Chapter 22
As the group gathered in the drawing room before dinner, Lady Catherine said imperiously, "I think a spring wedding would be appropriate. While we are in town this week, Anne may begin assembling her trousseau."
"I was unaware Anne was engaged, my congratulations, cousin," Darcy said with a dip of his head at Anne who shook her head bemusedly at him.
"You know perfectly well that I speak of your marriage, Fitzwilliam," Lady Catherine said with a displeased glare.
"I was unaware I had made my intended proposals to anyone," Darcy said with a smirk.
"You may propose over Christmas at Harcourt," Lady Catherine commanded him.
"I would if I could, but I do believe I do not have that option," Darcy said with a glance toward the Earl.
"Not have that option?" Lady Catherine demanded. "What nonsense is this? Your proposal is a mere formality. The union of you and Anne was the dearest wish of your Mother and me. If you worry your engagement will eclipse your cousin's introduction to the ton we can wait to announce your engagement until after Elizabeth's ball. The more I think on it, the more fitting I find that would be, but it need not push off the date of the wedding itself."
"I am sorry to disappoint you Aunt Catherine but Anne and I have no intentions of marrying each other," Darcy said gravely.
"Impossible! " exclaimed Lady Catherine. "Did you not hear me say it was the dearest wish of your mother that you marry your cousin?"
Deciding to thow a bit of fire onto the situation for fun, David said with an air of innocence, "If Aunt Anne wished him to marry a cousin, perhaps Elizabeth would suit."
Lady Catherine's eyes widened at this but before she could find her voice Elizabeth quickly said, "Very funny Davy. My couisn and I can agree we would not suit though."
"I don't know," Henry said stroking his chin as if thoughtfully. "According to Aunt Catherine it was Aunt Anne's dearest wish he marry one of his cousins. Both Anne and Darcy are quiet, if they married they may go days in silence. Your relations are proof of your own verbosity. "
"Need I remind you Mr. Collins is not truly a relation of mine, I hope you do not me to imply I am as verbose as that individual," Elizabeth said dryly causing a small giggle to escape Anne who was familiar with the man.
"I referred to your nearest relations, sister dear," Henry said with a wink. "Richard could talk the ear off his horse I will have you know."
"As if you don't walk around Harcourt talking to your equine friends," Richard defended himself with a snort.
"Well I don't intend to be marrying Elizabeth off anytime soon," the Earl said with a stern look towards his sons for deliberately provoking Lady Catherine.
"If you change your mind," Darcy said to his uncle with a smirk to the shock of all causing uproars of laughter to emerge from his male cousins and even a few giggles from Anne as she took in contemplativly the look her stern cousin was leveling at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth sat shell shocked before nervously joining in the laughter. She was almost positive Darcy had been joking, but the look in his eyes when he caught her own gaze had been quite serious.
"I suggest we table all talk of marriage and go into dinner," Lady Matlock said taking her husband's arm.
"Elizabeth?" Darcy said offering her his arm, which Elizabeth took, glancing sideways at him. She quickly though concluded he only offered her his arm to avoid having to offer it to Anne since evidently he did not wish to unite Rosings Park and Pemberley, despite the claims she had heard to the contrary.
Georgiana gazed proudly at her brother and gave him a wide smile. He had, she judged, just put all their relations, including Aunt Catherine, on alert that he was intending to persue Elizabeth. For even Lady Catherine could not miss what had gone unsaid, Darcy was not oppossed to the idea. It was unfortunate that Elizabeth did not seem to be aware yet though, she thought with regret.
Anne sent a conspirital smile at Georgiana as she accepted David's arm and and Richard offered his to Georgiana, both men directing scowls at Darcy's back. Georgiana and her would have some work to do, Anne thought wryly. Anne had no desire to marry and would happily see her two cousins married. She suspected Elizabeth livley personality would be good for Darcy. Elizabeth's response though suggested she was not considering such a match. As far as Darcy went, Anne thought with glee, where as he always made at least a token protest saying he had no intentions of marrying any time soon when Lady Catherine mentioned a marriage between the two of them, this time he had been firm they would not marry. She was grateful to him for that. She had often wished he would be more firm with her mother, but understood he didn't feel the need to direct Lady Catherine's ire at himself more than necessary. Not only had he not protested the possibility of Elizabeth as a bride, he had even teased his uncle about him changing his mind about marrying her off anytime soon. For Darcy that little joke may as well have been a declaration of his intent. Especially when coupled with his prompt offering of Elizabeth his arm to go into dinner.
…
Darcy sensing the glares of his male cousins' on him, made sure to keep his attentions to Elizabeth from being overt. He could not help but watch her over dinner, but made sure to do no more to single her out as he had when going into dinner. He had though felt it was necessary to make a statement that could not be misconstrued, he did not want Elizabeth to believe he was honor bound to Anne and he wanted his Aunt Catherine to dismiss her fantasy once and for all. Prior to her comment on a marriage between him and Anne it had been abundently clear she liked and approved of Elizabeth. Elizabeth's refuting of a match between them would raise her in Lady Catherine's eyes, so he was unconcerned that his preference would be detrimental to Lady Catherine's regard for Elizabeth.
…
After dinner when the ladies adjorned to the music room, Darcy awaited the censure he assummed his uncle would level at him for putting Lady Catherine on alert that he had intentions toward Elizabeth.
"Well done," Matlock said wryly. "You have made sure Catherine understands your position. You handled the situation very well. You have done as I requested and not made your interest known in any overt way to Elizabeth, but left no doubt in anyone else who knows you well's mind."
"Elizabeth was quick to refute a marriage tied to you," Henry said with a grin. "I dare say you have your work cut out for you."
"I am not afraid of a little hard work," Darcy said mildly.
"Nothing worth having ever comes easy, eh William," Issac teased him.
"Just so," Darcy said with an easy smile. Elizabeth, he silently add, was very much so worth the effort.
…
With Elizabeth at the piano forte at Lady Catherine's request, Anne said quietly to Georgiana, "I suspect your brother could use a little bit of help from us."
"From us?" Georgiana asked in confusion.
"I take it while you adore Elizabeth as a cousin, you would much rather call her sister?" Anne asked slyly.
"Is it that obvious?" Georgiana asked with a blush.
"No. Besides it is perfectly natural to like our new cousin. I dare say I find her absolutely thrilling. You should have seen her with mother when we arrived. She made her laugh," Anne informed her. At this Georgiana's eyes widened."Just so. Mother won't admit it but she is quite taken with Elizabeth, as am I. We all are and it is not just the novelty of having her here with us. She fits."
"Yes. Like the missing piece of a puzzle as been inserted," Georgiana said thoughtfully. "She makes me wish to be braver."
"She makes me feel more alive. There is something about an energetic female that is appealing. Our male cousins and your brother are all active, but they don't make me feel like I could be too. I think it is cause they are not female and therefore I cannot relate to them as easily. That and Elizabeth has a way with words. She snuck up to my room while I was to be resting and we had a merry time. One we plan on repeating at Harcourt.'
"I hope you can be persuade to include me," Georgiana said with a shy grin.
"Oh don't worry Elizabeth has promised to spring both of us from our prisons. She is quite convinced that your brother is smothering you almost as bad as mother smothers me."
"William is very protective," Georgiana said hesitantly. "But I admit I would like to do somethings girls my age do."
"I believe there was mention of gathering mistletoe, decorting with greens and dancing, for Elizabeth claims that with five elder brothers, there shall be dance partners for all, even my mother. "
"Do you think she will actually get Aunt Catherine to dance?" Georgiana asked with a giggle.
"I would not underestimate her," Anne said. "I dare say if she wished, she could even get your brother to dance with her in front of the entire ton."
"Brother would like nothing more," Georgiana admitted. "He did not make the best impression though." Bitting her lip, Georgiana hesitated and then said in a rush, "He insulted her the first time they met, before even being introduced. He called her tolerable and refused to dance with her."
"Oh my," Anne said her eyes going wide.
"He hopes to earn her good opinion."
"And that is where we come in," Anne said.
"Us?" Georgiana asked.
"Who better than us to point out all of his fine qualities?" Anne asked smiling.
