“Not Elizabeth’s sister?”
“Unfortunately,” Darcy nodded.
“Darcy,” Edward’s realization shot across his face, “I fear sheheard of this from me. No wonder she suddenly took ill that day in the park.”
“Do not worry yourself, Cousin. I realized from whom she heard the news before we left her at Rosings; Elizabeth would have discovered my deceit sooner or later; she is a clever woman. Elizabeth settled against me before I convinced Bingley to leave Netherfield; I treated her poorly, and then professed my love for her; my duplicity only encouraged her contempt for me.”
“Then I am to assume you actually offered Miss Elizabeth your hand in marriage?” astonishment covered Edward.
“Well,” Darcy hesitated, “I did request Miss Elizabeth’s assent, but I fear I did not articulate my feelings well. I planned what I wished to say, but in her presence, my mind could not recall the words I wanted her to know.”
Edward chuckled,“What, may I ask, did you say?”
“I explained the torment of my decision, my qualms about her lack of connections, and the impropriety shown by her family . . . ”
Edward laughed loudly as he filled his cousin’s cup.“Only you, Cousin, would tell a woman you loved her by telling her how repugnant you found her family to be. Is it not surprising Elizabeth did not find this to be endearing?”
Darcy blushed, recognizing his foolishness; what seemed so reasonable at the time now played as absurdly insipient. A sough escaped his throat indicating the sorrow of his struggle, and he again buried his face in his hands.“It appears,” he said at last,“I have been a simpleton when it comes to Elizabeth Bennet; my folly does not speak well of my intentions, does it?”
“Men, in love, are often foolhardy,” Edward added quietly. “Let us finish this tomorrow, Darcy. Do you think you can make it to your chambers now?”
Darcy nodded his compliance. The colonel rang for Henry’s assistance, and together they got the master into his bed. Henry left to prepare a room for Edward.Thinking Darcy’s labored breathing indicated he slept at last, Edward moved quietly to the door to takehis leave.With his speech muffled by the pillow in which he buried his face, his cousin called out from the bed,“Edward, which shop in the mercantile district did Miss Elizabeth frequent?”
“There is no need for concern, Cousin; I am way ahead of you,” he chuckled knowingly, “I will send a servant around tomorrow for the lace; some day you will give it to Miss Elizabeth yourself.”
Darcy’s arm waved his acceptance, and Edward slipped from the room.
Breakfast came late at Kensington Place, but neither Darcy nor the colonel cared. Both men had affairs of the heart with which to worry.
“Well, Darcy, where do you go from here?”
The words choked him.“I know my duty; the Darcy name and Pemberley must survive; I must forget Elizabeth Bennet and find a suitable match. I am a rich man, and I will settle on an appropriate woman as soon as I am tempted by her charms; I am now ready to marry with all speed; I have a heart ready to accept the regard of the first pleasing woman to come my way.”Excepting Elizabeth Bennet. This was his only secret exception to his declarations.“A woman with a little beauty and some words of flattery will have me as her own, whether she be fifteen or thirty or somewhere in between. I am perfectly ready to make a foolish match.”
“Then you mean to have our cousin Anne?” Edward had difficulty saying the words for he feared Darcy’s response.
“As much as I respect and admire Anne,” Darcy said seriously, “she is not the woman I envision as the mistress of Pemberley. Despite Lady Catherine’s wishes, Anne will not be the object of my search even after Elizabeth’s refusal. The woman I want will possess a handsome countenance, a lilt figure, and a quickness of mind. I must find a woman who can help me run Pemberley; her character must be an adventurous one; she may not be easily intimidated. I may choose to settle for something a bit less, but I will not compromise my standards; I thought about this for a long time.”Edward let out a ragged sigh of relief, which caught Darcy off guard. “What troubles you, Edward?” he asked finally quitting his own revelry and giving his cousin full note.
“I,” Edward stammered, “I wish to marry Anne.” Edward’s eyes came slowly to face Darcy head on.
Initially stunned, Darcy did not take long to realize he should have recognized Anne’s interest in Edward; she always enjoyed Edward’s company more; Anne said as much to him at Rosings. “Your confession took me by surprise, Edward, but upon reflection, I realize you were always the person for Anne. I wish you well if Anne is your desire.”
“We cannot address Lady Catherine until you marry, Darcy,” Edward stated. “Our aunt would never agree as long as there is a possibility of your changing your mind. I will never convince Anne to stand up to her mother until she knows Lady Catherine will have no other choice but to agree. My happiness hinges on you, Fitz.”
“I shall not change my mind, Edward, but our aunt can be stubborn. Although you wish me to expedite my choice, please allow me some time to choose wisely.”
“Of course, Darcy,” Edward blustered, “your happiness is our utmost desire. We will not push you into making a poor decision just to satisfy our own hopes; you are, after all, our cousin, and we wish your life to be filled with love. I believe I will go, Fitz; give Georgiana my love. I will check with you in a few days.”
So saying, the colonel left the room. Darcy sat for some minutes contemplating the events of the past two days. Admitting his love for Elizabeth he hoped would allow him to move on; the madness would no longer consume him, and he could once again set about being Fitzwilliam Darcy, the master of Pemberley. He had only one other thing to clear up before he began his life anew so Darcy sought his sister.
He found Georgiana in the music room listlessly stroking the keys of the pianoforte; she sprang to her feet when he entered the room. He strode over to her purposely, took her hand, and said, “Comewith me, Georgiana; we need to talk.” She tentatively followed him as he led her to the settee; they sat down together, but he never released her hands. She dropped her eyes, afraid to face him, but Darcy cupped her chin gently with his fingers, forcing his sister to look him directly in the face. “Georgiana, my girl,” he began, “I have dealt you a disservice, and I beg your forgiveness.You did not deserve the treatment you received from me of late.”
Uncontrollably, the tears rolled down his sister’s cheeks, and he reached up to gently brush them away; she caught his hand and kissed the palm. “Fitzwilliam, you never forgave any fault of your own while you forgave many of those around you, especially me.” He started to protest, but she shushed him with a touch of her finger to his lips.“Please, let me finish.You are always there for me, Fitzwilliam.You accepted my sorry and made it your own. Edward told me of your hope and your loss; now I must be there for you.”
“Georgiana, our father left you in my care.”
“No, Fitzwilliam,” she contradicted him.“Our father left you as my guardian, but we are left to care for each other. How can you hurt so without my feeling it?” Darcy could not believe his sister’s transformation; she was still the shy, innocent girl he always cherished, but she had emotional strength of which he was not aware. He could never think of George Wickham’s betrayal without loathing, but his sister matured from the experience; she knew the rebukes of love. “Our parents were of superior birth,” she continued. “We learned to be proud of being a Darcy, but we have not learned to look at the true worth of others. Mrs. Annesley has given me a ‘mother’s’ look at the world. Fitzwilliam, there are so many who need our help; helping the poor in Derbyshire is persuading me to care about myself. If we do not love ourselves, how can we expect others to love us?”
“When did you become so wise?” he whispered and stroked her hair away from her face.
