After another drink from the flask.
"It seems Miss Elizabeth blames herself for encouraging her sister to go to London to stay with her Aunt and Uncle after the holidays. That would be the Uncle that is in trade. Did I mention I know him?" There was a slight growl. "Anyway, the young lady took the chance of going to see her quote friends, the Bingely sisters. Apparently, the visit she made to see them with her Aunt skirted the edge of cordiality on the part of the sisters. Their return call made over a month later, left no doubt of both sisters' opinion and in particular Miss Bingley's that any show of friendship on their part was precisely that, a show to conceal their contempt of Meryton in general and the Bennets in particular. You and Caroline Bingely have more in common than you thought. Miss Jane is now convinced that she never had your friend's regard and that she is unworthy as being anything more than a rich man's amusement for a few weeks. So, are you still sure that what you did was in Charles' best interest? Because this is just the start of how you have made a mess out of things."
Looking the Colonel in the eye, Darcy grabbed the silver flask and took a good long pull of Brandy. "I have the distinct feeling that I am not going to come out of this neither feeling or looking to good am I?"
The Colonel looking Darcey straight back in the eye replied, "No probably not if you are honest with yourself about it."
"Fire away."
"To start, as I have already mentioned Miss Elizabeth now knows that you were part of separating her sister and Charles which she blames you for more than his sisters for some reason. I am sorry, especially as it seems to be a pattern with this since I did it thinking I was doing you a favor to help her see how you will assist those close to you, but it did not work out that way. Though if you ask me, I would have blamed the dragon lady she…."
"Fitz, Fitzwilliam, FOCUS!" grabbing back the flask.
"Why did you think you needed to say something to make me appear as a better man to her anyway. From your words and actions, it seems you were not aware I planned to propose to her."
"Darcy are you that blind or is it all ego? You really do not know? Even Anne noticed and most of the time I am not sure she even remembers her own name she stays so".
There was another growl, "Quit being obtuse Rich and just say what you are thinking man."
"Give me a swig of that brandy." Darcy hands over the flask and the Colonel grabs it for a quick drink. "She seriously dislikes you Fitz."
"No be serious and quit playing around. I am sure she is just anxious for me to make things official."
"Will," It must be serious Darcy thought if he actually called him Will. "I am not joking or kidding around. And why does she always, whenever you are around, make the point of referring to everything as tolerable? It is odd for if you are not there, she is obviously not only much more relaxed, but she never mentions that word."
"That damn assembly, it is all Wickham's fault!"
"How did Wickham get into the middle of this?"
"Last fall we had no more arrived at Netherfield then Charles shoved me back in the carriage to attend the local fall assembly ball. I had a dreadful headache and that morning I had left a still very upset Georgie with your Mother, so I was not at my best. Charles would not quit trying to get me to dance and there she was, and I might have been inelegant."
"So. what exactly does inelegant sound like."
"If I had known she had overheard me I would have apologized but it sounds something like me saying Miss Elizabeth was tolerable but not enough to tempt me and something about not willing to dance with a woman overlooked by other men. Something like that and possibly loud enough to be overheard."
"Apparently, so in other words you insulted her before you ever properly met."
"Is there not a saying about if you eavesdrop you hear things you would rather have not."
"And was she eavesdropping? I never seen anyone so less likely to be in corner than Bingley unless it is his sister. Were you having a quiet chat in the corner because that does not describe how I have ever seen Bingely at a dance?"
"Well actually no but,"
"But what? You insulted her in front of her family and neighbors loudly enough in a public place for others to hear hence the whole town probably knew it within a day."
"I suppose. I am sure she has probably forgotten but it could not hurt to apologize."
"If that had been Georgiana with a stranger talking about her that way, you would have just forgot about it then. Do you really believe if Annabeth had heard those words, she would have forgotten them? She keeps using the word tolerable. She obviously has not forgotten."
"Georgiana is much more fragile and protected; she would have been upset. Whilst your sister shares your temper and would have eviscerated me on the spot. Elizabeth laughed it off. Though you are right she keeps using that word. I had forgotten until now just exactly what I said that night."
"So, you have not only forgotten insulting her the first night you met but, how to behave as a gentleman and how to apologize. You better hope Mater never hears this tale. She will feel like she has to step in for Aunt Anne since your Mother was her dearest friend and you know how that will turn out." He said looking at Darcy shuttering.
"Fitz, you would not. You know I could tell her.."
"No, no the thought of it. Men being stupid should stay between us men and you have been the stupidest. Stupidest is that even a word. I know dumber is but,"
"Fitz, Fitzwilliam, FOCUS!"
"It is no wonder she wishes you would leave."
"Leave? What do you mean leave? She told me which is her favorite garden path so we could meet for a walk every morning. Other than around Aunt Catherine, we always have lively chats whenever we meet."
"Geeese, Darce can you get any dumber, yes dumber easier word there, dumber about the woman. She told you that so you would stay away."
"Stay away?"
"Yes, away as in occupying a different area, one where she is decidely not."
"I do know what away means. I not only graduated from Cambridge but unlike some with honors."
"Teachers pet."
"I at least went to all of my classes. And did the work."
"Yeah, yeah, went to class, took notes, did the work, turned it in. I graduated too you know and had a lot more of fun about it too."
"Watch it there Fitz you are starting to sound like George."
"Compare me to him again and you will find out what I have learned since Cambridge and I have taken notes, it has kept me alive. I think it is time for you to focus Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberly."
Darcy shook his head and then he extended his hand to shake his cousins. "Sorry, truly I am sorry. It is not easy hearing all this and I started to let it affect my temper."
Taking his cousin's hand and roughly slapping him on the shoulder before pulling him for a very brief but very manly hug, "You know I think you may have let your temper go more often than you realize. Getting your temper up may help in somethings but where women are involved never knew it to help. She is not wanting you to propose, she is wants you to leave."
"I love her. I know I should not, but I do."
"I am no longer a gentleman too many battles have taken that from me, but I still know as long as you say that you do not respect her, and she is too good of a woman to not be respected. So, if you cannot respect her and her family, be a man and leave her alone. And be a gentleman. Tell your friend Bingley you do not know a damn thing about women and for all you know Miss Bennet adores him because apparently, she does. And one more thing apologize, hell man grovel to the lady about that assembly. She is more than deserving of the courtesy for putting up with your bumbling this long."
"So no hope?"
"At this point you do not deserve her. But you do not deserve the she-dragon either. Stay away from Bingley's sister. I cannot believe you let her anywhere close to you or Georgie especially after she has already tried to compromise you once. If it was me, I think I would…"
"Fitz, Fitzwilliam, FOCUS! It is time we get back or Lady Catherine will have our hides. Yours especially if you do not sober up. Maybe we can talk tonight and you can help me figure a way to redeem myself. And handover the rest of that Brandy."
And so our two intrepid heroeis head back to Rosings and it's resident Gorgon slash world renown if she only practiced singer/painter/musician/ orthinologist and tap-dancer if only she had thought to have invented it already.
The End for now
(Maybe we will let Anne help with his apology or hear him actually give it.)
