Darcy took a deep breath, steadying himself. Out of the corner of his eye, Richard gave an encouraging nod. Was the old sod smirking at his blunder? Bravely he forged on. “Surely, Miss Elizabeth, caring for your father has consumed much of your time. I remember how devotedly you cared for Miss Bennet when she was ill.”
Elizabeth smiled a little. Shehadbeen primarily motivated by concern for Jane, but her desire to avoid the rest of the party downstairs had added incentive to her devotion. Slyly she replied, “No one could have done less for her. Jane is all that is sweet and fine.”
She favoured him with an impish smile and continued. “I believe there is none other with her goodness. I fear I have not her talent for always seeing the amiable qualities in people and honestly speaking well of everyone. It has been my experience that not everyone has such a fine character as she often detects, or at least it is not always apparent to me.” A slight stirring to her right brought her eyes back to the Colonel, who was rubbing his upper lip with his forefinger and quickly looking away.
Darcy took advantage of the diversion to recover. He leaned forward slightly. “You are a student of characters, I know. You praise your sister’s generous nature, but I have long believed that a more analytical philosophy can be greatly advantageous. It serves to discern what is wise from what is foolish, and truth from untruth. Would you not agree?”
Elizabeth arched her eyebrows. “I cannot dispute that conjecture. I wonder, however, is it possible for truth to be always readily distinguished? I suspect it is not always a fixed notion. Is it possible for a man to think he has done right when, in fact, he is greatly in the wrong?”
He gaped for a moment. Tension wrung his gut, but he was as a moth to the flame. The challenging lilt in her voice could not be ignored. For a brief second, she looked to Colonel Fitzwilliam for a response, but he only gazed expectantly at Darcy.A fine time to decide to be silent,he thought sourly.
Slowly he answered her. “I agree that is a possibility, Miss Elizabeth. I believe that is where honour begins. An upright man, with worthy intentions, should at least be due the benefit of the doubt in such cases. He should be able to depend upon his peers for a favourable opinion of his intentions, at the very minimum. A man of true virtue makes it his business to have considered all of the information available before embarking upon a course potentially injurious to others.”
“And if he finds he was mistaken? Would it be more admirable decisively to stay his course or humbly to make amends?”
“The latter, of course, is preferable. We ought to right our wrongs as best we can. However, there have been times in my experience, for example with my tenants, where a reversal of judgement would have caused even greater harm. So, you see, it is not always possible to undo an error. That is why it is prudent, and indeed absolutely necessary, to be sure of wise judgement in the first place.”
Her eyes sparkled, and a mysterious smile curled her lips. He was not certain by her expression whether he had passed or failed her little test. The one thing of which he was not in doubt was the certainty that she had indeed been testing him. She studied him briefly as if trying to decide whether to press the matter further.
Apparently, she decided to drop it for the present, as her eyes shifted to Georgiana. “Miss Darcy, I have heard much of your skill on the pianoforte. Miss Bingley praises your abilities most frequently. May I ask your favourite composer?”
Darcy let out a breath of relief as her scrutiny transferred away from him. Fitzwilliam caught his eye with a look of incredulity. He was clearly impressed. The gentlemen listened in rapt appreciation as the ladies left them behind with a discussion on the merits of the various German composers. The topic could not have been more considerately chosen for Georgiana’s comfort, and Darcy silently added another virtue to the growing list of Elizabeth Bennet’s charms. She seemed to captivate Georgiana instantly.
Darcy listened proudly as Georgiana’s shy expertise revealed itself to her inquisitor. Elizabeth was obviously well informed, but she freely admitted to possessing only marginal skills on the pianoforte. Darcy, who had heard her play with much pleasure, countered warmly. Elizabeth thanked him primly, then turned her attention back to Georgiana.
Elizabeth’s tone was easy and gentle, not at all like Miss Bingley’s imperious style of discourse—or monologue, as so often occurred. They talked of their favourite performances in London, and Richard found a few entertaining anecdotes to add to their conversation there. Elizabeth bantered with him pleasantly, but always she returned to Georgiana.
For her part, Georgiana was slowly letting down her guard, like a morning glory discreetly unfurling its petals to the soft dew. Darcy breathed more easily as well, revelling at the sight of the two dearest to him getting to know one another. Elizabeth did not disappoint. Abrasive as she could be when properly riled, she was all warmth and sincerity for his little sister.
“I should dearly love to hear you play one day, Miss Darcy,” Elizabeth encouraged humbly. “Do you often play to an audience?”
Georgiana blushed. It was a frequent request made of her in family gatherings, but one she disliked in the extreme. “Oh, no, Miss Elizabeth. I do practice a great deal, but I normally prefer to play only for Fitzwilliam.”
Elizabeth looked puzzledly between the gentlemen. She had never heard anyone call Darcy by his first name and suddenly found it amusing that he should share his cousin’s surname.
Picking up on her reflections, Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed lightly. “My father was not only brother to Darcy’s mother, Anne, but also very good friends with his father, George Darcy. Our families are friends for five generations, at least, with many intermarriages. There are a number of us who share a name. My older brother was named George also, in honour of my uncle.”
“I see.” As much as she normally tried to ignore everything Mr Collins said, something came back to her. “Then your father… is the Earl of Matlock?” She kept her voice a little hushed, fearing her mother might overhear that they had the privilege of hosting the son of a peer.
“Correct, Miss Elizabeth, but as the ‘spare’, such a title does me little good.” He gestured self-deprecatingly to his uniform. “I have little to complain of, though. I do not believe I should have liked my brother’s lot in life, or Darcy’s, for that matter. Dealing with their responsibilities is no easy matter. Certainly, it is not as clear-cut as life in the army. Despite its hardships, I do not have the cares and worries of a landlord with three hundred or more souls in his keeping to trouble me.”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened at the figure. She glanced quickly to Darcy, who modestly dropped his gaze to the floor. She had not considered the awesome responsibilities which must be his, but he clearly did not wish to discuss it at the moment.
Turning back to the colonel, she probed gently, “I think you undervalue your position. As a colonel, you must have a good many men under your command. Is not your duty one of sacrifice and hardship? You have the responsibility of sending men off to war. Is not war terrible? I have heard stories.” Elizabeth shuddered. She had heard more than stories, as had anyone with a heart. The horror of the battlefield was fresh in the country’s mind, with a scattering of bitter wars overseas only recently concluded in their parents’ generation and more looming in their own.
His eyes softened, his easy humour receding somewhat. “It is, Miss Elizabeth. The men of my regiment, we live and work together, and tragically I have more than once been forced to issue the final command in a man’s life. Ultimately, however, my command is not my own. I answer to my general, who answers to the war office. I am never left entirely to my own devices; thus, the success or failure of my regiment does not rest absolutely on my own shoulders.
“I do my best, as my men deserve nothing less, but others have a role they must play as well. I do not say my lot is an entirely easy one, only that the cares of others make me understand that I am by no means the only man with the burden of heavy responsibilities. I daresay, Miss Elizabeth, every man has his struggles, and each has his gifts. Sometimes it is best to content ourselves with the lot handed us, is that not so?”
Elizabeth felt suddenly they were not talking of military life any longer. Surmising she was the victim of a two-pronged assault, she gave a small nod, acknowledging the hit. Her eyes shifted suspiciously to Darcy, but there was no trace of smugness in his face.
“Do you not all find the weather today unusually fine?” Bingley was saying from across the room. He raised his voice just loudly enough to divert attention to himself from the party on the sofa. “Miss Bennet, might I persuade you to a short walk before tea?” He rose and invited Jane to take his arm. A subtle look toward the others encouraged them to break up their cosy group. Lydia, rolling her eyes at the dull couples in the room, announced her intention to walk to Lucas Lodge, seconded by Kitty.
Darcy’s breath caught. He knew very well that Bingley and Fitzwilliam were conspiring to purchase him a few minutes with Elizabeth in private conversation. His body tingled in anticipation, but his heart froze in fear. She had been civil to him, but barely. He could well imagine the litany she might unleash on him when he was without the protection of others, before whom she had decided to remain polite.
He rose on nerveless legs, but when he turned to her, he found that Richard had beaten him. His cousin proffered his arm gallantly, and with a teasing smile, Elizabeth took it. Her eyes flicked provocatively to his, taking in his disappointment and winking at it.
Chagrined, he turned to Georgiana and helped her to her feet. She read his vexation and snuggled comfortingly to him. “I do like her very much, William,” she confided as he helped her on with her pelisse. “She is kind and honest. I do not feel embarrassed talking to her. I think we might become good friends,” she whispered shyly.
