As they sat in Darcy's townhome, a fire crackling in the hearth, and their drinks before them, they were interrupted by the arrival of the Earl of Matlock.
Darcy, who had just poured himself a glass of port, looked up as the door opened, and his butler entered, silver tray in hand.
"The Earl of Matlock, sir," he said with a deep bow. Col. Fitzwilliam, teasing one of the small terriers that kept residence at the Darcy house in London to keep the rats at bay, sat up in his seat, abandoning the crust of bread to the small, excited animal who pounced on it and burrowed under the chaises with its treasure.
"Father?" Colonel Fitzwilliam stood, his smile fading, as Darcy set his book, and the glass of port down.
"Why am I not surprised to find the two of you in close company?" The Earl asked, as he walked into the room, and the butler left, closing the door behind him. "Where is your third, that Bingham chappy?"
"Bingley," Richard supplied, "Mr. Bingley." He glanced at Darcy. They had not heard yet that the Earl was in residence in London, but it was not surprising. There was much to be done with Parliament and the Season was approaching. It did rather change things, Darcy wondered, if Richard would abandon his apartments that he kept independent from Matlock House in London, and return to stay with his parents while they resided in the city.
"You are not drinking, are you?" The Earl asked his son, sniffing pointedly, as if trying to taste the alcohol on the air.
"It is not my usual drink," Richard said, picking up the port bottle and gesturing to the decanter on the sideboard. "I was enjoying a glass of Madeira, while Darcy drank his port."
"Better than that Blue Ruin," the Earl grumbled, before Darcy offered him a glass. The Earl waved it away with a shake of his head. "No, no, I shan't stay long. It is good to see you, but I bring perhaps unpleasant tidings. Your aunt has written to me-"
Darcy felt a stitch rise up between his shoulders, pain that pinched at him. Of course she had. It wasn't enough that she write to Darcy demanding explanation and an accounting. Now she was dragging her brother into it.
"Lady Catherine has been speaking to me of your... situation," the Earl continued. He glanced at Darcy, then toward the fireplace, as if uncomfortable speaking about such matters.
"I can find a more useful employment for myself," Richard said, getting up, but Darcy shook his head.
"It's alright. Uncle, I have already told Richard about Lady Catherine's missive, and I am sure, if she's written to you, that Aunt has also had words with you," Darcy said, gesturing for Richard to sit back down. "There's no point in hiding this, and besides, there is nothing to tell. I will not marry Anne, consigning both of us to a life of unhappiness and Anne to a life of risk. I could never truly have a marriage with her, not knowing what it could possibly do too her if-"
"Please, say no more," his uncle said with a curt wave of his hand. "It is plain to anyone with eyes that Anne is better served with her family protecting her, especially from fortune hunters who may come calling when the last of this 'understanding' my sister seems to think exists, is smashed. I agree with you, on all charges."
"Hear hear," muttered Richard.
"I am relieved to hear that, Uncle," Darcy replied, and he was. Relieved, and tired. "I am sorry, and I will make amends with Lady Catherine, as best I might, but Uncle... she threatens Georgiana's prospects! Georgiana, who has done nothing unkind to a person or beast in her sixteen years. Will you speak to my lady aunt?" He was not usually a man who relied on any other to assist him when he was capable of achieving his aims, but when it came to Georgiana's chances and her future happiness, he would leave behind no possible ally in his fight.
"My dear nephew," his uncle said, clapping him on the shoulder. "I shall do everything within my power. I understand now more than ever, that the reasons for your refusal are not just to your own benefit, or your personal happiness. And, if your aunt will listen to me, I will also insist that she rescind her threat of harming Georgiana's chances. She is young, and there is plenty of time for her to find a suitable match when she is out in society. I do not believe Lady Catherine could be so cruel as to hurt her niece in this way, especially after all that Georgiana has been through."
"Thank you, Uncle," Darcy murmured, and his uncle nodded.
"I will take my leave, but we will speak again. My wife will be most displeased with me if I am not at dinner on time." He turned to his son, who seemed to jerk at being taken notice of. "You are not expected, but welcome, if you choose to join us."
"Ehm," Richard said, his eyes darting to Darcy, and Darcy nodded.
"He'll be there, as will I," Darcy promised. "It will give us a chance to catch up on all that has happened in the world. I would appreciate it, very much."
The Earl left, and the door closed behind him, leaving the two friends in a silence that was only broken by the sound of the terrier gnawing on his crust.
At least the Earl was on Darcy's side... it gave Darcy some hope. Bad enough to have to take a wife to put paid Lady Catherine's desire that he marry Anne, it would be worse if the rest of his family did not support him in his search.
"Well, I suppose we'd better have another drink," Richard said, and pulled the stopper from the bottle.
"Yes, let's," Darcy replied, and picked up his own glass, glad to have a friend at his side, and hoping that soon enough, he would be able to find a way to soothe his Aunt's wrath, and ensure that his sister was not harmed by it.
"My nephew is quite correct in his thinking," the Earl said, as he set his spoon down and pushed his soup bowl away. His wife, seated across the table from him, raised an eyebrow, her spoon poised. "There is no way that Darcy could reasonably ask Anne to take a chance with her health and happiness by entering into a marriage."
"I am not sure your dear sister will see it that way," Lady Matlock said, shaking her head as she gave Darcy a sorrowful gaze. "I am afraid she has set her heart on the marriage. I have tried to explain to her, as have others, that she cannot force this marriage to happen especially given poor Anne's health. Even removing her from Rosings worries me."
Lady Matlock had a kind heart, and the care of her nieces, Anne and Georgiana, had been her delight for many years. They were the daughters she had never had, and she would do anything for their comfort and happiness.
"If I were not her brother," the Earl said with a grimace, "I would not have believed that my sister would go to such lengths to ensure that Darcy and Anne were married."
"Even if I were not her nephew, I'd believe it," Richard said with a side-long look to Darcy. Lady Matlock coughed delicately.
"Richard," her tone bordered on warning, but the corners of her mouth were turned up. There was not much love between the two sisters-in-law, although Darcy had not winkled out why. He did not wish to get in the middle of such a thing, and indeed, the Earl had never asked Darcy's opinion on the subject.
"It is true," Richard said, setting down his fork. "She will not rest until she is assured that she has forced her way."
"But to threaten Georgiana's chances..." the Earl began, and shook his head.
"Is a step too far, in my mind," Lady Matlock agreed. "I would never threaten such a thing to Georgiana. It is a blessing that our family does not have the same sort of ties to the succession as does Darcy. We are able to choose, to an extent, how and who she will marry, and it gives her a great deal of freedom, and her future happiness. We must ensure the same for our dear Darcy, and we must do it with all due haste. Are you thinking of attending some balls and parties, to survey what girls might catch your interest?" She smiled at Darcy. "We have some ideas of eligible young women, and if you'd like, I would be happy to make introductions, or at least introduce you to their parents, so you might make their acquaintance."
"I thank you, but I believe I will not attend the celebrations of the Season," Darcy said, shaking his head. He had made his plans, and his thoughts. He knew he must take a wife, and quickly, and the sooner he found a girl, the better.
"But how do you intend to meet this distinguished young lady if you do not go?" Lady Matlock said, and when Richard made an amused noise into the remains of his soup, she glared at her youngest son, even if it was with affection.
"I shall take recommendations from you, and from other noted women who can speak to a lady of great character, for I can hardly believe some of the accomplishments these ladies are said to have. We will reside mostly in Pemberley, where there will not be much of dancing and balls, so the woman I choose for a wife will need more to recommend her than pretty footwork," Darcy explained. "I wish to marry a girl who has a mind of her own, and is not easily led astray, but will also be a comfort to me in my hours of need, and will help me to raise the children, one of who will inherit Pemberley. Someone who can guide Georgiana through her own Season and coming out. She must have an observant eye not just for herself, but for the society around her-"
"You don't ask for much," Richard commented. "I'd take any woman who would be willing to marry a second son." Lady Matlock sighed and ignored her youngest.
"Well, if you won't take to the balls, at least come to dinner with us tomorrow night. The Dowager Marchioness of Ashford is hosting us at her manor here in town now that it is fully renovated and redecorated, and she is said to be sponsoring two young ladies from the country for the Season."
"She is a queer sort. I rather liked her husband, the late Marquess. Armie was the sort that was always up for a bit of good fu-"
Lady Matlock set down her soup spoon with a decided clink that cut her husband off. He snapped his mouth shut, and Richard shot Darcy an amused look but said nothing. The Matlocks were one of the rare couples he knew of that had not had a love match, but had grown to adore one another as age, and children, came along. As it was now, they could communicate with one another without a word.
Darcy ached for the same for himself, although he hoped it was from the very moment he first set eyes on the lady.
"You should come with us," his aunt said, reaching out and squeezing his hand.
"It is very kind of you to invite me, and I will take you up on the invitation," Darcy replied, "I should like to see the Ashford House again, was it Bullock and Bride who finished the work?"
"Yes!" Lord Matlock exclaimed, for he was greatly passionate about architecture. "I have a new book recently published, engravings of their projects from around the city. Will you look at it with me, after dinner?"
"Yes," Darcy replied, for he too loved the house, and he would enjoy the time spent with his uncle discussing the matter. Perhaps his aunt and Richard would excuse themselves and he and his uncle could speak further on the situation at hand, and Darcy could get the older man's thoughts on the choosing of a wife.
Tomorrow was but one dinner, and if he did not take a liking to one of the young women in attendance, there would be other dinners, and other young ladies to meet.
"Excellent," his uncle replied, and Darcy could tell by the light in his eye that he was already eager to discuss the topic.
Perhaps this whole preparing for marriage business would not be so bad, after all, if he had his family at his back.
I am so pleased to announce that Duty and Desire is now available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple iBooks, and more! You may purchase it right away or wait for a new chapter to be uploaded here. Thank you for all your loving support.
- Nora