"What's gotten you into such a mood?" Fitzwilliam growled as Mr. Darcy fairly grabbed him by the bicep after the women left for the drawing room and the men remained for some time in the dining room to drink.
"What's going on?" Mr. Bingley joined them in the corner of the room after a moment, frowning. "Darcy, let your cousin go—"
"Did you mean to spend all dinner flirting with a young woman who doesn't have a hope of attracting the favor of your parents?" Darcy couldn't help himself.
He had simmered through the first course, and the second, the cheeses, the fruits, the… the ices. He had watched her beautiful face from across the table as it fairly blossomed under his cousin's attentions, attentions which were entirely not his to give.
From the sheepish expression on Colonel Fitzwilliam's face, he knew that well enough.
"He could hardly cut her, and for what reason? Miss Elizabeth Bennet is certainly handsome enough to be a credit to both her parents, and a good spirit, if Fitz's laughs were anything to judge by. How did she comport herself?"
"Surprisingly well for a girl who hasn't got a dowery worth the name," Darcy growled, glaring his cousin down.
His cousin, who was in need of a heiress if he was to have any sort of life.
His cousin, who could not possibly even hope to provide Miss Elizabeth Bennet with any kind of life befitting…
Befitting a woman of much higher stature.
Surely she herself did not expect much, of course, given her meager dowry, but somehow… he could not imagine her deserving less than the very best.
And he was unsure as to why that feeling had been suddenly thrust upon him, intrusive and unwelcome. He didn't know her from anyone else, why should he even be thinking of her prospects?
Other than he felt it a rather cruel trick to play on a girl who was there to be presented and enjoy a Season. He had thought better of his cousin.
"He made no promises that he could not keep, and kept the young lady in fine spirits through good conversation, and nothing more. What have you got to argue against that, Darcy? You, or I, would have done as much were we her dinner companions instead of him," Bingley interjected, starting to look as if he were annoyed with his good and long-time friend.
"She must be aware of a man in my position's requirements," Fitzwilliam commented drily, "she is no chit, six-and-ten, and I am a colonel in the army. She's not on the shelf, but she is a clever miss, I found out that much. I did not flirt, or take liberties that were ungentlemanly, so you will kindly unhand me before you crease my coat." He flexed his arm and pulled away from his irritated (and irritating) cousin, glancing him up and down.
"I'm surprised you had time to observe anyone at the table at all, the dowager being so taken with you as to speak to you for most of the evening, Darcy, whatever did she want to speak of?"
Perhaps that was what had driven Darcy mad. Not that the dowager was simple-minded, or even only focused on frocks and fripparies, but he hardly had anything in common with her at all and had done his best to answer her with mmmhmmm and but of course throughout the meal, praising her cook at the appropriate time when necessary.
But he had struggled to converse with more than a few words at a time, because every time he opened his mouth, across from him…
Miss Elizabeth Bennet had said something, some sly remark, or laughed at one of his cousin's jests, and it had sent his mind into the nether regions of Hell.
And he could not fathom why other than it was clear to him he needed to stand between her and disappointment when his idiot cousin led her into heartbreak and misery.
"Leave him to his dark moods, we'll get no fun out of him until he's had a sulk. Whiskey, Bingley?" Fitzwilliam asked, and before Darcy could counter such an insult, the two of them had practically linked arms and gone to the sideboard.
Thank you for the kind words. I am feeling a bit better this week and will be doing lots of follow-up appointments to get to the bottom of my illness. Anyone else suffering from chronic pain, I am sending you all my love!
I am so glad you are all enjoying this story... I do so LOVE ODC. 3
I am so pleased to announce that Duty and Desire is now available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple iBooks, and more, just search for 'Nora Kipling - Duty and Desire'! You may purchase it right away or wait for a new chapter to be uploaded here. Thank you for all your loving support.
- Nora
