Page 37 of His Pride and His Prejudice

“Has she been presented then?” Mrs. Bennet asked, now clearly intrigued, as they all were. It was rare for a lady or lord such as the de Bourghs to have offspring of a lesser status than them and judging by Mr. Collins evasions Miss de Bourgh was likely an omega.

“Her indifferent state of health unhappily prevents her being in town,” he said. “And by that means, as I told Lady Catherine one day, has deprived the British court of its brightest ornaments! Her ladyship seemed pleased with the idea, and you may imagine that I am happy on every occasion to offer those little delicate compliments which are always acceptable to ladies. I have more than once observed to Lady Catherine, that her charming daughter seemed born to be a duchess!” He gave another of those pompous little nods. “These are the kind of little things which please her ladyship, and it is a sort of attention which I conceive myself peculiarly bound to pay.”

“You judge very properly,” said Mr. Bennet who had been mostly silent up until now, watching his cousin through narrowed eyes. “And it is happy for you that you possess the talent of flattering with delicacy.” He leaned forwards. “May I ask whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of the moment, or are the result of previous study?”

Elliot coughed around his own slice of pickled fruit, recovering himself just in time to hear Mr. Collins reply.

“They arise chiefly from what is passing at the time, and though I sometimes amuse myself with suggesting and arranging such little elegant compliments as may be adapted to ordinary occasions, I always wish to give them as unstudied an air as possible.”

“Oh, no one would assume your manners to be studied,” Mr. Bennet said, his expectations now fully answered. Elliot could easily guess what they were. Mr. Collins was as absurd as Mr. Bennet had hoped, and he had listened to him with the keenest enjoyment, maintaining at the same time the most resolute composure of countenance, and, except in an occasional glance at Elliot, requiring no partner in his pleasure.

Mr. Collins did not notice the look Mr. Bennet and Elliot shared and began the story of how a fortunate chance had recommended him to Lady Catherine de Bourgh when the living of Hunsford became vacant, though he was sure, he insisted, that such a living would have come his way regardless of such chance. Mrs. Bennet listened with interest. Mr. Bennet less so. By the time dinner was concluded they knew everything there was to know about Mr. Collins’ life and very soon, later that evening in fact, Mrs. Bennet knew more still.

Elliot suspected something was afoot, as after losing his third round of backgammon against Mr. Bennet, Mr. Collins appeared happy to be lured away for a conversation with Mrs. Bennet that she somehow arranged in a shady corner of the room. Elliot could not hear the subject under discussion, given Marc was playing his latest composition, which was full of heavy notes and a slightly depressing melody. If Elliot had been able to hear he would have learned that having now a good house and a very sufficient income, Mr. Collins intended to mate, and in seeking a reconciliation with the Longbourn family he had a husband in view. He meant to choose one of the Bennet boys if he found them as handsome and amiable as they were represented by common report. This was his plan of amends—of atonement—for inheriting their father’s estate and he thought it an excellent one, full of eligibility and suitableness.

Mrs. Bennet was thrilled on being imparted this news, as it so neatly aligned with a scheme that had occurred to her when she had realised there was no avoiding this meeting. It did not take long for her to direct Mr. Collins’ interest towards Elliot, for how could she possibly consider him suitable for Jack—such an idea would be preposterous even if Mr. Bingley were not in the picture! That Elliot was not quite yet at mating age she ignored. It was a matter of months only.

By the next morning Mr. Collins was feeling suitability generous in his plans and Mrs. Bennet trusted that she might soon have two sons mated, and the man whom she could not bear to speak of the day before was now high in her good graces!

Of Jack and Elliot’s thoughts on her schemes she had no notion.

It would not have occurred to her to try and find one.

Eighteen

The town of Meryton was generally a bustling place, being the point of convergence for several smaller towns as well as the trading heart for all the surrounding villages. Since the arrival of the militia, now stationed on the outskirts, it had become busier still and visitors were sure to find a good drink, something interesting to eat, and a hearty amount of gossip.

Darcy had avoided Meryton as much as he was able and not least because Bingley had filched one of Pemberley’s cooks who provided magnificent dish after magnificent dish to Netherfield’s dining room, and he had little interest in gossip of any kind. However, circumstances conspired to bring him there and he was stood outside the receiving rooms waiting for Bingley to finish up some errand or another.

It was odd for Darcy being in a small town like Meryton and not knowing the various proprietors, key families and so on. In Pemberley he knew everyone and would have been waylaid multiple times as he went about his business. Here he was left alone, a consequence he suspected of his reputation continuing to arrive before him. That was confirmed when a mama who had pursued him constantly in the previous weeks passed by, dragging her young daughter with her. Convention demanded she give a quick bow, but she did so as rapidly as possible and moved on. Darcy fancied it was because she had become aware that his preference, when the time came, was for a male mate, but more likely his personality had something do with it!

Darcy couldn’t find it in himself to be too concerned by this. It happened far too often, and he had become used to it. Besides, he was an alpha and had freedom to behave however he damn well chose!

He leaned carelessly against the wall watching the residents of Meryton and its surrounding villages pass by. There were several bright red coats, officers of the militia. He recognised none of them. Hardly surprising. They were a long way from Derbyshire where Darcy, being the principal landowner of the area, held responsibility for ensuring a local militia there—though the day-to-day running of the regiment was given over to Colonel Ransom.

Thinking of the colonel, of the officers even, took Darcy’s thoughts to Pemberley. He missed his home greatly. It was a splendid place if he did say so himself. He allowed his thoughts to wander, thinking of his favoured spots, what he might do once home, how he might spend his time, and was so caught up that he only realised Charles had joined him when the other man spoke.

“Well, this is a happy occurrence, Darcy!”

The happy occurrence was three of the Bennet boys, Jack, Elliot and Marc, and Darcy did wonder after the fact whether, if he had known in advance that they were also visiting Meryton, he would have remained at Netherfield. He hoped that he would have been sensible and indeed stayed behind, but when they turned the corner of the milliners, and Darcy spotted Elliot he suspected he would have been far from sensible indeed.

Perhaps that was why he followed Charles, as the other man made his way over to them, his heart now racing a bit faster than it had just a moment ago. Perhaps that was also why he only saw the officers at the very last minute when it was too late to change direction.

“Mr. Bennet, I had not expected to see you here!” Charles said, coming to a halt in front of the Bennets and the officers who accompanied them. “And in such fine form also.”

“We have just come from our relatives, the Phillipses,” Jack said, doing the usual bow. “One of our regular visits. I mentioned them to you, that they live here in Meryton.”

“Indeed, you did,” Charles said, and Jack smiled.

“We have made the acquaintance of some new friends there,” Jack continued, turning to smile at them also. “Officers of the militia, visiting with my aunt and uncle also. As we are all heading in the same direction, we decided to make the journey home together.”

He gestured to the two men stood next to Elliot who had just finished their bows. They were indeed officers in all the usual regalia. That alone would have made them stand out, but both were also uncommonly handsome. One of them Darcy recognised immediately, cursed the fact he did, and wished he had not! Darcy could have been a happy man indeed if he had gone the rest of his life without meeting George Wickham ever again.

His appearance was, as always, greatly in his favour, Darcy noted. He had barely changed in the years since they had last seen one another. He continued to have all the best part of beauty, a fine countenance, a good figure rarely seen in such abundance in a beta. The fact that the person beneath it all was something else entirely seemed to be a matter that few understood until they were forced to!

Darcy would have liked to force the matter right now and had Jack, Marc and Elliot not been present likely would have done so.

He did not like how close Wickham stood to Elliot.

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