Darcy furrowed his brow. He had scarcely completed his grand tour before losing his beloved father, many years after hismother had passed. His parents had not agreed to the dynastic match with Anne that his aunt, Lady Catherine, was prone to plague him about, but beyond this they had never spoken of his future marriage; he liked to think they would approve of his choice, especially now that he might be so fortunate as to marry a kind and intelligent woman whom he loved most ardently. Even so, he knew most mothers would flinch at such connections as the Bennets of Longbourn.
Darcy took a long draught of his brandy and gave his friend a look of commiseration. “Have you an unsuitable lady in mind? Or do you merely object to her strictures on principle?”
Edward sank into a chair by the fire and gestured for Darcy to do the same. “It is rather a mess, and I hardly know what is best to be done. You will think me quite an ass, Darcy, but I can think of nobody whose opinion I value more on such a matter as my present dilemma.”
Darcy finished his brandy and poured them each another before perching on the edge of a chair, full of dread and curiosity at what his morose friend might say. “I will hear you and advise you as best I can, if you wish it, but I have lately learnt to take care in meddling with matters of the heart.”
Edward sipped his drink, nodding pensively. “I hardly know where to begin, Darcy. When we met, my first year and your last at Cambridge, I told you of an attachment I had formed in my youth, when I was under the tutelage of Mr. Pratt.”
“Yes, I recall that conversation; I believe I advised against it, for you were young and faced many years yet of studies – I considered your character as not yet fixed, and thus you could not be certain that you and the young lady would remain compatible, as you were altered and improved by your education and exposure to the world.”
Edward let out a low groan. “Wise words, which I ought to have heeded.”
Darcy eyed him warily. “You did not…?”
“Alas, I did not. We have been secretly engaged these four years; you met the lady just this morning, Miss Lucy Steele. I need not point out that we are indeed very ill-suited. But what I must confess is that I have formed another attachment.”
This was what Darcy had supposed might happen, at the time his counsel had first been given. Though the disapproval of any family of consequence had been a foregone conclusion, this was not all that had inspired Darcy’s doubts about the match. It had seemed perfectly obvious that a young man of twenty and a girl of sixteen could not possibly hope to remain so attached once Edward completed his studies and began to move enough in society that he may have his interest aroused by a lady of greater education herself.
“I was not impressed by Miss Steele, and I daresay neither were your relations. But what of this other attachment?”
“Ultimately it matters not, beyond the fact that my eyes have now been opened, and I no longer find Miss Steele’s company to please me as it once did. In truth, I have for more than a year now regretted my promise most bitterly.”
“And what of the other lady?” Darcy felt his muscles tightening, for fear that Edward would name Elizabeth as the superior creature who had taught him to despise his youthful mesalliance.
“I visited Fanny and John at Norland, after they took possession of the place last summer. John’s step-mother and half-sisters remained in residence for a few months while seeking a suitable new situation, for my sister made it clear that she would not house them forever. I fear that I may be to blame, in part, for I quickly became attached to the eldestof the Dashwood girls, Elinor. They were left with nothing after their father died, beyond their good name and well-bred manners; everything was settled irrevocably on John, whom Fanny has persuaded to neglect them. I believe she detected my preference, for I received a letter from my mother not long after they removed to Devonshire, forbidding me from making Miss Dashwood any proposal, on pain of disinheritance.”
“And yet, you were not free to do so, having pledged yourself to Miss Steele, of whom she would likely think even worse.” Mr. Darcy frowned at the recollection of how Miss Steele had fawned over the viscount and courted Georgiana’s favor, attempting to draw their interest away from the Bennet sisters. She had also dropped Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst’s names, which told Darcy everything he needed to know about the artful social climber; any cousin of the Bennets must surely be a superior alternative.
“Yes, precisely.” Edward fidgeted uncomfortably and looked sadly at his empty glass before setting it aside.
“What will you do?”
“Whatever you advise, I expect. I have little hope of winning Miss Dashwood, for she was meant to come to London with her sister, but they have chosen to remain with their kin at Longbourn, and have sent the Miss Bennets in their stead. I visited them in Hertfordshire on Christmas Eve, and discovered that Lucy had become acquainted with Elinor in Devonshire, and had actually confided in her about our secret understanding. I believe she did so out of a desire to wound her, for she knew of our acquaintance at Norland. I threw myself on Elinor’s mercy, for my attachment to her has endured, while my feelings for Lucy had waned, just as you predicted they would. But Elinor was cruel; though I know she returned my regard, she would give me no hope for our future, even if I manage to break with Lucy.”
Darcy leaned back in his seat, considering his friend’s plight; he certainly did not envy Edward’s predicament, and thought him a fool, for it was a problem of his own making, and he had failed to heed Darcy’s advice already. “Your mother will cut you off if you wed Miss Dashwood, but she will not have you, anyhow. And yet your affection for her has taught you that you could not be happy with Miss Steele, to whom you are bound by honor – and surely any alliance with her would bring about the same consequences from your family.”
“That is about the sum of it, Darcy. If I honor my promise to her, I shall be miserable all my days, and it is very likely that Lucy would not be happy in the circumstances I would be reduced to, should my mother settle everything irrevocably on Robert. He is in favor at present, for he wooed Miss Morton last evening – that much is a relief, at least, for my mother had wishedmeto secure her, but I find her most insipid.”
Darcy nodded, still considering all that his friend had told him; he began to think there may be more that Edward had not yet owned to. “You ought to be honest with Miss Steele, first and foremost. Does she understand the obstacles to your union, and what life would be like if your marriage began in financial straits?”
Edward shook his head with a look of disdain. “She believes she might win my relations over; it is a hopeless case, but I know not how to make her understand that flattery is no substitute for fortune and connection in my mother’s estimation.”
“You must explain it to her somehow, for it would be no great kindness to sink her and yourself, particularly if there will not be the comfort of mutual devotion in your poverty,” Darcy said. “I suppose it would be cruel to inform her that your feelings are not what they were four years ago, but I daresay the lady hasalready supposed as much, if she spoke to her rival about her prior claim.”
“It was very mean-spirited of her – and you ought to have heard how she spoke to Miss Bennet!”
They had come to the crux of it, for Darcy was not a fool. “I suppose your mother would be pleased by Miss Bennet, as Miss Morton has been stolen away from you.”
“Yes, but she makes no allowances for the family connection between the Bennets and the Dashwoods….”
“You mean to say that Miss Bennet knows of her cousin’s acquaintance with you, and is likely aware of her disappointed hopes.”
Darcy was impressed by Miss Bennet’s forbearance. Bingley’s sisters had convinced even Darcy that the Bennets were fortune hunters, but Miss Bennet had apparently rebuffed not one but two of her cousins’ erstwhile beaux, from what he understood of the fracas with Mr. Willoughby at the ball. Darcy hoped this would bode well for his cousin; he could not like the notion of his friend turning rival to Phillip for Miss Bennet’s affections.
“Well, Edward, I believe you must break with Miss Steele, and I cannot imagine you should have any difficulty in the matter. If she were a better sort of girl, I would offer to speak to your mother favorably of her myself, truly, but I understand your position. And – forgive me – but I cannot imagine that Miss Steele, who must undoubtedly be aware of your affections taking a different turn, would wish to proceed with a match that will not offer the comfort of any pecuniary advantages.”
Edward furrowed his brows, but there was hope in his gaze. “You would not think me a cad for breaking my pledge?”
