Without thinking, the butler immediately slammed and locked the door. He nevertheless grasped Georgiana by the arm so she could not get farther into the house.
“This will not do,” he said firmly, as George began pounding the door with his fists.
“No!” she screamed at him. “You will not touch me! I am Georgiana Darcy and I WANT MY AUNT!”
Chapter Thirty-One
The Colonel and Mr. Darcy hastened to Longbourn as soon as courtesy would allow. As they handed their mounts’ reins to Longbourn’s stable boy, the Colonel put a hand on his cousin’s arm, stopping their progress.
“Darcy, I will ask once more – you are serious about gifting me an estate?”
“I am, of course. I am thinking of an estate not far from Pemberly called Chestnut Creek. I think it might do for you. It brings in about three thousand pounds a year. You would have to bend that military mind of yours to estate management, you understand.”
“I have no words to express my grati-“
“Stop, Richard, I beg you. I think of you as a brother; would I not make certain that my brother was able to marry the woman of his dreams?”
“Well, then, I will save my breath. And you, Darcy, you spend a good deal of time with Miss Elizabeth.”
“She is a most unusual young lady.”
“She is indeed; I have never before heard of a young lady studying Middle English.”
“And that is not the half of it! She speaks French and Italian, and studies history and mathematics, as well!”
“Do the two of you spout Middle English to one another while walking about in the back garden?” The Colonel poked Mr. Darcy in the ribs.
“Hardly. We speak a good deal about my family. And Georgiana.”
“Georgiana?! Does she know about Georgiana’s situation?”
“She does; she happened upon me in the library at Netherfield one night when I was feeling particularly low and I found myself telling her what had happened at Gretna Green.”
“You are such a private person, Darcy. I am astonished that you confided so much to her. How did she react?”
“With such caring and understanding that I immediately felt better.”
“I assume you have no doubt of her ability to keep this information to herself.”
“None whatsoever.”
The two men mounted the steps up to the entryway. The butler opened the door with a smile and admitted them. Entering the parlour, they were surprised to find a man there that they had not previously met.
After the usual courtesies were exchanged, the man was introduced as Mr. Collins, a distant cousin of Mr. Bennet’s and the heir presumptive to Longbourn. Upon hearing the names of the newcomers, Mr. Collins’ eyebrows shot up.
“Are you, perhaps, related to Lady Catherine de Bourgh?” he enquired of Mr. Darcy.
Mr. Darcy looked unhappily surprised. “I am her nephew,” he replied, warily.
“Oh! Then I am in the happy position of being able to inform you that I left your aunt in the very best of health, as was your betrothed, Miss Anne de Bourgh.”
All the ladies in the room gasped, and the word “betrothed” was repeated several times in shocked whispers.
“I most certainly am not betrothed to Anne!” Mr. Darcy snapped.
“But her ladyship says –“
“Her ladyship still thinks the sun revolves around the earth and more specifically around Rosings Park; that does not make it true.”
