A/N: Thank you for reading and commenting. I appreciate every one of your comments. Some of you have really gotten into my head (or like Colleen S., who has read the whole story on her Kindle) and are predicting pretty accurately what is going to happen next - fireworks at the dinner? Before that, let's have a little bit more Darcy. We have waited long enough for him to show up.
I am starting the schedule to post one chapter on Monday evenings and Friday mornings. I hope the story should flow better without such a long break between postings. If you prefer the previous weekly two-chapter posts, please let me know.
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When Colonel Fitzwilliam arrived at Rockingham House, his father called him into the study.
"Richard, I am glad that you are come. I have been focusing on the Luddite troubles, and the sad news from Badajoz caught me by surprise. Wellington's bitter complaints on the lack of adequate support have been heard loud and clear here. I know your presence there is sorely needed, but as your father, I am sorry to see you shipped out so soon to that hellish place," the Earl greeted his son by way of discussing current affairs, which was the norm between father and son.
"Sir, I just came from the briefing on the battle plan to avenge the thousands who perished. The victory was terribly costly for our troops. However, right now I am simply glad that I have dodged that awful lamb stew in the officer's mess before boarding the ship in three days' time."
"That soon? I thought you would have a week. No matter, this is the life you have chosen, inedible lamb stew and all; I fervently hope that your promotion will return with you in good health and not posthumously. You know that as soon as you quit the army, Wellbrook will be yours. You do not need to be a general to claim the inheritance."
"Father, you conveniently left out the second condition for the inheritance: I will have to be married. I do think the next promotion is well within my reach with the situation escalating so precipitously in the Peninsula. Finding a lady who will put up with my ways is quite another matter."
"Please make sure that you stay alive to receive the promotion, and do not take foolish risks," the Earl looked fondly at his son of whom he was mightily proud. "As for finding a lady, two fine candidates will be right in front of you this evening, and you know both of them," quipped the Earl.
"Oh, who can they be? Mother did not mention any guests other than Anne. You know that my ways will scare Anne to death, not to mention that I would rather eat that stuff they call food in the officer's mess than to have Aunt Catherine as my mother-in-law."
"If your aunt must give up Rosings, that should make it palatable, shouldn't it? As for Anne, she will be the sole mistress of Rosings starting tomorrow. She is now much more assertive, and her transformation is all due to the influence of her friend, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. From what Darcy described, Miss Bennet is quite a strong, attractive lady."
"Ah, you need intelligence on Miss Bennet, and that is why I am summoned here to dinner tonight of all nights. You wily fox, sir! Miss Elizabeth Bennet is indeed lovely, but she also has an opinion on just about everything. I do not doubt that Anne could be under her influence, which is not a bad thing as Miss Bennet appears to be sensible and lively. However, I do not believe that I would want my lady to exert too much influence on me. Besides, if I get within touching distance of her, Darcy will have my head."
"Is that so? I sensed that this lady is important to him when I talked to him about her earlier today. But I could not make him out. For Anne to carry out the duties of managing Rosings, Miss Bennet and Darcy need to be assisting her, in different capacities. All indications are that they are antagonistic toward each other. I imagine if anyone can figure out what is going on between the two of them, it is you."
"Sir, you are right, of course, about Darcy being needed to continue to guide the steward. My role as your representative in the annual visit to Rosings has been more Darcy's bodyguard against Lady Catherine's machinations than a trustee of Rosings' welfare. While we were at Rosings, Darcy could not keep his eyes off Miss Bennet. Then he postponed the departure from Rosings repeatedly for almost two weeks. Two days ago, suddenly all the King's horses could not have gotten him away fast enough. On the way to London, he was glum and silent as a corpse. I could not make out what had happened, or that his foul mood had anything to do with Miss Bennet, since she was not there when we went to take our leave. From what you just told me, it seems to me that he and Miss Bennet had a fall-out. Over what is what I do not know."
"It does seem that there is some entanglement between Darcy and Miss Bennet. Would you consider marrying Anne? Rosings is a fine estate. Along with Wellbrook, you would have a fortune not too shabby even when compared to Darcy's," asked the Earl light-heartedly.
"I would rather marry Miss Bennet first if she would have me. She is poor and has relations in trade. Perhaps that was the reason why Darcy was unhappy. Perhaps he cannot forget the expectations that the Darcy name imposes on him. But I have no such scruples as you, sir, want me to marry for love. Miss Bennet is amusing and might keep up with my penchant for adventure. Wellbrook's five thousand a year should do very well by me.
I should give Darcy a run for the money, even just to see where he stands. However, now is not the time to think of marriage. I will be reporting directly to Wellington in this upcoming campaign, and I must focus."
Before the Earl could counsel his son to be kind to his cousin, Farnum knocked on the door and announced that Mr. Darcy had returned for dinner.
Mr. Darcy was surprised to see his cousin, as they had already taken leave of each other when they returned from Kent to find an order to deploy waiting for the Colonel.
The Colonel went up to Darcy, shook his hand and patted his shoulder. He said jovially, "What? Not happy to see me? When will you put that glum face away? Don't worry, I will surely come back if for nothing else than to see how you settle into the role of master of Rosings."
Mr. Darcy greeted his uncle courteously, and then turned to his cousin with a retort, "You would be more likely to become the master of Rosings than I. I already have Pemberley. I have no need for another estate."
"But how would Anne manage without you? Surely you would not want to see Rosings run to the ground? We all know that Aunt Catherine would have done exactly that if left to her own devices. No, the job is yours. I have Bonaparte to vanquish. Father said if you married Miss Bennet, it would work out just as well."
The Colonel watched Darcy closely to see how his cousin would react. What he saw puzzled him greatly, as Darcy's face showed momentarily a deep frown and then a despondent melancholy that he had never seen on his stolid cousin's face before – not even after the incident of Wickham nearly running off with his fifteen-year-old cousin, Georgiana Darcy.
Mr. Darcy went over to the window and said sternly while looking out into the gathering dusk, "It will not happen – my marrying Miss de Bourgh or Miss Bennet."
The Colonel, knowing all parties in the present discussion, probed further, "Why, in that case, perhaps I should pursue Miss Bennet. I had thought you favored her with your constantly staring at the lady while at Rosings. I even took the initiative to further your suit by telling her what a faithful and helpful friend you had been when you prevented Bingley from falling into a trap set by a fortune-hunter…"
Mr. Darcy abruptly turned around then and said gruffly, "You should have stayed out of situations you knew nothing about." And then he turned to his uncle, and said contritely, "Forgive me, sir, for losing my temper in your presence." He bowed and then turned back to look out of the window. He continued in a slightly softened tone without looking at the Colonel, "If you truly favor Miss Bennet, I wish you all the success in gaining her hand. She is a worthy lady, and she appeared to welcome your attentions."
By now, the Colonel, the intelligence officer that he was, had gotten a hint that perhaps Darcy was disappointed in love. How could that be? Could any lady truly turn down Darcy's proposal? Knowing Darcy, it had to be an honorable offer as his cousin despised the decadent ways of the ton. As far as he knew, his cousin had not ever visited any courtesans or disreputable establishments even during his time at university and surrounded by all manner of temptation.
The Earl, knowing that the two cousins were more like brothers than cousins, decided to withdraw from the discussion, as his presence might hamper any heart-to-heart between the two young men who were equally dear to him.
"Richard and Darcy, I need to go finalize my trip north tomorrow, and see to Anne's documents. Do not come to blows in my study and make a mess. Talk things out!" commanded the Earl.
When the cousins were left alone, it did not take long for Darcy to pour out everything that happened three days before: how he had mistaken their verbal sparring as flirtations; how she blamed him for Wickham's treatment and her sister's disappointed hopes due to his interference with Bingley, now known to be unwittingly disclosed to her by the Colonel; how he was willing to overlook her coarse and uncouth family and her connections in trade because of his ardent love; how angered he was by her ingratitude toward his generous proposal; and then after having written the letter to justify his own actions, how empty he now felt.
The Colonel, knowing what it must have cost his very private cousin to bare his soul even to him, listened attentively and without his usual sarcastic smirk. At length, he said to his cousin, "And yet, you told me to pursue Miss Bennet when you are still so deeply in love with her!"
Mr. Darcy said defeatedly, "I have no claim on her affection. If she thinks you can make her happy, I shall wish both of you joy, although it will be a while before I can see you two together."
The Colonel said somewhat exasperatedly, "You speak as if this would come to pass. No, you may not yet have any claim on her, but by Jove, she has a tight hold on you! You cannot give up! The lady obviously does not know you at all if she said such nonsense as your being the last man she could be prevailed upon to marry. I have overestimated her wit!"
"Richard, please do not speak ill of her in my presence. It pains me," Darcy replied forlornly.
"Such ardent love! I promise that I shall not meddle in your love life again, as it did not turn out well this first time. But please, do not lose heart. If she was worth your love three days ago, she is worth it still."
"Perhaps. I do not know anymore. After fixing things for Anne tomorrow, I shall leave for Pemberley as soon as Milton arrives in town."
"Stubborn arse!"