Darcy stared at Richard, bemused.
"It is not that simple, Richard."
"Of course it is. You think too much."
"I have Georgie to think of. Someone has to launch her into society."
"My mother can do that. Besides, you underestimate Miss Bennet. I suspect she would do very well in the drawing rooms of the ton. She certainly carries herself well at Rosings."
Darcy smiled to himself. He suspected as much himself.
"You haven't met the family. Completely unsuitable. Lackadaisical father, an entailed estate with no heir, mother determined to marry off her daughters. Did I mention that there were 5 of them?"
"Five? There are more like Miss Bennet? When can we visit?"
"No, she is unique. Her eldest sister is quite a beauty, though."
"I look forward to meeting her at the wedding!"
"I could marry much better."
"True, but could you marry happier?"
Darcy sighed.
"Let's return to the house. I have an unpleasant conversation to get out of the way."
Darcy descended the stairs, having changed after his ride with Richard.
He paused at the bottom of the steps, completely dismayed at his imminent task.
Richard thundered down the steps, slightly shaking his still damp curls.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" he asked cheerily.
"Courage," replied Darcy, dismally.
"Like a dose of castor oil, best do it and be done with it. Thinking about it just makes it worse!"
Darcy grimaced and then sighed.
"Fine, let's go find Anne."
Richard was the first to find Anne and called Darcy into the library to join them.
"Well, cousin," Richard said, addressing Anne, "the time has come for an end to pretense."
"Finally!" Anne said, closing the book she was reading with a bang.
"How flattering, cousin!" Darcy exclaimed.
Anne looked at him with barely concealed impatience.
"Darcy, you no more want to marry me than I want to marry you. We all know that. Don't become missish now!"
Richard smirked at both his cousins' peevishness.
"Come now, children, do not quarrel! Go find Lady Catherine and be done with all this for good!"
Darcy and Anne looked at each other for a long minute.
"Ready?" asked Darcy.
"I am," replied Anne.
"Then let us go find your mother."