“We were not. If I did not accept his offer of marriage, I am certainly not about to claim a compromise,” Elizabeth anticipated the next question.
“You are a very singular young lady. Will you tell us why you refused him?” Matlock queried.
“I suggest you read his letter first, and then, if you still have questions, I will be happy to answer them.” Elizabeth extracted the missive and passed it to Colonel Fitzwilliam. He handed it to his father, then he and his brother stood behindthe settee their parents were on so they could all read at the same time.
“William insulted you during the proposal, and why did he mention that miscreant, George Wickham?” Lady Matlock demanded indignantly.
“Elaine, sons, let us read in silence. We will be able to ask our questions once we have read it all,” Matlock commanded.
When at last the multi-page letter was read, the Fitzwilliams were in a state of shock for some moments. It was both because of how William had behaved and that he had shared everything with Miss Bennet. If she had a mercenary bent, which she did not seem to have, she could ask for any sum to keep what was in the letter private. Additionally, if she was mercenary, she would have been William’s affianced already.
“That bast… sorry, Mother and Miss Bennet, Wickham is in the militia in the town near your father’s estate?” Fitzwilliam growled.
“He is. I was such a fool for believing him,” Elizabeth admitted.
“William’s insult combined with the fact the snake can charm most people until they see the truth of him would not have made you suspect him,” Lady Elaine stated kindly. “By the by, what did William say at that assembly?
“He said, ‘She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me; I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me’. I accept that he never saw me or meant to direct the slight at me,” Elizabeth responded. “It did not help his mood that Miss Bingley began spreading the amount of his income about the hall as soon as she entered. I suppose she thought that added to her consequence.”
“That uppity, high in the instep, shrewish harpy of a tradesman’s daughter’s days are numbered in society. I have epistles ready, and as soon as William ascertains some facts in London and asks me to do so, they will be on their way. How dare that woman use my niece’s name in her machinations,” Lady Matlock said with some asperity. When her sons and husband looked at her questioningly, she explained about her conversation with William after his return from his walk and before his departure.
“William found the only gentlelady in the realm who would refuse him,” Hilldale said amusedly. “That must have shocked our staid cousin.”
Elizabeth felt more shame. She had judged the earl, countess, and viscount before ever meeting them, and like so much of late, she had been wrong. They were nothing like Lady Catherine, or like she had believed Mr Darcy to be before this morning. She had been properly humbled, but she knew she still had much to correct in her character.
“Given how damaging this could be for our family if it ever fell into the wrong hands, do you object to destroying the missive?” Lady Matlock asked. She already knew the lady was not mercenary, but this would show her if the very pretty young lady was vindictive.
Without a thought, Elizabeth took the epistle from Lord Matlock and tossed it into the low burning fire in the grate. The fire flared up as the flames hungrily consumed the pages.
‘Perhaps Andrew will form an attraction to Miss Bennet,’ Lady Matlock thought. ‘She would make a wonderful viscountess and future countess.’
After meeting them, Elizabeth decided the Fitzwilliams were estimable people.
Chapter 11
On arriving at Darcy House, even though he had not been expected until a sennight after Easter, the unflappable Killions—his butler and his housekeeper—received the master as if he had always planned to arrive that day.
While his valet supervised the trunks being carried up to his chambers, Darcy decided to go into his study, giving Carstens some time to unpack and put everything away.
Before he sent a note to Bingley asking for them to meet at the club—where Bingley’s younger sister could not impose on him—Darcy looked through the waiting post to see if there was anything urgent. As his stewards and solicitors would have sent a Darcy courier to Rosings Park, it did not surprise him that there was nothing which required his immediate attention in the pile of correspondence on his desk.
He did remember to write a draft to cover the money Mr Bennet expended and leave it to be posted to the man with any other post he needed sent out.
That attended to, Darcy picked up that morning’s copy ofThe Times of London. There was some news of the war in Europe, as to be expected, commentary on the Prince Regent, some articles about bills wending their way through the House of Commons and the House of Lords, but nothing which grabbed his attention. With that done, Darcy scribed a note to Bingley asking that they meet in two hours at White’s.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Caroline Bingley was tired of her brother moping aboutbecause of the insipid Miss Jane Bennet. She decided it was time to kill his infatuation once and for all. “Charles, you will never guess who I saw on my way to Hyde Park a few days past,” Miss Bingley purred. She saw her sister’s shaken head, so she shot Louisa a look promising retribution if she spoke. As she expected, her sister looked away and played with her bracelets.
“Why would I care which of your friends you saw?” Bingley bit back.
“Are you telling me you are not interested that the one I am referring to is none other than Miss Jane Bennet?” Miss Bingley cooed triumphantly. She did not miss how wide her brother’s eyes became.
“Why did you not tell me Miss Bennet is in London? Did she call on you?” Bingley demanded.
“That is just it. Until I saw her, I was unaware of her being in Town,” Miss Bingley prevaricated. “I wrote to her twice, and she never wrote back; and then she comes to the city and does not call on those she professed to hold in esteem.” Miss Bingley paused and relished in the confusion on her brother’s face. “I suppose that now she is akept woman; she no longer needs your paltry five thousand pounds per annum.”
Bingley slammed his fist on the table. “How dare you cast shade on Miss Bennet’s character in that vile way? She may not have loved me, but she is an honourable woman.”
