Rosings, April 10th

Mr. Bingley,

I am afraid I have committed an error of judgement on your behalf. Certain new circumstances have shed light on your acquaintance with Miss B. I have seriously misrepresented the lady in question to you, being certain I understood the nature of her character. I thought her deceitful if only in the interest of the self-preservation of her and her relations, giving you favours only at the behest of her mother.

Well, my friend, I was wrong, and you were right.

I will not reveal my sources, but as far as I know, Miss B. did fall for you and her affection was not pretended. My involvement in the matter caused you both grief, but I hope not all is lost. To this date, she resides in London under her uncle's roof.

I can only repeat how sorry I am for my actions.

Yours,

FGD.

PS.: I expect your rightfully furious letter at Pemberley.

. . .

Elizabeth folded Darcy's letter with the mechanical moves, her stare blank. Both mortified and angry, she glared at the twee landscape hanging on the wall. Her heart was beating as if she run off stairs, across the hall, down the lane straight to the town hall. Her hands shook.

While yesterday she wanted to slap him for humiliating her, today she wanted nothing more than to slap herself.

. . .

Elizabeth did not know what to expect, but the lanky figure of the Colonel leaning on a tree trunk was the last thing on her mind, when she decided to take a stroll at the park to calm down before she did something criminal to Mr. Collins.

"Miss Bennet, may I have a word please?"

"Sir," she said, "Before you have that word, I shall warn you that my patience with people named Fitzwilliam is growing very thin."

"Cousin's winning personality has the most peculiar effect, I see." He offered her his arm, and Elizabeth felt obliged to take it. "If it helps, my Christian name is Richard. That should thicken your patience a bit, at least."

They set to walk. For each his step, she had to make two. Curse the long Fitzwilliam legs!

She had to laugh. "When the Lord dealt the boon of charms, you went twice."

"And robbed my cousin on my way back. He had to hand it over, since I'm older."

"Highwayman."

"No. An infantryman. Learn the difference, Miss Bennet," he chuckled.

How could he and Mr. Darcy come from the same stock was beyond Elizabeth's understanding. Mr. Darcy would adopt a look of severe constipation, had she called him a robber.

(Well, she did, in a way. And he looked like she stabbed him in the chest.)

"I feel I need to apologize on Fitz's behalf." Her eyes widened. "Do not be surprised, ma'am. I had the honour of tending to his wounded self-esteem, while occasionally salting the wounds myself."

"Have you known…?"

"…That he harboured feelings for you? No, not until he managed to do the most romantic thing in the most idiotic way, I could ever imagine him being capable of doing. He was so shaken by his own openness that once he started confessing, he could not stop himself from revealing more."

"That was my experience as well," she said. "Forgive my question, sir, but why are you sharing this? I cannot imagine your cousin appreciates us picking on him."

"Oh, my intentions are on the opposite side. I do not wish to laugh at his misfortune. Well, not now," he admitted when she gave him a disbelieving glare. "But given that we grew up closer than brothers, I can argue I know his deepest character. He is the most awkward man, but he is the furthest from a hypocrite. Your words affected him deeply."

"Sir, I appreciate the effort, but given what was said… Despite him explaining himself later, I do not think my opinion of a marriage to him changes."

"I do not ask for that. I only ask for seeing him as he is. Lord knows very few people have the patience."

. . .

London, April 15th

Mr. Darcy,

I have known you ever since Eton. I have considered you one of my closest friends, despite and because of your clear view on the world void of sentimental self-delusions and your dedication to the truth no matter the costs. But I would have never guessed you so callous. Neither would I have suspected my own sisters to conspire against me.

Jane refused to talk with me. Given what you lot did, I cannot be surprised.

Regards,

CB