That knowledge had perhaps been the chief reason he had never made anyone an offer of marriage.
“It is not… my situation is not wholly bereft of disadvantages.”
“Such as?”
Darcy was well aware that he would both sound conceited and ridiculous if he tried to claim that knowing that any woman he asked would agree to marry him was a disadvantage. But it was. Maybe.
“You will love Pemberley,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said to Elizabeth after a pause. “Everyone does. It is well worth seeing, though I acknowledge it would be wholly superior fromyourstandpoint if you could combine it with a family Christmas.”
“I am married now. And…” Elizabeth replied slowly. “And fortunately, my family is close enough to London that I should see them in some way every time we are in town.”
Darcy grimaced again, though he tried to force his expression into passivity.
From the way that Elizabeth straightened and frowned, and how Colonel Fitzwilliam sidewise looked at him, he perceived that his face had betrayed his feelings to both of them.
He had thought several times with pleasure upon the great distance between Longbourn and Pemberley as a protection from his new and unwanted relations, but twenty and seven miles wasnotenough space to keep him from Mrs. Bennet, and her desperate efforts to sink her daughters’ claws into every one of his friends of fortune.
It would be necessary when they came to London for the season for him to make it clear to Elizabeth that he wouldnotfacilitate the ruin of his friends in the way that he had beenruined.
“But really,” Elizabeth said to Colonel Fitzwilliam with a more cheerful mien, “when have you been prevented by want of money from going wherever you chose, or procuring anything you had a fancy for?”
“I cannot say I have experienced many hardships of that nature. But in matters of greater weight, I may suffer from a lack of money. Younger sons cannot marry where they like.”
“Unless,” she replied with a sly smile, “they like women of fortune, which I think they very often do.”
“Oh, I cannot deny that I very oftendolike women of fortune. But there are rather more second sons than great heiresses — now Darcy here. He could simply find the brightest jewel of Hertfordshire and marry her. But my habits of expense make me too dependent. There are very few in my rank of life who could afford to marry without some attention to money.”
“You approve of my marriage?” Darcy asked. “Do you intend to say so much to your father?”
Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed. “I’d merely convince him that I was insane if I went so far as to defend you. I am only surprised you care in the slightest what he thinks. That is not your usual arrogant manner.”
“I am not arrogant.” Both of them looked at him as though he’d said something ridiculous. “I am not.”
“Of a certainty. Not arrogant. Only proud, convinced of your superiority to all the world, and of the unending importance of the Darcy name, especially when merged with your Fitzwilliam heritage. It is simply a natural matter that all men look up to you—”
“He is very tall,” Elizabeth said. “He can’t help that people look up at him.”
“That is very true. I think people would not pay him half so much deference if he was as short as his friend Bingley. Ibelieve you are acquainted with Mr. Bingley.”
“Yes.” Then Elizabeth hesitated and looked at Darcy. “Will we be calling on him while in London?”
“What? No, I do not think so.”
“I’d like to speak to him.” Good God. Did she hope to sell some story to his friend about Jane missing him? The mercenary chit. Was it not enough to entangle one unwilling man?
“I do not believe he has time for society at present,” Darcy sharply replied. “He is absorbed with the business that drew him from Netherfield.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam had a sly expression as he looked between them.
“Are there any other plans we have whilst in London,” Elizabeth asked, “besides leaving for Pemberley in only a week?”
“Not of any particular importance,” Darcy replied. He felt from her tone as though he was being judged by her. But he rejected her right to judge him in the matter of Bingley. No, rather he judgedher. “Once in Pemberley we will host my family for two weeks, from right before Christmas day until the day after old Christmas.”
“An ample chance for them to observe me?”
“It had been planned before I met you that this year would be our turn to host.”
“I see.”
