“So why did you not come back here to announce your attachment to her? What is the difficulty?”
“I am not going to marry her.”
“Hehehe — I contrived to make you admit she exists!”
Darcy rolled his eyes. “I admit nothing.”
“You have too.”
Darcy drained his drink, threw his dice, and made a move that allowed him to win the current game of backgammon. “It appears,” he said, “I have won one and lost one.”
“Yes, and I won the more significant game.” Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed. “Well why ever not — but you do not need to tell me. I’ve seen how you look at women — only with an intent to criticize them for how they fall short of some ideal you have in your mind.”
“No, I do not,” Darcy replied, rather pricked by that description of himself.
“So it is not some perceived imperfection that drives you to draw back? I assume then she is married?”
Darcy had been ready for his cousin to say something outrageous, so he took a sip of his brandy without losing his countenance.
Whywasn’the going to marry Elizabeth?
“You hound! I’d never have guessedyouto go mawkish towards a married woman.” Colonel Fitzwilliam set up the board for a new game and made his first move, then took a proper swallow from his glass. “Cousin, I believe in your abilities! You can steal her away from this husband. Not respectable, of course. But Byronic scandals are all the rage this year. You’ll be fashionable when you take off with her and turn Pemberley into a nest for sinful couplings.”
“Why did I invite you to my house?”
“Because I am your favorite cousin,” was the immediate, cheerful, and confident reply.
Darcy took a deep swallow from his drink. Was he being unreasonable, pointing at a minor flaw — connections in trade, and a family he did not like — to keep him from seizing the happiness with Elizabeth that seemed to be in front of him?
“Do not look so gloomy — if the husband is such a problem, we can do him in, make her a widow. That’s respectable enough.”
“Killing a man to marry his wife?”
“No! Marrying a widow.”
“She is not married, so you shall need to save your murderous impulses for the French.”
“Damn unfortunate.” Colonel Fitzwilliam grinned.
“Has anyone ever suggested to you that your morals might be deficient?”
“Frequently — wait. No! You’ve formed an attachment to a housemaid? That will set Aunt Catherine awry.”
Darcy laughed. “Of course not. She is a gentleman’s daughter. Though too far below me to think of.”
“Well, why not?”
“I have a duty to family, to myself, to Georgiana, to my ancient, respectable and honorable name, to the memory of my father, and—”
“Stop spouting nonsense. You sound like Lady Catherine. You also have a duty to yourself. If your goal is to consolidate family wealth, I would not consider convincing Anne ahopelessprospect. Otherwise, go and marry your chambermaid.”
“She isnota chambermaid.”
“You aretootouchy upon that point — go marry her — wait, is the girl that cousin of Batty Catty’s clergyman? The one you called a physician for when she went blind?”
“I called the physician before she went blind.”
“And it is not her, because you speak of her too calmly. Hmmm —wait,the other cousin, the one who refused the clergyman. Aha! I see it in how you blush.”
