"Fitzwilliam Darcy what do you mean by showing up with a black eye? Explain yourself immediately. You did not have one earlier and you are too old for this type of misbehavior. You are almost a married man. The Collins and their family will be here any minute. What a base embarrassment." Lady Catherine demanded in one of her more piercing shrieks.
Earlier that afternoon:
Fitzwilliam Darcy had finally escaped the clutches of his gorgon Aunt making his way for freedom and fresh air. He made his way out the front door and about twenty-five feet towards the surrounding park before encountering a major obstacle. Actually, the obstacle was a very hard blow from a Colonel not a Major and comprised of a fist connecting to his left eye. Looking up from position which was now flat on his back on the ground he yelled at his cousin, "What the hell Richard?"
"Your solution after Ramsgate last year is to marry her off at sixteen to Bingley. If you don't want Georgiana living with you, she can stay with my mother. I am her guardian too, when were you going to surprise me with this brilliant scheme of yours." Richard Fitzwilliam growled down at his cousin.
"I am not trying anything of the sort. Admittedly, when I was afraid last Spring that her reputation might require saving by marriage I thought of Bingley but he has told me he views her as a little sister. What made you conclude I was going to marry Georgiana to Bingley all of a sudden?"
"I was trying to do you a favor by improving Miss Elizabeth's poor opinion of you by telling her how you looked out for Bingley by saving him from an imprudent match this fall."
His cousin responded with a loud groan and louder still "You idiot, that was her much loved older sister!"
"Then that explains why she knew that Caroline Bingley was making it known that her brother was going to marry Georgiana. She also did not seem to find it surprising you interfered more like she expected it."
Less than hour early in the grove:
"Oh! yes," said Elizabeth drily; "Mr. Darcy is uncommonly kind to Mr. Bingley, and takes a prodigious deal of care of him."
"Care of him! Yes, I really believe Darcy _does_ take care of him in those points where he most wants care. From something that 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."
"What is it you mean?"
"It is a circumstance which Darcy could 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."
"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 a most imprudent marriage, but without mentioning names or any other particulars, and I only suspected 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."
"Did Mr. Darcy give you reasons for this interference?"
"I understood that there were some very strong objections against the lady."
"And what arts did he use to separate them?"
"He did not talk to me of his own arts," said Fitzwilliam, smiling. "He only told me what I have now told you."
Elizabeth made no answer, and walked on, her heart swelling with indignation. After watching her a little, Fitzwilliam asked her why she was so thoughtful.
"I am thinking of what you have been telling me," said she. "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?"
"I do not see what right Mr. Darcy had to decide on the propriety of his friend's inclination, or why, upon his own judgement alone, he was to determine and direct in what manner his friend was to be happy. But," she continued, recollecting herself, "as we know none of the particulars, it is not fair to condemn him. It is not to be supposed that there was much affection in the case."
"That is not an unnatural surmise," said Fitzwilliam, "but is a lessening of the of the honor of my cousin's triumph very sadly." (Pride & Prejudice Jane Austen)
"I am surprised Colonel that you approve of your young cousin then being the one to marry him."
The Colonel gave a puzzled look asking, "Miss Elizabeth could you clarify what you are saying."
"I am sorry, I just assumed that since his sister Miss Bingley, felt it appropriate to share in writing of how she, how did she put it, entertains that Miss Darcy will soon be her sister due to an alliance with her brother that you had given your blessing to the match. Would you prefer I not mention it further? The note was sent to my sister but only the two of us saw it."
"I do not want to seem harsh, Miss Elizabeth but who else have you and your sister passed on this information?"
"You have failed in your attempt of not being harsh but, neither I nor my sister have the manners of the Ton. You are the first and only since I mistakenly believed as her guardian you were aware of it."
Looking very embarrassed the Colonel placed his right hand over his heart and bowed to Elizabeth. "Miss Elizabeth my most pronounced and heartfelt apologies to you and your sister. I know without saying it that you will both keep this confidence to yourself. Also, I am afraid must leave your company head back to Rosings immediately."
Elizabeth with a responding curtsey, "Of course, I understand completely."
With that the gentleman turned and double-time marched towards to Rosings.
Elizabeth watching the gentleman for a short time said "Touche'" with a slight smile. Heading in the direction of the parsonage she debated the merits of a headache versus attendance at tea that evening at Rosings.