A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. Remember that Italics are thoughts of Elizabeth and Darcy everyone! Enjoy!
As Elizabeth sat on her bed, still fully clothed she could not desist thinking of the information Mr Darcy had only just informed her of. Could Wickham so easily deceive her? But what of Mr Darcy? His arrogance and conceit has always encouraged her not to believe a word he utters. Was he trying to protect himself from embarrassment by communicating slander? How could she believe him after their past? Perhaps not.
Elizabeth sighed loudly before slipping from her new bed and walking casually to her dressing table where she sat, staring into the mirror at her reflection. She pulled the small pins from her hair and watched as the brown curls cascaded down her back. It was only when her hair was loose and she was staring at her reflection again that there was a slight tapping at the door. She sighed slightly before calling entry.
Elizabeth watched casually in the mirror as the door slowly opened and there, his appearance less formal, stood Mr Darcy. Elizabeth turned quickly on her stool to stare at him as he stepped into the room.
"How may I be of service Mr Darcy?" Elizabeth asked in an irritated manner. What could he want here? Unless he is to break his word!
"I am not here for your company Mrs Darcy, if that is what preoccupies your mind. However, I am here to see if you are well. You left the library quite abruptly after I told you the information of Mr Wickham. Did it displease you so?" Elizabeth looked down to the hard wood of her dressing table for a moment before looking back into his eyes.
"It did not displease me, Mr Darcy. It is that I am unsure of what to believe. Both you and Mr Wickham spoke so similarly in tone, I am unsure of who to believe in this case."
"You mean, Mrs Darcy, that you are unsure if you can trust me, you trusted and believed Wickham after all." He said in slight anger.
"You are taking it personally, Mr Darcy, it is meant with no inconsideration to yourself."
"But you do not trust me, not even to enter your chamber, although I did give my word to you. I will not break my word, you can be assured of that, I will not have this marriage any other way. I would prefer to make that clear to you!"
"Very well, Mr Darcy, I understand you completely. I have no problem with you entering my chamber, it is after all, your home. I will hold you to your word." He nodded slightly.
"On the matter of Mr Wickham My cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam knows all of the particulars and as I mentioned before, you can consult him." At this she stood but Darcy could not help himself as he looked at her beautiful hair as she stood looking at him. Walk away Darcy! If you do not walk away now, you may never be able to keep your word to her!
"I will leave you now." Darcy said as he nodded his head to her slightly. "Good evening, Mrs Darcy."
"Good evening." At this the door closed roughly behind him.
Elizabeth could do nothing but sigh slightly. How could he insult me so? Does he take no consideration for my own feelings!
As Elizabeth lay in bed she could see the dim light of a candle under the door of the Master's chamber, but what was he contemplating on until this hour?
Darcy sat silently in front of the fire in his chamber, a small glass of wine sitting neatly in his hand. As he traced his finger gently around the rim of the glass he could do nothing but look at the adjoining door to Elizabeth. Why did she not believe me? Did she think my story of Wickham relayed falsehood? If she did, she was wrong. Every word I said was truth, but will she come to believe it?
As Darcy placed his glass firmly on the table he stood and for a moment he had to restrain himself from walking through the door and confessing his love to her. I will not do it, I will not give her the gratification to know that I wanted to marry her for love, not for Georgiana. Yes, it is true, I love Elizabeth Bennet. No! She's Elizabeth Darcy now, my Elizabeth Darcy!
Darcy smiled happily as he walked over and lay peacefully on his bed, for he eventually had his love, now all he had to do is secure her affection. But how difficult is that going to be? Can I resist her for that long?
Yet, even as Darcy fell into a restless sleep that was surely not to last long, it was not thoughts of Wickham that plagued his mind, it was of Elizabeth. Yes, the image of her stood with her hair loose, looking so attractive made Darcy's mind go wild. Even so, that when he closed his eyes Elizabeth was there, tantalising him to feel love that he was sure could not be returned.
So Elizabeth waited for Colonel Fitzwilliam to call upon them. She was unsure as to why she needed to consult him on the matter of Wickham but she needed some confirmation of it. Was it so wrong of her to ask of such a thing?
Elizabeth waited in vain for two days until, finally he called. She watched his masculine form ascend the steps to the house from his carriage until he arrived at the door. At this she walked casually to a chair and waited. He would surely be calling on her, with Darcy being out to business in the town. Sure enough, a gentle tapping on the door symbolised the servant. Elizabeth smiled quickly before the door opened.
"Colonel Fitzwilliam Ma'am." The servant said as she curtsied.
The Colonel walked energetically into the room upon being announced. The smile with overcame his countenance on seeing Elizabeth was astounding.
"My dear Cousin!" He said as Elizabeth stood firmly.
"Colonel Fitzwilliam." Elizabeth said happily.
"Now, now Elizabeth. I am your cousin, you call me Richard." Elizabeth laughed slightly.
"Thank you for calling." She said as she took a seat. "It is very kind of you."
"It is my pleasure, I was hoping to see Darcy on my visit to discuss business but it seems that you are all alone today." Elizabeth laughed slightly. "Georgiana would like me to ask you for permission for her to call upon you."
"Of course, I should dearly love to see her! She need never ask to enter this home!"
"She will be pleased to hear it. I will inform her that she can call tomorrow then?" The Colonel said as he relaxed back In his chair.
"Please do!" He laughed slightly before they fell into silence for a moment. "Mr Darcy informed me of Mr Wickham." Elizabeth said finally.
"Did he now? I thought he would. He said that you were becoming attached to him, I am pleased that he was wrong." Elizabeth frowned slightly. "You do not know if he speaks the truth?" Elizabeth nodded slightly. "What did he inform you?"
"He informed me of Wickham taking money from Darcy instead of the living he was to have, how he intended to study the law, but most importantly, how he persuaded Georgiana to elope with him." The Colonel sighed heavily.
"It was a terrible time. I remember it firmly, the day Darcy swore never to let the man back into his life after he tried to relinquish Georgiana's fortune."
"So, Darcy did speak the truth?" Elizabeth asked as she stared at the Colonel.
"Every word I imagine. There are many things about Darcy that you still need to learn Elizabeth. He will never lie to you, be assured of that before you think of doubting him. He is a kind and generous man, one of the best I know."
"Did you say that you had business with Darcy?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes, if Darcy does not put it off again. But I am at his disposal. He arranges the business just as he pleases.''
"And if not able to please himself in the arrangement, he has at least great pleasure in the power of choice. I do not know any body who seems more to enjoy the power of doing what he likes than Mr. Darcy.''
"He likes to have his own way very well,'' replied Colonel Fitzwilliam. "But so we all do. It is only that he has better means of having it than many others, because he is rich, and many others are poor. I speak feelingly. A younger son, you know, must be inured to self-denial and dependence.''
"In my opinion, the younger son of an Earl can know very little of either. Now, seriously, what have you ever known of self-denial and dependence? When have you been prevented by want of money from going wherever you chose, or procuring any thing you had a fancy for?'' Elizabeth added.
"These are home questions -- and perhaps I cannot say that I have experienced many hardships of that nature. But in matters of greater weight, I may suffer from the want of money. Younger sons cannot marry where they like.''
"Unless where they like women of fortune, which I think they very often do.''
"Our habits of expense make us too dependant, and there are not many in my rank of life who can afford to marry without some attention to money.''
"And pray, what is the usual price of an Earl's younger son? Unless the elder brother is very sickly, I suppose you would not ask above fifty thousand pounds.''
He answered her in the same style, and the subject dropped.
"I imagine your cousin has you here with him chiefly for the sake of having somebody at his disposal. But, perhaps Georgiana does as well for the present, and, as she is under his sole care, he may do what he likes with her.''
"No,'' said Colonel Fitzwilliam, "that is an advantage which he must divide with me. I am joined with him in the guardianship of Georgiana.''
"Are you, indeed? And pray what sort of guardians do you make? She directly replied,
"You need not be frightened. I never heard any harm of her. She is a very great favourite with some ladies of my acquaintance, Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley. I think I have heard you say that you know them.''
"I know them a little. Their brother is a pleasant gentleman-like man -- he is a great friend of Darcy's.''
"Oh! yes,'' said Elizabeth dryly -- "Mr. Darcy is uncommonly kind to Mr. Bingley, and takes a prodigious deal of care of him.''
"Care of him! -- Yes, I really believe Darcy does take care of him in those points where he most wants care. From something that he told me recently, I have reason to think Bingley very much indebted to him. But I ought to beg his pardon, for I have no right to suppose that Bingley was the person meant. It was all conjecture.''
"What is it you mean?''
"It is a circumstance which Darcy, of course, would not wish to be generally known, because if it were to get round to the lady's family, it would be an unpleasant thing.''
"You may depend upon my not mentioning it.''
"And remember that I have not much reason for supposing it to be Bingley. What he told me was merely this; that he congratulated himself on having lately saved a friend from the inconveniences of a most imprudent marriage, but without mentioning names or any other particulars, and I only suspected it to be Bingley from believing him the kind of young man to get into a scrape of that sort, and from knowing them to have been together the whole of last summer.''
"Did Mr. Darcy give you his reasons for this interference?''
"I understood that there were some very strong objections against the lady.''
"And what arts did he use to separate them?''
"He did not talk to me of his own arts,'' said Fitzwilliam smiling. "He only told me what I have now told you.''
Elizabeth made no answer, her heart swelling with indignation. After watching her a little, Fitzwilliam asked her why she was so thoughtful.
"I am thinking of what you have been telling me,'' said she. "Your cousin's conduct does not suit my feelings. Why was he to be the judge?''
"You are rather disposed to call his interference officious?''
"I do not see what right Mr. Darcy had to decide on the propriety of his friend's inclination, or why, upon his own judgment alone, he was to determine and direct in what manner that friend was to be happy. But,'' she continued, recollecting herself, "as we know none of the particulars, it is not fair to condemn him. It is not to be supposed that there was much affection in the case.''
"That is not an unnatural surmise,'' said Fitzwilliam, "but it is lessening the honour of my cousin's triumph very sadly.'' Elizabeth placed her head down quickly and looked to the floor.
"Are you well Elizabeth?" He asked her as he lent forward in his chair. Elizabeth sighed slightly.
"I am feeling slightly unwell today Richard, I think that I need to rest."
"Of course, I will leave you."
"Thank you, inform Georgiana to call tomorrow."
"I will." He said as he walked casually from the room.
"There were some very strong objections against the lady,'' were Colonel Fitzwilliam's words which rang through Elizabeth's mind. For she now knew why Bingley had left and who was responsible for their heartache.
Elizabeth knew that she only need wait for Mr Darcy to return before she finally got the answers that she desired. She was enraged by Darcy separating his friend from Jane, even though they had an attachment. Surely enough Elizabeth promised herself, that although she was married to him, Fitzwilliam Darcy would pay for damaging her sister's heart.