“I have friends,” he said with some surprise as Phillip handed him a brandy.
Georgiana giggled, boldly pouring herself another glass of wine. “Sisters and cousins do not count, Will.”
“Even Bingley is technically a relation, though we rarely acknowledge it, due to his sisters,” the countess laughed.
“They are not Darcy's friends – they are his worst nightmare,” Phillip quipped. “But I am eternally grateful for your acquaintance with the Bennets. What do you think, Tilly?”
Lady Matilda smiled brightly, in her mildly intoxicated way. Though younger than Phillip, she managed to be charmingly maternal toward him, as she was to his daughters. “I like your fair lady very well, Phillip. I hope we shall see a great deal of her.”
“I shall call again tomorrow – I hear that fellow Willoughby that Miss Elizabeth nearly strangled means to call in Berkeley Square with the colonel – I ought to see what Richard knows of Brandon. And the Ferrarses are sure to be sniffing around,” Phillip groaned.
“It is interesting, Darcy, that your friends seem to be young men easily influenced by pernicious relations, but this can be nothing to you, Phillip. I have heard our new friends speak well of Colonel Brandon, but surely a widow with a daughter of her own must thinkyouan ideal choice.”
Georgiana choked on her wine as she burst out laughing. “Mrs. Gardiner? No, Aunt Tilly, Phillip likes Jane!”
“Miss Bennet?” Lady Matilda sat up with a look of confusion. “But Phillip, you hardly spoke to her! You were entirely engrossed with Mrs. Gardiner, you even sang with her!”
“Mrs. Ferrars and her son were rather an obstacle, I admit,” Phillips said with a scowl.
“I do not like them,” Georgiana hissed. “I know Lizzy hates them, for I heard her say some wonderfully wicked things to them.”
“Miss Elizabeth does speak her mind,” the countess agreed. “I like her very much, though her manners may require a little polishing when she becomes the mistress of Pemberley.”
Darcy shook his head at his aunt’s speculation. He began to find that though he did not like anything which vexed her, he was strangely proud of Elizabeth’s prickliness, and she was very welcome to carry on just as she pleased in all his homes, if there were guests she did not like. She might drag Caroline Bingley out of Pemberley by the hair if that meant he and his love might be alone together.
“Oho! I thought you merely wished her to teach you how to behave like a human being,” Phillip said with a hearty guffaw. “Well, at leastyoushall not be my rival, Darcy. But you ought to sort out that Ferrars fellow, for my sake. I shall owe you a favor forever.”
The countess stood and rested a hand on her stepson’s shoulder, though he stood more than a foot taller than her. “You might have any woman you desire, my dear. But pray, do not be a blockhead about it.” At this, she announced that she meant to look in on the earl and then retire, and Georgiana went upstairs with her.
“I shall not intervene, Phillip,” Darcy said warily. “I sought to remove Bingley from Meryton, and thought it was done for the best, but I had no notion at the time that it wouldturn out well. I will do what I can to entertain more and bring you into Miss Bennet’s company….”
“Without that Ferrars prat skulking about! And his talking mother!”
“But beyond that, it must be for Miss Bennet to encourage or discourage you each as she chooses. Although I may as well inform you that I believe you shall have an ally in Miss Elizabeth; she would sooner drown Edward in the Thames than allow him to woo her sister.”
“So why not be her ally and mine?”
“As I told your sister, I amnotyour keeper,” Darcy sighed.
“Oh, but Rebecca! If only she were here! But she isthere, amongst the cousins, eh? There is some connection to the Ferrarses – something that displeases the sisters, I think – she will discover it, and I shall be informed, and know how to act.” Phillip grinned, finished his brandy, and sauntered out of the room.
Darcy sank onto a sofa and stared into the dying fire. There were an unusual number of connections between himself and Elizabeth, his friends and relations and her own. It all felt like a tangled mess at present; if she were his wife, they might sort it out together, but he began to fear he would have to navigate it delicately in order to achieve what he so desired.
Chapter Thirteen
London
It did not escape Elizabeth’s notice that Jane dressed with extra care the next morning, and sat by the window reading the volume of poetry Mr. Willoughby had gifted her. But then, Elizabeth herself had attempted a new hairstyle, and even caught herself considering whether Mr. Darcy preferred willow green or jonquil as she chose one of her new day dresses. She even laughed aloud as she realized that his call was quite expected.
Colonel Brandon was the first to arrive, with Mr. Willoughby and the Hatchards; Elizabeth was relieved that they should not begin their day with the possible guests she dreaded the most, but neither was Mr. Willoughby amongst those she most wished to see. It was evident that he had not forgotten their altercation at the ball, for he behaved as if he was rather fearful of any reprise of her impudence.
For Jane’s sake, as well as her friendship with the Hatchards, and the respect she owed Mrs. Jennings, Elizabeth was resolved to behave civilly. Mr. Willoughby sat near Jane andhis mother, but was content to allow the colonel to address them first.
“Acting under your advice, Mrs. Gardiner, Willoughby and I journeyed to my sister’s estate in Yorkshire. I met with Miss Williams, and presented Mr. Willoughby to her, naming him as Mr. Watson, a candidate for the vicarage in my sister’s gift. At the same time, I presented a genteel farmer on my sister’s estate, who is of pleasing aspect and elegant address, as Mr. Willoughby, come to make my ward his proposals. She accepted without question, betraying her ignorance of Willoughby’s true identity.”
Jane gasped, looking at Mr. Willoughby with hopeful glee. “Miss Williams did not know you?”
He grinned. “I looked her in the eye, Miss Bennet, and informed her that should I,Julius Watson, be fortunate enough to attain the position of vicar in Montrose, I would most happily call the banns for her and her Willoughby on Sunday next.”
