“When do you plan to leave Kent?”
“Normally I would depart when Darcy decides to leave as I am at his disposal. Under normal circumstances, he arranges the business just as he pleases.”
Before the colonel could say more, Elizabeth interjected, “I am not surprised it is so. He seems to like to order things to suit his desires. I do not know anybody who seems to enjoy the power of doing what they like when they do, more than Mr Darcy.”
Based on the bitterness of her statement, Fitzwilliam had confirmation of his assumption that Miss Bennet did not like his cousin. “He, like most men of power, prefers to have his own way. But then again, so do we all, regardless of our wealth. Besides, this time when we leave will be determined by my father. There is some family business we must see to before we depart.” He paused as he cogitated. “Being rich does give Darcy a certain amount of freedom denied to many others who arepoor. I know of what I speak. As a younger son I must be inured to self-denial and dependence.”
“In my opinion, the younger son of an earl can know very little of either. When have you ever known of self-denial and dependence? When have you been prevented by want of money from going wherever you chose, or procuring anything for which you had a fancy?” Elizabeth chose to address what the colonel said of himself rather than his words about his cousin.
“Those are good questions. Perhaps I have not experienced too many hardships like that, at least when not on a battlefield. When I look to my future, unless I marry well, I will want for money. Younger sons do not always have the luxury of marrying where they would prefer.”
“Unless when the woman they are attracted to is an heiress, which I think is usually the aim.”
“Many who are not the heirs have expensive habits which make them too dependent on their family’s assistance. There are not too many of my status who can afford to marry without some attention to money.”
‘Is he trying to warn me off? Does Colonel Fitzwilliam think I am looking to him as a possible husband?’ Elizabeth asked herself silently. ‘He need not worry, I do not see him in that light.’ As she thought the last, Elizabeth’s cheeks coloured a little. She recovered quickly. “And pray tell, what is the usual price to attract an earl’s younger son? Unless you have hope of becoming the heir, I suppose a dowry of fifty thousand pounds would suffice.”
“Yes, that amount would be enough even for me.” He hoped Miss Bennet did not think he was warning her off. Even had she been wealthy, Fitzwilliam would never pursue her knowing that William was in love with her.
Elizabeth decided to change the subject. “Did yourcousin have you accompany him so he would have someone at his disposal? When he marries, he will have someone at his beck and call at all times.” Elizabeth almost inserted Miss de Bourgh’s name into her sentence as the bride to be, but she held herself back. “And does he not have guardianship of his sister, who he may order about at will?”
“Darcy would never treat his sister in that way,” Fitzwilliam responded sharply. “He is not Miss Darcy’s sole guardian. His late father designated both him and me as joint guardians of my young cousin.”
From the colonel’s reaction, Elizabeth realised she had overstepped. She knew she could not openly criticise Mr Darcy in that way again. “You are? And do you and your cousin look after your ward well? I trust Miss Darcy does not give you much trouble? She is of an age where some young ladies can be difficult to manage. Is she another Darcy who likes to have her own way?”
“My ward is a very good girl,” Fitzwilliam responded curtly.
She did not know why, but Elizabeth had noticed her walking partner’s reaction when she had asked the last. She needed to assure him. She did not think repeating Lieutenant Wickham’s words about Miss Darcy would be a good idea at this juncture. “There is nothing to fear. I have never heard anything bad about her; in fact, one who is acquainted with her praised her to the skies. I believe that Miss Darcy is a great favourite of some ladies with whom I had a brief acquaintanceship, Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley. Do you know your cousin’s friends?”
Fitzwilliam relaxed when he understood that Miss Bennet had heard nothing of Ramsgate. “I hardly know the ladies. Their brother is a friend who is a pleasant gentlemanlike man. In the years I have been in the army and not as much in Bingley’s company, he and Darcy have become very close.”
A moue of distaste flicked across Elizabeth’s countenance. “Indeed, yes, Mr Darcy is very kind to Mr Bingley and takes a prodigious interest in his life.”
‘This,’ Fitzwilliam thought, ‘is a way I can show William in a better light.’ Aloud he said, “Indeed, Darcy does take great care of him! I know that Bingley is very grateful to my cousin for his friendship and assistance. From something Darcy related to me during our journey hither, I have reason to think Bingley owes him a very big debt of gratitude. He did not tell me all, but enough for me to understand that Darcy saved our mutual friend.”
“What do you mean?” Elizabeth bristled as she was sure she knew exactly what Colonel Fitzwilliam was about to confirm.
“It is something, I believe, that Darcy would not wish to be generally known. I think he fears it may get back to the family concerned, and it would be unpleasant for them.”
“You may depend on me keeping your confidence.”
“What he told me was merely this: that he congratulated himself on having lately saved Bingley from the inconveniences of a most imprudent marriage, but without mentioning the name of the lady or any other particulars. Bingley is prone to get into a scrape of that sort. Evidently, Bingley had met this lady and her family some months ago the previous year.”
“Did Mr Darcy tell you why he took it upon himself to interfere in this way?” Elizabeth was seething, but she was fighting to maintain control.
“I understood that there were some very strong objections against the lady and her very improper family.”
“How did he separate them?”
“Other than expressing his opinions, I know not,” said Fitzwilliam, smiling. “He told me no more than what I haverelated to you.”
Elizabeth did not respond right away, rather she walked on. She was filled with fury and indignation. She had to fight to maintain her outward equanimity, and she felt she was losing control.
“You do not look pleased by what I told you.”
“You have the right of it,” she managed as calmly as possible. “Your cousin’s conduct does not sit well with me. Who is he to decide with whom Mr Bingley should or should not form an attachment?”
“You call Darcy’s interference officious?”
