“Nonsense. As an outcome, it can hardly be shocking to him, as he is well aware that it was his mother’s dearest wish.”
“But his bed! I do not want to be in his bed!”
“My child, you will spend the rest of your life in his bed often enough. It is time you became accustomed to the idea. He is not so bad. I suspect you will derive more satisfaction from your marital duty than I did.”
“Mother!”
“Be quiet, Anne. You know not of what I speak. Trust me on this.”
Anne, defeated, took a deep breath. “How would we even manage it?”
“We will wait for his man to go into the dressing room, then you will enter by the main door, climb into the bed, and close the curtains. When Darcy returns, his man will help him change for bed and then leave him alone. When Darcy opens the bed curtains, you will scream, and that will signal MrsJenkinson and me to serve as witnesses to your compromise. A gentleman alone in his chamber with a gently bred lady!”
“But Mother. Everyone will know I came to his bed.”
“No explanation necessary. My footmen will say what I tell them to say. Darcy will not escape his duty again.”
“I cannot like it, Mother. What will he think of me to have come to his bed? It seems so deceitful.”
“The real deceit has been Darcy’s refusal to offer for you, as his mother and I agreed he should do. By taking matters into your own hands, you are only reminding him of his obligations to his family. Now do as I bid you. All will be well.”
Anne had never been able to gainsay her mother, and this scheme was no exception.
As Darcy returned to the stables, he found Colonel Fitzwilliam waiting for him. “I knew I would find you here, Darcy.”
“How so?” He left the lantern with a waiting lad, and they started back to the house.
“How thick do you think I am? Or perhaps I should ask, how thick are you? You disappeared abruptly from the drawing room shortly after the good parson disclosed that Miss Bennet was unwell and had remained at the parsonage. It was obvious to everyone present…well, perhaps not to MrCollins… where you had likely gone. And then you stayed away for such a long time. Am I to wish you joy?”
“No.”
“Are you telling me that you did not call on Miss Bennet at the parsonage?”
“No.”
“Then where have you been?”
Darcy was stubbornly silent.
“You are obviously distraught, Darcy. Tell me something. Tell me what I can do to help you.”
“I am in no humour to discuss my evening.”
“That is obvious. But if you confide in me, I might be able to help you fend off Aunt Catherine.”
“Fend her off?”
“Yes. When you were absent for so long, I saw her murmuring with Anne. They appeared to be hatching some sort of scheme. If you return to Rosings a free man, as you say you are, her Ladyship will find a way to get you into the parson’s mousetrap before this visit is over.”
“Never.”
“Let me help you make sure of that. I am on your side, Darcy. Now tell me.”
Darcy hesitated, then gestured towards a nearby bench. “I did visit the parsonage, but only briefly.”
“To enquire after her well-being?”
Darcy sighed heavily as he sat, crossing his arms and lowering his head.
