The Colonel and the Heiress

by sysa22

Colonel Fitzwilliam, recovering from injuries, joins Bingley and Darcy at Netherfield, where he meets the widowed cousin of the Bennets. Despite his determination not to inflict his battlefatigue (PTSD) on any woman, he falls in love with Edith Farrington, who battles demons of her own. Meanwhile D&E also get to know each other.

6. Chapter 6 - New beginnings

Love your comments, thanks.

~~H~~

New beginnings

Darcy was exceedingly pleased that due to the size of their party, they had gone to the assembly in two carriages.

After the confrontation with Bingley, and the unexpected set down, he had spent some time hiding in the cardroom, only coming out to do his duty to Bingley by dancing with Mrs Hurst. After which he again stalked the edges of the room.

He observed Bingley dancing a second set with the blond angel with whom he had stood up for the first set after their arrival. Darcy feared that his friend was yet again falling for another fortune-hunter.

Looking around for the congenial company of his cousin, he noticed the Colonel leaning against a pillar, trying to disguise the look of pain which Darcy could recognise.

'Richard, you look done in. I have had enough of the festivities and would be happy to for us to leave now,' Darcy offered when he reached the Colonel.

Fitzwilliam gave him a wan smile. 'I thank you. I suppose I am not as recovered as I thought. Would you inform Bingley that we are leaving while I call for your carriage?'

It was not long before the cousins were on their way to Netherfield.

Once they were in private, Fitzwilliam ignored small-talk and taking advantage of the fact that Darcy was a captive audience, immediately asked, 'who the devil did you think you are to insult a lady in public at the assembly?'

Darcy gave him a startled look and exclaimed, 'I did not speak to any ladies tonight.'

'No, you spoke to Bingley and did not bother to lower your voice when you insulted Mrs Farrington.'

'How could some mercenary harpy possibly be insulted by anything I say?' huffed Darcy, irritated at being taken to task by his cousin. 'I simply squashed any expectations she might have had, and then she had the temerity to insult me.'

'No, Darce, she did not insult you. She chastised you… and rightly so.'

'How would you know what happened?'

'Because I was nearby and heard you insulting the lady loud enough to be heard by half the people in the room.'

Darcy felt uncomfortable at being taken to task but refused to back down. 'Why should I care what she thinks. She is a nobody.'

'The way she carries herself, I doubt very much that Mrs Farrington is a nobody, but even if she were, as a gentleman it is incumbent on you to behave with courtesy and decorum to all. You are more polite to the staff, than you were to the members of the gentry.'

'Did you not hear the matchmaking matrons? Within minutes of our arriving, they were discussing Bingley's and my reputed incomes. I wish I knew how they could have found out. Since none of them frequent town, my reputation should have been safe.'

'Mrs Farrington knew of your reputation —'

'You mean that harpy whom you were defending was the gossip monger? If I had known, I would have given her a proper set down.'

Fitzwilliam held onto his temper by a miniscule margin. 'Darcy, I wish that you could hear yourself. I have never heard so much claptrap in all my life. You really need to learn to listen and think before opening your mouth.'

Fitzwilliam shook his head in disgust. 'If you had not interrupted me with that conceited nonsense, you would have learnt that Mrs Farrington was aware of your reputation as being unsociable. She never mentioned your wealth in any way. On the contrary, I received the impression that she thought you an arrogant and insignificant puppy.'

'I must really have stung her pride,' Darcy said with satisfaction, refusing to rise to the bait of being called a puppy.

'As a matter of fact, you did not. She was laughing at your presumption to think that she could have the slightest interest in you or that you thought that your opinion had any significance.'

'It still must have been this woman who spread the information about my wealth. None of the other… locals knew anything about me.'

'I happen to know that the culprit is much closer to home.' The Colonel shook his head, wondering how an intelligent man like Darcy could be so dense. 'Have you not realised that Miss Bingley likes to inform all and sundry of her consequence by being friends, almost engaged even, to such a wealthy man of the first circles?'

'Miss Bingley?' exploded Darcy. 'I shall wring her interfering neck.'

'I shall be happy to hold your hat while you do so.' Fitzwilliam grinned at the idea. 'Her perfume could be used as a lethal weapon against the French.'

'I have always known that Miss Bingley was the bane of my existence,' Darcy sighed. 'But I had not realised how much of an effect she had on my life.'

'And because of your wilful blindness to her ways you insulted a whole town of perfectly amiable people,' Richard reminded him.

Darcy groaned. 'Oh no. I came here to help Bingley get settled as a country gentleman and now I have ruined things for him.' Darcy buried his head in his hands.

'There is a solution to this predicament,' suggested the Colonel.

'Pray tell, how can I unsay those insulting words and undo my standoffish attitude?'

'Very simple. You could apologise.'

~~H~~

The day after the assembly, several of the matrons congregated at Longbourn to discuss the events of the previous evening.

Lady Lucas teased her old friend, Mrs Bennet. 'When are we to wish you joy? We all noticed how Mr Bingley greatly admired Jane and even danced twice with her.'

'That is true, although he danced with Charlotte as well,' Mrs Bennet replied, pretending to modesty but delighting in her daughter being more popular.

Lady Lucas agreed, 'but only the once. He is certainly a most amiable man and a wonderful addition to our neighbours.'

'Indeed, he is, although I hear that one of his guests is most offensive. Did you hear that Mr Darcy had the nerve to call our Cousin to only be tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt him?' huffed Mrs Bennet.

'Do tell. I had heard something about that but have not had a full accounting of the incident.'

'Lizzy, you were present when Mr Darcy insulted Cousin Edith. Tell us all the details,' demanded Mrs Bennet. 'You were rather vague last night.'

Since Elizabeth was still put out about the gentleman's discourtesy, she gave a faithful recounting, including the fact that her cousin seemed to be amused rather than insulted by the words. And to be fair, she included Colonel Fitzwilliam's explanation.

When she told of Edith's comment about Mr Darcy's manners, all the ladies found great amusement in her statement, and the room erupted into peals of laughter.

Lady Lucas discretely wiped tears of merryment from her cheeks and said, 'that was well done by Mrs Farrington.'

Mrs Bennet, although amused by the set-down, was still in a pother. 'While I can understand that he might be concerned about all those fortune-hunters in town, that does not give that odious man the right to insult one of the prettiest women in the county.'

Since Edith had not shown the slightest interest in finding a new husband, Mrs Bennet had become reconciled to her presence. And now that she had been insulted, Mrs Bennet was quite prepared to take umbrage on her behalf.

The ladies continued their discussion of the assembly and eventually made their farewells, giving Jane and Elizabeth a chance to escape Longbourn for Purvis Lodge.

~~H~~

'Mr Darcy could not possibly have said that. No gentleman would be so rude,' exclaimed Charlotte Lucas.

Edith and Charlotte were also discussing the assembly, and Edith had just related the circumstances of her meeting Colonel Fitzwilliam.

'Technically I suppose he is a gentleman, but a poor example of one.' Edith laughed. 'Even the one season the Earl took me to London, he was already earning a reputation for being unsociable.'

Charlotte shook her head. 'At least he made that comment about you and not about anyone actually lacking in beauty. You do know that with your looks, most of the young bucks would be only too happy to offer for you if you gave them even the slightest encouragement.'

'No thank you. I like my current independence. And I am also grateful that Mr Darcy is not interested in me.'

'What about Colonel Fitzwilliam? I noticed you speaking to him for above an hour at least.'

Edith smiled and said casually, 'I found him an amusing and engaging conversationalist.'

Charlotte gave her a disbelieving look, to which Edith just shook her head. 'You know perfectly well that I escaped the frying pan not that long ago. I have no intention of jumping into the fire any time soon… if ever.'

Before Charlotte could respond, Jane and Elizabeth were announced.

'Are we in time to hear all about your conversation with that charming Colonel?' asked Elizabeth.

'Perhaps you can get her to be more forthcoming, Eliza. The lady just smiles mysteriously and will not confide in me.'

Edith laughed at Charlotte's complaint. 'You are starting to sound like your mother, wanting to know all the latest gossip.' But once the sisters were seated, she relented.

'I found last night most amusing, mainly due to the good Colonel.' A mischievous smile played about her lips as she said, 'Lizzy, you could have spared yourself the bother of an introduction since I have met the gentleman before.'

'Then why did he not recognise you?'

'It was eleven years ago, and it was at a ball. We even danced once. Obviously, I was very young at the time. The same age as many of the debutantes attending the season. But since I was already married, I was of no interest to any of the gentlemen. I believe for him that dance was simply a duty, since his father is the Earl of Matlock, and the Earl of Wentworth was one of his supporters.'

Elizabeth laughed at the situation. 'So, the Colonel does not realise that Mrs Farrington is the Dowager Countess.'

'I wonder if he will work it out. He gave me some looks as if he was trying to remember something.'

'I hope it takes him a long time. It shall be amusing to watch him trying to work out why there is something familiar about you.'

'Good. Now we know why you were so amused by Colonel Fitzwilliam. But I am still curious what you spoke about for such an extended period,' Charlotte reminded them.

'We did not speak about anything in particular. We conversed about politics, books, history, and people. One subject led to another, and it was a most enjoyable conversation.'

'Shall you see him again?'

'Since he will be staying with Mr Bingley for an indefinite period, I expect that we will encounter each other occasionally. If the opportunity presents itself, I shall certainly enjoy more conversations with the gentleman.' She looked thoughtful for a moment before she confided, 'I cannot define it, but there is something about him that I find… relaxing. He feels almost like a kindred spirit.'

'Please do not let mother hear you say that, or she will be planning your wedding breakfast,' warned Elizabeth.

Edith protested, 'oh, no. She would do no such thing. Instead, she would berate me for trying to steal a potential husband from her daughters.'

'You can rest easy. As a second son he is as poor as a church mouse and could not afford to marry any of us. Therefore, since you have a comfortable independence you can afford a handsome officer, and she would be delighted to arrange your wedding.'

'Lizzy, did you not hear me? I said I found his company relaxing. I did not say that I thought him exciting or that my affections are involved.' She tilted her head. 'No, you can keep your matchmaking for others. I shall simply enjoy making a friend.'

Their conversation was interrupted when the butler announced visitors.

~~H~~

'Mr Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam are here to see you.'

Elizabeth raised her brows and murmured, 'that is unexpected,' while Edith allowed that she was home to the unexpected visitors, and a moment later the gentlemen entered.

Darcy saw the unforeseen presence of the other ladies and inwardly groaned. He hated apologising, therefore when the occasional need arose to do so, he preferred to humble himself in private. But he had come with the express purpose of making amends, therefore, as soon as all the greetings had been exchanged, he immediately addressed Edith.

'Mrs Farrington, I must most humbly apologise for my insulting remarks last night. I was in a foul mood and took it out on innocent bystanders. It was a most ungentlemanly thing to do, and I am heartily ashamed that I behaved thus.'

'Mr Darcy, an insult is like a drink. It can only affect you if you accept it. While I did not accept your insult, I am pleased to accept your apology.' She smiled impishly as she added, 'I hope that you will not be offended when I tell you that if you wish to insult a lady, denigrating her looks is only effective if the lady in question is vain. If she is beautiful, she will know your comment is nonsense and if she is plain, you are only speaking the truth.'

'My cousin confided that you were amused, and I must confess that you were right to laugh at my presumption.' Darcy looked at all the ladies present and stated, 'Bingley was correct in his opinion that he had rarely seen so many lovely ladies in one place.'

Edith laughed. 'Now that you have proven that you can flatter, when necessary, would you like to join us for tea?'

The gentlemen accepted and Charlotte was amused to notice that the Colonel selected the seat closest to Edith, while Mr Darcy placed himself as far as possible from her, which happened to be next to Elizabeth.

As Darcy was still curious how Edith had known about his unsociable tendencies, he delicately questioned Elizabeth.

She laughed and enlightened him. 'In this age of modern communication, members of society have to be most careful. After all, the scandalmongers love to stir up interest in the society-pages of the newspapers, and London papers are available all over the country. Within a week, everyone from Lands' End to Skaw can read about the latest peccadillos perpetrated by the ton.'

Darcy frowned. 'To the best of my knowledge I have never been guilty of any peccadillos, as you call them,' he said.

'Not as such, but I remember reading that a certain Mr FD of P in Derbyshire spent the whole of a ball given in honour of his cousin hiding behind a pillar.'

Darcy groaned and the tips of his ears turned red. 'I remember that ball. There was a particularly persistent debutante constantly seeking out my company. Apparently, she had a fondness for tall men.'

Elizabeth could not help it. A giggle escaped her lips even though she pressed them together as hard as she could. She took a moment to compose herself before she was able to say with a straight face although her eyes still twinkled with suppressed mirth, 'at least that explains your reluctance to socialise. It must be terrible to be sought after for such an important aspect of one's character.'

The comment surprised Darcy to such a degree that a small laugh escaped him. 'You have no idea how much I suffer having my character analysed to such an extent.'

Both were just a little amazed at how easy their conversation flowed now that Darcy was not trying to hold himself above the company.

~~H~~

Note to Guest

Credibly - in a believable and convincing way.

Creditably - well enough to deserve praise or approval

~~H~~

The Colonel and the Heiress (working title) by Sydney Salier, Copyright © 2022