I appreciate all your comments.

About Darcy – I think many writers portray him as shy or socially inept because nobody can believe that a man so proud, arrogant and rude would change enough that Elizabeth would want to marry him.

Nadia – while I believe that you are correct that it was customary for girls to have two godmothers and one godfather, it was not a law. For my story Elizabeth needs two godfathers.

~O~

Chapter 3

The following morning, Elizabeth escaped for her usual morning walk along her favourite paths before her cousin could continue his tirade about her supposedly inappropriate dinner gown.

Even though she would not admit to it, since it would be most improper, she hoped to once again encounter Colonel Fitzwilliam. They had quite accidentally met twice since their first encounter, and each time Elizabeth had thoroughly enjoyed their conversation.

This morning, she was not so fortunate as she happened on the dour Mr Darcy rather than his charming cousin.

Her morning became even worse as the gentleman did not confine himself to a polite greeting before moving on but requested permission to accompany her. Unable to think of a polite reason to deny him but wanting to keep the time in his presence as short as possible, Elizabeth said, 'By all means, Mr Darcy, although I was just about to make my way back to the parsonage.'

'It will be my pleasure to see you returned safely to your friends,' he replied and offered his arm.

With an internal sigh, she lightly placed her hand on his forearm and set off at a brisk pace.

Darcy, although surprised at the speed, having longer legs, matched her stride with ease. As Elizabeth remained mute, Darcy eventually asked, 'Do you walk this way often?'

Elizabeth, thinking this was a perfect opportunity to warn Darcy away from her preferred route, answered in the affirmative. 'Indeed, Mr Darcy, I enjoy the peace and quiet of this path.'

Having obviously exhausted that subject, and since Elizbeth seemed reluctant to offer any discourse, he struggled to find another polite topic of conversation. Remembering their interrupted discussion of the previous evening, he asked. 'You said last evening that you play chess by mail. Is that not unusual for ladies?'

'Perhaps it is, but I enjoy the diversion. And I do get to play against my godfather when I go to town.'

'What about… ah… Mrs George, was that the name?'

'You remember correctly. We have played many games by mail, but I cannot play with her in person since I have only met the lady once when I was a child.'

'Did you not say that the lady is an acquaintance of your godfather's? Could he not arrange for you to meet when you are in town?'

'I asked the same question and was informed that because of her husband, she was unable to meet me.' Elizabeth was getting irritated with the tone of his inquisition.

'Why would some tradesman object to his wife playing chess with you?'

'If you wish to know the answer, you must ask the gentleman himself,' she snapped in response. 'But forgive me for asking, Mr Darcy, why would you be concerned with whom and how I play chess?'

Darcy wondered the same thing. What had started out as a polite question about an activity which Miss Elizabeth enjoyed, he kept asking ever more intrusive questions. Unable, or at least unwilling, to account for his interest, he answered, 'I was merely making conversation.'

Fortunately for Elizabeth they were coming in sight of the parsonage. A few moments later, she withdrew her hand and giving Darcy a minimal curtsey, Elizabeth said, 'Thank you for your company, Mr Darcy. I wish you a good day.'

Not waiting for a response, Elizabeth stormed into the house.

Darcy stood still for a minute, thinking, I wonder what her cousin did to put her into such a foul mood. As he was not going to receive an answer, he returned to his aunt's house.

~O~

After breakfast, Mr Collins left the parsonage to attend to his duties, giving Charlotte a chance for a private conversation with Elizabeth.

'You came back from your walk very early today, Eliza.'

'I encountered Mr Darcy on my walk,' Elizabeth replied with a moue of distaste, wondering if her friend was once gain trying to encourage her towards the unpleasant man.

'How was the gentleman?'

'I would say he was his usual self. Intrusive and irritating… not to mention judgmental.'

'Have you considered that he is simply trying to get to know you?'

'I doubt it. His attitude made it quite obvious that he was trying to put me in my place.'

Charlotte shook her head at Elizabeth's determination to deny the gentleman's interest. But she only said mildly, 'Perhaps another walk will restore you to good humour.'

~O~

For the first time in months, Colonel Fitzwilliam had slept deeply and well. He had also slept late by his normal standards.

As he drifted to wakefulness, he analysed the reason for his relaxation and came to the conclusion that he had thoroughly enjoyed the previous evening. He had never before been so well entertained while visiting Rosings as he had in the company of Miss Bennet.

There were only two flies in the ointment. One was that by sleeping so late, he had missed his morning walk and the opportunity to quite accidentally encounter the lovely lady. The other was that he had discovered a partiality towards the lady by his cousin.

He sighed. Life was not fair. Being the second son of the Earl of Matlock brought him very few benefits, other than being able to say, 'My father is an Earl.' Because his older brother would inherit everything, he had had to make his own way in the world, unless he wanted to live on an allowance from his father. If he did that, he would have had to dance to the Earl's tune, a situation which did not sit well with Richard. While as an officer in the army he had to obey orders from superiors, at least these orders did not extend into his personal life.

Not that he had had much of a personal life. Due to his financial circumstances, he had always thought that he would need to find an heiress if he wanted to marry. Especially if he wanted to quit the army. But the heiresses his mother had paraded in front of him were not the kind of women with whom he wanted to spend the rest of his life.

Things had improved slightly in recent times as he had come into a small inheritance. At least small by the standards of his family. His grandmother, who had died the previous year, had bequeathed him a small estate in Herefordshire, which brought in a thousand pounds a year. If he retired and sold his commission, investing the proceeds to boost his income, together with the income from the estate, would allow him to consider marriage. Provided his potential wife preferred living in the country and was not extravagant, the size of her dowry would not be important.

For the first time in his life, he had a chance at a normal life. Not only that, but he had also met a young woman whom he liked and whose company he could imagine spending a lifetime enjoying.

It was frustrating that Darcy had to be interested in her as well.

Compared to Darcy, Richard felt like the poor relation. Darcy was exceedingly handsome and had a physique which could have been used as a model for statues of Greek gods. He was also intelligent and an excellent master of Pemberley, which gave him an income far in excess of most people, including many peers. And as far as women were concerned, he had no inconvenient in-laws. In other words, Darcy was exceedingly eligible and Fitzwilliam could not imagine any woman turning him down.

Richard had none of these advantages. While his face did not scare children, it was nothing special. A life in the army had also provided him with a fit body, which unfortunately had also accumulated a number of scars. And of course, when it came to wealth, there was no comparison.

How could he possibly hope to attract a woman when Darcy was his competition?

It was exceedingly frustrating.

But until Darcy claimed the enticing young woman, Richard determined to enjoy her company. To that end, he readied himself for the day and decided to call at the parsonage. Perhaps the lady was willing to go for another walk.

~O~

Colonel Fitzwilliam did not get as far as the parsonage as he encountered the lady on the lane leading away from the house.

'Miss Bennet did you sleep late as well?' he called as soon as he saw her.

Elizabeth stopped and turned towards him with a beaming smile. 'No, Colonel, I went for a walk earlier, but I was forced to cut short my exercise.'

Fitzwilliam's breath caught at the smile directed at him, but he managed to say, 'In that case, may I accompany you?'

Elizabeth happily agreed and they set off in a direction leading them away from Rosings.

As they strolled, Richard asked, 'May I ask, what caused you to cut short your earlier walk?'

'I am afraid that I encountered your cousin who insisted on escorting me back to the parsonage.'

Richard was surprised by her choice of words which suggested that she did not care for Darcy's company. Was there hope for himself? Wanting to be fair to his cousin, he said, 'He does feel it is his responsibility to protect his friends.'

Elizabeth, who still felt irritation towards the other gentleman, said with some asperity, 'But perhaps he takes it upon himself to lend assistance where it is not wanted?'

'I have found that he always has the best intentions. He does care greatly about his friends and goes out of his way to help get them out of trouble.'

'Forgive me if I am doubtful about his altruism. I am more inclined to believe that he thinks he knows everything better than mere mortals.'

Fitzwilliam wondered at her unusual attitude. 'I assure you that it is so. It was only a few months ago that he managed to save a friend from the inconveniences of a most imprudent marriage.'

While that comment was supposed to show Darcy in a good light, it appeared to have the opposite effect. 'Did he indeed? And what reason did Mr Darcy give for thinking the marriage was imprudent and for separating the couple?'

'I understood that there were some very strong objections against the lady.'

'He only said that there were objections against the lady? He did not specify further?'

'He did not. But knowing Bingley, I assumed that the lady was only interested in his wealth.'

'Mr Bingley, are you certain?'

At the sharp question, the Colonel started to suspect that Miss Bennet might know Bingley and perhaps even the lady in question. Wanting to minimise the damage, he said, 'He did not actually mention a name, and it is only my assumption. I know that Darcy spent several months with him last autumn, and Bingley is the sort of young fool who frequently gets himself into such situations.'

If Miss Bennet knew the people involved, painting Bingley as an inconstant swain might show the situation in a different light. Noticing that Elizabeth's demeanour had become rather thoughtful, he enquired to the cause.

'Colonel, I am afraid that I should have mentioned that Mr Bingley leased the estate next to my home.'

'I beg your pardon. I should not have mentioned this as you probably know the lady,' exclaimed Fitzwilliam full of chagrin. A horrific thought occurred to him. Could it have been Miss Bennet whom Darcy had separated from Bingley? Could it have been that the serious objection to the lady was Darcy's own interest?

'I am afraid that I know the lady exceedingly well, as she is my dearest sister. And if your cousin thought that she was mercenary, it only proves that he is a very poor judge of character.'

Fitzwilliam felt a wave of relief washing over him. At least Miss Bennet's apparent disinterest in Darcy was not because she was pining for Bingley. He hesitated for a moment, but he needed to know. 'Perhaps I should not ask, but… did she care for Bingley?'

Elizabeth gave him a baleful look. 'She still does.'

'Miss Bennet, you have my most humble apologies. I should not have mentioned this matter. I had only hoped to demonstrate that Darcy is protective of his friends. Instead, I have caused you pain.'

'Do not trouble yourself. I suspected all along that your cousin was one of the architects of my sister's misery. It is exactly the sort of action I expected of him,' was the resigned reply.

Fitzwilliam was startled into an exclamation. 'You truly dislike Darcy.'

'It pains me to admit it, but I am afraid that it is true.'

'But why? Every lady I have ever met was enamoured with him for all his advantages.'

Even though Elizabeth had spoken the truth when she said that she had suspected Darcy to have been involved in separating her sister and Bingley, the confirmation of his action had raised her fury.

She therefore spoke with considerable heat without considering her words. 'I am afraid that his so-called advantages work to his disadvantage, as it has given him an inflated opinion of his consequence. From the very beginning, from the first moment, I may almost say, of my acquaintance with Mr Darcy, his manners impressed me with the fullest belief of his arrogance, his conceit, and his selfish disdain of the feelings of others.'

Richard was stunned at the fierce expression of Elizabeth's feelings towards his cousin. It seemed that for once, Darcy's habitual reticence, not to say arrogance, had backfired. Not only did the lady have no designs on him, but she actively disliked him. But that raised another concern. 'Do you extend your dislike to his friends or… his family?'

'Not at all. I judge every person on his or her own character.' Elizabeth blushed as she realised how she had let her dislike of Darcy allow her mouth to run away with her. 'But I am afraid that I was quite intemperate with my words. I should not have said what I did.'

The words greatly relieved Fitzwilliam's mind. He would hate to be tarred with the same brush as he endeavoured to learn more about this fascinating lady. 'Do not trouble yourself. While I know that Darcy is an honourable man, he has developed an unbecoming arrogance in recent years. The family has taken him to task for it, but to no avail.'

Trying to lighten the mood, he asked, 'Please, tell me about your family. What is it like to grow up with four sisters?'

Elizabeth was only too happy to get past her faux pas and regaled him with stories about her sisters.

~O~

~O~

Checkmate (working title) by Sydney Salier, Copyright © 2024