Aunt Madeline offered the biscuit tray to her husband before turning to Elizabeth. “What other news from Kent?”
“Well…” Elizabeth said, relishing the long pause, knowing that what she was about to share would surprise everyone. “Lady Catherine’s fondest hope has been realised.”
“Whatever could that be?” Jane queried, a slight frown wrinkling her brow. “We know Mr. Darcy did not propose to his cousin.”
Elizabeth was surprised, and wondered how her sister had come by this information.
“Although Mr. Darcy did not propose, Miss de Bourgh did marry her cousin, just not the one her mother had designated. She exchanged vows with Colonel Fitzwilliam two weeks ago, by Special License, no less.”
“Oh my, this sounds worthy of a Shakespearean comedy,” Aunt Madeline said with a light laugh.
“I will not bore you with all the minutia, but suffice it to say, Miss de Bourgh merely informed Lady Catherine she was marrying her cousin, and that they would reside in Derbyshire for the next three months.”
“I presume this fortunate cousin conveniently possesses such an estate in that county?” Aunt Madeline enquired.
“He does not. They will lodge at his father’s estate, Wyndhaven, near Matlock.”
Aunt Madeline’s expression registered surprise. “The earl’s son?”
“His second son, who serves as a colonel in His Majesty’s Light Dragoons.”
“Lizzy,” Jane began. “How did you learn all this?”
Warmth rose in her cheeks.
“Mr. Darcy himself revealed all to me, in a letter.”
‘A letter!” Jane gasped, her blue eyes widening to perfect circles. “You are not betrothed, he has only asked to call on you.”
Elizabeth sat back in her chair, surprised again that her sister was so well informed.
“You know Mr. Darcy has asked to call on me?”
“He paid us a visit last week. It was quite unexpected.”
“Of course, I should have known he would pay his respects.”She smiled at a memory, a faint blush dusting her cheekbones. “I chastised him when he first asked permission, believing him promised to his cousin. He corrected my misapprehension, insisting neither he nor Miss de Bourgh harboured any matrimonial intentions towards each other. At the time we were in Charlotte’s parlour, where the servants, with hearing as sharp as one of Papa’s hunting dogs, carried every word back to Lady Catherine. Because he and his cousin were leaving the next day; I suggested meeting before they departed.” Elizabeth’s cheeks burned with even more fire than before. “I gave him a letter explaining our change of circumstances, along with Uncle’s direction. He, in turn, entrusted me with a letter detailing the sleight of hand he and his cousins planned against his aunt. He wished to spare me the distress of hearing of his ‘marriage’ when he was not the bridegroom.”
“It seems your Mr. Darcy has scarcely had a moment’s rest these past two weeks,” Jane teased.
“Whatever do you mean?”
“As I said earlier, he paid us a visit, and shared rather illuminating intelligence concerning Mr. Bingley.”
“Mr. Bingley! Has he sought you out? Is he aware of your presence in London?”
“Patience, Lizzy!” Jane said with a laugh as she held up her hand to forestall her sister’s eager questions. “I have no idea if he and his sister remain in town, and even if they did, I do not expect him to call.”
“Whyever not?”
After looking to her aunt, who inclined her head slightly, giving silent permission, Jane revealed the unfortunate truths of Mr. Bingley’s financial imprudence, and his pattern of toying with young ladies’ affection.
“In short,” she concluded, “the gentleman has developed quite a habit of showering exclusive attention upon well-dowered young ladies, only to withdraw when another pretty face appears with a little more money behind her name.”
“How peculiar to discover that Mr. Bingley and Mr. Wickham are cut from the same cloth.”
Jane’s lips parted in astonishment.
“Surely you exaggerate.”
