Joining his cousin on the bench, Richard said, “I don’t understand you, Darcy. It has been obvious to me, and frankly, to the rest of us, that you are attracted to Miss Bennet, that you have developed some real affection for her. Under the circumstances, I thought perhaps that you had gone to offer for her.”
Darcy murmured, “I did.”True enough. No need for him to know the exact time and date of my foolishness.
“You did what?”
“I offered for her.”
“I do not understand. Do you mean that she refused you?”
“Yes, she refused me,” he said in a hushed voice.
“Good God, Darcy, why? I would not have thought her to be so stupid.”
“She is not stupid. She—she—she learned somehow that I was responsible for separating Charles Bingley from her sister—”
The colonel gasped. “That story you told me about sparing a friend from a most imprudent marriage…was that Bingley?”
“Yes.”
“And the lady was—”
“Her elder sister. They are very close.”
“That cannot be.”
Darcy nodded. “’Tis.” His voice was low, almost imperceptible.
“I am afraid that I must bear the responsibility for her learning of your interference with Bingley’s love life. I told her just this morning.” The colonel’s head was in his hands.
“Why on earth would you have told her that?”
“I apologise, Cousin. I thought I was doing you a favour. I knew Miss Elizabeth did not like you—”
“You knew she did not like me? How on earth could you know that?”
“It was obvious from the way she spoke with you and avoided you when she could. And it was also obvious to me thatyoulikedher. But as we are now discussing this matter, Cousin, please help me understand how Miss Elizabeth’s sister was an objectionable match for Bingley, whilst Miss Elizabeth herself was good enough foryou.”
Darcy rubbed his eyes. This was truly horrific. How many times would he be required to revisit the most painful experience of his life since Ramsgate? But at least he understood the source of much of her antipathy. He needed to tell her the whole story, although he doubted she would welcome another visit from him so soon. Could he use the colonel as an intermediary? Or should he write her a letter? A letter would be improper, but if he put it directly into her hand, there would be no harm done.Perhaps a letter would be the thing.
The colonel still waited for an answer. “Well, Darcy? Can you explain why you considered Miss Bennet not good enough for Bingley?”
“It is a long story, Richard. You may have gathered that Miss Bennet comes from aboisterousfamily.”
“I have heard her describe her sisters, yes.”
“Her mother seemed a hundred times worse than her sisters. Shrill, grasping, shallow. Seemed to care only about gossip and gowns. Desperate to see her daughters married off to wealthy men.”
“Like most of the mothers in the Londonton,then.”
Darcy had never thought about it in that way. “I take your point. But Jane Bennet’s demeanour and countenance are soplacid, so reticent, that I detected no sign of authentic interest in Bingley.”
“You are saying she is reserved, like you?”
“Yes, well, it would seem that I did misjudge her. I feared that MrsBennet would pressure her to entice and accept Bingley for material reasons. You have met Bingley. I wanted to spare him a marriage without affection, especially since his own affection for Miss Bennet was so strong.”
“Bingley loved her?”
“Yes.”
