The eldest sister—the one favoured by Darcy’s friend—was one of the most stunning creatures he had ever beheld. She was perfectly enchanting, and unconnected as she was, she still struck him as more than suitable for a man of Bingley’s status. She was everything maidenly and innocent, and the earl thought fleetingly of a few London girls who could stand to gain by her example. Even so, her classic beauty paled next to her sister’s lively sparkle.
By far the most fascinating diversion in the room, and likely in all of Hertfordshire, was Darcy’s affianced. The girl’s effervescence had revealed a new nephew to him. It was as though she alone had been privy to the man beneath the mask of stoicism and had taken it upon herself to unveil her loyalty to that man to the world while still somehow respecting his deep privacy. He had never seen Darcy so at his ease since he was a child.
The earl still suffered somewhat in confusion at their circumstances. Richard had not neglected to inform him of the details of Darcy’s relationship to the young lady and had led him to believe that she still remained noncommittal about their proposed union. No such reluctance was apparent now!
It was refreshing, he supposed, that the lady had required a little convincing from his nephew. Curiously absent in Elizabeth Bennet were the ambitions which marked many women who approached Darcy, but it seemed clear enough to the earl that he had, at last, won her honest regard.
As the proper length of their visit drew to a close, the earl moved to bid his farewells. “Miss Bennet,” he bowed to Elizabeth, “it has been my pleasure to make your acquaintance. I do hope your father continues in his recovery.”
Elizabeth curtseyed very properly. “Thank you, my lord. We have every hope that he shall.”
“Just so. Darcy,” he turned to his nephew, “you must bring Miss Bennet to London as soon as may be. Your aunt is most eager to make her acquaintance.”
Elizabeth’s face clouded slightly. “I was most sorry to hear of Her Ladyship’s indisposition. I do hope she may recover soon!”
“Indisposition?” The earl shot a questioning gaze across the room at his son, who was still trying to avoid Darcy’s confusing presence. “Why, no, Her Ladyship is quite well. She only fancies herself greatly beset in the cold months and refuses to stir abroad! My son is rather too prone to indulge his mother’s complaints, I fear.”
Elizabeth nodded her acknowledgement and slanted a curious look at her betrothed. Darcy’s hid his satisfied smirk rather poorly. While a careful examination of his statements yielded no untruths regarding his cousin’s situation, he had certainly allowed idle minds to believe what they would. No one could now find Colonel Fitzwilliam a man motivated to seduce innocent young heiresses, nor could his cousin’s confidence in him be questioned.
Upontheirdeparture,thegentlemen decided among themselves that Fitzwilliam would return to Netherfield with Bingley and Georgiana. The earl, determining to return to London himself, desired his nephew to keep him company. Darcy agreed to ride the first part of the journey back to London in his uncle’s coach, but for the sake of speed, he would take his leave and depart on horseback at the first coaching station.
The earl settled back on the plush squabs, fixing his nephew with a firm stare. No harm in testing the besotted young man a little. “I am quite disappointed in you, my boy,” he began.
Darcy merely smiled. “I had expected you might be.”
“A man of your station has no business meddling with the impoverished daughter of a modest country squire.”
“You are quite correct, Uncle,” he agreed.
“The estate cannot be worth more than two thousand a year, at best, and likely entailed besides.”
“Two thousand, one hundred, to be exact, and the heir is a toad,” Darcy confirmed.
His uncle cocked a questioning eyebrow. “With her connections to trade, she will suffer in theton.”
“Miss Bennet will have thetonat her feet by the end of the first Season if I know her at all. Those holdouts who are not swayed to her favour are not worth my trouble.”
“You do not fear that Georgiana’s chances may be harmed by the association?”
“Georgiana is quite taken with Miss Bennet and has no desire to be the darling of theton. I rather think she would fancy not having a Season altogether.”
His uncle paused in surprise. He squinted penetratingly. “The youngest sisters are barely respectable. One of them for certain is set to bring disgrace upon the family if not properly checked.”
Darcy lifted his brow in silent accord.
“And that mother—quiet enough today, I grant you, but Richard assures me her company can be most tedious, even bordering on alarming.”
“All true,” Darcy draped his arm across the back of his seat and crossed his calves comfortably.
“And yet you are determined to have her? There are other arrangements possible, you know.”
Darcy dropped his arm, and both feet thudded to the floor of the coach, his features hardening and his voice turning brittle. “Out of the question! I would never stoop to such disgrace, and even less would I ask it of Miss Bennet! Uncle, if you disapprove of Miss Bennet, make your opinion known. You shall not cause me to alter my course, but your answer determines whether you shall be welcome to our homes in the future!”
Matlock roared in delight. “Calm yourself, my boy! I mean no disrespect to your future bride! I am only surprised at you.”
Darcy relaxed somewhat. “As was I myself, I assure you. However, I am quite satisfied that she is exactly the wife I should desire. It is just as I would wish.”
The earl frowned, but it was not an unfriendly expression. “She is clever, Darcy, and accustomed to much liberty. I doubt not that she will challenge your authority.”
