do not insult my goddaughter, Fitzwilliam Gerald Dary," Viscount Millis informed him sternly. Then in a warmer tone added, "Clearly Richard hadn't done his duty to met out justice, so someone had too."
"And I deserved it, " Darcy said rubbing his chin.
"So young man, is there anything you would like to speak to my friend Thomas about?"
"Mr. Darcy speak to me? Impossible. I am nothing but a country squire, there could not be possibly anything a man of his consequence would deign to ask me for," Mr. Bennet said pretending to dismiss the idea. "Now, are there any new young men in your scholarly circle we should introduce my Lizzy too? She won't marry a stupid man, after all she refused my cousin. Her husband will have to be intelligent."
"Lizzy would likely like a good looking fellow as well, it couldn't hurt," Col. Fitzwilliam chimed in.
"A good library should be a must on our list as well," Viscount Millis said continuing the joke.
"Lizzy is a great walker, so perhaps a large estate with many walking trails," Mr. Bennet added.
"He should not have the standard vices of gambling, drinking to excess or keeping a mistress," Col. Fitzwilliam said grining.
"Perhaps most importantly, he should be in love with her?" Darcy said dryly. "May I present myself as a suitor for Miss Elizabeth's hand? I seem to meet all your requirements."
"I would not dare refuse a man of your consequence. Lizzy, on the other hand, just might. Do you believe my daughter to be in love with you?" Mr. Bennet said, his tone turning serious.
"I do not, which is why I would like to present myself as a suitor to you. I seek the opportunity to woo Miss Elizabeth, with your permission," Darcy stated confidently.
"You understand that I will support Elizabeth's answer, regardless of what the outcome of your wooing should be?"
Darcy nodded and said, "I do sir."
"Then you have my permission to request a courtship with Lizzy."
...
"Miss Elizabeth can I persuade you to take a turn about the garden?" Darcy ask, after greeting the ladies in the parlor.
"Excellent idea old chap," Col. Fitzwilliam said. "Miss Bennet and I shall join you," he said grinning.
"Mr. Darcy's friend Mr. Bingley is soon to return from town. He is very tsken with Jane. Perhaps if you wait, I can have Lydia fetched and you may escort her Colonel," Mrs. Bennet said fluttering nervously.
"Mama, Lydia was most insistent that her and Kitty go to Lucus Lodge today and see Maria. Remember, you yourself wished to go into Meryton and call on your sister," Jane gently reminded her mother. "You had been preparing to do so before the gentlemen arrived. "
"Oh yes! I must speak to my sister. I have quite a few calls I must make today," Mrs. Bennet said significantly. Then with a dawning look of understanding, she said, "You have known Lizzy for some time I believe, Colonel?"
"I have," he agreed.
"And you are fond of her?'
"Of course."
"Lizzy would make a very fine wife for a distinguished officer such as yourself," Mrs. Bennet said satisfied. "Do enjoy the outdoors. Mr. Darcy, I am sure, will be pleased to escort you in his friend's absence Jane." With a nod, she exited the room as a laugh escaped Elizabeth and the colonel sputtered.
Once outside, Col. Fitzwilliam offered his arm to Jane and kept at a slightly slower pace, to allow Darcy a semi private word with Elizabeth. Neither Jane or Col. Fitzwilliam said much, both were focused on watching the other pair. When Darcy took Elizabeth's hand and raised it to his lips for a kiss, Col. Fitzwilliam marched forward quickly and yanked his cousin back by his jacket, saying, "None of that."
Jane silently ask Elizabeth, with a look, what was going on. Elizabeth answered out loud, declaring that Mr. Darcy had requested a courtship and she had agreed on the condition that they refrain from announcing it to her mother and Lady Catherine right away. Elizabeth explained she felt that both, Mrs. Bennet and Lady Catherine, would make it unnecessarily stressful.
Before the gentlemen departed, an invitation for the entire Netherfield party to dine the next night was extended and accepted.
…
Cornering his Aunt in the sitting room, alone with Anne and Mrs. Jenkinson, Col. Fitzwilliam boldy stated, "What gives aunt? For years you have brought up Darcy and Anne's suppossed engagement as often as possible. Now you have not even alluded to it once since I arrived."
"Anne is entirely to frail to marry Richard. She has a weak heart and it would be impossible for her to bear an heir. Do not be ridiculous. Darcy has never intended to marry Anne and Anne has never intended to marry anyone."
Shocked, all he could say was, "But."
"But nothing Richard. "
"Mother and I have a different bride in mind for Darcy. One perfectly suited to him," Anne said cheerfully.
Thinking over the past 24 hours and realizing his aunt had spent considerable time with Miss Bingley, he burst out with, "You cannot possibly be entertaining the idea of Darcy marrying that harpy Miss Bingley."
"God no!" Anne cried out, her eyes wide, as Lady Catherine said vehemently, "That upstart tradesman's daughter! Bite your tongue boy!"
Mrs. Jenkinson said camly, "Perhaps you should fill the colonel in on your arrangements for Miss Bingley, my Lady."
"So you intend something for Miss Bingley, but not I pressume, what she wishes?" Col. Fitzwilliam asked shrewdly.
"Miss Bingley, if her brother adhered to her wishes and did not dawdle, is legally engaged to marry my parson by now," Lady Catherine said camly. At first a flabbergasted Col. Fitzwilliam said nothing, but within seconds he began to laugh so hard tears rolled down his face.
Gasping for breath, Col. Fitzwilliam ask, "And how exactly did such a thing come about? And why would Miss Bingley urge her brother not to dawdle?"
"Miss Bingley may have misunderstood my mother's intentions," Anne stated camly.
"She never once ask me the name of the groom I was acting on behalf of," Lady Catherine stated with a sniff.
As the ladies regaled the colonel with their successful maneuvering of Miss Bingley he forgot about finding out who his aunt had in mind for Darcy to marry. Realizing this later, after leaving the ladies, he shrugged and dismissed it, positive that he could successfully divert them from Darcy's courtship, until Darcy and Elizabeth were safely engaged.
The three ladies, he had left, breathed sighs of relief that Col. Fitzwilliam, in his amusement over Miss Bingley and Mr. Collins, had failed to find out the identity of the lady they had chosen for Darcy. All three firmly believed that blinded by his brotherly affection for Elizabeth, he would be resistant to any suitor, finding none of them good enough. Such a stance had been useful previously when the men interested in Elizabeth were not Darcy. But now that the man in question was Darcy, the colonel could not be allowed to queer the pitch before the two were safely engaged.