Darcy's eyes widened, "Sit down, Richard. What did you find out about her? Where does she live? Does she have children?"
Richard laughed, "Wait, Darcy, do not be impatient and ask me one question at a time."
"Very well, do you know where she lives?"
Richard nodded, "Yes, she lives near Cheapside on XXXX Street, but I do not know the exact address. I did not want to be too insistent and arouse suspicion."
"Close to Cheapside." Darcy frowned, and said to himself quietly, "Maybe she has financial problems..."
"Sorry I did not hear you. What did you say?"
"I did not say anything important. Does she have children?"
Richard shook his head, "No, she does not have children, but she has a niece of about two or three years old who lives with her. Her sister died in childbirth and the girl's father a few months later."
Darcy blanched and felt very sorry for the death of Elizabeth's sister and for Elizabeth. He sighed, "Did you find out anything else?"
"No, but if you want to know anything else, Mrs. Spencer is a friend of hers and I can ask her more questions."
"For the moment, that information is enough. Thank you very much, Richard." He paused, "Would you like a brandy?"
"No, thanks. I have an important meeting with a General in less than an hour and I have to go. I wish you luck, cousin."
After Richard left, Darcy thought about Elizabeth and the terrible things that had happened to her in the last five years. Her parents and three of her sisters died in a fire, she lost her home, her favorite sister died and her husband also died... For a moment he thought of Margareth, who ironically lived very close to the street where Elizabeth lived, and he was terrified that Elizabeth might be in the same situation.
March 1817
Over the next two weeks, Darcy drove down XXXX Street four times in his carriage but did not see Elizabeth. The houses were not fancy like the ones in her neighborhood, but they were well-maintained.
It was not until the third week that his efforts paid off. He saw her get out of a carriage with a middle-aged lady and enter a house. Unfortunately, everything happened very quickly and he did not have time to get out of his carriage to talk to her… but at least he knew where she lived.
Two days later – like every year – he left for Rosings. His aunt, Lady Catherine, gave him the sad news that she had cancer, she had very little time to live, and before she died she wanted Darcy to marry her daughter...
"...I cannot believe you are so foolish."
"Aunt you know very well that Anne is sickly and if she gets pregnant, she has serious risks of not surviving childbirth."
Lady Catherine exasperated shook her head, "Anne does not have to get pregnant. You know very well Pemberley is not entailed... Georgiana's child could inherit it, or even if you want, you can choose a mistress and have a child with her.
Darcy responded angrily, "Aunt, I do not want to marry Anne and she doesn't want to marry me either. Besides, if I ever get married again, I won't have a mistress."
"Are you going to leave Anne alone and helpless? You know that she is sick, and she will not be able to take the role of mistress of Rosings... I am afraid that someone will take advantage of her when I am not here to protect her."
Seeing that his aunt was really very worried about Anne, he realized that his aunt's fear was that her daughter would be left alone and helpless. Lady Catherine really loved her only daughter. "Aunt, you have my word that I will not abandon Anne, but I will not marry her." He paused, "Have you ever thought about arranging a marriage between Anne and Richard?"
Lady Catherine looked at him strangely and shook her head.
"You should think about it. Richard is an honorable gentleman and I am sure he would take very good care of Anne…"
Three days after that conversation, Lady Catherine wrote a letter to Richard asking him to visit her in Rosings as soon as possible...